#actually i think i've fooled people and it's actually secret now?

[danpuff-ao3]

SUPER SECRET MYSTERY PROJECT IS COMPLETE, HALLELUJAH.

...and by complete I do mean the shitty first draft, but y'know. I survived! I got to the finish line! And now I am FREE!!!!

...free to begin the dreaded editing process. (Have I mentioned lately how much I despise editing?)

Ah well. There's still over a month until Thon works are due. (Famous last words oh no.)

Okay enough of that, we're celebrating! We can sob tomorrow but for today, we party! 🥳🥳

[astonmartinii]

careful what you wish for | alex albon social media au

pairing: alex albon x fem norris!reader

be careful what you wish for because sometimes childhood dreams come true (not the way you think though)

MASTERLIST | BROTHER'S BFF MASTERLIST | TIP JAR

yourusername

liked by alexalbon, landonorris and 453,096 others

yourusername: it's sweet treat hour in the paddock

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user1: oh to be a person in the f1 paddock getting a sweet treat

user2: ummm actually i think i deserve one more than any of the guys on the grid

yourusername: probably true lol

georgerussell63: BLASPHEMY

landonorris: blood is CLEARLY not thicker than water 🤨

maxverstappen1: i can't believe this betrayal

charles_leclerc: puppy play date is OFF

yourusername: not you people proving them right within 0.5 seconds.

user3: y/n really is god's strongest soldier these fools must be so annoying

alexalbon: not me tho

landonorris: nuh uh 😐

alexalbon: sorry to burst your bubble lando but on the scale of least annoying (me) to most annoying (carlos) ... well marketing love carlando for a reason

landonorris: Y/N TELL HIM TO STOP BEING MEAN TO ME

yourusername: i'm not your mum, defend yourself

landonorris: ???

carlossainz55: THERE IS NO WAY I'M THE MOST ANNOYING ON THE GRID? Y/N TELL HIM THAT

yourusername: keep your car away from oscar and maybe

oscarpiastri: thank you grid mum 🫶🏻

carlossainz55: grid mum clearly showing favourites 🤨 does my sleepovers at the norris household mean anything?

yourusername: your old ass does not need a grid mum be fucking for real

carlossainz55: GASP!

alexalbon: nevermind what ever the fuck that was... the sweet treats slapped, thank you very much

yourusername: see this is why you're my favourite

oscarpiastri: i am right here

logansargent: :(((((

yourusername: NOOO MY LITTLE DUCKLINGS I LOVE YOU

user4: the way y/n has taken to oscar and logan makes my heart so warm

user5: her missing a lot of the start of the 2023 season and logan saying he started to feel less lonely when she was back coming to races as she went out of her way to support him

user6: her and alex going to miami a week early and acting more like parents than logan's actual parents

user7: it's like the older drivers are her grid kids but she only goes full mama bear for oscar and logan

user8: i'm gonna need this friends to lovers arc for alex and y/n

landonorris: do you people ever shut up

yourusername: LANDO ???

landonorris: sorry you have to die single sorry i don't make the rules

f1

liked by yourusername, georgerussell63 and 1,405,788 others

tagged: alexalbon, landonorris & georgerussell63

f1: ALBON P5!!! now that's why lando had a poster of him in his childhood bedroom

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user9: i know lando forever regrets bringing that up all those years ago

user10: since we know how close alex and y/n are... i'd bet a lot of money y/n brings it up at any opportunity

yourusername: LET'S FUCKING GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alexalbon: always knew you were my biggest fan

yourusername: it must be a norris thing

landonorris: alex the literal f1 account is making fun of me and you're SAYING SHE IS YOUR BIGGEST FAN

alexalbon: okay buddy lets calm it down

landonorris: don't put me in time out you're not my grid dad

alexalbon: am i not?

this comment has been deleted

alexalbon: i wouldn't claim you dummy

landonorris: i saw that ............. interesting

user11: the way this is the biggest hint for y/n x alex we've ever gotten but lando is not putting 2 and 2 together

yourusername: i've never had to try to keep a secret from lando i've always had to spell it out for him we're safe

landonorris: who is we?

user11: i see what you mean

georgerussell63: good lord, will i ever get out of the alex DRS train?

alexalbon: NEVER MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

georgerussell63: have you already started drinking?

alexalbon: maybe, you know y/n can't mix drinks for shit

yourusername: P5 in a williams calls for a throwback college tequila punch

maxverstappen1: college tequila punch without me THE FAVOURITISM HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND

yourusername: you AND I QUOTE said "never talk to me again, i don't want to see you with any kind of receptacle that a person could drink out of, i never want to see a bottle of tequila ever again i feel like this is a hangover that will be passed on as some kind of generational curse"

maxverstappen1: now you say that i do recall saying something similar

user12: the way oscar and logan were so happy for alex, that's a grid dad for real

logansargent: we knew all of our drinks would been on his tab 🤞🏻

oscarpiastri: and he brought our kebabs!!

user13: how do i get this kind of treatment on my nights out?

logansargent: you have to third wheel alex and y/n when they're insufferably cute 👍🏻

this comment was deleted

user14: i'm on to yall

alexalbon

liked by landonorris, maxverstappen1 and 720,987 others

tagged: yourusername, logansargent & oscarpiastri

alexalbon: post night out munch with my favourites

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user15: oh i can smell the arguments coming

yourusername: no one die i'm putting my phone on do not disturb

user16: so real

georgerussell63: HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT THE SANCTITY OF OUR FRIENDSHIPS I THOUGHT WE WERE PLATONIC SOULMATES OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER SEWN INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR BEING

alexalbon: well damn

georgerussell63: well damn? WELL DAMN? THAT'S IT YOU ARE NOT INVITED ON MY ANNUAL EASTER SUNDAY WALK AND BOUTIQUE EASTER EGG HUNT

landonorris: wow that'll really show him george

georgerussell63: LANDO WHAT THE FUCK WE NEED A UNITED FRONT

yourusername: babe this isn't trench warfare

georgerussell63: i thought you weren't getting involved this is a GALEX DISCUSSION

charles_leclerc: i thought this was a twitch quartet dicussion?

georgerussell63: maybe if you people MADE YOURSELF USEFUL IT WOULD BE

charles_leclerc: you know what i don't like your tone. i am very secure in my friendship with alex and am happy he has other thriving friendships especially with those who have recently joined the team and need the extra comfort

alexalbon: finally a normal person

user17: what is happening

user18: i think this is what the kids call losing your shit

user19: kinda feels like it's ended prematurely

alexalbon: he's at my door

user20: oh? should we like maybe be afraid?

yourusername: WHY AM I LIVING IN THE SHINING RIGHT NOW DOES HE HAVE AN AXE?

landonorris: hold on .... why are you there?

yourusername: george russell is at the door screaming for justice potentially wielding a weapon and that's what you took from that?

landonorris: ummm yes? there's something weird going on here

oscarpiastri: i'm also here

logansargent: me too (PLEASE SEND HELP)

user21: well wasn't that just ... delightful

landonorris

liked by maxverstappen1, alexalbon and 903,788 others

tagged: oscarpiastri & yourusername

landonorris: this whole grid kid thins has gotten out of control why is this kid being treated better than ME in my OWN HOME

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user24: how could lando be angry look how pookie oscar is

oscarpiastri: this is what i'm sayingggggg

yourusername: so fuck me i guess

user24: babe that's alex's job

yourusername: you right

user25: HOLD ON PEOPLE IS THAT Y/N/ALEX CRUMBS ???

user26: quick add it to the spreadsheet

alexalbon: there's a spreadsheet?

user26: we don't fuck around about your hypothetical relationship with y/n

alexalbon: that much is clear (send it my way asap)

yourusername: talking about favouritism in the norris household as if i have not lived with this for MY ENTIRE LIFE

landonorris: booooooo let me complain (did you or did you not get your weird kids from my career favouritism in the family)

yourusername: don't weaponise my children against me

landonorris: but they're so annoying oscar is eating all of the ROAST POTATOES THIS IS THE NORRIS FAMILY DINNER EVERYONE KNOWS THE ROASTIES ARE MINE

oscarpiastri: not anymore :P

landonorris: choke

oscarpiastri: don't make me call my dad

landonorris: call him up i'll beat his ass at this point I CAN SEE YOU TAKING ANOTHER POTATO

oscarpiastri: @alexalbon :(

alexalbon: keep my kid's name out your fucking mouth

landonorris: excuse me?

yourusername: ugh that's so hot

landonorris: EXCUSE ME?

user27: well .... add it to the spreadsheet?

landonorris: i'm so close to blocking all of you

yourusername: i thought you loved alex :(

landonorris: not that much

alexalbon: i see....

landonorris: NO I'M SORRY I TAKE IT BACK I LOVE YOU ALEX (YOU BETTER NOT BE SHAGGING MY SISTER HYPOTHETICAL OR NOT)

yourusername

liked by alexalbon, charles_leclerc and 528,095 others

tagged: landonorris

yourusername: silverstone babyyyyyyyyyyyyyy i hope my home treats my boys right

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user28: i would give a kidney to be there for real

user29: you might have to the prices at that race are INSANE

landonorris: finally the home race which means you actually have to root for me

yourusername: ehhhhhhh

landonorris: girl i did not get much sleep last night wtf do you mean EHHHHH

yourusername: alex is a london boy

georgerussell63: once again fuck george i guess

yourusername: you didn't give me time !!!!

georgerussell63: were you actually going to say it?

yourusername: no ❤️

landonorris: right george i think it's time to unionise against y/n and alex

yourusername: the fuck do you (do we?) know about unionisation babe our family are the capitalist machine

user30: so like when are we getting the full albon pets meetup with sausage?

alexalbon: you always treat me right

yourusername: only the bestest for you

alexalbon: oh wow i'm blushing

yourusername: i can make you do a lot more than that

landonorris: do you mind?

yourusername: LET ME FLIRT IN PEACE GOD I CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING

alexalbon: yeah let y/n flirt with me in peace

logansargent: he's giggling and swinging his feet - we might even get a skip away

alexalbon: sue me

user31: alex and y/n being so tired of lando is so true

oscarpiastri: they match each other's freak and they really need to let that freak flag fly

logansargent: as they should i need to post some of the cute pictures of them my phone storage is suffering

landonorris: i'm throwing my phone out of the window

user32: confirmation? CONFIRMATION?

alexalbon

liked by georgerussell63, maxverstappen1 and 1,359,086 others

tagged: yourusername

alexalbon: bro my nurse is hot as fuck

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user32: bro nearly died and THIS IS WHAT HE POSTS

user33: is it insensitive for me to celebrate that they're together on a post just hours after he was in a massive crash

yourusername: probably but we'll take the compliment regardless

georgerussell63: let it be known i'm annoyed that this is how i found out about this relationship but i'm so glad you're okay and that you had your person with you as support

alexalbon: my person awwwww georgie you're such as softie, but thank you i'm all good

yourusername: i knew you loved me really georgie

georgerussell63: i'll come round to this i guess

yourusername: so no more morning visits with weapons

georgerussell63: THERE WERE NO WEAPONS

alexalbon: you called me many mean words and sometimes words are our biggest weapons

georgerussell63: shut the fuck up

yourusername: that's not very peace, love and kindness he nearly died russell change up your tone

user34: YESSSSSSSSS WE CAN FINALLY SEE THE TRUE POWER OF THE ALEX/Y/N SASS

user34: also obviously very happy alex is okay

user35: i fear we as a fandom do not have our priorities in check

landonorris: i wouldn't leave the hospital if i were you

alexalbon: is that a threat?

landonorris: very much so

maxverstappen1: he's serious i'm literally holding him back (it's not hard he's like a gremlin)

landonorris: A GREMLIN WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN WATER

yourusername: but i thought you loved alex? surely this is the least offensive option on the grid?

alexalbon: awwwwww babe

maxverstappen1: i'm really not sure thats the compliment you think...

landonorris: NO I DO LOVE ALEX BUT NOT LIKE THIS

yourusername: it could be worse, you're besties with alex - i could've gotten with carlos or pierre!

carlossainz55: excuse me?

pierregasly: what did i ever do to you?

yourusername: whores ❤️

landonorris: true they are whores

alexalbon: and i'm a big ol family man

landonorris: you keep that to yourself

oscarpiastri: get well soon dad

logansargent: we love you !!!

yourusername: don't think we've forgotten about you exposing our relationship....

alexalbon: but we love you anyway

yourusername

liked by logansargent, landonorris and 783,209 others

tagged: alexalbon

yourusername: f1 cars are too dangerous actuallyyyyyyyyyyy you're all BANNED

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user36: finally some good fucking food

user37: i feel like we've been waiting for this relationship for so long i expect a wedding invitation at this point

alexalbon: yeah soz only the girl with the spreadsheet is getting an invite

user26: SCORE

alexalbon: well aren't we just the cutest couple in the world

yourusername: i fear we are

yourusername: and if any of you hoes try and comment any dumb shit like "us erasure" i'll break your toes

georgerussell63: oh! okay...

maxverstappen1: sure i guess so...

charles_leclerc: i'll let you have your moment for now

landonorris: i'm single but i want to be involved

user38: the lipstick print... i'm weak

user39: they already made me feel lonely before we got confirmation i think i might need to redownload hinge

landonorris: ugh i guess you guys are kind of cute

yourusername: of course we are one of us is a norris

landonorris: TRUE 💅🏻

alexalbon: ??? so you don't want to kill me anymore?

landonorris: no i guess not

landonorris: also max put a bell on my chain and my fingers are too fat to open the clasp so i can't sneak out to kick your ass

maxverstappen1: he really is an overgrown toddler

alexalbon: also your 5'2 ass is not beating mine

landonorris: i am NOT 5'2 i am 5'10 at the least

yourusername: girl you're maybe 5'5 and i WILL be getting my lick in if you fight alex - revenge for all those hair pulls all those years ago

landonorris: i'd say stop defending alex but you've always done that... i should've known

user40: so y/n really wasn't lying when she said she didn't have to hide anything from lando cause he doesn't pick up on anything 😭

landonorris: sorry i'm not actively looking for clues about my sister's sex life

alexalbon: bro i am in love with your sister lets frame this better

yourusername: hehehheheeehehhehe

landonorris

liked by maxverstappen1, logansargent and 1,874,036 others

tagged: alexalbon & yourusername

landonorris: i guess i always did say that i wanted alex as a bigger brother, be careful for what you wish for kids

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user41: FINALLLLY

logansargent: you're telling me we've BEEN waiting

oscarpiastri: i kinda miss having a secret like what do i hold over lando now?

landonorris: DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS YOU WILL BE DEALT WITH PIASTRI

oscapiastri: okay babe

landonorris: you really take after your mum and it scares me

yourusername: you shouldn't have such good friends that i just can't help falling in love with so really this is your fault

landonorris: sure.... but you have a good point, i'm very happy it's alex of all people

yourusername: you've really come round fast since you realised that we'll pay for your stuff whenever we go out

landonorris: what can i say stuff tastes better when it's free

alexalbon: you literally make double what y/n and i make

landonorris: and i'm the younger sibling so you should TREAT ME BETTER

user42: yeah we all knew lando was the younger sibling but he's giving massive annoying baby brother vibes

alexalbon: and he wonders why we prefer oscar and logan

landonorris: i'm just going to pretend i didn't see that

alexalbon: but for real lando, thanks for being the most annoying norris and having such a lovely and cool (and smoking hot) sister - i appreciate it!

yourusername: i love you too babe

alexalbon: don't worry you'll get to drop the last name soon

yourusername: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

yourusername: i can't wait to be mrs. albon

landonorris: blocked.

user43: i can't believe we got the conclusion to the lando alex poster storyline

landonorris: it wasn't exactly the conclusion i thought it would be but i'll take it

yourusername: you love us really

alexalbon: really you were just manifesting this for like ten years

fin.

note: here's a wee post from brother's bff before the race because i need somehtign to distract me from my horrible NERVES - ENJOY!

[respectthepetty]

Petty, I have a wild ass Jack and Joker theory, and I need to know what you think because we often end up in the clown car together, lol.

There's been a lot of talk/fears about Joke (and Toi Ting), now that we know character death is on the table - I'm not worried Joke will die (I am terrified they will gut us with Toi Ting but oh I hope not). I'm not saying that Joke isn't about to feel so responsible for what has happened that he's gonna get reckless with his life, because I absolutely think he will.

I think he's absolutely about to do some very stupid shit that could be his life in real danger as penance.

But I've been thinking for a while - since your initial posts about Hope and Save and their names - that Save is going to die. And now that I just skimmed a post that basically said that Joke and Save are the same character in different fonts and Save's guilt in episode 10, I'm absolutely positive.

Save is going to die.

Hope will live, because he has too. Without hope, we have nothing. (I also have a tangential theory that Save will die to save Hope, so...)

Thoughts?

Why not a third secret option? Why can’t everyone live? Since the show killed Jennie’s character, and the man who tried to run away with his few dollar bills died too, let’s just believe everyone remaining will survive! Even more, if Boss survives, then everyone BETTER live because no shitty father should survive when the possibility of a child dying is on the table. So I'm going to aim high because

Fortune Favors the Monkey King

Move over, Kitty! I'm driving this clown car straight to the opera house.

Because this is a Chinese opera.

We already know there is a Chinese influence in this story, as @veemark pointed out about the meal Joke ate with Jack and his grandma.

So with that in mind, in the fourth episode, when Nang punished the men for hurting her people, she drew the "09" stick (but she said nine-zero), which meant the men had to perform the Chinese opera of the Monkey King, which people in the tags thought was sooooo ridiculous!

In that same episode, Jack received his fortune, which was number 9 and stated, "When the fool changes black to white, the fate of the forgiver will change"

Now, skip to episode 9 when Joke gets "The Fool" card and changes the fate of Jack, the person who forgave him, so Jack's fortune was right.

Now, in episode 9, we also get the iconic team name "The Four Little Pigs"

And this is where the light bulb turned on because this is Journey to the West.

Journey to the West is an epic Chinese story that is 100 chapters long about a group of heroes having to complete a certain amount of tasks to achieve enlightenment.

The main character is Tang Sanzang who is basically a saint who wants to bring good to all the land and who everyone is in love with and wants to marry. We are introduced to him in chapter 9 of the story. He is the heart.

The first person he meets on his journey is the Monkey King, aka Sun Wukong, who was so great at being the best trickster that he became overconfident and ended up getting put in heavenly jail for 500 years. The first chapters of the story are actually about him. He is foolish, but he is also the mastermind.

He has a daughter, Yuebei Xing. She has her own story, Journey to the South. She is a badass. She fights monsters and lives to tell the tale.

The Monkey King is easily the most powerful of the bunch, but Tang Sanzang doesn't like the Monkey King's methods because they are immoral, so there is a gold ring involved that keeps him in check.

Or maybe it's this ring.

I think it's the second ring because a goddess, who keeps helping them along the way, helps them with the ring too. She is also cool.

