#When someone questions why the chosen person was selected

[lar-mx]

writing prompt #7

A new enemy has appeared, nothing they try works. No magic swords, no sacred weapons, no cursed weapons, divine objects. The only way to defeat this new enemy is to challenge him to a duel and whoever challenges him has to use a weapon made "by hand" by the challenger and made of a very specific material. The problem does not "exist"; no one alive knows how to work with said material "manually", only a few with technology. Well, John knows someone not so alive but he only accepts a disciple every so often which is bad, although that moment is in a week which is good. The question is…who would be qualified to be his student?

[rainsinheaven-if]

DEMO TBA - Q1 (Jan/Feb) 2025

First update will include: Prologue and Chapter One

Warnings: Blood and injuries, sexism, profanity, temporary character death, child neglect, parental physical and emotional abuse, optional sexual content, and more. Suitable for ages 16+. List will be updated in the future.

This game is in early development and a work in progress. There may be future changes to location names, plot etc.

You’ve never felt loved by your family before.

Born a twin but feeling more like a shadow, you’ve watched your younger brother, Nolan, receive all the love and praise you were denied. But no matter how unkind you are to him, Nolan’s loyalty and kindness towards you remains unwavering. It’s as if there’s a bond pulling you back everytime you think of leaving it all behind.

Now a mysterious illness has swept through Valorian Kingdom’s royal court, leaving many nobles, including the king at death’s door. The Oracle’s prophecy offers a single hope: the Crown Prince must gather five lost souls to join him in a dangerous journey towards Coven’s Swampy, an ominous and foreboding area hidden deep within the mystical forest.

You are chosen to be one of those five.

As you venture deep into the forest, the journey will push you to the limits of courage and loyalty, forcing you to question everything you believe about family and love. This might not just be a journey to save the day, but a journey towards self-discovery for you and everyone in your group. So when the journey ends, will there be anything left of the person who first stepped into the darkness? 

Customize your MC! Change your appearance and control your personality. MC starts out as female, but there will be transition options.

Grow a relationship with your twin! Choose to either continue being unkind to your twin brother or getting to know him instead. Your MC's relationship with him may affect some major events.

Develop relationships! There are six romanceable characters - 3 male, 2 gender selectable, and 1 non-binary. Or you can avoid romance and keep it all platonic.

Learn and improve your skills! With the option to choose to either be a mage, knight, or both, you can learn and improve your skills to become better at what you do.

Find yourself! Journey through the mystical forest to not only find a cure, but to self-discovery. There are plenty of secrets to learn about that may or may not change the way you think and feel.

More to be added…

Below are the six romanceable characters in this story. You can choose to flirt with everyone, but at one point, you'll have to decide on one. Also keep in mind that there are other important characters as well that are not listed here.

Ver/Vera Forrest | Gender Selectable | 21

Playful and energetic with golden-retriever-like energy, V is always ready for adventure. They never fail to be there for you when you need someone to rant to, or a shoulder to lean on. Their cleverness and sneakiness keeps them out of most trouble due to the way they were raised. And it’s exactly how they are raised that has made them hide their burden under their positive enthusiasm.

You are best friends, so why don’t you know any of her secrets? 

Oliver Astoran | he/him | 21

With a cold demeanor, Oliver holds a strong desire to protect the people he cares about, especially those whose kindness is exploited. Your unkind treatment towards your brother causes him to despise you. You are always able to press on the right buttons to rile each other up. He shows a strong sense of determination that marks his mental and physical strength. But perhaps there’s something more to the reason behind his behavior than what the eye sees.

Will you ever be able to see him in a different light, or will it just be fighting, fighting and more fighting?

Ethos Van Winston | he/him | 22

Burdened by the responsibility of being heir to the throne, Ethos is reserved, guarded, and serious. As a child, he was once carefree and one of your closest friends. But after an incident that left unspoken, lingering tension between you two, he now elicits a melancholic presence. His warm side is hidden away somewhere, and you wonder if there was more than just the incident that made him change.

You weren’t the reason he changed… right?

Theodore Eaves | he/him | 24

From a young age, Theodore’s life has been defined by duty and training. He’s mature for his age and has a tendency to act like an older brother to you and the group. He’s well disciplined and stoic, rarely having time to express vulnerability. His focus on duty has left him oblivious to romantic interest, despite his admired reputation due to his looks and status. His obliviousness goes further though, for reasons that he himself hasn’t fully discovered and understood.

Will you ever get to see a vulnerable side of him, instead of just that brotherly figure?

Mattie | they/them | 19

Curious as ever, Mattie often gets themselves into trouble. But with their charming personality and resourcefulness, they’re able to get themselves out of trouble. They are playful, enjoying the work of teasing others and instigating drama to get chaotic, and hopefully flustered, reactions. His skills and knowledge about the forest have proven him to be a good asset, but there is more to him than what meets the eye.

For someone who is so bright and playful, they can’t surely have anything to hide, right?

Yaran/Yara | Gender Selectable | 22

Nobody is sure they know who Y is. They seem ambitious, cunning, and deceiving; doing risky things to achieve their own goals at the cost of someone else’s pain. They are unpredictable, popping in and out of your group - sometimes being a guide, but other times hindering progress. Despite their ambiguity, they are charismatic and mysterious enough to leave your group intrigued. All there is to do now is truly learn who they are and what they have hidden inside.

Who is Y and can you trust them with anything, especially your life?

Demo | ROs Profiles

music inspiration

This is my first attempt at creating an interactive fiction game and using Twine Sugarcube. Please be patient and kind <3

Shares are appreciated :)

[tenjikufag]

Had a worm in my brain,

From all your favorites/the men you write about, least to most likely, would cheat on you/the reader?

More so curious lol, not too big on cheater fics but an question itch was there

Trick question- none of them. Because we are so perfect we are the best boyfriends these characters will ever get and we are their world

BUT!

I’ll indulge that worm of yours with little hcs. (From least to most likely). These are from a select few characters I’ve written for- as my personal favourite charas are a bit too ambiguous for this question. KINDA LONG. Read under the cut.

Starting off STRONG is

Laios Touden.

He would never cheat, never crosses his mind, hell he barely entertains or perceives new friendships/dynamics. The fact you’d managed to reel this man in with how distracted and scatter brained he is, is a testament to the strong bond the two of you have. On a good day, he’s still off somewhere in the clouds of his mind that are full of the many ideas and quarries he has about everything- on a bad day, where he cannot bare to give even a single thought to even his current fixations of research- you’re there. Underneath everything that he is, you are the net that catches him from falling too far. Laios would never, ever, hurt you in such a way. Loyal to a fault if you had not reciprocated the feeling.

Jiyan

He’s loyal, respectful, humble, and protective. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d be anything but faithful to you, his one and only. Aside from the obvious of him not having time to fool around with someone other than you, it’s simply mentally tasking to think of anyone but you. You’re the only thing keeping him grounded, with the hellish occupation he’s found himself in you’re the constant in his routine and always been the silver lining of everything. If he can’t find the will to get up, his body crying for rest and maybe even begging him to give up to let the world crumble at his feet; you are the reason he gets up to fight another day. The reason he pushes himself on those days where everything is simply too much. If he can protect you, it’s worth more than seeing the sun rise another day. You’re his everything, and dedicated is what he will be till the end of his days, he only wishes that it will be by your side.

Bokuto

Come on! Do you really think he’d do that? Man has a heart of gold, determination behind the gold in his eyes and nothing but zest of life exuding from his every action. Really, the only thing he may be emotionally cheating on you with is volleyball. But even then, you’re the mistress to his first love. Anyways, once he’s dedicated, it’s for the long haul. He’s chosen you as a life partner off the bat, this dating is not casual by any means. Dating for the fun of it is not his prerogative, he dates for the end goal of having someone to spend his eventual retirement with! Marriage would seem like an end goal but he’s a big picture kinda guy, even if he is very much live in the moment everything he does has a purpose in his mind. You are a conscious choice, not just a fleeting decision that he’s going to let go of once things get tough. He’s working hard at this, any doubts you have for him better go out the window or get washed in the laundry along with the rest of the dirt. Bokuto would never. You’re his and you’re stuck with him. There’s no other option for him! You’re the gold!

Now, onto the more likely or could possibly.

Izana Kurokawa

Listen, I love the man. But, you don’t end up running with the largest underground crime rings having the most sound mind. Sure, he loves you and such but I do think that a fleeting moment of pure desire could nudge him into it. And I say nudge because he wouldn’t need a push, he doesn’t expect good things in this life so why let you break things off and hurt him first when he could hurt you first? Sound planning in his head, even if he knows you’d never do what he’s doing. It’ll hurt, he won’t leave you to find out either. He’s straightforward despite being slick of the tongue, it’s a passive confession. If he didn’t do it, he will still inform you of what he could’ve done. Whether it be that he feels like he owes it to you to know, or if he simply wants a reaction from you, it’s undecided and really, he wouldn’t know himself. It’s ambiguous. You could be raising every star in the sky for him but if there ever comes a deal or situation where his morals and loyalty to you is put to the test.. he can’t promise you would give him a passing grade.

Gojo Satoru

Walk with me here, he’s a loser. Canonically does not get anything, no one would dare be in his vicinity without reason and he really does not come off as nearly desirable to the general public as many would believe. So imagine with that in mind, the moment he gets attention from someone without the need to know him intimately/emotionally like you do, he could falter. He’s a man of always assuming the grass is greener, that there’s always something better, and to be quite Frank, even if he does have a way with words he isn’t that socially equip to decipher that these said events are fleeting moments. You’ll be there for him when he gets home, you know him in a way he doesn’t know fulfills needs he hasn’t ever gone without to realize they are needs so when propositioned I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t act on it. Im possibly biased because I just wrote a fic of him cheating (and I really don’t like him) but he’s incredibly inept. Conniving yes, smart yes, but is he perceptive to his own emotions and what he’s actually giving up and sacrificing? Im not too convinced.

