#and also it is my insecurity that i'm trying to conquer for more than a decade now

[sobanooodles]

geez, i really want to wear shorts when i go outside. but are the world's judging eyes prepared to see the stretch marks on the backs of my big thighs?

[saltydoesstuff]

King Bowser! Raph head canons

Wanted to hop on the train of the Four kings au with some head canons! Going off of the 2023 Mario movie and just what I know about Bowser in my experience (which isn't a whole lot so I'm sorry if some things are not accurate)--

CW: Kidnapping, Implied violence?

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Much like Bowser, King Raph would be a powerful and often feared ruler to the other Kingdoms. He is seen as aggressive and impulsive, quick to react with a fight if anything offends the King. His anger can blind him, which as much as it can get him what he wants- it also can be his downfall.

But he is not heartless. Raph takes good care of his kingdom and his people, which leads to his citizens being very loyal to his cause. So long as you follow his rule, you are protected under his care. I mean, have you seen how the King fawns and babies the stray animals he finds?

Big puppy energy. This man is very lonely and kind of awkward when it comes to anything outside of war and conflict. He leans more towards a tsundere way of dealing with his feelings, brushing them off as quickly as they come with a huff of smoke from his nostrils or a growl. He is the King. He must not show weakness. But around you, he like an excited puppy. Stumbling over his words and twiddling his claws like a love drunken fool.

Would do absolutely anything for you. Want to sit on his throne? Go ahead! A piranha plant bit you? It can't bite you anymore when its ash! He would conquer any land or defeat any foe if it meant keeping you by his side. Just say the words and he's sending armies to take care of it. Has absolutely no idea how to be normal about crushes. Raph always just takes what he wants, why would you be any different? Expect to be kidnapped a lot by this big guy. Doesn't matter if you live in his kingdom or not, he will always find a way to snag you away to spend time with you. Though he is very gentle with you, so you are never harmed in these schemes. You seem to be the only person he can't be truly angry at. It's... a bit unnerving to his guards sometimes. But if keeping you around means they get thrown into the dungeon less, they don't really mind. If you choose to come with him willingly, he is over the moon! He is all over you giving you affection, carrying you around in his arms like the princess he sees you as (Though he hopes to soon make you a Queen). Despite all his spikes and his horns and sharp teeth, he is very cuddly. He'll often rest his head in your lap with his arms wrapped around you, churring loudly as you give him head rubs and gentle scritches. His tail will thump loudly behind him as well, which has knocked things off of shelves and tables more than once with the mini earthquakes it produces. Is very quick to jealousy. King Raph is often seen as scary or seen as a monster most times, which leaves him insecure about his appearance from time to time. He's afraid that you're scared of him too and will leave him for someone less 'monstrous' like his brothers, making him very clingy each time he thinks you're showing any signs of disinterest towards him. You're the one person he does not want scared of him. Please don't leave him or see him as a monster. His heart wouldn't be able to take it. :(

Overall, Raph is very brash and impulsive, but very kind and compassionate as well. Gives kind of wet cat energy in a weird way. He really is just trying his best here, even if his actions come off as intense.

[danpuff-ao3]

Thanks for the tag @cindle-writes!

"Self-rec time! What are your favorite five fics that you've written and why? After replying to this ask, feel free to pass on to five other writers to spread the love. 💗"

Tagging: @perverse-idyll @writcraft @lizzy0305 @ripeteeth @lqtraintracks @threadbearao3 and whoever else might want to play!

It was hard to narrow down, as I've written well over 100 fics in my time (most available on AO3, but I still have some secrets). This has been good to look at and think about in light of my recent writerly struggles. Gave me a nice reminder of what I love and what I've accomplished.

1.) Contempt | Devotion

I'm counting them together, since they're the same story from different perspectives. Nothing will ever top them for me. They are THE Snarry story for me. They've been my OTP for 20+ years, and those works are years and years of dedication (and devotion, ha) to this ship. It's all the feelings I've ever had about them. It's the version of them, as individuals and together, that most resonates with me.

It is, as I often say, the story of my soul. I ripped these words out of my teeth, out of my bones, and wrote them with my blood. It was an agonizing process, and one I would do again and again, because I could not be more proud of anything, and it still amazes me that I created this story. That I finally pulled it out of my soul and put it to words. All of the passion I have for them, all of my history with this ship, all of it is right there.

(Also shoutout to the other little ficlets in the series; this version of Snarry will always have my heart.)

2.) Collateral Damage

While Contempt is the Snarry of my dreams, Collateral Damage is the DRON of my dreams.

Draco and Ron are my secondary OTP, and while I could write and rewrite Snarry to death, I have a hard time revisiting Dron as the main relationship, because I feel like I put everything I had for them into this one story.

The fic is written in Draco's POV, which I loved and was such a treat. I loved exploring Draco and Ron as individuals, and as a couple, and considering them more than I ever had before. It was fun playing with some real enemies-to-lovers, and seeing it become something really passionate and loving and fun (but also angsty, because I'm ME, hello).

It's a tale of revenge and insecurity, and fooling yourself while you try to fool others. I tried to really love on Draco and Ron both, while also diving into their respective flaws, and while I already loved them, writing this fic made me love them all the more.

3.) The Curse of Anteros

Another Snarry, of course. This one is such a love story, in some ways, though there's plenty of questionable (objectionable) content there. But for me, that made it all the more romantic, this sort of love conquers all, even in the worst of scenarios. My boys survived toxicity, and a curse, and life.

It's also a concept I've played with for quite some time, inspired by a Charmed episode (which was itself inspired by a film called Ladyhawke). It was a fun exercise in watching them grow, and watching time move on, with their connection unchanged. The story spans decades, and really, I'm not sure I've written anything more romantic!

Also features art by my dear friend @mrviran which is phenomenal and I am still totally awed by what they created for this story!! It was fun inventing a creature together, too <3

4.) A Matter of Time

Another Snarry which also holds a special place in my heart. It was a unique experience of trying new things. For one, it was alternating POV, which I don't normally care for; for me it's hard to maintain flow along with maintaining character voices. But ALSO it was told in reverse chronological order, which I'd been dying to try! Also...the angst. I love it.

And the END!!!! The end kills me and I love it. </3

5.) Cruel Summer

I waffled with choosing 5, because I felt like it should be Orange Blossoms, and I think part of me was scared to put this one on the list. You know...devastating and dead dovey as it is. It's a Sirry fic, one that I'd been cooking up in my noggin' for a few years.

I wanted to play with a darker side to Sirry, and portraying a very unhealthy and troubling relationship which really only felt natural with all that Harry and Sirius had been through. I wanted to do them and the concept justice, which I really think I did, and I'm really proud of how it came out. There's more story to tell...the real story, I think, will be the aftermath, but we'll see if it ever actually comes to fruition. In the meantime, I really love this story, awful as the content is.

[diesvitae]

once you're finished the game could you share your elgarook Thoughts? as i fellow villain fucker i also want him but i cant think of a plot that makes sense for rook and him to get together in any way shape or form akdbsj

OH HI!!! In truth now that I'm done with the game I still have to rework some points in my Elgarook timeline. But in case of Nadir and Elgar'nan... (POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT)

1) Their first (solo) meeting is an attempted assassination from my lil Rook, who was probably also kinda drunk, since he attacks with a normal dagger which is... kinda useless against a god. Elgar'nan in game seems pretty chill, offering "mercy" more than once so I doubt he would be pissed at Nadir for trying. 2) Words are exchanged, Nadir is trapped and probably panicking a bit once he understands the situation he got into, he's able to flee, but there is some sort of curiosity between the two: Elgar'nan can easily sense Nadir is a mage (and a powerful one) but my lil Rook never uses magic, especially the offensive one. That's a mystery he's curious about considering it makes no sense to him (one who's obsessed with power) Nadir refuses to use his natural gifts. And this fear to use magic makes him a perfect pawn to be manipulated and guided to become someone like him. Plus it would be a nice little revenge against Solas, to steal Rook away. Nadir, while looking like this cute smug creature, is pretty insecure, he hates using magic due to hurting people by mistake each time he tried to control it. He hates acting like a hero because he can't see himself as a good person, just a cursed one. But around Elgar'nan he doesn't have to pretend to be perfect, to be controlled. Elgar'nan is the enemy, who cares about his opinion after all? And somehow that lack of care becomes a sense of freedom. So for a while they seek each other out, to learn, to test boundaries, it's a little game neither give much importance. Elgar'nan needs a hobby beyond conquering the world and Nadir needs time away from responsibilities.

That being said, despite starting a literal affair with the enemy, my Rook is beyond loyal to the team, and makes it clear he won't divulge anything which could hurt his friends or help the evanuris. Another part of their dynamic is what they gain from each other. Nadir is quite the atheist, he recognizes Elgar'nan can be considered a god, but he doesn't feel the need to worship anything or anyone. Which makes him see Elgar as a person. He's close to him not to gain godly favor, power or whatever. He simply enjoys his company and the parts of Elgar'nan which can be considered... human (wrong word XD) A person who's built empires using only his power would end up with nothing if that power were to disappear. But Nadir? He would stay. So Elgar'nan gains what it feels to get real unconditional love. On the other hand Nadir gets to be free from his fears. He doesn't have to be scared about using magic around the evanuris because he literally can't hurt them, and even if he were to... it's enemies! Technically he would be doing good by hurting them XD Plus Elly is training him! He doesn't have to act like a hero amonst his enemies. He doesn't have to act like a leader since that's a role Elgar'nan won't leave to anyone. There is also the affection which builds over time which is always nice XD (and the fucks are real good too.) In the end I want them to be like two jigsaw puzzle pieces which lock with each other perfectly despite being completely different. (And yes, Nadir is still going to kill him at the end, in a tragic and painful scene.) As for you, it depends what kind of dynamic you want! You can have your rook act as a spy, joining his side to gather his secrets only to fall for him. Or you can have Rook kidnapped only to have Elgar'nan treating them courteously. Honestly it depends on your tastes!

[darkvenus3]

Sooo...

I was wondering if I could have your input on something.

I'm someone who can't stop fantasizing about being cucked. The emotional pain is so addictive. In the past with an ex-boyfriend, I tried simply role-playing the idea of being cucked during "sexy time". We just sort of pretended he was seeking out another girl. We talked about how he'd find a "better" woman, someone "more attractive" and "more suited to his physical preferences". There were phrases such as "she will be better than you" and "she will be prettier than you could ever be".

While this turned me on like crazy, I was deeply hurt for days and days after. Even though it was a hypothetical situation and fantasy talk.

He gave me care before and after this happened. I know the words weren't real. But, I carried them with me for weeks to maybe a month after. I'd randomly cry with anxiety, or insecurity for a long time after this fearing I wasn't good enough or attractive to him.

We decided to NEVER try that again. Now that partner and I have separated.

Now years later I'm with someone new. But, in my own time, I cannot resist this cuckquean fantasy. It's the first thing I read on tumblr, first adult content I look for, and I just cannot stop fantasizing about it, even though i don't think this is something i could ever handle, or even necessarily want to handle.

Nothing turns me on like this, but nothing hurts me like this either. Is that normal? Is it okay to keep obsessing over my cuckquean fantasy all alone, in the dark depths of my mind, as my own little secret?

First off, I think it’s smart that you tried this out in fantasy form first. Secondly, I do think even when you find something very sexy as a fantasy, you may have to build up a tolerance for that kind of emotional masochism. For example, when my husband and I take a break from cucking, diving right back into it can send me reeling, so we try to start back with him seeing other people less frequently. It’s always good to start out small and see how we handle things.

Perhaps being degraded is sexy in your head but not in practice. Would it be attractive for you instead to role play having a threesome with your current partner? Rather than him degrading you, he could praise you for how well you’re pleasing him, bringing him extra women to fuck. How sexy you are to him that you find this hot, etc.