Along the journey, they meet Zhu Wuneng, aka Pig. He is a smart fighter but he is greedy and selfish so he keeps taking shit he isn't supposed to, which constantly gets them in trouble. He is human nature (the world).

There is Sha Wujing aka Sandy, who was once a god, but shattered a crystal and ended up banished to earth to be a mortal. He is conformity without thought (the moon).

And finally, there is Bai Long Ma, who is a horse that they ride for transportation. He is human will (the star).

There is also a princess somewhere in there who must be saved from a marriage.

The group meets obstacles along the way, and lots of crazy shit goes down, but after 14 YEARS they finally come to the end of their journey.

And on their journey to achieve enlightenment they meet a squire whose loved one is kidnapped with the possibility of murder and another squire who is murdered and his wife is pissed about it because she did everything to make sure he wouldn't be harmed.

Now, if you gasped because you think Hope (or Save) will die, well . . . the number 14 fortune was Hope's.

The fortune was given in episode four which is the same episode Jack got his fortune, but it seemed like Hope's fortune played out in the same episode when he found Joke right across the hall staying with Jack.

But the thing is, in the Chinese story, regardless of which squire it is, they don't just need the Monkey King; they need the Monkey King's help.

So the Monkey King goes to the underworld to get the loved one back and succeeds (both times). But he still needs to save our saint!

Remember, the group has to do a certain number of deeds to bring peace to the land, so the group goes in to save their leader, and the ONLY reason they make it out is because all of the people they have helped along the way (especially the people the Monkey King has helped) return the favor and save them.

By saving others, they saved themselves.

So . . . I don't think anyone else is dying. However, it's been YEARS since I read a very condensed version of this story in Asian Rhetorics, and @journeytothewestresearch's blog helped me piece some of what I forgot together.

So I could be wrong, and everyone dies.

But I don't think so.

*fingers crossed that fortune favors the bold Monkey King*

[ckret2]

I've seen some people theorise that Bill is lying about what actually happened to his home dimension. But I can't find any evidence that supports this. Because he told Ford in weirdmageddon that he liberated his home dimension because it was boring and flat. So, since he knows he broke the 4th wall with tbob, he probably knows that he's a cartoon character and that we've—obviously, since we bought the book—watched the show. So why would he lie to us and make up some huge ass sob story? I want to hear your thoughts about this theory because you're the gravity falls nerd here (Compliment intended). But on another note, I've seen people theorise that he lied (for some reason specifically) about the younger Pine twins only surviving in one, aka this universe. Do you think he might actually be lying about that? Or something else, too?

P.S. Now I'm starting to question if theres a source that confirms that everything in tbob is true, or if this is all logical, and I'm just blind asf, but I'm gonna try and stay away from anonymous to face my fears. 😎

First off—Bill didn't tell the readers a sob story. Bill told us that he liberated his dimension and everyone loved him for it. That is the story he ultimately settled on as the truth.

Two things I think are important:

Bill is a liar; he's not an actor

Bill is not a person; he's a character.

Bill will TELL lies but he can't put on a convincing act. He told Ford he liberated his dimension, but we saw the burning and flames. He told THE READERS he liberated his dimension, but trying to talk about it made him swing into a dissociative state where another story poured out.

I do not think Bill would think to fake dissociating over a horror story, and even if he did try I don't think he could pull it off. Because he sucks at acting, and when he's telling a lie the only emotion he's capable of emoting is =]

Bill is a fictional character in a show where whenever the audience is told a lie, they're told the truth by the end of the episode, and usually within minutes (with the sole exception of Stanley's big secret, but we ARE told he's up to something shady from episode 1 and Stan & Ford's relationship was the one biggest ongoing mystery of the show). Ultimately, whether or not Bill as a person would try to fool us into thinking there's a non-existent sob story is irrelevant. The real question is: would Alex Hirsch?

And no. That's not how he writes. When he has Bill tell a lie, either he quickly unveils the lie or he leaves blatantly obvious clues in the area to reveal the truth.

Bill lies "I don't miss Ford," the blatantly obvious clue is his wild bender. Bill lies "the pharaoh loved me," the blatantly obvious clue is a quote from the pharaoh about how much he hates Bill. Bill lies "I liberated my dimension and everyone loved me," the blatantly obvious clue is his redacted story about the day.

There are no clues to suggest he's lying about his sob story. He tried to hide his sob story, and Bill's not subtle enough for the reverse psychology of hiding a sob story to make it look more true.

I figure the "they only survive in one timeline" thing is simply Alex going for something dramatic while not thinking too hard about how mathematically improbable it is.

[feroluce]

For some weird reason, I've always been fascinated by how wildly different Sampo operates in the Underground vs the Overworld.

Sampo is present in both places and even in official sources, he's not really counted as one side or the other- now that the theory has been confirmed in-game, he's generally just lumped in with the Masked Fools.

But there really is a big difference!

Probably the most obvious and well known instance of Sampo's...business practices *cough burglary and fraud COUGH* in the Overworld is from the Belobog Museum event. In it, you don't find out Sampo is the main culprit until near the end, because Pela has to set up a sting just to catch him in the act. And that sting is necessary all because the initial suspect they arrested, Norbert, had pretty much no idea of his partner's identity. Sampo wouldn't even speak to him face-to-face.

And whereas Sampo is normally very pleasant and friendly with the trailblazer...when he thinks he's talking to Norbert here, he straight up says that they are NOT friends. Like he really shuts that shit DOWN.

There's also an Overworld NPC, Chavez, who heads the "Dark Blue Scam Support Group." And he. Really really really does not like Sampo fjkdasjklfdj

Chavez clearly wants Sampo caught, and has literally no positive feelings about him. So. Why call it the Dark Blue Scam? Why not just out him by name? Chavez obviously doesn't give a single shit about Sampo's dignity or privacy. But he never once refers to him as "Sampo," and even the pamphlets he passes out make no mention of it. No one in the entire support group seems to know how to identify him or how to refer to him except by his hair color. If the trailblazer says his name, Chavez reacts as though he's never heard it before.

(I've seen people say this means Sampo Koski is an alias and not his real name? But Ray pointed this out, and honestly I agree; even the Fools call him Sampo, after all. I think it's just that Chavez never knew Sampo's name in the first place, and given his immense distrust, immediately assumes it's an alias.)

And then there's his characters stories, where he proceeds to pull off a heist in the Overworld while in disguise as Brughel Poisson the entire time. Literally his own stories don't mention Sampo's name even once.

So anyway, all this shows that when he's up in the Overworld working cons, Sampo is incredibly slippery and secretive about his identity. The only people who seem to know him are Pela, Serval, and Gepard. He doesn't get close to anyone else, and is even surprisingly unfriendly. Nobody knows his name. No one knows his face. He has zero qualms about backstabbing or double-crossing, and even plans for it in some cases.

Meanwhile, down in the Underground, I'm pretty sure literally the worst thing we hear of him doing is scalping tickets in front of the Fight Club. Which isn't even illegal in a lot of places (although it's certainly a dick move).

In Hook's companion quest, a vagrant miner steals Fersman's equipment and tries to sell it to Sampo. Even before the trailblazer and Hook jump in and out the vagrant as a thief, Sampo hesitates to buy it because it sounds like stolen goods, which he doesn't want any part of.

Even knowing that a geomarrow detector is rare and incredibly valuable in the mines, Sampo makes no attempt to double-cross Hook or profit off of her loss, and even tells her who to go to to get it fixed.

And my favorite example of Sampo in the Underground is the Survival Wisdom adventure mission. In it, Sampo starts up a business with Peak, another miner. And like. In wild contrast to all the cons he pulls above ground, Sampo is actually super nice and helpful here.

Just the same as with Hook's quest, Sampo talks to Peak face-to-face, with no disguises or barriers. When the trailblazer finds them, they're just in the Great Mine, no secretive meeting places. Peak knows Sampo, is familiar with him, and calls him by name. It's not even a con! There's nothing illegal going on; it really is just a business partnership. Peak is more than happy with their deal, he's even pretty enthusiastic about it, because thanks to Sampo he can now make enough money to get by while also accommodating his chronic fatigue.

The only person Sampo lies to in this whole ordeal is the trailblazer, who he manipulates into getting Peak's mining equipment back from the vagrants that stole it in the first place. And when it's done, he rewards them with a legit treasure map.

So when he's working in the Underground, Sampo is MUCH more upright and lawful. Part of this is probably to do with his "business" model- Sampo only takes advantage of the wealthy, and poverty runs rampant in the Underground. When he charges Peak an extra 30% (the same percentage he charges Norbert as a consultation fee in the museum heists- Sampo seems to go by percentage instead of a flat rate, which means his prices are more fair for lower incomes) for carelessly losing their supply, Peak literally starts counting out pocket change.

Dude's working for pennies and good will down there dknsmdmd

And you can twist this into a Robin Hood thing if you want- Sampo IS technically working to feed orphans and heal the sick. He says himself he's more than happy to make up the shortfall between the greedy and the marginalized- I mean he says it in the shadiest way possible, but I doubt the people benefiting from his work really care that he's a slimeball if it means they can survive another day. Even the two heists he pulls in his character stories are literally just him stealing absurd amounts of food.

Personally though I think it is solely because of Natasha, and Sampo is hilariously well-behaved specifically for her, because she keeps him on a short leash JSKZJMSMSKS

[prodbymaui]

These Secrets That I Have — 이민형.

what if I told you that I've fallen?

PAIRING: mark lee x fem!reader

GENRE: our friendly neighborhood spiderman ; the best friends

WORD COUNT: 4.3k+ words

WARNINGS: eventual smut, choking kink, arson

SYNOPSIS: Joking that your best friend is the infamous superhero bitten by a spider has been a habit for the group. It was all a joke, until it wasn't.

A/N: THE UPSIDE DOWN KISS!! spidermark agenda, I wouldn't let you die. and forgive for the poor attempts of comedy lmao. anyways, happy reading and don't forget to share your thoughts about this fic! <3

''With great power comes..''

''Great responsibilities--''

Gasping dramatically, Johnny stands up as his finger points accusingly to the male who's unknowingly straining his vocal chords due to laughing so much.

Mark shakes his head, clapping his hands in amusement. ''Dude, everybody knows that.''

''Nobody gets it right.''

Jaehyun joins the tallest among all of you. ''Except spiderman.''

Cackles once again blooms, the way these two delivers their impromptu exposing session is so comical that you are all gasping for air.

If you didn't know better, those faces full of shock mixed with betrayal would fool you into thinking your best friend is actually the one behind the infamous red and dark blue suit with webs and spider symbols decorating it. No ones knows when it actually began, the spiderman jokes. Johnny and Jaehyun are certainly the ones to start the teasing on Mark, doting on him and urging him to 'admit it' in every chance they get. Oftentimes, the jokes are fueled by Mark's fast reflexes. Someone can react fast, alright, but something about Mark's tells that there's a deeper root or cause, Johnny's words.

Personally, you don't really think Mark would be the 'friendly neighborhood' superhero neither do you consider even the smallest chance because-- one, the male is literally with you almost 24/7 and spiderman saves people 25/8. And two, you've stayed at Mark's apartment more than you've done to your dorm, you know the in and outs, every nook and cranny of the space-- not once did you found even a mere clue that suggests what Johnny and Jaehyun had in their mind.

''You really gotta back us up here, dude. You know what you've seen.'' Once again, the faux seriousness shows in his words and his eyes widening to convince, you decides to ride his flow this time.

''Actions speaks louder than voice, Mark. If you're not spiderman, then explain the spidey senses!'' Johnny throws a cap towards Mark's direction, effectively making the man catch it within seconds, eventually proving your 'theory'.

'I told you so' looks are exchanged between the three of you. Haechan barks a laugh at that.

''This is fucking crazy.'' Clearly, he's enjoying the show judging by the tears escaping the sockets of his eyes.

The series of persistence is left to deaf ears. Mark prefers downing as much pizza as he can right now rather than dealing with endless accusations that, to say the least, is absolutely nonsensical. ''Y'all would cut this shit out or you'll have webs shoved down deep in your throat in a minute?''

By now, Mark should've known making empty threats that has connections with spiderman's universe or spiderman himself will just worsen the situation he already finds hard to be in. Albeit his ears ringing, Mark didn't make any effort to stop the banters of his friends regarding if he's the superhero bitten by a spider or he's just a natural. Concluding that the discussion is harmless, he doesn't find the need to.

Ha! It's not like he's actually the 'Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman', right?

Another groan escapes past your lips, fingers drumming the white table. 15 minutes upon arriving at 7/11, your instant ramen slash source of distraction from boredom sadly disappears in thin air. What the fuck is taking Mark Lee so long?

''--so you mean, 10 muscled people holding rifles each was nothing against 1 spider descendant or some shit?'' Your ears perks up.

''Yup, flicked those robbers away to the police like it was nothing.''

''Damn crazy, and fucking awesome.''

''That's spiderman for you,'' The boy browses through the ice cream freezer near you. ''Still can't believe he's in this area just minutes ago.''

Eh? The superhero was here? Then that would mean the said robbery took place somewhere not far from where you were eating your ramen peacefully. How come you didn't hear the sirens? You sigh, mind wondering the possible outcomes if the robbers decides to raid the stores nearby and eventually reach yours. It fuels your urge to go home even more.

Supposedly, this trip shouldn't last no more than 10 minutes considering the fact that the store is not even 3 minutes away from your dorm and choosing chips to your liking only takes less than 5 minutes of your time-- depending on how indecisive you are and how crazy your cravings are. It'll all bring you back to the comfort of your bedroom in no time, nonetheless.

But a certain someone thought it's a good idea to leave you at the store and tells you that he'll be back in a bit, making you wait like some child for their parent. Heck, no parent would even leave their child alone at a convenience store, opting to take the kid with them. He insisted on meeting here again in spite of your whines to go separate ways so you can enjoy the warmth of your bed all the while he fulfills the errand that he so eagerly wants to finish.

''This motherfucker, I swear to God.'' Informing Mark that you'll go back via message, the chair lets out a faint screech as your body heat lingers a little longer after standing up to leave. Just as you turn around, your shoulders meets a chest, sending you both to a halt as the collision sinks in. You look up to see your most awaited best friend with his unstyled chest nut hair serving as a curtain for his same shade orbs. He breathes heavily, as if catching some air to fend his lungs.

Eyes raking down his body, you drink in his appearance. He looks like he just came from.. a fight. ''The hell happened to you, dude?'' Your figure heads towards the store's exit.

''Police thought I was one of those that belonged to the robbery, took me a while to convince them I'm not, sorry.''

You snort. ''Well, I would mistake you as a robber too with this beanie and all black outfit you have.''

Mark scowls. ''They thought I'm a victim, just for your information.''

''Really? That's surprising.'' Laughing softly under your breath, you tosses a bag of chips to Mark as compensation for your teasing.

The gust of cold breeze remains disregarded, warmth coming from the other's body heat is enough to ease the coldness. Passing by where the crime occurred, your feet unknowingly fasten their pace, shuddering at the thought of danger albeit the police cars and armed officers surrounds the area in protection stance.

Overhearing a reporter going on about something along the lines of 'the cops thanking Spiderman as it weren't for him, they wouldn't be able to catch the criminals' makes you sigh.

They should really stop depending on the superhero. You thought.

''Isn't it scary?''

Mark turns to you. ''What is?''

''The way greed can drive humans to intense, irrevocable madness.  It pushes them to do these things that'll not only put their lives in danger but will also fail to satisfy their desires. Sure, they can have money in the palms of their hands with just a snap, stealing from people-- but will those bills last for a long time? Will that be enough for them? Certainly not.''

A brief glance from Mark is what you received, the bop of his head caught by your peripheral vision assures you to keep going. ''The more they steal, the more they crave. If the officials thinks that every on-going and unsolved crimes plastered on the news by the media will scare the criminals away because they are apparently doing their best to find the suspects and pull them out of wherever hole they are hiding, they're wrong. The cops wouldn't be forced to  use their best assets and experience sleepless nights if the criminals are not doing well at their job, right? Those announcements of endless searchings and calls for the people's help only pats the wanted people on their back, telling them they've done an excellent mayhem job.

Sometimes, I don't even know who to blame when crimes, like this kind, happens. Is it the criminals themselves because they lost their morals over materialistic things? Because they gave in to the urge of possessing those that goes beyond what they can comprehend? Is it the police for not hearing the reason why these criminals have done it? Is it the society who embodies judgemental and discriminating in all sorts of way that probably pushed them to do such things? Or is it the government who failed to make education and employment accessible to everyone no matter what their status in life is?''

Kicking a pebble out of your way, it creates a dull thudding sounds. ''Proper education and enabling people to have a grasp of legal source of income would probably prevent crimes from happening. I'd like to think that most are just desperate measures.''

Mark hums. ''What you said are somewhat right. They makes sense.''

''But.. ?'' You know there's more that he itches to say.

''But, as much as everyone deserves to be heard and understood, some are just born evil. Born without remorse for others. It'll surprise you how we encounter many people such them in our daily lives. So avoid thinking that criminals did what they've done because they had a traumatic and devastating life. You're unknowingly justifying the ends by their means, something you cannot do especially if the lives of innocents are on the line.''

It's unclear why Mark sounds firm and sure regarding of meeting the people he just talked about but since their existence is not exactly a secret from the whole world, you suppose he's correct.

Too caught up in your conversation, your feet reached the entrance of your dorm's building in no time. Turning around, you offer a cheeky smile at him. ''Thank heavens then that I don't need to worry about my safety.''

Mark returns your smile with a hearty scoff. He knows where this is going. ''Uh-huh, and why is that?''

''Because I have Spiderman as my best friend! You'll protect me, won't you spidey?'' Giggling, Mark nudges your arm as you walk side by side, resorting to shaking his head instead of joining your spiderman agenda.

Spiderman or not, Mark vows to himself to keep you away from the darkness of this world with all his might. He already lost his uncle, he couldn't afford to lose someone so dear to his heart once again.

The alarm blares loudly and pierces your ear drums, almost busting them yet you didn't make any effort of getting up. The ringing sounds extra loud today, though. Ah.. you don't really want to wake up. Your body shifts to a new position, hands searching where your phone lays.

Definitely, no one wants to wake up before the roosters crows in a weekend where you should be using all your time to rest in preparation of yet another tiring week.

Skin making a contact with the source of the sound, you didn't feel any vibration with it. Just as when you decided to go back to sleep and withstand the annoying ringing of the alarm, rapid knocks on your door overpowered the previous sound, effectively pulling you out of the borderline between dreamland and reality.

You sit up. ''Fuck--'' It is only then that you realized, the alarm isn't coming from your usual alarm clock. Instead, it is the fire alarm ringing and announcing the state of your building.