Denji

(tw for internalized homophobia etc)

Yeah yeah I can imagine the groans and sighs from here, give it up. He’s always liked girls, him liking you feels like a one off even if he’s rubbing one’s out on the regular to the filth he reads about guys and porno mags of gay dudes. If a girl ever came around and he happened to actually feel some form of interest in her I can’t imagine him not giving it a chance. It’s what you’re meant to do right? Being with a chick probably feels way better in his mind, you’re a one off relationship and he’s sure he’s gonna have more after you because everyone has more than one relationship right? Maybe he’ll “get it right” once he’s with a girl, even if he finds out it’s not all it’s cracked up to be- maybe he doesn’t even like it. He’s a young adult, a naive one at that. Being privy to almost anything but romantic/sexual relationships or even his own attractions- his own need to be accepted and live a normal life tugs at him to do it. Being gay isn’t normal in his mind, to society it’s odd and he is already weird enough on his own- being with a girl would possibly make him feel more… normal. It’s complex, but I do think he may do it just for the fact that it seems like the right thing to do.

-THATS ALLLL, I tried to do a couple series but if you had any specific character in mind that isn’t here I’d happily give you my thoughts. :) again, cheating fics and prompts aren’t my strong suit so this could be totally not what your worm wanted to hear. Anyways, thank you for reading my rambles.

[hestzhyen]

What's in a Name? (Sazanami Clan)

Sincerely sorry for spamming you, dear void. Think of this as a purge of ideas that have been percolating around for a while but were never given time until now. Anyway, let's take a look at the kanji meanings for the Sazanami clan members' names! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

Much like parents creating a name for their children, authors often put their wishes and intentions for the character into the name selection process. Kagurabachi is no different- the Saznami's names showcase how much thought Hokazono put into creating the characters to fit seamlessly into the story.

I'm not a pro at Japanese so these interpretations are based off of a lot of research only.

Without further ado:

漣 (sazanami, most commonly read as ren) means "ripple". An indirect reference to the inherited isou technique that uses shock waves?

More rarely, it can also mean crying or continuously flowing tears. A hint towards the horrible legacy they've got as a clan, perhaps.

Sazanami Kyora (漣 京羅) - Bizarre name.

京 (kyo) directly means capital city and is often used as shorthand for Kyoto city itself (京都). 羅 (ra) is for lightweight fabrics like silk or gauze... a surface reading is kinda weird. His name is "silk capital", huh...

In a name, 京 (kyo) can confer both grandeur and power. 羅 (ra) can confer the idea of a protective net, or a link of unity and strength. So in my mind, Kyora is meant to be the powerful, uniting force that protects. Protects what? Certainly not his kids! GOTTEM

Sazanami Soya (漣 宗也) - Soya is a special guy for many reasons... 宗 (usually read as mune) is associated with respect for family, ancestry, and following the teachings of a founder (in a religious sense). The so reading is actually pretty rare and means "origin" or "virtuous ancestor". In general it conveys a sense of the child being expected to honor the family's ancestors, legacy, and perhaps being the start of something new and special. Good good this is fine.

也 is pretty interesting too. It's archaic, for one. Thus making it a strange choice for a modern name. The most common readings of 也 (nari and ya) mean "to be" in the sense that something is certain to happen/occur, but there's also a less common one used here (ya) that is questioning- like "will it be?" or "is it"? And when it's included in a name, 也 (ya) often takes on a meaning like "also". In an abstract sense, ya here implies excitement for the baby being born, so at least he's got that going for him.

So IMO the most direct meaning of 宗也 (soya) is "another origin" in reference to his "love" being what helps Hakuri overcome Soya himself and start down his new path, with strong implications that he was expected to honor his family's tradition... but maybe wouldn't be able to. Cool stuff! And really depressing in the context that he was chosen to be the next head of the family! Did his parents not have high hopes for him for some reason? Imagine naming your kid "baby we're excited to have that will respectfully carry on our family legacy" while also throwing it in doubt by deliberately using an archaic kanji lol. Soya never had a chance.

Is that why he treated Hakuri the way he did once his little bro failed to manifest the talent he was assumed to have...?

Sazanami Hakuri (漣 伯理) Our favorite former boyfailure sure has an interesting name...

伯 (haku) means someone with a position of high authority like "chief", "earl", or "count". In a name, it conveys a sense of respect and admiration being due as the highest ranked person in the family. What audacity lmao. I think it's interesting that the middle child was given this name since haku also implies being obligated respect and admiration as the eldest brother/role model of the family. Should his and Soya's names have been swapped?

理 (ri) means reason/logic... and less often, justice or truth. It's interesting that this character was used instead of the more common 裡 (ri) that usually composes the full name (伯裡). This character is for something in the rear or the middle, inside or within- implying they're protected or sheltered. Name implications of 裡 carry connotations of inner strength, security, and comfort; a sense of belonging and connection. ...Things our Hakuri notably lacks. He was never meant to be a strong leader secure in his relationships and protected from harm, I guess. So let's look at why 理 might have been chosen instead.

There are many possible implications when 理 used in a name, but most of them imply that the child will be guided or helped along in a positive way. Whether by order and structure, logic and wisdom, deep empathy... any or all of them. So his name is something like "logical/natural chief" with the implication that something will guide his path through life. Fortunately for him and us, it happens to be empathy (RIP Ice Lady). Not escaping the swapped names theories though since Soya was supposed to be the logical, calculating oldest brother chosen to lead the clan. Hmm.

With all that context, this panel just makes me so... something:

Is there more to unpack with the Sazanamis after all? Is leadership a meritocracy or something? Because normally you'd expect the oldest son to have the duty passed on to him. Yet I'm not confident that Soya was always the first choice now.

But yeah, with a name like that, no wonder we see him being called special by Kyora at such a young age- Hakuri had a lot placed on his shoulders at birth. It makes me curious as to why he was apparently seen as a better prospect than Soya, but we'll probably never get the details.

Sazanami Tenri (漣 天理) - Another guy with a unisex name that leans feminine lol. Even more parallels to Chihiro!

A lot of fellow anime and manga fans will probably be familiar with 天 (ten)- meaning heaven, sky, sometimes God. No surprises there. 理 (ri) - the same one used in Hakuri's name- once again means reason/logic, and less often, justice or truth. In names, 天 (ten) also adds a sense of natural talent or gifts the child is born with (and we do see Tenri becoming the youngest member of the Tou ever, so he certainly was born with something special like his father claimed).

理 (ri) implications hurt my heart. He was also named with great expectations placed on him, but at least it's a relatively common name unlike his older brothers'.

I think a common, straightforward interpretation is usually best so "heaven's natural law" is the meaning I'd ascribe. But I do like the optional interpretation of "heaven's judgement" being there to echo Mr. Inazuma's "lightning of judgement" that Chihiro delivered on his behalf. Just a fun little thing for me to gnaw on. The additional naming implications make me think he was supposed to be guided by his natural talents to a bright future, but... well...

I kind of want a side story or episode zero about Kyora, Mrs. Sazanami, Tenri, Hakuri, and Soya before Hakuri was ostracized now. Why were they named like this?! Hakuri and Soya in particular have me going insane over implications for their relationship and why Soya might have been so cruel to him...

Anyway, thanks as always for letting me rant in your ambivalent ears, kind internet void. I'll be able to ride out the last hour or so of waiting for spoilers in peace thanks to you.

[an-idyllic-novelist]

Heracles with fem!giyuu!reader scenario

Collab work with @deathmetalunicorn1. This can be seen as either a platonic or a slow burn romance scenario.

warnings: violence, canon divergence, and possibly Brunhilde's potty mouth.

Giyuu!reader is selected to fight in round four against Heracles, the mightiest demigod of Olympus. Brunhilde had emphasized that his strength is nothing to scoff at and to make sure to secure a win so that Humanity will be given an advantage against the shitty gods. While she was not someone who judged a person by someone’s words alone, Giyuu!reader had promised Nezuko and Tanjiro that she would come back to them. And that is what she will do, regardless of who her opponent is in the arena. 

To her shock, Heracles had actually tried to persuade her to forfeit the match because he did not want to fight a woman. To him, it was dishonorable. She just looked at him for a moment, then unsheathed her sword and charged at him, though he had parried the blow with his club. 

Giyuu!reader clicked her tongue, leaping backwards and landing on her feet. She straightened her posture, [Eye Color] orbs staring at him icily. 

“This is a fight to save mankind…my gender is irrelevant. Or will you dare to change the match to suit your own benefit, as Zeus had done in the second match?” She asked, maneuvering her fingers around the leather handle of her sword before bending her knees. She inhaled her nose, exhaling through her mouth. 

“Water Breathing. Fifth Form. Blessed Rain After the Drought.”

Giyuu!reader darted across the arena, swinging her blade from the left, aiming at the demigod’s neck. She had hoped to finish her opponent in an act of kindness, but alas the tip of her blade barely made a dent as he had used his club again to parry. He pushed back against her, allowing Giyuu!reader to use his arm as leverage and leapt away again, putting distance between them. 

She frowned at him. “Stop this.” She said, “Fight back.” 

“I cannot and will not unless you lay down your arms.” He replied, lowering his club towards the ground, cerulean orbs bright with conviction and sincerity. He might…mean what he said, and these aren’t just pretty words to lower his opponent’s guard…it still pissed off Giyuu!reader that he was under the impression that she is weak. Yes, she is a Hashira, but she is neither the strongest nor the weakest Demon Slayer of the Corps. She did not survive for as long as she has, protecting Valhalla from the monsters on the other side of the Bifrost, by being soft either. 

“You are not a warrior.” Giyuu!reader snapped. “You….are pathetic.” Ignoring the outraged cries bouncing across the arena, she raised her blade at him with a single hand, the tip pointed at his chest.

“It is one thing to show mercy upon an enemy. But what about an opponent who is willingly to lay down her life in this fight, and she is expecting you to share the same courtesy, yet instead she is treated…like she is weak? This is not an act of mercy you are showing me. It is dishonorable. You, Heracles of the Grecian pantheon, have done nothing but humiliate me. Is that the reason you have chosen to be a representative of the Gods in this tournament, even when you proclaim to love humans? Or will you raise your weapon, shut up, and fight me with all of the strength that you possess?” 

“Then tell me what drives you.” Hercules pleaded. “Why are you doing this?” 

“...I can’t tell if you are being serious or just stupid.” Giyuu!reader spat. “You are fighting against someone who is considered to be powerful under Lord Hades’ command. Pummel me into the ground, right here and now, and I will gladly answer your question. Unless you have figured it out already, then congratulations. Either way I’m still going to win against you, even if it means I will sacrifice myself to ensure mankind will survive.” 

For a split second, Heracles noticed how his opponent’s shoulders tensed as someone called out to her from humanity’s side of the arena. He saw a young boy with a burn mark and wearing a checkered haori waving his arms frantically, a smaller girl with a bamboo piece in her mouth mimicking him, albeit with a bit more enthusiasm. 