Also, if you ever do decide to find a woman to try this with in real life, I would recommend starting out with threesomes that way too. When I first started sharing my husband, it was during threesomes, and gradually over time the focus became more and more of him with other women.

I think the reason this is such a difficult fantasy to explore is because we are taking something we fear and making it real. On one hand, it’s empowering. It can bring us closer to our partner, bring us out of our shell, and conquer our worst nightmare by turning it into something pleasurable and sexually enlightening. On the other hand, it’s literally turning our fears and insecurities into a reality, so there is definitely a delicate balance there.

My last suggestion would be to take care of yourself while you’re exploring this fantasy. Whether that means having a close friend or partner you can confide in, a therapist, or just an outlet, like yoga or a hobby you find stimulating. Do something that makes you feel good about yourself because even though the bad things we tell ourselves aren’t true, it can be easy to believe our worst fears when they’re all we think about.

All that to say, it’s definitely normal and okay to have a fantasy like this, and yours doesn’t have to stay in the closet unless you want it to. Our dark desires don’t define us, they just make our lives more fun in the bedroom. 😉😘💕

[an-obligatory-blog]

late night infinite thoughts/hc/analysis

despite being clowned on for his Ls and "i'm not weak" scene, i don't think infinite particularly childish? or more specifically not in the specific brand of "pathetic sore loser" that's been memed on. like he doesn't feel like the type of character who would throw a tantrum/be visibly upset if he can help it (particularly in front of shadow since that's the guy he's pitted against).

it's not that i don't understand why he left that impression-- the way shadow dlc told his background would ofc lead ppl to feel that it was an overreaction for being kicked a couple of times, but the thing is, we saw how he reacted when he met shadow again and what he said after being told that the hedgehog didn't remember him.

(using screencaps of the jp script, but i'm p sure en is the same jist)

sure, infinite is gassing himself up in this scene because of his shiny new rock, but when i saw this scene, my immediate thought was "so you think you aren't someone worth remembering"? (which can also be extended to his squad mates who were also defeated and thus "weak", regardless if you think they are dead or not) he's not particularly angry in this scene-- if anything, he admits that shadow's words of him being a loser (and thus weak) is /fact/.

hence why i think that infinite hates himself more than he could ever hate shadow. he can hide it by saying "well that's just the old me, i've changed. look at my virtual reality of green hill" but that mask isn't just for show. past or present, he is still himself even if he pretends otherwise. he is insecure, that's true. it's also true that his ego is fragile and that it hangs on his ability to suppress others.

however, his ego isn't unshakable at the face of failure or incapable of self-reflection, even if he wishes it was. the denial phase doesn't last forever.

to put it in another way, he's not the type of sore loser who will go "the other guy must've cheated" or "it's not fair" and deny the other person of their achievement. he's the type of sore loser who becomes frustrated with himself, trains himself to exhaustion, maybe cheat himself if tempted (you'll have to convince him that it would be a meaningful victory if he does though, (re. his logic on relying on magic rock ok, but relying on friends is bad and fake, apparently)), and fall into despair if his efforts don't pay off. that's really what his "i'm not weak" breakdown really is to me-- falling into despair and eventually accepting that he is powerless.

with high ego, he may dismiss losses as a fluke, but that requires plausible deniability to be present to fall back on. my point is that his arrogance doesn't come across as stable, it's just that conquering 99% of the world would convince anyone that they are hot shit.

also, he's not bad at /hiding/ his insecurity. insecurity isn't an aspect that was just added to him in the dlc and thus "ruining" him-- he just hides it well when he started wearing the mask. he only showed a mote of desperation by the end of his final boss fight. before that, we had sonic and the avatar breaking out from null space in record time and while eggman was in shock, infinite just stared silently-- he retained a "mysterious" aura for most of the game despite multiple setbacks. his ability to hide his emotions without his mask is up to you, but at the very least, he would at least /try/ to cover up anything he deems "unsightly".

what i'm trying to say is, i think he'd be upset being called weak, but i don't think that specific "overreaction" he had in shadow dlc is just something that happens every time he's insulted, esp when his ego is in a more stable state.

why he's so fixated about strength and weakness is pure hc territory bc forces writing sure as hell didn't explain it, but i think it's safe to say that he wasn't stable before his encounter with shadow and no matter how many ppl think that his motives are "stupid", this was something that meant a great deal to infinite. why it took until shadow for the camel's back to be snapped, idk maybe something happened to him earlier or maybe not, but regardless, infinite appears to be someone who is very desperate to be proud of himself and he measures how much he is worthy of pride through "strength". those who are strong don't think of those weaker than them, to him. (re. him saying that it's fine that shadow didn't remember his past self, and following up with "you're nothing to me now" bc he believes that he is now stronger than him. also note his quirk in jp where he calls ppl "gomi" (in katakana)/trash, idk jp well i just think it's neat)

this "fraud" quality of infinite's is something i find appealing as his fan, and not in the "i think it's brilliant to have a joke character that parodies edgelords" kind of way (infinite isn't purposefully meant to be joke and i don't think he has to be in order to be "good" with his current backstory). to segway into a different conversation, i don't care of the take that "infinite should've been an artificial lifeform like shadow created by eggman" bc to be frank (and i apologize if this is too spicy of a take), i don't see the benefit to that other than to give infinite more "aura points" by erasing his backstory as a "fraud". (bc a villain that doesn't meet the "aura" threshold is bad, i guess.)

bc here's the thing, right-- there are a lot of things you can compare and contrast between shadow and infinite and create a meaningful analysis out of it, but remember that infinite is the main villain of sonic forces and that sonic forces... is not about shadow.

sonic forces, if anything, is the avatar's story. the avatar is infinite's primary foil.

shadow defeating infinite parallels infinite defeating the avatar (at the start of the game). infinite gains help from eggman and the phantom ruby while the avatar finds the Power of Friendship, Love, and Courage (tm) through sonic. infinite finding solace in "fake" power while the avatar finds "true" strength. infinite believing that he is the one who sees the reality as it is (re. his theme song lyrics), when it was the avatar who sees through his illusions.

and i really like that. idk if these are the right words, but i feel like they stand out because of how "human-like" and "relatable" compared to everyone else (esp the avatar bc they are literally an OC). with the exception of tails (who is instead offset by being a kid genius), the sonic cast is filled with characters that have stronger than average willpower, leaving the "outsiders", infinite and avatar, to play catch up in their quest to find strength. they are not unshakably confident like sonic or endlessly persistent like eggman-- they are, at their core, embody the insecurity and lack of confidence that the ordinary person is more likely to succumb to. infinite is like a bandit boss in a jrpg: has a reputation of being feared, has followers/lackeys, villain vibes, but at the end of the day, they are just the first boss the protagonist wipes at the tutorial. the avatar would be a background character in literally any story except forces. they both "extras" trying to take the spotlight that was meant for the leads.

that is why i genuinely think that his current backstory has more value narrative-wise than that hypothetical one and it's not just preference. i don't care if forces has bad writing-- infinite and the avatar starting off as "ordinary people" as a parallel is neat and i will die on that hill. (and imo this attribute makes infinite a unique villain in the sonic verse. like he's not explicitly sympathetic like merlina was or even overtly tragic like gerald, but he manages to have that pitiable, human-like quality, you know?)

but yeah this is really about him not showing up in sonadow gens. like don't get me wrong, i would've been very happy if had shown up and i did lowkey expect it when i saw sunset heights in the trailer, but i'm not mad that he didn't ngl. for the reasons listed above, i don't see infinite as a "shadow villain" like mephiles and black doom are.

[emmabirb8]

Megamind and Zim

So, I'm a huge nerd (as you all know). And I've recently gotten a bit back into Invader Zim because my hyperfixations are a neverending cycle of whatever happens to capture my interest.

Well, since my brain likes to make connections between hyperfixations, I decided to start listing out similarities between one of my most precious blorbos - Megamind - and Zim. Just for funsies. :P

And uh, there's A LOT, actually. Which shouldn't surprise me considering they're both Very Dramatic aliens, but either way. I'm gonna post what I've gathered here for my own amusement. 😁

So here's what I got:

Aliens

Landed on Earth

Grew up parentless

Outcasts of society

Robotic servants/minions that were given to them prior to being sent to Earth (yes, Minion is a fish, but he does have a robotic body)

Black heeled boots and black gloves

Viewed as "evil" even tho neither are actually evil (Zim is self-centered, chaotic, and destructive but I wouldn't classify him as evil even if he himself might - his mission to conquer Earth is more to please his Tallest and be validated as a good invader than to actually be evil for the sake of being evil)

Have strong relationships with their rivals/enemies to the point where they give their lives meaning and purpose - both became depressed and unmotivated when those enemies were suddenly not around to fight (due to being "defeated" in Megs' case and pursuing "real science" in Zim's case in the unfinished ep Mopiness of Doom)

Both are frequently shipped with their enemies in fanworks (Metro Man for Megs, Dib for Zim)

Intelligent scientists and inventors but they're also goofy as hell and they create plans that continually fail

Speech idiosyncrasies (pronouncing words incorrectly for Megs, emphasizing certain words and poor volume control for Zim)

Very animated and dramatic/theatrical when speaking

Short (Zim more so than Megs but Megs is still, like, shorter than Roxanne)

Big egos that hide their severe insecurities

Significant amounts of angst to both character's backstories

Cool color skin tones

Bullied in school

Affinity for junk food

Many fans of their respective media are in the lgbtqia+ community - both characters themselves also read as some flavor of queer and fans often HC/interpret them as such

Both come across as some level of neurodivergent

Pretty neat, huh? Well, I took it a step further (bc of course I did) and decided to ALSO find as many similarities as I could between Roxanne Ritchi and Dib Membrane. Being the main human characters, it felt more appropriate than trying to compare Metro Man to Dib, even tho Metro Man largely fills the "enemy" role for Megamind (and bc I am a filthy shipper at heart, fight me*).

Anyway, so Roxanne and Dib:

Human (potentially questionable in Dib's case, but still)

Foils and equals to the alien protagonists

Intelligent

Sneak into alien protagonists' bases to take pictures and figure out "evil" plans to try to stop them

Have been kidnapped by aliens

Know the real truth of the alien protagonists, but their peers don't (Roxanne knows Megamind isn't really evil or dangerous, Dib knows Zim is really an alien - in Megamind's case, the people of Metro City do eventually come around, but not til the end)

Have false narratives about some aspect of their lives widely believed by the general public (most the citizens of Metro City think that Roxanne is dating Metro Man, almost everyone around Dib believes he's just crazy for thinking Zim is an alien)

Have companions who are also privy to the alien protagonists' true natures, but those companions are apathetic (Metro Man and Gaz respectively)

Concerned for the well-being of their fellow humans and cities

Like their aliens, both also come across as some level of neurodivergent (you kinda have to squint to notice it in Roxanne, but it's definitely there)

Alien boyfriends* (if you ship Megarox and ZaDr :P)

So yeah! Just some fun comparisons to ponder.

*Although I don't ship ZaDr within the canon universe of the show itself, I do enjoy it in certain transformative contexts. I'm v aware of the controversial nature of the pairing, so I wanna make that clear. I just like having fun with it.

[lord-and-master]

My Dearest Enemy [9]

◤• Commander Peepers x Reader • ◢

╰┈➤ This is not slow burn at all and with a serious tone (just saying!). This is THE NINTH CHAPTER, you can read the rest here:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/222059481-my-dearest-enemy

Chapter Nine: But That Is Just Wishful Thinking

In the quarters of his former leader, now cleaned up and without embarrasing objects laying about, stood The Commander of The Watchdog Army. He was in front of a mirror, anxiously adjusting the collar of his uniform. A red cape flew over his shoulders, part of it wrapped around his neck, almost resembling a scarf. It was long, longer than his whole height, but he had a new advantage that allowed him to wear it without the fear of it falling under his feet.