With panic taking over your emotions, your body moves fast. Getting all the things that you know is important before soaking a blanket in water, covering yourself with it, and finally running out to leaving your room. Tears pricks your eyes as you meet the fiery blaze engulfing the whole building, enclosing in with every blink and every breath you take. You step a few backwards, lips quivering as you try to ignore the scorching heat seeping through the wet blanket, threatening to burn your skin any minute. Your eyes wavers.

There's so many ways you could die but dying helplessly amidst of an arson is not what you fancy. A scream of horror couldn't even be used to express your fear, you remain quiet and whimpering despite the shivering of your body, arms hugging yourself.

Your doors shut close once again, your back leaning against it as you falls to the ground, drops of tears continuously running down your cheeks. The fire started from a floor below yours, or at least that's what it seemed like. Meaning you absolutely have no chance of escaping the flames unless you jump out of your window. Surely, you're somehow survive a fall from the 5th floor, right?

A rattle created somewhere in your house snaps you out of your nonlogical thoughts. Looking up, you don't know whether to believe your eyes or rub the surface of your orbs, taking a second look in case what you're seeing is just a figment of your imagination. Maybe you're slowly losing some screws in the head.

But the movement of the figure, jogging towards you, tells you otherwise. ''What the fuck.. ?''

It's real.

It's him.

It's Spiderman in the fucking flesh.

Once again, you are stolen from your trance by his arms gently pulling you up, steadying you. Without much of a warning, the superhero scoops you in his arms and flies out of the window. And holy fuck, does it scared the shit out of you that the fibers of your body started to scream nothing but hold on tight to the man who's swinging down the building with you.

The uncalled adventure ended before you could even processed that your building is currently burning down, you got stucked between the fire and now Spiderman just saved you. No one should be able to blame you if you take days to properly digest what just happened.

He stands before you for a few more seconds, as if raking down his eyes. You tilt your head when he nods and runs to save the others. ''The fuck.. ?'' For the nth of the day, you let out a curse.

Your brain is totally playing with you. There's no fucking way Spiderman helped you, made sure that you got no wounds slash you're safe and sound before nodding as if to assure himself. Johnny is gonna combust if he's to hear your story.

The comfort of the thick blanket engulfs your figure as you hold your cellphone and wallet in your hand. Sighing, you turn to Jaehyun who came to your aid at this goddamn hour. ''You don't really have to stay with me, Jay. Pretty sure this'll end in an hour or so, you can go back now.''

Stubbornly, the male shakes his head. ''Did you know how worried we are when we heard from Mark that your dorm was on fire? Johnny and Haechan almost even flew out of Busan just to make sure you're alright.''

''Dude, I'm really fine, I promise. I can manage this, just rest.''

His hand pushes your head lightly to lay on his shoulder. ''No, you rest.''

Giving up, you let yourself relax, leaning your weigh towards Jaehyun as you pull the blanket tighter around you. The dreamland train is ready to send you to your slumber when your eyes opens abruptly, realizing what Jaehyun just said.

''Jay?''

He hums.

''From whom did you heard about the fire again?''

''Uh.. Mark?''

''And where is he right now?''

''... Dunno, maybe he's somewhere that's why he couldn't come.''

Your silence tells Jaehyun you're not convinced by his reason.

He silently prays Mark doesn't kick his ass.

2 hours passed and you decided to make Jaehyun drop you off on Mark's place, opting to stay there until everything's alright back at your apartment. It is proven that the male's walls have nothing against your persistent whines as you now lay on Mark's bed, scrolling through your phone.

Ever since stepping a foot here few minutes ago, you didn't catch nor sense Mark's presence. In usual days, it's Mark who zooms from wherever he is to your place once the news of something happening to you reaches him. But today, it was Jaehyun instead.

Your thoughts ponders to where it has been circling earlier. A voice inside you says something you surprisingly don't find hard to believe. Maybe it was your best friend who found you first after all, just not in his signature beanie and all black outfit.

''That's dumb. I should stop joining Johnny and Jaehyun with their shenanigans.''

You must've gone crazy now that you're talking to yourself.

''What's so crazy about that? Doesn't everyone talks to themselves at least once? It's not like it's so bad. According to scientists, taking to yourself brings you comfort and such.''

Of course, that's bullshit. You hate reading anything that involves science.

''Mark is not the superhero who got bitten by a magical spider that turned him into a man who saves the people from fire and crimes. Mark is just your stupid of a best friend that thinks putting strawberries in a microwave is a good idea because he likes his fruits warm. Mark is your best friend who's scared of cockroaches so how come he's a hero whose powers came from a spider? Mark is not Spiderman--''

Wrong. Absolutely Wrong.

Your claims got debunked right after you lay them down. You're absolutely fucking wrong.

The superhero whom you got to meet earlier, now stands in front of you once again. Hissing at what seemed to be a burn, unaware of the other presence inside the room, the mask comes off of his head, revealing the face the media and government would pay billions of money to see.

All this time, the jokes that Johnny and Jaehyun threw weren't all bullshit. Because the moment Spiderman turns out, the familiar chestnut shade eyes meets yours, effectively stilling both of your figures.

Holy motherfucking shit.

Spiderman IS Mark Lee.

''...''

''...''

''...''

''... let's treat your burn first.''

The hero nods like a puppy.

''Ouch! At least dab it gently. I may have powers but immunity to stings isn't one of them, you know?'' That only pushes you to dab the cotton pad harder on his burnt skin, earning a yelp.

''You deserve that after hiding this secret from us for how many years.''

''Who said I hid it from all of you? Johnny and Jaehyun have known about this months ago.'' Your glare scares the superhero embarrassingly. To be fair, it's not like Mark intended to let the duo know. It was accidental.

''And you didn't even dare to tell me, your literal best friend?'' You know exactly why he didn't want to risk revealing his secret even with those he trusts the most, you just don't know how to properly mask the worry inside you.

Mark, instead, smirks. ''Just say you're worried, it's not that bad to admit it, you know?'' He's right.

Your finger fumbles the cotton, eyes staring deeply to Mark's as you weigh the outcomes if you say the very sentence that lays at the tip of your tongue. The hem of your shirt moves, courtesy of Mark of playing with them.

Fuck it.

No one knows who leans in to who, all you know is that you desire to take more than the heat coming from Mark's tongue on yours. His arm wraps around your waist, flipping your position so you would be the one to lay on the bed, hovering your figure as his kisses travels down to your neck. Whimpers escapes your lips, hand threading the brown strands while the other feels the firm chest through his suit.

Your clothes soon flies to god knows where, the chilly wind bites through your bare skin but the flames of Mark's tongue licking every surface he can eases it. The lips comes back to meet yours one more time, devouring every area that he can reach. It's nothing like you expected to experience from Mark.

It's fierce, hot, and needy.

Wet sounds of kissing echoes through the silence of the room, rustling clothes accompanying it as Mark takes off his suit.

Fingers ghosting over the line that serves as an entrance to your core, your breath hitches. They entered Mark's mouth first, sucking and licking before pulling them out full of saliva just for the show. Finally dipping inside you, a sigh couldn't help but to be let out. It's deep, something you're unable to do whenever you're left to fend for yourself.

Mark gets on it, inserting one after another with little rest in between until he feels you're stretched enough for him. You pant, the angry red tip touching and tracing the line of your pussy, enough to send you desperate. So desperate that you whine and grinds your hips upwards to meet his length.

Caging you in his embrace, Mark's lips stays on yours as his cock slowly but smoothly slides past your opening, the veins rubbing along your walls enough to receive a quiet moan from you. There's a slight sting caused by the stretched of Mark's girthy dick but that's what you wanted, for it to hurt even a bit. In order for you could feel Mark fully.

''Good?''

''So good.''

Mark chuckles, observing your facial expression as he makes circles with his hips, hand caressing your sides in a comforting way. When he senses that you've gotten used to his cock sliding in and out of your entrance, he with no doubts quickens his pace. He starts fucking.

Screams of his name along with vulgar profanity fills the apartment, loud skin slapping fuelling the hunger for release. ''More, more, more-- fuck, Mark, please.''

The male grunts. God, just your calls of his name is enough to make him come. It takes him a lot of self-control to prevent his climax from raining on him quickly. With the determination of bringing you over the edge, his hips snaps harder, harsher and faster.

The way his tip gets caught on your walls before fully pulling out is hypnotizing. Hands gripping the pillow beside your head, Mark changes his angle a bit and that's when you scream his name loud enough for the neighbors to complain tomorrow. Mercilessly, Mark's bulbous tip jabs on your spot dead on continuously, giving you no time to catch some air.

His mouth attaches to your skin as he paints it with love bruises, a remembrance of your activity. ''Aah, shit-- are you close, baby? Are you gonna come around my cock? Tighten your-- fuck-- walls around me until I can't fucking-- aah-- breathe?''

You nod, chanting his name like a mantra as you plead him to bring you the mind numbing pleasure. Scratching his back, nails digging and creating crescent moon shapes on his skin-- Mark finds himself only getting closer to coming. His fingers wraps themselves around your wrist, placing your palm on the expanse of his neck. Mark groans when he feels the pleasuring grip on the sides of his throat, eyes rolling to the back as the perfect press sends him to his peak.

With your walls pulsating around him, white cream creating a customized ring for his cock, Mark thrusts once, twice, trice and a few more before he pulls out. Ribbons of white makes itself known on your stomach through the warmth it radiates. His head is thrown to the back as his mouth falls apart, moaning your name.

Minutes passes by and it was only then that Mark came to his senses, laying carefully beside you. Despite just having his cock inside you not long ago, Mark visibly stills when you wrap your arms around his waist. You chuckle.

''Any secrets you have that you want to tell me?'' Whispering against his shoulder, Mark gains the courage of placing his arm to hug you side ways. He smiles, staring at the ceiling.

''If I didn't know any better, I'd say that smiles means you like me.''

''Well, do you?''

''Do I what?''

''Know better.''

Giggles of happiness echoes the bedroom.

It is night and your heels clicking the floor is heard along the quiet alley. You purses your lips, hands buried in the pockets of your jacket to hide from the freezing cold of the night. Eyes remaining to the ground, you steps comes to a halt when you sense another presence just behind you.

The shadow shows an upside down figure of someone, a strange yet familiar way. You turn around with no fear, smile of adore dawning your face as the sight of your boyfriend waiting greets you.

''Hi,'' Softly, you caress his upside down face. ''The people are waiting for you to save them, spidey.''

''Can I get my good luck? So I'd know someone is waiting for me to get back home?'' Chuckle rumbles on your chest as you pinch his cheek.

Your fingers tugs the hem of his mask, enough to reveal the naturally red yet slightly chapped lips that you love. Pressing a loving kiss, you hoped that Mark was able to decipher all the feelings you've put.

''Can I tell you a secret?''

You didn't wait a respond from him.

''I love you.''

You peck his lips.

''So damn much.''

You fix his mask and ensure that it wouldn't slip off of him.

''Be careful while saving the world, will you? I wouldn't know what to do if I lose mine.''

With one last kiss through the fabric of his mask, Mark vows that after helping the people, he will come back safely-- to his very own home, his own world.

[immortalbutterflycos]

@jegulus-microfic ~~ (707 words)

This is based on a thought that went a bit like, "What if even though Regulus became a Death Eater, James chose him as his secret keeper." Enjoy~

"How did you find me?" Regulus demands. His eyes are sharp and made of ice, and his wand is at James's throat; the tip of it digging harshly into the skin there. More than familiar with this particular position, James can't hold back the smirk that finds its way to his lips.

"You should know it better than anyone, love. One way or another, I'll always come find you." The wand is urged forward even deeper and James swallows around it.

"Because of our past together, I will give you one chance to run before I'll be given no choice but to come after you. And rest assured that when I do, I will not hesitate."

"Sure, Reg," James says, smiling like he doesn't actually believe it. "Say, we're going into hiding soon. Did you know?" Regulus squints at him as though his intelligence is only slightly higher than that of a sea slug.

"Well, I'd certainly hope so. Though I must say that you won't be able to hide for long before He finds you. A talent I suppose you and The Dark Lord have in common."

"Oh you'd "hope so" would you? Why Reggie, it's almost like you still care for me." Regulus faulters for only a split second, the wand loosening a bit in his grasp. He recovers quickly though, with a sneer, poking the wand back harder into his neck until James lets out a small, involuntary choking sound at the intrusion.

"Potter, I swear I will kill you right where you stand if you-"

"What do you know about the Fidelius Charm?" He asks, his voice a tad strained. This time when Regulus falters a bit, surprise colors his face.

James was truly enjoying throwing him off with every other phrase. It reminds him of a time when their arguments didn't have such high stakes and their hearts were still intact and not shattered callously on the ground at their feet.

"You're going to be hidden under the Fidelius Charm..? That's..." He meets James's eyes again and this time there is no ice. No confusion. Only pure, white-hot anger, mixed with something else unnamed.

"Why would you tell me that?" He asks, "I can't- If He asks me if I know anything about where you're hiding, He will be able to look into my mind and see this moment. Do you understand? By only saying this much, you've already endangered everyone you love and care about."

James pushes the wand to the side with two fingers, surprisingly with no resistance.

"I want you to be my Secret Keeper."

Regulus shakes his head in disbelief.

"You are a fool, James Potter, if you think for a single second that this is a good idea. In case you've forgotten, I'm a Death Eater. I've hurt people James. I've hurt you! I've never once given you any indication that I wouldn't fully hand over that information to Voldemort as soon as I make that oath."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Risk?" Regulus says, his eyes seeming to burn in stark contrast to the ice-cold they'd held only moments ago, "What risk? James, this is suicide."

James reaches out to cup Regulus's cheek, the Death Eater flinching at the touch but not pulling away. Which tells James everything he needs to know.

He smiles.

And it's not that cocky sort of smile or the flirtatious one he's worn for a lot of this interaction. No, this one is full of warmth and love and... trust.

"It's not."

"You're going to die. Each and every one of you and your precious Order are going to be hunted down and killed before you can even lift your wands." Regulus's voice is quiet and resolute but something else trembles beneath the surface. James swipes his thumb over his cheekbone; over light, familiar freckles on pale skin.

"Then I die knowing that you're the one who pulled the trigger. But you won't."

"Who says?"

"Me."

"Why?"

"Because, love," Regulus flinches again at the pet name, "I've said it before, and it's no less true now than it was back then, I would trust you with my life."

"Then that's how you're going to lose it."

"So be it."

[bonefall]

BB!TPB Titles

Having some fun just absentmindedly thinking of titles for the BB overhauls of main arc books. I think I'm gonna do it for all of them, because I actually really like renaming these and explaining my thought process

But here's TPB for now, because it's on my mind after that little scene bundle I wrote

Below the cut;

Arc Rename: The Prophecies Begin -> The Forest Four

Into the Wild -> Into the Clans

Fire and Ice -> Thermal and Undertow

Forest of Secrets -> Forest of Flowers

Rising Storm -> Rejected Rites

A Dangerous Path -> The Hunting Trail

The Darkest Hour -> Before the Dawn

The Forest Four

It's the intro to the original four, y'know? Plus, I use this term all the time in Clan Culture entries to specify when something is different about SkyClan from the "Forest Four." Makes sense it's the arc title.

Plus, there's a bit of a thing going on, especially in the later books, where the number of the Clans comes up a lot. Three Great Clans, but only four modern ones, River and Shadow combine to make TigerClan leaving three, BloodClan would make four, LionClan's alliance leaving two...

In BB, they know about SkyClan in history lessons, but Firestar doesn't think about it much until after this arc is done. More importantly, his choice to spare Scourge at the end of the arc suddenly means there's a Forest Four, and a Town One. I just think that's interesting.

(for some reason I also just love Scourge's insult where he calls Firestar a "forest fool" lmao. four forest fools.)

Into the Clans

The book with the expanded intro to the culture of the Clans. I feel like it's more fitting for BB to not call it "into the WILD" because... well, Clan cats DON'T see themselves as ""wild"" like animals. They're in Clans, with culture. They have ranks, politics, family, and even cooking and little kitty tools. It doesn't really make sense to me that they define themselves as "wild" just because their home has nature.

To them, loners are who's "wild," y'know? Rusty isn't totally coming to the Clans because it's wild, he's coming because of the community. Friendships and bonds with cats like Ravenpaw, Graystripe, Frostfur, Spottedleaf, Bluestar, and the sense that he could belong here. That he matters to these people.

This title's the one I'm actually waffling the most on, though. I don't like it very much yet. I don't feel like it captures the feeling I'm going for. It's also really close to a field guide title.

Thermal and Undertow

I've always interpreted "Fire and Ice" to be about how differently Graystripe and Fireheart are as people, and how that starts pulling them apart. The thing that people focus on is their "reconciliation" at the end of the book, but what stands out about it to me is that this is the book where Fireheart's TRULY integrated into the Clan.

His friendship with Graystripe is strained because of the HalfClan relationship Gray gets in, and he starts looking back to his roots for comfort because he doesn't feel like he's completely part of ThunderClan. I love this irony; they're BOTH struggling with loyalty in this broken system, experiencing types of xenophobia that prevent them from having happiness, but not yet wise enough to recognize they have a similar problem.

They're both breaking the law to talk to outsiders. Their forbidden love, both familial and romantic, makes Clan life harder. They're BOTH not doing anything wrong, but the STRUCTURE of their society is setting them against each other.

Graystripe responds, eventually, by leaving. Fireheart thinks he can make a home where he is. They're both wrong. The STRUCTURE needs to be challenged.

And meanwhile, they must go to fetch WindClan after it was driven out. They have to face RiverClan AND ShadowClan when Crookedstar and Nightstar show that power acts through them, as leaders. All the while, they experience the simple truth that love for cats in other Clans makes cruel, bloodthirsty battles like these too difficult to be sustainable.

And that's just canon!! I fucking love this book!!!

So in the rename, I'm putting emphasis on the natural flow, above and below. A wind is controlled by the temperature, rising up into a warm thermal. An undertow is a ferocious current that will pull you into the cold depths. They're not so different, in the end.

Forest of Flowers

And that leads right into canon's Forest of Secrets, where we learn that the older warriors also struggled with those pressures. Fireheart and Graystripe were never alone, cats have been suffering under this cruel system for GENERATIONS.

In BB, this is where I'm dropping the flower symbolism for the three major branches of politics in Forest Four society, which persist and are expanded on for the rest of BB;

Traditionalism, represented by the Honeysuckle, is used to justify the current system. "The Clans are branches of a honeysuckle bush. We fight and strangle each other for the light, and this prunes the weakest sprigs and rewards the fittest. When the winter comes, the strongest branches ensure the survival of the bush."

He also learns, much earlier, of Tigerstar's mentor. He hears the Parable of the Thistle, a story about how a young apprentice was forced to attempt to uproot a bull thistle, only managing to spread its seeds across a clearing, and won a trip to the Cleric's den for the trouble. How Tigerstar, and others, believe the honeysuckle must be challenged.

And meanwhile, he uncovers the story of the Forget-me-nots. A friend group even stronger than his collection of allies, with cats of every Clan, and how ambition drove it apart. How Bluestar looks back at it with both silly shame and deep appreciation.