The demigod closed his eyes. Inhaling deeply through his nose and exhaling through the mouth, Heracles raised his club, the spiked edges pointed at Giyuu!reader as she kept her sword pointed at him. 

“I love humans. I do not wish to see them destroyed when I know there is still hope for them to strive, to grow, and become better. Therefore…I will not kill a warrior who is fighting for such an honorable reason. Come, I will give you what you want. Instead of a clean death, however, I will fight until one of us loses consciousness. There has been enough death here today.” 

“Fine. The victor shall be the one who is not incapacitated.” 

Heracles nodded, and got into a fighting position. So did Giyuu!reader. Although the crowd - humans and gods - jeered at their words and wished to see more carnage, Zeus silenced them with his own agreement. He will make an exception in this round of Ragnarok…but no more mercy beyond round four. 

Giyuu!reader fought against the red-haired giant, deflecting his movements and using her Breathing techniques to counterattack. But….in the end, Heracles was too powerful. Giyuu!reader lost. Another win for the gods. And Brunhilde reminded her of her failure as soon as she gained consciousness in the medical wing, the Valkyrie glaring at Giyuu!reader. 

The Water Hashira felt frustrated tears building in the back of her eyes, rapidly blinking them away and praying that Brunhilde would not see such…an unsightly display of weakness. She was prepared for another tongue lashing when a familiar, deep voice rang in the white room.

“That’s enough, Brunhilde!”

Giyuu!reader looked up and saw Heracles hobble through the door, his broad chest and left arm covered in bandages. She noticed that the demigod was leaning heavily against his club, using it as a cane of sorts as he glared at the Valkyrie. 

“It isn’t like I walked away from this fight unscathed either. Nor was it a failure on her part. Do you know how rare it is to find a human who is able to keep up with my physical strength? And it was a tie, Brunhilde, not a failure.”

Giyuu!reader stared at him with widened eyes. “...A tie?” She whispered, averting her attention back to the dark-haired woman. Brunhilde sighed, her hands planted on her hips and lips curled into a frown. 

“He speaks the truth, though in hindsight, there is no predicting how this tournament will proceed. A complete victory would have been preferable…but this…I’ll accept it. For now. And you did fight hard, and with courage, unlike some of the warriors I had spoken to before coming to you. So…forgive me.” She inclined her head slightly to Giyuu!reader before she strode towards the door. The Valkyrie then looked back at the Hashira. 

“Get some rest.” 

That was the last thing Brunhilde had said before she skittered out of the room, leaving Giyuu!reader alone with the demigod. She said nothing, watching Heracles smiling boyishly at her as he carefully lowered himself on the edge of the bed, causing Giyuu!reader to scoot a little towards the right so that he’d have enough room. “How do you feel?” Giyuu!reader asked, tilting her head. “If we were both knocked out…then why weren’t you in the same room as I? Did the gods fear I would try to finish the job as soon as I was conscious?” She would have done it too, if Heracles had been a demon instead of a half-mortal, half-god she fought against in a tournament where the fate of humanity hung in the balance.

 Giyuu!reader watched as his eyes widened for a fraction before he threw his head back, a booming laugh bouncing off the walls. He laughed for a bit, and then looked at her, his grin stretched from ear to ear.

“Sorry. I-It’s just…wow, I definitely wasn’t expecting that! No. The hospital policy is to not have men and women share the same room, even when there are curtains that can be used for privacy and so on.” He chuckled, using the back of his hand to wipe away some tears that were trickling down his face from laughing too hard. 

Giyuu!reader blinked, staring at him blankly. “I suppose that does make sense.” She muttered. “Will you be leaving soon then? I’ve heard gods and demigods have extraordinary regenerative abilities.”

“Soon.” He said, flexing his left arm. “The facilities used here are amazing, and you’ll get to go back home too!”

“And our fight was most definitely a tie?”

“Absolutely! It was a double-knock out! Everyone saw it, and they can certainly not deny it! Even Heimdall was astonished at your strength. Oh, we could even have another match when you’ve made a full recovery! Ares is an amazing fighter like you, but he’s not always available! And I’ve never seen a fighting style like yours, it’s incredible!”

Giyuu!reader stared at him for a long moment until she slowly nodded in agreement. 

“I would not mind.” She said softly. “Although…knowing Tanjiro and Nezuko, they will probably give me quite the scolding when I return to the compound.” Just when she said those words with a small smile, which caused Heracles’ heart to skip a beat upon seeing such a lovely expression on the warrior’s face, however, the door opened with a loud ‘bang’. Both of them turned and saw a little girl with a bamboo piece in her mouth, pink eyes widening before she began to weep. Without a word of warning, she blitzed towards Giyuu!reader, performing a small backflip as her body shrunk to the size of a toddler and landed squarely on the Hashira’s solar plexus, knocking the wind of her with a grunt. 

But Giyuu!reader didn’t push the child away. Instead, she pulled the little one into a hug as chubby arms coiled around her neck. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m alright, Nezuko. See? I told you everything would be fine.”  The Hashira cooed, slowly rocking her body back and forth. 

From the corner of his eye, Heracles saw another human enter the room. Taller, and he couldn’t have been younger than fifteen or seventeen summers with dark red hair and a green checkered haori draped over his black uniform with silver buttons. The demigod immediately recognized him, and the little girl. They were from the arena, and the boy called out to Giyuu!reader during the match. 

The boy, whom he had to guess was Tanjiro, stared at him with nervous, inquisitive eyes. Heracles smiled at him, and stood from the bed, allowing the tiny mortal to approach Giyuu!reader. Tanjiro beamed at him before he walked over to Giyuu!reader’s side, throwing his arms around the Water Hashira and Nezuko, burying his face in the former’s shoulder. When he pulled away, the demigod saw that this boy wasn’t even trying to hide his tears. He had been truly worried about Giyuu!reader. 

Giyuu!reader smiled at him, raising a hand and stroking the top of his head before trying to wipe away his tears, although such a tender gesture only made him cry even harder.  

While he didn't know the history between these three individuals, it was clear to Heracles that they shared a close bond with one another. He smiled, watching Giyuu!reader panicking over Tanjiro while the little one, Nezuko, looked up at him with tiny flowers over her head till she decided to hug his uninjured leg. His grin widened. 

Humans were truly amazing. 

“Say, once we’ve been cleared by the healers to be released, how about we all go out and get something to eat? My treat!”

Tanjiro and Nezuko definitely wanted to go, but they left the final decision to Giyuu!reader as they stared at her with wide, curious eyes. Giyuu!reader nodded. 

“It would be our honor, Heracles of the Grecian pantheon. I hope we can wait to spar until we’ve fully healed?” She asked with a raised brow. Heracles beamed, jabbing a thumb at his chest.

“Of course! I swear upon my honor!”

“Then it is settled.” 

Heracles felt his heart race and his smile widen upon seeing her smile for the second time. He did not know why he felt like this. The only conclusion he could come up with is that he didn’t have to kill this strangely wonderful woman and cause grief for these children. He wouldn’t find out the actual truth until much, much later.

Taglist

@swallowtailcherry

@rukia-writes

@imperfectbloodmoon

@kanroji-san

@onecantsimply

@thatstrangesheep

@technikerin23

@samoaz

@mistradamus

@screechingmilkshakepersona

@melou008

@ladykitsunesworld

@currentlyinhell

@diamondzoey

@dragonempress18

@abelheilonwife

@officialzerofukugodofmisfortune

@sleep-all-day-everyday

@mooly-artistic

@mortemorii

@puffy-bangs

@bones4thecats

@nunezs-stuff

[csuitebitches]

50 Interview Prep Questions

Here’s a list of questions I used to get a job. I felt it could be useful for you too, and is fairly generic. I think this is one of the most comprehensive HR/ job application question guides that I’ve created - so I hope that you find it useful.

Questions:

Why are you interested in working for this company?

Tell me about your education.

Why have you chosen this particular field?

Describe your best/worst boss/ teacher.

In a job, what interests you most/least?

What is your major weakness?

Give an example of how you solved a problem in the past.

Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?

What are your strengths?

How do others describe you?

What do you consider your best accomplishment in your last job?

Where do you see yourself in three years?

Think about something you consider a failure in your life, and tell me why you think it happened.

How do you think you will fit into this operation?

If you were hired, what ideas/talents could you contribute to the position or our company?

What do you know about this company?

Give an example where you showed leadership and initiative.

Give an example of when you were able to contribute to a team project.

What have you done to develop or change in the last few years?

Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.

What are your goals?

What can you do for us that other candidates can't?

If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?

Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?

Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.

What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome?

Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

What do you know about this industry?

Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?

How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?

If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?

What are your lifelong dreams?

What do you ultimately want to become?

What is your personal mission statement?

What's the last book you read?

Who are your heroes?

What do you like to do for fun?

What do you do in your spare time?

Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?

Are you willing to relocate?

What salary are you seeking?

How would you describe your work style? (Autonomous/ collaborative/ freedom to take certain decisions/ get a list of tasks from your boss and finish that)

What would be your ideal working environment?

How do you juggle multiple high-priority projects?

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult client. How did you handle it?

How does this job fit in with your career aspirations?

Do you have any questions for me?

How well do you assimilate into a new environment?

[the-port-mafia]

My Dazatsu Week entries. I had hoped to do at least 4, but ended up doing 12😳 It was a lot of fun😆

Day 1 - Coffee shop/Soulmate AU bounded by destiny Dazai’s eyes widened in surprise. “I never expected to meet you.” The majority of people never got to meet their soulmate. It was a rare occurrence that only a select few ever got to experience.

Day 2 - Band AU Best Kept Secret Dazai leaned over the couch and read one of the tweets and grinned, “Atsushi’s partner must be amazing! #couplegoals”

Atsushi nearly leapt off his seat from fright. He hadn't heard his boyfriend come home. "Osamu, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Dazai kissed Atsushi’s cheek and climbed over the couch to cuddle up beside him. “Our fans would be the only ones having a heart attack if they knew the truth. Like, look at the username of that account - 'ihatedazai'. They wrote, ‘It's obvious, whoever it is, they're the best person for Atsushi. They make him incredibly happy!' If only they knew it was me.”

Day 2 - holding hands we're not like that "How long have you been dating Atsushi?" Chuuya questioned.

