#With potential for comedic affect

[madsgotmadagain]

babe wake up tower of adventures gave me a new rairpair

[cervinae-canine]

Look with the other characters, I can mildly understand having to say "hear me out". Cartoony proportions and all that. But demoman, not a fucking chance bro.

"He's an alcoholic!" A person with an addiction does not equate to morality. A person with an addiction is still lovable. I have family members who had troubles with addictions to various things but it doesn't make them completely different people. Self-destructive, sure. Reckless, maybe. But people with addictions don't behave the same; they are still people.

Saying "hear me out" about Demo is CRAZYYYYY like... he's got one of the least cartoonish models in the entire game. He has realistic (for tf2) proportions. He is objectively very pretty. What? You need to "hear me out" about a character with an eyepatch? I know damn well it's not bc he's a cartoon character either this is the cartoon character fucker website

[nickeverdeen]

Hi!! Can I request Arcane characters with a fem s/o who is basically a bimbo and is genuinely very dumb and always wears pink and skirts with her pink heels??

Tysm! <333 💗

Arcane characters having a girly bimbo girlfriend

Jinx

Jinx is attracted to your carefree and bubbly personality, finding it refreshing compared to her own intense and chaotic nature

Jinx admires your style, finding it amusingly contrasting to her own edgy and punk aesthetic

She secretly enjoys the bright colors and girly outfits you wear, finding them endearing

Despite your naivety and lack of street smarts, Jinx feels a strong urge to protect you from any potential harm

She becomes fiercely defensive whenever someone underestimates or mocks your intelligence

Jinx indulges in playful and mischievous antics with you, enjoying your carefree moments together

She appreciates the simplicity and laughter you bring into her life

Jinx takes on the role of a patient teacher, explaining concepts and ideas to you in simple terms

She finds joy in witnessing your genuine curiosity, even if it means starting with the basics

Despite your perceived lack of intelligence, Jinx is surprised by the occasional insightful comment or observation that you make

She learns to appreciate your unique perspective on things

You and Jinx make for an entertaining duo, often unintentionally getting into amusing situations due to your ditzy nature

Jinx finds herself laughing more often and embracing the lightheartedness of your relationship

Despite your differences, Jinx wholeheartedly accepts you for who you are and loves you deeply

She values the genuine affection and happiness you share, cherishing every moment you spend together

Over time, Jinx discovers hidden depths within you, realizing that beneath the surface-level bimbo persona lies a funny-chaotic and compassionate individual

She grows to admire your authenticity and sincerity

Jinx finds solace in the chaos of her own life, knowing that she can always return to the simplicity and warmth of her relationship with you

Your love brings a sense of balance and stability to her otherwise tumultuous world

Caitlyn

Caitlyn’s relationship with you is an unexpected contrast to her typically serious and no-nonsense demeanor

Despite your differences, Caitlyn is drawn to your carefree and bubbly personality

Caitlyn finds amusement in your fashion choices, often shaking her head at the abundance of pink and frilly skirts paired with heels

She admires your confidence in expressing yourself through fashion, even if it’s not her personal style

Due your naivety and lack of street smarts, Caitlyn takes on a protective role just like Jinx, ensuring your safety in unfamiliar situations

She’s always vigilant, ready to intervene if you find yourself in trouble due to your innocence

Caitlyn patiently explains things to you, breaking down complex concepts into simpler terms

You and Caitlyn make for an unlikely but good duo

While Caitlyn is focused on her duties as an enforcer, you add a touch of lightheartedness and joy to her life, balancing out the seriousness of her work

Caitlyn learns to embrace your quirks and differences, offering you unwavering support and encouragement

She appreciates the genuine affection and happiness you share, valuing the moments of laughter and joy in your relationship

Despite your perceived lack of intelligence, Caitlyn discovers hidden depths within you, appreciating your kindness and compassion towards others

She realizes that beneath the bimbo persona lies a genuinely caring and loving individual

Caitlyn finds herself in amusing situations with you, often caused by your… interesting nature

While Caitlyn may roll her eyes at times, she secretly enjoys the comedic relief you bring to her life

You and Caitlyn complement each other in unexpected ways, with Caitlyn providing stability and guidance while you add spontaneity and laughter to your relationship

You learn from each other and grow together, embracing your differences

Despite your disparities, Caitlyn loves you unconditionally, appreciating the unique bond you share

She values the authenticity and sincerity of your relationship, finding solace and happiness in your love for each other

Viktor

Despite your lack of intellectual depth, Viktor finds you refreshing and amusing

Your simplistic views on life provide a stark contrast to his complex thoughts and experiments, offering a break from his usual intense focus

Viktor is bemused by your fashion choices, often raising an eyebrow at your penchant for pink skirts and matching heels

He appreciates your confidence in expressing yourself, even if he doesn’t fully understand your fashion sense

Viktor exercises patience and understanding with you, knowing that your lack of intelligence isn’t intentional

He takes the time to explain things to you

Your relationship is an unconventional pairing, with Viktor’s intellectual pursuits contrasting sharply with your carefree and simple-minded nature

However, he finds solace in the genuine affection and happiness you share

Viktor takes it upon himself to educate you, introducing you to new ideas and concepts in a patient and understanding manner

He finds joy in witnessing your genuine interest and enthusiasm, even if it’s for subjects he considers trivial

Viktor finds himself in amusing situations with you, often caused by your obliviousness and lack of intelligence

While he may sigh or roll his eyes at times, he secretly appreciates the comedy you bring to his life

Despite your differences, you and Viktor balance each other out

While he provides intellectual stimulation and guidance, you add spontaneity and lightheartedness to your relationship, creating a harmonious dynamic

Viktor learns to accept and tolerate your quirks and limitations, embracing you for who you are

He values the authenticity of your relationship, finding joy in the simple moments you share together

Despite your unconventional pairing, Viktor loves you unconditionally, appreciating the unique bond you share

He finds comfort and happiness in your love for each other, accepting your flaws and imperfections with open arms

Vi

Vi finds herself unexpectedly drawn to your carefree and bubbly personality

Despite your differences, she’s captivated by your genuine innocence and infectious optimism

While Vi may not understand your fashion choices, she likes her confidence in rocking pink skirts and matching heels

She finds it endearing how you embrace your girly style without a hint of self-consciousness

Not that Vi would be self-conscious about her style of clothing as she’ll put on whatever she sees or wants

Despite her tough exterior, Vi is fiercely protective of you, ensuring your safety in any situation

She takes on the role of a guardian, keeping a watchful eye on you and stepping in whenever necessary

Vi learns to exercise patience and understanding with you, knowing that your lack of intelligence isn’t intentional to provoke her

She takes the time to explain things in simpler terms, but she might get kidna annoyed if it takes too much time, but she’s trying her best

Your relationship is an unlikely pairing, with Vi’s street-smart toughness contrasting sharply with your naive innocence

Vi often finds herself in humorous situations with you, amused by your antics and obliviousness

While she may tease you from time to time, she secretly enjoys the lightheartedness and laughter you share

Despite your simplicity, Vi values the emotional support and positivity you brings to your relationship

She appreciates how your unwavering optimism brightens even the darkest of days

Despite your unconventional pairing, Vi loves you deeply, cherishing the unique bond you share

She finds comfort and happiness in your love for each other, embracing the unpredictability and joy of your relationship

Jayce

Despite your contrasting personalities, Jayce is enamored by your vibrant energy and unabashed love for all things pink

He finds your enthusiasm contagious, often lightening his mood after a long day in the lab

While Jayce tends to stick to his signature style, he can’t help but smile when he sees you confidently rocking her pink skirts and heels

He admires your bold fashion choices and appreciates how you add a pop of color to his life

Despite your penchant for pink, you surprises him with your curiosity and eagerness to learn

He enjoys engaging in thought-provoking conversations with you, finding your unique perspective on life refreshing

Jayce values the differences between you two, recognizing that you complement each other in unexpected ways

While he may be the brains of the operation, you bring a sense of lightheartedness and spontaneity to the relationship

Jayce is constantly amazed by your unwavering support and encouragement

Whether he’s facing challenges in his work or personal life, you’re always there to cheer him on with your infectious positivity

Despite your affinity for all things pink, you also surprise him with your adventurous side

Together, you embark on exciting escapades, from impromptu road trips to exploring new places, creating cherished memories along the way

One of the things Jayce loves most about you is your ability to make him laugh, even during the most stressful of times

Your infectious giggles and playful antics never fail to brighten his day

Despite your differences, you and Jayce share a deep mutual respect for one another

He values your unique perspective and appreciates how you challenge him to see the world in new and colorful ways

In the end, Jayce realizes that love knows no bounds, and that sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the ones that endure

He cherishes every moment spent with his pink princess, grateful for the joy and love you brings into his life

Ekko

You’re is the epitome of “brains and beauty” while Ekko himself is known for his street smarts and tech prowess

Despite your differences, you are drawn to each other’s unique qualities

Ekko appreciates your unintentional humor and often finds himself chuckling at your quirky remarks and antics

Your playful personality brings a lighthearted energy to the relationship

Despite Ekko’s best efforts to teach you, you struggle with anything tech-related

From operating gadgets to understanding complex concepts, you often rely on Ekko for assistance

You have a penchant for all things pink and girly

Ekko admires your confidence to express yourself through your clothing choices, even if they’re not his personal style

Despite your differing personalities, you and Ekko share a deep bond built on laughter and lightheartedness

While Ekko may be the brains behind your operations, you surprise him with your occasional moments of insight

Though rare, Ekko values your unique perspective and appreciates your ability to see the world through a different lens

Ekko cherishes your unwavering love and acceptance

Despite your differences, you love him for who he is, flaws and all

Ekko finds comfort in your unconditional support, knowing that you’ll always be by his side no matter what

Despite your seemingly airheaded persona, Ekko respects your unique qualities and appreciates you for who you are

While Ekko may be the one teaching you street smarts, he also learns valuable lessons from you in return

Whether it’s embracing spontaneity or finding joy in the little things, Ekko discovers new perspectives through your relationship

[thegoldencontracts]

How Can You Fluster Them?