The kindling ember in Fireheart's chest as he realizes he is the heir of a Forget-me-not, and that surrounding the obvious slash across Tigerclaw's nose, are the subtle pockmarks of thistle thorns.

Rejected Rites

I feel like Rising Storm is the "weakest" book of TPB, because it's where canon's cracks begin to show.

There's still a lot I love about this book. I love the way that Bluestar's cruelty arc begins with her grace and altruism towards other Clans not being returned without a catch. I adore the rescue of Bramblekit and Yellowfang’s guilty, harrowing death insisting she deserves judgement as Fireheart insists she is a good person. Its harsh ending revealing Tigerstar as leader of ShadowClan is a gut punch in an already brutal book, making an excellent mid-arc climax

But I feel its sudden turn towards suggesting the status quo was actually good drags it down.

For example, Cloudpaw is constantly arguing with Fireheart, in ridiculous fights Fire started. He's abducted by humans and returns in the same book, suggesting his uncle was totally right all along and he Totally Promises he won't mess with humans any more. The fact Fire was projecting on his young nephew and denying him answers when he questions their way of life, in a way very similar to the shame Firepaw himself went through, is not addressed.

A lot more of this book than you remember is also dedicated to Fireheart and Sandstorm arguing because the writers think a good romance is when you hate each other but stay together anyway.

So instead, this book in BB focuses more on what I DO like; Fireheart learning to be a LEADER. He's young, inexperienced, and has acted mostly alone up to this point. The Clan is in a moment of SERIOUS tumult as it reckons with how no one saw ANY signs about Tigerclaw.

As he loses his mentor Bluestar to paranoia, he has to learn which warriors are truly trustworthy, and try to win back those whose loyalties might stray.

In this way, Rejected Rites is about the WHOLE Clan. It's Whitestorm throwing his reputation and experience behind Fireheart. It's Goldenflower and how her disgust with her ex-mate blows her mind open and she shifts into Fire's most ferocious champion. It's Mousefur deciding that Tigerclaw was a uniquely bad person and refusing to admit fault with a Clan that supported him.

And of course it's about Cloudpaw, grappling with how Fireheart insists he's his mentor, not his father, not his friend, going back to how he botches the Queen’s Rights on bringing him to the Clan. Fireheart, too, is a flawed person capable of being complicit in damaging systems.

The Hunting Trail

The dog plot barely needs a recap, it's this fandom's bread and butter. But there's a small, VERY popular misconception about; in canon, Tigerstar only uses the dogs at the END of this book with a rabbit trick. Before that, the dogs are practically a natural disaster he has nothing to do with.

There's a reason why it's misremembered. It works better if he's more involved with them the whole time, showing how DANGEROUS he is, how Bluestar's fixation on her war with StarClan is blinding her to reality, and adding to the tragedy and madness by having Swiftpaw getting wrapped up in his father's/stepfather's quest for revenge.

So in BB, Tigerstar's involved MUCH sooner. He freed the dogs.

The title change reflects that. There's a hunting trail and the cats of ThunderClan are its prey, but it doesn't specify who the predator is. In the end, it was Tigerstar's scheme all along and Bluestar sacrifices herself to save her apprentice.

(I also want to take the moment to highlight how short-sighted and impulsive Tigerstar's plans actually are, something I find fascinating about him as a character. He's malicious and intelligent enough to make some incredible schemes, taking advantage of every opportunity. But he never accounts for details like... "what if my dogs don't go right to where I want them to go?" or "what if I'm not picked as deputy after I kill Redtail?" or even "what will i do after my demons kill all the living cats?")

TigerClan is also forming earlier. It begins in THIS book. Stonefur and Mistyfoot are "detained" after leaping into the ravine to rescue Fireheart and Bluestar, it's all the "evidence" Tigerstar needed to accuse them of divided loyalty. To finally start his persecution of HalfClan cats.

Before the Dawn

...In spite of its iconic moments, I'll be honest; Darkest Hour is actually the book that makes me the angriest about the original series.

All arc long, we are shown that the Clans are flawed. They have been, long before Rusty set foot in the woods that day. It NEEDS bigotry to exist the way it does, fostering xenophobia between Clan cats so that love and friendship won't get in the way of violence, encouraging and even rewarding extreme Jingoism, and even setting clanmates against each other for these senseless problems instead of the STRUCTURE of Clan society.

Darkest Hour SLAMS the breaks on that theme, and brings the message to a screeching halt.

FIRST of all, this is the book where it's explicitly stated that StarClan "doesn't interfere," even giving them a moment where they yell at protagonist about free will or whatever while simultaneously barking a vague, ultimately useless prophecy at him. The first of many scenes like it in later arcs. It feels completely and utterly out of left field, instantly turning StarClan from a mysterious, possibly not even fully benevolent force, into THE most annoying plot device ever.

Secondly... BloodClan.

BloodClan is introduced as a TRULY EVIL group of horrible atheists who hate love and friendship, to the point of banning families, and are now here to destroy our glorious society and steal our home. They're depicted as being ruled by fear and brutality, unbound by concepts like "honor" or "loyalty." You cannot reason with them or spare their lives, the barbarians must be killed and kept out, lest they replace us.

(there is even a moment where it's implied that if the soldiers lose the war, BloodClan will come and murder the elders and children too.)

It is SO bad and SO egregious, and it's played completely unironically. It bothers me so badly I've talked about it before. Multiple times, actually

After Tigerstar gets his well-deserved grallocking like a 10-point buck, the endgame villain of TPB is a foreigner and his army. Scourge is a foil of Firestar himself, but THIS one hates the clans and doesn't worship the right god, which makes him dangerous. Firestar is textually stronger than him because of his faith in StarClan.

At the end of the day, TPB, and the rest of the series that follows, doesn't refute Tigerstar's ideology. It even agrees. Weakness IS abhorrent. Outsiders ARE to be distrusted. Split loyalties ARE detestable. It just didn't like that he challenged the status quo.

Foreigners and their leaders ARE less trustworthy and more villainous than Clan cats. Wariness and even violence towards them is necessary, "justifying" the isolationist structure of the Clans. Scourge is only the first in a very long chain; then comes Sol, One Eye, Slash, and Darktail. Even Hawkfrost and Willow Tail can fit into this pattern.

With the death of these evil, troublemaking cats, the Clans return to the status quo. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Darkest Hour frames this like a wonderful, triumphant thing, with Firestar noting how the now-leaderless BloodClan fighters look so inferior to Clan warriors, Scourge's evil will never haunt them again (Tigerstar gets to be grieved though), and that with LionClan disbanding, they will all return to their petty bullshit squabbles.

So, BB's renaming.

I had a lot of ideas. I really liked the name "Moment of Truth" because it's the book that really brings together the theme of the arc, ending with Firestar realizing Scourge is right to distrust the Clans and that change is DESPERATELY needed, but the more I thought about it... the more I liked Before the Dawn

Reference to the phrase "The darkest hour comes before the dawn" BB is a much more optimistic story than canon, by tweaking the themes and details while following the major beats. Something is just... idk poetic? About picking the more uplifting part of the idiom. It feels right, like it's almost too perfect to go with any other title

It's a new era for the culture going foward It IS right before a "new dawn." It's the start of major changes to Clan culture, setting the events of the rest of BB into motion. The years and generations that follow are going to see major changes to the code, territory, culture, and philosophy in the universe. The choice that Firestar makes here is going to bring the Clans into a new epoch. Plus the cats are crepuscular now so I can literally have the final battle take place just before dawn because subtext is for CHUMPS

I like the idea of opening up the next arc with Dawn Just because that's really funny to me lmaoo. Something is cute about titles that reference each other. Maybe the first book of TNP could be "Dawn of the End" since the destruction of the forest starts early. Maybe add in some apocalyptic prophecies and such...

[mcflymemes]

AS SAID BY IRON BULL  *  assorted dialogue from dragon age inquisition, updated version

hey, don't top from the bottom.

next time you're free, why don't you come grab a drink?

didn't figure you were the kind to bed your way to power.

love is all starlight and gentle blushes. passion leaves your fingers sore from clawing the sheets.

do you want your silky underthings back, or did you leave those like a token?

you're the toughest, wisest, most beautiful person i've ever met.

these big muscled hands could tear those robes off you while you struggled, helpless in my grip.

i will never hurt you without your permission. you will always be safe.

you don't need to be afraid... unless you want to.

you see us as this forbidden, terrible thing, and you're inclined to do the forbidden...

you want to watch, don't you?

make sure you undress him with your eyes... respectfully.

i'd offer to help you get rid of that frustration but, you know... i'm in a committed relationship.

next time we're alone, i'm going to pin you down and do things your body won't believe.

all that crap made sense to you?

i can't tell you how proud i'm gonna be, watching you out there, addressing them... with this big, old love bite on your neck.

wait, i'll flex a little for you. make it easier.

that staff's in pretty good shape. do you spend a lot of time polishing it?

i can see you don't want to talk about it. bet you looked good doing it, though.

how do you manage that while staring up at everyone's ass the whole time?

you and i are fine as long as you don't do any weird crap.

i'd pin you down, and as you gripped me, i... would... conquer... you.

oh, for shit's sake.

good. i like that energy. stoke those fires, big guy.

all i'm saying is... you ever want to explore that, my door's always open.

worked that out on your own, did you?

you're not as flashy as most mages.

wait, did you "forget" them so you'd have an excuse to come back? you sly dog.

i didn't say it was healthy.

you don't actually like thinking about hurting people, do you?

if you do that, everyone knows you're a spy.

still waiting for me to do something sneaky and spy-like?

we probably won't try down to burn down a city this time.

really not sad i missed that one.

you're lucky then. it was awful.

you only lack the will to get more blood on your hands?

enjoying the great outdoors?

this area's low on dancing girls, sadly.

i've always liked fighting.

i'm not sure you know what you're asking. not sure if you're ready for it.

well, that's a fucking relief.

i'm fine. hurt myself worse than this fooling around in bed.

so, you going to let me have it, [name]? or do i get to wait and wonder?

you really kicked the crap outta that guy.

it's pretty hot where we're from.

it's not a secret. it's just too big for a quit chat.

you get that thing i asked about?

maybe you should stand in front of me.

you ever get the asses mixed up?

you're a damn fine marksman.

i fell on a guy who tried to stab me in the gut.

all right, now you're just making it weird.

nobody fights well when their clothes are on fire.

i... didn't mean to offend you.

that hurts, [name]. that's hurtful.

i may have done it a couple of times on purpose.

i cold 'cause it freezes them, and then they break into little bits when i chop them in half.

with the magic, do you prefer fire, or lightning, or cold, or what?

you don't need to worry. i have no intention of trying to leash anyone.

are you gonna write me into one of your stories?

it's just daring somebody to try to attack it.

when that breaks, you fix it. like we're doing now.

in theory, they're no different from anyone else.

anyone who takes that burden and lives a good life with it has many respect.

you're pretty tall for a human.

the bloodstains are good for scaring enemies.

could you make it sound angrier? "love" is a bit soft.

tell me more about the coat.

i don't need a book to remind me that the world is full of horrible crap.

you're really good with that bow.

it's just friendly. i won't step in your business.

what i'm saying is, please stop stealing my kills.

we should get shirts. probably need different sizes.

i think you're confusing. how can you just pick and choose what parts you believe in?

you know, i really like hitting things.

who has sex smelling like roses?

hey, i don't hate you. you and me? we're good.

hey, no-pants fridays is a cause.

it's a difficult thing you've done, turning your back on one life to live another.

[scarletttries]

Romeo Take Me Somewhere We Can Be Alone (Roman Roy Succession Request)

Part Two Available Now!

Pairing: Roman Roy (Succession) x Gender Neutral! Reader

Requests: "Roman x Mattson!reader? Forbidden/secret relationship?" AND "Perhaps some smut for Roman Roy? Maybe Roman being on the more submissive side? Thank you!"

Warnings: Smut, spoilers for the new season.

Word Count: 2.7k

Author's Note: Oh Roman, I'm going to pretend I haven't seen the latest episode so I can continue fancying you without having to think critically about this piece of media 🙃 Thank you to the ABSOLUTE genius that suggested a Mattson! reader, forbidden romance vibe, I loved the request and enjoyed writing this so much, I've gone full Romeo & Juliet! (More like Rome-eo, hahaha I felt like a genius for this). Also this is my first Roman smut so it was a bit of a challenge to try and keep it in the same tone i've written Roman in so far, but I hope you enjoy! As always keep the requests coming :D

Romey-o take me somewhere we can be alone

"Have you had enough of this little ass-kiss fucky fest yet?" You watched the little bubble pop up on your phone and looked across the party in reflex, scanning the crowd until you saw his smug little smile directed your way. You unlocked your phone to reply, scrolling up to glimpse the hundreds of messages between the two of you since you'd met that day at the woodlands company retreat three weeks ago.

***

"Problems working with your older brother? I can relate." You stepped out into the night air to find Roman hunched over the railing of the small balcony, hands threading through his hair so firmly he threatened to pull it out in clumps. His shoulders grew a little less tense as your voice washed over him, hands falling to the edge of ledge as he gestured for you to join him.

"So you're the younger Mattson? You could have fooled me, on account of you not being a massive dick." He laughed at the words but it came out hollow, watching his breath form a white wisp in front of his face in the cold night air.

"Thanks, I try my best to be an actual human being. I hear out of all the Roys you're the most favourable to be around too."

He turned his head sharply to really look at you, the sincerity in your tone and the measured kindness of your words catching his attention.

"Oh yeah?" He probed, hoping another almost compliment would fall from your lips before he did something to ruin this moment. Truth was he'd spend half the weekend watching the way you floated through the conference, poised, humble, soft; the antithesis of your brother Lucas. And so he'd avoided you, sure that any moment spent in your presence would only tarnish the shining light you carried so effortlessly.

"I like to think I've got good instincts for people, and I think there's something about you that's different from the rest of your family. And I mean that in a good way." You were thoughtful as you spoke, treading lightly around the slick man in front of you, sure that one wrong move would have him sprinting back inside, spitting venom in his words as he went.

"That's actually pretty nice to hear these days." Roman replied after a pause, now standing squarely to face you, searching your eyes for any hint of deception and mockery and instead finding a tranquility that washed over him in waves as you returned a smile he hadn't realised he was sharing.

"I'm really sorry about your father by the way. And I'm even more sorry that you have to be here right now." You grimaced at your brother's insistence that this weekend go ahead as planned, every ounce of humanity seeming to leave him the moment his bank account saw a certain amount of zeros. Roman nodded at your words, the taste of condolences still unfamiliar and bitter in his mouth, cursing his father for ruining yet another interaction for him, even from beyond the grave. You read his silence for the pain that it was and set your hand gently on top of his where it rested on the railing.

"Well I should go back inside before any of our siblings accuse us of fraternising with the enemy, but it was nice to meet you. I really mean that."

Panic rose up in the back of Roman's throat as you turned to move away, not yet ready for this moment to end, feeling better than he had in weeks. He ignored the voice crying out inside him to stay strong, to isolate himself, to trust no one, and instead caught your rising hand with his.

"Maybe we could fraternise just a little longer.

***

And so you and Roman had spent an evening sharing in the perils of being a younger sibling in your strange corporate worlds, swapping numbers and an unspoken agreement to keep this from your families as you departed the next day, Roman touching the spot on his cheek you had blessed with a gentle kiss when he snuck into your treehouse to say a real goodbye. And so followed weeks of secret texts and furtive phone calls, pouring out your souls until finally you were back in the same room, parted in a hotel lobby by a sea of political donors and movers and shakers, but feeling only one pair of eyes on you.

"I thought you'd never ask." You sent back in response, locking eyes with him once again and tipping your head toward an emergency exit you had checked led to a service elevator. From opposite sides of the room you each slipped through the crowd, trying your best to be unseen, aware that any of these prying eyes could collapse what you had delicately built with a single passing comment. As you reached the door you did a final scan to ensure there were no Waystar or GoJo members nearby who could catch a glimpse of this subtle rendezvous, before backing through the door yourself.

Roman stood waiting between the open elevator doors, looking almost bashful as you dashed towards him, vanishing into the small metal room as he let the door slide shut behind him.

"Thanks for holding it." You couldn't help the anticipation loaded in your tone, facing Roman and finding him stood barely an inch away from your blushing face.

"I had a feeling we were going to the same floor." He breathed out, eyes wide and hands shaking as they rose to brush either side of your face, the adoration clear in the gentle way his thumbs stroked your cheeks.

Before either of you could think your way out of something good, you leant forward, closing the gap between your lips and sending a whirlwind of warmth and glitter spinning through your bodies, the reunion more than worth the wait. His head bobbed forward to return the gesture, body following the movement until he was pressed entirely against you. It wasn't rough, or frantic, or urgent. It was like deep down you knew you'd be doing this forever, so you had all the time in the world to sweetly caress the nape of his neck, parting his lips for a content sigh that only let you taste more of him.

By the time the lift doors opened on your floor Roman could hardly remember where he began and you ended, unsure how he ever coped being half way across the planet from you, needing to keep you as close as he could for every second you could steal tonight. You could feel it too, the desperate pull of your heart towards him, the air of secrecy that only made you want him more, this forbidden fruit the sweetest you would ever taste.

You could feel his cheeks brush against yours as he fought back a smile at finally having you in his arms, and the physical confirmation you had been feeling this overwhelming chemistry too. He would have berated anyone else for believing in love at first sight, but as you rested your forehead softly against his, feeling the joy emanating between you, he didn't think this could be anything else. When you pushed the jacket free of his shoulders, helping him shrug away the fabric until it crumpled on the floor, he had to stop himself from pulling away. Not because he didn't want this with you. It was really the opposite; he couldn't remember ever feeling this way, ever wanting someone to be so close to him, to feel every part of him, and now he wanted that more than anything with you. But he was scared of being vulnerable, and insecure in his inexperience, completely unsure what real intimacy could even look like.

As you worked through the buttons on his shirt, you could see the gears whirring in his head, the unmistakable fear and excitement of a man that's seen a hard-drive's worth of porn but never felt the touch of a person that genuinely cares about them.

"We can stop?" You offered, pulling your hands away from his shirt, only for him to vigorously shake his head and rip it off himself, a stray button clattering across the floor, disrupting the heavy silence.

"I want to." He insisted, his eyes full of desperate desire as you brought your hands to his now bare chest, his heart hammering in anticipation inside. Unsure of what to do next, Roman firmly grabbed at your ass, voice wavering as he tried to take control, feeling like that should be his role,

"Do you like that, you fucking slut?" Both of your faces seemed to contort in discomfort as the words tumbled out of his mouth, his hand quickly releasing and his eyes clenching shut in embarrassment.

"Sorry Rome, I don't even think you like that?" You questioned softly, bringing your fingertips to sweep delicately over the creases in his forehead, his brow slowly unfurrowing as he blinked his eyes open to see you again.