Dazai nearly tripped over his own feet at the question. “What?! I’m not dating Atsushi-kun.” He hoped the blush wasn't noticeable on his face.

Day 3 - Sunset It Began at Sunset Dazai had become pretty distant from Atsushi, so when he receives a message from his boyfriend saying 'they needed to talk,' of course he's going to think the worst.

Day 3 - High School AU Gossip "Why would Dazai-sensei date someone like Nakajima-sensei?”

“Akutagawa-senpei, you've got to have noticed the way Dazai-sensei looks at him.” Higuchi happily sighed. She wanted a relationship where someone would gaze at her with even half of the admiration Dazai had when he looked at Nakajima.

“Tch, if anyone is sneaking looks, it's Nakajima-sensei.” Akutagawa didn't understand why most of the students were so invested in finding out if Dazai and Nakajima were dating.

Day 3 - Amnesia I want this life Dazai ran his hand through his hair but stopped when he felt something cool on his finger. Dazai's eyes widened in disbelief when he saw a gold band on his ring finger. It couldn't possibly be a wedding ring? Was Ranpo pranking him? Was he still annoyed with Dazai for stealing one of his snacks, and was this his little act of revenge?

Day 4 - sic fic Fever Confession When Dazai calls in sick, Kunikida sends Atsushi to check in on him. Day 5 - Beast AU future is bright Since Dazai triggered the singularity that connected him to the other universe, he's been having a difficult time thinking about anything else. Being able to read the memories of the other Dazai and seeing how happy Atsushi was in that world made his heart ache. Dazai had never seen his Atsushi's smile shine so brightly before, as he did in the memories of the other Dazai. Day 6 - Reunion Deal Breaker Atsushi had never felt so nervous as he stood in front of his new boss, Mori Ougai. When he first heard that a member of the agency had to transfer to the Port Mafia, he could hardly believe it, and he would never forget the silence of the agency when Fukuzawa announced Mori had chosen him. Day 6 - Reunion give me a sign “I don’t know how I can keep doing this, Dazai-san.” Atsushi buried his face in his hands. “I'm trying to be strong and hold on to hope, but I've heard nothing.”

“If I just knew if you were alive…” It would give Atsushi the strength to keep going.

Day 7 - Post Canon I will tell you as many times as it takes for you to believe it “Just tell him.” Ranpo commented as he skimmed through a report.

“I can’t do that, Ranpo-san.” Dazai mumbled.

Ranpo rolled his eyes and put aside the report he was reading. “And why not?”

“Atsushi-kun doesn’t like me in that way.” Day 7 - Free Day Isn't he pretty? “Dazai! That’s the boss of the Port Mafia.” Kunikida whispered harshly.

“But more importantly, he’s my boyfriend.” Dazai beamed. “Isn’t he pretty?”

[hand-picked-star]

The 13th Annniversary Arshi Fiesta

Moodboard : Historical AU

Whispers of the Heart | Chapter 05

I am not very good at writing ffs. I even read ffs very selectively. But it was an attempt of me to participate in the 13th-anniversary arshi fiesta. I might be wrong about certain aspects of that age and era, but it's a fantasy, so why not?

I don't own Arnav and Khushi and the story is purely fictional and has no relation to any living or dead. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Chapter 5

(continuation of previous chapter)

'' Arnav"

She pushed herself off the bed but stumbled to reach Arnav. He wrapped his arm around her waist before she could fall. Her hands splayed palm out on his chest. She stared at him like he hung the sun and the moon and his breath caught. The atmosphere between them undulated, changing into something heavier, something alive.

"Ummm...I want to ask you something," she tripped over her words, "Why is it that every time someone says your name" feeling her pulse quickening "or you come close to me" she whispered like it was a secret "My heart starts to beat harder? ", taking his hand she placed it over her heart "I tried to understand it, but couldn't." a silence came over between them, "bataiye na!!"

Arnav blinked, her words not quite making sense. He couldn't think and that should have disturbed him, especially because he held her so close. It had not escaped him how pretty she looked. She was always pretty, but today was special. Her hair hung loose but wavy, and the dress she'd chosen, a pure white salwar-kameez with red churni dupatta, hugged her curves in all the right places. He had noticed her curves earlier. But it's difficult to ignore at this moment, not with her body up against his. And that red bindi on her forehead, it would be the death of him someday.

His pulse felt thready. And he wanted to touch her. The simple impulse to touch the tips of his fingers to her cheek was almost more than he could bear. He raised one of his hands to cup her cheek and tilted her head toward him. There was a good reason why he shouldn't touch her, but he couldn't remember what it was. Her eyes searched his, her trembling lips slightly parted. He heard the words as clearly as if she'd spoken.

Kiss me.

The heat of her breath on his lips made him dizzy with need and he gave in. At first, Khushi couldn't comprehend what was happening. One second she was asking him a question, the next second, she was in his arms, and before she could quite recover from that, he was kissing her.

Or had she kissed him? Her brain was muddled. She was thinking about him the whole day-how handsome he looked in the white kurta. She was shamelessly looking at his lips the other day when he was eating Kheer. Had she acted on those impulses? Shy and confused Khushi ducked her head, breaking their kiss.

But almost as soon as their kiss was broken, he put two fingers under her chin, tilting her head up and claiming her lips again. His free hand moved from her waist to her back, pressing her flush against him. She whimpered and forgot everything else, anything else existed. If she'd lost her mind, so be it. Nothing ever felt as good as whatever was happening at that moment.

One of her hands crept up to cup the back of his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair, while the other hand went around his back, clutching his kurta in a death grip. She tentatively tried to return his kisses. Her heart was racing. She felt weightless. His lips were hard on her while he was holding her so gently. Khushi couldn't rightly tell, when he'd begun to walk her backwards, she only knew she found herself pressed against the wall. And then, as abruptly as it all began, it was over.

Arnav groaned from the back of his throat as he pushed away from her. He stumbled back. His hair was rumpled from her fingers, his lips still moist and parted. The five seconds they stared at each other were the longest of Khushi's entire life.

And then, he left her there, pressed against the wall, flushed-face, lips swollen from his kiss, without a word.

(end of flashback)

Arnav was sitting on the garden bench, threading his hands through his hair and tugging hard. The guilt he felt was a weight on his shoulders, pinning him down as effectively as any physical thing.

It wasn't just that he had no right to do what he'd done. What made it all the worse and what could be worse than taking advantage of someone under the influence, was that to this day, two years later, he still daydreamed about that kiss. He could still remember how very sweet it was, the emotion of that kiss, the tenderness of it and the taste of her lips, and the way her body fit the lines of his. And how powerful was the need that rushed through him then. Her warmth, her scent, everything about that moment felt vivid and real as if it was happening all over again. He had to close his eyes tightly until the feeling passed.

It was not like it was the first time that Arnav had kissed a girl. The first time he kissed a girl in the Valleys of Darjeeling was a girl from Darjeeling High School at 18. it was supposed to be fun, but as soon as he kissed that girl, he discovered something, like she gave him a disease, he heard a voice inside his head that sounded very much like his Nani's. The look he gave her afterwards, she must had thought he was insane.

'you are a womanizer, Arnav'. the voice thundered. 'just like your father.'

After that every time he thought about kissing a girl, his Nani would start talking. It was really difficult to do anything with your Nani in your head. Then one day, he with some of his friends out of curiosity went to a pub to taste some liquor. He should have known better, he ended up spending the night with someone he didn't even remember.

'See, I told you so' the voice taunted him continuously the day after.

After that, he tried his level best not to hear his nani ever again in his head. There was one thing that Arnav didn't want to be and that was 'just like his father.'

But why the voice was so quiet when he kissed HER? It felt the most natural thing to do, like he was born to do that, like he was destined to be fitted into her arms. After he fled from her room, he sat on the garden bench for hours.

There Arnav had realized, he had irreversibly fallen in love with her. And she had finally quieted the voice in his head.

But instantly another voice appeared that sounded more like his since that day and they had a serious conversation with each other on the evening of Holi two years ago, sitting on that particular bench.

'what have you done, Arnav? you've proved your nani right. tumne jis thali main khaya usmehi ched kiya. What will Mahindar chacchu and roma chachi will say? How could you do that to their daughter? How could you tarnish her reputation like that? Is this how you repay them for all the love and care, they've bestowed upon you, when nobody was there for you? And Aman, what will you say to him? '

Arnav clutched his head with both hands, resting his elbows on his knees. he felt like screaming. He argued with himself for a long time. He succeeded in almost quietening the voice, when it murmured, very faintly.

'You can marry her'

'And what can I give her?.' Now it was Arnav's turn to contradict 'I have nothing, no house, no money, no reputation, no family and what made you think that Chachu and Chachi would want to marry off their beloved daughter to a nobody like me'. A pressure bloomed in his chest. With every breath he took, it increased. 'And what made you think that she would want to marry me?'

'She loves you, isn't it obvious? '

His vision blurred 'Have you forgotten that she was drunk? and I took advantage of her drunken state.' The silence that followed was suffocating, and his mind raced back to that moment, the memory haunting him. He remembered the way she had returned the kiss, her eyes fluttering shut just before their lips met. He remembered the vulnerability in her gaze, the way she had leaned into him as if seeking something more. 'She may have developed a silly little crush.' He whispered to himself, the words barely convincing even in his mind. An invisible rope tightened around his throat, 'it's temporary.' he told himself, desperately wanting to believe it, 'it will go away with time.'

'Bullshit' the voice whispered.

<previous> | <next >

@arshifiesta @featheredclover @phuljari @jalebi-weds-bluetooth @chutkiandchotte

[lucifers-little-sunshine]

Dance Macabre/ Papa Nihil Origin Theory

Dance Macabre is one of my favorite music videos, but Lore wise it seems to open up more questions than it answers. It doesn’t seem to fit into the timeline that the Chapters present of a continuous bloodline of Papas that stretches back for ages.

This is my theory for how Dance Macabre fits into the Ghost Lore and reveals a lot to us about the history of the Ministry and Papa Nihil. I felt motivated to finally write this out after reading @ngnt-writes theories on how Papa Nihil may become the next Papa.

Let’s start with his title. Papa Emeritus Nihil. Like most things in Ghost this phrase has an actual counterpart in the Catholic Church and is used to refer to a deceased or retired Pope. This implies to me that the first person to carry that title within the Ministry of Sin would have been an actual Pope in the Catholic Church at some point. Maybe he quit after he began to worship Satan to form his own church, maybe he died and Satan sent him back from the pits of Hell.