To his surprise, ___ turned out to be quite a great robotic engineer.

The watchdog looked down at his new boots, their color a deep red, matching the other parts of his attire. And they weren't just a normal pair of shoes, inside, they hid a mechanism that granted the wearer to make them rise and shrink with a simple push of a button. It was a gift, something that the woman admitted to tinkering with before they even took over the ship, solidyfying the fact that she planned everything. Not only that, but they were also a symbol of Peepers' new beginning, of his new status. And knowing that, he couldn't help but grin evilishly at his reflection for a moment, his voice dropping to a mumble.

"Taller, more menacing... perfect." He almost let out a laugh of pure satisfaction.

After all, his height was always an insecurity.

Though he had other things to worry about at the time. His mind was a hurricane of thoughts, the weight of his new role hanging heavy on him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous fluttering in his stomach. There was a plan in his head, as he rehearsed his speech over and over again, envisioning the cheers and the admiration. His scarlet eye scanned over his form, his hands reaching to straighten his outfit one final time. "You can do this, Peepers!" He whispered to himself, a small tint of confidence attached to his tone.

His orb, previously filled with turmoil, now glimmering with ambition. "I am Commander Peepers." He muttered, his expression becoming stern. "Leader of the Watchdog forces, and soon..." He paused, a hint of a vicious smile creeping onto his face. "Ruler of the Yonder Galaxy." The thought thrilled him, the idea of rule and power, it was absolutely intoxicating.

Evil will conquer the universe, all because of him.

With one final glance, he steeled himself. His shoulders squared, his expression became more serious. With one final whisper, "It's time.", he turned to the door. And as he left his new, reaaranged quarters, the weight of his new title became more real with each step he took. His heart was thrumming with anticipation of what was about to come.

As he rounded the corner, his eye fell on his second-in-command, ___, leaning casually against the wall, dressed in a fancy red dress. Her casual stance contrasted with the regal attire, and intriguing mix of casual elegance. The sight of her and the confidence visible, was a stark contrast to his own nervousness. Yet, it was comforting, a reminder that he was not alone in this endeavor. And with that in mind, everything seemed to fade away for a moment as he approached the woman, his anxiety forgotten if only temporary.

"Hey Commander, big speech today." She purred, her voice light, but her eyes filled with a mix of amusement and pride. "Nervous?" An eyebrow she raised, her usual smile tugging at the corners of her lips swiftly.

Peepers, the hint of edginess and excitement written all over his face, stopped in front of the human. He rolled his orb, her teasing tone familiar and actually quite comforting. "What are you talking about?" He retorted, attempting to act unfazed, his tone carrying lighthearted sass. "Nervous? Please." He scoffed in a playful way. "I'm the Commander, I don't get nervous."

At that the woman's smirk widened, her gaze twinkling with amusement at his effort to play it off. "Of course you are." She teased, the sarcasm and intrigue slipping from her tongue. "You've got that 'completely prepared' look all over you." With that she stepped closer. "But, you know," She leaned in, her volume lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's okay to be nervous."

Promptly, she pulled him closer, their lips meeting in the quiet isolation of the corridor. For a moment, he found himself melting into the sensation, his anxiousness fading away, replaced by the familiar flutter in his chest, the spark of pleasure. It was a secret they shared, a moment of connection, a strange indulgence they both knew they shouldn't have. The line between partnership and something more was blurred, their bond far more complex than mere business. And neither of them complained, not attempting to call it by name. Instead, they melted into the feeling of their surroundings fading into insignificance. It was just the warmth of their shared affection, the soft press of her body against his, and the flutter in their hearts. The peck was both brief and intense, a small solace amidst the chaos of their plans. And as they broke apart, the Commander felt a strange mix of embarrassment, satisfaction, and a bit of something more he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

When she pulled away, he struggled to maintain his composure, his expression betraying a hint of embarrassment, a faint heat lingering on his cheeks. He straightened his uniform, trying to regain his dignity, all the while looking around to ensure they hadn't been seen. "You're lucky no one else was here." He muttered, the statement filled with both shyness and amusement. It was a routine they had then, but he still felt like a teenager caught doing something forbidden.

The woman chuckled, a twinkle in her eyes, a silent promise that she wouldn't hesitate to humble him again if given the chance. She seemed to live for those moments, and he couldn't deny the thrill of their affair, the way it made butterflies fly around in his stomach.

It was a classified secret between partners in crime, a moment of weakness they couldn't push away, something only the two of them knew.

Suddenly, he felt her arm wrap around his, her voice dropping to that teasing tone he was so enchanted with. "Don't stress too much, Commander. I've got your back. And for the record..." She added, her grip tightening as she pressed her body closely against his side, her expression showing pure nonchalance. "You look good tall."

The touch alone sent a shiver down his spine. Her height, usually a distant observation, was in that moment an intimate connection, their heights matched by the boots she created just for him, allowing them to walk side by side. It was a symbol of their partnership, her support, their unity, evident for everyone to see. Together, they walked, a team, a union of strength and cunning. Their evil minds almost intertwined.

As they moved ahead, her words rang through his head, a blend of anxiety and reassurance. Her comment about him looking good taller was a playful jab, but it also felt genuine, a small praise that he found himself savoring. And so he let out a small sigh, trying to school his expression into a confident one, the anticipation and nerves creating a nausious sensation inside of him. Though as they approached the massive stage, the weight of his new role as a leader fully hit him. He was the person in charge, and yet... he held onto her arm, the physcial reminder of her presence and assistance. He took a moment, her touch a tether anchoring him to reality, a subtle sign that he wasn't truly alone. The human was his partner, his right-hand, a crucial piece he couldn't have planned for. Yet, there she was, her pure existence a pillar of strength.

In a matter of seconds, they reached their destination, the eyes of their army awaiting them. Seeing it, Peepers took another deep breath, the gesture of his second-in-command a silent assurance that he could do this, they could do it. And together, they stepped onto the stage.

The air was charged, a devilish mix of admiration and nervousness directed towards the duo. The room was filled with a murmur, the energy from the aliens palpable. The Commander felt the weight of their gaze, the anticipation heavy on the shoulders, while ___'s smirk was as confident as ever, her orbs scanning the crowd with a subtle air of superiority.

The Watchdogs were watching (har har), their scarlet hues filled with eagerness and wariness. Some had awe written all over their faces, others looked at the human with a hint of disdain and a trace of fear. Thruthfully, it was all a big buzz of energy, a testament to the recent shift in power. The murmurs among the crowd were getting louder, the changes felt in the air. However, Peepers lectured himself once more mentally, his eye closing and then re-opening with a new-found confidence.

"FELLOW WATCHDOGS!!!" His voice echoed through the area, his words commaning attention. He stepped towards the edge of the stage, a sense of authority visible in his small form. He could feel the gaze of his right-hand as she stepped away from him, a subtle reminder of her trust in him, which only served to boost his courage.

"The time has come for US to conquer the Galaxy!" He continued, surveying the crowd as the small aliens of the same race hanged onto his every word. "I know some of you may be skeptical, especially since Hater isn't here anymore. But mark my words! I promise you that under my leadership, we shall become the most fearsome and powerful fleet in the entire Galaxy!" He delcared, his finger high in the air.

The Watchdogs cheered, their voices joining together in a chorus of agreement. Some of them glanced at Peepers' new boots, surprised by the sudden increase in his height. The Commander noticed some of the glances, but he didn't care. In fact, he relished in the extra attention, and the added sense of authority it gave him.

"Today we begin a new era! A future led by me and my second-in-command!" With that he montioned to himself, and then to the woman in the red dress.

___'s head turned slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. She was leaning against the railling causally, her gaze unwavering, her stance relaxed. The mention of their partnership, Peepers as the man in charge and her as his right-hand, sent a wave of surprise and understanding through the crowd. Though there was also a slight hint of fear, they had no idea what to expect from the human female. But she only waved at them, like it was just another day.

The sight of her casually leaning against the balustrade, her gesture almost comical. She was clearly enjoying the atmosphere, the trepidation that her presence alone stirred, the power she held. Her demeanor was a stark contrast to the serious speech of her boss.

Meanwhile, Peepers was in the zone, giving his speech with a confident edge, his words resonating with everyone, his voice commanding their attention. He was in his element, his vision, the future he had been aiming for finally in reach. His speech continued, words about their shared struggle and the hope for a new era filling the air. The new second-in-command, still casually leaned against the barrier watched, her smirk a little wider, a hint of pride flickering in her eyes. The Commander delved deeper, his declarations a blend between authority and inspiriation. That was his moment, his chance to take control, to lead. And the casual approach of his partner was a perfect contradiction, a subtle reminder of their dynamic, her silent support a source of comfort in the chaos.

He truly enjoyed her presence.

"No longer will we have the obnoxious holidays that our former leader saw fit!" The watchdog in charge started pacing around the stage, back and forth, his orb narrowed as he reminded his army of the past times. "No more 'Hateful Days' and 'Lord Hater Mondays'!"

The army laughed, some soldiers shaking their heads at the silly names, agreeing with their new boss. One watchdog shouted from the back. "No more 'Sassy Saturdays' either, right Commander?!" The crowd chuckled at the reference to another foolish holiday the skeleton had attempted to impose.

Peepers grimaced, his expression mirroring that of the men in the room. "Yes! No more 'Sassy Saturdays' as well!" He exclaimed, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement at the absurdity of the past leader's choices. His right-hand however almost chuckled to herself, appreciating the irony of the whole situation.

The Commander cleared his throat. "No more ridiculous holidays. No more nonsensical traditions, no more meaningless celebrations. We move forward into an era of seriousness, discipline, and control!" He threw his hands in the air to emphasize his point, a devilish intent appearing in his scarlet orb. Then, he looked to the side for a moment. "We have also rid ourselves of the... less pleasant parts of our organization." When he heard one of the watchdogs snicker, he decided to continue. "Yes, that means Captain Tim."

At that every soldier started jumping in the air, excitement and happiness clear. And if they had access to fireworks and balloons in that moment, they would've definitely used them to celebrate the revealed infromation.

Yes. They hated Hater's pet that much.

Peepers raised his voice, cutting through the chatter. "But we must not let the joy distract us, my Watchdogs!" He said. "We have to focus, train, and work together. We have a lot to work on and we cannot falter!" A wave of groans could be heard all around, but the Commander quickly glared at them, the sound of it almost like hitting a belt, silencing the sounds of displeasure immediately. And so, with a swift movement, he gestured towards his partner. "All of you will be having sparring session with my right-hand!"

The crowd stirred, murmurs and gasps of surprise, and some soldiers even seemed uneasy at the suggestion. They knew how strong she was, how she had overpowered them during the takeover of the Skullship. Some exchanged apprehensive glances with each other, the thought of training with the woman daunting but also intriguing. ___, however, looked unfazed, her smirk widening with subtle amusement, enjoying the atmosphere she created.

It was her idea to lead the training sessions after all.

"Don't worry boys." The human placed her hand under her chin, leaning her elbow on the railing as she watched them in that sly way of hers. "I promise not to hurt any of you. Not too much, at least." She added the last part, her smile becoming a bit evil as her eyes flickered with mischief. "I can't make any promises about our Commander, though."

Her words sent a wave of discomfort through the army, a mix of hesitation and apprehension. Peepers however shot her a stern glance, a silent command to be professional. The Watchdogs fidgeted, unsude of what to make of this situation. They knew their leader was no pushover, yet the addition of ___ in the mix had made things much more intimidating. The tension in the air was palpable, their nervousness evident.

The Leader straightened up, the atmosphere turning serious once more, his focus returning to the task at hand. Outside the ship's window, a distant planet approached, their first real invasion awaiting them. Knowing that, he took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the planetoid, his mind shifting into strategic mode. "Today, we conquer Planet J955. Not only is it the beginning of our plan, but also a way for all of you to prove yourselves!" The energry among the army swelled, the anticipation and excitement for their invasion filling the air. "The soldiers that fall are going to be the first to train with ___!"

