#and also leaves people really confused and questioning their own knowledge

[itzy-bitsy-spidey]

"Maddie screaming and Ozzy's cough (pt.6)"

or "Something made a hole in my backyard pt.6"

Notes: Did I promise this chapter like two days ago? Yes, I did. Did I deliver it two days ago? No, I did not. But the sun shines on Green Hills and I´m finally done writing this thing! This one is the longest chapter yet, and I think that from now on they will only get longer as not to make too many chapters. But until then please enjoy this one!

Part 5 Part 7

As it turned out Shadow was not half bad company, he was silent and he still distrusted you and just sat broodingly on the chair as you prepared your morning coffe. But he wasn´t all that bad.

It hadn´t been not even an entire day since he woke up, and even though you had fervently insisted that he stayed on the bed while you did stuff around the house he had not left you alone for even a second. You were pretty sure that he thought you were a secret agent of sorts and were going to attack him at any moment.

But, as long as he didn´t attack you first, you were fine with that, trust had always taken time. As for his health he seemed to be a lot better than the day before, if you asked him he would say that he was fine, nevertheless you had seen him wince more than once while walking.

So there you were, grinding coffee beans on your kitchen, while a weird hedghog looked at you as though he could see right through your very soul. And why were you grinding coffee beans, you might ask. Well, because for some reason, out of your knowledge, the old lady that owned the house had a taste for buying coffee beans, and as you were lazy, and did not planned to walk all the way to the store you were dealing with what you were handed. Coffee beans.

"What would you like for breakfast? I´ve got tea, tap water, I think there is some juice left in the fridge, and eventually there will be coffee" You said looking at Shadow before thinking again "Do hedghogs even drink coffee?" you whispered to yourself.

"We also have to find you something to eat..." You turned around to look around the kitchen for at least some bread. And as you had found it, and were stratching in order to grab it, you heard an awful crunching sound behind you.

Tha scene was almost comical, all the way from how you slowly turned to look at the hedghog with a confusion face, to Shadows litlle cheeks looking full as he munched on something, and even the face that you did when you realized that what he was eating was the coffee beans .

"Are you eating the coffee?"

He nodded, a look on his face that read "yes I am, what are you going to do about it?".

"You are aware that that is not how you consume coffee?" Another nod from him "That could seriously damage your digestive system"

"I am the ultimate life form, a mere plant shall not destroy me"

You pursed your lips together and nodded back. Your mind was debating in between worrying for him and laughing at how unfitting his voice was to his tiny body.

"Alright then ultimate life form, would you at least want a spoon?" You asked as you grabbed one for him.

He looked between your hand, your face, the coffee beans bag, and then back to your face; finally he nodded yet again and agreed with a simple "Yes, thank you".

"Alright, as soon as I´m done with this I need to go to my uncle´s house to check up on them and say hi" You told the hedghog so that he would know.

"You are leaving me on my own?" He questioned as he looked at you a little weird, you couldn´t really tell what he was thinking.

"Yes, I trust you won´t get yourself killed in a few hours, just don´t let people see you, if you get bored the tv is in the living room, you´ll entretain yourself" You explained as you finished drinking your coffee and picked up your jacket.

"You would leave me alone, in your home, even though you don´t know me at all? For all you know I could blow up your entire house" You coldn´t know when the guy was kidding, he seriously had such a deadpan-kind-of-angry face all the time.

"Please do not do that, I can´t afford it" You said as you finished picking up your stuff. Meanwhile he just sat there watching you, still eating the beans.

"Ok, bye" you didn´t even noticed when you gave him a little kiss in his forehead as a goodbye, maybe it was just the habit of greeting your parents like that, but it didn´t matter because neither did you see the hedghog looking at you perplexed as you left the house.

✶✧✶✧✶✧✶✧

The walk to your uncle´s hose had thankfully felt rather short, probably because Green Hills was a rather small town and you had rented a hose near his on purpose.

By the time you stood in his front door you were barely tired, but you still took a second to gather your breath, and you were about to knock on the door when you heard Tom loudly speaking with someone.

"You should have told me in the morning, are you absolutely sure about this?" He asked someone.

"I mean he matched the description Sonic gave me, I never saw him, but I just know it is him" You were able to recognize the voice, it was your aunt Maddie, though she sounded kind of electronic, so you assumed they were talking through a phone.

"But that is good news!" Tom exclaimed.

"Tom, he nearly killed you, I´m sorry if I´m not super excited about this" Someone almost killed your uncle? Did all of this had anything to do with his broken arm?

"So you want us to not tell them anything at all? Not even about Sonic and the others? It doesn´t sound fair, and what if he wakes up?" Now he sounded a little worried, and even though you had no idea what they were talking about, you had started to worry a little too.

"I´ll go get him today, I can not have him hurting someone else on my family"

You realized then that you had been eavesdropping for longer than you intended (which was, nothing at all) and so you decided to knock on the door.

You heard your uncle say something like "Wait, there´s someone at he door" and five seconds later he opened up.

"Hey kiddo! I wasn´t expecting you to be here so early" He greeted and hugged you, messing up your hair a little bit on the process.

"Yeah, I just tought that I would drop by, y´know, check you still had your other arm in one piece" you joked as you dropped on his couch as if it was your own house. You had tecnically been raised in this house as well as your own.

"Where´s Maddie?" You asked Tom as he plopped himself besides you and turned off the tv which was playing a telenovela.

"Oh you know she´s out with the kids..." It seemed he realized his choice off words as they slowly faded towards the end of the sentence.

"Kids?" You looked at him as if he had gone crazy in the last 24 hours "Are you feeling alright? First aliens, now kids..."

He almost jumped out of the couch as he started walking towards the kitchen "Oh you know, I meant the animals, she sometimes says her patients are like her kids, so it must have rubbed off on me".

Someone had to give it to that man, Tom Wachowski was no bad liar.

"Mhm... And does she always take Ozzy to the vet with her?" You asked even further, confused for the missing friendly dog.

"No!" He nearly screamed, at that point you had gotten up from your spot and followed him all the way into the kitchen. "Is just that Ozzy had a bad cough, so she wanted to check it out".

"Okay..." You reluctantly agreed to the explanation.

The rest of the morning went by smoothly, you two talked and you even helped him with patching up some holes in the walls that he blamed the racoons for. But lunch was fastly approaching and no matter how sad it made you to leave you had a hedghog to take care of.

But, first, you had to use the bathroom. You told your uncle that much (about going to the bathroom, not about the alien hedghog) and left for the upstairs bathroom, because, you simply liked it better.

As you were done with your business and were leaving the room you noticed something strange, unusual for most of the times you had been to the Wachowski home.

The attic door was down. Right there, in the middle of the hallway.

Assuming that your Uncle had gone up to put something away, or sothing of sorts, you decided to go up to check it out. What you certainly were not expecting was the way the place was fixed up, there were comic books everywhere, a puff, and what looked like three small beds. The sudden sound of the front door banging was what took you out of your inspection.

Quikly you made your way down the stairs, and the closer you got to the front door the more you could hear your auntie screaming.

"...They were not there! And neither was him! I´m telling you, he did something to them!" You could hear her and you were sure that anyone that was outside on the sidewalk could as well.

"Maddie, calm down, they´re okay!" Tom was definitely trying to get a word in, but his wife´s shouts wouldn´t let him.

"What´s wrong, who´s missing?" You asked as you finally arrived to the place they were both standing.

Maddie whipped her head around so quickly you feard she would snap her neck, and then she just looked at you as if she could not believe you were standing there.

Tom telling her that "he tried to explain it to her" went over your head as a fluffy animal walked into the house.

"Ozzy! How´re you doing girl? Is your cough better?" You asked as you petted the animal which was constantly trying to lick your face.

"Are you alright?" Maddie asked as she knelt besides you. You laughed.

"Yeah, why wouldn´t I be?"

That answer seemed to calm her down as she stood up and left to talk to Tom.

"Dad! I know you said we had to go out for some time to take in some sun, but Tails scrapped his knee, and so we had to come back..." You heard a voice that suddenly went silent as it stood behind you.

You turned around, your aunt and uncle besides you.

There, in the front door of your uncle´s house, stood a perfect blue copy of Shadow.

"I´m sorry, why did nobody told me my cousin had come home?" It spoke.

And then you fainted.

Taglist:@boogiemansbitch@vxllys@whoisgami@baby-bloos@sapphireravensworld@mothmanperson@4rm-the-mf-concrete@eliknowsnothing@pooplyface1423

[emmytweetie]

I find batjokes fascinating because I love the exclusivity and confusion of the relationship.

With most of his other villains, the side of them that is good is more obvious. Harvey constantly shows his past on his face, Harley and Ivy are antiheroes half the damn time, Catwoman tends to blur the line between good and bad, Killer Croc is basically "what if a man with anger issues was also big and scaly", and Mr Freeze is entirely motivated by love. There's more, but the goodness is something that can be seen outside of Batman , and there doesn't need to be many reminders for him.