We also have the issue of if the bloodline goes back so far why have we only reached number four? (Okay obviously the real world reason is that the lore wasn’t planned out at the time Secondo gave his “Io Sono Papa Emeritus Secondo” speech, but I’m still going to try and reconcile it with the lore.) I think that Papa Nihil was the first ancient Papa who founded the Ministry.

At the Start of the Dance Macabre video we see Nihil and his friend show up at the party. They seem clueless to what the nature of this party actually is, although Nihil isn’t really digging the vibes. At first I interpreted this a couple different ways.

Nihil has no idea what’s going on and they’re walking into a trap

Nihil is already a part of the Ministry and is luring in an unsuspecting victim to be sacrificed

The first seemingly doesn’t fit, unless somehow Nihil is from the bloodline and doesn’t know it, and this party is meant to bring him back into the fold. But I think there’s another possibility. The Nihil we see without a white eye at the beginning of the video really is just a random guy the Ministry picked out. So this is my most far fetched theory, but the one I think explains the most.

Before the video the Ministry has a major problem. The last Papa died with no successor. They are scrambling to appoint a new person. A young Sister with ambitions of power sees this an opportunity and begins to dive into the history of the church. She learns about the first Papa Emeritus and attempts to contact his spirit within the crypts of the Ministry. After all, if Satan brought him back to life once he might do it again.

Next they select the host and the sacrificial lamb. The party is set up to lure them both in for the resurrection ritual. The doorman can’t let them in until he’s sure they’re the ones that have been chosen, because it can’t just get out into the world that the Ministry performs human sacrifices. I don’t think they’re even something they commonly do these days. But in this case it’s clear that the only way is a life for a life.

At the moment that Sister punches Nihil and gives him his white eye, he looks around as if seeing the world for the first time. He could be seeing things from a new perspective as someone who has ‘seen the light’, or it could be that this is Papa Nihil’s first time being alive in centuries.

This makes Nihil’s betrayal of Sister all the worse. The kiss at Whisky a Go-Go was just the last straw. She had brought him to life, fallen in love with him, and he didn’t even choose to have one of his heirs with her. I think there is also a good chance that she thought she could control him and his career in ways that she couldn’t. We see with Copia that even though she loves the people closest to her very deeply, that manifests in her having her own plan for their success that she expects them to follow.

She brought him back to life with expectations for how his career and their relationship would go, and when he didn’t play along she left and plotted give her son that power.

[nikoomilanaswife]

Arranged marriage - Niko Omilana

Part 1

You had lived a sheltered life under the eyes of your strict family pretty much your whole life, who were determined to see you married off. Your older sister, Lily had no problem as she easily got married to the man she loved. However, when the time came for you to wed, you were given no choice. Instead, your parents had chosen a partner for you - a man whom you had never met before.

warnings: none

wordcount: 1.6k+

part 2 not out yet

Your eyes widened in disbelief as your parents informed you of their decision. "What do you mean, an arranged marriage?" you asked, your voice trembling with a mix of shock and anxiety.

Your mind reeled with questions as you tried to make sense of the situation. "Who is the person I'm supposed to marry? Why didn't you consult me before making this decision?"

Your parents exchanged glances, clearly anticipating your reaction. "We've carefully selected a partner for you," your mother explained, her tone firm but gentle. "He comes from a respectable family, and we believe he'll be a good match for you."

"But...I don't even know anything about him!" you protested, your heart racing with a mix of fear and anger. "How can you expect me to marry someone I've never met before?"

"We understand this is a big adjustment for you," your father added, his voice reassuring yet resolute. "But sometimes, these decisions are made to ensure the best future for you. We believe this person will provide stability and support for you, just as a good husband should."

Your mind struggled to accept the idea of marrying a stranger. "But...what about love? Don't I have a say in who I spend the rest of my life with?" you asked, your voice full of desperation.

"Love will grow over time," your mother replied. "You may not feel an immediate connection, but with patience and time, your feelings will develop for your husband. Trust us, this is for your own good."

The words stung, as if your feelings and desires were being dismissed. "What if I don't want this? Does my opinion not matter?" you blurted out, feeling a mixture of defiance and helplessness.

"Our only concern is your well-being," your father added, his voice firm yet compassionate. "We love you and want what's best for you, even if you can't see it yet."

The conversation seemed to go in circles, with your parents determined to convince you that their decision was for the best. Doubt and frustration swirled within you as you tried to find a way to persuade them to see your point of view.

"But what about my own goals and dreams?" you pressed on. "How can I pursue the life I want if I'm tied down to someone I barely know?"

"Your dreams are important, but this marriage will provide stability and security for you," your mother responded, her tone unwavering. "We understand this is difficult, but we ask you to trust us and give this a chance."

Your frustration mounted, but it was clear that your parents had already decided on this path for you. The reality of the situation really began to sink in.

"When am I supposed to meet this person, this stranger I'm being forced to marry?" you asked, the words almost caught in your throat.

"We've arranged for you to meet Niko tomorrow," your father replied. "His family will come to our house for dinner, and you'll get a chance to get to know him."

Your heart skipped a beat as they mentioned his name, a bit of curiosity welling up inside you. "Niko," you repeated, the name unfamiliar on your lips. "What can you tell me about him?"

Your parents exchanged glances, as if silently discussing what information to reveal. Your mother spoke up, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and caution. "Niko is not just any ordinary person, dear," she started. "He's a well-known YouTuber, and his channel has a large following."

"A YouTuber?" you repeated,slightly taken aback. "Like, he makes videos for a living?"

"Yes," your father chimed in. "He's quite successful in his field, and his videos are very popular among young people. He's known for his humor and creativity."

Your mind raced as you processed this new information. Marrying a famous YouTuber seemed both adventurous and intimidating. "So he's famous?" you asked, a bit of skepticism in your voice. "Are you sure he won't have a huge ego or something like that?"

"We've heard from his parents that he's down-to-earth and respectful," your mother reassured you. "Fame hasn't changed him, and he still values family and integrity."

The reassurance didn't fully settle your nerves, but you couldn't deny the growing curiosity about the man you were about to meet. "So I'm going to meet him tomorrow at dinner?" you asked, still struggling to wrap your mind around the whirlwind of events.

"Yes," your father confirmed. "His family is coming over for dinner, and you'll have the opportunity to talk to him and get to know him better."

Mixed emotions swirled within you; fear, curiosity, disappointment, but you knew you had no choice in the matter. "Okay," you said, resignation lacing your voice. "I'll meet him tomorrow then."

————————————————————————

The next day arrived, and you found yourself anxiously pacing in your room, your nerves on edge as you prepared to meet the man you were being arranged to marry. You were dressed in your nicest outfit and had gone through various scenarios in your mind, trying to guess what could possibly happen in the next few hours.

As the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of Niko's family, your heart leaped into your throat. You took a few deep breaths, attempting to steady your racing heart, before heading to the living room to greet them.

The sound of voices echoed through the hallway as you neared the living room. Your parents were already engaged in conversation with Niko's family, their voices a mix of pleasantries and curiosity. You took a deep breath and stepped into the room, your eyes meeting Niko's for the first time.

Your first impression of Niko was a mix of surprise and intrigue. He was much taller than you had expected, with a warm smile and friendly eyes. But beneath that charming exterior, you could see hints of something else – confidence, intelligence, and a hint of mischief.

As your parents noticed your entrance, they turned their attention to you. "Ah, there she is," your mother said, gesturing towards you. "Niko, this is our daughter, Y/N."

Niko's gaze fell upon you, and his smile widened as he took a moment to study you. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Y/N," he said. He extended his hand towards you, gesturing for a handshake.

You hesitantly extended your hand, feeling a jolt of electricity as his fingers made contact with yours. Even that brief touch sent a shiver down your spine, and butterflies fluttered in your stomach.

As you withdrew your hand, you looked into Niko's eyes, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still.

But the spell was broken as your father's voice broke the silence. "Why don't you two sit down?" he suggested, gesturing towards the couch.

Niko nodded, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before he took a seat on the couch, motioning for you to sit beside him.

Hesitantly, you made your way to the couch and sat down, leaving a respectful distance between you and Niko. Your parents sat across from the two of you, their eyes flickering between you and Niko, silently observing.

An awkward silence fell over the room, and you glanced at Niko, only to find him studying you intently. His gaze made you feel both seen and exposed, as if he was trying to comprehend your thoughts and emotions.

Niko seemed unfazed by the silence and the watchful eyes of your parents. He leaned back on the couch, his arms casually resting on the armrest. "I've heard quite a lot about you," he said, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity.

Your heart skipped a beat at his words. "You have?" you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

"Oh, yes," Niko replied, with a smirk at the corners of his mouth. "Your parents have spoken highly of you. They seem quite proud."

Your cheeks flushed at the compliment. "I'm sure they've exaggerated," you mumbled, feeling a bit of embarrassed.

Niko chuckled softly, clearly amused by your reaction. "Maybe," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "But I prefer to judge for myself."

Your parents exchanged glances, silently observing the interplay between you and Niko, but they remained quiet, allowing you their space. The intensity of Niko's gaze was starting to make you feel restless, and you fidgeted uncomfortably in your seat.

The silence hung in the air until your father finally spoke up, his voice breaking the tension. "So, Niko," he began, his tone casual yet pointed. "I take it your family has informed you of our... arrangement?"

Niko's gaze shifted from you to your father, his expression serious for the first time. "Yes, they have," he replied. "I am aware that our families have agreed upon a...marriage."

Your mother then continued. "We believe this arrangement would be beneficial for both families," she said, her eyes flickering between you and Niko. "And we think you two would make a good match."

You fidgeted in your seat, feeling a mixture of anxiety and restlessness. Niko's presence was both intimidating and intriguing, and you couldn't shake the feeling that your life was about to change in ways you couldn't predict.

Niko leaned back on the couch once more, his eyes studying yours. There was a hint of understanding in his gaze, as if he knew exactly what you were feeling.

“It's a...surreal situation," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "To suddenly be thrown into an arrangement like this."

Your parents nodded, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and resignation. "We understand it's a lot to take in," your mother said, her voice gentle. "But we believe it's the right decision for everyone involved."

————————————————————————

Guys i hope this is okay, i did not proof read it so there may be some mistakes xx

Anyways hope you all have a great day/night!!!