Characters: Heartslabyul, Savannaclaw, Octavinelle

Ace Trappola:

- Pretty easily, actually.

- As smug and teasing as he can be, there are quite a few things that get him flustered.

- Bring up how sweet he's acting or how sentimental he seems to watch him sputter furiously in denial; show him direct affection and kindness to watch him blue screen for a second before embarrassedly scoffing about how lame you're being.

- You can fluster him even further by teasing him about how smug he was a second ago. That really gets him.

Deuce Spade:

- While you could tease him about being 'stupid', yes, that is a bit hurtful, and it isn't really the best way.

- Just the opposite. Genuinely complimenting his intelligence, his strengths? That's what catches him off-guard. He doesn't quite know how to acknowledge it when someone truly, genuinely tells him he's not dumb, and him not being an effortless scholar doesn't mean he is.

- There are other ways, of course, like sudden acts of affection, pranks, or even dodging his kisses.

- He gets all red, and a tad defensive. It's the funniest sight.

Riddle Rosehearts:

- Most affection flusters him.

- Seriously. He's never really received it, considering his upbringing, so even things like hugs or kisses on the cheek leave him red. You're not quite certain whether it's more cute or sad.

- He'll get rather huffy if you point it out. It's rather comedic, but you might want to refrain from laughing too much, lest he ends up chastising you.

Trey Clover:

- Pointing out his true brilliance.

- That's the main method. Although he's used to affection, to being told he's a good baker, a nice guy, and whatnot, he's not quite used to having his true potential acknowledged.

- He'll look away with a flush, denying his true intelligence, the true strength of his Unique Magic, or whatever it is you've opted to praise him for.

Cater Diamond:

- Allowing him to be genuine.

- It will take a while, frankly. With most people, Cater dons the personable mask of Cay-Cay the friendly senior, but with time... And patience, he may warm up to you enough to be himself. Be moody, the ultimate hater of sweets, and whatnot.

- He can't help but feel oddly flustered, caught off-guard, really, when you let him complain about the way Riddle was before his overblot, when you make him something salty for a dessert of sorts.

Leona Kingscholar:

- There are quite a few ways.

- If you two are together, he might tease you quite a bit. Reciprocating said teasing is certain to get him huffy and flustered. Teasing in general, really. Dodging his kisses? Headpats? Photoshopping him in cat ears? If you're close enough to him, they'll all work wonderfully.

- And... Genuine understanding flusters him as well. Prioritizing him in small ways, like taking a break from your gaming to talk to him, or allowing him to vent to you.

Ruggie Bucchi:

- Caring for him.

- Ruggie is used to having to act incredibly mature for his age, yes. He's cunning, clever, and responsible, important traits to make up for his disadvantages in life.

- So, when you (jokingly, I would hope) babytalk him, pat him on the head, or ask if he'd like to be the little spoon, it gets him terribly huffy. What's that supposed to mean, huh?

- It's even worse when you genuinely care for him, making him meals, or offering him a massage. It's hard for him to accept help. He's not a kid! He doesn't need the babying! It's worth nothing that he has a very broad interpretation of what counts as "babying". However, he will accept after a while, and be very, very flustered about it.

Jack Howl:

- Teasing him.

- He's always in denial about his softer side, no matter how apparent it becomes that he truly admires or cares for something or someone. He gets terribly flustered at his own sentiment.

- Teasing him about it just makes things worse. Dramatically exclaim how cruel he is because he said he "wasn't concerned for you or anything". Play dumb when he tries to ask for a kiss in a roundabout manner. The result is hilarious.

Azul Ashengrotto:

- There are so many ways to do this.

- Teasing him about his affections, for one. This is the same man who couldn't even admit to caring for his business, who claimed that love made one exploitable. He's already terribly mortified by his own so-called exploitability. Asking if he likes you gets him rather pouty before you're dating.

- Genuine, continued kindness is also rather flustering for him. You- care for him? Wish to see him succeed? You accept his flaws? You don't view him as pathetic for his tears? It's all territory he's terribly unused to.

Jade Leech:

- Standing up for him when he's insulted, for one. Telling the stranger that, no, his mushrooms aren't creepy, they're impressive, they just need to get a hobby. That leaves him shocked for a bit.

- There's also things like being the one to tease him, caring for him, listening to his rambles about mushrooms.

- Those leave him red-faced for a good few seconds. Calling out his flustered state garnets a pointed "Let us move on".

Floyd Leech:

- Initiating affection.

- Really, although he seems lackadaisical most of the time, impossible to fluster, it isn't quite that hard. He isn't used to being kissed, or hugged, or even praised without a certain business-oriented touch.

- So, when you suddenly kiss him, or offer to be the big spoon, or whatnot, he freezes up.

- If you point it out, he gets comedically defensive. Someone needs to tell him how terrible "I-I'm not blushing or whatever, that'd be laaame, so shut up!" Works as a method of denial.

[godzillabreath]

unfortunately I do have more to say about wwdits.

I think one of the most egregious things about the development of the show over the seasons is the tonal shift. I was watching it from the beginning to convince myself I wasn’t crazy for feeling the first three seasons were better, and I felt vindicated.

It was always a dark comedy, but it wasn’t always a zany dark comedy. It had been grounded in real, everyday life. The vampires prey on a LARP group, the vampires ride a late night bus to go to a city council meeting, Nandor tries for citizenship, etc. I think once they started introducing a slew of supernatural creatures like a monster-of-the-week a la carte, the show became increasingly less focused and outlandish. There are episode I don’t like even in seasons 2 and 3 that are emblematic of this shift. The siren, the gargoyles, the troll—they just feel out of place in a story that is supposed to focus on out-of-time vampires and how they engage with the modern world. They aren’t really adding anything to the characters or the plot when they appear either. They just make a flashy CGI appearance and give some quippy line, which ultimately eats up time where our main cast that we actually care about could otherwise be on screen, doing things. And then there was a point in time where this show just did not allow itself any more sentimental moments between characters. These moments, for me, made for refreshing moments between comedic situations. It balanced the humanity in all of the main cast. But the show opted out of those moments, and it just became a back-to-back comedic situation with less and less interesting character moments to look forward to. Anyway, I just find it kind of sad that the writers completely detonated all of the characters’ inner emotional lives by the series finale. I liked to see Nadja bored in her marriage and pursuing this lustful encounter with Gregor through reincarnated generations. I liked to see Colin challenged by another energy vampire undermining his territory. I liked to see Guillermo struggling with his fractured relationship with his family, his discomfort in his own sexual identity, and his need to cling on to this group of vampires that disrespect him if only to find family and personal liberation in their company. I liked Nandor being so disconnected from modernity that he became listless and depressed and lonely and clung on to the idea that he might make himself human again. I liked the romance that the writers were building literally textually and in all of their marketing material from season 3: that Guillermo (at least) had these unrequited and very frustrating feelings for Nandor and how that affected their relationship with each other. I liked the idea of Laszlo forming these personal connections with both Sean and Colin, even if I found their conclusive arcs to be lackluster, strange, or unpalatable (baby Colin to weird co-parent Colin was a bizarre arc.) I liked the idea of Nadja wanting power and community because of the impoverished, desolate conditions she grew up under (especially the class dynamic of marrying Laszlo and how that could be at times a schism in their relationship), even if the writers did not care to expand upon this. The potential just drives me crazy. I can’t believe they opted out of tying up any of these emotional hooks. I think it might drive me crazy forever.

[wisecura]

Sheets

megumi fushiguro x fem-reader

p.1

p.8  ( ⸝⸝꩜ ᯅ ꩜⸝⸝;) p.10??

p.9

AN: this took a minute, but I was finishing the outline for a few of the other chapters and a few other works I've been doing. I was off from work for a bit, went back, had a set of traumatic back to back days. and well, writers block is one hell of a thing, y'know? aaaand with the seasonal changes I'm just tired maybe a bit down. but thank you guys for your love and support!

warnings: this story may cover sensitive and uncomfortable topics. please read at your own risk, violence, lashings, blood, mental breakdowns, yandere, obsessive behavior, possessiveness, mommy kinks, mommy issues, arranged marriages, forced marriages, angst, eventual smut, clan politics, age gap (5 years from meg, and a little over 10 with toji), toji aint the best dad, mentions of child abuse, slowww build.