Come in, the Joker. Someone so broken he has turned to complete desensitisation of murder and cruelty. Someone so determined to make his whole life a performance, that Batman sometimes questions whether Joker's rare breakdowns and moments of kindheartedness are all a ruse. Even though he is supposed to believe there is good in everyone, there's just something about the Joker that causes him to doubt all he's ever known. And when u have someone so twisted and yet so broken obsessed with you, it's a real struggle

But, if Batman does end up seeing the good in him, or at least , a life worth saving, which he often does tend to, he ends up being completely alone. He can only convince people to avoid killing him for the sake of their own sanity, working on momentary lapses of judgement. And it becomes its own cruel joke, because no one can truly understand what he sees, because the joker is typically awful to anyone and everyone, leaving his best jokes for the Bat. And because the joker is more of a trickster than other obsessive villains, that isolation becomes maddening, and Batman, as he is, ends up just burying himself into a deeper hole.

Harley can kinda understand, but not really, because she's always known what they had was different, and it just leaves a sourness.

Alfred tries to be understanding of Bruce's obvious obsession, just as he tries to be understanding of all of his obsessions, but he really does go "I think it's just best to kill this guy, Bruce" , in his head, a lot.

But what Joker doesn't prepare for , is when the performances that used to grow better and better with time, just end up not working. Batman becomes assured of his own knowledge of the Joker, and also his lack there of ("he's been writing with his right hand the whole time but decided to write this letter with his left? Who gives a shit, it's the joker, this is the sort of thing he does."). Even though he can't properly communicate it to others, he starts to see right through him.

And that fucks up the Joker, when he realises he's ran out of tricks and secrets. "I'm the only one who understands to you" turns to "shit, he's the only one who understands me". It becomes glaringly more and more obvious to Joker that Batman is the way he is because he chooses to be, and that there is no darker self to embrace , for Batman is the darker self, which means Joker chooses to be himself every single day. Whilst Joker is shaken, he doesn't realise that Batman is shaken too- his increased understanding of the Joker and years of violence has ironically caused his moral core to become increasingly more unstable.

They go from the most assured and confident versions of themselves, to a sudden shift.

It starts with their fantasies: Batman who secretly hoped he could bring out the good in Joker for so long, starts to wonder about secret criminal missions he might have to undertake to bring Joker to justice forever, or maybe he should keep him locked up himself. He has fantasized about killing him before plenty, of course, but there's a difference now, because it's less about stopping him, and more about just letting him win, but he doesn't let himself make that conclusion.

And Joker, who used to plan all the ways he could bring Batman down to his level, realising its not working, starts to think: well, maybe I could help out sometimes. Maybe I don't have to ALWAYS be killing for the sake of the punchline, because maybe the joke has gotten a bit boring. Maybe it'd be funnier to save the people I tormented sometimes. Maybe parts of Batman do live inside Bruce Wayne, and we shouldn't be leaving any stones unturned, should we?

But these things don't mean anything. No, Bruce is just tired , it's normal to think about the easy way, and Joker, he's tired too, it's normal to think about variations in his joke, because it's not like it'd really change anything, because Batman still isn't going to laugh. And they can't let the other person notice , it would ruin it all.

And if Bruce does notice that Joker has been less violent than usual, and more grounded in reality, he can't hope that Joker has really changed, because it's all a sick game to the Joker, and that would mean having to feel guilty about breaking his bones: besides, Batman has been here before.

And Joker pays no mind to the empty, distant glares, the glares that are empty in the papers, and empty in person, because Batman always gets back up, because the dance can't end. Batman's always been violent towards him , and justifiably so, so that strange feeling in his gut? Its just from the fight. Because if those tired stares, unreasonable levels of violence towards criminals, and occasional smirks mean that something is changing, then this is what he should be wanting.

He recites his lines, and he gets a chuckle. He gets the response he's been waiting all these years for, but something feels wrong.

"Maybe we really are the same, Joker."

[veryferaldistributions]

I can’t say this enough, even as a full grown adult, a fully degreed librarian, who has read many things, many types of books.

A Series of Unfortunate Events is masterful.

It pulls from all worlds of knowledge, all variations of literature, religions, philosophies, cultures, even cuisine. It’s not just a fictional story of a secret organization and some orphans, it’s a metaphor for censorship, for the corruption of the justice system, the neglect of the foster system, the questionable nature of public education, but the equally complex nature of sheltering yourself from harsh truths, even if those truths could also help you.

The morality of the neutrality of librarians (a phrase which here means, “whether or not a librarian should give a patron whatever they ask for, even if what they want is misinformation”). The endless search for answers in a confusing world. The rather bleak understanding that every generation basically acts the same way as the previous ones, unaware of the neverending cycle. If there are really such things as “good” and “bad” people. And the eventuality and unavoidability of death.

And Snicket, as the reader’s guide, never tells you what to think, only what certain terms mean, and leaves the reader to come to their own conclusions. He trusts our own intelligence.

I cannot properly convey how much I appreciate Daniel Handler for putting this series into the world.

[thewalrusespublicist]

Love Story in Songs book talk discussion.

So i mentioned that I went to the book talk out of curiosity and I thought I'd do a write-up.

Note: I should have taken notes whoops. This is all from dodgy memory please forgive me. I know others were there and if they want to chime in/correct me on some stuff feel free!

First off, I thought the speaker Tom Holland did a great job of steering the conversation. Overall the chat was quite a basic overview of stuff general tumblr users already know but it seems general audience don't (basic bitches who don't know about Paris smh). Really enjoyed the discussion on Penny Lane and Strawberry fields. The break-up was discussed and some light India-truthing but not in a Paul rejected John way but that John happened to be having a breakdown and Paul leaving didn't help.

Ian Leslie pointed out that he didn't think that considering Paul's personality he would have worked on Now and Then for so long if he didn't think it was about him. I don't entirely agree but I took the point and thought it was funny. Don't fully agree with his take on Paul in general but that's for the book review.

One thing I found fascinating and I mentioned in my other post was how gung-ho Tom Holland was about McLennon and how nervous Ian Leslie was to bring it up and fully discuss it. He eventually did come out and say that he thought John was into Paul and was a lot more firm on John being confused about his sexuality then he is in the book. One thing that did jump out as a logical issue was the whole 'oblivious Paul' thing. There's oblivious, and then there's denser than a black hole. I can believe that Paul was oblivious to certain things as anecdotes and accounts do point to that, but to the extent that Ian Leslie states? No, and I don't believe he fully believes it either (though that was just a feeling from a response in the Q+A).

The McLennon girlie Tom Holland thing (can't get over that lmao) though did highlight though that even if the book doesn't go as explicitly there, the reader can and will draw their own independent conclusion. I think from what I've read so far anyone who does read the book and doesen't have suspicions to some extent is just willfully blind at this point.

Q+A:

I wanted to ask a question about the demos but didn't have the guts. Kicking myself and my shyness now.

I forget how uninformed the general population are. There was one question about how they were meant to be really close in 67' but they stopped working together in 66'. At the end I also heard someone in the audience be a bit snide about 'why would John work with Paul in the late 70's, he was busy with Sean OBVIOUSLY'. I don't know why i expect them to have obsessive knowledge lmao but those comments kind of point out why the book is needed.

Some more Mclennon focused questions were asked but not properly answered. To the girl with the India question, girl that was not your fault that they didn't pick up what you were throwing down. Ian knew exactly what you meant he was just being a coward lol.

King shit from person asking about the beetles fucking on Ram. How Ian didn't immediately know about that is beyond me Ian please consult your tumblr reading material again for next pop quiz.

Someone pointed out the sonnet thing in the lyrics book (didn't know that!) which both speaker and author were far more receptive too but again I think too uncertain to go into it but did do a coy assent. Mixed response from the audience around me to those questions that kind of made me realise why they might be towing the line to try to keep whole audience on side.

Something that struck me from some of the questions and has struck me before is how quickly people in outside tumblr convo jump from referring to Linda and Yoko as just 'Linda and Yoko' to specifically calling them 'the loves of their lives' (often imho quite unnaturally) when John and Paul's closeness gets mentioned in detail. I'm not saying at all that Linda and Yoko weren't the LOTL, but its the immediate reflex to reinforce the bond with their wives as the ultimate that makes me think that people are still uncomfortable with the concept of male intimacy being so powerful that it could rival traditional het structures.

All-in-all an interesting night. I'm currently going through the book and will probably post a review soon. For now I will say that my feelings are ... very mixed but not entirely negative (all I'll say atm is George honey i am SO sorry).

[avalypuff]

Answers to the common questions of “Why didn’t Zelda retain dragon features?” and “Why did Link’s arm revert to normal?”

I’ve been dying to do some analysis posts since TotK came out, and after seeing a lot of people complain about the above, I decided my first should be related to the endgame.

So, I’ve seen a lot of posts where people seem to misunderstand what was going on when Zelda changed back into a Hylian, and why Link’s arm returned to normal. Many write this off as simply plot convenience, and while it’s true that Nintendo wouldn’t want to leave the main characters of one of their most popular titles with permanent changes, I’m here to try my best to explain the actual reason these things happened the way they did, because whether you noticed it or not, there is plot relevance to this reversion.

Draconification is permanent.

This is an indisputable fact.

And while I have seen people criticizing the way Zelda changed back, the fact is she swallowed the stone knowing that she never would.