Grop, it was almost like a threat.

Everyone in the crowd started nodding frantically at his statement, ready to do everything in their power to avoid the woman's wrath. Seeing it, the human could only let out a chuckle. The thought of a whole army of aliens fearing her was pure amusement to her.

"Now, I want all of you to go and get ready!" The Commander's voice was filled with an evil intent, his serious expression turning into a glare. "Don't disappoint me." With that, everyone saluted and ran out of the massive area of the ship, not even bothering to look back at their leader, shivers running down their spines at the change of behavior.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

As everyone was focused on the upcoming invasion, Peepers, knowing his right-hand's ethusiasm for powerful weapons, decided to surprise her with the finest blaster he had. In a quiet moment, when the rest of his soldiers already left the locker room, where every other gun hanged at different hangers (like it was some kind of changing area, but for deadly objects instead of clothes), the Commander slowly approached her.

He saw her silently contemplating which one to take, her arms crossed over her chest and an intrigued spark in her orbs. Knowing that she couldn't decide, it only fueled his desire to gift her his own creation, crafted with the use of his personal designs. A masterpiece of technology, its form holding a promise of swift and effective devastation. And also, a characteristic touch - a small cat sticker near the trigger. Truly, it was both terrifying and adorable.

Exactly what he thought of the woman before him.

...

Wait- WHAT?!- NO!!!

Quickly, the small watchdog shook his head, replacing the thoughts with excitement. "___." He called out for her attention, the devious present in his gloved hands.

The woman looked over at him, her eyebrow raised, curious as to what her leader wanted. When she noticed his serious expression and the object in his palms, her interest was piqued. "I have something for you." As he held the weapon towards her, her eyes widened in surprise, though she quickly replaced the emotion with her usual amusement.

She reached out, her fingers gracing the gift. The sticker caught her off guard at first, but then she grinned. "You're such a charmer, Commander." She teased, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and delight. She held the blaster for a moment, admiring its sleek design, her gaze lingering on the cat sticker and back to the whole gun. "This is... beautiful." She mumbled, her mind visibly already working through how to best utilize it.

Peepers felt a surge of pride, his own smile hidden by his stern demeanor, as he watched her run her fingers along his creation's surface. Her words were teasing, but they held something truthfull, a bit of satisfaction that his offering was well received. And knowing that, a subtle blush tinged his cheeks. "I designed it myself." He shifted on his feet, his voice low, trying not to sound too proud. But even so, a tiny bit of smugness still found its way into his tone. "I thought you would appreciate a weapon worthy of our battles." He added, his chest puffing out a bit. "And the cat stricker was for extra charm. It's a little touch, but it seemed to fit you."

Because she was like a cat stalking its prey, it being - him.

The woman couldn't help but chuckle, a hint of glee in her eyes. "You're full of surprises, Commander." She teased, a smirk on her lips. She ran her fingers along the design once more, the sticker a reminder of his thoughtfulness. "Thanks, it's perfect." She assured, her tone voice almost fond, her gaze turning soft for just a moment, but it was quickly replaced with her usual snarky look.

With a quick movement, she stepped closer to him, her gaze flickering with a playful challenge. She had changed into a form-fitting outfit, casual yet effective, (and leaving the watchdog to admire her curves) and was looking more at him than his blaster. She traced her digits along his chest, her tone lowering a bit. "I'll need to try out this new gift... and...." She leaned closer, her eyes focused on his. "Maybe we can explore other options after out little invasion." Her words suggestive, her fingertips traced up to his face, finding their way to his cheek.

Caught off guard by her sudden approach, the watchdog heated up, the flutter in his heart appearing once more. He stiffened for a moment, the world vanishing into the background, his focus solely on her. He could hear his villainous muscle pounding in his ear, and the warmth of her touch on his eye. The suggestion in her sentance sent a shiver through him, embarrasment and anticipation flowing at the same time. "E-Explore?"

And then, she pressed the blaster that he gifted her against his crotch in a way that caused him to fidget. After doing so, she leaned closer, her breath right next to his ear, her voice a mere whisper. "I mean..." She purred, her tone turning more lustful. "Explore other ways of... destressing after our conquest."

Oh my.

Her closeness was overwhelming, causing the Commander to turn an even deeper shade of scarlet, her implications leaving little to the imagination. The words 'destressing' and 'explore' echoed in his mind, his chest hitching slightly, his breath catching. His heart was a rapid beat, intrigue swirling inside, his focus entirely on her in the moment of intimate tension. It was a mix of challenge and suggestion, too much for him to handle. His mouth opened to respond, but no words came out, his vocal lost amidst the flurry of his throughts. He was trying to recover from her bold gesture, trying to ignore the effect she had on him. And seeing it, she chuckled, a sound that made his heart jump.

She stepped back, taking the blaster with her, an action that reminded him of their purpose. He watched her, his brain replaying her statement, the way her breath felt against his ear, the tension between them undeniable. "Right." He cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "We need to focus on the invasion." With that he shook his head. "Focus is key." He muttered, trying to maintain his professional image. "We can celebrate afterwards." Adding that, his voice gained a hint of composure.

Her expression was nonchalant, as if she hadn't just set his mind ablaze with her suggestions. And as he prepared to leave, she shot him a sly smile, her tone cool and composed. "Looking forward to it." She replied, her words dripping with innuendo, clearly enjoying how she could make him squirm.

Peepers, still slightly flushed, managed to nod, trying to maintain his composure as he turned away, grabbing his weapon of choice and making his way towards their soldiers. Her suggestion lingered in his mind, a mixture of embarrassment and anticipation stirring in his chest. He tried to maintain a stoic expression, even as his heart raced with the mix of anticipation and embarrassment. He watched as the soldiers readied themselves, his eye briefly glancing towards her, a reminder of the complexities between them.

The Commander was acutely aware of his newfound position as a leader, the absence of Hater a stark reminder of his responsibilities. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. His mind was at war with itself, his thoughts and emotions swirling within him like a tempest. She had a knach for affecting him even when she was not next to him, her words and gestures lingering in his head like a persistent nudge towards her allure. But he needed to stay composed, to be strong, and to lead. He wouldn't let her distract him. And so he took a moment to steady himself, his heart still pounding loudly in his chest. Yet, he had to push on, to lead his soldiers into the upcoming battle.

After all, the battlefield was no place for the weakness of emotions.

The watchdog in charge watched from the command deck, the view of the planet getting closer nad closer. His face warm, his fingers tapping against his weapons handle. He knew this was his first invasion as the leader, and he couldn't help the fluttering anxiousness in his stomach. It was surreal, and he didn't quite know what to expect.

Additionaly, despite his best efforts, he found his mind slipping into thoughts about her and her bold demeanor. He tried to breathe, to regain his composure. But every time he looked at her, her words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of their lingering words, the promised 'exploration'. It was a struggle to remain stoic. Soon however, he watched as she descended to the planet's surface as they arrived at their destination. His eye followed her form, a slight flutter of nerves as she winked at him. The tension still felt by his whole form, even amid the anticipation of the battle ahead. But with a quick jump, he readied himself at the exit, his army at his back. He steeled himself, his focus sharpening despite the emotions whirling inside of his chest.

As he waited for the signal to leap he felt his mind still swirling, her wink echoing in his mind, her words a constant reminder of the promise. His chest was tight, his heart hammering. The mix of excitement and anxiety was overwhelming, and it took every bit of self-control not to let any sign of the turmoil inside him show. Then, he heard her voice, cutting through the tension in the air like a blade.

"Attention Planet-..." She paused for a moment. "Whatever it's called." Clearly, she didn't care enough to remember, in classic ___ fashion, the whole situation almost making her boss facepalm, but of course that didn't stop her from continuing. With a deep breath, she raised her voice. "Prepare to kneel before your new leader!" With that, her eyes shot up at the exit of the ship, catching a glimpse of the person in question. "Commander Peepers!" There was no denying her sultry tone, the seductiveness in her orbs, the way she drew out his name making his heart skip a beat. The command held a subtle power within. It sent a shiver down his spine, the tension lingering in his chest.

The Commander tried to channel his focus into something positive, thinking about the boots. His new height added an element of command, made him feel like he was in control. He held himself straight, trying to keep his emotions in check, his expression serious. She could be as seductive as she wanted, but he had a battle to lead.

It was show time.

His voice hardened as they landed, his mind clearing of the distracting thoughts. He was ready to face the challenge ahead; but of course, there was an immediate question. Before he could even utter a single word, one of the planet's inhabitants, completely out of touch, asked, "Hey! Where is Lord Hater?"

And surely, the inquiry sent a wave of frustration through the man in charge.

The very mention of the former leader caused a jolt of anger to rise inside Peepers' stomach, his orb twitching. He had hoped to start off on a more assertive, commanding note, but the question left him rolling his eye, a flicker of annoyance evident. He gritted his teeth, his patience already stretching thin. The fact that they had the audacity to even mention Hater was a insult. And so, Peepers, not in control of his emotions, yelled at the person who asked. "Lord Hater is no longer the leader!" He snapped back, his tone sharp and firm. "We're here to claim this planet for our own empire!"

The inhabitants, seemingly unfazed by his words, merely gave a shrug, their response catching him off guard. "That's too bad," one of them muttered, their nonchalance only adding to the frustration that was already seething in the Commander. Their indifference was a reminder that even with his outburst, they weren't taking him seriously.

And knowing that, his irritation escalated further, every muscle tensing beneath his light orchid skin. "TOO BAD?!" he echoed indignantly, his voice rising. "Too bad?! You should be groveling at my feet!" The audacity of the residents (a bunch of bunnies for the record) was only fueling his fury. He was already on edge, and their flippant reaction was pushing him to his limit.

That's where ___ suddenly chimed in. "Oh Commander, calm yourself." She responded to his outburst with her sultry tone. With a quick step, she started moving towards the aliens that lived on the planet, her gaze mischievious. "So you aren't scared, hm?" Asking that, she tilted her head slyly, not a hint of devilish intent in her human frame.

Her intervention and her soothing tone seemed to catch Peepers off-guard, his anger cut short. Her words, combined with her sweet tone, were a subtle reminder of her presence, her sly actions keeping the peoples' attention, while he tried to compose himself. But he couldn't shake his frustration entirely, her interjection barely putting a dent in his riled-up emotions. The sight of her moving towards the planet inhabitants, however, kept him in place, his eye narrowing in anticipation.

And so she stepped forward, her voice honeyed and assertive. "You guys are lucky Hater isn't here," she started, a sly smile playing at her lips. She sauntered towards them, the situation completely in her control. "We wouldn't even be here if he was. He'd just let you guys walk all over him, and you'd remain unconquered," she said, her voice oozing charisma. As she continued, she added a hint of threat. "But he's not here." She almost laughed.

"And now... we get to conquer this planet without mercy," she said, her voice gaining a sharp edge. Her eyes glinted with a mix of determination and excitement. "And we're not going to hold back." The threat was veiled under the soft tone, her words lingering in the air, the warning clear in her voice. Peeps watched, a silent witness to her assertive approach.

She was too natural, it didn't sit right.

Her words were a stinging reminder that they would have remained unconquered under Hater's rule, the comparison rubbing the new leader the wrong way. Her bold approach was an annoucement that she wasn't one to hold back, that she was not to be toyed with, and that the planet dwellers were about to get a taste of what it meant now that the skeleton was no longer in charge. Peepers stood there, his eye narrowing as he watched her, her confidence and assertiveness in stark contrast to his prior outburst. He felt a mix of annoyance and admiration for her smooth approach, a subtle respect for her skill at keeping control while he had almost lost his composure. Meanwhile, the inhabitants seemed uneasy under her attention, her words causing a mix of reactions in the crowd.