[a-bucket-full-of-feels]

Some thoughts regarding Reina in Hibike S3 Ep 9

I feel that this episode marks a huge turning point in Reina's character development and her and Kumiko's relationship.

In the beginning of the series, we see that a huge reason why Kumiko is attracted to Reina is how steadfast she is in her pursuit of her goal to be special, to the point where she comes off as brashly idealistic and self-centred. In season 1 however, this is portrayed as a character quality of hers, inspiring Kumiko's journey to improve herself and become passionate in music.

But this all comes crumbling down in S3 Ep 9 when her brash idealism and one track mind proves to be a source of conflict and makes her almost antagonistic.

She tells the section leaders/Kumiko that it's the members' fault for not trying hard enough when they didn't make the cut for the audition, and they have to do whatever it costs to win gold in Nationals. But in reality, the situation is a lot more nuanced than this, and even Kanade who got dropped from the auditions recognises it. She acknowledges that Taki selected more tubas because they're weaker as a whole, whereas the euphoniums have 2 extremely solid players to carry them, so it was not a case of "because she isn't good enough", but due to the composition of players and circumstance.

Another situation where her idealism comes into question is her undying devotion towards Taki sensei and his decisions, to the point where she disparages members who express discontent towards his decisions for the audition, and even to the point where she calls Kumiko a failure as the president for questioning Taki's decision. I was expecting her to feel conflicted when Mayu was selected for the euph solo instead of Kumiko, because she wanted to play the trumpet/euph soli with Kumiko so badly. But instead of expressing indignation and being upset about the results, she doubles down on her opinion that Taki sensei's decision was the correct one, even when talking to Kumiko about it. In comparison, Shuuichi, who doesn't even have a personal stake in the trumpet/euph soli, feels upset and indignation about the results for Kumiko.

My gut feeling about Reina's reaction (not knowing any spoilers about how this plays out) is that this is her coping mechanism as a highly individualistic and idealistic person, and someone with poor emotional awareness. In a time of emotional turmoil, while other members turn to each other to air their grievances about the audition results, she doubles down on her ideals. People didn't make the cut for the audition? They didn't try hard enough. Being upset at Taki sensei's decisions? Just blindly trust his opinion as the band advisor and that will resolve the conflict.

And I think this also stems from a place of privilege for Reina (I mean this girl has private trumpet lessons and a father who is a professional musician), which doesn't give her the opportunity to empathise with other members that aren't as good as her. A moment in this episode relating to the theme of empathy which I found interesting was the scene with Kumiko and friends outside the convenience store discussing the results of the euph solo. Midori, who has been a competition member since year 1, feels that Kumiko should have been chosen instead, since both Mayu and Kumiko's skills are on par, and choosing Kumiko would maintain the peace of the band. However, Hazuki, who failed auditions for the first two years, felt that Mayu deserved the solo because she proved to be the better player in the auditions and she trusts the results of the auditions. And I can understand where Hazuki is coming from, having the greatest respect towards the audition process, because she had to work incredibly hard to reach a level that allowed her to qualify to play in the competition, thus viewing the audition process with greater reverence than members that were far removed from the struggle of that process because they were more skilled and experienced.

In essence, I'm interested to see how Reina will grow as a character and how her relationship with Kumiko will develop from here. Will she soften her stance on her lofty ideals? Or will she still stick to her opinions but somehow still find a resolution with Kumiko? Will she still treat Taki sensei as an idol-like figure, or eventually view him as a regular human being that doesn't always make the best decisions?

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers CHAOS LINEAGE ー General Prologue

ー The scene starts inside a mysterious chamber

*Thud* 

Karlheinz: Checkmate.

Socrates: ...!? How? Once again...

Karlheinz: Seems like I win.

Socrates: ...

Karlheinz: I had a pleasant time again tonight. Our final game was a great one.

*Rustle rustle* 

Socrates: Leaving already?

Karlheinz: I must proceed with my plan.

Socrates: Running away after winning, huh? 

Karlheinz: I would love to continue playing as well.

However, you should know very well why I cannot, no? My dear friend.

Socrates: Yes, I understand. That is exactly why it is so vexing.

Karlheinz: Do not say that, my friend. My life-long wish is for a new species to be born into this World...

We shall need Adam and Eve for this wish to come to fruition.

Socrates: Yes...

You have selected a candidate for Eve for quite some time now, have you not? That girl who possesses a special heart despite being a human.

She fulfilled her duty by falling in love with a Demon. 

Karlheinz: Then the one chosen by Eve...The Vampire who captures her heart, shall become Adam. 

That moment is finally upon us.

I have rewinded time again and again, doing everything within my power...

Success is currently right in front of our eyes. 

My friend, I never once felt bored because I had someone I could have long conversations with. 

Socrates: It saddens me to say goodbye...

Karlheinz: Oh come on, we can always meet again in our next lives.

Socrates: ...You’re right. See you in the afterlife. 

Karlheinz: I must get to the final preparations. ...Well then, if you’d excuse me now.

ー Karlheinz leaves

Socrates: Karlheinz...I suppose we shall never meet again in this life...huh?

Monologue

A Vampire going by the name of ‘Adam’. 

And the human girl called ‘Eve’.

Once the two of them tie the knot and give birth to a new species,

Karlheinz’ plan will undoubtedly reach completion. 

...However, in return for that,

I will lose a dear friend. 

That is incredibly saddening. 

Aah, how lonely I feel...

I threw a glance at the table’s surface.

The black and white chess pieces are lined up on top of the chess board. 

The remains of the fun game my friend and I were playing just now.

Socrates: My dear friend, are you certain that the man who was chosen is truly fit to become Adam?

Monologue

There should have been plenty of potential candidates. 

Was it inevitable that he would be the one to be ultimately chosen? 

Perhaps the true Adam can only be found,

if all of them are given an equal chance,

by meeting Eve,

under the same circumstances? 

...I am not yet convinced,

that this man in question will become Adam.

In which case, it is up to them to prove themselves,

and convince me. 

Socrates: This is a game where they will all fight over the same pawn being ‘Eve’. I shall create the World which will serve as the chess board through my magicーー

And lock the potential Adam candidates as well as Eve inside of it. 

While Adam has already been chosen, I could easily alter their memories somewhat.

Let us conduct an experiment where all of them have been given the same conditions in terms of memories, abilities and status. 

To see who will truly win over Eve...

They can fight over her in their little fabricated world, until but one player remains.

Well then, let us commence the game. Until it’s checkmate. 

Or alternatively...Until somebody breaks the game’s rules.

Until only one person remains on the board,

and as long as nobody commits foul play...

This experiment will remain ongoingーー

Monologue

Where on earth am I? 

I was wandering through the darkness. 

When I tried to remember what had happened,

I could not remember anything, as if a fog had clouded my mind.

The silhouette of a certain someone popped up in my head. 

It felt as if this loving, nostalgic figure,

looked at me with gentle eyes. 

However, I do not know who they are.

Who are you? 

Furthermore, who am I?

As if they were answering my question,

I could hear a man’s voice echo from somewhereーー

???: Good morning, Eve. Do you know who you are? 

--> This is where you get to input the MC’s name.

???: No, that is not your name, Eve. That is your past name. 

Yui: Eve...This is my name...

Monologue

‘Eve’ ...It had an incredibly familiar sound to it. I part my lips to pronounce those two syllables 

Yui: Eve...Eve...Eve...

Monologue

Every time I recite it, I grow more and more self-aware that this is in fact my name. 

???: You shall soon awaken. 

Our story begins right after the precious Supreme Ruler has passed away.

Three different houses will wage war against each other, fighting over you.

Monologue

The prophecy told by this man whose name remains a mystery to me...

I simply took all of it in...

I did not doubt his words in the slightest. 

After all, at this time, I was still incapable,

of experiencing a sense of ‘doubt’. 

I was not capable of breaking through the illusion. 

Any illusion which cannot be destroyed, will therefore become reality.

???: I call forth the light...

Monologue

At the same time he spoke those words,

a single light flashed right above me.

While weak, it was definitely shining.

I reached out my hand towards it.

*Thud*

As I heard the sound of a new game commencing.

ー The scene starts inside the Church

Yui: Nn...

( Huh? ...Where am I...? )

( There’s large stone monuments lined up...The horse and castle shapes remind me of the pieces of a chess game. )

( The windows are decorated with beautiful stained glass... )

( While the building itself appears to be rather old, it is in good condition, so somebody must have been taking care of it. )

A holy atmosphere lingers in the air...

( This feeling must mean it’s a...Church...I suppose...? )

( In which case, the place I was sleeping on is...the altar? )

Why am I here...?

*Dingー Dingー*

Yui: Kyaah!

The Church bells...? That startled me...

???: So the seal was broken at last? It surely took its time.

Yui: Eh...?

Bespectacled man: While this was stated in the legend as well, I have to say that you are hardly impressive. Oh well, I suppose that is fine.

Given as you were here at this Church, there is no mistaking it.

Yui: A-And who might you be...?

( While he does look very proper and his demeanor is polite, his sharp gaze is somewhat terrifying... )

Bespectacled man: Let us keep any self-introductions for later. Unfortunately, there is no time for those right now. You shall be accompanying us to our manor.

Yui: What do you mean by that...? Where are we in the first place? How did I end up heーー

Bespectacled man: I see. ‘You are completely ignorant’...correct?

ー He approaches her

*Rustle*

Yui: Kyaah! L-Let me go!

Bespectacled man: I do not know if you are speaking the truth or simply acting.

Either way, this does not alter the fact that you will be coming with me.

Yui: ( I’m being kidnapped!? I have to run! But he’s too strong, I can’t shake him off... )

???: How cruel to do such a thing to a poor little girl~ 

*Woosh* 

Bespectacled man: ーー!?

*Cling*

Man with hat: You just barely managed to dodge my attack, huh? I suppose I should have expected as much from you, Reiji.

Yui: ( A dagger came flying at him!? Is that man the one who threw it...? )

Reiji: Haah...Just as I thought, there were other people with the same intention as us.

So the Violet House has decided to send Laito as their messenger...And it would appear that Kou is here as well. 

Kou: Ahーah. You noticed me? I thought I was doing a pretty good job concealing my presence. 