“I’ll be forever changed…”

Her cry for Link to find her was not for her sake. She wasn’t depending on him to find the key to changing her back. Nay, the only reason she desperately prayed for him to find her was so that he could get the Master Sword, which—ignoring game mechanics that would allow you to beat Ganondorf with literally any weapon with the right damage/durability ratio—canonically is the only thing that can hurt him.

When Zelda changed back, it was almost entirely thanks to Sonia. That’s right!

…Let’s take a second to recall this scene in which Rauru decimated the horde of Molduga.

We see Sonia extend her hand and then gesture for Zelda to do the same.

Here they’re extending their own power to amplify Rauru’s counterattack, even beyond the already-massive boost the Secret Stone provides.

In the final scene when Link finds himself hovering over the sleeping Light Dragon amongst a dream-like atmosphere, it’s really quite telling that Sonia is the first to rest her hand over Link’s, then followed by Rauru.

This time Rauru is fulfilling the role of amplifying Sonia’s power over time. Not just that, but adding it on top of the time manipulation that Zelda gave to Link at the beginning of the game.

That’s what’s happening here. This is immensely powerful, triple amplified time magic!

The change from dragon to Hylian wasn’t a transformation in the same sense that it was when Zelda changed from Hylian to dragon. I know that’s a confusing sentence, but consider the basis of Sonia’s time magic is recalling things as they once were.

Zelda didn’t retain dragon features because, through the power of time reversal, she was never a dragon to begin with.

This is the also the reason the Secret Stone reappeared on her necklace.

This is ALSO the reason Link’s arm reverted to its natural state before he was affected by the gloom.

And before y’all come at me with “well, why didn’t Rauru do that in the first place instead of giving his arm to Link?” Simple; Sonia wasn’t there. Even spirits aren’t omnipotent… in Hyrule. (Probably.)

The point is, this was essentially a lucky break for Zelda and Link, because if Sonia (and therefore Zelda, by inheritance) didn’t have time magic, there would have been no way to undo the Draconification. It would have been every bit as permanent as Hyrule legends and history says it is, and Zelda would be gone forever.

In fact, it’s likely it was a shot in the dark even on Sonia and Rauru’s part, considering there was no prior knowledge of reversing time on a dragon, let alone a person. It was a glorious blend of the convenience of Sonia’s time magic, and luck that it worked out the way they (“they” being all characters involved) wanted.

Anyways, to wrap this up, Draconification is indeed permanent, unless you have the number one badass-master-of-time-manipulation Queen Sonia on your side. Then you can probably undo anything. :)

[dykedvonte]

it's so crazy to me that they didn't just have a limited amount of medical supplies, but also just one nurse… what if something had happened to Anya? She almost did get hurt by that broken vent, what would they have done then? There was so much (way too much) responsibility placed on not just Curly, but also on her. You don't even have to wonder what they were supposed to do in the worst case scenario because that question is answered by the game. On the other hand, the ship had a Co-Pilot, yet it needed only one person to disable the autopilot with zero effort basically. Not a single thing was right with that ship, it's giving me a headache thinking about it.

No like the code scanner is so stupid because every thing is so streamlined it’s so easy to bypass safety measures. They really should’ve had two keys or at least require the Captain to have the key at all times. I mean you can argue about what if he loses it but I think it’s safer than leaving it unattended next to the code scanner like needed to unlock it.

All the responsibilities on the Tulpar are designed to be overbearing and barely manageable when I think about it, especially for the people they give it to. Swansea is an old crank impatient man; not only should he not being doing all that work alone on a physical level but clearly he is not the best teacher for an intern like Daisuke. Anya may be a very effective and knowledgeable nurse but she is the only one and without an outside certification. We have no clue if the others have any training so if she got injured/sock we don’t know if she’d even the capabilities to instruct the others especially if their own knowledge was low and someone else was in a worse condition.

Curly has to decide on everything and literally is in control of everything like he has to make their food and shit, unlock emergency resources and its implied he does most of the control in the cockpit between him and Jimmy. Jimmy clearly does know what he’s doing in the cockpit but he is definitely not mentally equipped to handle it alone. There’s such a lack of checks and balances on the ship and within the company it make me so much more angry and confused when I actually think about how much should’ve been fixed that P.E purposely ignored or made that way by design.

It’s like if there was an osha violation list for the Tulpar it’d be so long it might as well be the entire osha code.

[starsinkpop]

ATEEZ Choi San Tarot Reading - Personality

Disclaimer: I do tarot readings for fun, so please read them with a grain of salt. Don’t take my words too seriously and just keep an open mind. Tarot is a divination tool that can’t predict the future, as every single individual has their own will and makes their own decisions. Tarot is not a fixed fate. It should be seen as a guidance and a good friend that just has your best interest and gives you advice when needed. I’m not putting anyone in my readings on a pedestal nor am I trying to harm anyone. One last side note, I’m not a native speaker, so please excuse any wrong spellings or poor grammar.

Date of Reading: July 8th 2024

Decks: Edgar Allen Poe Tarot, Wild Mystic Oracle

doesn’t like being told what to do

loves freedom and flexibility

can be quite rebellious and enjoys breaking some rules from time to time

pretty chaotic energy

is often questioning other’s intentions

but also traditions and established systems

kinda loves to go against society

loves to try new things and is very open to change

enjoys everything and everyone who’s a bit different

can be stubborn, especially when it comes to his beliefs

loves to live unconventional

runs away from responsibilities

is very open minded

whenever he’s in a position of power, he would most likely abuse his power

it’s like he wants to be in a position of power

wants to provide for his loved ones

is okay with working hard if that means his loved ones can enjoy life fully without having to do anything

is very confident and ambitious

could have control issues

sometimes possessive

is a really good leader and dependable

creates healthy boundaries

he’s rather logical and rational than emotional

but this is more like a self protection, he has a big and thick wall built around his heart, only a handful of people knows his feelings

in general could sometimes struggle with expressing his feelings and emotions which causes misunderstandings

wants to be strong for others

but could sometimes lose his cool if things don’t go his way

handles his finances well

is a loyal partner

he’s very understanding

actually loves to organize

loves to study and learn new things

but also enjoys being a teacher for others

one of his main goals in life could be financial stability

is admired by others in his work field

many people look up to him

and he really enjoys that, because it’s like a reward for his hard work

he can be easily overwhelmed and hates having too many choices

is sometimes quite confused for no reason

at times he’s pretty dreamy and could lose touch to reality

lacks commitment because of his unrealistic fantasies

works hard for a harmonious home

again, loves changes and new beginnings

he’s always seeking knowledge and wisdom

needs mental stimulation

enjoys exploring and traveling

very interested in foreign cultures and languages

always leaves a lasting impression

the type of person that is hard to forget

has a pure heart and intentions

is very disciplined

Hope you enjoyed!

Love, Nicky 🫧

Masterlist

[onlybeeewrites]

Until The Mockingjay Sings

Requested: no but I love Sejanus and angst and this made me sad

Warnings; major character death, hurt no comfort

Pairing: Sejanus x gn!reader, platonic Lucy Gray x Readers (y’all are besties)

Italicized = flashback

Word count: 1.6 k

You remember the last few hours that you had spent with the sweet Sejanus Plinth so clearly. It was a few days ago, you both had finished dancing at the Hob to the beautiful songs of the Covey. The two of you had been dancing, laughing and singing. It was a beautiful. You swear everything was so perfect.

Then he had walked you home, pressing a kiss to your cheek before leaving for the night. The small kiss from the sweet boy left butterflies in your stomach. Enough to make you smile from cheek to cheek, the redness on your face never ending. It was enough to have your father questioning his intensions, but it was all teasing.

He knew how much you cared for the young peacekeeper. As the bakers of the District, they sometimes (often) came into the bakery for breads, sweets if they could.

That’s how you met Sejanus Plinth.

Poor, sweet, foolish Sejanus Plinth.

How could things have ended so poorly? So quickly? Your mind couldn’t comprehend.

You stood with Lucy Gray in the crowd of people, near the front as you watched you who recognized as Spruce and what you had heard to be his sister. be brought up, about to be strung up on the big old tree. The two of them looked defiant, while also being horrifically beaten. Dried blood and bruises covered their faces and exposed skin. Dirt littered and stained their clothes and hair, and yet they still held their heads high. Honorable. But what had they done?

As Coriolanus’ eyes scanned the crowd, he spotted the familiar head of dark curls that belonged to his beloved Lucy Gray. Though next to her was you, Sejanus’ beloved Y/N. His heart pounded seeing your pained and confused face. You truly had no idea what Sejanus had done….maybe it was better that way anyway. Had you known you would have been up there beside Sejanus. And that would have been such a waste. He agreed that you were good, too good and too kind. Often too much for your own good. But then again, you and Sejanus had that in common. And his mind went back to the moment everything had started to gone wrong.

“You can’t show that you know or saw anything anything, Sejanus. You need to pull yourself together. If we’re all caught…they might suspect Y/N too. And you want to keep them safe right?” Coriolanus’ had asked Sejanus. And Sejanus’ dark eyes had widened at the mention of your name.

No. No, no, no, no. You couldn’t be wrapped up in this. You didn’t know anything about the rebels, or the plan of escape, the weapons, his meetings with Billy Taupe and Spruce. Would you really get caught in the middle of it all if himself and the others were caught? You had no knowledge of anything. You wouldn’t. Your life in Twelve wasn’t all sunshine, but it was better than many.