A few aliens snickered at her boldness however, their amusement evident, underestimating the duo in the process, seeing her as just a human and the watchdogs just a bunch of eyeballs. Though ___, catching their skepticism, shot each target with a precise accuracy that caught everyone off guard.

With her expression still carefree, she gave a nonchalant look at the group for a second, a smirk playing at her lips. "Oops, my finger slipped," she said softly, her tone dripping with feigned innocence. But a dangerous spark was visible in her eyes. "Guess my aim is just too good," she added, a subtle warning in her tone. Her finger tapped the trigger of the blaster, making the inhabitants visibly flinch, her warning clearly understood. The tension in the air was palpable, the aliens finally aware of her skill and her deadly nature.

"So, you're going to surrender or...?" She trailed off, aiming the weapon at everyone in the crowd, slowly tracing each figure, the smile never leaving her face.

The massive group was stunned into silence, their amusement replaced by fear. No one moved, and the tension was thick in the air. After a moment, they exchanged glances, silently deciding to surrender, realizing the risk she posed. "S-Surrendering sounds like a good plan," one of them muttered, others nodding in agreement.

"You think?" The woman smiled, twirling the blaster in her hand. "What a shame that we don't care." Her cold gaze turned to her leader, Peepers, and she tilted her head innocently.

"Right Commander?" Her eyes were hollow once again.

The Watchdog Leader watched, his orb catching hers, his thoughts spinning at her sudden shift in tone, her words sharp and cold compared to her earlier playful self. Something in him stirred, a mix of surprise and, against his better judgment, a subtle flicker of fluster. He shifted, his chest tightening as her icy gaze turned to him, and her question. He steeled himself, clearing his throat. "Precisely," he replied, his voice a mix of professionalism and determination, masking his internal struggle. Still feeling the lingering effects of her sudden shift, he cleared his mind, his focus returning to the task at hand. Her gesture was a command, and he quickly complied. He straightened, his mind shifting into a leader, focused on his mission, his eye glinting with pride and determination.

"This planet is now under new rule! MY RULE!" He barked, his voice loud and clear, the soldiers behind him reacting immediately. "WATCHDOGS!" He moved his hand in the air, and with a swift movement threw it ahead, a gesture telling them to attack.

"YES, SIR!"

The eyeball soldiers launched into action, their disciplined nature evident as they followed his command, a mix of anticipation and determination filling the air. They moved with precise coordination, their skills honed over years of training (though some of them lacked that certain spark). The aliens before them were caught off guard by the sudden leap into action, the Watchdogs moving with a well-practiced synchrony that spoke of experience. It was a show of strength and a promise of control, Peepers' presence a clear statement of authority.

"You know what I always say.." The human suddenly started, her hand in the air in a commanding gesture. "Surrender is just a bit.. boring." With that, she threw her palm ahead, a signal to start the chaos, for the watchdogs that were inside the ship, taking care of controls, to start the chain of explosions and detonations.

Peepers couldn't help but get a little shiver down his spine as her words echoed, her gesture a cue for chaos. Within moments, their troops from the ship started a chain of explosions and detonations, a symphony of power and fire. He watched it all, feeling his chest beat in anticipation, his heart quickening at the sight and sounds of the explosions.

It was exactly what he wanted. What he dreamed of.

To be feared and respected. Not the other way around.

And he didn't need Hater. As long as ___ was by his side, they could conquer anything. He didn't have the fearful look, but she had her witty tongue. And that, accompanied by his brains and will to take over the Galaxy - it was just perfect.

The Commander, his chest filled with pride and excitement, caught himself watching her more than he was watching the explosions. Her demeanor, her confidence, the fear she instilled in others. It was perfection, a compliment to his strategic mind and his army's power. They were the perfect duo, conquering not through fear of him, but fear of her. It was exactly why he didn't dare take over on his own before. He looked too pure to spread evil throughout the Galaxy, because of that he and the watchdogs fell under Hater's rule. He was a symbol, the thing everyone feared, but it didn't matter since his head wasn't in the game.

And ___? Peepers knew well that they shared the same goal. Even if she was a little bit too excited for mayhem sometimes.

The human female, her eyes glinting with the reflection of the explosions, had a manic smile on her lips. She watched with delight, her heart filled with adrenaline. It was obvious by the look in hers orbs, that she thrived in the moment of chaos. And thruthfully, the sight alone was enough to make the watchdog commander gaze at her softly.

She was so... sickly-sweet.

Suddenly, she turned to him with a sense of challenge in her eyes. "Come join me on the battlefield, Commander. Or are you scared?" She teased, her voice holding a tint of arrogance. Her words sounded like a verbal punch to him, a suggestion that she doubted his bravery.

"I'm not scared." He sighed internally, his chest filling with determination. "I simply prioritize strategy over recklessness." He attempted to justify his position, his eyebrow twitching.

"Oh, but everything's going according to the plan." She tilted her head slightly, her fingers trailing over the cat sticker on her blaster. "Right now, this place is a playground. Our playground.Why not indulge in a little... competition?"

Peepers, his composure wavering slightly, found himself both flustered and frustrated by her teasing and confidence. His hands gripped his own weapon tighter. "A playground?" He repeated wryly, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and amusement. He glanced at the explosions, his mind considering her suggestion. She was right; everything was going according to plan, and the battleground was chaotic, a perfect opportunity for a competition. A part of him didn't want to show weakness, but her attitude and the flickering light in her eyes fueled his hesitation. "What do you have in mind?" He asked, trying to maintain a semblance of nonchalance.

At that her lips curved into a smirk. "A competition, right here, right now." She began, lighheartedly yet her tone was filled with challenge. "We'll see who can take down more pests, simple as that." She stated. "A competition for the title of the Most Effective Watchdog." With that her eyes trailed over her own figure. "...or human, that is."

The Commander was torn. His desire to maintain his strategic role warred with the temptation of a competition, of proving himself against her. Her suggestion, the challenge, her smugness, the lingering effects of his previous embarrassment, the excitement of the battlefield. His heart thumped against his chest, his mind buzzing with conflicting feelings. "You think you can beat me?" He asked, a hint of challenge in his voice, his eyelid furrowed, his pride unwilling to back down. "Our last competition didn't exactly end in your victory."

"Oh, but it did." She smirked down at him. "The kiss we shared was the very testament of it."

Grop.

Peepers felt his cheeks burn, his composure slipping. "T-That--" He sputtered, unprepared for her boldness. His mind stumbled over her words, the memory of their shared affection a vivid one. "That- That doesn't count!"

She tilted her head, watching him with enjoyment. "And why wouldn't it?" She taunted, her voice almost teasing as she held her new blaster firmly in her grip. "I did manage to reduce you into a stuttering, flustered mess." As she reminded him, her orbs glimmered with mischief. "That to me, is a clear win." She twirled her weapon. "But now..." She looked into his eye, at the same time quickly covering his head with her new blaster, deflecting a shot from a foe effortlessly. "You can prove that you're better, at least on the battlefield."

As she said it, an explosion erupted behind her, making her features light up with a warm, soft light. And the sight alone was enough to make the watchdog's breath hitch. Her beauty, highlighted by the detonation, for a second left him speechless.

She was mesmerizing.

And she knew. Knew the exact effect she had on him, the way her words could shake his heart, her actions make him flustered. And the image of her, so powerful and alluring, he knew she was right. If he couldn't win on the battlefield he couldn't truly win at all. His heart pounded in his chest as he swallowed, meeting her gaze "Alright," he finally managed to say, his voice a mix of determination and something softer. "Challenge accepted."

"Good." She purred, then quickly reached down and threw the helmet over his eye in a playful manner, blocking his vision, a nudge towards their last contest - the one in which he wore a blinfold. "Don't hold back, Commander." And with that said, she ran ahead, the blaster she was gifted by her superior held tightly in her grasp.

As she threw the piece of his armor over his head, the gesture sent a jolt of surprise through him. Her words stirred domination and defiance within him. He stumbled back, catching himself, his mind snapping back into focus. But the way she called him by his title, mixed with her sensual tone, it made his heart skip a beat. However, he couldn't let her think she had the upper hand. With a swift grit of his teeth, he fixed his helmet. "Oh, you're on."

His mind cleared as he focused on his goal.

Rushing ahead, he gripped his weapon tighter, the adrenaline and excitement coursing through his veins. He had a mission, determination propelling him forward. As he reached her, the butterflies in his stomach fluttered, his mind concentrated on proving himself to her. He wouldn't let his embarrassment or flusteredness hinder his performance, not this time. She was a mystery, and even in such a competition, he knew that it wasn't only about defeating foes.

It was about getting closer to her.

The competition was fierce, Peepers was aware of the eyes on him, his soldiers, and her... it made his heart soar, his determination flaring high. He focused on the task at hand, his orb scanning the battlefield, picking his targets and eliminating them with ease. Her form was a constant presence in his peripheral vision, every fiber of his being a beat every time she moved, every time she was lit by an explosion, she was both a distraction and a target, a challenge, and he was determined to match her, though he tried not to think how amazing she looked in battle.

But as time went on, he found himself watching her when he should be focusing on his enemies, his heart almost escaping when she moved, his thoughts a battlefield of determination and distracting emotions. Every shot from her blaster, every move of her body had him on edge, watching her not just fight but enjoy it. Her demeanor was confident and thrilling, her smirk lingering, as if conquering this planet was just an ordinary thing for her. It was a sight to behold, a mix of beauty and power, her natural confidence captivating him completely.

As a new leader, the responsibilities mixed with his emotions, his nerves pounding with both pride and nervousness. The Watchdogs fought fiercely, his soldiers under his command, their actions under his leadership. ___ her grace and strength so evident, commanded an attention all her own. His thoughts were a swirling mix of admiration and a feeling of uncertainty. He tried to focus on his duties, giving commands, ensuring the Watchdogs' coordination and also his own competition. But his mind was clouded, filled with thoughts of her.

He was trying to push aside his emotions, trying to focus on the battle, on his duties as the one in charge. But every time he glanced at her, it felt like a jolt to his heart, his leadership role and feelings at odds. It was a constant battle within him, the rational, commanding part of him fighting against the emotional, smitten part.

The human woman, his second-in-command, his partner. He couldn't deny the connection they shared, the trust and reliance that added to his whirlwind. Every command she followed, every wink she threw at him, was a mix of admiration and a sense of responsibility. And in that moment he realized he trusted her, valued her.

Her presence, her guidance... it was a constant flutter  in his chaotic sea of feelings.

 

With every passing moment, his appreciation for her grew, his admiration blossoming into something deeper and more complex. The man knew she was his right-hand, his partner in conquest. But her mere presence and demeanor had taken him by surprise, her fierce beauty and her strength leaving him utterly captivated. Realizing his growing affection for her, he felt a mix of exhilaration and slight discomfort.

He never felt anything like that for a woman, especially not a human one.

She was becoming his weakness, her whole being a constant reminder of the war within him, his emotions overwhelming his rational mind. He knew he needed to resist, to keep his feelings in check, but with her by his side, he found himself yearning for something more than just command. Was it wrong? He didn't know.

And even as they finally took over the planet and Peepers' was being thrown in the air by his fellow soldiers, all he could stare at was his second-in-command.

The triumphant cries of victory rang out around him. But his attention was singular, completely fixed on her. For the briefest moment, he ignored everything else, his feelings overshadowing everything around him. His eye, usually sharp and determined, softened as he gazed at her, his stare a mix of respect, adoration, and a hint of vulnerability. It was a fleeting moment, his heart thumping in his chest.

And she noticed it.

While dusting off her clothes, she gave him that usual sly smile of hers, that betrayed nothing, not even a hint of deeper affection. And yet, he could feel that there was something between them. Something more than just random kisses in the hallway of the Skullship.