"Fuck, sorry, I was trying to, you know, talk dirty, be sexy." He waved his hands in a gesture of uncertainty as he spoke, surprised you weren't laughing at him or taking the opportunity to run for the door.

"You know talking doesn't have to be degrading to be sexy?" You replied, the calm, confident smile on your face matched by the alluring look in your eye leaving Roman feeling like a deer in headlights, but praying the car will crash right into him.

"Oh yeah?" He gulped, eyes wide as you nodded, pushing him gently so he could step backwards towards the end of the bed. He let himself drift in your current as your touch laid him backwards, every wave of contact soothing his nerves.

"Can I show you?" You breathed in his ear, settling your thighs either side of his legs, feeling all the more powerful for being fully dressed as his bare chest heaved beneath you.

"Please." He begged softly, letting his eyes flutter shut as your lips found his again, fingers tracing a path down his stomach until they reached his belt.

"I'm so glad I got to see you tonight." You sighed against his lips as you began to undo the buckle, feeling his hips twitch, reacting to even the slightest touch. His head leant forward, trying to chase your lips as you spoke, needy for the taste of your kiss as you released the zip and buttons in your way.

"Me too." He eventually sighed out as your lips moved out of his reach, mapping a course across his cheek until you reached the edge of his jaw, applying a little more pressure until you heard the low rumble of moan escape his lips.

"I like hearing you enjoy yourself." You purred, confidence building as he relaxed against your touch, submitting to your control, putty in your hands. Marking a sweet constellation of kisses over his neck you slowly slipped your hand inside his boxers, running one finger over the length of him and feeling him buck up to meet your touch. Roman had never felt both so excited and so relaxed at the same time, never this comfortable with someone exploring his body before, but feeling like he wanted to give every inch over to your control, sure your loving touch could put all the broken pieces of him back together.

You wrapped your hand around his hard length, pumping over him a few times to gage his reaction. His eyebrows scrunched down towards his nose, lips parting as a moan seemed to reverberate through his whole body.

"Does that feel good?" Your tone was sweet, if not a little teasing, sucking on a spot on his throat that seemed to leave him barely able to spit out an 'uh-uh' in response.

"Good, I want to make you feel good, Roman. Will you let me make you feel good?" You praised, bobbing your head down to his chest and picking up the pace of your rubbing hand. Ability to think and speak quickly surrendered, Roman just nodded, for once unable to think of a quippy comeback and just enjoying someone else taking control and being with him so intimately. He'd touched himself like this hundreds of times, thinking cruel, perverse little thoughts the whole time until he was left sitting in a puddle of his own self-contempt. But with you it felt like something new entirely, something positive, and warm, and with each soft praise and gentle kiss that poured from your lips and landed squarely on his chest he could feel his heart lifting, thinking maybe there's a reason he'll only ever thought of it as 'fucking' and not 'making love'.

Your lips drifted down to his chest, gingerly placing a kiss on one nipple and smiling at the way he squirmed under you, eyes now staring down at you in full adoration like you were the most wondrous miracle he could have dreamt of. You could feel his cock starting to twitch in your hand, cooing over him again, sure this wouldn't be the last time the two of you spend a night hiding in the sheets together.

"You're doing so well, Roman. Good boy."

"You feel - so - good." He panted out, the praise bringing him close to the edge before he could really think enough to stop it. Ignoring your own desire stirring up inside your stomach, you gripped your hand on him a little firmer, leaving the other to trace faint circles over his chest, the lingering damp of your kisses only making him more sensitive. Crashing your lips back against his you swallowed his moan before breathing out,

"Cum for me, Rome, please." His lips pressed hard against yours as his hips started to shake, unable to hold back for a second longer and spilling hot white ropes across his stomach, almost whimpering at his sensitive release, overstimulated but still whining the second you released your grip.

His hands reached up to capture your face, somehow trying to portray a lifetime's worth of gratitude and affection in a single overwhelming kiss, before finally releasing you to breathe. As you rose up onto your knees, surveying the smiling fool of a man lying beneath you, you couldn't help but laugh at the state of both of your suit trousers, marred with streaks of sticky white.

"We might need to hide up here for a while until we get cleaned up and dried off, or this might be hard to explain."

"You don't think we could say two seperate waiters happen to get lucky?" Roman rebuffed, pulling a disgusted face as he wiped a finger over the fluid pooling on his stomach.

"Or one waiter got very lucky?" You suggested with a smile, Roman using every ounce of remaining strength to sit up until his lips could find their way to yours.

"No-one's that lucky, so I guess we better stay hidden. I reckon there's a lot more stuff you could show me anyway." Roman's eyes drifted down your body eagerly, wondering exactly what else he'd been missing by never trying it with the right person.

"You don't think the party will miss us?" You teased, pretending to bat away his eager hands.

"What party?" He scoffed, letting you capture him by the wrists and pulling you back to lie with him, falling so you pinned his wrists either side of him, a position he was more than happy to end up in.

"What about our families?" You couldn't help the worried tinge in your voice as you remembered the seemingly insurmountable barrier that stood between yours and Roman's lives. With unusual sincerity he gazed up into your eyes and said softly,

"Fuck 'em, you're my family now."

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #30

The Battle of Big Wand

Part 4 of reacting to this episode (spoiler-free)!

I LOVE that we get to see so much of Foop's spindly fingers in this episode. The way he wiggled his fingers was one of my favorite body language quirks back in the OG series. He's the same person...

Uh-oh... Dev's starting to have second thoughts now that people are getting hurt... And Irep doesn't like it...

I think it's REALLY funny that Irep's hair looks blue when he's in good lightning and black when he's in dim lighting. Not sure if that was intentional to mimic both his parents' hair and his old curl, but that's super clever if it was.

/record scratch. "So, you're probably wondering how we got here."

Irep remembering why he prefers working alone.

Fascinated by the choice to portray Irep tucking his hands behind his back. It seems to be his thing while his parents lean into the OG show's style of holding their hands like stubby chicken wings. I've been thinking that this whole episode... I have random memories sticking out to me from OG series; I'm gonna look it up.

- Oh, interesting... He does it in "Playdate" (dressed nice and trying to fool Cosmo and Wanda into believing he's rehabilitated after Abracatraz), "Love Triangle" (flirting with Goldie on the playground), "Timmy's Secret Wish" (bragging about being a lawyer), "Two and a Half Babies" (pretending to be a good boy for his teacher at the end so she'll let him go to summer camp), "Terrible Twosome" (swaying Poof to mess around and pull pranks), and maybe others, but that's enough looking. - I guess it's just his thing! That's cool; I don't think that was a gesture I paid much attention to in the OG, but he's done it a lot in New Wish. I think he's happy he lost his stubby arms.

I'm OBSESSED with Dev's realization that he and Irep aren't business partners if Irep doesn't listen to his feelings as a partner. He's gonna realize he didn't listen to Peri, and he's gonna want him back!! They're gonna work it out! ... Hopefully with a mediator!

I like how Dale went from 0 to 100 in paying attention to his son as soon as he realized Dev was capable of business deals. He's not being comforting, but he's interested in talking business.

Dale is one of the funniest characters I've ever seen in my life. Not necessarily for the things he says, but for the commitment to the bit.

His swagless looks, nonexistent charm, and extreme amounts of oddly specific lemonade trauma have captivated me. I desperately want to look at him and say "Huh?? Who invited THIS guy??"

Hands down favorite part of Dale's design is the enormous puffer jacket he wears despite the fact it's obvious he's still super scrawny. But I also like how his child design ALSO has the exhausted lines under his eyes in "Nectar of the Odds," which I'd just assumed were invented for adult Dale until I took another look. Also, on some bizarre level, I feel like Dale has actually recovered remarkably well for a guy who spent 7 years tormented underground in servitude? Is he generous with his money? No. Does he have friends? No. Is he kind to his son? No. Is he capable of resting between projects or just taking breaks in general? Also no. Can he handle people messing with his schedule? Absolutely not. Is he keeping tabs on his abuser to ensure she doesn't wreck his or his son's life? Nope. But does his hard work bring him happiness? ... I don't know :'D But he's good at getting things done when he sets his mind to it, he can host a killer event, he's heavily implied to have amazing robotics skills, and he has insanely quick turnaround on his marketing plans, so he's got that going for him. -> Dale will look at stuff and say "Is anybody gonna hyperfixate on that?" and not wait for an answer. "Self-made" lemonade boy, my beloved... If we get a huge plot twist that Dale is the creator of the Vicky-themed robot babysitters from the "Channel Chasers" epilogue, would that be nuts or what? Me: Wait, what are all the symptoms of hyperfixation again? Lemme look this up... Me: Me: ... Good to know! (It was all of them. All of them are the symptoms)

The Dale ramble I wrote here got so long that I moved it to its own post. I hope you like my shirtless "Dale bad at being on his honeymoon" doodles <3

I'm glad Dale seems like he's doing okay and that Dev didn't bug him with lemons (or throw him down in the dark pit that swings shut from the top, even though that would've been so easy). I think I was right in that I'm probably making a bigger deal out of his backstory than the show intended, but I think it's hilarious.

I do have a history of going for characters who give me "Okay, but where else can I ever get this character / this dynamic?" energy. He's one heckuva guy. I need to put him in a 'fic and shake him up and down like a snow globe. I desperately want him to find out he accidentally hired his abuser to babysit his kid. I hope it was an accident, because if he's kept her number in his contact list, I'm gonna have a talk with him.

I wish we'd see Dale doing "angry at Hazel" stuff. I'm confused as to what the purpose of it was... Are we not going to touch on that in the finale? Was it just to upset Dev, but not vital enough to follow through with as an actual plot point? hm.

-> ?? I feel like it was a big deal in at least two episodes leading up to this big finale plot, so I'm just... surprised? Hm.

I guess I'm not really bothered because I don't think Dale knows Hazel came to Fairy World or that she'll appear again, and I understand why his attention is diverted, but it'd be fun (for me).

Also, this is our second time being robbed of a Dev-Irep sleepover D:

omfg, Irep ditching Dev for Dale is the funniest thing ever.

oh no.

Alone again...

sdlkfj, Wanda has spent this entire series taking shots at Dev because she thinks he's a bitter bully and she kept saying things to Peri like "Blink twice if you need help getting out of here."

I remember posting years ago about how I like to think Cosmo's really good at reading people (especially when it comes to distracting them, like encouraging Jorgen to "scramble the Fairies" in "Abra-catastrophe" before he can separate them from Timmy).

So... I really enjoy that he senses Wanda's going too far and might lose any chance of Dev helping, and he tries to stop her.

oh no... I like how when Wanda is telling Dev about dying from magical back-up and she uses the example of a fairy feeling queasy and needing to use the bathroom and then they explode...

... because that's how the Grim Reaper told Foop he'd die back in "Man's Worst Friend" ("Oh, this is fun! You're gonna perish on the toilet!"), and I've been thinking about it ever since I saw Peri dying on the floor.

I headcanon them dying young, but not THIS young!! /jk

Wanda, I have good news for you! I'm pretty sure that guy you think is dead isn't dead. Pretty sure I saw him when I took my screenshots of Anti-Fairies taking over Earth and (ironically) the memorial scene at Fairy Con.

Irep when the alarm goes off cracks me up. There's no point in posting the screenshot because he's tiny and blurry, but he's so spooked. His eyes take up his entire face. RIP overly sensitive bat ears and weak bat eyes.

Oooh, Jasmine singing is going to do something. Are the Anti-Fairies going to enjoy it despite other characters thinking she sings poorly?

Yes. lol. I was going to theorize in my 2nd post for this episode about whether Irep is still really affected by music, but I didn't bother because I was like "I can't imagine that would come up."

oh no, he is. Not enthusiastically... but he is. Love that for him. This kid's always loved to dance and play loud music. Never change.

oh no!!! They're exploiting Irep's one true weakness...

Diversity win!! The genderfluid bisexual has a gender-neutral response for nonbinary folks he thinks have bad boy energy!!

sdlfjk, I think Irep just found the person he most wants to godparent for. Ever.

I checked "Certifiable Super Sitter" again just in case I missed a bad boy joke, and I totally forgot Sammy screams "Break Vicky like a 2 x 4!" at the top of his lungs while he mimes snapping her neck. He's so funny. I love him. I wonder if Foop ever told Sammy about his "Scary Godcouple" trauma and if Sammy was extra ruffled about Vicky because of that.

Peri: I don't understand what you see in Sammy. He's so... mild. Irep: Not after I talk to him ❤️

okay, nerd.

......... Did Foop have a crush on Goldie back in "Love Triangle" because she has major femme fatale energy?? Discuss.

omg, just realized the reason why Irep's single eyelash felt so familiar to me is because that's how he looked in "Blue Angel." Absolutely hilarious that when he opts for a feminine disguise, he has fewer eyelashes than usual.

- Poof and Foop had 3 eyelashes per eye when they were young, but Peri's lost those, and Anti-Cosmo doesn't show lashes. Jorgen's New Wish eyes don't either (Jorgen wore mascara in the OG series) and neither do Cosmo's (Cosmo also liked make-up) - I ?? have to assume that means Irep is deliberately going for a more femme, nonbinary, or genderfluid vibe of some kind, which is perfect for me! His gender identity is one of his plot points in the 130 Prompts. - Can't believe all those years ago, I clocked Poof as growing up to be "the one suppressing trauma with candy and soda" and Foop as "the one who plays with gender expression" ... I know it's not stated by canon, but you get me...

??? I like how Anti-Wanda seems to be teaching Anti-Cosmo how to make his eyes look in different directions and he's loving it? Unclear.

I also like how with his accent, it sounds like he's saying "Hazel-y," which is cute. I like how he made the effort to find out her name; that's 100% in-character.

They are doing their best!! (They are not)

I like that when confused, Anti-Cosmo's instinct was to turn to Anti-Wanda for advice. That's new for him considering he used to shake her and scream. I'm glad they worked that out. And I'm glad he's exactly as "extinct by instinct" as he's always been <3

Apparently Irep (or at least Foop) gets the "spelling out unnecessary details" bit of his dialogue from his mom??

Like, monologuing important info is one thing, but in the OG series, Foop elaborates on things for no reason, like Anti-Wanda here. lol.

I was kind of worried about the direction Anti-Wanda's reboot might go. I believe what I said was, "I'd be interested to see her redesigned with new clothes and with a reduction on the "Anti-Wanda's stupid" angle in favor of mirroring Wanda better (owing to how I've always felt she was a hasty design slapped down in Season 2 and then they couldn't go back on it when Wanda's character developed further). Anti-Wanda's hit every mark I was hoping for in a rebooted design for her. She's still Southern and goofy, but she's not being played as stupid... She and Anti-Cosmo are equally silly and equally dumb and messing around <3

sdlkfj, Anti-Cosmo out here like "This isn't my party, so I'm down to follow my wife's suggestion that we slip from the room together."

Okay, other nerd; I'm glad you're excited to be alone with your hot wife as you definitely try to catch a real human running around.

ALSO very in character; man LOVES forgetting what he's doing and wandering around!! That's his thing!!!

Me out here like "Oh yeah, now I remember why I wrote a 'fic where no one looked for the captured Anti-Cosmo for 77k years because his family totally thought he'd gone wandering and dissociated and started a new life... oh no.

[yatagarasuhonyaku]

The Raven of the Empty Coffin: Chapter 2 "Akeru" Part 1

Disclaimer: This is a fan-translation japanese-english of the original novel. The events of this novel follow after what's already covered by the anime. For an easier understanding, I recommend first reading the few scenes of previous books I've already translated.

Blog version

For the Index, you can find it HERE

Previously: Shigemaru (Part 3)

⊛　　　　　⊛　　　　　 ���

Chapter 2: Akeru (Part 1)

“Good evening,” the boy said to me.

His clear eyes were jet black. His skin was whiter than magnolias even under the setting sun. He had small shoulders, covered by a thin haori made of silk gauze. His perfectly straight hair fell smoothly over them.

——What a beautiful person.

That was the first impression I ever had of His Highness Wakamiya.

Back then, my mother was completely focused on my older brother, the family’s heir, and my older sister, who everyone counted on to enter the Imperial Harem. In my loneliness, I had taken to endless mischief to make the adults pay attention to me and that day was no exception. As soon as the maids told me to ‘not go to the palace’s annex on my own, there was an important guest staying there’, I immediately decided to sneak there.

I remember it clearly even now.

It happened at dusk. I took a peek in the annex’s direction as soon as I crossed the then flowerless camellia hedges. My plan had been to go inside and explore if I found nobody there, but that wasn’t the case. Someone was in fact sitting on the veranda, surrounded by red light.

As the light lingered it turned the sky crimson, dyeing the blooming white magnolias a light pink. The person on the veranda had been looking up, admiring the spectacle made by the delicately falling petals—yet, somehow, he noticed me on the spot. He even nonchalantly greeted me first.

“Go…… Good evening,” I answered back, full of nerves. I sure sounded insecure even to myself, my voice barely a flutter.

“Is something the matter? Maybe a message from Lady Masuho?”

I didn’t like the familiar way in which he spoke of my sister, but I still kept my silence. Instead, I shook my head.

“Then, was this originally your playground? I'm sorry to intrude like this,” the boy responded, and I panicked.

“No! They just told me I couldn't come here, so, erhm… you see…”

“You ignored it and came here.”

“I did…”

That was the ‘important guest’ the maids had told me about, even I could tell that much. At that moment, I was convinced he would call the servants and I would be yelled at, which made what happened next even harder to believe. I couldn’t trust my ears at first.

“Then let's keep it a secret.” I looked up in surprise, and there was the boy pressing his index finger against his lips. “You don't want to be scolded, right? So leave it just between us that we were both here. How about that?”

I just stood there like a fool for a while. Had that been my older brother, I had no doubts I would have been harshly yelled at. I had bothered plenty of people with my troublemaking, yet this was the first time someone had offered to keep it a ‘secret’. Thinking about it now, this was the exact moment I learned you could actually have friends—people to get in trouble with.

“——Yes, let's! It's a secret.” I too raised my finger to my lips.

In answer, the boy gave me the gentlest of smiles.

⊛　　　　　⊛　　　　　 ⊛

“It's time at last,” Akeru declared as he observed the expressions of all the boys standing in front of him.

The Unbending Reed Monastery, third building, second room. Not even an hour after Akeru had carried his belongings inside, all the trainees with connections to the Western House had gathered there for a meeting.

“The Southern House’s overt and ever-growing tyranny these last few years is the biggest proof of their fear. We may have struggled because of it, but that too is about to end.”

The trainees, who had been attentively listening, leaned forward. “Then…!”

“It's just as you think. His Highness Wakamiya will inherit the throne soon.”

There had been an endless amount of councils held at the Imperial Court over the past few days. The requests for the reigning emperor to abdicate the throne in favor of His Highness Wakamiya grew in number, and while the Animiya Faction, most of them from the Southern House, was against the idea, they had no arguments against their rival faction's efforts. It wouldn’t take long to gain the Court's approval, that was almost certain.