You had expressed this to him too. That you did what you could for the District. Handing out free bread to those who were starving. Often you have the Covey expired pastries and sweets when you could. You were kind. Genuinely so kind and almost too kind for your own good.

It was ironic for Sejanus to think so, but it was true. You were a good person. One of the few he had met in a long time. And he had sworn to himself and you to keep you safe. He was just about to pull you aside and ask for you to come with him. Away from the districts, to travel up North away from it all. That was until Coryo shot Mayfair. And then Spruce shot Billy Taupe. And it was all going wrong.

Sejanus quickly shook his head, looking at his friend in tears, “no….no they have nothing to do with this Coryo, you know that…” he whimpered with a desperate shake of his head. He failed onto keep from the violence. But he would always make sure you were safe.

Coriolanus nodded, keeping his hands firm on his friend’s face. “I know they don’t, Sejanus. I know. But in order to keep them safe and out of this, you need to pull yourself together. You need to collect yourself and walk back out there like nothing happened. We’re the only lose ends left right?” He asked, and Sejanus nodded again, taking a shaky breath. “Hey…we’re brothers, remember? Brothers...and I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe,”

How that would change so quickly. Coriolanus remained at the front stage of the hanging tree, his gun firmly in his hand while hearing his friend beg for him. Him. Coriolanus Snow. Sejanus Plinth’s best friend. His murderer. And Sejanus didn’t even know. You didn’t even know.

“Please…please coryo…..Coryo…” his voice repeated as he was dragged to his spot, the noise fitting around his neck as the head peacekeeper replayed the recording of the Jabber Jay. You looked on horrified next to Lucy Gray, looking around in shock.

“No….whats Sejanus doing here? He hasn’t done anything. There’s been a mistake,” you say rather in disbelief and frazzled as you watched your boyfriend struggle against the pace keepers before being brought up on stage. You listened in horror as the recording

“No….no there’s been a mistake!” You shout, all eyes moving towards your figure. Lucy Gray’s eyes widened, shaking her head. “Y/N, stop it..” she warned quietly, anxiously.

But you didn’t hear her as the crowd parted to show you. Senjsnus’ eyes widened through the tears. He didn’t expect you to be here. With all his fear he felt, what really made his blood run cold was seeing you. The panic on your face, the disbelief. He never got to tell you everything. The plan to run away together. He wanted to make sure he had everything planned out to the second to make sure it was perfect.

Sejanus wanted to tell you about the life you both could have together. A family. Away from the districts. Away from the Capital. And away from the Games.

"Y/N..." Sejanus gasped, jerking in the restraints, only to earn a warning from the peacekeeper. You weren't supposed to be here. He was scared, but he did not want you to see what was about to happen.

"Sejanus! There's been a mistake! Please!' You called out, the stinging in the back of your eyes as some of the peacekeepers moved. Lucy Gray had seen this. Lil...the girl about to be hung now had done this exact same thing when her lover had been hung. Quickly, Lucy Gray moved forward and quickly pulled you back.

"Y/N, you need to stop or else you'll be up there next," She whispered harshly as you fought her for a moment. How could you remain quiet?

"No....no...no...Y/n! Ma!" Sejanus's voice rang out before there was a sickening crack of several necks as the floor below the three people gave out.

You stared in horror through your tears as the body of the love of your life twitched and swung back and forth by rope that killed hundreds already. You felt like the whole world stopped. Your blood ran cold, and it was like someone had sucked everything from you. The warmth, the love, the hope. Everything that Sejanus had given you, the light and hope for a new and better life, was taken from you within seconds. Who could do such a thing? Sejanus didn't have enemies. None that you could think of at least. But at the moment you couldn't think as you tried to come to terms with what just has happened.

"Oh my god...Sejanus..." You sobbed, feeling your legs give out from beneath you. Lucy Gray was quick to drop down beside you, wrapping her arms comfortingly. Though Sejanus' voice continued to ring out in the air.

The Mockingjays all flew around the crowd and trees, repeating his last words, "Y/N! Ma!"

His voice was scared, desperate for the ones he had loved most. A District boy turned Capital turned rebel. you stared as the ground in horror, tears streaming down your face as your body shook with sobs and shock. Lucy Gray was gently rubbing your back but you couldn't feel it. You couldn't feel anything. Just numb.

So Lucy Gray allowed you to remain like that, sobbing until there was no tears left. Your eyes and face red and puffy, a blank and lost look in your eye. By the time you even got to your feet, a majority of the crowd had left.

"No...don't look," Lucy Gray had gently ordered, keeping your gaze down from the sight of the tree. You were shaking, and nothing like the best friend she had known. She wrapped a supportive arm around you before leading you out of the area without another look behind you both.

Coriolanus felt his own stomach churn as he had heard he snap of his former classmate, his squad member swung behind him, and watched as you had fallen to your knees in pure anguish. As the look in your eyes turned from hopeful and light to a blank and pained look. All for Sejanus. Maybe he had more of an influence than Coriolanus originally had thought. The same boy who had gotten himself into more trouble than he was worth.

The very same boy he had met on the playground when they were eight, the same boy who had given him the gum drops, the one who Coriolanus had almost died for in the arena, the reason he had to kill.

But then he had to remind himself that it was not his fault. He had to report Sejanus, he was trouble, a rebel. Sejanus had been ruining everything with his guilt and urge to help others. But that was all over now. Sejanus was no more.

Poor Sejanus.

Poor sweet, foolish, dead Sejanus.

[sanguinemanare]

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Bloodmoon! This is NOT a RP Blog. Something, something The Sun and Moon show?: My Bloodmoon has zero relation to The Sun and Moon show. (I have no knowledge of anything from that show) He is just my own creation with his own AU/s. (Please respect this and use proper tags for him if you decide to put any in reblogs/posts)

How tall is he?: I have no set height for him. (Like legit measurements anyway) And my art of him is never consistent (I try man). He is probably around ehhhh.. 10 feet tall? He's a big boy and definitely bigger than the original Daycare Attendant. How would he react to a Y/N who is unafraid of him?: He would find it intriguing as most people display/show fear around him. He might even be a little confused by it at first. He may also try harder to unsettle or scare Y/N as it's a favorite thing for him to do. How would he react to receiving affection?: There is definitely some confusion at first because his base instinct is to hunt down others and hurt them. It was apart of his game version personality to do so. So receiving any kind of affection is confusing to him. At first he might just ignore it, not really catching it, but after a while it will intrigue him. Like wow after all this time they're still coming back? After his obsession with y/n settles in he will for sure like it. He might not show it often, but he will 100% like it. Although I don't think he will really know how to show affection, "properly" at least, in return.

How would he react to accidentally hurting/harming Y/N?: I cannot state enough that this would happen A LOT. There is also a huge possibility for death of Y/N.

It would happen accidentally and intentionally. He does not pay mind to his own strength so injuries are for sure going to happen. He also has zero control on his reactions and emotions.

What if Y/N dies?: This is honestly the most probable outcome for y/n if they're involved with Bloodmoon in any way. If y/n dies he would become more unhinged and insane. He would talk to them like they're still there. His memory of y/n would never leave and it would corrupt his coding even more than it already is.

After a period of time if there were another person to appear in his life he would probably refer to them by original y/n's name and treat them like they are the original y/n. He would not really notice differences in the new y/n unless they blatantly shove it in his face. However if he begins to realize they're not the same he would most likely lash out in anger which again would result in another death and possibly starting the cycle over. How would he react to Y/N being sad?: It depends on the situation. I think he would find it interesting if anything. He'd be curious about it. He often associates it with people being scared, which is something he enjoys. Once he learns about the emotion though he might use it against y/n but like in the way of, "oh you're sad? Here come to me, I'll make you feel better/happy." (really he just wants y/n to stay with him) So like emotional manipulation may become a thing. How would he react to others harming Y/N?: Another situation dependent on his obsession for Y/N. Although he is already super aggressive towards anyone who comes near him. He may let the situation play out a bit for his own amusement but only if its teasing or light bullying. If it's intense violence he would not hesitate to kill the offending person. Now if his obsession with Y/N is at it's peak, the offender would be offed immediately.

Will update this more in the future if needed! :D

Main Art Blog! https://www.tumblr.com/deceptiveshadow

[savagewilderness]

What an idiot - I meant to post this to my blog, not in the community!

One thing I love about TVL book club is how afterwards your mind continues to think about things in a new way, sparked by the fascinating conversation. Now, I am aware I can overthink myself into madness. But that said...

I was thinking about Marius-Lestat-Armand...

And about how Marius immediately (well... not quite immediately, but... comparatively so) comes to Lestat's rescue, soon after he goes into The Earth, whereas he abandons Armand for centuries... It is a thing I always found hard to forgive Marius for.

But thinking on it makes me wonder whether some of leaving Armand to his own devices might not be in love for him? (If we can call the twisted thing Marius is to Armand truly love??)

Anyway, first of all, Marius clearly does see some of his self in Lestat. Secondly, had Marius not rescued Lestat at this point, Lestat may actually have died (???) he was such a young vampire to go into The Earth, that would he have ever been able to rise again without some being saving him?

But at the same time... Marius literally pulls Lestat from The Earth. He can read Lestat's thoughts, so he very well knows the level of grief and despair and aloneness and existential crisis and loss that led Lestat to Go Into The Earth. But what does Marius do? Yes, he takes him home and gives him knowledge, as curious Lestat has been requesting... but also, he shows him Those Who Must Be Kept with no warning to Lestat about what he is about to be confronted by; with zero prior explanation... and when Lestat is indeed horrified and desperate to escape, Marius forces him to stay and to greet Those Who Must Be Kept more fully and more personally/intimately and reverently; almost as if knowing he once stirred Akasha, he may hope his mini-me (as he perceives Lestat) might do similarly?

Maybe Marius is desperate by this point? None of us can truly imagine existing for 1800 years, let alone caring for the sentient but unresponsive beings that are Those Who Must Be Kept for all of that time, and the challenge/burden of that. And maybe Marius is so accustomed to them that he cannot himself comprehend the full horror of them. Maybe in seeing himself in Lestat e forgets that Lestat at this time has still only existed for 30 mortal years - not as long as Marius had when he was first made a vampire?

But anyway - Armand. What would it have done to Armand's mind to see Those Who Must Be Kept. Armand has a very different mind to Lestat and Maruis (and I do not believe Lestat and Marius are as alike as Marius would like to believe, or would like Lestat to believe either, but that aside...). I was thinking how to Know Those Who Must Be Kept might have driven Armand to a scenario like in Memnoch The Devil, potentially. And so, perhaps in part, keeping Armand away from that *was* a protection. Not all minds can bear the vast *unknowing* that is what Those Who Must Be Kept are. Lestat is always questioning until he reaches the level of existential crisis and even he can barely cope.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm asking/saying here. It's as simple as that really I guess - in staying away from Armand, is Marius in part actually trying to protect him? In bringing Lestat to see Those Who Must Be Kept, is Marius in part actually not doing Lestat a kindness, but rather doing damage - either as he simply sees himself too much in Lestat or as he doesn't personally know Lestat yet, so he can be curious about him without worrying about him as he must one he already loves?

I have MANY confused thoughts on Marius. Including how he likes to portray himself as a lover of humans as Lestat does... yet even as a mortal he doesn't actually talk about any love in his life, or anyone loving him or being close emotionally to anyone. Rather he gets joy from intellectually observing humans and collecting interesting people who he keeps at arm's length... That couldn't be less Lestat. And Lestat loves that Marius is A Immortal Man... yet, actually this is way less human than vampires Lestat has been around - it's a way less human position than Armand or Nicki, really - no? Where he currently resides, the way he is connected to the humans there is that they think Marius A God. That's not in any way existing amid society in how Lestat desires.

And yet, Marius is SO old, could he be another way?

I also wonder, with the themes in Rolin's adaption of IWTV, the ways they could like Marius being born at literally the start of Western Civilisation with the fact that had Events at that time gone differently, Civilisation as we know it would literally have been ENTIRELY different than it is now. It would be so interesting, I feel if they could. Though I cannot quite think how they could do it.

HMM... I started on Is Marius actually trying to protect Armand by staying away from him and ended on Let's think about how The Entire Centre of Modern Civilisation would be utterly different if things had been different in Marius' mortal days....

And it isn't even 8am yet on a Monday morning... hahahahahaha!

Well... NOW it is 7am on Wednesday and you can tell HOW TIRED I AM AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR in that it took me 48 hours to even notice I posted this in the wrong place.

When can I go into The Earth and simply sleep. Rest. ????? *shame bell*

[throughgoalsandbaskets]

A Demon's Guide to Anthropology

part: 3

Word count: 657

Tags: use of 'MC's and they/them pronouns, sensory sensitivity on MC's end, written to be seen as sensory processing disorder, written based on my experience with it but I tried to change it to be broader

Word: "sensory"

Beel's time to shine :], also this is genuinely such bad writing I'm sorry, gonna come back and edit this to be better some day lol

★• ——— –– -

Beelzebub is a lot more perceptive than people like to give him credit for. With brothers like his and being an athlete, he has to be in order to know what's going on.

Which is why it doesn't take him long to notice the way that MC shies away from a lot of foods, clothes, and objects. Completely random to the common eye, but Beelzebub is most concerned with the food issue.

It's not like MC doesn't eat, not at all, they're healthy and never skin out on a good, fresh meal, but they're always so odd with what they eat.

Meats are off the table most of the time, which isn't all that bad. A lot of people just don't like meat. But some drinks and a good few veggies and fruits added onto that is what confuses him.

Maybe MC was just a picky eater, which again is fine, Devildom foods are weird to get used to, but it also seemed prevalent in human foods, too. To Beel, it seemed completely random, from a few spicy foods to a few sweets and sours, in his eyes he couldn't find a common connection.

So with a breath, he knocked on MC's door and entered when he was allowed.

Beelzebub wasn't normally so nervous or anxious, but he knew human bodies were delicate and didn't want MC and their odd aversions to certain objects or foods to somehow leave a bad mark.

"MC," he began after entering and shutting the door. The human sat in their bed with their D.D.D. in hand, "I have a question."

Intruiged and curious as always, MC responds.

"What's up, Beel? Something wrong?"

"Are you okay?" MC blinks, a little caught off guard at the vague question. The giant demon stood above them, looking down and vaguely reminding the human of a large dog looking at a toy it was attached to.

"Uh- elaborate?"

"You don't eat some stuff and you don't touch some things."

To their credit, MC understood after a moment, and they tried not to seem rude by the way they gave a laugh and smile, shaking their head.

"Do you mean how I don't like touching certain fabrics or eating certain foods?" The ginger nodded at the question.

"That's kinda common for humans," MC explained, "It's called sensory sensitivity. Some textures feel really bad to touch or to eat, so I tend to avoid them. Nothing is wrong with me, I promise."

Beelzebub nodded in solemn understanding, sitting beside the mortal on the rather Plush and comfortable bedding. In his hands was a small box of cookies he knew they favored a lot that he'd taken with him. It took everything in Beelzebub's power not to tear the box open and have at the cookies himself.

"So you can't have some foods or wear some things because they feel weird?"

MC nodded, though they didn't seem very down about it. To them, it was simply another day like any other, knowledge as common as grass is green and Luke despises anything demonic.

To Beelzebub, though, it solidified his resolve as he passed the now opened box of cookies over, one in hand and another in his mouth.

"What food can you not have? I'll eat them for you."

The serious expression to the previous words caused another laugh to bubble out of MC, and they took their own cookie from the box.

"It's hard to explain, but I'll pass you any whenever they come with a meal I have. Deal?"

Beelzebub nodded and put a hand on MC's head (the demon struggled sometimes with such casual affection and touch with most people, but had recently picked up on simply resting a hand on the mortal's head and leaving it there for a minute), and after a few moments a comfortable silence and sharing cookies, he spoke once more.

"Hell's Kitchen?"

"Hell's Kitchen."

[ithiliensmenagerie]

Could Indis remarry?

The answer is probably no. The answer is probably moot, because she wouldn't want to. Even if she wanted to, the stigma, her family, the whole history would stop her. And even if not, the Valar probably would.

But just imagine it. The consequences, the gossip, the reactions.

To be clear, I don't want her marrying Miriel. While I like that threesome solution and have nothing against consensual and equal polyamory, it always sounds like a cheat solution here. People do fall in love with two people, and it mostly ends messy; rarely is the solution "let all three fuck each other" actually working. And it's Tolkien's elves, but I still feel like that's too easy.

So let's say Indis marries someone else.

I have half a story planned out here (not with intentions to write it, at the moment, though). In my head, there's a Sindarin, sunlight-born elleth who was born in the early second age and died in the third. She has no real concept of the trials and tribulations of the first age and the times before, she grew up very liberal and while she does worship the stars to a degree, she doesn't really believe in following rules because the Valar say so. The Valar are very distant entities for her anyway.

I've called her Elariel, and I have not checked if that name already exists somewhere or means something; it's a nice sounding place-holder for the moment.

So, Elariel is reborn in the third age, and meets up with some friends who sailed or were reborn around the same time, and they explore Valinor. They come to Valimar and per chance meet Indis, who gives them a guided tour. Especially Indis and Elariel hit it off, and the Sindar invite her to see their community. Indis agrees.

In the next years, they meet again and again, until Elariel and Indis spend almost all their time together. They get along great. Indis likes that Elariel doesn't judge her past, that she gets along great with Findis and Finarfin (and potentially further children that are reborn), that she does not seem hemmed in by society and expectations, living by her own moral code not to harm anyone else, but to live the life you choose. Elariel likes Indis beauty, her intelligence, her willingness to see things through and accept the consequences, her stubborness and decisiveness, her vast knowledge.

Nothing else happens, until one day they are visiting Findis, who is leading a hermit-life in the mountains (I don't remember if it's Fanon or Canon, it's definitely my head canon), who suggests they get married.

Indis is shocked, she did not even think of that. Elariel takes it in stride, while she would like a more physical side of things, by her people's standards they are basically married, and she is also happy with the status quo. There is not much discussion, Indis leaves very confused.

While she is still contemplating the idea, never mind the implications, Findis tells Finarfin that Indis is remarrying (because Findis is of the house of Finwë, and being a hermit does not mean she never meddles.) Finarfin would have preferred to have heard it from Indis herself, but he really likes Elariel, they get along great and she very obviously makes his mother happy. He gives a dumbfounded Indis his blessing.

So it goes. The house of Finwë is still not great at communication, so it takes quite a while to find out that Indis and Elariel never actually agreed to get married, but absolutely everyone likes Elariel and agrees that this is a great idea, actually. Even Miriel thinks that might work out.

(And Finwë, if and when he gets asked, does not really have a leg to stand on, especially as Indis and Elariel are not going to have any more children)

Now how the Valar react, is a different question. And if it actually gets through, whether Finwë gets reborn, too. And then I think we'll have quite a situation when it turns out Finwë and Miriel can't just get back together. And who's supposed to be high king, anyway?

Now while I thought about this concept a lot, any plans to actually write it currently lack someone to discuss this with, because my life is sadly devoid of people liking both the Silmarillion and Fanfiction, so if anyone would like to discuss the concept or has ideas to add, feel free to comment or contact me! The biggest problem of my world building right now is deciding who gets reborn, and when, but the moral and political implications will make it interesting...

[thedreamsofgalaxies]

Since my earlier professor jayvik rant has been living in my head for few days, I just wanna share how I view they'd act as professors.

Viktor is very kind to his students and helps them out the best he can. He answers questions patiently and falls into long rants because of small innocent questions. He tries to do his best to make the students actually understand the subject, encourage them, and give them opportunities to shine.

However, Vik would be awful at actually understanding how other people think. Even though he thinks he's helping, a lot of the time he just makes everything more confusing. But those bright enough to get him, would love him. Viktor would not know what to do with lazy students or those who don't care about the subject, so he just ignores their existence. Maybe at the beginning of his career he tried to ask them if he can help them in some way, but soon realized talking to them is beyond his area of expertise, and let them be.

He isn't social at all and he doesn't like lecturing; lecturing would be a mandatory evil he has to endure in order to stay employed. He likes the one-on-one sessions with the students he helps, but he doesn't feel comfortable with an audience. His lectures are strickly to the point and quite boring for those who are not already inspired. Lectures are moslty a lot of theory and no practice.

Jayce on the other hand, is all practice and little theory. He does his best to get people to care about his subject and always demonstrates things when he can. He's all bravo and amazes the students with his brillanse on daily basis. Jayce treats the lecture hall as his stage and is always ready to totally bewilder everyone. Mind you: not with his personal drama but actual science! Jayce plans his lectures to the tee and gets ready for them early. He is really proud of the reputation he's gathered around the Uni.

From his students, he appreciates ideas and imagination more than technical knowledge. He encourages them to think out side the box and always try new things, even if it would result in failure. He gives more points to students whose essays have more original deliberation rather than students with good grasp on facts and theory but no insights.

As co-workers and academics, they are also very different from each other. I suppose this part would follow the Arcane quite literally, though. Jayce is the one who knows all the faculty and is always pulled to mingle with people, even if he'd rather just do his research. The research, he is really truly passionate about, and knows it will be noticed and well-received in the academic circles. While Viktor is happy to hide way in his lab and let his curiosity run free with no pressure to socialize. He doesn't really care for the glory of academic recognition, he just does it purely out of his own interest.

They disagree about each other's teaching methods, but they still respect each other and the results. Of course Jayce is most comfortable and most himself while his in the lab with Viktor. All the show and social smiles he puts up all day tend to get to him, but with Viktor he can just let all his masks down. Vik teases him about it, but never in a hurtful way and Jayce answers to the same measure. Because guess what, that's how actual banter works (looking at some of you fic writers).

They have the most heated academic debates which spread out for weeks. It's never obvious outright fighting but subtly leaving research papers on each others' desks while bringing them a new cup of coffee. Jayce is more verbally argumentative though, while Viktor more passive aggressive, but the debates are never personal and always respectful. They often end up blowing up the lab with questionable experiments just to prove a point.

They'd make a perfect team.

[queen-of-my-goofball-army]

Twilight Out Of Focus As A Relatable Love Story As A Person On The Autism Spectrum:

For most of my life love has been a confusing and complicated thing. I got crushes and found myself in situationships where I wasn't quite dating guys but we weren't just friends either. I never really understood why my first reaction to romance when it involves myself is to see it as something odd. Most of my friends wonder why I watch romance anime as someone that is hyper romantic without a boyfriend. And I've always struggled to come up with a proper answer for that question but I still continued to watch them anyways. I can't say that I've ever seen one that works the same way that Twilight Out Of Focus does though. The way that they told the story through the three different relationships where just when I thought that one couldn't be better than the other I managed to get surprised by the next pairing and managed to fall in love with them even more. I thought that I couldn't love a pairing more than Jin and Ichikawa, but Rei and Shion caught me by complete surprise and I might be in the minority by saying that but I have a reason and it's a pretty big one. Relatability.

To me, I saw a lot of myself in love while watching Rei fall in love with Shion and I'm going to hit you with an HC that changed everything for me, you ready for it? Rei is autistic. This is coming from someone that's also on the autism spectrum with a lot of unique special interests that often take over my life and leave most of my friends in an array of confusion but overtime gradual acceptance. I've been really, really luck in the online friend department with finding my fair share of Jin's that encourage me and push me forward to keep growing on my own but I've been really unlucky in terms of romance because a lot of the time people wind up bored of me. They realize that I'm really predictable, that I can sit you down and draw a ven diagram with a connection of each English VA with each One Piece character that I love or that I speak coherently in movie quotes. They get tired of the novelty and wind up calling things off with me overtime and that was the first time that it really hit me in the gut of how much I saw myself in Rei. Due to how much he throws himself into working on his movies, people get easily bored and tired of his antics and leave him for other people. The fact that he mutters things to himself is another trait that can often be found with people that are autistic, I definitely have minimal brain to mouth filter where I wind up sometimes just saying stuff with no knowledge of whether or not it's hurtful or not something that people would usually say. When I have feelings for someone I tend to tease them very similar to how Rei does with Shion where I give them grief over little things.

Last week I was just sitting there and it hit me of how much I related to Rei and how much I saw my own traits in him. So I wanted to throw my own hat into the ring of the Rei defense squad with the way that I looked at his character. As someone that's been diagnosed for a few years I'm confident in why I feel this way but I don't think I've ever related to a love interest more than Rei just with my own social awkwardness. I think that it might be one of the best portrayals of loving someone while being autistic and while I might not have relationship experience in the traditional sense this love story brought me a lot of relatability and made me look at myself and my experience with romance in a wholly different way. I've always assumed that most of my relationship shortcomings wound up being my fault because I talk too much. I get too into my interests and not everyone can understand that but I think that I need to just find the right person that gets me.

I wasn't expecting for me to find relatability in this character but a lot of Rei's "bad" traits are traits that I also share as someone that's on the autism spectrum. I've been seeing a lot of people bad mouthing Rei for being "mean" but to me, that's just something that I've experienced being autistic. Being 'self-centered' or a 'jerk' is something that I've been called my entire life but that doesn't mean that's the whole of who I am and it's not the whole of who Rei is as a character. Oftentimes people on the autism spectrum just seem abrasive if you're not in their inner circle of friends. It's been my experience that once I found my people it was easier to open up and we can see Rei opening up to Shion where before it was just Jin and that was it. And I felt myself crying multiple times throughout their story arc and I'm so grateful to see the way that I love represented.

[satancopilotsmytardis]

What about Shigadabi stuck in America? (I have no idea why I think this is funny but I feel like Dabi would be hella confused while Shigaraki speaks English. Like Dabi would think that Shigaraki speaking English, which he doesn’t understand, is a personal attack on him)….as you can tell my one brain cell is working extremely hard-

They go to America for? Crimes? Dabi has to wear a full face-covering mask so that no one immediately recognizes him, and sort of just stands around like a grunt while Shigaraki actually does the business part of their work.

they get what they needed to and Dabi is being a little bitchier than usual because he feels completely useless in this situation because he can't read signs, he can't speak, and he can't help with the actual work at all unless Shig is holding his hand and walking him through it.

Shigaraki puts up with this until they're in private and then asks him what his fucking deal is, and after some prodding, he finds out Dabi's insecurities aren't just from not knowing the language, but also because he still struggles with the fact that he stopped getting an education at 12. He's tried really hard to read and educate himself however he can whenever he can, but he still finds himself dealing with big gaps in his knowledge that kind of make him feel like shit when they come up.

They leave America and go back to Japan and Dabi thinks that will be the end of it, but a couple of days later he realizes someone broke into his room and downloaded a new program onto his e-reader. Shigaraki found an online course for people who left school at any age, and that allows them to test for their learning level and start to take classes again privately on their own, with tutors available (though asynchronous and remote so they can't identify their students). He also recognized that Dabi isn't the only villain who had that experience, and he figured out a way to make that tech available to the entire PLF. I mean, Re-Destro talked down to Shig and treated him like shit when he jut thought that Shigaraki hadn't received any formal education, it must be worse for people who didn't get the tutoring his teacher gave him. And hell, Twice had to drop out of middle school when he was orphaned, and Toga should be in high school right now. There are other people who need help too.

Dabi is sharply touched by this and starts to put as much work into his studying as he does their actual work, and he starts to learn English, going to Shig for tutoring when he needs it. They are doing pretty well in a few months when they have to go back to America again to check in on their business ventures there, and while they're there, Dabi is doing a lot better. Though he does have a question for Duster-- and he asks what "I love you" sounds like in English. Shig tells him, and Dabi repeats it and waits. And waits. And then in Japanese just gives up and tells Tomura that he's dense as a fucking brick and kisses him.

[starrycassi]

Hate, love, guilt, mothers. Aren't they all synonyms?

You can find part one of this au here, and two here. Also a quick explanation on who's Gloria here. Mild nsfw mention at the end. Like, super mild.

The grounds of the Goldenloin mansion are always breathtaking, it doesn't matter how many times Ballister's been here as a guest, as an intruder, as a knight, as a lover. The gardens are fantastic, and the structure makes him feel so, so tiny.

Standing here, looking at the dining table made for dozens and dozens of people, Ballister can't help but feel out of place. The maid that guided them here is mimicking their pose, right next to them, and Ballister signals to Ambrosius, tugging on his sleeve. There's no need for her to be here, too. She should be free to leave.

Ambrosius gets the memo and dismisses the poor girl, who leaves quietly and quickly. Ballister's skin itches.

In front of them rests a wonderful feast, colorful and appealing, even if some plates are covered with golden silverware, to protect the food from loosing it's flavor, or whatever. He can't help but wonder how many street kids are hungry right now — can't help but remember what it's like, to be alone and lost and begging for a crumb of bread, a sip of water, a simple plate of food and be denied and-

The echo of someone's steps brings him back to the present, and he stares at the woman as she walks in. Captain Gloria limps as she arrives, her golden hair down in a braid that reaches her lower back. She gleams at them, despite the clear pain that every step delivers to her system. Her eyes aren't quite focused.

Ambrosius suddenly goes still, fixing his posture.

The two of them just accept the silence, live in it, for the next couple of seconds. Gloria finally gets to the table and sits down slowly, hissing when she finally does so, reeking of alcohol and a splendid perfume. She's at the head of the chairs, and Ambrosius rounds up the table to sit right next to her. Ballister tries to follow him.

“Don't” orders the woman, her hand suddenly reaching out to grip Ballister's wrist. She tugs on him, making take a seat, too, at her left. Ambrosius stares at him with a questioning look, and he stares back with an even more questioning look. It's his mom that's acting weird, he should know what's going on.

They don't have to figure it out, though, because she explains it soon enough.

“You are not here as Ambrosius's guest, today. You're a suitor. Act accordingly or get out”

Her voice, cold and demanding, takes both of the boys by surprise. Gloria's and Ballister's relationship has never been a specially warm one, but all in all, he's always seen her as a stressed out woman who doesn't really care about anything but her work and her son. Everytime they've been together she's drunk, hurt, on duty, or in a weird combination of those options. She's never been openly hostile or mean to him, so he's left in unexplored grounds when her blue eyes are suddenly fixed on his face, pinning him to his seat and making his head spin with with dread and doubts.

“Mom, there's no need to-”

Ambrosius tries, he really tries, to reason with her. Gloria, who's whole body moves weirdly and limply, suddenly hits the table with her fist closed, and Ambrosius straightens up in his seat, body reacting before his mind does so, instincts ingrained on him urging him to obey and comply to orders, even the unspoken ones.

Ballister knows the look on Gloria's eyes — he's seen it before, only, not on her face — she's not only intoxicated, not merely wounded. She's full of regret, of fury, of pure and unfiltered anger. As soon as that knowledge hits him, he's filled with a strange sense of security, of comfort. She's mad and she's irrational, but he knows the reason of those feelings. She's merely a mother defending her child, a knight defending her loved ones.

Ballister is trying to do the same, and it's refreshing to see his own feelings of confusion and hatred mirrored into Gloria's face. He knows what her anger means, because his blood burns with the same heat, the same intensity.

“I'm sorry, Captain Gloria” he says, slowly and clearly. The nerves he felt all the way here disappear, leaving only his determination, his devotion. Gloria isn't against him. She's against anything that might hurt jer son, and that's a feeling Ballister not only understands, but shares, “It was awfully inadequate of me to act that way. I beg your forgiveness”

She smiles, woobly and unsteadily, at him. She's pleased with his words, clearly. He tries to remember the hours and hours of ranting that Ambrosius blessed his ears with every so often, complaining about stupid protocol lessons that his mother made him take.

“Very well” she nods at him, and he imitates the gesture. He quickly nods at Ambrosius, too, to try and reassure him. This will be okay. It has to.

Ambrosius's shoulders relax just the slightest bit at that, but he smiles, and talks again,

“I'm incredibly hungry, Mum. Why don't we eat before we discuss this, yeah?”

It's always surprising to Ballister, really, how adaptable Ambrosius is. One minute, he's a big dramatic performer for the Queen. The next, he's merely a child with a pleading voice, asking— no, begging, for some peaceful seconds with his mom.

“Yes, the food. Let's eat and talk business, shall we? That's not really an appropriate thing to do, I suppose, but I can make an exception, seeing as how you've had the guts to ask for my son's hand in marriage, cadet”

She claps, and servants lift the coverings. Some of their faces are recognizable to Ballister. Did they live in the same orphanage? Were they friends, and his mind has forgotten?

This is whst he hates about the Goldenloin mansion. This is what he hates about every single noble event ever. He simply resings himself to his fate, a rejected freak to the nobles and a traitor to the commoners. He tries to keep his eyes on the table, tries not to to think about how some of the people working for Ambrosius, serving him, probably have never even tried the kind of feast he's about to have.

Ballister's never been a religious person, but he prays for forgiveness, even if it's merely for a second. He prays for forgiveness, even if it's undeserved.

The steak in front of him suddenly loses its appeal. The nerves are back, just like that. He hates himself for that, for being so brave a second and then a complete coward in the other.

They simply eat, for some moments. Gloria sips her glass of red wine every so often, and both of the boys chew methodically on their steaks. Food is fuel, Ballister tries to remind himself, tasting guilt and shame in every bite, feeling as if he's chewing his own heart; food is fuel, and he needs fuel for this conversation.

That doesn't make the bitterness of the whole situation go away.

“You said you have a plan” accuses Gloria, after washing down a bit of her salad with wine, “but I'm yet to hear anything about it”

Ballister's first instinct is to roll his eyes, tell her that it's her who's been acting all weird and cranky, but he knows better than to go against an older knight, even if she's drunk and injured. She's also his mother-in-law, and he refuses to feed into the stereotype of in laws not getting along.

“The food just distracted us, mom, that's all. It's really good”

Gloria's face softens a bit, and she offers her son a quick sound of agreement.

“Still. I need to know what you two rascals are up to, don't I?”

As if she didn't just violently smash the table, she laughs a bit at her joke, muttering something about teenagers under her breath.

They do their best to explain themselves without setting her off again, Ambrosius providing Ballister with facial expressions that let him know when to shut up and when to keep going. At the end of it, their food is almost gone, Ballister's guilt is almost forgotten, and Gloria looks almost convinced.

"And what do you win, cadet?"

She looks feral, like a lion ready to chew down on it's prey. Ballister refuses to lose against her, not today.

"I get to see my boyfriend be happy. What else could I possibly want?"

Some of the servants seem too moved by his answer to hide their coos, but he doesn't dare look their way, too scared to find out that perhaps that truly are the kids that grew up on his same street, with his same dreams. He keeps his eyes fixed on Gloria's, blue and brown crashing and figthing.

"Sounds like bullshit to me. No one would do all that just for someone else's happiness or whatever"

She shakes her head in disagreement, and Ballister wants to scream at her, tell her that she doesn't know shit about them, that he would walk barefoot into a burning building if it meant saving Ambrosius. He doesn't.

"I don't need anything else" he says, instead, "I only want to make sure that my boyfriend has a choice and-"

"Okay, say you win" interrupts Gloria, looking bemused with him. He hates the way she stares him down like a mere child, "and the interviewer; because this will be televised, that's a no brainer, asks what do you want. What are you going to tell the kingdom?"

He doesn't even hesitate, before answering:

"I would ask for just enough money to pay back my debth with the house of Elpis and the Goldenloin house. Then, for Ambrosius's political allies to be a matter only he can have the final say on. Not you, or me, or anyone else"

She looks at him some more, as if trying to be intimidating. He doesn't budge.

"That is an honest answer" she finally says, nodding, "That's more believable. That, I can accept. I think"

She makes a show of considering things, tapping her index finger to her chin. They keep quiet, waiting for her verdict.

“It's a decent attempt” she concedes, after some seconds of humming to herself. "It's even a good idea"

They both sigh, relieved. She clicks her tongue, and shakes her head, again, like some sort of wet dog, and they feel not so relieved, now.

“But you two are openly... close to one another, right? Everyone knows. Can't do anything if you win and people question us, can we? About your little, well, romance, and all that”

Gloria never really acknowledges the fact that her son is dating Ballister, even if he did come out and confess the secret to her half a year ago, cracking under the pressure of a specially though new years party. It gives Ambrosius some sort of dumb hope, that perhaps his mom might actually start taking his own free will into account and validating his love for Ballister. Even if she always says that that's something she already does.

“We're still trying to figure out what to do with that, Mum”

She laughs some more, making him feel stupid. Ballister looks as confused as he feels when she merely giggles at their faces, gulping down the rest of her drink. A servant refills it immediately.

“You kids are so slow, nowadays” she flaps her hand, rolling her eyes, “a mere fight will be enough. In a public space, obviously. Be nasty about it. My friends and I used to do it when we wanted to get a rise out of our parents. Neat trick”

And, with that piece of advice, she keeps on drinking.

.

Ambrosius excuses them both out of the table when they're done, leaving Captain Gloria to drunkenly mumble nonsense to herself.

The halls of the mansion are spacious and lonely, so they're able to walk together, holding hands, without a care in the world. Ambrosius has grown up here, was raised here. He knows and trusts the staff to keep a couple of secrets.

“She seems… a bit agitated” Ballister says, softly. Gloria has been a sore spot for their conversations ever since the start of their friendship, and they mostly try to avoid talking about her. But if feels wrong, to be in her house and pretend she doesn't exist.

“She's got a dislocated hip” Ambrosius answers, voice impregnated with pity, “Must hurt a lot. She was distracted with this whole thing and a thief managed to hit her real hard…”

He stares at the floor, but they keep on walking to Ambrosius's bedroom. After lunch, Gloria has practically demanded for them to stay until dinner, arguing that they have already lost most of the day, anyways. Neither one of them dared go against her word.

“I'm happy she's mad. At least I'm not the only one worried about your ass”

“I can assure you, Ballister, your thoughts about my ass are really, really different from her thoughts about it. At least I hope so”

Hip bumping his boyfriend for being an idiot, Ballister blushes a bit. Ambrosius does have a nice body.

“Don't be weird about this, Amber. We're literally talking about you mom”

“No, you are talking about her. I'm talking about people's thoughts on my ass. That's a whole different conversation”

“Not a specially interesting one, I'm sure. Much like your very flat ass”

Ambrosius gasps, offended, just as they reach the doors of his bedroom. He makes a show of dramatically slamming the door, just to open it back again mere seconds later, sticking out his tongue at Ballister before allowing him to come in.

“Keep this treatment up, and I'm actually marrying Todd” he threatens, and Ballister half heartedly pushes him.

“Okay, your ass is not flat. Just… sort of concave. Happy?”

“Not so much. But, alas, I'm not really dating a poet, am I? My heart has chosen you, even with your horrible mistreatments towards my figure”

They laugh at the stupidity of the situation, as if guilt isn't eating Ballister alive, as if Ambrosius isn't worried to death for his mom, as if the world isn't collapsing and burning around them.

They take of their shoes, and get into bed, cuddling with each other almost immediately, used to it after years and years of practice. Ballister rests his cheek on Ambrosius's chest, and they hold hands, tangling their legs. This is incredibly inappropriate to do on Ambrosius's house, with his mom meter away, but everything around them feels so wrong right now that this is the closest they can get to normal.

The events of the last few hours settle in. Panic comes back, alongside with every other emotion that they have been trying to run away from. It's scary, to admit that perhaps they could fail. They could be wrong. Ambrosius understands why his mom seems to be in denial all of the time; it's easier to pretend that something is not happening than to deal with the fact that it is.

The room is quiet. They're just teens.

“I'm nervous”

“Me, too. I'm terrified”

“Yeah. Me, too”

And it's just them, their fears and their breaths, for a second. There's nothing else but them. But reality is always there, waiting, and it comes with paperwork and legalities and many, many other things. It's them against the world, even if they would really, really like to just make peace with everyone and sleep until winter.

To avoid silence — because it comes with too many questions, too many memories, too many reminders — Ballister decides to keep on with their plan, furthering it, and asks, “So, now, we fake fight?”

“I think it's the best choice we have, right? Mom said so”

Ambrosius, always eager to follow Gloria's word, seems to perk up. Ballister feels slightly annoyed, but at least his boyfriend looks a little less like a kicked kitten.

“And what are we figthing about, uh?”

This is scary, too. Yeah, a fake figth. That's something they should be able to manage. But there's some issues, here and there, and perhaps they're just waiting for a chance to come out. This could be that chance. And there's no way they're going to actually live apart from each other, but they have to, right? So it's believable.

“What about something stupid? Like, I don't know, jazz?”

“Ambrosius, you know very well how I feel about-”

To stop his boyfriend from going on yet another campaign of hate against freestyle jazz, Ambrosius gives him a quick kiss on the hair, successfully making him shut up.

“Kay, not jazz. What, then?”

“Let's fight about this. I'll be jealous, you'll scream at me for being jealous, and we'll break up. Call me a selfish insecure asshole, or something”

Ambrosius immediately pants like a wounded animal, frowning. He makes Ballister get up slightly, to make sure he can see his eyes. They're full of love. Pure, solid, love.

“I don't ever want to hurt you, Bal”

Ballister chokes on air, because this isn't fair. Ambrosius is so pretty, resting on the mattress, looking up at him. No one else but him should ever get to see him like this. Specially not some imbecile who thinks figthing for him is enough to get married.

“It's just going to be a play-pretend situation, Amber. I don't wanna hurt you, either, but it's going to be just a couple of days. Then, we're back to normal”

Ambrosius ponders on it, pouting. But he finally nods, agreeing.

“Fine. We're hating each other from now on”

.

The next time Ballister wakes up, they're back at the Institute, half naked, fused together like a pretzel. Perhaps they got a bit too sentimental when they came back, and perhaps they stole a couple of sips from Gloria's wine reserve. A make out session had been the start of their so called hate, and Gloreth, did they suck at this.

“Ambrosius. Ambrosius, wake up. Ambrosius, fucking move”

With a bit more of force than needed, he shakes his boyfriend, trying to get him to open up his eyes. Ambrosius attempts to do so and also get up, miscalculating, and falling face first to the floor.

Shit.

Hurrying up to help him, Ballister trips, too. The wine is still in their systems, apparently, and it makes them laugh like idiots as soon as their gazes cross.

“Shit. We're supposed to be figthing, Amber”

“I'm pretty sure last night counts as a form of combat. Sword figths, one may call it”

“Shut the fuck up, honestly. Just, for once, shut up”

“Only if you kiss me, babe"

Okay, maybe they aren't suited for a divorce yet. Ballister got up, grunting, and Ambrosius followed suit, if only because the floor is way too cold to be laying on it with nothing but a boxer and shorts on. He smiled at the wall when he managed to stand up on his own two feet, still dizzy.

“What now, Bal?”

Ballister struggled to put his shirt back on, trying to remember where the fuck his shoes where. It was early, still. If he hurried up, he could sneak out without anyone seeing him.

“Dont ask me. This whole thing was your plan. Think, Ambrosius; for the first time in your life, think”

Ambrosius threw the nearest object at his ungrateful boyfriend, and rolled his eyes when the comb impacted against the desk. Turns out his aim gets affected by alcohol. Who could've thought?

“What was that for?!” Hisses Ballister, barely managing to get done with his clothes. Ambrosius's loopy smile only grew bigger at the sight, and he looked so much like his mom, for a second. Just a second.

“We're figthing, love. I think this is how figths are supposed to go, right?”

And he threw a hair cream bottle, that impacted on the wall.

Ballister opened up the door, just in time for the notebook Ambrosius threw to go flying through it. Some cadets were already out, curious about the noise. Ambrosius, drunk and ad impulsive as his mother, grinned with pleasure. Yes, a public fight, indeed.

“And get out!” he screamed, remembering the way his mother looked at him yesterday, feeling the tears burning on the very corners of his eyes, hating her stare and wishing she looked at him more often “I don't want to talk to you ever again, you hear me?!”

A pillow was thrown. Ballister fought down the urge to burst out laughing. This felt so much like a cheap soap opera.

“It's not my fault you're a coward!” He screamed back, wine helping him come up with the words, “Go and die for all I care, Golden Boy! Hang yourself from a fucking tower, I don't give a shit!”

More and more people came in to witness the situation. Had he been sober, Ballister probably would've stopped. He wasn't, though.

“You're so jealous!” Screeched Ambrosius, like he meant it, “You're just jealous of my suitors being way better than you, you prick!”

Ballister kneeled down, picked up the fallen pillow, and threw it right back at it's owner. Ambrosius barely contained his cackles.

“I'll enter the fucking tournament just so I can disown you, Ambrosius! You don't deserve all that money!”

They were losing the plot a bit, but it didn't really matter. A figth is a figth, no matter the reasons.

“Do whatever you want, Ballister! You're never winning, never !”

Next, a sweater came in, balled up, flying. This one actually hit Ballister on the eye, and he had to take a step back, surprised. Ouch.

“We'll see about that, you idiot!”

With a final heated stare, Ballister turned around, bitting down his tongue to dissimulate the giggles.

.

As soon as he got into his room and locked his door, Ballister opened up his cellphone, already missing his boyfriend's arms. He found a couple of drunken voicemails Ambrosius had already sent his way, and a couple of pictures that matched the vibe of their last night.

Smiling, he got into his own bed, hiding under the sheets. Perhaps intense figths weren't such a bad idea for their relationship, after all.