The world might have cheered around them, but his focus was on her. There was more to them, he could feel it. He knew it. His eye met hers, a flash of emotion within the swirl of passion and vulnerability. It was unspoken, yet the tension between them was evident, making his heart beat in his chest, despite the chaos around them. Their shared moments had laid a foundation and it was hard to ignore.

Her grin, her subtle gesture, it held a thousand unspoken words for him. He saw it as something more than a simple smile, it was a glimpse of something deeper, something he yearned to understand. It felt like she was sharing a small piece of her true self, a hint of that depth he sensed beneath her usual facade. And so his world faded into a blur as his focus fixated on her.

Her smile was the brightest part of his moment of victory.

While her smirk angered him before, then it was something he found comforting. It was a part that he couldn't imagine her without. Before, it had been a source of frustration and embarrassment for him, but now... now it was a soothing sight. An aspect of her, an attribute he wouldn't change, a slice of her he was becoming used to, even fond of. He admired her strength and her beauty, but her smile, it was an anchor in his ever-fluctuating emotions.

And then, he saw her, pumping her fist in the air, just like the rest of his soldiers. She was proud of him, in that usual way of hers. It was also a sign of defeat from her, the sign of his victory in their little competition. For a brief moment, he was frozen, his mind caught in the sight of her. Her pride, expressed with that smug gesture, was visible and it made his heart skip several beats. She was proud of him, the thought repeated in his mind. It meant more to him than he dared to admit, his chest tight with affection, his mind going dizzy.

All he saw was her, her gesture the epitome of her quiet but undeniable approval.

He wanted to capture that moment of pride, to take her somewhere private, to be alone with her. To claim that kiss, to find solace in her presence. He kept a cool exterior, but his mind spun with a mix of affection, longing, and a hint of amusement at his own internal conflict. But as much as he wanted to stay focused on her, he knew he had duties to attend to now that the physical fight was over. The battle wasn't the only struggle, the paperwork was always a headache. But his thoughts kept flickering back to her, his emotions a hurricane he couldn't shake off. His duties were the anchor, keeping him from giving in to his desires. For now.

However he noticed her gaze, an invintantion, a nudge to see her when everything was done. Maybe it would be that day, maybe tomorrow, but it didn't matter. As long as he got to see her. In that moment, amidst the celebration, the adrenaline, and the lingering presence of the battle, Peepers realized something that made his heart move in an even, yet fast, rythm.

He was falling in love. Falling for her.

The realization was a mix of surprise and certainty, his feelings swirling like a raging storm, the revelation making him acutely aware of how much she had woven into his thoughts, into his life. He was not merely affected by her beauty or power, but he was starting to feel something more complex. The way her smirk made his stomach do a twirl, how much he enjoyed her company, her boldness, the thought that he could trust her, it all added up to the reality that he was slowly becoming infatuated with his second-in-command.

She had captured his villainous heart in ways he had never expected.

But he also knew that his feelings had come too soon, that they didn't know each other well enough yet for such strong emotions to bloom. But in the swirling chaos of his thoughts and emotions, he made a resolution, a dedication to understand her, to unveil the enigma that was ___. He was determined to get closer, to learn about her. His feelings weren't going to just remain a mystery, he wanted to know her.

All of her.

[frozenmoonshine]

Headcanon - Tips & Tricks on how to date Sanzu Haruchiyo:

I just wrote this to cope with my unhealthy obsession with this fictional man. He's my absolute favorite TR baby, so forgive me for being shamelessly self indulgent! ...or don't.

If feminine terms of endearment and/or hinted hetero relationship trigger you for any reason, please skip this one. Cheers.

Haru is a lovebug, but that cannot be seen by just anyone. It requires a person with thick, and I mean: THICK nerves and patience to handle him right. He's prone to jealousy, he's headstrong, and he holds his grudges like Mikey's life directly depends on it!

If not handled properly, he will ghost you for days, try to make you jealous, be deliberately mean and controlling/manipulative, or in more extreme cases, turn full on yandere stalker on you! But all of that is triggered by his innate need to be loved and deeply, deeply rooted fear of being abandoned and being less than. So don't make him insecure!

It's highly recommended to build trust with him first, so if you guys start out by being genuine friends first, before you start dating, and then let the things develop naturally from there, there's a lot more chance that he'll open up to you and let you in, and he won't be as afraid of you leaving him or "betraying" him.

Seriously tho, don't leave him! He needs someone to love him, and to love back, way more than he realizes! He desperately needs someone to call "home", someone who will stay, who will accept him, and not judge him for who he is. And who he is deep down is just a soft little baby, that would do anything and everything for his loved one!

Until he gets properly comfortable with you and the fact that someone genuinely cares for him (which is a big challenge for him!) he may occaaionally act inconsistent (not messaging back for hours on end, standing you up for dates, being generally unavailable, etc.) It's either all due to his gang duties, fights, and devotion to Mikey, or simply just his struggle to adapt to love. But you can always be completely certain that he's not cheating!

Why? Because he's simply the type that falls in love for life, stays loyal and faithful even after death does you part (regardless of who dies first), and is so overprotective that it can be too much to deal with sometimes! ("Why is that ugly bitch over there giving you the side eye?! She wants me to explain to her who you are or what?!" - "No one talks like that to my Queen, I'm gonna rip his fucking skeleton apart!" etc.) And yeah, unless you stop him somehow, he will commit homicide just because someone stepped into your lane a bit too rudely for his taste.

Also, once you have successfully conquered his tattered, lonely heart, he would totally call you his Queen, and treat you as such as well. He's a lowkey simp, but a high key gentleman and super respectful in every sense of the word. His manners, albeit a little bit oldschool (legacy of having been brought up by his grandma and Takeomi), are always impeccable! If you didn't know better, you'd easily think he was some rich, spoiled, stuck-up "bocchan".

He'll be very reserved at the beginning of your dating, not exactly shy, but somewhat distant. But he'll never fail to open the door for you, move your chair for you, walk next to the car track making sure you're on the safer side, hold your coat for you or offer his if you don't have one, etc. But even holding hands will only happen after three dates or so.

And the first date is at Cozy Corner, and you guys are getting cheesecakes, it's just a fact, I don't make the rules! Once the relationship gets a bit more established it will become your monthly tradition.

On another negative side of dating Haru, however, be prepared to "share" him with Mikey! Although his attachment to Mikey is not romantic in nature, and Mikey isn't exactly someone to be jealous of in that sense, he will be a significant part of your relationship, as Haru will either talk incessantly about him, or flat our refuse to spend time with you because "Mikey needs him", and to him that is a perfectly valid reason.. But, if you (ideally) share, or (at least) understand his obsession with his King, and support his ambition to be Mikey's right hand man, he'll marry you, no joke!

* * * BONUS * * *

He used to be self conscious about his scars around you at first, not taking the mask off in front of you for 3 whole months of dating. You even "kissed" for the first time over the mask. When you asked him why he always wears it, he tried avoiding the subject at first, but when he realized he can trust you, he admitted he was afraid of your reaction when you see his face (you of course find him nothing less than drop dead gorgeous).

He hates PDA, but is quite affectionate in private, though never smothering. He'll hug you from behind when you're in the kitchen, randomly kiss your temple when you're cuddled up watching a movie together, he always speaks to you in a gentle, loving tone, he rubs small circles on the back of your hand with his thumb when holding hands, he always praises the food you make for him, he tries his best to learn to make your favorites, etc.

When the Kanto Manji-kai started getting seriously corrupted, he tried pushing you away, but you insisted on staying by his side no matter what, and he greatly appreciates you for that. Despite all, you are his safe haven.

In his KMK/early Bonten days, you half-jokingly asked him to teach you to use a sword. He taught you to play shōgi instead. It almost became a weekend tradition for the two of you. Since you started keeping scores, you've been in the lead with 139 wins, over his 137. (He may or may not have let you win on purpose, more than once.) You tease him that it's because he's such a good teacher.

As Bonten's 2nd in command, he's still as loyal to you as always, but you're never his first priority. It's Mikey and Bonten's business, and you know it. However, you can't say you haven't felt jealous of Mikey in some cases. Whenever Mikey calls, Haru will immediately leave, even mid-sex.

He always tries to make it up to you later if Mikey interrupted your time together, tho.

He avoids meeting you on the days when he's had to kill. Not just because he doesn't want to "taint" you, but also because he doesn't like himself when he's high. He'd rather wait for the drugs to wear off before meeting you. If you guys live together, then he'll just spend the day at the Bonten HQ instead.

Once you start living together, he's a godsent to have around the house! You don't have to do any cleaning ever again, his OCD kicks in and your apartment will always be spotlessly clean. He occasionally nags at you to be more tidy tho.

He's even more overprotective as an adult than he was as a teen. if you're going somewhere that is not owned by or affiliated with Bonten, and he can't go with you for whatever reason, you will unavoidably have two of his most trusted subordinates escort you and stay by your side at all times as your bodyguards. And no, he's not trying to contol where you go or what you do, (those two guys basically work for you, not him, at this point, anyway) he just won't leave anything to chance and risk you getting targetted by any of his numerous enemies when he's not around to protect you by himself. When the two of you are together out, he never leaves your side, and always has an arm around your waist or back.

[abigailnussbaum]

Some Grumbling Re: My Adventures With Superman S2

There's more items in this list, but I think you can probably sum up my frustrations with this season when you observe that its best episode so far has been the one that Clark wasn't even in. There's a version of this show where, per the title, Clark/Superman is a secondary character and the actual heroes are Lois and Jimmy. But that's not what MAWS has ever tried to be. Clark has always been a main character, and yet he's also the character that the show seems to have the most trouble using well.

"Krypton was an expansionist empire and its remnants are targeting Earth and expecting Clark to act as their conquering vanguard" is not a terrible idea, but it's not the Superman story. It's the Invincible story, and Invincible is probably doing it better because it's not tied to a PG-13 rating, is able to go a bit deeper into what imperialism actually means and looks like, and doesn't have MAWS's bizarre tonal whiplash between scenes of genocide, quirky workplace shenanigans, and new adult romance.

This is something I've observed in a lot of recent Superman stories, but there's a tendency to respond to the problem of "how do you write a story about a character who is omnipotent" by making Superman a lot less powerful. By which I mean physically - notice how often Clark gets smacked around on this show, even by creatures or machines that Superman should be able to easily swat aside; or how rarely he's able to control a confrontation in a way that prevents it from turning into a city-destroying brawl - but also mentally. This is a Superman who is seemingly always on the back foot, reacting to everything from supervillains from outer space, to government agencies who are (not unreasonably) suspicious of his motivations, to most eligible bachelor competitions. And, to be fair, that's a lot more justifiable in a show where Clark is 22 and has only been doing the hero thing for a few months than in something like Superman & Lois, where he was forty and had been Superman for decades. But watching MAWS, I never get a sense that Clark is thinking about these issues and trying to develop as a superhero. There's no indication, for example, that he is trying to come up with strategies to manage government and public mistrust, or testing his powers to see how he can use them safely without constantly being a nuclear weapon at a knife fight. Instead, he's forever flustered and reactive, and I'm past the point of finding this cute or charming. I would like a hero who actually behaves like a hero, or who is at least trying to get to that place.

(On that note, holy crap did I want Clark to read Sam Lane the riot act. Among the things I am past finding cute or charming is men being all "I'mma get a shotgun" in response to their daughters having a boyfriend. Sam being a deadbeat dad who abandoned Lois years ago makes that attitude even less tolerable. That Clark put up with his delusional posturing and self-aggrandizing protectiveness crosses the line from young and insecure and goes all the way to doormat, which is not something I enjoy in a main character even when they're not Superman.)

I am not OK with Kara being a multiple genocidaire, however unwittingly and unwillingly. Again, it feels like a reflection of this show's tonal inconsistency, and the age group it's aiming at, that it expects me not to think too hard about the fact that this character whom it is setting up as a quirky fish out of water and Jimmy's potential love interest has slaughtered billions of people, and that we will probably be expected to handwave that at the end of the season. Call me a stick in the mud, but I'm just not there for it.

[becausesomething]

You're one of us!

summary: a late night conversation with zoro, kinda smut

It was another night on watch at the Thousand Sunny. I couldn't sleep, so I went to Zoro at the crow's nest for company and someone to talk to. I continued to debate existential questions. She was the youngest member of the gang and that made me insecure. When comparing myself to their ambitions and dreams, mine didn't seem that grand.

-I still don't understand what you mean. -He takes another sip, while I feel his gaze on me.

-Let me rephrase. - I run my hand through my hair to organize my thoughts - Just as you have ambition, you also have dreams that your inner self desires. They can be complex and the probability of them becoming reality is not that easy, which is why I can get lost writing about them. It brings me comfort and happiness at the moment.

"I swear that sometimes having deep conversations with someone so practical, mysterious and distant was more of a headache than something pleasant. At least we had drinks."

-Whether it’s ambition or dream, it’s what you want, so you just have to work and go after it. There will be difficulties, but only then can we improve and fight even harder. I still don't understand what you mean… You're the one who gets lost in your thoughts and then in your sense of time, ending up just giving me more work - I look at him in disbelief and make a frustrated sound with a sigh - if it weren't me, you even forgot that you are a real person and there is a real world.

-Because the real world can be cruel and you all have your ambitions and I'm still lost without knowing how to achieve mine. - I steal the bottle from him and give him a few drinks.

"She was so cute when she was upset. There were countless times when I found her without the slightest attention around her and I prevented her from getting hurt without her being aware of it. But it gave me a certain pleasure to protect her, so delicate and dreamy. Simplicity was what captivated me most about her."

-tsc, if you had no ambition, the captain wouldn't have invited you to sail with us. As I said, lost in the world of fantasy and you don't see that everything is in front of you.

He pulls me towards him and rests my head on his shoulder. We were silent for a while, and I let myself relax, conquered by the presence and security he gave me.

-You'll owe me a bottle, but I'll remind you again of what you said when Luffy and I saved you.

"Why are you belittling your dream? Why do you let people speak for you, when your voice can echo so loudly, it made me come to you! Stop feeling sorry and hold on to your ambition.

Join our group and come write our story. How I became the king of pirates, how we found One Piece, how each person fulfilled their dream, how being so different we are a family.

You're one of us!"

english is not my first language, even thought I use it more than my native tongue. I try my best to adapt it 🫣

[liyazaki]

MOR! My beloved. I can always expect the truth from you. Overall thoughts on Between Us? I know the final ep was not your fave but how about the series? What would you want to keep? What would you want to change?

Eboni, my darling- hoo, boy. you're about to get way more than you bargained for, but I got some Thoughts™️ & some Things™️ to say.

disclaimer: Between Us was a sweet, serviceable, inoffensive show. I mostly enjoyed watching it & I loved being back in the UWMA universe, however tangentially.

speaking to the collective “you” here: if you loved the show from start to finish, I'm sincerely happy for you! if it'll lessen your BU fandom experience to read critiques- which is valid & completely understandable- click away. I swear I'm not trying to rain on your parade (or argue with anyone, which I won't be- period).

also, let's check ourselves: this is a show. it's not that serious- it couldn't be less serious, actually. sometimes I just like to go off the analytical deep end...it's a good time for a nerd like me. this is my house (my blog) & I'm just having fun, throwing digital paint around.

with all that out of the way, let's jump into it.

UWMA set an extremely high narrative standard. we knew from scene one the writers weren't messing around. that opening is burned into my memory forever.

from compelling flashbacks, to multiple couples that had something for everyone, to little plot details weaved in from the beginning that only made sense later- they knew exactly what story they were trying to tell & they told it in a big way. it was tightly constructed, cleanly delivered and hit all the right notes for me personally.

UWMA is a tough act to follow. in the end, it felt like Between Us barely tried. to quote an MDL reviewer (before the finale even aired): in with a bang, out with a whimper.

step one of any good story is solid character development. it's what draws us in, making & keeping us emotionally invested. we have to like these characters- and know enough about them- in order to care. that- and a good, solid plot- is what sustains our attention.

in a pretty atypical way, Between Us had serious emotional fan investment long before it had basically any character development (thanks to BounPrem's chemistry, IMO).

Win and Team had roughly 31 minutes of total screentime in UWMA, but you'd have never known it from the fever-pitch fandom support years before its release. we didn't have much real character knowledge or depth to go off of, but many of us came into this show ravenous for more of their story (raises hand).

the show's over now and, disappointingly, I don't feel like I learned much about either Win or Team that I didn't already know. we did see them struggle- Team with his guilt and insecurities; Win with his vague intimacy aversion and self worth issues.

Team and Win had plenty of things between (heh) the two of them to overcome- so what went wrong?

for me, Between Us suffered from a tragic case of barely-scratching-the-surface character development (there was so much there to play with narratively & yet- sigh), paired with serious flaws in the rising action.

every single story in existence uses rising action. to quote Henry of The Closer Look, a media analyst I like: "rising action is basically narrative tension. it's the way the conflict builds as the story goes along."

when a story utilizes rising action effectively, the audience ends up feeling almost elated by the end. it's almost like we actually went on the same journey as the characters, and we now get to bask alongside them in just how far they've come. we want to see characters we care for improve, persevere. overcome, conquer.

when rising action is handled correctly, the plot progression looks something like this.

via Henry's excellent analysis on why TLOU2 divided its fandom so thoroughly

Between Us had tension, it had conflict- but it looked something like this (I'd add way more hills, personally).

"what you're seeing here is an abomination of story structure." hey- Henry said it; not me.

the conflicts went up and down throughout the story. Team internally spirals; Win does something sweet and pulls him out of it. everything seems fine; Win pulls back.

rinse, wash, repeat in an endless cycle, made worse by the fact that they struggled with- and apparently overcame- the same. exact. issues, over and over, the entire time.

conflicts that seemed to be resolved came back exactly as they were, sometimes multiple times in a single episode. by episode 7 or so, it was getting tedious. by the end, I was just bummed.

for me, watching Between Us was going around in circles, hoping we were working towards some actually-important climax that never came. and I wanted to believe we were going somewhere, right up until the bitter beige-on-beige end.

there were no scenes that actually made me hold my breath, ala Bad Buddy’s confession-of-legends on the rooftop. no repeating themes, masterfully culminating in the finale (running up the cape in ITSAY). Between Us left me with an itch for depth and impact that only fan fics can scratch at this point (bless you writers).

yeah, Win and Team ended up together- of course they did. I don't think anyone had any doubts they would eventually. but standing at the finish line, do I care that they ended up together?

I hate to say it, but- not really. they didn't give me enough to make it feel meaningful- like it actually meant something. it just- is. yay? I guess?

this post was brutal enough, but to answer your question about what I'd keep & what I'd change? it's hard to pick when the whole thing just felt like special episodes (filled with lots of cute, sweet moments, to be fair) with an enormous dash of missed opportunity.

all in all, I don't regret watching but it's a universe I'll only be returning to via fan fic fixes- and UWMA, my forever top 3 BL beloved.

[mtdthoughts]

Analyzing the Migi & Dali (Mini) Sequel Manga

You may or may not know that I've made a rough script (in English) of the sequel manga, but I haven't really analyzed the mini-story itself yet.

Recently, a few of the Japanese fans on Twitter/X were talking about this topic. I found it very interesting, so I offered my own thoughts, and I was bit surprised but also pleased to see that it was quite well-received. I'm really glad did this!

Therefore, I'll take some time to do it in more detail here.

Here are a few important points to consider:

Apparently, the twins haven't written to each other for half a year, and it's likely they never contacted each through other means either.

It is Migi who initiates contact by sending the letter using the alias of their dog Sardine.

Before Dali receives the letter, he is seen reading Ágota Kristóf's book "The Proof". (Note: You can find more about this book in my other posts)

Dali reacts to the letter with a happy and warm look on his face.

Some time after Dali receives the letter, he calls home under the pretext of talking to the dog, and Migi is quite aware of the ruse.

Dali abruptly breaks up the act by telling Migi straightforwardly that he misses him.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of this little story arc is the first point. I can't imagine not contacting my family for one month, so I'm thoroughly amazed that these twins went a whopping six months like this, especially given how close they are.

There isn't any information given between the final chapter of the manga and the mini sequel, which is quite unfortunate. However, at the same time, this can also help us narrow down an interpretation based on what is already known.

Namely, a big clue will come from "The Proof", in which the twins Lucas and Claus also chose to separate from each other at the age of 15, and while they were apart they never wrote to each other. Much like Migi and Dali, these twins were also testing themselves and trying to prove something, and they claimed that they needed silence and a total separation from each other. To be more specific, I viewed these twins' test as them resigning themselves to the harshness and loneliness of their war-torn environment, and their choice to willingly separate would have been easier than being forcibly torn apart from each other by the war. Nonetheless, the twins still dearly missed each other, as was seen with Lucas' story, though by the time Claus came back it was too late.

But of course, Migi and Dali's circumstances were fundamentally different, so we'll have to be a bit careful when comparing the two stories.

In contrast to the bleak image presented by "The Proof", Migi and Dali's separation seemed much more hopeful and sweet in comparison. While Lucas and Claus were trying to prove that they could endure many years of loneliness after conceding to it, Migi and Dali were trying to prove that they've conquered the loneliness and insecurity that they faced for most of their lives, which was naturally encompassed in the codependency they had for most of their lives. Furthermore, they were also trying to prove that no matter what happens, their hearts and souls were always together as one and that their love would endure. This was something that wasn't firmly established throughout most of the story and during their period of codependency where they felt they needed to act a certain way to earn each other's approval.

With this contrast with Kristóf's books, Sano showed that Migi and Dali have embraced a bright future and were confident in moving on to a new chapter in their lives. They faithfully believed that they always had each other, which was why they didn't feel the need to write to each other for months. In other words, they didn't feel the need to prove their existence to each other.

However, in the end, the twins are still human and still yearned for each other's presence, and I'm sure that part of them wishes that they stayed together. Compared to Dali, who I've always seen as "tougher", more reserved, and more used to being alone, Migi is more straightforward and honest with himself, which was why he went ahead and sent a letter to Dali as he couldn't bear the loneliness. Of course, at the same time, he worried about going against their test, so he decided to use Sardine as a way of sending a letter that is "technically not from Migi", i.e. a loophole.

Of course, Dali knows that the letter is from Migi, and from the look on his face, he felt the same feelings and longing for his brother. So he calls home and for a while, he plays along with the Sardine act as the twins hear each other's voices for the first time in six months. He surprises Migi by returning his feelings and directly telling him that he misses him too, which likely would've been something that goes against their test.

Thus, I feel like with this interaction, the twins will somewhat redefine their test and begin to talk more and send more letters to each other on a regular basis. Perhaps they'll see each other again and begin to visit each other occasionally. Of course, I might be biased here because I really want these (fictional) twins to have more happy times together.

To end this post on a less serious note, I'd just like to say that these twins are truly adorable. For instance, you have the emotional and straightforward little brother sending a letter with "disguised language" because he wants to stay true to their test, while at the same time you have the reserved older brother sharing his feelings directly over the phone, almost as if putting their test to a halt. Their reactions are so cute, and it just shows that even when they're 15 and a bit more grown up, they're still the same adorable boys that we've seen throughout the story.

I can't get enough of them, and I really wish that there was more to the story... 🥺

[burstofastar]

Tekken — Random thoughts

It was something that many of us were waiting to happen in a new chapter of the Tekken series, and for a long, long time. And... no, I'm not referring to Jun's return, because although her story has been unfinished since Tekken 3 after Jin's introduction; I didn't care much if she didn't come back this time again.

I'm referring to the inevitable confrontation between Kazuya and Jin. A fight that was destined to happen, and that seems to be definitive considering the first reveal trailer for Tekken 8, which reminds us a lot of the final battle between Kazuya and Heihachi.

However, I find it terrible that devs have neglected Kazuya too much as the main antagonist/villain, an event that began in Tekken 2. But with these latest occasional trailers, reveals and sneak peaks, I have some hope that the developers will give him more backstory and development. The bad thing? It's just that they do it at the moment when Kazuya will probably die... due the last battle, where just one stands up (as shown in the very first trailer of Tekken 8).

I'm not taking anything for granted yet, but it's hard to figure out what will happen. Or at least in my case, I am not very adept at making many speculations because I like a work (be it a video game, a series, a movie, a book, a comic, a manga, etc.) to surprise me.

What I do hope for is a bittersweet ending, hopeless at a certain point but that at some point a victory can be achieved for only one of the parties.

Let the villain be a villain, he doesn't need to be redeemed if most of what we saw of him has never shown a hint of regret for everything he has done, because he willingly preferred to let himself be carried away by the blood curse and embrace his inner Devil. Which, of course, doesn't mean that I don't empathize with Kazuya, because... Come on, who could stand to have such a sad and terrible childhood because of Heihachi? Those foundations made Kazuya what he is, and while he may be suffering (which I don't deny either), his mentality remains the same: that of conquering the world to prove to himself that he is stronger, even than his own insecurities and weaknesses.

Kazuya was an antagonist in Tekken 2. He was absent in Tekken 3. He was a secondary antagonist in Tekken 4 (since Heihachi was first). He was a secondary antagonist with Heihachi in Tekken 5 (since Jinpachi was first). He was a tertiary antagonist with Heihachi in Tekken 6. (because Jin was first, and Azazel second.) And he was a secondary antagonist in Tekken 7 (because, in my opinion, Heihachi was first).

Not to mention that his endings, although they are not canon, continue to show his aggressive, dominant and diabolical side: in Tekken 2, he uses Heihachi as a human shield to neutralize Devil; in Tekken 4 he takes possession of Jin's Devil to achieve his goal; in Tekken 5 he kills Jinpachi without remorse, in Tekken 6 he kills Jin and claims the Mishima Zaibatsu. Special mention is given to his ending from Tekken 1, where he throws Heihachi off the cliff, and from Tekken 7, where he throws him into a volcano.

Would we all do the same in his situation with the damn old man? Probably yes, but this also doesn't stop Kazuya from continuing his rise to world domination, no matter who stands in his way... even if it's the son of the woman who once showed him compassion and stood by him, trying to cure him during the Second Tournament.

Upon being resurrected (as shown in Tekken 4), Kazuya is no longer able to turn back his ambitions, as he is practically completely corrupted by the Devil Gene. There is no redemption for him no matter how much he wanted it... yet not even he wants to be redeemed either. It has been seen that he only has one goal in mind, since not even the memory of Jun did anything to make him reconsider (he vaguely and barely mentions her in Tekken 6: Scenario Campaign's intro). Her new appearance may surprise him, yes, but I doubt he'll still throw away everything he's "built", because it means admitting that he's weak, in one way or another.

However, I do appreciate that devs give more meaning, depth and "ability" to speak directly to whoever gets in the way, especially Jin (as seen in the video above). This has an interesting hint of development in his person. Because even if the "irredeemable villain who will always be a villain" archetype seems to have no character development; essentially it is when given a bit of background and different interactions, for example.

On the other hand, I still don't know what role Jun will have in the plot, since my ideas wander a lot about her. However, I do believe that it will not be a vital participation. Yes important, but not so deep.

But most of all, I hope it's not something silly and stupid like everything is resolved by the power of love and everyone lives happily ever after, because it would objectively ruin Kazuya as an antagonist/villain and Jin as an anti-hero/tragic hero, and the respective paths that both have taken in the series.

After all, and quoting someone I read somewhere; it is a video game with a story, not a story with a video game. And the main thing in Tekken is fights and tragedies.

[mad-hunts]

👄 + Scarecrow

there's a pause from barton, or THE DOLLMAKER, as he was currently dressed in all of the garb appropriate to his namesake upon being asked about the complicated case that was jonathan crane. a displeased hum left his lips then as if the act of just mentioning him was bothersome to him — and truthfully, gauging by what he said next, it might have very well been, ❝ ugh. you can't tell because i'm wearing my mask, but i'm rolling my eyes right now. if i tell you how i feel about him, then will you finally leave me alone? i'm busy, you know, ❞ barton's voice was very matter-of-fact as he spoke, though it was raised a degree, like he wanted to make sure whoever this was who was asking him this would hear him. he leaned forward towards them with his hands gripping the autopsy table in front of himself.

❝ i think he squandered his potential the moment he decided to pursue the very unreachable goal that is conquering his own fears, and so, i don't know whether i want to grimace at him every single time i see him or simply avoid him. because fear is something that is engrained in us, and without it, we'd all likely be dead. so by pursuing a way to find out how to remove this very necessary thing we have for survival... it makes him look like he's incredibly ignorant because it's something that doesn't need to be conquered, in my opinion, and so he isn't exactly using his 'smarts' effectively. which is why i consider him a waste of potential; he's just going to keep on running in circles for eternity trying to find a way to get rid of it. but what do i know, i'm not a psychologist like he is. ❞

there's an important distinction there as barton referred to him as a psychologist in the present tense rather than the past tense. barton's mask suddenly creased in the furrow between his brows as if he were getting annoyed, ❝ i also think he's an uppity asshole who acts like he's a lot more important than he actually is, but i have to say... and don't tell him i said this because the last thing i need is for him to think we're suddenly friends; i do somewhat respect him at the same time. he does seem like a really intelligent man, but like i said; if he'd just ditch the whole ' i have to conquer my own fear ' thing, he would so much better off. i suppose he has been kind of drifting away from that in recent times, though, but not nearly enough. he is also someone who likes experimenting on people and exploiting their fears because he likes to feel as if he's being taken seriously and like he's big, powerful. so it was out of insecurity that he started making his toxin at all. or, at least, that's how i see it. ❞

barton shrugged his shoulders slightly and turned around to have his back pressed against the table. whether this was on purpose or not was unclear, but he could've been doing it to hide his reaction to what he was going to talk about next, ❝ i think he himself still has some beef with me over the incident me and him had in arkham. which is fine, of course, i don't really care. but it has been a while since i took that needle and thread to his lips because he really does have the widest smile. and it makes me physically want to squirm whenever i see it because i just... want to fix it. it's too wide, you know. i suppose it's probably likely he remains hung up over it to this day because i didn't use anesthesia, ❞ barton flipped his whole body around then, a bit of a twisted snort leaving his lips. ❝ but where are you going to get that in arkham? they don't even let us see the dentist half the time, so you know. i had to improvise. but anyway, does that answer your question? ❞

[abegail8]

My Journey as a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English Student

It's quite challenging to take a path where you know that you are not good enough. It's terrifying to face your fear because you have no idea what will happen along your journey. But there are sayings that “you would not know unless you tried it" and that even though the result will be different from what you expect it to be, at least it is still better than having what if. I've chosen English as my major because it's one of my weaknesses, and I want to face it. And I'd like to know why, from elementary school right up to the college, we need a English subject. As I became one of the future educators of language, I realized it was important, aside from being our universal language. It is also used as a medium of communication in different types of jobs, especially in interviews.

It feels like a roller coaster ride when I go on this journey, where you get mixed feelings along the way. The beauty inside this path, the beauty I used to despise, slowly emerges as I walk it. As a junior English major student exploring the realms of education and language, I am not only engaged in the study of the structure of grammar and literature but also molding my perspective, principles, beliefs, and teaching philosophies that I gained from my experience as I embarked on this journey.

In everything we do, we always need to be inspired and motivated. My loved ones are the reason why I am always inspired and motivated. They are always inspiring me to achieve my dreams and goals. They are also the ones that keep me motivated in everything I do, because I know they have been rooting for me from the beginning. I've also decided to stay because of my loved ones, despite the fact that there are a lot of reasons why I should quit. My loved ones serve as a constant source of inspiration and motivation, guiding me in all my endeavors, providing unwavering support, and expressing pride in my achievements, regardless of my life's outcomes or choices.

In this journey, there have been a lot of challenges that I have encountered and conquered, and there will be a lot more in the future. Especially when I'm a freshmen student, because there are so many things to work on. Such as my grammar since I am bad at it so much that every worksheet that I passed has a lot of grammatical errors. And my pronunciation; since there are a lot of words that sound like, you have to pronounce them correctly to be able to say them well. Also, my public speaking skills are such that I am afraid to speak or to stand in front of the class in less than a minute because I am always thinking that they might judge me or what. I'm also a bit of a stutterer when it comes to reporting, and when I'm nervous, I'm instantly a rapper. Sometimes I doubt my abilities and question how bad I am on this journey. Sometimes I am insecure about my classmates because I realize that they are capable of anything without effort, while at the same time, I am trying to do it as hard as I can for me to be able to do it. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I am going to make it through these challenges or if I should stop because things are so difficult. There are times that I lose the spark of passion that I have, and all I need to do is sleep or do nothing at all. Sometimes I find myself looking for a job and thinking of stopping schooling because it is tiring at all. It is quite difficult to manage your time, especially when midterms or finals are around the corner. I experience that I am doing my worksheet while crying because I badly want to sleep and rest, but I can’t because I still have a lot of things to do. Having ten subjects per semester is so challenging that you really need to spend your free time wisely. There are times that I skip lunch or dinner to be able to finish the given task. There are also a lot of gatherings that I did not attend because of my broken schedule. And then, looking back on those days, I can say that I am grateful because I decided to keep going, knowing that I have to work hard for what I want in life because there is no easy way or shortcut to achieving those things. That everything I do right now will be worth it in time.

As I look back on those days, it was necessary for me to spend more time studying the proper structure of grammar in order to be able to write sentences or paragraphs that contained fewer grammar errors. Those days that I watch online videos for me to be able to know how to pronounce that certain word are. Also those times that I am discussing what I am supposed to discuss in the mirror for me to be able to deliver and give information effectively in the class. Those days that I need to read a lot to add to those vocabulary words I know since my vocabulary words are only limited. And those a lot more days, either good or bad, are what make me who I am today. That makes me strong and will keep me going on this journey. And I can say that I am grateful because I decided to keep going, knowing that I have to work hard for what I want in life because there is no easy way or shortcut to achieving those things. Everything I have done since the beginning of this journey—those breakdowns, sleepless nights, skipped lunch or dinners, and not attending a lot of family or friend gatherings—will be worth it in time.

On every journey, there is a huge possibility that you will meet a lot of different individuals. And that's why you need to choose people wisely who can help you and lead you on the right path. I'm glad I've met these people who make my journey bearable, because we all know it's hard to be alone on a journey, and there is also a saying that "no man is an island." This individual helps me in times of need, and vice versa. I am forever grateful that I have met people like them who help, guide, and teach me those things that I am having a hard time with.

Before I end it, I will state some of the misconceptions about being an English major, including the belief that it is a simple process of translating words, sentences, and phrases to pass and obtain a degree. However, this is not the case, as being an English major involves more than just translation. It is also assumed that memorizing all vocabulary words is necessary, but this is not the case as one becomes a teacher rather than a human dictionary. Additionally, not everyone who takes an English major aims to become a writer, as many only want to face their weaknesses for job opportunities, especially in other countries, and for various reasons. It is essential to recognize that being an English major is not a one-time endeavor.

In conclusion, being an English major student does not only revolve around grammar and literature; it is more than that. There are a lot of times that you will fall along the way, but you always need to stand up every time you fall. Don’t let those challenges shake that passion inside you and stop what you are doing. Always remember why you started that journey in the first place.