“It would be unacceptable to have Yamauchi Guards like the scoundrels from back then by the time His Highness Wakamiya has truly become His Majesty. I came here, to the Unbending Reed Monastery, under Wakamiya's personal orders to preside over you all,” Akeru said gallantly, as he surveyed them all. The people present went from Seeds to Evergreens, all the very picture of solemnity.

“We shall become His Highness Wakamiya’s true allies. Indolency is inexcusable. Brace yourselves and perform your duty diligently.”

“Yes!” his companions said at once, bowing their heads.

“Someday, he’ll become your brother-in-law, so make sure to not disrespect him in any way.” Those were the words Akeru's father gave him once upon a time.

Afterwards, he introduced him to the very same boy who had turned into Akeru's first ever accomplice. His Highness Wakamiya—a young prince of the Imperial Family and his older sister's future husband.

Wakamiya’s health had been poor when he had first arrived at the Western House. He had been recovering in the annex, so they were only formally introduced to each other once he had actually recovered. But, when his father wasn't looking, Akeru pressed his finger once more against his lips and, all while keeping a straight face, Wakamiya responded with the same gesture for just a second.

Akeru and his sister were given plenty of chances to play with Wakamiya ever since then, using the fact that they were all children as an excuse. From that point onwards, Masuho no Susuki, Akeru's kind and compassionate sister, came to genuinely like him.

Akeru was also filled with the desire to do something—anything—for his beloved sister and his future brother-in-law. That was why, the very second he learned of Wakamiya’s return from his studies abroad in the Outside in order to choose his legal wife, he volunteered to become one of his attendants.

It was early spring, and the first time they had met in years. The location was in front of Sunrise Palace—the Crown Prince’s residence. It had been kept closed due to Wakamiya's long absence, and the plan had been to spend the day getting it back to livable condition. Akeru had been given the position of the head of the attendants—acting as the representative of everyone serving in Sunrise Palace—so he was given the opportunity to, personally and with great anticipation, wait for their master's return.

While he had expected Wakamiya to arrive from the bridge connecting the Palace to the Imperial Court, he instead appeared riding on a horse and landed right in front of Akeru and the rest of the attendants. Akeru wouldn't ever forget the scene.

Three sharp claws grasped at the stone floor and the resulting wind forced them all to shield their eyes. The horse kept flapping its wings for no apparent reason, its black feathers dancing in the air. The rider’s straight hair danced in the wind, its color a splendid black, and his eyes, resplendent like amethysts, were directed at them.

“Oh, Akeru. It has been a while,” were Wakamiya's first words. As he said that, he swept the sleeves of his garment, a luxurious piece embroidered in gold, out of the way and jumped down from the horse’s saddle with practiced ease. He was all grown up, yet he remained the same beautiful person of his youth. Just as Akeru remembered him.

“Welcome back, Your Highness. I've been waiting for you all this time!”

Akeru would give his all for this person's sake. He wholeheartedly thought so. Yet, just as they finally opened the doors to Sunrise Palace and set about cleaning its long unused rooms, Wakamiya stopped them.

“There's no need to do that,” he assured them. “All of you, return to your previous workplaces.”

Akeru heard someone else raise his voice in baffled surprise.

“One person shall suffice to tend to Sunrise Palace, everyone else can return home. Akeru, you come with me.”

Immediately after saying that, Wakamiya left the Palace and settled on a small annex as his private chambers in complete disregard for the large building that he was supposed to live in. He checked the place's surroundings and, only then, after inspecting the dusty interior, he gave Akeru his first order.

“All the vegetation in the garden bothers me, cut them so I can see further from my room. Also, there is too much of a mess of things inside, I don't like it. Leave a bookshelf and take away everything else. I have somewhere to go after this, but I'll be back before sunset…… So, let's see. At the very least, before then, clean up the room enough for me to sleep. Can you do that?” Wakamiya asked him.

Akeru nodded, full of confidence. “Of course, leave it to me.”

“Then that I shall. Don't let anyone inside while I'm away.”

“Understood. Please, take care.”

Akeru was overjoyed to have Wakamiya relying on him, proud to be able to answer to those expectations. Once he had seen him off, Akeru gave his servants, who had been waiting just outside the Palace, the order to send a messenger to the Western House's residence—not the main one in their territory, but the palace they owned for work at the Imperial Court.

From there on, Akeru spent his entire time diligently working until dusk. In fact, Sunrise Palace had been completely transformed thanks to his efforts by the time of Wakamiya’s return. The setting sun shone over them when he finally came back to his room. As soon as he set foot in it, however, he writhed in shock.

“...... What's this?”

“I just followed your commands, Your Highness. The room was truly painful to behold, so, brazen as it may be, I took it upon myself to prepare and deliver new furniture. All made by Western craftsmen,” Akeru proclaimed to him, checking the room once again.

If he told anyone that the room had been a disorderly mess just a few hours ago, nobody would believe him. Luxurious crimson curtains hung from the window overlooking the garden as decorated golden buckles kept them stylishly open in a shape that resembled a butterfly’s spreading wings. The desk in front was pitch black and covered in mother-of-pearl decorations. A rainbow crane flew through a nearby cupboard with top shelves(1), made by the same artisan.

An incense burner rested on top, as well as a vase filled with red apricot blossoms. All masterpieces, decorated with gold and grey heron stamps.

“I trust all these items are of a quality befitting for Your Highness, but if there is any problem, please do tell me. Exchanging them should be no problem whatsoever.”

“No, I have no complaints with the furniture as long as they’re in working condition. But… it's a bit painful to the eyes……”

Akeru could tell Wakamiya was surprised by such a splendid transformation from his somewhat bewildered look. “Please, do also check the garden. I called for one of the Western House's Retainers, a gardener, and completely fixed it. It should be perfectly pleasant to the eyes now.”

Wakamiya immediately took a look from the window and saw the garden, which had been delicately cut down and had its entirety replanted with all kinds of garden trees. He was at a loss for words. Akeru was filled with a sense of accomplishment as he looked at the man’s back. His day’s efforts were rewarded.

After all, it had been a lot of trouble to arrange it all before Wakamiya's return. To mobilize all the servants at the residence, call for the gardener, check the Western House’s treasure storage, and choose between the available furniture. He hadn’t had the time to do a careful selection and he wasn't wholly satisfied with the end result, which was a shame, but he had managed to go above and beyond Wakamiya's orders. It should be enough for the time being. 

“Is it all to your satisfaction?”

Wakamiya had been standing there, deep in thought and with a hand on his forehead, for a while. His expression was just as blank as usual, yet Akeru got the feeling he looked somehow troubled when he turned towards him.

“It's certainly an impressive change, but I can't believe you did this all alone.”

Wakamiya’s words were incomprehensible to Akeru. “But I did do it all.”

“Are you telling me that you carried even furniture like those shelves and the jar all by yourself?” Wakamiya asked him as he touched the items, all taller than Akeru.

“Oh!” Akeru finally understood. “I had the Western House's guards carry those, of course.”

“I most certainly told you to not let anyone in.”

“And I didn't. No Yatagarasu besides me has entered the Palace's premises while His Highness was absent.”

“...... What about the gardener or the people who carried all the furniture?”

“But those are all servants?” Wakamiya stayed silent, and Akeru couldn’t help but feel like there was a discrepancy forming between them. “Well, if you allow me. It's true that I allowed the servants’ entrance so I could fulfill your orders, but they're usually out of the way so His Highness won't ever see them. Please, don't concern yourself with that and treat them as if they didn't exist.”

“By any chance, are they on standby right now too?”

“Indeed, just behind the stables.” There were always servants following Akeru no matter where he went. They fulfilled any task at any moment when so requested and, if those were Wakamiya's orders, he fully planned to keep them out of his sight.

Wakamiya opened his mouth for a moment, yet he didn't say anything in the end. He fell silent again, a complicated expression on his face. Meanwhile, Akeru stood there, disconcerted and incapable of even conceiving what Wakamiya was so concerned about. Finally, Wakamiya sat on the window frame and fixed his eyes on Akeru, an air of formality to him.

“Akeru, do you truly desire to serve me?”

He hadn’t foreseen the topic to be brought up in such a way, but it was one he had long since been waiting for. Akeru kneeled at Wakamiya's feet and looked up with determination.

“Yes. I wish to serve you, even if I must risk my life in the process.”

“Is that so,” Wakamiya muttered, then continued with an order, “Then, go to the Unbending Reed Monastery.”

“To the… Unbending Reed Monastery?” He hadn't ever even considered it. “Why?”

Wakamiya quietly answered, “That's something you'll understand once you arrive there.”

“But, who will be your attendant then…?”

“There are other candidates for the position, but few people who want to become my subordinate by their own will. If you truly mean those words of yours, what you'll experience at the Monastery will be essential someday.”

After such words, there was no space for him to complain. He didn't have the slightest idea of what Wakamiya told the Western Lord, but Akeru ended up returning to the Main Residence that very day. There, the Western Lord had invited an ex-Yamauchi Guard, now a the wonder of a dojo in the West, who rigorously trained Akeru until he was old enough to enter the Monastery.

Akeru, however, couldn't help but to wonder and wonder. Why did Wakamiya decide to send him to the Monastery? The question gnawed at him until, less than half a year later, that assassination attempt against Wakamiya took place.

Upon hearing the news from his father, the shock Akeru felt was enormous. “His Highness, is His Highness Wakamiya alright!?”

“Fortunately, yes. He didn’t receive any wounds in the attempt.”

“Who would even attempt such a thing?”

“A Court Raven from the Southern House was the ringleader—he was Lord Natsuka’s subordinate.”

“Of His Highness Animiya……?” His voice came out higher than he intended. A cold shiver ran down Akeru’s back.

“Lord Natsuka denies any involvement and seems to be quite infuriated with said subordinate. Nonetheless,” his father bitterly added, “only Lord Natsuka himself truly knows how aware of his subordinate's feelings he actually was. Due to this incident, Lord Natsuka has once more made it clear he intends to pledge his loyalty to Wakamiya, but we can't be certain of how honest he is.”

Even though he was playing the role of Wakamiya's faithful subordinate in public, his true feelings remained a mystery. “On top of it all, and this wasn't made public, there were actual Yamauchi Guards among those who wielded their blades against Wakamiya. They had sworn their loyalty to Lord Natsuka.”

“That cannot be!”

They were supposed to protect the Imperial Family before and above all, to follow their orders unfailingly, and yet they tried to kill the very imperial son who held the title of the Crown Prince? The moment he heard that, Akeru felt like he had finally understood Wakamiya's goal.

Wakamiya was under constant peril, so Akeru would absolutely need the skills of a warrior to remain by his side. Even though employing the On'i system and gathering power at the Imperial Court was a possible option, he would also need the strength of a warrior to supervise the Yamauchi Guard. That had to be why he commanded Akeru to go to the Monastery.

Masuho no Susuki would become his wife and her little brother Akeru would become his trusted vassal, and, just like that, the Western House would hold the power at the Imperial Court. Wakamiya wouldn't have to worry about his safety anymore. 

——However, the situation didn't progress as the Western House had thought.

Around a year after Akeru started to prepare to enter the Monastery, they got the news—Masuho no Susuki had failed to become Wakamiya's wife and had instead chosen to remain in Cherry Blossom Palace as the head lady-in-waiting. The woman who became Wakamiya's legal wife in her place was from Natsuka's maternal family. She was a princess of the Southern House.

“The South clearly acted to interfere and get in the way of the other Houses, from the looks of it.”

“Just how much do they dare to look down on us!?”

As soon as the news of the Southern Princess’ success at the Rite of Ascension reached them, all the leaders among the West-affiliated Court Ravens gathered at the Western House's Main Residence. While hearing the argument, Akeru could only pity his sister. 

His older sister was his pride, the gentlest person he knew. She loved Wakamiya so, so dearly. He was certain that if the competition had been fair, no woman from the South, who were only capable of thinking in politics, would have even had the chance to be the chosen one. His sister’s marriage had been foiled by the South's schemes. There was no doubt.

“Damned be the South! To imagine just how sad my sister must be after this……” Akeru murmured to himself.

However, one of the young nobles who had just arrived seemed to have heard him. He approached him. “Although it's a shame she couldn't become the legal wife, she remains in Cherry Blossom Palace. There’s still a chance.”

“What do you mean?”

“There have been cases of princesses who temporarily remained as ladies-in-waiting in Cherry Blossom Palace and who ultimately became consorts even after initially refraining from becoming legal wives. Apparently, the North and the East were given leave from the Palace—only Lady Masuho no Susuki got to remain.”

In conclusion, the Northern and Eastern princesses had no chances to join the Harem even if they were to stay. Following that logic, Masuho no Susuki was clearly in a different position. 

“His Highness doesn't have any children yet, fortunately enough. If Masuho no Susuki manages to become a consort and bear a son before the South's country girl gets pregnant, it would in practice be the same as becoming the legal wife.”

“So that's how it works!”

In such a case, his sister would need his help even more. Someone had to protect her once she became a consort. From that day on, Akeru further dedicated himself to his training, managing to be admitted into the Unbending Reed Monastery as the first of the class.

Akeru took part in the trainee gathering at the dining hall once he was done giving the requisite commands to the Western forces. He coldly watched his fellow Seeds as they introduced themselves, as it all made him realize once again why he had come here.

——The current Yamauchi Guard was corrupt.

His swordsmanship teacher, the ex-Yamauchi Guard his father hired to prepare him for the Monastery, had taught him a lot about the current state of affairs in the Guard. The real reason behind both the Monastery and the Guard’s fall into ruin was said to be none other than His Majesty, the current Emperor. The man who held the position of the current Acting Golden Raven and Wakamiya and Natsuka's father.

“The custom is for the Golden Raven to frequently visit the Monastery to build up a close relationship with the trainees who shall become his private guard. A duty the previous Acting Golden Raven diligently performed.”

He would reward the instructors and thoroughly involve himself in the administration of the Monastery itself to guarantee the proper growth of the future Yamauchi Guard. That way, they ensured the Guards-to-be were highly loyal and their performance would be just as expected of the Imperial Family's bodyguards.

“His Majesty hasn't ever done such a thing, however. According to the rumors, he loathes warriors and hasn't visited the Monastery's premises or the Yamauchi Guard's headquarters even once since he ascended to the throne.”

Abandoned by their master, the Yamauchi Guard gradually lost sight of its very reason to exist. As a result, ever since his reign started, the number of candidates for the Guard had diminished little by little, and additionally, there was a dramatic increase of graduates who wouldn't even attempt to join the Guard or who would resign almost immediately afterwards. What remained were commoners with no other way of survival and a bunch of rogues with ulterior motives.

It was obvious that the source of the Guard’s corruption was found in the Monastery, and so there was a need to cut it off. If he had to guess, Wakamiya’s plan was most likely to send people who had sworn their loyalty to him to the Monastery to gather allies within it. If he was right, then he suspected that there was another Seed sent here for that very reason. 

Akeru had been Wakamiya's first attendant after his return from the Outside. However, he was given the order to go to the Monastery almost immediately and his actual time performing such a duty had been very short. After his leave, none of the attendants who came lasted very long. They either failed to perform their duties and were kicked out, or resigned themselves. Akeru’s fury raged whenever he heard about it, angry at their complete lack of determination. 

Only one person did not just remain with Wakamiya for an entire year, but was also granted the position of close aide. Such a rank that, unlike a normal attendant, acted as proof of their Lord's expectations of him and a promise to recognize him as one of his trusted vassals in the future.

Akeru had badly wanted to know what kind of person he was, so he researched him and, once he realized his status, everything fell neatly into place—he was a scion of the Northern House with a suitable rank. The North had, following the West, the best disposition towards Wakamiya out of the Four Houses. There was no doubt. Akeru functioned as a representative of the West and, much like him, this close aide was surely expected to perform a similar role for the North.

He was quite the oddball too. Despite holding a rank equivalent to Akeru's and having been Wakamiya's attendant for a year, he had also come to the Monastery. Given their rather similar circumstances, Akeru had been hoping to get along with him, yet a part of him also felt a need to compete with this close aide at the same time. He had been eagerly waiting to meet him and figure out what kind of person he was.

“I’ve been assigned to the tenth room, second building. I’m Yukiya and I’m from Taruhi in the North.”

Despite having learned his name and heard all the rumors about him, this was the first time Akeru actually saw his face. The boy who stood up at the banquet was truly plain—his only defining characteristic was his small stature. Wakamiya's ex-close aide smiled cheerfully as he kept speaking.

“Pleased to meet you all.”

——If he had to be honest, Yukiya turned out to be a complete disappointment.

Akeru sighed, walking all by himself to the hall where their next class took place. His appearance was utterly lacking, he spoke in the most absent-minded manner, and one could hardly say he seemed the smart sort even in dire need of a compliment. And, on top of it all, he kept acting as if any ridicule towards Wakamiya had nothing to do with him.

His mother was a princess of the Northern House, but he had grown up as a rural noble—the second son of what amounted to little else than a powerful local family. It was nothing like the Four Houses, who were direct descendants of the first Golden Raven's children. He lacked the spirit of a Wakamiya Faction’s Court Raven—he had even gone as far as to get involved in Kimichika's petty fight with a servant.

Wakamiya was probably hoping for either Akeru or Yukiya to spearhead the Wakamiya Faction, so Akeru had no option but to work even harder than before. 

Akeru had a general grasp on the state of their curriculum by that point in time, and there wasn't any in which Yukiya could be said to stand out. Only one subject remained—Strategy’s exercise lessons.

Strategy counted as a theory subject and was further divided into study and exercise lessons. The first was just sitting at their desks in the dining hall to study from their textbooks, while the latter was about experiencing actual combat situations in order to understand the fundamentals of battle tactics. 

For Saplings and Evergreens, exercise lessons were considered a part of the practical courses. They even took part in actual combat as well, but the Seeds’ training for the most part consisted of what they called ‘board drills’ instead.

This would be Akeru’s first time ever attempting one. When he had first heard from his teacher about these drills—simulations over a board representing the battlefield with pieces as the soldiers—, his mental image bore quite the resemblance to shogi or go. Actual ‘board drills’, however, weren't the kind of activity one would enjoy as mere games. 

The boards it used, called ‘Fields’, were modelled after real places across all of Yamauchi. There was plenty of variety. Everything, including rivers and mountains, was faithfully recreated on them. Some boards even represented actually existing palaces and temples. These ‘Fields’ had been created to execute simulations of hypothetical revolts in the chosen environment and were apparently crafted by referencing official maps kept in the Imperial Court.

The pieces too were diverse—ranging from simple soldiers to officers, horses, scouts and spies.

Balancing established daytime and nighttime periods was the actual main source of headaches. The opponents had to choose which soldiers to keep in bird form and which as humans just before the night came and made it impossible to transform your pieces, and while they could see each other’s Fields and movements during the day, the opponent’s movements were invisible once nighttime arrived. It was necessary to use the scout and spy pieces in order to predict the other side's actions and craft a strategy going forward.