Short summary: Your arranged marriage to Toji Fushiguro had been sudden and unexpected, but now you found yourself living under his roof alongside your moody stepson. Your only directive from your clan head before moving in was clear: keep a close eye on Toji, the notorious Sorcerer Killer, and his son, a potential sorcerer prodigy.

threats and cwuddles

an: i said what i said

How utterly pointless.

There he was, standing before the pathetic excuse for a man—the one you called uncle, the so-called leader of your disgraceful clan. The ridiculous get up had him holding back a joke, as the man seemed to sneer down at him. His expression oozing disdain—as if he wasn't even worth the effort of a proper glance.

Toji nearly laughed at the sheer audacity.

This man, puffed up with self-importance and brimming with hollow authority, presumed to have the upper hand?

Absolutely comedic.

Toji let his eyes drift over the man slowly, deliberately, as if assessing a weak opponent in a fight he knew he’d already won. Everything about him screamed mediocrity wrapped in false power—his carefully pressed robes, the practiced tilt of his chin, the way he held his hands behind his back as if it really added weight to his presence.

But Toji saw through it all. He always did.

Authority like this was a farce. A staged act meant to instill fear in those who’d never known freedom. And Toji? He was already a foot out the door. And he didn’t play by their rules. Not now. Not ever.

He could kill him in seconds...if he really wanted to. 

"So," Toji said, his voice dripping with derision. "This is the man in charge, huh? Can’t say I’m impressed. You look more like an angry little chihuahua guarding a bone that isn’t even yours."

Your clan leader's sneer faltered for a second at his blatant disrespect. It wasn't often someone so ill-mannered showed their face in his estate, let alone had the audacity to open their mouth in front of him.

But they were all the same to Toji—weak, predictable, and utterly worthless.

Toji wasn’t the type to be a hero—never had been, never would be. Kindness just wasn’t in his nature, and every decision he made came with a price. He didn’t hand out favors for free, and he certainly didn’t involve himself in someone else’s mess out of the goodness of his heart.

So why was he here?

The answer was annoyingly simple.

you.

Maybe it was because, technically, he was your husband. Sure, it was only in name, but the fact remained. Or maybe it was because of Megumi—his dumb, lovesick son—whose actions, if not his words, made it painfully clear just how deeply his affections for you ran. 

From the surface, Toji could make excuses, just how he may have when he first picked you up from this clan. But deep down, way below—in the dark recesses of his mind, Toji understood the real reason.

It wasn’t about obligation or some half-hearted attempt to help Megumi.

It was the moment you'd broken down in his arms.

Sobbing, so uncharacteristically vulnerable, your back covered in those deep, fresh lashes—five if he counted correctly. Clinging onto him, in a way you hadn't ever done before, even when Megumi had been ignoring you. And he could see the scars from previous lashings. Some faint, a light pink indention, and others a solid light purple.

He wasn’t good at comforting people—really. And what good was an assassin in that situation?—but something in that moment had made his head snap. And a mix of different memories and bottled-up emotions compelled him forward. He'd never made impulsive decisions. And Toji Fushiguro was never one for kindness.

But now, here he was. Standing in front of your uncle, the so-called leader of your clan, ready to do something he knew was reckless. Something that could potentially mess things up for both you and his son. A defensive action like this could easily hint at a deeper relationship between the two of you, which was not something he really wanted. These geezers weren't brand new to mind games, but neither was he. And, sure, he could just kill the guy, but that seemed like way too much effort. A few choice words should handle it.

"So, tell me...why is the Toji Fushiguro bothering to grace me with his presence? I can’t imagine you're here to meet the in-laws?" He was fishing, hoping he would rise to the occasion, hint at any personal glimpse into the killer before him.

Toji didn’t take the bait. He just stood there, calm as ever, his face giving nothing away. God, did he hate these clan politics. His dark eyes casually swept the room, clearly bored—not impressed by the fancy decor, not intimidated by the guards at the doors, and definitely not by your uncle. Honestly, he'd rather be back home, digging into some of your homemade yakitori. This whole thing was turning out to be a real drag.

"What’s the matter? Are you just here to puff your chest and waste my time?" He's getting antsy now,

Toji’s lips twitched into an almost imperceptible smirk. His gaze razor-sharp, locking onto the older man. There was a pause as your uncle locked eyes on Toji's. Unmoving, unflinching, before Toji took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance just enough to make the clan leader stiffen. "You know," Toji said, his voice casual, almost conversational, "it’s funny. For a guy so full of himself, you’re awfully quiet about those welts you sent her home with."

Your uncle's eyes widened—but only for a moment, leaning back with mock nonchalance. "Welts? I have no idea what you're talking about. And what's it to you anyway? Don't tell me you've actually caught feelings for her?"

"Feelings? Don’t kid yourself. I’m not here to play hero, and I’m definitely not here for her." Toji shrugged casually, tossing his head to the side and leaning back to give him some room, his eyes flicking over the clan leader, as if taking his question seriously. "But let’s be honest—she doesn’t look as hot in bed when she’s got all those welts. Kinda ruins the mood, you know?"

Stunned, the clan leader chuckled uneasily, trying to regain some semblance of control. He shouldn't have been too surprised given the Sorcerer Killers stellar reputation for the debauched lifestyle. You were technically his wife afterall, "Ah, well—that makes more sense. Using the whore for what she's worth, I guess." Toji could practically hear your resale value dropping by the second, as the clan leader processed this thought before continuing in an almost thoughtful murmur. "Just here to make sure your toy stays intact."

"Call it whatever you want. I don’t care. But if you think I’ll let you mark her skin up again, then you’re even dumber than you look."

The clan leader’s sneer returned, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. Much like a petulant child, not getting his way. "And if I don’t? What then, Fushiguro? You’ll kill me?" Now lets not go putting ideas into his head...

Toji let out a low chuckle, shaking back in laughter at the fear creeping into his voice. "Kill you? Nah. You’re not worth the effort." He paused, feigning a change of heart as his voice dropped, leaning in again for the kill, his words a hefty weight. "Actually, maybe I’ll stick around. Tear this whole place apart just for fun. I hate this sorcerer bullshit anyway. Watching your precious clan crumble might actually make my day."

The clan leader’s face twitched, his bravado faltering again under Toji’s unrelenting gaze, his words hanging in the air-message loud and clear.

"Fine," he muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "If it means that much to you, no more marks. No need to make this a bigger deal than it is."

Toji smirked, satisfied. He stepped back as he turned toward the door. "Good. Glad we could see eye to eye," he said oh so smoothly.

With that, he strode out, leaving your uncle in an uncomfortable silence. Toji knew the man wouldn’t see him as anything but a threat, and that was exactly what he wanted. As long as they kept their grubby hands off you, he didn’t care what they thought—or what he had to say to make them believe it. And hopefully your home clan wouldn't go around making decisions on this calculated move alone.

Now, it was time for some well-deserved meat.

Thankfully, your clan visits were few and far between.

The trip home that day had been nothing short of brutal, and your clan head’s disdainful disregard for how you might explain the aftermath to your husband lingered in your mind like a bitter aftertaste.

The weeks dragged on, and before you knew it, the seasons had shifted. Fall gave way to winter, winter melted into spring, and eventually, summer arrived again. Yet, Megumi’s absence remained a constant despite the seasonal changes. 

Determined to stay connected despite the distance, you’d picked up a cell phone not long after Megumi left. Toji had handed over both his and Megumi's numbers with his usual air of indifference. “In case of emergencies,” he’d said, tossing the paper onto the table like it was no big deal. But to you, it was. Your focus had been on one number only: Megumi’s. He was the hardest to reach anyways. 

What would you even say? Hi, how are you? Too formal. I miss you already. Too much. The hesitation gnawed at you. After a few moments, you settled on something simple and sent it off, heart pounding in the silence that followed.

Megumi’s replies, however, had been scarce—short, distant, and frustratingly neutral. You tried not to let it sting, reasoning that he was busy adjusting to his new life at Jujutsu Tech. He had training, studies, and an entirely new world to navigate. But the lack of insight into his world left you feeling unmoored and oh so helpless.

Did he eat well? Was he overworking himself? Did he even want to hear from you? The unanswered questions piled up, an invisible weight pressing on your chest.

When his birthday came, you’d agonized over whether to call, but the fear of interrupting—or worse, being brushed off—kept your fingers from dialing. Instead, you texted him, wishing him a happy birthday in a message that felt far too impersonal. Hours later, his reply came: a simple thank you.

It was polite, but it wasn’t enough. It didn’t tell you if he was happy, if he’d smiled at your message, if he’d even thought of you beyond that brief acknowledgment. The distance between you felt larger than ever, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was slipping further away—or if you were.

You hoped—prayed—that he’d found some happiness at school. That maybe the time away had helped him grow, helped him heal in ways you couldn’t. You wondered if his sharp tongue and stubborn attitude had softened enough to allow for real friendships. Did he smile more? Did he laugh? You pictured him in that new world, surrounded by people who might understand him better.

As summer approached, anticipation and unease twisted in your chest, a slow, suffocating knot that tightened with each passing day. The thought of seeing him again stirred a mix of emotions—excitement, yes, but also a quiet fear that plagued you. Would he still look at you with that same guarded expression? Would the distance he’d created remain? Would he persist with questions you couldn't answer?