Yui: ( There’s another guy carrying a dagger... )

( The one holding my arm is Reiji-san...And the two people over there are Laito-san and Kou-san? )

Kou: Listen, won’t you hand over Eve to us? Carla-kun really wants her, you see.

Reiji: I refuse. The next Supreme Overlord shall be none other than me after all. 

Laito: Geez, the oldest sibling of the Scarlet House is so stingy. Wouldn’t you agree, Eve-chan? 

Yui: Eve...

( Right. I am Eve...I wonder why I forgot? )

( These people are fighting over Eve...over me. )

Reiji: I would have liked to have gotten this over with quick and easy, but it seems like some people insist on getting in the way...

You should step back for a bit.

Yui: Ah...

Reiji: I shall be your opponent.

Laito: Oh? This doesn’t seem quite right? You’re acting like a noble knight protecting the princess. 

Kou: Exactly, spot on! Even though it’s obvious that Eve will come to our house.

Right, Eve? You will, won’t you? 

Yui: T-That’s a tough question. I don’t even know you guys...

Kou: Then you can just get to know us! At our manor, that is. 

Yui: ( No way, what should I do...? )

*Rustle*

Yui: Ow...!? 

( Someone pulled me in stronglyl! )

???: You’re coming with Yours Truly. You don’t have any other choice. 

*Rustle* 

???: I promise to take ‘good’ care of you. Until I get sick of you, at least.

Yui: ( Another stranger...! )

Laito: Ehー? Ayato has made his appearance as well?

Reiji: The third son of the Orange House...I suppose this is how things ultimately played out.

To think all three Houses would show up right after Eve’s awakening. 

Yui: ( Three Houses...? )

Ayato: The Church’ barrier disappeared. Of course we’d come to check what’s going on. 

And I was right to do so too. It’s just like how that one legend goes.

Yui: ( Legend... )

Kou: The Church’ barrier will be dispelled after the Supreme Overlord perishes. 

The one who wakes up Eve who is slumbering there with a kiss, it will open the path to becoming the next Supreme Lord...That’s the story you’re talking about, right?

Laito: It’s the story of Sleeping Beauty.

Yui: ( Barrier...Legend...Supreme Overlord? What on earth are they all talking about...? )

Reiji: It would seem that you have no clue about any of this.

Kou: So she’s completely ignorant to the fact that she’s Eve?

Ayato: Aah? Cut me some slack! Do you have any idea how long we waited for you!?

Laito: I mean, she was asleep this whole time, so we can hardly blame her, can we?

Although it seems like we’ll need to take our time to fill her in on everything.

But to do that, we have to take you home with us first.

Yui: ...!

( They’re suddenly giving off a different vibe...? )

( They are glaring coldly at each other. Do their eyes even seem to be glowing red or am I just imagining that...? ) 

( No, more importantly, the weapons they are holding, are they actually real...? )

Reiji: I suppose we should get started soon.

Ayato: Che, finally.

Kou: Who will get to claim Eve? 

Laito: The battle commencesーー

Yui: Battle...!? Don’t tell me, you’re actuallyーー

*CLANG CLANG CLANG*

Yui: ( The four of them are swinging their swords at each other...Wait, noーー )

( There’s only three of them. One has disappeared...! )

*Rustle* 

Yui: Kyah!? W-Who are you!? Please...Let me go!

Monologue

A figure suddenly snuck up behind me.

I attempted to fight back, but ‘his’ arm wouldn’t even budge.

I had been successfully captured by him.

Exactly, the one who seized me wasーー

[REIJI --> SCARLET HOUSE PROLOGUE]

[LAITO --> VIOLET HOUSE PROLOGUE]

[AYATO --> ORANGE HOUSE PROLOGUE]

[heartofspells]

on the etiquette of fandom respect

I'm not sure why I'm doing this, really. We've all seen those other posts that circulate around (or the vast majority of us have, at least from my notice) discussing things like negativity towards creators and proper etiquette when it comes to commenting and bookmarking and sharing another person's work. It always seems to fly in one ear and out the other, yet here I am, preparing to write an essay, mainly because I don't think we should ever stop saying it in the hopes of improvement.

Let's start this with bookmarks on AO3, because it seems like people either forget, they don't know, or possibly they simply do not care. Bookmarks can be seen by creators. Meaning they can see your tags, your bookmark collections, and your bookmark comments. There are numerous creators who enjoy going through the bookmarks on their works to see these things, because it's extra insight into why someone liked or even loved that creation, most times. There are also, in my experience, a lot of people who bookmark works and do not comment, so again, it gives the creator that extra special boost to keep doing what they're doing, to create more.

Leaving personal rating scores for a work, downgrading comments, or, in all honesty, opinions on what you did not like in the work is unkind. No one is coming to attack how you choose to keep track of your bookmarks, but please remember these are PUBLIC unless otherwise chosen by you. You can, however, make private bookmarks that only you can view. Even the creators cannot see these beyond a number of how many bookmarks a work collectively has. If you have a rating system or opinions on a work that could even remotely be construed as unkind, please make your bookmarks private. It's incredibly simple. There is a checkbox to select.

Now onto comments and the etiquette behind it. No one is forcing you to comment. While it is appreciated by all creators, it isn't a requirement. Creators love hearing from everyone who views their work. Comments bolster creators, encourage them to continue creating if they love doing it, which most creators do. But if the only thing you can think to say is something demeaning, criticizing, or has no bearing on the work you just viewed, it's probably better not to say anything at all. If you have questions, ask them. Creators love talking about their works, typically. Most will jump at the chance for a discussion. But this does not give anyone the right to ask accusatory questions that degrade a person's work. Also, leaving a comment about any work that blatantly goes against the very obviously stated tags/warnings, or leaving a comment that is short and brief and really doesn't make any sort of reference to the work itself is rude, plain and simple. Do not do that.

You are not being asked to leave a novel behind in your comment (though that's almost always appreciated to a massive extent). Leave a few kind words about liking or loving the work, because just something as simple as "loved this!" goes a long way as encouragement. If you have the time or something specific, tell the creator about a part you liked. They'll adore you for it. But again, none of it is a requirement. All creators ask for is a bit of common sense and respect from people in exchange for what they've created. Basic rule of thumb: ask yourself if you made something you were proud of and showed it to someone, would you be happy or hurt by the comment you're about to leave?

Lastly, let's discuss credit. It's seen a lot, and pretty much everywhere now. Someone finds artwork or a fic or maybe even a simple quote from a work they enjoy, and they repost it with no credit, not even a title (in regards to fics). No reference back to the creator at all. Stop gatekeeping works that do not belong to you. You do not own those works. They have been shared with you, nothing more. By transferring them or even a piece of them somewhere else without proper credit, you are not only removing someone else's ability to properly view this work without directly asking what it's from (if they ask at all, which most do not), you are taking that potential encouragement away from the creator and making them feel worthless.

These works, whatever they may be, were created for you. You may try to argue that they were shared in a public forum, and the creator should understand that by doing so, they're opening themselves up to potential criticism, theft, and even bullying. And you would be right, creators are fully aware of this. But here's the thing: these works, at least in a fandom setting, are being created for FREE. A person is taking time out of their life to make this wonderful thing, and they are offering it humbly solely for the pleasure of doing it, to bring you pleasure.

And you might even argue that creators are not making these things for you, but for the world. But aren't you part of the world? Did you find and are you reading/viewing/listening to these works? If so, then yes, they were created for you, with you in mind. All creators ask for in return, literally the only thing, is some basic human kindness and decency, because creators are not required to share anymore than you're required to comment or spread their works around.

Some creators have thicker skins than others, but keep going as we have been, and one day, the content you love so much might be gone. It's already beginning to disappear for lesser things. Don't be the reason it continues.

[nalooksthrough]

Red didn't just randomly stumble into the room. He had a Reason for being there.

I've been in the Captain Laserhawk fandom for a little while now. And I have noticed there seems to be some confusion as to why Red suddenly burst into the room while Rayman and Bullfrog were talking. I don't know why. For me it was fairly simple, I figured it out a little while after my first viewing. And got confirmed by the show after my second watch through.

Red was hunting down Rayman, to kill him. As per Eden's direct orders.

But I can understand why people may have missed it. The audience had no time to process the comments made by Red in those moments, because of previous emotionally charged scenes. But the comments were there.

Captain Laserhawk | All Rayman scenes - YouTube 3:34 - 3:36

In episode 5, when Red first enters the room. One of the first things he says is that he was looking for him. Looking for Rayman. And it appears that he had been looking for a while, since Bullfrog and Rayman were able to have quite a long conversation without any interruptions. And if Red had been hunting him down for what I assume to be hours, it would explain why he was so panicked when he lost sight of Rayman. Because how is he suppose to explain to his superiors that he managed to let Rayman of all people escape?

Captain Laserhawk | Laserhawk vs Ninji 6 - YouTube 0:14 - 0:27

And later in episode 6, Red and Pink have an argument. Pink stating that she would never have let someone like Rayman escape. That she would have got the job done. Which means Red wasn't the only one was told to carry out this order, all the Ninji 6 were seemly told this same order. But unsurprisingly, Red was the one who volunteered for the mission. Or what I think is more likely, was chosen out the bunch, because they knew for a fact he would have had no problems with killing Rayman. He may even enjoy it.

But, I hear people asking. Why would Eden want Rayman dead? And why send a single Ninji 6 member, when they could have gotten the whole team, or send out an entire police squad, or even done it themselves?

That first question is easy to answer. There can't be two Raymans. The system only works with one. And it's best to keep the unquestionably loyal Rayman, then the one who's loyalty may be put into question. Best to get rid of him before he becomes a problem.

As for the second question. Eden doesn't want the general public knowing about this. Rayman is a beloved icon in Eden, if the people knew that Eden would do this to Rayman. People would be rioting, it would be the beginning of an uprising that even Eden won't be able to control. So they have to do it secretly, make sure people don't notice. And sending the police would be too noticeable, and anyway regular cops are apart of the general population. So you need to send the special force, people who already know the truth about how things work in Eden. But they can't send the whole team, because the team are celebrities themselves, paraded around as Eden heroes. And if people notice them, which they most definitely will, it will ruin not only their image, but Eden's as well. So they select only one of them, a member who they know would have no problems in completing the mission. And it would have worked out perfectly if it wasn't for a traitor within the board.

As to why they don't do it themselves? Most of them are lazy, happy to just sit in their nice little meeting room and let everyone else do the hard work. And the one person who isn't, has her own goals which involved keeping Rayman alive.