The roll of a dice determined the results and casualties whenever a battle took place on the board. The same method was used to determine the accuracy of information gained through one’s spies and scouts. It was because of this that ‘Strategy’ was handled by multiple instructors. One was in charge of study lessons, while the other took care of exercise lessons together with one assistant. 

‘No matter the age of the individual, it is the best tactician who holds all authority in times of need’. This was one of the reigning principles of the Yamauchi Guard and, because of it, whoever was deemed the current best tactician was in turn given the position of main instructor for Strategy exercise lessons. In peacetime, it ensured he was always on standby in the Monastery.

Their instructor for study lessons was already of advanced age, but Akeru had heard the man in charge of exercise lessons was the youngest instructor in the entire Monastery.

Board drills used a hall the Seeds hadn't visited before. The place had already been prepared by the assistants and administrative officers by the time Akeru came in. Maps covered in a grid—the Field—were set up right in the middle of the room's stone floor with a variety of pieces also in place at the spots chosen as the respective camps.

The opponents were to position themselves at both sides of the Field. Behind the seat for the one in charge of the dice and registers, there was a large diagram pasted on the wall in order to easily check and visualize the situation on the entire battlefield. There were also seats for the trainees, but their set-up was entirely different to the other classes. They were hugging the walls of the room, with the exception of the one with the diagram, forming a U shape and surrounding the Field. Fences separated the seats from the rest of the room.

The trainees proceeded to sit as they examined the strange room. Not too long after, the bell rang, marking the start of classes, and their instructor entered the room virtually at the same time. The man pushed the door open violently and crossed the hall with audible steps—he wasn't in a good mood, that was for sure.

The trainees, who had been chatting among themselves, shut up instantly, focusing their attention instead on their new instructor. The man in front of them looked like the uptight kind. He wasn't short but he wasn’t particularly bulky either, and his feather robe was woven to cover him entirely, up to the throat. One could feel themselves asphyxiating from watching him wear that.

His lips were thin and his face plain. His eyebrows were like willow leaves and his eyes, covered by a hidden double eyelid, looked as if a sharp, thin blade had been used to cut them open. His eyesight must have been poor, as he wore eyeglasses with green temples and a slender chain attached. His long hair didn’t have one single strand out of place and was combed back, leaving his pallid forehead completely bare.

For a while, their instructor didn't utter a single word, opting instead to coldly glare at the trainees. When he finally spoke, his tone was as pointed as his appearance would lead one to believe.

“I'm Instructor Suikan. Some of you may have heard this already, but at present I'm considered the most skilled tactician within Yamauchi.” There was a note of sarcasm in the way he spoke, making it hard to ascertain whether Suikan himself saw that status as a source of pride or not. “It seems there were many candidates for the Monastery this year. Maybe it’s because of that but, unlike your average year, there is one person among you who has shown truly exceptional talent both during the admission trials and the study lessons’ exercises.”

Akeru's heart started to beat noisily. Those sitting close to him were casting side-glances in his direction.

“I'll have him as my opponent today.”

Upon hearing Suikan's words, his assistant, who was waiting by his side, cut in on the explanation with clear confusion. “Wait a moment! We set up this Field to show them an example, the idea was to battle between us.”

It was clear why he was saying so—the Field in place was way too complex for first-timers like the Seeds. Most of all, it was just cruel to ask someone who hadn't even moved a piece before in his life to become Suikan's adversary all of a sudden.

Yet Suikan didn't seem to agree.

“There'll be no problem,” he flatly rejected the notion. “I've read his study lessons’ homework.”

Suikan’s gaze turned towards the trainees, who instinctively straightened their backs. “It was truly impressive. It’s truly, truly hard to believe a Seed could write something like that. He clearly knows how every piece moves to perfection, so I expect him to handle himself just fine even with this Field.”

There was no feeling whatsoever in Suikan's voice as he spoke.

“But……”

“He has the skill for it. If he doesn't have the self-confidence to go with it, I'll reconsider, but we cannot know without asking him first.” Akeru took deep breaths, preparing himself to be called at any moment. Meanwhile, Suikan took a good, hard look at the nervous trainees. “Is 2-10’s Yukiya here?”

——Akeru couldn't comprehend Suikan's words at first.

Many of the trainees seemed to be just as surprised, their eyes going back and forth between Yukiya and Akeru. On the other hand, Yukiya himself didn't appear to be surprised at all. He stood up as he raised his hand.

“That would be me.”

“I won't force you if you can’t. What do you say?”

“...... It would be my honor to get such a chance.”

“Very well, come to the front then. You'll be my opponent today.” As he said that, Suikan started to walk towards one of the seating stands by the Field. During Monastery's lessons, the orders of the main instructor were absolute. Yukiya as well quickly moved to the center and went up the opposing stand. His expression was ever so slightly stiff. 

Akeru watched him, incapable of suddenly accepting the implications of this particular development. He knew what this meant—Yukiya had better scores in Strategy than him. That was all there was to it.

——But, even if he understood it as a fact, he couldn't bring himself to accept it yet. It didn't feel real to him.

“The setting is a regional revolt's suppression. I'll be the leader of the rebel forces, while you'll take the role of the general sent by the Center,” Suikan started to explain to Yukiya in a steady tone, but it all felt distant to Akeru. “The rebels’ base of operations is the temple. The suppression forces are a total of thirty men. One General, two Officers, one third of the Soldiers have Horses, Scouts are available, but no Spies. Meanwhile, the rebel forces consist of one General, no Officers, forty Half-Horses, no weapons, Scouts are available, but no Spies.”

It was quite the complicated setup for a novice, as expected, but Yukiya was listening attentively as Suikan explained the Field’s premise with a monotonous tone. “The time limit will be three hours, until the end of the class. If the time limit is reached, the number of forces remaining will determine the victor. Otherwise, the only other winning conditions are to take the enemy general's head or to inflict losses heavy enough that retreat becomes your opponent's only option.”

“The day and night changes, how are they going to work?”

“They'll change every 30 minutes. In other words, you have a total of three days. Any questions?” Suikan asked.

“None,” Yukiya answered immediately.

“Very well, let's start then. Everyone else, please pay attention to the match.”

Suikan’s assistant stood by the side of the Field as the referee, following his orders. “The Field is in Toudou, Ayukumi Township, Eastern Region. Sea Rumbling Temple(2) has been occupied. The events take place during the sixth month of the year and the emperor orders you to suppress the revolt. Upper side, 2-10’s Yukiya.”

“Thank you for having me.”

“Lower side, Monastery Instructor Suikan.”

“Thank you for having me.”

Once Suikan and Yukiya were done exchanging the customary greetings, the referee gave his command. 

“Start!” At the signal, the person in charge of the registers lit up the incense clock. “The upper side has the first move.”

The referee pointed at Yukiya, who immediately started with instructions. “Mounted Unit number one is now Scout number one, move to D6. Mounted Units numbers two to six move to H3. Rest on standby.” 

As Yukiya spoke, the helping administrative officer moved the pieces to the indicated spots and the scorekeeper wrote it down both on the diagram at his back and the paper in his hands. Once it was all finished, Suikan responded.

“Half-Horses numbers one to seven move to D12. Half-Horses numbers eight to twenty, disperse through the temple's surroundings.”

The officer moved the pieces just like before and registers were taken. It was Yukiya’s turn again. “Scout number one, advance to D8. Mounted Unit number two is now Scout number two and moves to H8. Mounted Units numbers three to six advance to H6. Rest on standby.”

“Half-Horses numbers one to seven to D8.” The pieces moved as Suikan instructed, ending up in the same square as Yukiya's.

“Combat starts,” the referee announced. In answer, the scorekeeper rolled the dice and read the results.

“Upper side, Scout number one is wounded and retreats to camp. From here on, it will be only capable of moving as infantry. Lower side, some minor wounds but no need to move.”

Yukiya's piece was forced to retreat, and Suikan took over the D8 coordinate. “Lower side, will you go after them?”

“I'll retreat as well. All Half-Horses in D8 move back to D12.”

While Yukiya was taking a look at his opponent's face from time to time, Suikan's eyes were completely fixed on the Field as he kept giving instructions. His demeanour was calm to a fault.

They continued like that for a time, engaging and retreating, and with the repetition one could start to get an image of the situation on the board. Yukiya's soldiers had been steadily advancing towards Suikan’s forces, which formed to tighten their defenses. Then, just as Yukiya's troops seemed to be at a loss on how to maintain the offensive, at least from Akeru's perspective, nighttime fell upon the Field.

“It's sunset. Please, determine the numbers of people and horses,” the referee announced. At the same time, screens were placed in between the opponents and the Field.

The opponents couldn’t see the pieces actually move during nighttime, so they had to instead rely on a topographic map to predict their opponent’s movements and move their own forces. The only way they had to attain any reliable information on their opponent’s actions was through the Scouts they had sent during daytime.

The scorekeeper went from one person to the other, listening to their respective orders and moving the pieces accordingly in the blocked off Field. While the opponents themselves couldn't see it, the referee could still observe the Field and make any announcements as they became necessary.

“Combat starts in F8.”

“Lower side, your units are seriously wounded and have to retreat. Upper side, your units only received light wounds and don't have to move.”

“Combat starts in D11.”

“Lower side, retreat, some of the units died. Upper side, no changes.”

All the information gained through the referee's vocal announcements pointed to Yukiya's successful advance, yet, despite the news of victory, Yukiya didn't seem to be particularly happy. He kept a calm demeanor as he gave order after order.

Unlike Yukiya, Akeru’s seat allowed him to perfectly perceive the situation on the Field. It was a surreal sight, yet the pieces’ abnormal movements kept catching his eye whether he liked it or not, and while he dully wondered what he would do in Yukiya's situation at first, he soon gave up entirely.

As stumped as Akeru was at the increasingly strange state of affairs on the Field, by the time daytime came, the situation progressed to a point where the conclusion was plain to see. The screens were moved away and Yukiya finally gained sight of the Field. He grimaced as a groan left his lips.

Yukiya's troops had, indeed, successfully penetrated through his opponent’s forces—but there was no enemy general to be seen in the camp he had successfully invaded. Suikan's main forces had abandoned the temple during the night and, without Yukiya ever noticing, had closed the distance to his camp and were already set up to invade at any moment. Their numbers were high, no holes left in their formation. 

Anyone could tell that it was next to impossible to get through such a perfectly positioned army. On top of that, Yukiya had overinvested units on his offensive and his own camp was virtually empty. What came after was a one-sided assault. Once daytime arrived, it took barely any turns for the battle to end.

The drill didn't even get to the time limit. Yukiya had lost entirely and unquestionably.

“......Had this been a real battle, you would have died.” Suikan stepped down from the stand, picking up the piece of the general he had just defeated, which he proceeded to unceremoniously drop on the Field again. It hit the floor with a light ‘clack’ and rolled all the way to Yukiya's feet.

The match’s development had been so irregular, Akeru had found it incomprehensible after a while.

——The moment night arrived, Suikan had gone entirely unrivaled.

Suikan's pieces had been unquestionably preparing for a long battle during daytime, clearly getting ready to withstand a siege. His arrangement was perfect—the commands given to his troops had been by the book and Akeru had been capable of following the events up to that point. The moment the sun set, however, Suikan instantly went on the offensive. The shift had been terrific, truly a complete turnaround. 

His army had dispersed and started to move independently, lone Scouts sent all over the Field. The pieces Yukiya battled with the entire night had, in truth, been all such spread out Scouts. Using the information gained by such skirmishes, Suikan's main forces avoided the enemy with terrifying precision and quickly moved through the Field. The speed and precision on show had been enough to leave an onlooker like Akeru dumbfounded. He had watched Yukiya move his pieces, completely unaware of what was happening to him. It was clear Suikan had him in the palm of his hand the entire time—at his mercy.

Yukiya had been absolutely no match for him, to put it plainly.

Suikan went to the scorekeeper’s desk and took a pile of paper from it. He then walked back to stand in front of a frozen Yukiya, who was pale as a sheet.

“I’ve read all your tactical plans, as I said before. Not only your homework, but everything up to your answers on the admission exam,” Suikan said with pleasure. “With that knowledge in mind, let me tell you this. You're brilliant, of that there's no doubt. But, at the same time, I could feel arrogance in every single answer of yours. Quite a marvel, to be able to think up such nonsensical, preposterous plans before even having come here to study. They don't deserve to even be called plans—they're just a waste of paper.”

Coupled with his harsh words, Suikan threw the entire pile of papers at Yukiya. It made a soft noise as it met his head, before the sheets dispersed, fluttering to the ground. 

“Don't get the wrong idea, brat—not everything is going to work as you want to. If you go through life like that, ignorant of your own place and without even a speck of respect for your superiors, you’ll just end up just like this—disgracing yourself. Now, are you listening to me?” a scowling Suikan further asked Yukiya, who hadn't said a single word so far. “Last evening, you picked a fight with a Sapling, didn't you?”

The Kimichika incident. Akeru could hear whispers about it all over the place. Shigemaru, who had been watching over Yukiya with clear anxiety from the front, raised his voice in a panic. “Wait a moment, Instructor! That was—!”

“If you want to say something, raise your hand and introduce yourself first.”

Shigemaru did just as told. “I'm 2-10's Shigemaru. About the incident last night, that was—” 

“2-10's Shigemaru, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your scores in theory. Before even considering your mouth, you better first memorize the basic rules for piece movements. What’s the point of opening your beak when you don't even know that much? I can’t help but wonder whether you can properly understand the current situation like that.”

Akeru heard snickers among the trainees and Shigemaru stood there motionlessly, completely ignored.

“Yukiya, Shigemaru… There's someone else left. Where's 1-1’s Chihaya?”

Urged by the people around him, Chihaya reluctantly left his seat as well. Suikan scowled at the three of them, as if mocking them. “Chihaya, Shigemaru, and Yukiya, you should learn how to behave according to your station all over again. There’ll be punishment for looking down on your superiors, disdaining rank and breaking rules.”

“But wasn't the Monastery a place where skill is given precedence above all? Yesterday, Kimichika was throwing his own weight around using his family's status, isn't that the problem here?” Shigemaru insisted once more.

“Skill is indeed the priority. You aren't wrong in that regard,” Suikan gave him a look and nodded. “It’s precisely because of that, once it’s decided who is the superior and who the subordinate, there is no changing it. Did you think it would be acceptable to throw miso soup at a superior just because you didn't like what he said?”

In answer, Shigemaru simply went quiet.

“Deplorable,” Suikan spat out the words in the quietest tone, yet his voice resounded through the entire hall. “Chihaya and Shigemaru, you'll be in charge of cleaning up the great hall every morning for a month from tomorrow onwards. Yukiya, you'll have to work on organizing the fourth library every night from dinner to lights-out until you are done registering every unclassified book in it.”

“But! Shouldn't Kimichika also receive punishment then?” Shigemaru complained.

Suikan curtly answered with no pity, “I'm giving you instructions right now. Kimichika has nothing to do with this. When someone powerless speaks, no matter how fair the argument, the only thing he’ll achieve is sounding like a sore loser. The weak have no right to speak. If you believe yourself to be right and don't want people to look down on your words, don't speak them when you remain weak. Know your place.”

Suikan spat out the words as his eyes narrowed, fixed on Yukiya.

“...... So, as we are right now, we have no right to even speak?”

“Indeed, especially you.” Suikan gave Yukiya such a look, nobody would believe they were teacher and student. “If you have any problems with my methods, complain once you beat me at least once. I'll make this a special case and take the role of your opponent every single time you take part in board drills so you always get a good taste of your ignorance and foolhardiness.”

Suikan didn't bother to wait for Yukiya's reaction before turning his eyes to everyone else. “I take it you all have also learned the kind of tragic ending that awaits a badly led organization, one where the rules are broken willy-nilly. I want all of you to individually examine today’s results and present your conclusions in writing for the next class. Base them on the fundamental principles of Strategy, and determine and summarize what was wrong with Yukiya's moves and what were the issues with these people's actions. Class is over for today.”

The trainees stood up in a hurry to perform the normative greeting. ‘Thank you for the class’, they all said. They hadn’t been this uncoordinated ever since classes had first started. Then, on their way back for lunch afterwards, everyone who wasn’t already close to Yukiya made a clear point to avoid him altogether.

“What's wrong with that instructor? He clearly came with the intention to bully Yukiya and you all from the very start!”

Just as Yukiya opened his mouth to say something to his indignant friends, Akeru approached him and started to speak instead. “Apparently, Suikan has ties to the South. I guess he couldn't leave you alone after what happened yesterday.”

Yukiya's group, who had all been huddled together, turned towards him with a start.

“Wait, so he's a South-affiliated Court Raven?”

“No idea. I don't know the finer details, but I at least remember he had some kind of connection to the Minami-Tachibana.”

“......So he is the instructor Sapling Ichiryuu mentioned, the one giving Kimichika preferential treatment.” Shigemaru nodded to himself. Beside him was Yukiya, who was looking at Akeru with obvious distrust.

“What do you want?” Yukiya seemed quite guarded against him, but Akeru paid that no mind.

“I have something to tell you,” he proclaimed instead, deadly serious.

“To me?”

“To you, yes. I’ve reconsidered my opinion of you after what just happened.” Akeru had felt humiliated at the idea of losing against Yukiya at first. Yet, thinking about it more—if he had to lose against someone, wasn’t it a relief for that person to be Yukiya of all people? “To be honest, I had underestimated you, but I see you truly are a scion of the Northern House. You may have lost against that instructor, but your talent as a tactician shone through all the same. It fills me with pride as a fellow member of the Wakamiya Faction.”

“Huh. Thank you, I guess.”

“That’s why I've come to warn you. I may not like Suikan's way of doing things and, yes, I hate Kimichika as well. However, I agree with what he said up to a point.”

Akeru had found quite a number of issues with Yukiya’s behavior for a long, long time. Leaving factors like jealousy aside, this was the perfect chance to bring them up. “There's a problem with your attitude, you see. Shouldn't you choose better with whom you socialize?”

Yukiya's expression went blank. “......What do you mean?”

“If you still don’t understand, I'll say it plainly.” Akeru glanced at Yukiya's friends, all glaring at him, before returning his gaze to him. “You should stop spending more time than strictly necessary with Hill Ravens. It’ll harm your dignity as a Court Raven in the eyes of others, to say the least.”

Shigemaru and Yukiya were known as the ‘Bear and Cub’ among their fellow Court Ravens. Besides Shigemaru being the biggest of all the Seeds and Yukiya the smallest, they both spent even breaks clad in feather robes. At first, the nickname could be read as harmless, yet at its root was ridicule for not owning even one single proper kimono. Akeru couldn't take it—to have Yukiya, a fellow scion of the Four Houses, insulted like that.