His parting words haunted you, echoing in the quiet moments when your mind wandered too far. You replayed that last conversation over and over, dissecting every syllable, every pause, every look. The unspoken questions lingered like ghosts: Had you done enough? Said enough? You’d wished, countless times, that you’d found the right words to ease the tension before he left.

Now, with the summer sun creeping closer, you could only wonder if it was too late to mend what had been broken—or if it had been broken at all.

And then, one quiet afternoon, he came home.

The sound of the door creaking open sent a jolt through you. Without thinking, you found yourself halfway down the hallway, your heart pounding in your chest.

When you saw him, you froze—and so did he.

He stood in the doorway, his tall frame outlined by the golden glow of the late afternoon sun. A faint breeze followed him in, tousling his hair and leaving it slightly messy, adding to the disheveled charm he carried so effortlessly. His piercing eyes locked onto yours, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away.

Neither of you spoke. The silence stretched, laden but charged, his gaze lingering on your face as if he were trying to memorize every detail. He looked different—older, his features sharper, his presence more commanding. You still found yourself struggling to recognize him each time you saw him—such a common occurrence now that it was almost expected. There was something in his eyes, something softer, more vulnerable. He looked like he wanted to say something.

“Megumi,” you whispered, full of hesitance. Your voice almost broke under the weight of the moment, a flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm you.

He didn’t move, his hands still gripping the straps of the bag slung over his shoulder. For a second, you thought he wouldn’t respond. Then he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction as he stepped further inside.

“Hey,” he said softly, the warmth in his voice wrapping around you like a balm. It was a simple word, but it carried so much—a mixture of relief, uncertainty, and something deeper—something unfamiliar, that made your chest well up.

You’d missed him more than you dared to admit. More than you’d allowed yourself to feel during the long months of silence. And now, standing here, the space between you felt both impossibly vast and achingly small.

For a moment, neither of you moved. Then, without a second thought, you closed the space between you and wrapped your arms around him in a tight hug. He stiffened, caught off guard, before slowly, his arms came up to hold you, and to your surprise, he hugged you back. Not hesitantly or awkwardly, but fully, his arms wrapping securely around you and pulling you close, almost flush to him. His head dipped down, his nose brushing against your hair as he held you firmly against his chest.

“Welcome home,” you murmured, unable to keep the brittleness from your tone, your cheek pressed against him. The words felt fragile, as though the moment might shatter if you spoke too loudly.

He didn’t respond immediately, but you felt him exhale, a deep, contented sigh that seemed to come from somewhere buried deep inside. His nose pushed further into your hair, and his grip tightened just enough to knock the breath out of you.

“I missed you,” his voice so quiet it was almost lost in the stillness. You hadn't expected it, the sentiment not lost on you. It'd been too long, the texts too short, and the emptiness of the house too loud. But the way his arms enveloped you, strong and protective, took away all of those negative feelings.

Your arms tightened around him in return, head still laying on his chest. The words slipping from your lips, practically dripping with affection. “I missed you too.”

Finally, after what felt like both seconds and forever, he shifted slightly, loosening his hold just enough for you to pull back. When your eyes met his again, you couldn't help the small smile plastered on your face. He looked at you like you were the only thing in the world that mattered, and it sent a bittersweet ache through your chest, a feeling you didn’t quite know how to name.

The corner of his mouth twitched, “You text a lot, you know that?”

A soft laugh bubbled out of you. “And you’re terrible at replying.”

“Dinner’s already started,” remembering the pan still on the stove. “You’re probably starving.”

He didn’t let go immediately, his hands lingering on your arms as if reluctant to let the moment end. “Yeah,” his voice low, as a faint flush crept up his cheeks, he finally stepped back. “Starving.”

You gave him a warm smile, brushing your hand lightly against his arm before turning toward the kitchen. Even as you moved away, you could feel his gaze lingering on you from behind—heavy, unrelenting, and more present that he previously was. Whatever walls had been between you before—whatever distance he’d tried to create—seemed to crumble in that quiet, intimate moment. Just what happened while he was at school?

Dinner that night was warm and comforting, a feeling you hadn’t experienced in what felt like forever.

“So, how was school? Are you making any friends?” you chirp, pacing around the kitchen, so aware of his eyes tracing your every movement. The excitement in your tone was impossible to miss, a lightness that hadn’t been there in months. After so many quiet dinners with only Toji for company, the thought of someone else at the table made you relieved. Even if the two of you had been getting along better recently.

Megumi glanced up from his plate, pausing for a moment before answering. “It’s...fine,” he said, his tone clipped but not unkind. “I’m focused on my training. That’s what matters.”

You hummed, a small smile tugging at your lips. You don't miss the evasiveness of his answer. “Still, I hope you’re finding time to enjoy yourself, even just a little.”

He didn’t respond right away, fiddling with his food, his gaze briefly dropping to his plate.

“Make any friends?” you try again, gently.

“A few,” he admitted, his tone reluctant but not dismissive.

“Really?” you hum out again, glancing over your shoulder at him. You wanted him to open up to you, but with his nature it wasn't exaclty going to be easy to get him to talk. “Anyone special?”

He shrugged, eyes still downcast. “Not really,” he replied, his voice neutral but you saw the way he trailed off, lost in his own thoughts.

You paused, raising an eyebrow at him, deciding to press a little more. “C’mon, Megumi,” you teased lightly, turning back to the stove. Your tone intentionally unserious. “I know you’re not that antisocial. You’ve got to be opening up a little, right?”

His lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but the expression didn’t quite land. “It’s fine,” he groaned, though his tone softened slightly, as if the question hadn’t entirely annoyed him. “I’ve been busy.”

You hummed again in acknowledgment, not pushing him further, but your smile lingered. You were just glad to have him here, back where he belonged. Actually talking to you. Even if he wasn’t saying much, his presence spoke volumes.

Your questions continued easily—about school, his classes, his life outside of the house—and though his answers were typically grumpy and brief, you didn’t mind. It was the fact that he was answering at all, the fact that he wasn’t shutting you out, that made it all feel worthwhile. You didn’t dare bring up the tension from last summer, not wanting to risk spoiling the fragile good mood.

Toji was out for the night, leaving the house blissfully quiet, and Megumi made no comment on the food, though he cleaned his plate for the second time. It was a small victory, but it still left you smiling as you settled onto the couch afterward.

Megumi surprised you by sitting beside you. He didn’t say anything, just crossed his arms and leaned back, his expression neutral as you put on a movie. Sure, he'd sat near you before, but the long months that followed his absence made you tense a bit. He didn’t seem particularly interested in the movie you put on, but you heard no complaints.

At some point, exhaustion crept up on you. The day had been long, and the warmth of the room, combined with Megumi’s quiet, steady presence, lulled you into sleep. Without realizing it, you shifted slightly, leaning toward him, your head eventually coming to rest against his shoulder.

Megumi, of course, noticed immediately.

He stiffened at first, his entire body going rigid as he felt the soft weight of you curling against him. His breath hitched, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break out of his chest. His mind screamed at him to stay still, to not move or make a sound.

But then he glanced down.

You looked so peaceful, so utterly at ease with him, and it sent a surge of emotions through him that he could barely contain. Warmth, nervousness, longing—it all tangled together, leaving him frozen in place. The faint light from the television cast soft shadows across your face, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

You trusted him so much, leaned into him so easily, and it made him ache with something deep and primal. He didn’t know if he deserved this—if he deserved you—but he couldn’t stop himself from savoring the moment.

Tentatively, he allowed himself to relax, his shoulder shifting slightly to give you more room. His fingers twitched in his lap, aching to reach out and brush a stray strand of hair from your face, but he held himself back. He couldn’t ruin this.

He stayed like that, unmoving, as you curled closer, your breathing soft and even against him. Every part of him burned with the overwhelming need to keep you like this, to hold you, to never let you go. 

When the movie ended, and the room fell into quiet stillness, he carefully reached for the blanket draped over the back of the couch. Gently, he pulled it over you, his hand brushing your arm as he tucked it around you. The brief contact sent a shiver down his spine, but he forced himself to pull away.

He refused to leave, wanting to be with you like this as long as possible. 

p.1

p.10

come home

[ninja-confession-go]

They should've utilised Jay being raised in a desert more, ESPECIALLY for comedic potential

They could've had a scene of the others fighting for their life in the heat and then Jay's completely fine and silently judging them or Jay randomly pulling out extensive knowledge on how to avoid heatstroke or him being badly sunburned and simply not being affected by it at all.

(Although maybe they did tap into the comedic potential and I just forgot, I don't have great memory)

.

[sillygoofyqueer]

I don’t know if you or any of your anons have said something like this before but what if Corvid King/Crow Deity thing Shen Yuan gets B-points whenever he’s prayed to, given offerings, etc?

First of all, it has been a W H I L E since I've seen a crowyuan ask in my inbox, you should have seen the WHIPLASH I got when reading this - I thought I'd gone back to Summer last year!!! And this isn't a bad thing, my brain immediately started ticking, thank you for sending this bad boy! I always love asks, especially ones like these. Now, *cracks knuckles then dies because I hate the sound* let's get back into my crowyuan mindset, ehhehehehehe!!! Honestly, this is such a good idea! Because it's like, Shen Yuan is getting these random offerings and prayers (and obviously he both accepts the offerings and helps out, he's going to be a good deity!!), and then he gets B-points for it?! I think this would almost throw him off, because the system's been pretty silent in the AU so far (from what I can remember), and then he's suddenly getting an influx in all these B-points, reminding him that he wasn't born in this world! You can have angst from that - y'know, imposter syndrome and all that - and/or you can also have Crowyuan going out of his way to gain more followers, for more B-points! This is great comedic potential because before he was just casually helping out whoever needed assistance while being a social devil who broke through literally all of the demons' different social rules because he didn't know them, and now he's actually going out of his way to help people? He's actively seeking out people to help out and gain as followers? That shit's hilarious. Imagine for a moment, that you're an NPC in a random village, a village that is kind of removed from the cultivation world as a whole, that has heard whispers of some sort of 'corvid deity' that helps out those in need. Now, you may believe it, you may think it's bullshit, but you know that it won't affect you because your village doesn't get involved with any of that!! You go about your normal day, right, helping out in the local village, and then out of nowhere, this demon with golden crow wings and golden eyes and feathers (or like feather scale type shit (think those feathered dragons as a reference of sorts)) dancing down his neck and cheeks and {insert other cool features here} is like "hi, friendly neighbourhood corvid deity, here! Y'all need any help around the village? Any beasts terrorising you, or curses befalling you, or....broken fences that need mending???" I think I'd devote myself right away, my bad for even doubting you Mr. Crow King sir!!!

[secriden]

I always love your posts about THK and your recently pinned post and another one about Style yearning for skinship are just *chef's kiss*. So thank you for your analysis!

I saw some comments on tumblr that Style was acting as if he's sad and playing Fadel and I just could NOT agree, so I was glad to see your post. My opinion on Style's crying scene is I don't think Style meant to cry at first, but his emotions sort of overwhelmed him while he was talking. I think he definitely uses his cheerful disassocation with reality to deal with fear and he was just going to tell his message to his dad just in case, perhaps in a more lighthearted way, but he remembered about his mom and the reality of potential death hit him fully because his mother's death must be the closest death he'd experienced in his life. And when Fadel asked him if he was crying he just said Duh and wasn't fully crying, but after Fadel told him to stop the sob story, he turned back and the tears really started flowing. When I saw that I could really relate to him because that's how I usually act too- act nonchalant to hide my real feelings. Style wasn't planning to get emotional and then got mocked for it - and he was also denied his s*xual advances/skinship earlier too- that must've felt really hurtful to him.

As much as the scene hurts, I'm glad to see this was not cut because even cheerful, positive people like Style really gets down sometimes and people don't really understand this, even in real life! I was kind of like this when younger and had some people tell me they can't imagine me feeling sad or nervous. So seeing Style's rare serious and emotional side in the story is really made me kind of acknowledged? When I started watching this show, I didn't think I would get this attached to this character. He's like a ray of sunshine, very pure in his beliefs and quite fiercely loyal too (might be weird to say when he was complicit but he is actually loyal to both Kant and Fadel to the best of his ablities IMO) and the actor/Dunk is absolutely killing this role! Not just the crying scene in this episode, but Dunk's comedic timing in delivering the one liners is SO GOOD he manages to make me laugh every single episode so far.

Lovely anon, oh thank you for sharing so vulnerably about how you related to Style in that scene. I really agree with you that Style wasn't putting on an act to fool Fadel. I'm very surprised to hear that anyone still thinks Style is playing Fadel at this point?? O_O I don't think anything he does this episode is an act anymore -- even when he propositions Fadel with a shirt tossed into his face, there's clear and genuine intent behind it:

There's so much going on in this look. The gentle fondness as he gazes back at Fadel, the way the look seeks to communicate affection even as Fadel is glaring back in anger and frustration. But there's acceptance too, like he understands why Fadel is keeping his walls up, he understands why Fadel feels he deserves some of this harshness and he will let Fadel take the time he needs to come to whatever conclusions he wants to as long as Fadel does so with the understanding that Style's love for him is genuine.

Because at the end of the day the only thing Style really doesn't want is for Fadel to make his choice (to forgive or to cut Style off) thinking that Style's feelings are still a lie. I think that's the crux of the problem between them now: Fadel is pushing Style away because he is certain Style’s feelings aren’t true, and have never been true, but Style knows his own heart and understands the fundamental shift inside him that occurred over the course of their relationship.

Which is why I think Style is genuine in everything he’s showing Fadel now. Even if he didn’t mean to cry, I think his worry for his dad is very real. And I think the reason why he brings it up with Fadel is that Style is done hiding anything from him now. It’s not about manipulation, nor is it an attempt to make Fadel feel guilty. But he's taking everything Fadel is giving to him incredibly seriously and part of that is facing the possibility that Fadel may decide to kill him at the end after all. And that's... scary; hell its terrifying and heartbreaking and Style has understandable guilt related to how losing him after losing his mother is going to affect his dad.

And actually what you're saying about "cheerful and positive people like Style" also sometimes feeling down is such an important aspect of understanding Style's character. Because we can only really understand the weight of Style’s love for Fadel if we see him in all his multifaceted complexity: Style has suffered, Style understands the pain of loss but has learned to find joy in his life in the process of dealing with his mother’s passing. Styles cheerfulness and positively is not a sign of his immaturity or lack of complexity but rather evidence of a inner strength and determination to find meaning in life beyond the sadness. After my dad passed, it took me nearly 4 years to even get to a point where I began to want to want to find pockets of happiness. There was so much about me at the time time bound up in my feelings of loss and sadness and the ache of missing my dad, the unfairness of it all. Style is-- Style is so very precious to me.

And something I found really poignant is how Fadel and Style have such opposing methods of dealing with grief and fear. Fadel hides from it, runs from it, builds up walls and remains ever vigilante so he'll never be vulnerable again, while Style faces his grief and his fear head on. Style takes his fear out and holds it in the palm of his hand and in the process - like you said - maybe found himself more overwhelmed then he expected, but he allows himself the space to cry because he also sees that its important in the moment. And he invites Fadel into that vulnerability with him. That's insane to me -- Style's love for Fadel means that even when Fadel has a gun to his head and is the source of his fear, Fadel is always orientated on the INSIDE to Style.

To extend the allegory, the difference between them is that Fadel's love made him invite Style inside his walls as an outsider, but Style's love makes Fadel already part of him. Fadel doesn't need an invitation because at no point in episode 8 did Style ever treat Fadel as anything but an extension of his own heart.

So yeah, I'm so with you about being grateful for the scene. I think it maybe could have been shot differently (for instance, I kind of wish they'd just let Dunk do his thing and sell the moment without having that background music 180 degree shift), but I adore it for what it shows us about Style and the way he thinks and feels, and most of all the way Fadel is oriented in his heart.

[ririwithrice]

Meet the Alters + explaining myself?

TW VENT, PERSONALITY DISORDERS, TRAUMA, CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, MENTAL ILLNESS ETC

hi, i’m roshi, and ever since i was little i’ve had moments where i’ve felt like multiple people or had conflicting opinions or felt guilty or conflicted about things i’ve said or decisions i’ve made before, as if they weren’t done by me or don’t actually align with my beliefs and interests. i often feel myself feeling like different people, switching like someone with a personality disorder, typically DID. i align with a vast majority of the symptoms of DID, howeverrr i haven’t had an official assessment of it or talked about it to a professional, or had a diagnosis.

I AM NOTTTT SAYING I HAVE DID OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, DO I BELIEVE I COULD PROBABLY HAVE IT OR ANOTHER PERSONALITY DISORDER? YES. BUT IM MOT SAYING I DO AS ITS A SERIOUS CLAIM AND I NEED TO CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE I AM CONCRETE WITH THAT CLAIM.

I do not want to make myself seem like a spectacle or like this is all fun and games and silliness. it’s not. is it fun and cute sometimes? yeah, and i love when the fun/sweet alters come to visit me, but it’s not always fun or cute. it leaves me feeling like i don’t know who i am at times, and like i’m no one or have no actual morals because i feel like i’m not a real or actual personality/person. it’s made me be mean and dismissive to my loved ones and felt awful about it afterwards. it makes me feel like i have no actual personality or interests because they always change or feel different. i have actually sometimes struggled to tell past dreams or delusions from reality and the possibility of that seriously affecting me (it hasn’t yet luckily) actually terrifies me but it’s not that extreme. mostly just random stuff but still scary. my symptoms have resulted from trauma and having to put up several fronts or create different versions of myself to satisfy others as soon as i was the age where i realised i was being perceived. (so like 6 or 7 lol)

i haven’t had a label to term these symptoms till now. it helps to have these labels for alters or symptoms even if i’m not 100% certain about my potential diagnosis. sorry for the vent if you just came for fun character profiles i promise the isn’t as sad or dark as it seems i’m just explaining my stand point!

if you have any questions please ask me i beg youuu do not feel guilty or weird it helps me to understand myself better literally!

OKAY NOW THE FUN PART

Alters:

RIRI ❤️

Riri is my little alter, I usually feel in a regressed state when i’m her, and i feel just small and silly and say weird or cute things, at least i think they’re cute lolz. i love when she visits and she’s so sweet and has brought me nothing but joy 99% of the time. she has her own blooog, unfortunately i haven’t switched to her properly in a while but she’ll be back soon :). this is her blog @ririxbot . think of her like a real life cat valentine.

she’s my first termed or labelled alter. i do not believe she is my first actual alter tho, as she’s pretty new on the scale of my symptoms starting. On here and other places i have been silly and comedic or weird and saying things like “yes yes” which is kind of her catchphrase lol, and just genuinely being a weird cute little character. i thought it was completely by choice and just a silly character i did but i soon started feeling like her involuntarily and switching to her without realising until i started thinking it was just age regression or good method acting but no, i felt like i was a different person. people brought the possibility of DID or things like that up and i did research and i started labelling myself with some aligning symptoms and terms. I had felt like i might have had it before but never truly felt like i did but now i am aware of it a lot. heh. it’s weird but she feels like a robot or some kind of doll? i don’t know it’s hard to describe it apart from using the word character, but it’s not a voluntary thing yk.

KURT 🦖

Okay, i’ll be honest, kurt can be a DICK sometimes. he’s been a dick to people before and i’ve felt awful about it and people don’t understand. i’ve obviously took responsibility and do not feel like i am absolved of it, i am not!!! but i hate when he makes me feel like that. BUTTT usually if you don’t get too sappy or anything he’ll be just a standard funny british lad (ejekejhekauehea). he’s masc and probably gay? it’s weird cause i’ve felt myself aligning with gay or mlm concepts or relationships but i am not a trans guy or transmasc so yeah i think that’s been him all along. lol. he’s kind of the opposite of riri. she’s sweet he’s not sour but not over affectionate or lovey dovey or the kindest which kinda sucks.i have mixed feelings about him :P he’s kinda new but i’m pretty sure he’s been around subtly before for a long time but only just became more dominant. I’d give him his own blog but he doesn’t care enough or visit enough. he usually litterally only visits on weekends it seems. he likes chilling and laughing at dumb shit. standard lad to be around usually. i like him. i think.

I don’t have any other fully fledged out or completely solid alters but i feel like some are starting to come alive lol, so i’ll update but for now those are the ones i feel most comfortable with talking about or genuinely exist in my opinion. thanks for listening :) please let me know your opinions!!! or questions but please be kind

[yandere-daydreams]

I have to gush about the Worship fic real quick:

I love the flip of the power dynamic- despite Reader being the Yandere and the kidnapper, they were never in control. Them finding the collar on the bed and no Gojo?? *chef's kiss* Just the fact that Reader, despite their devotion to Gojo, is now kinda stuck with him. And Gojo being soooo affection starved (and not over his ex lmao) that he went along with a kidnapping and lapped up every bit of Reader's devotion. Incredibly unserious and depraved; 20/10.

Absolutely fantastic!

ahh thank you!!! it's been a while (like,,, actual years i think) since i've written for a yandere!reader, but it was very important for me to uphold two of the fundamental truths of my blog, in this case being 1) the reader-insert must always find a way to have the worst possible time and 2) in any scenario, gojo can always be trusted to act like a little freak. there was also simply,,, so much comedic potential to gojo as a superhumanly powerful willing captive who really does just want to be your unwilling househusband but also has to, like, keep teaching classes and fighting curses and stuff and so much horror potential to be on the other side of that (i.e. the person who has to watch their captive regularly slip his shock collar because he has to send a bunch of ninth graders into life-or-death combat). it is not a flavor i usually dabble in, but it was very fun to try it out and i'm glad you enjoyed it <3

[terukotime]

thinking about Ace and Eden again and how i really don't want either of them to be the culprit lol. i just feel like either one being the blackened would be a waste of their potential. i know in Danganronpa that's bound to happen with some characters, but Ace and Eden both have traits and arcs that could run through the whole series, or at the very least, to the next chapter. while a big part of any killing game story is losing characters quickly and having their arcs and growth cut short (we've already seen as much with Arei, rest in peace queen), Eden and Ace have a lot of prominence in the Trust vs. Distrust theme of drdt, on either side respectively. and they both have a lot of potential for their views to change. i can totally see Eden's optimism finally starting to crack, and she begins to lose hope in trusting others and thinking they're good-intentioned, especially since she was put in virtually the same place that Teruko was in in the last trial, with everyone distrusting her and thinking she's the culprit. though Ace hasn't had much of a catalyst to alter his beliefs yet, there's still hope for his views to change. he's a lot like how Teruko began to behave after the first trial, thinking he can't trust or rely on anybody and pushing everyone away as much as possible.

[giant-ass analysis under the cut. i didn't expect myself to go on such a huge rant, but i realized i have quite a lot of thoughts on the matter lmao. there are probably a lot of hot takes in here and i know there will be people who won't agree with me, so take this all with a grain of salt, pls & thx]

while Ace's role in the trials is mostly confined to causing conflict and being a comedic relief, he's expressed being committed to investigating the scene of Arei's death. while sure, if Ace is the culprit, his desire to investigate could very well be a ruse. but for the sake of his potential, it'd be far more interesting if him being innocent results in him going on to investigate more thoroughly and contribute substantially to the trials. Arei did have potential for a full redemption arc, but her death doesn't feel narratively unfulfilled. its tragedy not only allows the audience to further sympathize with Arei and see just how nuanced she was, but it's also meaningful to the members of the cast, and will serve as a point of motivation for them, whether that be to maintain hope in escaping or giving into despair.

at least, that's how it's set up to be. i feel that if either Eden or Ace are the culprit, Arei's death loses a good deal of its weight and meaning. especially if the culprit is Eden; even if she had "well-intentioned" motivations for killing her (as well-intentioned as murder motivations can be, anyway), Arei's breakdown, desire to change, and tragically short path to redemption is rendered pointless. her want to be a good person will have affected virtually no one. her death will have only held significance to David, as most of the cast didn't care for Arei or hated her, much like Ace.

while Culprit Ace won't render Arei's death *as* meaningless as Culprit Eden, it sure would make Ace's own death feel pretty meaningless. he'd be dying in a trial where he fully believes everyone is cruel, everyone hates him, and no one cares about him at all. his shift in his belief can't really be considered much of an arc or even a regression; he just descends further into his hatred and paranoia until he dies doing exactly what the killing game expects of him. Ace, a character who has prioritized his self-preservation all throughout the series, will have thrown that away for...what? revenge against Nico? would he really place his hatred for them over his fear and will to live? Ace is impulsive and narrow-minded, but he's not without *some* sense. if Ace were to be the culprit of this chapter, what would he have contributed to the story? what would his existence have meant? what would he have provided that the story can't progress without? he'd have zero growth, zero stakes, and zero relevance to the ongoing plot, aside from unrevealed backstory (most of which will likely go unsaid in the main story if he were to die now). do i think Ace is going to play a significant role in the overarching story? no. not as much as characters like Xander and David, anyway. but he still has so much to offer as either a survivor or later victim/culprit, as we'll have spent more time with him, gotten a better understanding of him, and possibly be able to sympathize with him, like we do with Arei.

and here's another thing i've been thinking about, too: all the deceased so far have a point of significance to the story. Xander has a connection to the larger-scale mystery surrounding the killing game and a complex relationship with David. he continues to be relevant in the story even after his death and will likely always be.

Min is not only a cautionary tale to the rest of the cast, but her story follows a very cohesive path:

she's a girl committed to her academics and has been led to believe it's the only thing about her that matters ->

while not a social butterfly, she still enjoys spending time with others and making the most of the situation she's in ->

she forms a bond with Teruko, someone who has shown to value both her intelligence and her personality ->

she finds Teruko being murdered by Xander, and instead of being a bystander, she takes action to save her friend ->

she realizes that what she did has jeopardized her own life, a life that she does not center around herself. her family depends on her having a successful future, a future she has been groomed to achieve since she was little and has made several sacrifices for ->

though Teruko is her friend, Min prioritizes her self-preservation. there are too many things that are objectively more important to her than the life of a girl she's known for a couple days ->

still, she cannot shake her guilt and chooses to remain at Teruko's side throughout the investigation ->

she's desperate to maintain her lie, even if it means framing the friend she tried to save and getting everyone else killed. she fights and fights until she can no longer ->

she loses everything. her life, her future, the trust of her friends, the trust and bond she had with Teruko. Min always had good intentions. but even good-intentioned people can do terrible things.

Min's story throughout Chapter 1 alone is very digestible and easy to follow. even without knowing the greater contexts of her life, like her family's financial situation or her groomed future of being a Hope's Peak student, her motives and actions make complete sense. you don't come away from it feeling like she acted out of character or that her death was hasty or sloppily written. her death has a lot of meaning and impact on the other characters.

and that alone makes Culprit Eden or Culprit Ace unsatisfying. Culprit Eden would not only undermine Arei's death and potentially lead her into character derailment, it'd also just be Min's story regurgitated in a much less compelling manner. Teruko has already had her trust broken, and while it seems like she's slowly starting to see the value in relying on others again in the Chapter 2 trial, what good would Eden's death do for her? even if it causes Teruko to regress, what will change? wouldn't Teruko go back to being the way she was acting at the start of the chapter, undoing whatever growth was already beginning to happen? will she be unaffected by Eden's death, or at least act like it? will it somehow strengthen her desire to trust and rely on others again? (it won't.) Eden's role as the chapter 2 culprit really won't do much good for the story, regardless of what her reasons are. everything we've learned about Eden and Arei, both together and individually, will be irrelevant. the significance of Arei wanting to be Eden's friend unconditionally, something that we learn is so significant for her because of her secret, will turn out to actually be pointless because Eden will have killed the one person who expressed they'd be her friend her regardless of who she is.

Ace simply hasn't done enough in the story to establish his deeper character. with Xander, Min, and Arei, we already got glimpses into their core beliefs, their true selves, their moral standings. if those aspects of a character are only revealed after they're confirmed to be the culprit, then honestly...that's just bad writing. i don't like saying that, but i firmly believe it. not only do we hardly know anything about Ace's backstory, we just don't know a whole lot about him other than surface-level things the show outright tells us: he's fearful and paranoid, he doesn't like being a jockey, he's hotheaded and unsociable, he developed an eating disorder due to the strict requirements of his talent, he's hardly ever had any friends, he doesn't think anyone cares about him. and while a lot of inferences can be made from that information, it's still very speculative, and even a bonus episode after his execution wouldn't be able to cover enough of his backstory and personal life for it to feel justified narratively. you simply can't kill him off without letting us see another side of his character and have it better the story.

if either of them do, unfortunately, turn out to be the true culprit of the case...i will be very disappointed. i won't drop drdt or criticize drdtdev for their decisions, but i will still personally believe it to be a bad choice. nevertheless, it's not my story, and i will continue to support and enjoy the show regardless. i have a lot of faith in drdtdev's skills as a storyteller, but no story can be completely perfect. Ace or Eden being the true culprit won't destroy the show as a whole, and i'm not trying to imply that it's a fundamentally bad choice, i just think it'd be very difficult to pull off and have it feel natural, organic, and satisfying for the ongoing story. i will neither be optimistic nor pessimistic about what happens in the next coming episodes, i will simply wait and see. i just wanted to get all my thoughts out here, and hopefully i didn’t come across as aggressive or snobbish or anything. this is a free to watch series, after all, and i enjoy and appreciate all the hard work that has gone into it and made it possible.

[classygreydove]

wangxian + hanahaki with a twist AU ideas

many fic readers have mixed feelings about hanahaki aus for various reasons. But i think there's a lot of potential with this au, if only it is tweaked a bit:

Idea #1: in a world where u get hanahaki whenever you hold unacknowledged feelings for someone, wwx cannot figure out who he has feelings for. Is it Mianmian??? (and he has to figure it out before it kills him, if you want more angst. or for a more comedic fic, getting hanahaki is just annoying and embarrassing, and goes away once he realizes aloud who he likes romantically.) but the plot twist: wwx was intentionally oblivious this whole time because he "knew" liking lwj wasn't an option bc he has to stay in lotus pier and be jc's right hand, or he is yllz and without a golden core he will die early/cannot be lwj's cultivation partner, so he is subconsciously (but slowly more consciously) preventing himself from recognizing his own feelings

Idea #2: in a world where u get mildly inconvenient but not life-threatening hanahaki whenever you hold unacknowledged feelings for someone, a teenage lwj refuses to admit he likes wei wuxian, of all people. He won't. He won't. (and lxc in the back, trying to set them up: didi i love u but why) he spends the majority of the fic being frustrated at the flowers he coughs up and their meanings. by the end of the fic/wwx's time in cloud recesses lwj has accepted he is in love with wwx and the hanahaki goes away.

Idea #3: in a world where you don't get hanahaki in your lungs but as flower tattoos on your body, lwj is covered in flowers from head to toe for years. It is harmless, but seen as pitiable to love so deeply and unrequitedly. wwx doesn't know until he returns as mxy bc it was his "get lost!" before his death that caused the flowers to appear on lwj's skin in places he could not cover with his robes. Maybe lwj is wearing a veil/gloves etc to cover up the flowers when wwx returns bc the flowers are seen as deeply personal. maybe he doesn't and wwx sees the flowers right away.

Idea #4: in a world where anyone with a golden core gets a mild, not-dangerous case of hanahaki whenever you have a crush, (and it is considered a way of confession/courting to give the flowers to the object of your affections, with the hanahaki going away once affection dies/or is returned) teenage wwx and lwj both get hanahaki. wwx leaves the flowers in lwj's room/on his desk/etc, but has no idea lwj preserves all of them by pressing and storing them in a book. lwj does not give any of his flowers in return until after xuanwu cave, when wwx wakes up to find a flower tucked into his robes. Then after wwx passes out upon defeating wrh, lwj leaves wwx another flower. lwj thinks wwx no longer has hanahaki/his affections have died, but in reality wwx has no core and cannot make them. then the yunmeng balcony scene happens, or the flower toss scene at the nighthunt happens (wwx is still pining, he still wants to give lwj flowers even though they aren't hanahaki flowers) and lwj wonders why wwx has tossed him a flower if his affections are no longer returned. and idk maybe its canon compliant from there, or maybe its a fix-it. who knows.

[syndrossi]

This setting tends to lend itself well to angst, political and family drama, and the premises of the stories revolves heavily around family feels. But which one of your AU's has the greatest potential for comedic nonsense? The silly antics, the absurd shenanigans, all of them.

Most of them have some potential, if you're willing shift the tone for a story!

Restoration: Utter shenanigans with the dragons and starklings. Ned getting roasted for his honorable bastards way of life. Every holdfast in the Vale watching a dragon approach and a white-haired, wild-eyed Targaryen throwback demanding to know if they've kidnapped his children. Popcorn popping across the Free Cities that Daemon doesn't terrify at the stories coming out of the south and across the Narrow Sea.

Reverberate+Regnal: All the chaos the twins can get into as they grow up. The terrible twos from Daemon and Rhea's POV. Baelon appointing the five-year-old twins his advisors for the day to the small council and the eyebrow-raising council session that ensues. Any of @inkykate's pitches for Jon accidentally upending mountain clan politics after stubbornly trying to find his way around a collapsed bridge and getting lost. The King's Landing trio (Laenor, Laena, Rhaenyra) pining after Daemon and egging one another on into stupid dares for his attention. Baelon trying Daemon out as a diplomat...somewhere he doesn't mind pissing off in case it doesn't work out and the mess it creates. Daemon and Rhea getting into a battle of increasingly ridiculous one-upmanship over the twins' affections...the possibilities are endless!

Rescue: ...okay, this one probably doesn't have any.

Reversal: Every stupid thing every person does to win the affections of the twin princesses. Rhaegar/Rhaella having an absolute field day, sending suitors on increasingly ridiculous quests to see just how stupid they're going to be, until it becomes a competition between her and Jon/Aemma. Aegon and Aemond being the stupidest about it, possibly. Otto despairing at them being idiots.

Knight of Stars: People actually believing that Arthur is Daemon's bastard son (either because they go with that cover story for some reason or because a singer writes a song and it's all over from there). A short story about Jon and Rhaegar (during a rebellious phase) evading every single Princesguard set on them except Arthur, who is always summoned to find them and always manages to succeed. (The Cargyll brothers have a 50% chance of success.) Political absurdity as the Iron Throne and Sunspear exchange nasty ravens about kidnapping, plots, stealing precious national artifacts (Dawn), etc.

Aemon's Sons: I feel like there's a Corlys-stuck-responsible-for-the-twins story in here where they drive him to panic. Twins + Daemon likely get up to quite the shenanigans, too, and any time the twins go missing, it's a realm-wide crisis because those are the heirs after Aemon.

Resonant: Not an AU, but still room for comedy! @textbookchoices's suggestion from long ago about the smaller council, aka the small council but for all the Targaryen kids and their little sessions, complete with props that Viserys commissions because he's so charmed by it, where the adults fight over the "honor" of being the kids' cupbearer of grape juice, and Daemon uses underhanded tactics to win whenever possible.

[venusiinfurss]

“that’s my mommy.” (16x02)

mac’s complete and utter devotion to his parents, despite the years of emotional and physical abuse they have put him through, is one of the things that makes his character both mildly endearing and extremely tragic. his constant search for love in people who refuse to give it to him, BECAUSE they refuse to give it to him (best seen in his relationship with his mother, his father, and dennis) instead of people who may be willing to love him without effort (charlie, his uncle donald) is almost certainly a direct result of his upbringing. he invests the most emotional labor in these relationships where, more often than not, the people will never display the same affection back. this is also a potential reason for the fading of his friendship with charlie in recent seasons (I would say after s6 or 7) and a greater reliance on his relationship with dennis- as he grows further from childhood, he tries harder and harder to capture that same sense of familiarity as his life (and the world) grows more and more different. mac's refusal to stop fiercely loving his parents not only serves as a comedic device for the show, but deepens his character significantly, separating him further from charlie and dennis in his response to the relationships in his life. it is one of the things that makes him relatable to viewers, and one of the aspect of his personality that humanizes him among all the horrible things that he has done. i believe that until or if he unlearns this attachment style, he's never going to have a successful relationship, romantic or otherwise, which is kind of the point of the show.

these people are so horrible (regardless of which factors influenced that) that they will never have meaningful relationships that aren't with each other because no one else can stand them. despite the awful things they do, with the ability we have to see their whole stories as the viewer it still makes it kind of sad.

i really love how character-driven this show is in case you couldn't tell

[dragomfry]

Artistic Analysis of Saezuru’s Covers (Vol 1-9)

What I’ve always loved about Yoneda Kou’s writing and art style is her subtlety and attention to detail. Compared to other BL styles, her style is not as exaggerated in its emotions. The characters’ emotions are consistently written and drawn very down-to-earth, realistic, and/or nuanced/subtle (besides the exaggerations in comedic moments). Her art style is simple yet detailed just enough to be very pleasing to the eye.

All of her cover illustrations are clever and rife with detail. In this post, I’ll be examining my interpretation on the meaning of each cover’s design up to volume 9.

Volume 1

The first cover is simply iconic. On a surface level, it shows exactly what type of story you expect you’re getting into, so it draws in its audience. But artistic nuances show that there’s a twist to this story.

Yashiro is caught in a compromising position, arms behind his back, resting his head on some man’s bare foot, which indicates his submissiveness. And that man could be any man, not just Doumeki (or the love interest). This emphasizes the impersonal aspect of sex to Yashiro, which shows that this isn’t going to be your typical romantic BL between two partners. We also learn that Yashiro is in control of all these sexual encounters. In traditional BL manga, the partner that takes the bottom or uke position is typically seen as the “weaker/more timid” individual (which, for some reason, are commonly interpreted as being more “feminine” traits), but clearly this isn’t the case with this story. Therefore, the cover is empowering. At this point, Yashiro is confident and has reclaimed a sense of control over his sexuality.

Volume 2

This cover is bold, in a quiet way.

It deviates completely from the first one, making the whole environment the focus and not the main character. This type of cover design is especially rare for manga, which typically grab your attention with the character(s) front and center. The style of characters being enlarged and shown on the cover is commonly used, as, obviously, it’s very marketable. It easily draws the attention of potential readers (weren’t you captivated by Yashiro on that first cover?). However, the 2nd cover is extremely subtle, and it’s truly the mark of an artist who cares about the story she is telling, not just the hot scenes. It’s admirable. I will never stop respecting Yoneda-sensei for being so confident in challenging established tropes and themes.

This cover forces you to look closer at the details. It’s saying, “Hey, this story isn’t just about lust, but something deeper and more mature.” Upon closer inspection, we see Yashiro standing alone, completely out in the open, soaking in a full suit in the rain. It shows just how little he cares for his own well-being, and the pessimistic desire to not do anything about it. He has been deeply affected by tragedy. He feels empty and insignificant, like a drop in the ocean, which the cover reflects by depicting him as just another person in the background.

The full cover reveals even more details. Others have already talked extensively about the beautiful symbolism of the rain and umbrellas (inspired by kyrieren’s Rain and Aiai Gasa posts). Doumeki rushes from the right, carrying an umbrella to shield Yashiro from the rain, or his semi self-imposed misery. Doumeki bringing the umbrella to Yashiro is symbolic of how he cares for Yashiro’s wellbeing, which Yashiro doesn’t “see” or fully notice the depth of at this point. The theme of seeing and not seeing is established from this point forward.

Volume 3

The body language is everything.

Their position, especially Yashiro’s position with his arms up and feet made bare, reflects a sexual one. This indicates how their relationship is becoming more intimate. But Doumeki still being in his shoes implies that they aren’t that far into it yet. It can also signify how Yashiro and/or Doumeki himself will not let him take off his shoes, or display his full vulnerability. Despite the bareness of Yashiro’s soles, which could imply openness, Yashiro pushes back with his legs and does not look Doumeki back in the eyes. Perhaps he’s, in fact, willfully being “blind” to Doumeki’s feelings and closing off his own. So Yashiro’s position, rather than reflect growing trust and openness, actually reflects how he wants to reduce their budding relationship to a purely physical one (like all his other sexual relationships). In contrast, Doumeki is staring intently at Yashiro, with his arms grasping Yashiro’s hands and pulling down the pants on his leg, keeping him in place. His intent is clear: to make Yashiro his. The way they’re both locked in place almost resembles a dance with its rhythm and balance. They’re both stuck in a position of their own makings, yet in a harmonious way. This cover masterfully conveys the psychological conflict and erotic situation between the characters.

Volume 4

Doumeki is staring determinedly, at whom? The audience, Yashiro, or both?

The cover of the extra story “A Flame in the Distance” makes it clear that Yashiro is not looking back at Doumeki, tying back into how Yashiro is willfully ignoring Doumeki’s and his own feelings.

It’s no secret that Yoneda-sensei puts great care into her symbolism. Both characters being placed in a field of wheat is likely very symbolic, but I could only find a few sources so far to explain the potential connections. According to those few sources, wheat symbolizes life, strength, and rebirth. In this case the wheat or the cover in general could symbolize Doumeki (because his name’s 力 means strength, power, force, etc). With this interpretation, volume 4 could act as Doumeki’s mindset in the story, and volume 2 would be Yashiro’s. In comparison to Yashiro’s gloomy, entrenched, and rainy attitude, Doumeki’s attitude is more cautiously optimistic and determined. The rebirth aspect of the wheat can also explain why they are both in the field; it’s because both have caused immense changes in each other. The brighter colors in the cover show how both have been the light in each other’s lives. Overall, the cover has an ominous or auspicious feel to it, but one thing is implied for sure: things are about to change. Doumeki and Yashiro are becoming extremely close.

Volume 5

Volume 5: the turning point of the series.

The cover’s design is simple, but everything is deliberately placed. We are put into the perspective of Doumeki, which makes the cover very intimate. Doumeki is on top and caresses Yashiro, who is undressed. Yashiro now looks directly up at Doumeki. This time, he cannot look away from his feelings. The last thing to mention is how Yashiro is almost positioned upside down, which indicates how everything is about to change. This all signals what we know is going to happen between them. They’re going to push the relationship to the farthest it’s ever been… and the result will be heartbreaking. A consistent theme among sources I found showed that the color white is symbolic of physical and spiritual purity as well as mourning and funerals. In this case, the white clothing symbolizes the tragedy of how Yashiro has been defiled by Doumeki, and how Doumeki is no longer pure in Yashiro’s eyes. The death of Yashiro’s sadomasochistic facade can also be symbolized with the white, because Doumeki has irrevocably changed Yashiro. Doumeki has made Yashiro fully realize things he never knew he so desperately wanted before: gentle touch, and most of all, genuine loving affection. Simultaneously, this volume has them both experience their best and worst moment.

Volume 6

While being less intimate than volume 5, volume 6’s cover still conveys a sense of closeness. Most of all, it conveys a sense of nostalgia and slight sadness.

Both are walking together in the night illuminated by city lights, Doumeki innocently following behind Yashiro, like how their relationship used to be. The cover’s cleverness comes from how it juxtaposes with the actual content of the volume, in which Yashiro is desperately trying and eventually succeeds in pushing Doumeki away from him now that they’ve gone so far. Volume 6’s cover is a swan song that pays homage to the romantic simplicity and gentle affection of their relationship, before everything changes…

Volume 7 and 8

By themselves, the covers seem unremarkable. But put side by side, the meaning and meta commentary become clear.

Doumeki and Yashiro have become physically separated. Both have grown up and matured. Doumeki is no longer the baby bird we remember. He looks more mature, dresses more seriously, has many scars on his face, and is wearing and surrounded by dark colors. This all reflects his mental growth and descent into darkness, or the yakuza. He is also turned away from Yashiro. Volume 7 is the complete opposite to volume 8. Yashiro dresses in and is surrounded by lighter colors. This reflects how he’s become more of a civilian and how he was actually never been as suited for the yakuza lifestyle as Doumeki. Yashiro has a contemplative expression, turning his head and body in a way to look directly at Doumeki. Now, Yashiro is aware of his feelings more than ever before, but Doumeki is not reciprocating so openly this time. *Forgot to mention, Doumeki is shown pulling off his glove with his mouth, his jacket is hanging loosely on him, and he’s taken off his shoe. He is much more comfortable in his sexuality now. On the other hand, Yashiro is shown to be covered more in his jacket and both of his shoes are still on, which could indicate his newfound impotence. Doumeki’s position is also more open than Yashiro’s more closed off one, showing their differences in confidence. In many ways, their roles have been reversed this arc.

Volume 9

Finally, we have the latest cover. Yashiro and Doumeki are working to re-establish a sense of closeness, but that warmth they possessed with their early relationship has not (yet?) resurfaced.

Doumeki once again looks directly at Yashiro. He is now trying to express his feelings for Yashiro, but at a distance because his hand is still gloved (or his mask of indifference is still on). It seems as if Yashiro is not looking directly at Doumeki, but that doesn’t mean he’s avoiding his feelings like in the previous covers. Rather, he is now trying to hide them. Still, Yashiro not looking at Doumeki shows that he tragically cannot “see” Doumeki’s feelings for him now. There is deliberate ambiguity with how Yashiro grasps Doumeki’s gloved hand, as evidenced by how Yoneda-sensei revealed other drafts with variations of Yashiro’s hand placement. Is Yashiro pulling Doumeki towards him, keeping him in place, or pushing him away from him? This ambiguity reflects Yashiro’s inner conflict and contradictions. Their winter clothing and the desaturated color scheme all symbolizes the emotional coldness of their current relationship. Both desperately want to express their feelings for each other, but both can’t yet, due to each other’s unwillingness to drop their masks.

And that’s where we left off.