TL;DR

Red was sent by Eden to Kill Rayman, because there can only be one Rayman for the system to function. And they only sent Red, because they didn't want the general population knowing as it could lead to them revolting. And they were too lazy to do it themselves.

[peachymilkandcream]

The Captain | Levi x Evelyn x Female Reader

(A/N: What? Peachy writing a oneshot? Impossible. Hey guys I know I've been on break for the past while, life has been so hectic lately but I'm going to slowly try and get back in the hang of things. I might even be opening requests up very soon! We'll see what happens. I've never thought of adding Reader into a Levi x Evelyn oneshot but thought hey why not? Let me know if you like these kinds of things, I thought it might be fun! Also I might split this into two parts, so if you'd like a part two let me know!)

WARNINGS: implied/referenced noncon/dubcon, graphic descriptions of violence, domestic violence, manipulation, mind breaking, yandere behaviour/themes, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, wishing rape upon someone, misogyny, mentions of child abuse, blackmail, murder, stalking, using you this time instead of third person let's try it out, etc.

================================================

The one person you never wanted to be placed with is Captain Levi's squad. Not only because death seemed to follow those who were unfortunate enough to be selected for this squad but also the Captain himself. Captain Levi had a reputation of being a heartbreaker who haunted the wet dreams of most women, however those in the Scouts knew that his cruel and aloof attitude wasn't an act to get laid.

You had done everything you could to be noticed by any other Captain or Section Commander. Levi's marital status was one you respected and since you weren't fond of the man's personality anyway you hoped he would overlook you as not good enough for his prestigious brigade.

No such luck.

During an interview with the Captain about your duties and how he ran his squad you were foolish enough to ask the question why he had chosen you out of all people, considering he demanded the best of the best to have his back.

"Because my fellow officers are fools when it comes to seeing talent." He took your surprised look and returned it with a scowl. "Don't let that get to your head, you don't have talent yet, just potential. Obey my orders and you'll become great."

So it was more of a compliment to himself and his skills than you. And your comrades wondered why you didn't care for him.

The ray of sunshine was the idea of working closely with Mrs. Ackerman, Evelyn was someone few admired due to her "stealing" of Captain Levi. You admired her spunk and tenacity, someone who was known to not take shit from anyone, including Levi was a person you couldn't help to aspire to be. While you didn't want to risk it and get on Levi's shit list, it was fun to imagine yourself becoming a distinguished officer like Evelyn and Hange. In a society ruled by men where women cowered and feared those apparently "above them", you couldn't help but want to be an independent woman and fearless leader like they were.

When you learned Evelyn had taken a leave of absence you couldn't help but be disappointed. You thought that with the looming threat of Marley that she would have taken a more active role, but she was one of the few officers missing from headquarters. Speculation and rumors grew, some believing that Evelyn either ran away from her responsibilities or deliberately became a housewife to dodge serving in war. A few hushed whispers even questioned the domestic state between man and wife, and if Evelyn had met the same cruel fate many women fell into with monstrous husbands.

You didn't want to believe it, not Evelyn. She wasn't one to run away and she sure as hell wasn't so weak as to be dominated by a prick like Levi. She killed Titans! How could one man bring her so low? It just didn't seem realistic. But that didn't stop the knot of worry from forming in your chest, something didn't feel right.

================================================

What was a normal day for most brought a buzz of excitement for you. You would finally get to meet your role model, when Captain Levi announced that Mrs. Ackerman would be coming to meet the new Levi squad you could hardly contain yourself. While it was just a formality for her to meet those who would have her back in combat it meant everything to you. This was second in command to Levi himself, your superior, but one you could actually appreciate. All the things you could learn from her.

Evelyn was shorter than you thought, on a horse she seemed taller, but then again, so did the Captain. What everyone described as an easygoing officer who cared about those in lower rank than she seemed almost nonexistent, perhaps she was just trying to give off a tough impression to those who thought she went soft after her marriage.

"Cadet hm? You look fresh from the Academy." She addressed you this time as she went over each squad member standing at attention.

"No ma'am, I've been graduated for over a year, I was in another squad that was disbanded when our Captain fell."

"So you got placed with the infamous Captain Levi, lucky you." Her tone lacked humor, and your eyebrows furrowed at her use of "infamous" rather than "famous".

"Yes ma'am." You couldn't quite put your finger on it but there was something off about her. The woman you had come to look up to was a firecracker when it came to injustice and protective over her subordinates. This Evelyn seemed like she could care less about them or their fates. "I hope you'll feel safe knowing I have your back."

She raises a brow. "Do you? How do I know you could do anything but watch me die? If it meant saving your hide for your officer would you abandon them? Isn't that what all you recruits do, stay behind and let us veterans mop up after you. That's what the Scouts does, saves themselves, they don't care about anyone else but themselves. You disgust me, you make empty promises you can't keep. Protect me from the Titans? You couldn't even protect me from-"

"That's enough." The cold tone rang through the even colder air. All stood to attention as Captain Levi stepped forward, his icy expression making them all shiver more than the cold. "You're here to meet the squad Evelyn, not harass them. Report to my office."

It was subtle, so subtle you almost believed you were seeing things. A look of fear flickered across Evelyn's expression.

"Wait Levi I'm sorry I should've-"

"Enough of your noise, I said report."

Seeing Evelyn hang her head and look so submissive sent a wave of anger from you. She had insulted you and now she was being barked at like a dog and was just taking it? To hell with military discipline you couldn't help but scream at her.

"I couldn't be more disappointed in you! I looked up to you and thought you were a great role model! You're just some arrogant jerk who cowers! I thought you were a strong leader but you're not! You're weak! A disgrace to that uniform!" You spat it out, surprised that Captain Levi allowed you to finish and speak to his wife like that. Afraid of what would come you tried to will back some courage, knowing his punishment would probably hurt.

"That's enough of that. Squad dismissed." Was all he said. "You, cadet. Report to my office this afternoon, we need to have a chat about respecting officers."

You swallowed the slight fear before nodding and saluting. "Yes sir." You deserved it, but man it felt good to wound Evelyn back the way she wounded you.

================================================

Barely satisfied with your rations you make your way to Levi's office, silently dreading what would come next. You had tried to stay off of the Captain's shit list, infamous for being hard to get off of with some of the most horrendous punishments known to man. But this is what you deserved for letting your anger get out of control.

As you rounded the corner you couldn't help but overhear muffled yelling. Coming closer to the door, with your ear to it you could make some of it out.

"Enough of this childishness Evelyn, when I give you a command you obey like a good wife. You force me to punish you like this, look at the man you're making me become. What were you thinking involving that girl in our marriage? Hm? How selfish could you be? Her lashing out at you is what you deserved." A slight pause. "Don't worry, she'll be punished, but I wanted you to hear what the world thinks of you. You're no longer this respected woman, they hate you as much as I love you."

You couldn't help but scrunch up your nose in disgust, that sounded awfully manipulative. Why would Captain Levi say that to his wife? Uncomfortable with overhearing any more you knock on the door, the noises from within silence before a stern, "Enter." is heard.

As you open the door you notice the Captain's stern expression and Evelyn standing in the corner refusing to face you. You tried to explain it to yourself that she was hurt by your words, but the hand holding her arm slipped just a little for your to see a large red welt on her skin.

What the hell had you just walked into?

[dreamingofthewild]

Hi there! I was just reading your post on Mystra grooming and I thought it was very well articulated I just had one question on it. You mentioned that Elminster reached out to Gale when Gale was 8 years old and I haven't seen that mentioned in the game or in other lore for the game. Would you mind letting me know where that was sourced? Mostly because I'm interested on reading on that more, thank you

Hello there kingtycoon13

SPOILER ALERT: EPILOUGE

The reference to Elminster reaching out to Gale comes from a letter that Elminster writes to Gale when he ascends to Godhood. The letter can be found in a basket full of letters the player can read in the epilogue.

More under the cut

In the Forgotten Realms Wiki, it does say that Elminster took on apprentices from time-to-time. Sometimes they were by Mystra's request.

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Elminster#Apprentices

We do not know why Elminster appeared on Gale's doorstop when he was eight years old. We do know that Gale was a child prodigy who could summon rabbits when since he was toddler (I cannot find the dialogue for this on the web). If magic was unstable at the time this makes his power an even more impressive feat.

So Elminster had connection with the Blackstaff and was prominent in Waterdeep.

There is every potential that he heard about a boy prodigy who was living with non-magically inclined parents and rocked up to their doorstep to offer help. He might have been thinking about how Mystra will need more chosen when she returns, or he might have just decided that it was time for another apprentice.

On the forgotten realms Wiki it says that Elminster spoke to Mystra who possessed the body of a bear and asked him to find new candidate's to become her chosen. Gale would have been 22 at the time if we go with his cannon age of 35.

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Mystra_(Midnight)

I think that Elminster may have suggested Gale as a candidate when Gale was 22. Elminster has helped train her chosen before, such as Sammaster.

There is also a very interesting tidbit I found upon looking him up where he says he left the encounter feeling as though he and Mystra were in love;

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sammaster

I do not know to what extent Mystra's presence could be felt whilst she was gone. But Midnight was said to have felt a 'presence' and her spells which might've failed succeeded and she felt like she was being groomed, before becoming the next Mystra. I cannot find any evidence to support a theory that Mystra was behind Gale's ability to cast magic at such a young age. But it is an interesting theory nonetheless.

Anyway, back to my original point. When I said that Elminster had a part to play, I meant that he is a renowned wizard and former chosen of Mystra. And he inserted himself into Gale's life when he was 8. It is implied that he did help him, and potentially recommended him if she did not already have her eyes on him herself.

Elminster does mention making a mistake in his letter, so could that be the mistake he refers to?

We don't know if Mystra sought Gale out as her chosen because of Elminster or vice versa. She may have set her eyes on him regardless but perhaps at a later stage. Either way, Elminster had a part to play in Gale being selected as her chosen.

My idea also stemmed from a post a read a while back where someone wrote Meta's on each BG3 character;

The final point I wanted to make was that grooming does not always involve one person. It can be an organisation or an entire industry which is set up to suck the souls out of people who have talent. Be it academia, sports, the film and music industries or the fictional industry of Wizardry.

But in general the process of becoming a chosen is exploitative and manipulative. We witness that in game with Shadowheart and Lae'zel. They were all groomed in different ways.