Yukiya stared back at Akeru, as if testing him. “Are you suggesting I should have sided with Kimichika yesterday?”

“No, not that.” Akeru was opposed to Kimichika from a political standpoint, that much was beyond question. What he was trying to point out, however, was much more basic than that. Opposing factions didn't even factor in.

Unless the lines between Court and Hill Ravens were properly preserved, Yamauchi's order couldn't be maintained. This was especially true for the Four Houses and the Imperial Family—they required that dignity to be able to govern Yamauchi. Akeru desired nothing more than to look at things as fairly as possible but, although he couldn't see Chihaya anywhere at the moment, Akeru did take issue with the Hill Raven’s refusal to listen to Kimichika's orders.

“Kimichika was wrong too, of course, for ignoring the rules and giving those stupid orders, but Chihaya should have still obeyed. To even try to defend him after refusing to follow orders is unbefitting of a Court Raven like you. We cannot stay like this,” Akeru affirmed, “His Highness Wakamiya will soon ascend to the throne, yet he has barely any allies. As fellow Court Ravens, it’s our duty to join hands and boost up his faction from within the Monastery.”

“Huh.”

“I've heard the tenth room is quite packed at the moment, isn't it? You can come over to mine instead, if you want to. We have both sworn our loyalty to His Highness, we should get along just fine.” Finally, Akeru had said all he had to say. Now he only had to wait for Yukiya's answer. 

Yukiya had spent the entire time completely still, icy cold eyes fixed on Akeru. Once he finally opened his mouth to speak, his speech had lost all traces of formality(3). “My bad, but I'm from the countryside, remember? What’s even the damn point in asking me of all people to behave like a proper Court Raven of the Wakamiya Faction? It’s not like I’m going to feel like one all of a sudden after all this time. I’ll do things my way, don't worry about it.”

Yukiya had spoken in a roundabout way, yet it was still a clear rejection. Akeru's fellow West-affiliated Seeds, who had been standing behind him in silence, opened their eyes wide in shock.

“Do you truly not care? The North belongs to the Wakamiya Faction too, right?”

“Lord Akeru may not have pointed it out, but there's no question the Western House will gain power after this. You really should reconsider now that you still can!”

Yukiya’s answer to their rage was a simple, carefree smile. “The future of the North and the West has nothing to do with this. My relationship with these guys is leagues more important to me than any of that.”

Yukiya looked at the commoner trainees surrounding him and grinned—an unbelievable attitude for a Court Raven. Akeru’s expression shifted instantly to one of disappointment and embarrassment. “...... I see. That's truly a shame.”

Akeru turned on his heels without even saying goodbye. He promptly shook off his underlings, who had both called after him, and returned to his dormitory without even going to the dining hall. His self-restraint met its limit the very moment the door closed. Furious beyond belief, Akeru violently threw his own ornamented blade to the ground. 

“Dammit!”

What was Yukiya even thinking? Whatever it was, it was unforgivable. However, it wasn’t the only thing that made Akeru feel that way—just as intolerable was the fact he was lagging behind that same Yukiya in his studies.

 “Lord Akeru!” From the other side of the door, he heard his subordinates’ loud footsteps as they ran towards the room.

“I'm sorry. I really need a moment here,” Akeru bluntly requested in his desperation.

“This is not the moment for that!” one of them yelled at him. “We just got a message from the Western House.”

“It’s a huge problem. Aah, what are we going to do?”

“...... What's wrong?”

——The news had just arrived. The Head Priest had ordered to delay His Highness Wakamiya's ascension to the throne.

Next: Akeru (Part 2)

—————————————

1: The cupboard here is a ni-kai zushi (二階厨子). They usually have two levels, with at least part of the first level enclosed by doors. The remaining shelves are left completely open in front and back.

2: Just a short clarification. During The Raven Doesn't Choose His Master, it's explained that Yamauchi defines the word 'Sea' as a very wide and deep lake—they don't have oceans as we understand them. It's a similar situation to the words 'horse' or 'human'.

3: In the original Japanese, Yukiya changes register when speaking fairly often. Between the three most common pronouns for young men, he uses Boku the most. He’ll use Watashi if the situation calls for such politeness, or change to Ore if he's particularly comfortable with the other person or very pissed. Similarly, while he defaults to Keigo or formal speech most of the time, he’ll drop it on occasion for the same reasons as Ore. That’s exactly what's happening here, showing how angry Yukiya is with Akeru.

[scifriskyxy]

I've seen a couple of headcannons about Maria surviving somehow and seemingly ending up being a good person. I don't think that would be the case, tho hear me out

I don't think Maria would have ended up being a good person, but Maria would have grown up to be as bad or even worse than eggman in...different ways to the point it makes,gerald with the new information given is obviously has alot of darkness alot...he wasn't a good person that's what I am saying,like who takes their grandchildren pet experiments on it and leaves it to rot because it ended up being a failure? Guess what bio lizard that's some fuck up shit

Everyone talks as if...he was a good man he was likely never a good person. People always talk good about the dead, always forgetting whatever evil stuff they've done in the past conveniently , he most likely never was one to begin with and he hid more horrible secrets somewhere deep within the ark,the ark is a massive place we only had a glimpse of a certain section on it where shadow was created. A likely sealed off section due to its history,the place is the size of a moon/small by what I can tell, and also he likely has other secrets before that outside of the ark ,on earth maybe on mobious during his brief travels down there

A robotnik always growing up on being a robotnik

The only reason shadow having ended up being a good person...was due to the naive promises of a sick child who likely have barely experienced the world and didn't grow to eventually become the monster that alot of the robotnik family ends up being,what if...she was already developing those tendencies under gerald and shadow being naive never even noticed

What if this is cannon, and we've been just oh nice human child and experiment buddy running around having fun being nice

When budding an absolute sick little monster brat, a big ol monster mostly deceives everyone and poor innocent experiment fooled by the happy times.

If yall gonna make maria survive the ark Give me a old Maria who at first acts nice on first meeting shadow then it slowly unravels SHES A FUCKING MONSTER to the point that eggman pretends she doesn't exist because he's terrified of her and actually knew she was around and he didn't say anything because he knew how she is ,and Eggman EGGMAN didn't wish her upon his enemies like AT ALL he never said anything about them pretending he never knew gerald or Maria as to not mess up shadow even more than he already is ,gerald and Maria weren't the nicest robotnik family members no EGGMAN IS and that's saying alot ,it spins a whole other meaning of gerald and Maria being the black sheep of the family , most see the black sheep as being the nicest person pretty much abused n shit in a family of assholes , but in the robotnik they are the worse of the worse of an already fucked up family

Actually... this is my au Maria. Well, who she had been if she survived the ark,a monster in human skin metaphorically speaking tho she died, she had been already showing signs of the monster she would have become.

Fate never speaks ill of the dead, but she makes very few exceptions, but she never speaks of this to shadow, but now that he's better and gotten over, he's been slowly learning the truth about that family to the point that it's making him ill having robotnik in his own name

When fate and shadow eventually do get married, the shadow decides to take fates, the family name replacing the robotnik in his own, signifying that he's both truly moved on and never wants to ever be associated with that family again and the rose colored glasses on those memories are gone

[mazzystar24]

saw an ask u answered about eddie and shannon and some of my two brain cells started talking. do u think that eddie 'loved being married to shannon' because it gave him an out from having to pursue a new/real relationship? like he could use her as a convenient excuse of why he wasn't dating anyone new without having to actually 1. be in a relationship with her (mostly while one or the other of them was gone) and 2. force himself to try again w a new het romance he doesn't really want and 3. confront his maybe less that heterosexual feelings (I'm on the gay/demi eddie train personally)

like maybe this isn't an og thought I've just not seen anyone spell it out in quote this way but shannon really made the perfect beard for him for so long even now he uses her as a shield

Our brain cells are currently making out in a storage room rn that’s how on the same wavelength we are

I’m a gay Eddie truther too but I very much see the Demi argument for him too like the Demi or ace Eddie girlies are legit my besties

I think yes totally agree to everything you said and also like I feel a big thing for Eddie is role fulfilment so like his marriage with Shannon not only filled that role of the sorta cereal box family and like expectation of him to have a wife and to provide his son with a mother/ marry his baby mama but ALSO it let him fulfill HIS perceived role by being this like perfect American soldier who married his highschool sweetheart and like the mother of his child and him being the provider for the family, etc,etc

You know? Like he liked being married BECAUSE of all those things you said but also because I feel like when people are experiencing comphet it’s like this thing of trying to overcompensate and almost paint the perfect picture and reduce themselves down to these roles people expect them to fulfill

Like idk if I’m explaining myself well but it’s not only like a beard for the sake of keeping his queerness secret I think it’s also like this deflection/repression and like sorta to prove not only to others but to himself that he is fulfilling that role and he’s able to have that life even if they never really had a proper marriage and spent most of it separated or fighting

This is why I keep pushing the good luck babe agenda because when you wake up next to him (her) in the middle of the night with your head in your hands you’re nothing more than his wife (husband)

I also think cos of the circumstances of their marriage and her death, he is able to like fool himself into believing that it’s like the extenuating circumstances that caused them and his other relationships to not work out rather than doing any introspection and realising it was never gonna work out because he is extremely not straight

[ronearoundblindly]

Zones and Photography for Fools Rush In! Steve. Preferably pre-nomad 😆

I read every update of yours as soon as I get the notification. Keep up the good work. You are amazing <333333

From this dirty ask game but okay, wait, I hope I'm understanding this correctly.

Fools Rush In!Steve is post-canon--he's a version of Steve that came back after replacing the Stones from Endgame,--so technically, he already went through his actual Nomad years. I'm gonna have to assume you me pre-Dignity of His Choice (since that's when he kinda looks like Nomad or Ari Levinson whoops again) which is fine because after all of Dignity's angst, I'm sure people are afraid of where that leaves us--terrible of me to leave y'all hanging so long, sorry. OH CRAP! Welp. This is gonna have some spoilers sorta kinda for the honeymoon fic in the works...Yes, Ro, but when will we ever get that f***ing thing???

So. Right. Here we go! Sorry, but MINORS DNI for these still.

woahhhhh omg he glows so pretty 🫠🤤

Z - Zones

Oh boy, oh boy!

Is it hot in here??? Just me? Sure. That checks out.

Steve has diminished sensitivity after the serum. It makes him stronger to feel less pain, but it's slightly more difficult in nearly ever other aspect of life. He feeds his tactile experience with the acuity of his enhanced senses. Ever heard the expression 'eating with your eyes?' Like that.

The sight of you, the smell of you, what you sound like, how you taste, these are all things he can absorb to fill in the gaps of his touch.

Now, the caveat? He's not a fucking idiot. He can tell if you are kissing, biting, scratching, or gripping him. He knows these are things you do for your enjoyment as well, so that fuels his entertainment during sex. After a whole lot of wallowing over how disconnected he felt without sensitivity, he understands this actually brings you two closer together because pleasure and intimacy is truly a shared experience.

Uh. Also. His neck. No judgment but he can hear and smell you very well if you pay attention to his neck. That's pretty great. He likes that.

P - Photography

Honestly, I just want to burst out laughing even imagining Steve taking a dick pic much less sending it 🤣 If he did do something like that, it would be an accident, and that boi would rush into some lab and insist there was a super secret mission to completely delete the contents of your phone before you opened it. I feel like he'd be lucky if he didn't just smash the phone itself out of panic. Seriously, I'M IN TEARS. Just no, hard no on the sending nudes.

I also think he'd be super worried about privacy if you sent them. The idea is sound, and it's not like he wouldn't enjoy them. Steve doesn't trust technology that much though, so not digital. Analog. Old school is the way to go. Which bring us to this cheeky bastard on his honeymoon with Keeps.

Enjoy this excerpt I've sat on for a year!

“What’s that?” “Your wedding present,” Steve beams. He fakes a frown at your following ‘we weren’t doing presents’ look. “Not big ones. They’re just for fun.” He picks up another Canon film camera, a hefty black and silver thing from his hard-sided suitcase, and hands it to you. “Thought they’d be nice for the trip.” You weigh it in your hands and eye the Polaroid then switch with Steve. “That’s more of an artsy-fartsy Sketch thing,” you say, stepping around him with your new toy, rushing to grab toasty sweatpants from your own bag. As you bend over to pull out the garment though, you hear a mechanical click and whip around. Steve still faces away from you, but his head is slightly turned and he softly whistles, so of course, you lift your camera and snap a picture of his ass, too. He wrinkles his nose, looking over his shoulder with an unhidden smile. You shake out the photo card provocatively while he suits up for the fireside in a sweater and jeans. He glances at the developed shot and, seeming satisfied, plants one more kiss on your forehead. He hums as he holds up his picture of you entering the tent, thumb tracing the line of your hip exposed like it was on the glossy magazine pages after your bear debacle. “Yes, out there distracting all the wild animals,” you joke. “It’s working,” he mutters. “Hungry, Misses Rogers?”

Also, lest we forget, Steve has an incredible memory. He does not need footage to remember exactly what it looks like when his cock is slowly dragging in and out of you, or how your ass jiggles as he ::cough:: enthusiastically fucks makes love to you ::cough::

Thank you for asking!

[Main Masterlist; Dirty Asks Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

SKETCH, MY BELOVED...

[ansheofthevalley]

Cersei and Dany have more parallels than Cersei and Sansa yet Sansa always gets compared to Cersei whilst Dany gets to stand on her own :/

(Sorry for taking ages to answer this.)

The way I see it, GRRM actually wants us to see and compare the three. To see them, in a way, as a triad:

It's no secret that George loves to use the rule of three (I talk about it a little bit here.) The way I see it when it comes to Cersei/Dæny/Sansa is to compare their ruling styles, especially since they're the strongest candidates to wield power by the end of the series (I'm talking exclusively about book canon, but we can take show canon into consideration since they are the last three big female characters wielding power by the final season.)

At first, Cersei and Dæny are foils, in a way. Cersei calls herself Queen (which she is, first Queen Regent/Dowager Queen, by being Robert's wife, then Queen Mother by being Joffrey and Tommen's mother). Dæny, however, in the beginning, rejects the title of Queen, saying that she's a Khaleesi. As the series progresses (specifically since she's -at least to her knowledge- the last Targaryen), she uses both titles: rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Khaleesi. So, this would be where the contrast stops working when it comes to these two ladies: they both call themselves Queen, but most importantly, they seek that title because they're motivated by power and the desire to have the Iron Throne. Sure, their motivations are not exactly the same, but they can be boiled down to one word: survival.

(I've spoken about characters motivated by power in the quest for the Iron Throne and what the narrative does to them in show canon, but I can't find the posts, so I'm sorry.)

Now, what part does Sansa play in all of this? Well, we're told in the first book that she's meant to be Queen. After all, she was promised to the prince of the Seven Kingdoms. And she wants to be Queen... until Joffrey orders the execution of Ned. Then, we notice a change in Sansa: she's not interested in the games of intrigue, in the subterfuge. It can all be encapsulated in this quote: "If I am ever Queen, I'll make them love me."

Cersei thinks the best way to rule is to make the people fear you more than they could ever fear the enemy. And that's precisely what she does during her time in power. So, she rules by fear.

Dæny is benevolent to those suffering injustice. But she's also severe regarding those she disagrees with or thinks have interests that go against hers. She is not forgiving. In my eyes, she also has a fatal flaw - she's not interested in the day-to-day tasks that come with being a ruler, as shown in her stint in Meereen. She also relies on her dragons and the Targaryen legacy to instill fear in those who don't want to submit to her. She rules by good faith when it comes to the marginalized and outpowering the powerful with her dragons and armies. So, she rules by power and, to some extent, fear.

Sansa is benevolent with people. She knows what is expected of her as a Lady while in King's Landing. In the Eyrie, she learns to run a household and the day-to-day tasks that come with running a Great Keep like the Eyrie. But that's not all she learns throughout the series. She understands the importance of politics and how to exercise that power. She also understands people's importance; let them be Lords, Ladies, Common Folk, or bastards. She sees their value regarding of station. Also, since the end of the first book, she doesn't get fooled by the nobility; she's more distrustful of their true intentions, and that distrust makes her read each person she encounters more carefully, which, in time, will make her a keen politician (all in all, and this is what sets her apart from Cersei and Dæny, she's not actively seeking to rule. And, when it comes to the rule of three, the last link is the one that differs from the other two and, for that reason, is the successful one.) Sansa is compassionate with those deserving of compassion and sometimes with those who are not, but she's never cruel like Dæny can be or vengeful like Cersei is. This is not to say that she bends to the will of others because she doesn't. She stopped doing it back in King's Landing, starting with small acts of defiance. In the Eyrie, she's on a journey to finding her voice. So, she rules by compassion and observation.

Now, how does the rule of three apply in this instance? Let's first define what the "rule of three" is:

The rule of threes is a writing principle that suggests that three elements, such as events or characters, are more humorous, satisfying, and effective than other numbers. Audiences of texts in this format are also more likely to retain the information conveyed to them. This is because having three entities minimizes the amount of information needed to create the pattern, combining both brevity and rhythm.

By giving us different styles of ruling/approaches to power in threes, GRRM is making sure those ways stick with the readers. He's making it known that the approaches to power and ruling are important for the endgame: this factor will contribute to who ends up in power at the end of the story.

One could argue that the use of the rule of three in comparing Cersei, Dæny, and Sansa is rhetoric: he's comparing three different ruling styles, and we, as the readers, can decide who might be better suited for the title of Queen based on the rhetoric the characters present. (I speak about the difference between Dæny and Sansa - and Jon - as figures of authority here and here. Keep in mind that those metas explore the dynamics of the characters in the show.)

Cersei doesn't give a shit about anyone but herself and her family. She rules with an iron fist and doesn't hesitate to annihilate anyone threatening her power. She rules alone.

Dæny cares about people and uses her power (her dragons) to achieve some of her more altruistic goals, but at the end of the day, those goals are not entirely altruistic since they also serve her. She also uses that power to intimidate and cause fear. To top it all off, she relies heavily on the power that her dragons represent, even though she tries to use politics as a more subtle way to solve problems, but she realizes that if she wants to change the world as she wishes, she needs brute force. She needs her dragons. She uses both power and fear in any situation, whether it is good or bad. She, too, rules alone, even though she has people giving her counsel. (Though that can be explained with Targaryen exceptionalism, in a way. But that's a whole other thing, and this has gotten too long already)

Sansa, on the other hand, is more surgical in her approach. She sees the value in relationships and working together. She sees the value of people and the importance of day-to-day tasks. She relies on her powers of observation and what she's learned in court to solve problems. She rules by understanding: by understanding that she has to work together with people in areas she's lacking and by understanding the potential of each person around her. She rules by working together with those around her.

In conclusion, Cersei and Sansa have always been foils to each other, and that's been set from the get-go. You could say the same about Cersei and Dæny, too. But, as the series progresses, the lines dividing Cersei's style of ruling from Dæny's start to blur, leaving this triad somewhat like this: