#and constantly feeling behind or dodging spoilers on here

[glitch-after-dark]

Ekidocksos i am in LOVE with your account!!!!!!

Just..Rodimus completely stuffed and bred with Drift & Ratchets sparklings from a drunken one night stand? He left before they woke up and dodges them for weeks on end not knowing they want so much more of him & his hot plush valve.

They get the drop on him when they find him rubbing his tanks & eating sweet energon mini cakes in his office.

They know right then he’s sparked & soon they have him bent over, stuffed with their spikes & trying to add a couple more for a clutch

I would have answered this sooner but I’ve been gardening so exhaustion prevented me from having the energy. I just found your account as well and SoundRod content is very exciting to see! I need to do more with them.

Anyway—this idea is brilliant. I love some Dratchrod angst+horniness+babies.

Just Rodimus hanging out with his best friend—they are officially Amica now, yeah drinks for everyone—celebrating the latest adventure on their Forever Adventure and well into giggling drunk that both Ratchet and Drift are as well. He’s been very cuddly grabby, draping himself over Drift—who is definitely over! He’s very supportive now—and instead of huffing Ratchet just tells him to shove over and when he’s moving too slow picks him up and sits under him making Rodimus half in Ratchet’s lap while still draped over Drift and Ratchet’s telling jokes and laughing at Rodimus and he’s lost track of whose hands are whose at some point. Then Dratchet kisses and Rodimus whines about not getting any so Drift kisses his cheek which Rodimus pouts and says isn’t the same so Ratchet huffs and grabs his chin to lay one on him that has him squirming especially when Drift is petting his spoiler and he’s panting when it breaks. Drift, of course, protests that Ratchet cheated and Drift was supposed to get the first move, making Ratchet laugh and before Rodimus can figure that out Drift is turning his head his direction and kissing him deeply. Rodimus is just a squirming mess not having to be moved and just moving back to the other with someone constantly petting him or grabbing his thighs or holding his waist until Swerve finally throws them out for “public indecency”.

Which gives Rodimus enough of a moment of fresh air to go oh wait what and start to think up an excuse to dip out only for the hands to come back and the three of them to stumble back to Dratchet’s room to resume the sandwich and kissing, which quickly escalates once they have Rodimus shoved in the bed between them. Rodimus catches bits of “wanted you here” and “thought we were going to take him to dinner first” teasing between the kissing and moving around each other and realizes what is going on. Drift and Ratchet are clearly wanting a threesome and intended to ask Rodimus who feels guilty how immediately into that he is for both of them and distracts himself by opening his own panel and mouth descending onto Ratchet’s hands to suck them in remembering how sensitive they are.

He is being passed back and forth between them and responding very eagerly, if a little clumsy which slowly peters out into more smooth movements when the overcharge fades through multiple overloads leaving him clear minded but unwilling to leave when Ratchet is holding his thighs thrusting up into him and Drift is petting him laying over his back, spike pressed against him waiting for his turn, telling him how pretty he looks taking his Conjunx’s spike and look how happy he’s making him and Ratchet is growling out and agreement that sends Rodimus toppling into  another overload that makes him bluescreen a bit only to wake to Ratchet kissing him sweetly, Rodimus sprawled out on his front, Drift slipping inside behind peppering kisses on his spoiler with Ratchet’s hands steadying Rodimus’s hips.

He's too tired to leave immediately when it finally finishes and they clean each other off, nuzzling and kissing, this time slow and sweet without the expectation of it leading to anything, and shove him in between to cuddle. He wakes up with Drift having shoved between him and Ratchet, wrapping around their arms and carefully manages to slip out painfully sober and aware of what he’s done and flees cold and horrified by how much it aches to leave them.

Rodimus is panicking because he thought—had lied to himself—he was over Drift and now not only is he wrong he’s developed a crush on Ratchet—reliable, stern, stubborn, kind, smart Ratchet—his Amica’s Conjunx. And he knows very well it is unrequited. Even if they are wanting to be adventurous and invite someone new to sleep with them, Rodimus is going to be devastated when they finally close their bed again.

One night he could laugh off as a drunken fun time, but he will not be able to disguise how clingy and emotional and needy he’ll be if they make it a frequent thing. That’s why Rodimus didn’t do multiple nights with people! He “misunderstands” and thinks more is going on than it actually is. He refused to inflict that on Dratchet.

He’d just gotten better at not shoving his way into Drift’s way and asking for things because Drift won’t tell him no! Ratchet finally tolerates him enough to not protest them being Amica—not that he’d said anything before but Rodimus knew he thought Drift could do better—which Rodimus agreed but was selfishly glad he hadn’t.

So he avoids them, helped by arranging the schedule and a few emergencies, always ready to offer an excuse even if it did make Drift look at him sadly and Ratchet look suspicious. And if he starts to feel weird afterwards, at first sick and tired, falling asleep in his office and achy, and then horny and starving and can’t stop eating sweets that’s his business. He has successfully managed to scrap their interactions down to the bare minimum which he will continue to do until he’s unrequited feelings fade, which would be a lot easier if they’d stop trying to corner him and Minimus and Megatron stopped judging him every time he made the schedule.

Rodimus’s sweet intake leads to his density increasing making him way more as protoform is building up and he doesn’t notice the difference, difference until he has the subtlest belly budging out just above his array. Ratchet finally pegs what is going on when he notices the anti-nausea, the glow, and the belly and way Rodimus’s hips are rounding out and chest is subtly swelling. He puts his foot down and he and Drift finally corner him by using privileges to be put on the graveyard shift with Rodimus.

Rodimus, who’d been getting gentle pep talks (Minimus) and just do it pep talks (Megatron), allows himself to be lead away. Accept apparently him carrying has gotten Ratchet and Drift very hot and bothered and instead of the conversation they are kissing him and pushing him over his desk to stuff him full and Rodimus is ready to go at a moment at this point, constantly horny, and is immediately distracted by this and also can’t get away and is sober enough to actually hear them saying they want him to stay and how thrilled they are to have a clutch and the phrasing is with the intention of a future together. After Drift, who has to be responsible because it turns out Ratchet’s breeding kink is making him thoroughly distracted pushing Rodimus against the nearest surface so he can cup his belly and fuck him, calls Megatron and Minimus to take over their shift.

Rodimus wakes up the next day to a grumbling Ratchet getting out of bed and kissing Drift goodbye and soothing him back to rest and then seeing Rodimus looking up at him sleepily kisses him and tells him to keep sleeping too. And Rodimus gets to, still not entirely sure what is going on, but the possessive grasp Drift makes on him when he rolls back over to sleep and Ratchet’s firm stay here with his own instincts finally relaxed and sleeping good from a night in between them helps.

They do eventually talk and work things out in between a lot of makeup sex and now Rodimus basically living it while getting bent over or crowded up against a wall to make sure he gets enough material to make their clutch. Drift is more slow and sweet about it taking his time and gentling Rodimus through it, savoring every moment, but Ratchet is rougher and very into the breeding aspect, prone to picking Rodimus up and shoving him against the wall or desk or bed (if they make it that far), and filling him up, fucking him until Rodimus’s is yowling, still carefully and hand always gently petting over Rodimus’s swelling tank. Ratchet is also the one who is now the most prone to spoiling Rodimus at the slightest pout. The carrier of the clutch deserves everything is Ratchet's stubborn response everytime he has a happy purring Rodimus pepper his face with kisses and Drift tease him about it.

Happy pregnant Dratchrod sex and babies for the win with Rodimus getting pampered.

[oxymorayuri]

𝐶𝘩𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝟷𝟾

𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑠𝘩𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑎𝑟 𝐷. 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝐿𝑎𝑤 ✘ ♀ 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟

𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓: Tsuyomaru1a

Story: The princess of Tanata

[Long Fic]

➽ masterlist

Spoiler: nope

Warnings: nope

slowburn with plot

Wordcount: 2706

Text in italics emphasizes the reader’s thoughts

Bold and italic text emphasizes Law's thoughts *~*

Tagging: @slytherinambitious - @norasincubi - @cottoncandyloverrrr - @one-piece-frvr7 - @hopelesslover06 - @chillerkiller - @sassyyassi

After you got out of the water, you dried yourself with your cloak before putting your gown back on.

A rustling in the bushes brings you back to the night and you both quickly take up a fighting position.

Your eyes scan the surroundings. The rustling was definitely too big to be something harmless. You can almost feel something dangerous lurking in the dense forest.

This isn't exactly the right time, you think to yourself, clenching your dress in your fist. Of course you complain that you can't move properly in such dresses, but you would rather be in that position than in your underwear…

Your eyes drift over to Law, he has his back to you and is observing the surroundings.

Suddenly, a giant lizard leaps out of the bushes, similar to a Komodo dragon but with many sharp teeth. Law quickly reaches for Kikoku but you stop him before he can draw his blade and you start running.

With the Komodo dragon chasing you, you dash through the jungle, dodging the beast's powerful claws every time it lashes out.

“Why are we running?! I wipe out the beast in a matter of seconds!”

Law asks you while following close behind. holding his hand, you lead him through the depths of the jungle. It all looks the same, but you know where you're going.

Your eyes fall back on him.

“We don't kill the animals of the jungle.” Law's eyes widen, he is visibly surprised by the friendly smile on your face but he doesn't answer. He can already guess what your answer would be, if he asked you what would happen if your life depended on it.

While you constantly jump around to avoid the monster behind you, you see a sign in the distance on a tree that promises your rescue.

“Ahh there it is!”

You pick up speed and focus on the tree with the symbol. Just as the giant lizard opens its jaws to snatch you, you jump ahead and land on the tree with your feet, opening a trapdoor and slide down a shaft.

When you finally reach the ground, you barely manage to avoid crashing face first into the floor and find yourself standing on your feet. What you only forget is, that Law was right behind you…

Just as the noise behind you grew louder, you turned around and Law came flying out and landed right on top of you. He gave you a solid headbutt, knocking you to the ground and you rubbed your forehead with a groan.

You completely ignore the fact that Law is half on top of you, because you are way too busy feeling the pain in your ass and forehead.

Law jumped up abruptly. He couldn't see you in the dark, but he felt you very clearly. Your soft skin and the fact that you are barely clothed...

Feeling the weight of Law being lifted off you, you sit up. The darkness down here makes you blind but you can hear the flat breathing of Law.

“Law, are you all right?“ - ”Yeah, I'm fine, it was just a bit turbulent…” You hear his voice in the darkness… and he is closer than you expected. You get up carefully and make your way towards the dark until you come across a wall.

Feeling your way along the wall with your hands, you find a wall torch and light it. You use the torch to light other torches on the walls, and the room, which is an empty room, is filled with light.

Apart from two doors, there is absolutely nothing. After picking up your clothes from the floor with Law, you head towards one of the rooms.

“Where are we?” - “We are in a safety shelter. The symbol you saw earlier means 'emergency' and behind each of these symbols is a hiding place."

You answer Law, who is looking around in the second room. It is modestly furnished yet it has everything you need for a temporary stay. There is a small kitchen and a table with four chairs, along with some non perishable food. Nothing tasty, but enough to fill your stomach.

Since it gets quite cold in these shelters, which are dug deep into the ground, there is a fireplace and plenty of firewood. Law went straight to work making a fire, while you pulled out a box from under a bed.

In the box you found some blankets and towels but unfortunately no clean clothes, but at least you can take a hot shower here.

“Hey Law, I'm going to take a quick shower.” He turns to you whilst sitting by the fire and nods at you. After you took the much needed shower, you shorten and tear your dress, in order to make it comfortable for sleeping.

After you went back to Law, you pressed another towel into his hand and Law also disappeared into the bathroom, saying a small thank you.

While he is freshening up, you search through the supplies and see what you can do to make something tasty.

Since there isn't much besides rice, dried meat and spices, you don't have much leeway, but your growling stomach would be satisfied with anything right now.

You have no problem lowering your standards, so you cook the rice with a few spices and fry it.

A spiced scent fills the room when Law enters again, seeing you dividing the fried rice onto two plates.

The seasoning smells quite delicious and Law sits down at the table while his stomach growls.

“It's nothing special but it's all we have.” He looks up at your embarrassed face and grabs the cutlery to eat some of the rice.

You watch him eagerly as he eats the rice and hope for a positive reaction. After a few bites, he hums contentedly.

“This isn't so bad.“ Your heart leaps at his words and it shows on your face.

“Here, have some of the dried meat.” You push the bowl over to him with a grin. He thanks you with a nod and you both continue eating your dinner together in pleasant silence.

Law's skeptical glances keep looking over at your carefree face. He's not sure if you really are the princess... a princess who is usually dressed in magnificent fabrics, served the best food... And yet there you are, sitting in front of him, happily devouring the dried meat that lives up to its name, with your magnificent ball gown torn at the arms and legs.

Usually, the royalty is the complete opposite: spoiled and pampered.

“Are you okay?” His stare does not go unnoticed by you.

“Sure, everything's fine.” Glancing down at his bowl of rice again, he thought it made no sense to think about what kind of person you are.

His gaze makes you wonder, but you are reluctant to force him to talk and so your meal continues, once again in silence. After your meal, you wash the dishes, while Law dries and stores them.

Happily, you hum a little melody and scrub a plate thoroughly. You like being independent and also enjoy the quiet time with Law, even though you find it a little difficult to ignore his scanning gaze.

Why does he look at you like that? Is he going to avoid the question again?

“It's extremely rude to stare at people like that, you know.” you mention in passing while you give him the last plate to dry.

You gave him the chance for not talking about it, but if he keeps looking at you with that scrutinizing look, then he owes you an explanation!

While Law is collecting his words, you take a seat on the floor in front of the fireplace and pat beside you for him to join you.

“Be honest, what's going through your mind?” You look up at him as he hesitantly takes a seat next to you. His eyes watch the glimmer in your eyes, created by the fire, while he ponders what to say.

“It doesn't really matter.” - “It doesn't really matter?” You repeat his words in confusion and pull your knees up to your chest, gazing into the blazing fire.

“I don't really know what matters. I just know that if it's constantly on your mind, it carries a certain weight. Doesn't it?” Under the glow of the fire, your smile creates a whole new feeling for Law, one that he can't even classify. His lips move all by themselves when he sees you smile like that.

“I'm just wondering about you…” - “About me?” you're not surprised, you just want an answer. His eyes are speaking more words than he realizes and you hear every one of them.

"A princess should be crying about being stuck in a situation like this, rather than ripping her dress because it's more comfortable." A small giggle leaves your lips. That's the thing, you think to yourself.

“I'm y/n, not a princess… Being born a princess doesn't mean I aspire to be one.” Law actually knows what your views are. What your wishes and dreams are, so why is he having such a hard time understanding you?

“I want to be free, Law.” His name sounds soft like velvet when it leaves your lips. You just want to know who you can be.

“You make no sense.” No matter how confused he may be by you, the curiosity reflected in his eyes brings a hearty laugh from you.

Which answer can you give? You can't deny that it makes no sense to leave your peaceful country, especially if your duties keep you here, but your heart knows that your life should not end here.

Drowsiness overcomes you and so you decide to test the bed. Law follows your movements but remains sitting in front of the fire while you plop down on the bed. The bed frame cracks a little but seems stable enough.

“The bed may be a bit small, but there should be enough room for both of us.” you mention as you make yourself comfortable on one side of the bed.

"F-F-for both of us?!" he stutters wildly and stands with both feet firmly on the ground.

Cluelessly, you look up at him. Law seems a little anxious, as if he is horrified by your words, yet the reason why is not clear to you.

“That's simply not possible.” - “huh? Why?” Your words seem so natural, like it's no big deal, while you fluff the pillows.

“Come on, I'm definitely not going to let you sleep on the floor.” With an innocent face, you tap on the free side of the bed.

Law shakes his head slowly as his body stands stiffly in front of you. An annoyed groan escapes from your lips.

“What's your problem?” - “You're a woman.” His answer is curt and incoherent in your eyes.

“So?” You throw your hand up questioningly but he just swallows. You breathe deeply through your nose.

What on earth is wrong with him now?

"There's no harm in it, right?" You stretch your arms and let yourself fall onto your side. You shared a bed with Thalia all the time, slept in the garden with Bepo and even took a nap with Ambrosios after training. All completely platonic.

"Sleeping in company is pretty comforting." You shut your eyes and think back to the nights you used to share a bed with your parents. It was nice to be surrounded by loved ones while you slept and always snug and warm.

Law holds his forehead and squints his eyes as if he's in distress because of you.

“Are you that naive?” Surprised by his blunt manner, you tilt your head to one side.

“I-…” He speaks loud and clear while pointing to himself with his hands “…-am a man…” He waits a moment and stares at your blank face to see if you can follow his words "… and you y/n-ya, you are a woman." His index fingers rest on you.

You squint your eyes in disbelief. He can't be serious…

"Are you for real? It's not like we're going to climb on each other just because we're in the same bed…" Oh my goodness.

You can't stop yourself from laughing and snort with laughter. If you're naive, then he's thinking way too much.

"Well, yeah, not exactly…" He stutters a little, he hadn't expected the answer and scratches his chin.

"You don't have to worry about me, I wouldn't think of such things." - “I'm more worried about me…” he mumbles under his breath.

“Huh? What?” - ”Nothing!” He cuts you off and lies down on the bed with you. Even though you're curious about what he said, you're happy that he's lying next to you. Sleeping in company was no lie on your part.

After all, you're finally lying next to each other with your eyes facing the ceiling. You notice how heavy Law's breathing is. His breath sounds nervous, but that's probably just because sharing a bed with someone is a rather intimate thing, especially when that person is of the opposite sex.

But It simply calms you down, knowing you're not alone when you enter the land of dreams.

“Tell me Law, what's it like to be in the middle of the sea with nothing around you?” He glances at you out of the corner of his eye.

“It's breathtaking and a little frightening.” - “Frightening?”

"Yeah… When the sea is standing still around you and there's no land in sight, you realize you have no idea what's waiting for you at the end of the horizon." - “Wow…” His profound words touch you deeply and the feeling in your heart only grows because of his words.

“Do you want to see it?” - “Absolutely.” You don't know when yet, but you won't give in to your grandfather. You are an adult.

“But there's still a lot to do first…” - “And what's that?” He turns his gaze back to the ceiling and tries to hide his interest.

"I discovered something interesting written in the ruins, something that could help me fulfill my duties… even if I wasn't present here." - " Is it really impossible for this country to survive without your powers?"

Since day one, Law has been curious about the ritual that prevents you from leaving this island. He had imagined how this island would die like a plant, but that seems too far fetched. You exhale feeling exhausted.

“Not really.” It's difficult to explain it when you're not allowed to explain anything, but you can't get any further on your own and you can't talk to the people you're allowed to talk to…

The secrets of the ruins are well protected and sometimes you have to solve puzzles to be sure you're worthy of receiving the following information.

"There's a ruin that I'm pretty sure I'll find what I'm looking for." You raise one arm in the air and look at the tattoo on the palm of your hand. It reminds you that your entire existence is a secret.

“And what are you waiting for?” - "It's difficult to find your way around in this building. The building is laid out like a labyrinth.” - “Well, there are a few tricks… For example: lay a trail.” You laugh a little, it's not as if you've already thought of it.

"The problem is that the labyrinth moves…" - “It moves??!” - “And not only that. There are lots of puzzles to solve… Puzzles that I can't solve on my own.” You look at him cautiously, allowing yourself to wish that Law would offer you his help.

“Maybe I can help you? After all, two heads are better than one.”

Hey babes, I hope you liked it :3

Kiss kiss, your yuri

➽ Next chapter

[wandering-winchesters]

Crossroads

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Prompts: "You- you can't leave me like this!", “Sweetheart, please don’t cry…” & “I’m not ready to live without you.”

Word Count: 2,736

Summary: (SPOILERS) Based around the time period of Season 2, when Dean makes a deal with the crossroads demon. The reader finds out that he made a deal, and what follows. Part 2 here,

Triggers: None really, sadness mentions of death.

A/N: I owe many thanks to @octoberclidan , they helped me get past the writers block I was having and helped me come up with the ending! Requests are still open, please send them my way!

Masterlist

The bunker is quiet when the boys are gone, the only sounds are soft and monotone. My eyes are red, face raw from the tears that have finally stopped. Bobby called me this morning, an update on the boys. Sam had died. Dean had made a deal with a crossroads demon, to bring Sam back. Now, he only had a year. The roller coaster of emotions that rushed through me during Bobby’s call, we’re still hanging heavy on my shoulders. Anger, fear, sadness, grief. After learning that Sam was alive again, it was less sadness and grief and mainly anger. Anger at Dean. The man I loved, and who supposedly loved me, threw away all possibility of a full life together. He successfully put a timeline on our life together, 365 days, 8,760 hours. Time, that in the past seemed so much longer than it really is.

I sit at the table in the kitchen of the bunker, my knee bouncing constantly, unable to control my movements. Bobby’s words, “Dean didn’t want me to tell you, but I know better than that.” Run through my head, over and over. Ruminating, they’re sharp as a knife. The pain that it causes almost physical.

I hear the impala pull into the yard, gravel crunching under the tires. I hear their voices, approaching, soft, somber. Yet the second the bunker door opens, I’m greeted by smiles and laughter- a facade they enacted to keep me in the dark, little do they know I’m already up to speed. My arms are crossed against my chest, lip tucked firmly between my teeth, eyes boring a hole through Dean’s chest, unable to make eye contact with the green eyed hunter.

“Hey! I missed you!” Dean says, crossing the room to pull me into an embrace, I pull away from him, dodging the kiss he goes to place on my cheek. He’s taken aback, his voice falters, eyes searching my face for an explanation. My tear stained face, red rimmed eyes and runny nose spoke for itself. Realization crossed his face, his hands dropping to his sides and resignation settles.

I stand up, pushing past him and embrace Sam.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I whisper, hugging him just a little tighter than normal, he hugs me back and I can feel his regret washing over me.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N, we’ll figure it out, I promise.” He whispers, only loud enough for me to hear. I pull away, a tight smile formed on my lips. I turn, and walk down the hall stopping in front of Dean and my shared room. But I don’t go in, I continue down the hall to the room that was mine before Dean and I became a thing. I open the door, walk inside and slam it shut behind me.

I’m not alone for long, there’s a knock at my door, I ignore it refusing to answer. Dean opens the door slowly, his eyes finding me immediately. For the first time since I met him, Dean seems small. His ego nonexistent in this moment, sadness and anxiety plastered across his face. It tugs at my heart for a moment, before anger replaces it once again.

“Y/N, can we talk?” He questions, stepping into my room and shutting the door behind him. I don’t respond, but I keep my eyes locked with his, my eyebrow raised in a way that says I’m listening.

“I take it Bobby called you.” He says, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he glances down at his feet.

“Yep.” I confirm my voice bitter, I cross my arms over my chest once again. I can feel tears forming, but I refuse to cry. I brush them away angrily and go back to staring him down, letting my frustration over take me.

“Y/N, listen. It was Sammy, I had to do something. I couldn’t let him die, baby, you’ve got to understand.” He pleads, crossing the room towards me, his hands coming to rest on my elbows, gripping me tightly.

“Oh I understand Dean, I get it. Doing anything and everything for someone you love, I get it. That’s not why I’m angry.” I push his hands off me and walk over to my bed, sitting down on the edge. “I’m angry because you were gone for a week, 7 whole days and during that time you didn’t call me once. Didn’t call me to tell me what happened to Sam, what you were thinking, what you had planned. You just shut me out!” He starts to interrupt me, “No, you listen to me now. We finally admitted we had feelings for one another and now, what? We have 365 days left, not even at this point. You went and made this decision without even considering me, you made this choice without telling me. Were you even planning to tell me? Or were you just going to let me in on it when the hell hounds came for you next year?” I’m visibly shaking, my bottom lip trembling and tears are forming. I don’t care at this point, I’m too tired to try and stop them. Dean sits down next to me, keeping some space between us as to not set me off again.

“Sweetheart, please don’t cry. It’s going to be okay, I am going to figure something out, I promise you.” I glare at him, daring him to keep talking. To go further, to make more promises that he has no means to guarantee.

“I don’t want to hear it Dean, you can’t promise me anything right now. Crossroads demons are nothing to play around with, I can’t even look at you right now.” I play around with the idea of cursing him out, but there’s no point. He won’t listen, it’ll just turn into an even bigger argument. One that I don’t have the energy for at this moment in time.

“I need you to leave me alone for a bit, I don’t have anything nice to say to you right now.” I mutter, picking at an invisible piece of dirt under my finger nails.

“Y/N, I-“ he starts, his hand reaching for my own.

“Please, Dean. I need time.” He stops, standing up from the end of my bed, he hesitates before he leaves, reminding me that he loves me. He then turns and walks to the door and closing it behind him. 

The second he closes the door, I lose it. Sobs take over my body, tears stream down my face. It was true. My worst fear, was true. Not only am I going to lose Dean, I know the day that I’m going to lose him. Overwhelming dread, takes over my thoughts and my senses. I lay back on my side on the bed, pulling my knees to my chest and let all of the emotions wash over me. Deans going to die, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

Unless. I sit up, my brain going a mile a minute. I could make my own deal, save Dean. The only problem, is I don’t know where the crossroads demon was, somewhere in Mississippi. Where exactly though, I’m not sure. Before I can even process what I’m doing, I pull my phone out and dial Bobby’s number. He answers on the first ring. 

“Hey Y/N, how’re you holding up?” He asks, his voice steady and unwavering. 

“Fine, Bobby, I’m working on some research but I don’t want to ask Dean, because I’m not talking to him at the moment.” I hear Bobby sigh, but hum in agreement. 

“Do you know where this crossroads demon was? I know the boys were in Mississippi, but I don’t know what town they were in.” 

Bobby hesitates, deciding whether to give me an answer or not. 

“Greenwood, they were in Greenwood. Now Y/N, you’re not going to go off and do something stupid are you?” He asks, I can hear the suspicion in his tone. 

“No, of course not. Thanks Bobby.” 

We say our goodbyes and hang up the phone. 

I immediately start packing, I grab a change of clothes, throw on my boots and grab the bag with gear in it that I always keep packed. I holster my gun, slipping it into the waistband of my pants. Thank god for the back door allowing me to get out without the boys noticing, I sneak around to the front of the bunker throwing my bags into the back of my truck, easing the door shut. Before climbing into the drivers seat and starting the engine. I reverse out of the driveway, buckling my seatbelt. What exactly is my plan here? Switch places with Dean? Try to kill the demon myself? I don’t know the answer to that. But I have a bit of a drive to figure it out. The radios is on in the background, classic rock, the station Dean had set it to the last time we went somewhere together. 

Dean. I loved him more than I thought possible. The thought of losing him, was just too much to bear. 

-

The drive passes quickly, my mind wandering everywhere but here. I still didn’t have a plan, I knew I couldn’t kill the demon, but maybe I could barter with her. Me for Dean. 

I pull up to the crossroads, I sit in silence for awhile. Weighing my options, neither one more appealing than the other. I die, hopefully in ten years or Dean dies in less than one. It’s an obvious answer. I open the door to my truck, hand reaching to make sure my gun is still secure in my waist band. Even though it’ll do no good. I grab the things I would need to summon the demon and walk towards the center of the crossroads. I take a deep breath, centering myself and start to dig. Once I’m finished, I sit back on my heels and wonder how long I’ll have to wait. The answer, not long at all. 

“Well, who do we have here?” Lilith chimes, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. 

“I took a bet that you’d come calling. I can’t wait to claim that prize. Everyone knows you are Dean’s greatest weakness.” She smirks, a quick laugh escaping her lips. 

I stand, crossing my arms over my chest and stare right back at her. 

“Then you know why I’m here.” I spit back, anger still clouding my judgment. 

“Oh sweetheart,” she croons, sarcasm dripping from every ounce of her. “I know exactly why you’re here. Did Dean send you? Too desperate to be with good old brother Sam, he asked you to sacrifice yourself for him?” She tuts, her lips turning down at the corners in fake sadness and sympathy.  

“He doesn’t know I’m here, I came of my own accord. Now, can we talk business or do you want to keep ignoring the obvious?” My patience is growing short, anxiety bubbling from within. I just want to get this over with. 

“My life, for Dean’s. All I ask is 2 years. Just a little more time.” I plead with her, my voice faltering, no longer angry and strong. 

Lilith silently considers my proposal, her face unreadable. She walks towards me, her hand reaching out, tilting my chin up towards her. She walks a circle around me, as if she’s inspecting me for the next top model. 

“Oh how I want to say no, rip your little heart out and make you beg. But… the thought of Dean finding out his precious sweetheart traded her life for his… even better.” She laughs, heartless and bitter. I shudder at her touch, but remain firm in staring her down. 

“One more condition,” I start, she raises an eyebrow but continues to listen. “Dean can’t make another deal to save me. It has to be me, not him.” She nods curtly. 

“You’ve got a deal.” 

Just as fast as she had appeared, she was gone. I was left standing on the roughed up patch of dirt that I had dug just a little while before. I slide down to my knees, my hands coming up to my face and realization washes over me. What I had just done, the timer that I had put on my life. It was almost as if I could heard the clock ticking, counting down to the date of my death. Instead of worry and anxiety, I embraced it. A sense of peace washed over me and I laughed. I was so distracted by my thoughts, I didn’t hear the Impala pull up and park next to my truck, nor the car door slam. I didn’t hear the footsteps running towards me, the loose dirt flying. I didn’t hear anything, until I heard his voice. 

“Y/N!” Dean. I turn around and he’s standing, two feet from me, Sam a few feet behind. Dean's eyes rimmed red, his face pale as a ghost. “Please tell me you didn’t do, what I think you just did. Please tell me I am not too late to stop you. Fuck, please Y/N.” He crouches down in front of me, pulling my hands away from my face and clasping them in his own. His green eyes search every inch of my face, looking for any answer any inclination as to what had happened. 

“How did you know that I was here?” I ask, looking back at him, my voice calm and unyielding. 

“Bobby called me, he was worried. You called him and asked where the cross road Demon was located. I checked your room and you were gone, so I obviously knew you were here. I drove as fast as I could, but you still got here before me. Y/N, please, what did you do?” He begs, tears brimming in his eyes. 

“I made a deal, a new deal.” I whisper, looking past Dean, towards Sam. Who stood a few paces away, a look of concern plastered across his face. 

“What Deal, Y/N?” Dean hissed, his face growing red now with anger. 

“My life, instead of yours. Two years, instead of one.” I state, still refusing to meet Dean’s intense gaze. 

“What the hell Y/N!” He yells, his voice so torn up that I flinch. “You can’t leave me like this! What were you thinking?!” This gets my attention, my anger flares once again. I look him dead in the eyes. 

“Do I need to remind you what you did? You think I was okay with you leaving me? I am not ready to live without you! So, I did what I had to, in order to ensure that I didn’t have to. All of those emotions and feelings that you have right now? I had them too, but I did something about it. Don’t even try to make a new deal, I made sure Lilith wouldn’t let you.” It is at this moment that I can see him crumble, his walls break and it all comes crashing down. Tears begin to stream down his face, his hands reach for me and pull me into his embrace. I can feel his body shaking, the anxiety coursing through his veins. 

“I am so sorry sweetheart, I wasn’t thinking clearly. But I had to do everything I could to save Sam. I love you, with all that I am. I promise you, that I will find a way to stop this from happening. No hell hound will harm you on my watch. I swear to you.” He kisses my forehead, pulling me tighter against him. It is in that moment, I decide to let everything go. All of my anger at him, all of my fear around dying. I let it go, I hug him back, as tight as I physically can. I know, deep down, that there is nothing that can be done to break the deal. I know that my should will be going to hell in two very short years. Yet at this very moment, it is all worth it. Dean will live. Sam will still be here. They will have each other. They will be alright, even without me. Dean will survive. 

“I love you too, De.” I kiss him, a long meaningful kiss. Trying to convey exactly how I feel about him in this one moment. One way or another, everything is going to be alright. 

--

Ah, I had a blast writing this. Find Part 2 here

[benjaminthewolf]

The Story Of P.O.V.: Serving The Innocent (Remastered) (Private Steve Pred)

It has officially been over a year since I first published on this blog. I feel as though I owe it to you all to remaster the first season, but especially the very first stories. After the remaster is done, I do have one other huge project I need to get done before I get back to season two, but rest assured it will come eventually so please hold onto your patience.

And yes I’m tagging both Tankmaw and Monday Night Munchin because ultimately, The Story Of P.O.V. Pertains to both fandoms.

Also for those of you who know the story so far and are wondering why I didn’t add on a few tags, it’s because I wanna remain spoiler free for right now, so yeah.

****

The short, sporadic, wavering breaths that are vigorously echoing within your ears as the shaky, staccatic melody to your throbbing baseline heartbeat, nearly drowns out entirely the roaring cacophony of tumultuousness and ravaging constantly compounding in upon itself within the active battlefield around you as you, swiftly, yet utterly laboriously, thrust your legs forwards across the lines, (barely geometrically recognizable lines, mind you), of the advancing Tankman army, doing your literally most possible best considering your current state, to dodge the naturally, and perhaps simply unavoidably, wholly oblivious, relatively gigantic, unaware boots of the ensuing stampede of expeditious, fixated soldiers above your miniscule form, and somehow entirely suppress your body’s devastatingly overwhelming, instinctive howls to stop.

You know you must keep moving. You know you must keep breathing. You know you must endure the onslaught before you. You knew this must be the truth, it was just fact; and if you ended up failing in these tasks, failing to meet these obligations, living to return to your recovering hometown once again was a nigh impossibility.

Your sudden, intrusive thoughts reminding you about home begin to draw up many stinging, salty tears into the wells of your eyes. You make an attempt to force your arm to move up and wipe them off as you continue to swing your bottom half back and forth, however, this attempt is only half-successful, and leaves plenty of drops rougely strewn as a result.

Finally, however, upon the watery cleansing of your shudders, you are able to spot something in the distance that may just allow for your plight to come to completion. There is an exceedingly ragged pile of debris close ahead that some of the Tankmen soldiers are using as cover to safely fire behind, although in being forced to peer just a inch around its bends in order to aim, they are not completely out of the line of counterfire. You pay them zero mind, (though mainly due to your current sheer mental incapacity to do so, rather than on account of any conscious decision), as you expend one, final burst around the corner.

Safe at last within a comparative sense, as no place is ever truly safe within a warzone, upon the moment your body has successfully made it behind, you instantly collapse from sheer exhaustion and overexertion, but again not because of your free will. This, mere desperate wish, at long last, was no longer needed to be repressed. You understand it to be quite obvious, however, that your arrival will not go unnoticed.

“Hmmmm? What the-” Private Steve, the well-known best friend of the further well known and widely respected Tankman known as Sergeant John Captain, suddenly calls out as he cautiously bends over in order to pick up your limp and bedraggled form. “What the hell? Guys! There’s…a civilian here! How did that happen?” he quickly announces to the other soldiers with him before turning to speak directly to you. “Well I have absolutely no clue how you got here, but you look frankly exhausted! Just how far did you have to run? Why are you even here in the first place? Or- How are you even here in the first place? What town are you from? Why-” he begins to positively barrage you with questions, an absolute total of zero of which you are capable of answering, of course. Perhaps quite literally all that your body can do right now is simply lay still and wait for recovery, upon which you may be once again able to act. For right now, however, that option remains an impossibility.

In all honesty, though, you were just glad Steve had managed to realize you were a civilian and not affiliated in any way with the army your government put together in opposition to the Tankmen. Both sides had been committing some rather noteworthy atrocities throughout the course of the war, as was unfortunately to be expected, and if Steve had mistaken you for one the soldiers, he might not have taken as kindly to you as he was right now. Realizing as well at this point that due to your physical state, you are currently unable to answer his questions, Steve gives a sigh and stops asking them.

“Alright, alright. I get it. You need time to breathe. Forget everything I just said. You don’t have to answer any of it. I’m sure some of those questions might be a bit touchy anyway. Still though, when this is all over, I’d be very interested to hear your story.” he at last concedes with a few short nods.

You somewhat manage to give a weak smile in respect of how understanding Steve has been to you thus far, if just so he understood that you had been listening to him in any capacity at all.

This moment, however, was unfortunately not to last, as just a few seconds later, somebody screeched out: “INCOMING!”

Steve was only given but a couple of seconds to duck before a relatively huge explosion went off. Since he was therefore unable to properly secure you beforehand, you were, as such, left to practically fly out of his glove from the force, and stick an exceedingly scathing landing containing further forward momentum against the rough, grainy floor, causing the particles to grind against your left leg, tearing off an abundant amount of skin as a result. Thankfully, the skin on your side and arm were considerably more lucky and managed to hold onto a lot more. You are only able to hear some faint screaming noises, and Steve’s echoing footsteps as he desperately cries out for a medic. Your completely disoriented and positively overwhelmed brain is utterly unable to comprehend anything as you feel something resembling someone inspecting your leg before...putting something on it? And then...wrapping something around it? You’re not entirely sure due to the precarious state of your consciousness, that which you have been barely able to hold onto in the first place. You swear you can hear Steve crying out something along the lines of: “I’M SO SORRY! I COULDN'T HOLD ONTO YOU PROPERLY!” as your mind slowly returns from its current state of haziness. That being said, it still hurt a considerable amount. The painful throbbing makes you completely unable to lift up your head as Steve scoops you back up, mindful of your new bandages, in his hands.

“Hey! Hey, I’m not sure how much of that you heard back there, but oh…I really am sorry, okay?” he apologetically whimpers out. “The medic gave you some bandages, I think that’ll help. But we need to put you somewhere where you can’t get hurt again, and…I’m just not sure where the hell that could be in a place like this…there's just absolutely nowhere- where- I just- wait.” Steve is then silent for a few seconds. “I…... think I know. Oh god I hope I’m not just losing my mind here, but I think that……...” Steve begins nervously attempting to explain before his voice weakly trails off. “Look, I know it may sound like a weird idea, AND IT IS, BUT-” all of a sudden, sounds of close gunfire practically force Steve to shut up. A couple of perilous seconds go by. And then, just like that, you are immediately shoved into his maw.

“I KNOW! I KNOW!” he instantly begins to panic. “I SWEAR THOUGH, I WON’T HURT YOU! YOU’LL BE JUST FINE! I’LL RELEASE YOU WHEN WE’RE ALL SAFE, ALRIGHT?” he finishes his mumble-shouting the best he possibly can with you inside his maw.

Though you do indeed have a few moments of temporarily and instinctively freaking out, you are swiftly able to calm yourself down by reasoning that Steve’s current behavior towards you does indeed show he’s being serious here, when he tells you he won’t hurt you. That, and, what he’s alluding to does kind of seem to be a good place to go to be safe, so you ultimately decide to openly display to him trust by casually laying down flat on his large, white tongue.

The warm, slimy, saliva accumulating against the sides and underneath the slick muscle doesn’t bother you too much, and as your bandages are waterproof enough to where the sticky fluids can’t seep through, allowing your limbs to naturally relax and uncurl themselves into a somewhat stretched out position came naturally as a result. With your hands lying open and somewhat curved around the edges of the tongue you are left able to gently maneuver them underneath its form entirely, before gently pressing your head down into the surface as if it was a pillow, and sensually rubbing your face against the wetted surface upon your leisure. You knew, of course, that Steve would be unable to give any sort of response to this, whether in words or otherwise, due to being caught up in his duty, which ultimately, took precedence over basically everything else the man had prioritized. However, as the act of protecting the innocent was indeed a part of his duty, you still deeply wished to be able to give Steve at least some form of acknowledgement of just how his actions had aided you, and to this end you merely continue to lightly grasp upon the tongue, hoping desperately Steve understood what you were trying to tell him, until the muscle silently rises up into a downwards sloping position, a signal clear as day that Steve was telling you it was time. Again, though you had gotten Steve’s message, it would only be after this battle was quelled that you would know if he had gotten yours.

Keeping the question nicely tucked in the back of your mind for the time being, you simply allow Steve to do his thing as his tongue, gently as it can, pushes you to the back of his maw via gravity, making you slowly and carefully slide downwards towards his gaping, blackened throat. You do your very best to not move around as you are cleanly inserted into the gullet, lest you risk bumping against anything sensitive such as the uvula, and therefore force Steve via his instincts to spit you all the way back out. Steve finally manages to swallow, and some sort of echoing, squishy sound effect reverberates around in your ears.

The goopy, jet black muscles of the esophagus begin to push you on down towards the stomach as you finally heave out a sigh. Feeling the powerful walls around you constantly expanding and contracting in order to shove you further down, your mind begins to meander just a little, eventually to the point where you can take note of the diligent booming of a heartbeat pounding around you. This to you, meant that you were rather close to your destination, and would soon be able to detect the growling and rumbling noises of the stomach. As you continue to be squelched further down, deeper and deeper into Private Steve’s body, this prediction was, of course, finally to come to fruition.

You do your very best to push down the rising instinctive fear of being burned alive by the stomach acid as you are visually introduced to, and soon thereafter gently squeezed through the lower esophageal sphincter. Much to your reassurance upon the oncoming splash landing, the goopy black liquids sloshing their ways about inside the churning tummy don’t seem to hurt you at all, thus solidifying the truth in Steve’s prior statement of not hurting you, and fully solidifying your trust in him as a result.

Heaving out one gigantic sigh of relief you slowly begin to nestle yourself against Steve’s cushiony, white stomach walls and, for the first time in what feels like eternity since all this warfare began, are finally, truly relaxed. The warmth and aura of secureness within the gurgling, shifting stomach have already begun to slightly soothe your headache, and release tension in your cramped leg muscles, as well as the pain in your injured left leg. You begin to wish desperately that you were able to thank Steve, however because he is on an extremely noisy battlefield, where hearing verbal cues may mean the difference between life and death, you are all safely tucked away in his tummy, and you had already given him a decidedly non-verbal cue of your gratitude all the way back in his maw, you therefore decide it would be best for all parties if you did so after the danger has passed. You then attempt to fall asleep, but even now, all of the craziness that has happened today, and just in this year in general, simply overcrowds your mind with too many thoughts, memories, and emotions for you to be able to properly sleep, so instead, you opt to try and deconstruct all of this turmoil within the safe and soothing environment that was Steve’s soft, heated stomach, and listen to its low gurgling and groaning, as well as his baseline heartbeat for the duration of the battle, instead of having to listen to more gunfire.

[boneforts]

callisto isn't a terrible game but like...idk here's my criticisms thus far (i'm not done but relatively close to the end so spoilers)

the dodging system is booty ass. like i hate it. couple it with how janky the moving mechanics are and it's a nightmare. there've been times where i'm like six, seven feet from an enemy and they swipe at me and bc the dodge mechanic is so dominant in the game i STILL GET INJURED when they were nowhere near me. like come on!

there's one boss fight they basically copy paste into the very next segment and legit half of it is repeatedly dodging over and over. dodge shoot dodge shoot wallop the boss, wash rinse repeat.

there's a tooon of dead space (🥁) that LOOKS cool but is just...empty. devoid of anywhere to interact. it's just spooky and There. i don't need every little nook and cranny to worldbuild but there's so little of it here it has almost a soulless feeling to it.

i know this was like...the spiritual successor to dead space. but it feels like they laid the base comparisons and then made the bare minimum effort to make it their own after that. if that makes sense. it's like writing a love letter without any heart!

the dialog can sometimes be great and other times you're like why...would he say that. he's also trauma bonding with npcs which is understandable but they are SPEEDRUNNING that shit and it's so forced at times. there's never any REAL discussion with dani about them boarding his ship and getting his first mate killed and jacob imprisoned - probably bc they separate you CONSTANTLY. which is annoying and it happens over. and over. for the stupidest shit.

i Will. admit the falling scene after the ship is exploded was cool. but it's so frustrating that he'll shuffle and slide and craaaawl to where he needs to be and them they'll be like (◡‿◡✿) jacob lee go fall down again hehe. like it just happened AGAIN and it's lost all of its shine i'm just irritated.

he often rubs at his neck thing, the core? w/e and at first i thought it was a neat idle, but he does it so. fucking. much. and at the worst times. i wish they'd done more than just the one idle animation and didn't beat you to death with it.

the sightless creatures in arcus are cool and obvs like a hat nod to tlou but they're kinda lame ngl 🥴 like clickers are scary af these guys i'm literally shimmying beside them and my britches are dry. mid af.

i also died once bc during a boss fight and all of the loot dropped from the enemies i'd killed in the first half (it checkpoints after the first half) just. absolutely fucked off. like damn it's already hard af out here, got no monies to spend at the reforge, and then you steal my shit?! bitch 😩

OH ANOTHER DEAD SPACE THING like obvs this is another dooms day death cult thing but dead space made it a THING, it was pervasive and cool, and here they're doing something similar but again without the LOVE. like there's that conference room you just stumble on with ONE vague audio file. jacob had visions and they're stress induced partly but like it's never...talked about, really. :-| come on.

i'm not sure if the ferris situation will resolve but him popping up behind jacob and elias while cool was very ??? and if it DOESN'T get addressed i'll be irritated. may update this bullet if it gets resolved.

[boltsandashes]

Is anyone else just... not ready for the way the fandom’s gonna change once the new season starts?

[theowritesstuff]

His Safe Haven

Jamie Tartt x gn!reader

Summary: You have always been a safe haven for Jamie

Warnings: Jamie’s dad, spoilers for s2

A/N: My first Ted Lasso piece!! Look at that!! I apologize for cutting the scene (you’ll understand when you read it) I promise it’s my favorite scene in the entire show but I wanted a moment between Jamie and the reader

General Taglist: @neptuneswritingwork @violetrainbow412-blog

A year ago, if someone had told you that you would be sitting on a couch, cuddled up with Jamie Tartt, watching the newest Spiderman movie, you’d have called them crazy.

You’d definitely had a distaste for Jamie when you’d first met him. He was, in the words of Roy Kent “deep down, at his core, a prick”. He’d constantly get in trouble with his teammates, he’d bully Nate, he even treated his then-girlfriend, Keeley, horribly. Not to mention, he was a PR nightmare. As Rebecca’s personal assistant, you saw everything that went on between him and his teammates.

After returning to the Richmond team from Manchester City, Jamie had begun to grow. You all saw it, and tried to help him along as best you could. He was a better person now, the rest of his team took him back in, even Roy, though he’d deny it, had been glad that Jamie was back.

It had started off with Jamie essentially following Ted around wherever he went. He kept asking the coach to let him back on the team. Then he’d started following Keely around, much to the displeasure of Roy, in search of someone he could talk to. Keeley had told him that he needed to work on himself if he really wanted everyone to welcome him back.

He had come into Ted’s office looking for him, but instead found you, sitting in his coach’s chair. He stood there, a little tense, and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I was just looking for coach…” he said.

“Sorry, Ted isn’t feeling well today so he stayed home, but no worries, Coach Beard, Nate, and Roy are still here to run practice with you all.” You told him.

“So what are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be upstairs doing paperwork or something?” He asked you, leaning against the doorframe.

“Well, Ted somehow convinced Rebecca that I should stand in for him at practice. I tried to tell him that I wasn’t a coach, but he said my only job would be to keep spirits high so… woo…” You twirled a finger in the air.

“Right.” He mumbled to himself, then turned and left.

You furrowed your eyebrows, and watched him walk back to his shelf. He pulled something out of his pocket, a small object, then placed it on the shelf.

The boys all left to go to the field once they were ready, you following behind them. You glanced at Jamie’s shelf, and saw a small green army man. It must’ve been what he was fiddling with earlier.

Once on the field, the team started doing their warm-ups, then their drills, then split up to practice as teams. You watch as Roy occasionally calls out “Whistle!”, and tells the players how they can improve.

Jamie seems to be struggling today though. He’s missing passes, he can’t steal the ball from anyone, and he’s hit the rim of the goal several times.

“Oi! Jamie! You need to make sure the person you’re passing to see’s you before you pass!” Roy shouts.

Sam cradles his arm, but gives Jamie an “it’s okay” gesture. Jamie sighs, and runs a hand through his hair.

“God, what would Ted say right now?” You ask yourself.

“Probably something like ‘if you think you can do it, you can do it’.” Coach Beard shrugs.

The practice game continues on, and once again Jamie’s got the ball. He dodging the other players left and right, running toward the goal.

“You’ve got this Jamie!” You know it doesn’t compare to anything Ted would say, but why not?

Jamie steals a glance at you, and whips back to the game. Your cheer for him lit something inside him. He ran faster, kept the ball between his feet, and was now grinning. He kicked the ball into the net, past Thierry.

His team, and even some from the other team cheer, and huddle around him, happy to have their star player back.

Jamie managed to catch you on your way out of the club that day, pulling you aside to speak with you.

“Uh, thanks for the encouragement… It was nice to hear that again…” He says, his feet shuffling awkwardly.

This isn’t the Jamie Tartt you remember, he was hot headed, aggressive, opinionated. This Jamie seemed like he really was trying to be better.

“No problem Jamie. If you ever need someone to cheer you on, you know where to find me.” You laughed, and pointed up at the window to Rebecca’s office.

You had started seeing Jamie more often after that, passing in the hall, coming in at the same time, you’ve even started having lunch together.

You’d alternate days on who got to pick lunch, and you’d just sit across from each other, eat, and talk. You’d learned more about Jamie during your shared lunches.

Apparently he was a nerd, he liked things like Harry Potter and Marvel and DC. He told you that he’d taken the house quiz online and it said he was a Slytherin, but he claims to be a Gryffindor.

He told you about his mother, and how much he cared for her. He said she was the one who got him interested in football, and that he really wanted to make her proud.

When you asked about his dad, Jamie seemed to tense up.

“He’s a dick.” Was all he said, you took your queue to move to a different topic.

Jamie had tried to convince you to start going to the matches, something that you rarely did. You’d usually spend that time doing some paperwork or running some errands Rebecca needed.

“I don’t know, there’s usually work I need to do during the game.” You told him.

“But I need my personal cheerleader in the stands.” He said, taking your hands.

You could feel your face heat up. “I just don’t think I could swing it.” You shrugged, pulling your hands away from his.

“What if I tell her it’ll make her star player even better?” He asked, a smirk on his lips.

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Sure Jamie.” You started making your way back down the hall.

You didn’t mention the upcoming game at all to Rebecca, but apparently Jamie had, because she handed you a ticket a day before the next game.

“Jamie seems to be very keen on your attendance at this game.” She said, a sly smile on her face.

“Yeah, you guys have been hanging out a lot lately, are you two together?” Keeley asked from her spot on the couch.

“No, we’re just friends.” You tell them, putting the ticket in your bag for safe keeping.

“That’s a shame. You guys are really cute together.” Keeley sighed.

You turned to face her. “Wouldn’t that be weird? Me dating your ex-boyfriend?”

“I don’t think so. I’m with Roy now.” She shrugged. “Besides, I think you’ve changed him.”

“What? That’s insane.” You scoff.

“He has been far more tolerable since the two of you have become closer.” Rebecca stated.

“Okay, Jamie and I are just friends. I’m going to the game to cheer him on.” You said, gathering your things.

“Him?” Keely smirked.

“The team. Hims. All of them. You know what I meant!” You rush out the door in an attempt to end this conversation.

“Hey Y/n, you coming to the game?” Jamie asked as you briskly walked past him.

“Yes. Thank you. I really need to get home, I’ll see you tomorrow.” You said.

Jamie frowned, and walked back to the locker room.

You’d gotten to the club earlier that morning, in case there were any last minute things Rebecca or Ted needed you to do. You stood outside the locker room, and caught Ted’s eye from his office. You waved him over.

“Hey there Y/n! How’re you doing this fine day?” He asked.

“I’m good, I’m excited for the game, it’s the first one I’ll have ever been to. How’s the team?” You ask him.

He looks back into the locker room, then back at you. “They’re doing okay, pre-game jitters is all.”

You nodded. “Well, I just came by to see if you guys needed anything before I head up to the stands-”

“Actually, there is one thing.” Ted said, a worried look on his face. “Jamie just seems a little psyched out, and I heard you were able to help him at practice the other day, do you think you could talk to him now?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” You responded

A wide smile broke out on Ted’s face. “Great! Gimme a second. Jamie! Jamie!” He retreated back inside the locker room.

A minute later Jamie walked out, clad in his blue jersey, white shorts, and yellow knee high socks.

“Ted said you were nervous about the game?” You ask him.

He just shrugs in response. You take his hands in yours.

“Well I’m gonna be in the stands to cheer for you.” You tell him, trying to get some reaction.

“Jamie Tartt do do do do do do, Jamie Tartt do do do do do do” You sang quietly.

This did earn a laugh from him. “Alright, piss off.” He rolled his eyes, but his smile stayed present on his face.

“You’re gonna do great Jamie.” You said softly.

Jamie eyes glanced down at your lips, then started leaning forward. You started to lean in as well, until you heard a voice.

“Hey Y/n!” Sam had poked his head out of the doorway. “Coach is about to give us a speech.” He said to Jamie.

“Good luck Jamie.” You told him, touching his arm. You turned and left down the hallway, on your way to the stands.

Jamie sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.

You watched the game from the stands with Keeley and Rebecca. Both of them cheering for Richmond and occasionally calling out to the referee.

You could see the coaches get Jamie’s attention, then simultaneously flip him off.

“What was that about?” You ask Keely.

She just shrugs in response.

You can see Jamie get close to a player from another team before the next round starts. While he’s running with the ball, the other player kicks under his feet, causing Jamie to fall into the grass.

“Referee!” You stand up and shout.

Keeley and Rebecca share a look, giving each other small smiles.

The referee raises a yellow card, signaling that Jamie can try to score from that point.

“Can he do it?” You ask.

“Oh, right, this is your first time watching a real game, yeah Jamie can make a goal from practically the other side of the field.” Keeley told you.

Jamie puts the ball on the ground, then takes a couple of steps backwards. He takes a deep breath, and glances up where he knows you’re sitting. “You’ve got this Jamie!” replays in his head.

You’re on the edge of your seat as you watch Jamie get the ball in the goal with one swift kick. You jump up and cheer with the rest of the crowd. You watch as the rest of the team practically dog-piles on Jamie, and bolt from the stands.

You don’t stop running until you’ve made it back inside the building. The team hasn’t even gotten back yet, so you take a seat in Ted’s office. Soon enough the guys start filling into the locker room. You peek out of the office, grab Jamie’s arm, and pull him inside.

You wrap your arms around him, wrapping him up in a tight hug. He hugs you back just as tightly. When he pulls away, you can see he’s got a grin on his face.

“That was amazing!” You tell him, hands reaching out to cup his face. “You were amazing!”

His cheeks flushed a soft light pink color. “You really think so?” He asked.

Before you could answer, Ted, Roy, Nate, and Beard walked in.

“Hey you two! How come you’re hiding away in here? Go out and celebrate with the rest of the team!” Ted pushed you back out into the locker room, where everyone was still cheering.

You congratulated everyone on the team, and watched Jamie fall into step with the other guys. He had an arm over Sam’s shoulders, and was listening to Dani talk, waving his arms around animatedly.

You left the locker room in search of Rebecca. You found her in her office, looking at something on her phone.

“Hey Rebecca.” You knocked on the doorframe.

“Y/n, is everything okay?” She asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

“No! Yes! Everything’s fine!” You exclaimed. “I just wanted to tell you that I had fun watching the game. And to thank you for letting me attend.”

“Well it seems a certain footballer really benefited from having you in the stands today.” She smirked. “I think I would like to have you at all the games, or as many as you can attend.”

“I would like that.” You respond.

From then on, Rebecca would occasionally have you pop in at practices. You’d stand with the coaches, watching the guys do their thing. Jamie would catch sight of you and send you a wink.

You could tell the upcoming game against Manchester City was taking a toll on the guys, especially Jamie. You understood, playing against his old team while on a team he left but came back to must’ve been messing with his mind.

There was a lot of pressure on the team as a whole, going against a team they’d lost against before.

You’d gone to the locker room to wish everyone luck before the game, giving Jamie’s hand a light squeeze.

You were devastated when the team lost, leaving the stands with Rebecca and Keeley. You waited patiently for the boys to finish their talk with the coaches in the hall, when you saw Beard push a man outside. He was older, and seemed to be very upset about something.

“You might wanna come in.” Beard said to you, before going back inside.

You walked in to see everyone almost frozen in place. Jamie stood at the other end of the room, a frightened look on his face. He looked up at you, and you could see the tears gathered in his eyes.

You slowly stepped towards him, then pulled him in your arms. He wrapped his around you tightly, burying his face in your neck. You could feel his sobs in your shoulder.

You reached up, and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” You whispered to him.

You took Jamie back to your place that night, and let him sleep over. He told you about everything with his dad, how he’d been abused by him, and how he’d worked so hard in fear of him.

From then on, everyone could tell that things had changed between you and Jamie. They had known that the two of you were obviously hiding feelings from each other, but now they could see that you really were perfect for each other. Jamie brought you out of your shell, while you helped him fight all his obstacles.

You stayed by his side at Rebecca’s father’s funeral, your hand intertwined with his, except of course when each of you had one of Dani’s arms over your shoulders as he tried to walk around, the poor boy had apparently never worn dress shoes before.

As Richmond’s final match of the season crept up, you could tell the team and coaches were starting to get tense with nerves. This was the game that would decide if the team was promoted to the Premier League again.

As much as you wished you could do something to help the team, you knew that it was all up to them.

You spent the morning with Jamie before the match, watching him pick at his food.

“You need to eat something so you don’t pass out on the field.” You told him.

He sighed, and scooped up some eggs on his fork.

“Hey, everything will be alright. Rebecca and Ted really care about this team, there’s no way they’re letting it go anytime soon.” You reached across the table, and took his hand. “And win or not, I will still be here, ready to cheer for you during the next game.”

You drove together to the stadium. You stopped at the door to the locker room. “You’ve got this Jamie.” You stood up on your toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

You left him standing there in shock, a hand where your lips met his cheek. Those were the same words you used that helped him all those days ago. You always helped him. You were always there to support him when he needed you. Jamie knew that he cared deeply about you, but it was in that moment he knew. He knew that it was more than just a friend caring for another friend. Jamie swore to himself that they were going to win that game.

The game was close, and it all came down to a final penalty kick. It was from a point you knew Jamie could easily score. He took a second, turned, and walked over to Dani. He gave Dani the ball, then walked away.

You all held your breath as Dani kicked the ball, launching it into the net. The crowd erupted with cheers.

You, Keeley, and Rebecca raced down to the field. It took Rebecca arguing just a bit, but security let you all through. Rebecca hugged Ted, cheering with him, and Keely made a beeline for Roy.

You searched for number 9 in the jerseys surrounding you. You caught sight of him, just as Colin caught sight of you. He turned Jamie so that he was facing you.

Jamie looked ecstatic. He had the biggest grin you’d ever seen on his face. He ran up to you, and swooped you up into a hug, twirling you around.

Jamie was on cloud nine. What more could he want? His team had just won one of the most important games to them, and he had you, looking up at him with nothing but adoration in your eyes.

He couldn’t help himself, he leant down, and firmly pressed his lips against yours. You were surprised for a moment, but wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him in closer.

The rest of the team noticed your embrace, and a new round of cheers had begun.

Jamie knew that this was the most important moment in his life, surrounded by his team, and wrapped up in you, his safe haven.

[thewertsearch]

Ask Compilation 02/10

Yup! I just checked, and no new comics seem to have been unlocked since I first checked it out, so it seems like they all dropped at once. 

@scouttf2isnamedafterjerma​ submitted: this is canon this really happened

LOVE when she said this, in the comic,

Sburb Glitch FAQ? Color me fucking intrigued. 

Thanks! It’s going to be a long time till I can read any of these, of course, but I’m filing them away for later.

Imagine meeting an alien for the first time, and not only are they shockingly humanoid, they also have your hairstyle. And your glasses. And - essentially - your name. What could be up with that? 

Refer to the chart, Terezi!

Although with your intuition, you probably know the answer to that question better than I do. 

Oh yeah! That’s some fun foreshadowing. 

I initially took that as a sign that the 8-ball was answering Jade’s question from an ‘out-of-universe’ perspective, but now that we have an in-universe explanation for its answer, I no longer think that’s the case. 

I totally get why she’s the troll now. Hoping to see many more Vriska Incidents in the future!

She did say she was into apocalypses, and this one is even dice-themed. I wonder if this is merch from Troll Problem Sleuth?

Oh, god damn it. 

Are the forums really completely kaput? It’s absolutely bizarre to me that no large-scale backup or archive was made, in the decade(?) the website existed. 

I guess we’ll always have the Wayback Machine, but its coverage tends to be patchy for more obscure websites.

(For context: I got a question from @krixwell​ about the blog’s spoiler policy a week or so before the pause, voicing some worries about potential spoilers in asks. The tl;dr is that I’m alright with some minor spoilers - for example, asks about what my Homestuck Title would be, or jokes about the weird structure that the comic seems to take(?) later on)

We’ll see! I really enjoy the discussions brought up by asks, and I’ve had a lot of fun with Titles that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’ve been fine so far, but I agree that if I do get burned, I’ll reconsider. 

I did dodge a bullet here, admittedly! Mind you, I think if I’d noticed this before the Vriska reveal, I’d probably just have been smug about puzzling it out beforehand. 

Vriska decides to beat the Noble Circle at their own game, and becomes Vah’ru-Ee’skaie, eldritch horror of the 8th Dimension. 

Gotta give the Homestuck Forums props for picking these troll names - there’s so much going on with each of them. 

She is constantly Spaced out. Mind you, half of all Sburb Players have their heads in the clouds!

This relates to my theory that Vriska can only make people do things they already wanted, on some level, to do. 

Hence, Karkat must have wanted to keep talking to her. Honestly, the idea that he still wanted to insult her is a pretty safe bet, and I think that’d definitely be enough for Vriska to work with, if this is indeed how her power operates.

Oh, that is a challenge and a half. The trolls all look really cool, with appearances that reflect their personalities really well.

However, this is an undertaking I’d rather take with all twelve troll designs at once. Come back to me when we have all twelve sprites!

Even if the the ‘games for girls’ thing was expanded on later, it’d be hard to prove it wasn’t a Hussie retcon. I love Karkat, but he’s a shitty teen, and it wouldn’t even be the worst thing he said today. 

Vrish-ka just feels right to me. Damn it, I can’t believe that’s how my Britishness comes out. This is almost as bad as ‘sweeties’. 

I love how this, coupled with the previous ask, accidentally implies that Sollux is British. Now that’s a headcanon I can get behind. 

He’s picked the wrong gimmick, then - he’s meant to be ‘never wrong’, but I’ve seen some wrong-ass spoilers!

Yup, I’ve arbitrarily decided this is my OTP - especially given that Lord English has become a more prominent character recently. This is the arc this comic needs!

Forgot about that. Perhaps your lusus’ diet depends on its subspecies, and Vriska - in a matter that she’d consider fitting - rolled the lusus with the worst diet of all. 

If we can pick our Aspect-themed powers, can I call dibs on ‘always has energy?’ 

True. Homestuck - the comic itself - has just one writer, though, so we shouldn’t be dealing with any Expanded Universe shenanigans. 

I guess Hussie could answer differently every time you ask a given question, or write multiple conflicting backstories for a character, but that would make the comic sort of hard to engage with or enjoy.  

I wouldn’t say it’s completely cut-and-dry that canon Midnight Crew implies canon Problem Sleuth. For one thing, the Midnight Crew isn’t even canon to Problem Sleuth! 

I never considered that Godhead Pickle Inspector could actually be an imaginary entity, only ‘omnipotent’ in one sphere of reality. That would make sense, given his origins. It would be fun if he was the source of the dream magic which allows Jade to grow extra arms, since that’s pretty close to how Imaginationland works.

We talked about it! Just in an ask, rather than the main liveblog. Quite a lot of chatter goes on on those asks, so check ‘em out!

[ateezfanficthingies]

Fallen Angel (Part 2) - Choi San

Genre: Angst, fluff (???)

Word count: 1359

It's been over 2 weeks since San's arrival and while he's adjusting to his new life in Hell, he can't help but feel like he's being watched.

This is a Y/N fic but not a reader×San fic.

Also spoiler alert: part 3 is gonna be long as fuck. 😭

Part 01

Part 03

I DON'T OWN THIS IMAGE/THESE IMAGES. I EITHER GOT THEM FROM TUMBLR OR GOOGLE.

THIS IS MEANT PURELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES AND IS NOT MEANT TO REPRESENT NOR SLANDER ATEEZ NOR IT'S MEMBERS IN ANY WAY.

Surprisingly Hell has been great. I happened to land in an area that is essentially just a warmer version of Earth. The burn in one's lungs caused by the hellfire was easy to accommodate to from the start, probably because I was already a deity. Y/N showed me around the house and we cleared out the spare room for me.

Her kindness surprised me, I didn't know kind demons existed, but then again I only recently became aware of the existence of evil angels…

I was shown around Hell, met some of Y/N's friends but mostly I've been going up to Earth. I refused to let go of the responsibilities I had as an angel and continued to try and help where I can. The break from the reality that I'm no longer an angel is one I've gladly welcomed. It hit me really hard but with Y/N's help I'm coming to terms with the fact that it's just a change in titles. I'm still capable of and allowed to do everything I did before.

And frankly a part of why I keep visiting the surface is because I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched.

Even now. While I'm walking Hell's streets. I feel like there are more eyes on me than in Heaven. I feel like someone's constantly studying me but everyone barely looks my way. I shook my head trying to get my head clear and returned to my new home.

"Hey Y/N! I'm back!" I announced.

Y/N (who was on the couch meaning her back was facing me) threw up a peace sign and continued watching TV.

I went to grab some food, the concern still floating around in my head.

"Hey Y/N…" I called out to her, a tad dazed. She turned to face me. "'Sup?".

"Are fallen angels common in Hell?"

"Oh absolutely not!" She chuckled. "Why?"

"I feel like I'm being watched and I don't know why. Do I still have some of my old energy?" She looked up in thought and shook her head.

"No, not really. And why would you be watched? Even if you did radiate a noticeable amount of angelic energy, nobody gives a shit here." Her words didn't really put me at ease. I shrugged and went to my room.

I flopped on my bed and groaned. For some reason I was tired. It's not like I did anything today, I was just tired. My face was being cooled by the (slightly) cold sheets and I felt my eyes close slowly.

Who the fuck is that?

I felt an energy rapidly approaching, a threatening energy. It was familiar but I couldn't place who it was.

I jumped out of bed and walked towards the door, almost bumping into Y/N who looked just as concerned as I was. I looked out the windows at the front but failed to see anyone except one demon who was walking the opposite direction, listening to some music.

I went outside and looked around not noticing the being behind me resting on the wall just between the door and window. Well, I fully noticed him once he shot a dark ball of energy at my back, knocking me to the ground. I turned around and almost choked.

"SEONGHWA?!" his hair was jet black, overtop each of his eyes was a red streak , and his red smile was crookedly drawn on, the new facial features resembling a clown.

"Run." he grinned at me.

"Seonghw… b-but you were dead! I held your corpse in my arms!" He rolled his eyes in annoyance at my remarks.

"I thought you were gonna pull some shit, you sick fuck. It was a fake." I dodged the ball of earth he summoned and threw at my side, rolling onto my knees like I was at the starting line about to run a marathon.

"'Pull some shit'? Wha- DID YOU THINK THAT WAS ON PURPOSE!?" I kept my wings ready in case we took the matter to the skies.

"What 'angel' needs a dagger that can kill deities?!" dark, glowing spots started appearing around him, slowly growing bigger.

"I was trying to destroy it!"

"You were trying to destroy me!" He screamed out.

"Who the fuck are you!?" a voice sounded from the doorway.

"Y/N! GET OUT!" I was just too late. Seonghwa had already slammed a chunk of rock into her and she flew back into the house. Quickly turning his attention to me he machine gunned all the dark orbs around him. I rocketed upwards and just barely missed every last one until my right wing got shot at the top. The ball burned a hole through my wing like acid, immense pain spread like wildfire and I crashed (shoulder first) into the street, making a nice big crater as I landed.

I groaned as I turned on my side to I try and catch my breath and work through the pain. I turned my head to the right to see a seething demon make his way towards me. All he needed was an explosion in the background to complete the look.

"I went back up to Heaven to make sure you got what you fucking deserved, but they'd already kicked you out…" from somewhere to his right a dull light shone in my eyes for a split second. He stood at the crater with a manic look on his face.

"And why were you sent down here? If I wasn't there to kill they wouldn't have known." 

His chuckle began vibrating in the ground around me and I saw where the light came from.

I forced my wings to fly through the pain and just missed the dagger. I heard it make contact with the ground that lay beneath my shoulders. My wings only got me out of the way however the pain was far too much for them to keep me in the air but when I fell I managed to (not very gracefully) land on my feet, stumbling back a little bit.

Seonghwa's maniacal grin was filled with rage. He stayed in his hunched over position and slowly turned his head to face me.

"Well, they put one and one together." his demonic voice sounded like a mishmash of souls and hit me like a shockwave sending a stinging pain through my skull. He took this moment to speed towards me and slash at me - barely missing my chin. He tried to slash at me again but I caught his wrist and the other hand that attempted to free it.

The power struggle continued and the pain I felt in my wings when flying had weakened me significantly.

I slipped my wings between us and spread them out, forcing him backwards as I let go. He fell on his ass and quickly got up to dust himself off. The panic very quickly appearing on his face as he looked around the ground beneath him before looking back at me. His face went pale.

"S-Seonghwa I'm sorry…" I tried to hold back sobs. I loosely held the knife in my left hand and wished it didn't have to end this way. But there was literally no way in Hell he would let me live long enough to convince him that I didn't intend on killing him back when we were angels.

He started to move but I sped forward and jumped on him forcing him back down. I sat on his abdomen and quickly raised the dagger, watching for a brief moment (of hesitation) how he hissed and clawed at me, his demonic screeching could have made my ears bleed along with my heart. So I plunged the dagger straight into his chest. Every beat of his heart vibrated into the dagger. He wasn't able to scream. But he was able to chuckle. He no longer had enough strength to conjure all of his demonic energy so the voice that chuckled was a voice I knew. A voice I still cared deeply for.

He coughed up some blood as he strained his voice;

"I'm not the only angel you've dragged down here...".

[missyasf]

Game Of Hearts

| 1 |

↳ Summary: Your life is in monotonous tones of grey, day in, day out. Nothing matters besides your sister, the only thing you remember is seeing fireworks before waking up to Tokyo abandoned . Soon enough you are properly introduced to the deadly Borderlands where you must fight for your life in Games to survive. When things can’t possibly get worse soon division arises and rivalries are made. No matter what though, you are constantly plagued by a blonde who, no matter how hard you try, just can’t seem to go too far without.

↳ Pairing: Chishiya/Reader

↳ Genre: Angst, smut, thriller

Word Count: 11k

___| Next

Trigger Warning: ⚠️ much like the manga/Netflix adaptation this will be a dark fic which includes mentions of prostitution, attempted murder, child ab*se, sexual harassment, heavy grief and attempted suic*de among other things. Additional warnings will be added for chapters when triggers are brought up. Please read with caution if these are triggers for you or just skip all together! 

Side mention: This could be considered a prequel to the current Alice In Borderland. I’m writing based off the Manga bc I was a glutton and couldn’t wait no spoilers will be present as of...

Escapism

noun

the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy ♡ 

You had known all about this during your short lifespan, as a child you’d often play pretend with your sister that you were movie stars living in a five star hotel rather than the shitty busted up apartment on the wrong side of town. Escapism came in, many forms. It was often a way for people to cope psychologically, simply because sometimes, facing the reality of your situation can be too much for one person to handle mentally. 

Or at least, that was the topic of your lecture today in class. The human mind always fascinated you. Even at the young tender age when your mom died and you watched your once cozy little family fall apart piece by piece until nothing was left in its wake. 

It was your fascination that drove you now for most things, why? Why, why, why? You always wondered what the motive was behind someone’s actions, not only thing but you wanted to  understand them better, to try and sympathize. You were already fairly intuitive in nature. It wasn’t difficult to read people. In fact your line of work made it easy, you’d watch a man who would be excited to be with you reach for his left finger as if used to touching something. A wedding band perhaps? 

The lowlife cheater was fairly common in a whore house after all. Or the man who had been pissy this morning behind you in line because you had decided to try something new on the menu and you weren’t fast enough, obviously because he was tardy and woke up late, his shirt unbeknownst to him was button the wrong way and his tie loose and even the way his hair fell were all signs of being late to work. 

It was the little things you noticed in people’s facial expressions, the way they moved and spoke. You could read people like a book, and sure sometimes it was useful. But you often wished you weren’t so perceptive. It drove you mad knowing when a potential love interest was no longer interested through a simple text or a friend not wanting to talk by their tone. Sometimes you wished you could just blot it all out, still, you lived like this day in and day out, you were used to this kind of thing and honestly. Friends? Love? Your gaze dropped a little to your feet, the pumps you were wearing a jet black and the heel too high for any respectable woman to ever wear. 

...It wasn’t like you ever had any of those in your life and you had struggled to come to terms with the fact that you could survive without that kind of support. Still...it made you envious, the couple happily holding hands on the sidewalk. The group of friends all laughing at a table while they studied. Oftentimes these feelings are muted, but when you’re faced with something you’ve always craved, those muted feelings suddenly become hyperactive in your mind. 

It’s pathetic, honestly. 

“How dare you! You disgusting slut!” 

In this moment however, you were brought back to reality at just what was happening, you squeaked loudly as you dodged the shoe the woman had thrown at you. This was all a regular occurrence, you had a lot of regulars who weren’t the most amazing people but hey, money was money. But along with them they also left a trail which their wives and girlfriends always followed. And then they always blamed you instead of their partner for leaving them for a prostitute despite you never having agreed to anything such as that.

It really wasn’t your fault, you were just trying to make a living while juggling with keeping up your own education, paying your fathers debts, rent and still somehow getting food on the table. What part time college job could provide that?

Prostitution wasn’t a job you would’ve gone into willingly but given the past and your trauma that was already laced in it you had been learning that sometimes because of the trauma we experience, sometimes people go back to that same trauma and actively participate in it as a way of feeling like they’re in control. 

That whatever happened before, would never happen again if you were in control. You weren’t sure if you qualified under this category, trauma came in many forms but the one most used as an example in your class was that a study showed that women who were assaulted often develop a kink for consensual non consent as a way of coping with what happened, except this time, it’s in a controlled environment where it can end the moment they want it too. 

Again, you weren’t sure you fell into this category, but you often wondered if your line of work was intertwined with your earlier memories when you were younger, if anything it brought comfort to you. Much of it, blotted out now simply because your mind couldn’t take it. Trauma expressed through amnesia was also much more common than many thought, and it’s so small, so easy to miss. After all how can you be aware of something if you have no memory of it anymore?

“Security!” Your manager screeched, two of the bodyguards were already between you and the feral woman who was ready to gut you clean as she screamed hysterically, her husband...your regular....at her side trying to get her to calm down only for her to come to her senses and slap him clean across the face. You didn’t condone violence, but he did have it coming...

You weren’t about to justify cheaters, you couldn’t imagine the hurt someone had to feel that not only did their partner cheat on them, but it was with someone...like you...You had been trying not to put down your job occupation, sex workers were just as valid as anyone else...you knew you would’ve thought this way if it was anyone but you in this position. 

You sighed as you ran your hands through your hair, watching the couple get dragged out of the tight space of the brothel, “Jesus christ....didn’t you say you stopped using perfume because of this?” Miki, your manager sighed as she crossed her arms. You didn’t want to say your manager was your friend but she was the closest you had as you’d often complain to her about most of your problems. Sex work often attracted broken people, it wasn’t something she wasn’t used to. 

“Yeah, but apparently he never got around to washing his clothes…” You wiped your mouth on the back of your hand, “Lipstick stain,” You glanced down at the ruby pink color that stained your skin now, “Fuck...that did hurt.” You rubbed your sore cheek that was still throbbing from where she had first slapped it when she ripped the door open of the room where she got to see with her own eyes you riding her husband. 

It had happened so many times now you weren’t even embarrassed about someone walking in let alone a partner. Miki gave you a lopsided smile as she patted your shoulder, “Guess that just pays for being one of the best here. Did you at least get paid.” 

You nodded, “Yeah, I always make them pay in advanced but I was hoping to get a tip afterwards...He was a lawyer so you know he had good money.” You sighed, crossing your arms, you were well aware of his partner because a lot of the time he didn’t even come in for sex anymore. It was funny how humans work. 

He often felt his wife was overbearing and you had suspected some sort of verbal abuse by the way he talked about her constant screaming. Truthfully, you don’t think he ever intended on cheating with her. He just wanted someone to talk to without being judged, you could relate with sympathy to that, but he unfortunately chose to walk into a brothel instead of a therapy clinic and this truly was the only inevitable outcome. Still, you hope if for anyone’s sake, he gets that divorce for himself. 

 “Hey I think I’m gonna call it a day. I need to get back to Nanami, she was wanting to talk to me about college applications.” You sighed as you rubbed your neck, ever since she had graduated high school she had been chomping at the bit to start applying for college, maybe to just get out of the house and into a dorm. You couldn’t blame her and if she did that it would lighten your load a little. 

Guilt washed over you at the thought as Miki chuckled, “They grow up pretty fast huh? My brother was the same way, except the moment he found out I was a sex worker was the moment he called me a whore and we haven’t talked since. That was probably about five years ago,” She crossed her arms as she sighed, “Crazy how the things we do for the ones we love, never appreciate our effort...I’ll see you tomorrow then?” 

“If I’m not bruising.” You offered a weak smile as you nodded at her before going back to your room to get changed. Truthfully, you much like anyone else, often wished you could go to a world where reality wasn’t a concept any longer. Where you could lay out in the sun for the whole day and just soak up it’s rays with no worries or trepidations. 

But sooner then later everyone had to face their fears. Even you, you supposed. But no matter how hard you fought your demons, they always came back tenfold. Again, you supposed your story was no different from tens of thousands, and yet you all live on regardless. Maybe it’s you who should be the one seeking therapy. Pulling on your jeans and the cropped top over your head before pulling the jacket over your arms and grabbing your bag. 

The walk home was as quiet as ever, your hood over your head and earbuds any unwanted attention, it wasn’t too late at night, only eleven PM and your work had just been getting started but that had ruined the night for you and besides, you had already failed a test today, you could use the sleep tonight. 

Occasionally you’d hear the sirens of  a cop car passing by or a bystander shout, nothing out of the ordinary in this neighborhood. Walking up to the apartment complex you pulled the key from your bag as you unlocked the door. Quietly stepping insides as you shut the door before locking it once more. Your nose wrinkled at the smell of stale air mixed with rotten...something…

If anything, you were always lacking in something, you had been so busy most of the day that you never had time to clean anything leaving the house in a horrible state. Not that you thought this was much of a house. 

Walking down the narrow hallway you opened the rickety door with a missing lock as you gave a brief smile to the small clump of bedsheets. Your sister was curled up and on her phone, eyes darting to the door with a hint of fear before she jumped up, “Y/n! You’re home earlier from night shift already!?” 

You offered a smile as you set down your bag and nodded, sitting down on the mattress that laid on the floor as you replied, “Yeah, a coworker needed the extra hours so I let them cover for me tonight. Besides, you wanted to talk about college applications?” Your sister was under the impression your late night job was bartending at some hole in the wall downtown, where in all actuality you just went there to drink a few days and talk to the loud and sometimes obnoxious, but good hearted bartender who loved talking about his nerdy underaged friends that couldn’t do anything beside stay and drink soda. 

It wasn’t that you didn’t think your sister would accept you, if she knew what you were actually doing. Fear, most times came in many different forms and this was one of them. You simply didn’t want to be judged, even by her. So nobody in your life truly knew who you were, and therefore, how could you hold the expectation for people to accept you into society if you were already self sabotaging yourself? 

All philosophy aside, you were simply a lost soul, looking for your way in the cruel reality called life. 

“Yes!” Nanami was chipper as always as she squealed, clapping her hands, “I…! I was thinking about applying to the university you attend! Maybe I'll get a grant and move into the dorms there? I already applied for several jobs, I’m just waiting on a callback!” 

You offered a small smile as you hugged your knees to your chest, “I think you’d like it there, there’s lots to do around campus. But what will you go in for? The only advice I can offer is be sure it’s what you want to do.” 

Nanami’s face faltered a little as she hummed, “Well...I thought maybe working with animals? I’d love to be an assistant surgeon in veterinarian? I know it’s a pretty...sad job but...I really like the idea of being able to heal such innocent things.” Your smile tugged into a gentle one at your sister. She was too tender for this world.

It had been your goal sense the day your mother died that you took care of your sister, it didn’t matter what happened to you. You could rot for all you cared at the end of the day, all you wanted was to look up and see your sister's smile and her happiness in life blossom. She more than anyone deserved it. 

“I think you’ll be great at it.” You encouraged as you rested your chin on your hand, always happy to see her bounce in excitement as you yawned, your body was used to your demanding schedule but it was always more than happy to welcome a few extra hours of sleep.”

Hearing the door loudly slam close caused you both to jump, Nanami hurriedly crawled back in bed, pretending to be asleep as you frowned. Your dad must’ve come back home from wherever he was. 

“Y/n! Just stay here! Can’t you talk to him later?” Nanami looked scared, she always did when he was around. But you weren’t about to stand down to the bastard any day of the week, you offered a weak smile as you replied. 

“It’s fine Nami, I’ll be just a few minutes.” You replied, you knew that she knew, that was probably a lie. But you’d try your best, for her sake at least. But somebody had to put this guy in his place occasionally and it was always you. It results in a lot of screaming sometimes, other times he’d break down in tears or on a bad occasion you’d get shoved to the ground, a few times hit. Nothing major. 

Walking out of the room you leaned against the wall of the entrance of the hallway watching your father stumble around in the living room, “Did you finally talk to the loan company?” You called out as you asked, not in a forgiving mood tonight. He had said he’d do this for two weeks in a row. The company that sank your whole family into the ground. The reason your mother couldn’t take it anymore and put a blade to her wrist. 

Your father stood up, looking a little wobbly, obviously drunk, “Now listen here little girl I don’t have shit to own to you or anyone else.” You sighed as you tucked your tongue into your cheek, annoyance flowing inside you as you straightened up. You weren’t going to be bullied into being scared of this guy. 

“Actually you do,” Your smile twisted into something more sharp, more bitter and sinister as you walked forward, “See, if you hadn’t of gotten involved in something shady like loan sharks we wouldn’t be drowning in debt and mom wouldn’t have killed herself because of you and both your daughters wouldn’t hate you. I know you drink away all our money in some pathetic attempt to escape from the cold reality that you fucked up your whole life and watched your family slip from your fingers while not even trying to do anything other then put us in further shit,” You closed your eyes as you tilted your head, “But the least you could do, is admit that. You owe us at least that for being a total fuck up.” 

You opened your eyes to find pure rage brewing in your fathers eyes as you smiled once more, this time a false sense of sickly sweet tone to it as you shrugged, “Or you could live in denial, at this point, there really isn’t anything you can do to get anyone back ♡ ” 

You had turned around, planning to tell Nanami that maybe she should go sleep over at a friends house today but you never got the chance, suddenly being slammed into the wall and flecks of spit hitting your face, “I am your fucking father! I deserve respect from you and your worthless sister! Do you know how much I provide for you both?” 

Anger splintered through your veins as you grabbed onto his wrists, his fingers digging into your neck as you squirmed, “Like fucking what!? A shitty broken down apartment that your vacant from because you’re too fucking ashamed of yourself to even look at us sober!?” 

Much like years in the past you weren’t surprised to hear Nanami cry as she rushed out of the room at the sound of you both screaming, “Stop!” She cried out, trying to break you both up, “Stop! Don’t fight! Why…! Why can’t we all just get along!” She sobbed only for your dad to shove her down making her curl up in defeat. 

Alarm bells were triggered in your head at the sight of Nanami on the ground, she had never actually gotten hurt while in your sight and it was triggering something deep inside you as you watched him stalk up to her. Your hands shaking and rage boiling in your mind as you grabbed the closet thing you could find. An empty beer bottle on the table. 

Your vision blurred and you don’t quite remember what happened other than glass shattering over his head and the brute force of you shoving something before blood was stained on your hands. 

How did you end up sitting against the wall? Why was there….blood on your hands…? Your fingers trembled at the metallic sticky substance. All you could hear were Nanami’s sobs and cries as she frantically pushed herself away from the body slumped on the ground. 

“You…! He…!” Nanami’s eyes brimmed with tears as you heard a loud boom making you jump, your eyes darting to the open window where….fireworks, big and bold crashed and crackled before you felt like you were sucked into a vortex making your whole vision black out. 

Your head felt fuzzy and there was ringing in your ears as you groaned, curling up into yourself as the darkness beckoned you closer before you forcibly opened your eyes. You were laying against the hardwood floor. Beams of light streaked through the window and you could see dust particles in the air against the shower of sunshine that streamed in. 

...Wait...Light? The thought had perplexed your head enough to make you push up from the ground, memories pulling into your mind as your breath became shallow, suddenly looking to the side where...you slumped against the wall. It must’ve just been a bad dream….your eyes flickered to Nanami’s curled up figure...a really vivid dream…? Something wrenched in your gut as you rubbed your eyes. What happened? “Nami…!” You whispered, forcing your muscles to move despite their protest as she whined. 

After another moment she reluctantly opened her eyes, flickering around before she suddenly scrambled up, taking a deep breath as if realizing what had happened before, looking towards where your dad once was she frowned, “...I...What…” She seemed just as perplexed as you and if her face was anything to go by, last night had obviously happened, “Is dad…” She looked at the absent place of the floor. 

Leaning against the wall your eyes darted around the room, “I guess so…” You silently felt relief at knowing your dad was still very much alive as you leaned back as you closed your eyes, trying to remember what had happened before everything went dark...oh..! The fireworks...had it been a celebration last night? Your brows pinched together, something felt...off...getting up you opened the door to the apartment walking out. 

“Y/n? Y/n! Hey! Where are you going!” Nanami called out, quickly chasing after you as you frowned, cars were parked odd and there was no one out on the street...as in...at all...Something was very wrong and you couldn’t figure out what. 

“Wow...it..must be a slow day…” Nanami felt a sense of discomfort at the lack of life as you both walked down the side walk, it didn’t just feel like a slow day it felt, apocalyptic. As if humanity just left on it’s own leaving nothing but an empty city behind. Cars were parked on the curb and a few even left in the street.

“No, it’s like everyone vanished...This is really weird.” You wrapped your arms around yourself as you frowned, looking around as you came closer to where typically it would be a booming part of the downtown but it was empty, just as everything before. 

“Well, maybe it’s a national holiday?” Nanami rubbed her head, trying to make sense of the situation just as much as you, surely everyone wasn’t...gone...right? She looked around as she bit her lip, second guessing herself at all the cars that were vacant, “Hey Y/n.” 

You paused as you looked at your sister, curving an eyebrow as she offered a weak smile, “What if everyone got raptured away like they talk about in christanity?” Your expression flattened as she giggled, obviously getting a rise out of you as you crossed your arms. 

Raptured? Where? To heaven? “Wouldn’t it be fire and brimstone then if that was the case?” Nanami pouted at your words as you shrugged, snickering yourself at her expression, the tables now turned as you sighed, “I don’t think there’s anyone left in Tokyo...I mean, it feels like...we’d have seen someone by now...right?” 

“Well…” Nanami frowned once more, a little disturbed at your words as she spoke, “There’s no way everyone could be gone I mean, where would they go? And how could we miss something like that...Maybe the police found us and now we’re under some weird simulation.” 

Chills spilled down your spine as you shoved her making her whine, “Don’t say that! That makes me feel all weird…! I didn’t…!” You cut yourself off, you didn’t what? Murder your own dad in cold blood...you looked down at your hands, they were free of any blood but it still felt like something like sin lingered. Like no matter where you went, it would always be stuck to you.

You didn’t like this, not one bit. Briefly you felt the urge to go hunt down your dad, he was a deadbeat but you would never...you’d never kill him....Right?

“Well…” Nanami hummed her eyes scanning ahead before they jumped to the mall that was up ahead, “Hey…! If nobody is here...maybe we could make use of it! Come on! Let's go!” You yelped at her grabbing your arm before dragging you ahead. Cars were all parked and yet not a single person exited through the mall's entrance. Something just felt off! You wrapped your arms around yourself as you warily looked around the empty mall, “Nanami I really don’t like this!” You looked around, concern bubbling inside you as she ran ahead into the store, digging through the section of clothes as she giggled. 

“Relax! I doubt any of this is real and even so…! Who’s going to stop us!?” She shrugged as she bounced in excitement, “Oh my god! I had dreamed of something like this happening! Now we can do whatever we want! Go wherever we want! Y/n!” She gasped with a smile, “Now we don’t even have to worry about money!” 

“We don’t even know if this is permanent.” You looked around warily, not partaking as she began plucking off the racks, “Regardless of what this is, I don’t like it. I want to go back home, our home. This just doesn’t…” You shook your head, “This just doesn’t feel right.” 

“Well you can feel that way!” Nanami clacked her tongue as she gave a childish smile, “But I’m gonna go through this whole store and get a new wardrobe so feel free to sit on the bench and tell me what you think looks good!” 

Looking away you sighed, unable to pinch the anxious feeling you had away as you sat down reluctantly as Nanami went into the changing room. Well...at least she was smiling and she was happy...With each outfit Nanami tried out and giggled, you giggled with her and maybe things weren’t so bad after all…

“What a perfect day.” Nanami hugged you close as she sighed, yawning as you looked up at the sky in awe, you had seen a single star while living in Tokyo before, but now it was filled with constellations and millions of stars that stretched for miles. You could stare at it for days and days. The sun had just set a little over half an hour ago and you were ready to retire and find something to eat at the apartment. 

You and Nanami had tried going to the food court but much to your dismay everything had been...rotten...soiled and ruined, meaning there was no point in trying to find anything there and you were getting really hungry despite devouring bags of chips you had both got at the convenient store, another thing that stood out to you was that there was no electricity...at all..

Looking back up to the sidewalk something caught your eyes...was that…! Light!? “Hey! Nanami look!” You shook her making her squeak as she looked up ahead, “It’s the hospital! They have electricity there which means there’s other people! Of course! Why didn’t we think to check essential areas!? Come on! Lets go! I wanna figure out what happened.” 

“Alright! It sucks that this is already over but at least I can finally charge my phone, the battery is pretty low.” Nanami nodded in agreement as you both made your way up the road. 

The walk wasn’t too far and you felt excitement fill you at the sight of the hospital all lit up as you walked into the entrance, a frown slowly setting on your lips once more as you walked past the receptionist desk and…! Oh there’s other people! 

You felt relief wash over your as you ran up, there were at least seven other other people here at least! “Hey! Guys oh my god. I thought everyone was gone! What’s going on?” You asked, smiling bright in relief that you and Nanami weren’t the only ones left behind. Was this some kind of evac point or…?

Silence ensued and you slowly began to frown as you felt everyone stare at you as if you were insane, “Um…” You wrapped a hand around your arm, suddenly feeling as if everyone knew something you didn’t, “What’s going on…?” You furrowed your brows as you tilted your head, unsure of why everyone was looking at you like this. 

Somebody looked like they were going to talk to you, a guy relatively around your age but a woman stopped him- his girlfriend maybe? “Stop, the less that know the better chance we have.” She said quietly though you still heard just enough. Fear twisted inside you as you took a cautious step back...The...the less you knew? 

“Wow, you guys are assholes,” A girl suddenly whistled out, she was sitting in a waiting chair, a cowboy hat on her head paired with distressed jeans and...a bikini top? Strange but you’d roll with it if it meant getting answers. She stood up as she offered a smile, “Akari, nice to meet ya’. You folk must be new to the Borderlands huh?” She jutted her bottom lip a little as you frowned. 

“Um I’m Y/n and this is my sister Nanami...?” You introduced yourself despite feeling confused as you raised a brow, “Borderlands…?” You echoed, what was that supposed to be? Other than Tokyo?

Akari gave a nod as she let out a brief chuckle, as if amused by your confusion but you sensed she had no real ill will unlike....your eyes checked to the couple that stood off in the corner on their own, “That’s what they call it here,” She nodded in affirmation as your eyes darted back to her in confusion, “To be frank with ya’, I don’t have a damn clue what's going on. Nobody does. But ever since you crossed the threshold there’s no going back, so I’ll be brief. We’re all considered outsiders here and we participate in games at venues such as this to extend our stay.”

Nanami and you looked at one another confused as Akari waved you over to the table in front of a TV, “Here, you’ll wanna put these on, it’s for the game.” She explained as you carefully picked up the metal bracelet, something about it felt ominous as you reluctantly put it on, jumping at the way it latched together and there was no getting it off now, “Word of advice, just don’t panic and you probably won’t die.” 

“What?!” You screeched as Akari smacked your back, panic evident in your voice as you turned around to face her making her laugh again, this girl was insane! She had to be! “You’re…! You’re joking!” 

Akari wrinkled her nose as she tilted her head, “Ah shit, I wish I was- Oh…! There’s the last player!” Just on que everyone turned to look at who had arrived, someone heaving breaths with their hands on their knees as if they had sprinted. You were mildly worried at why he seemed so scared but you had a feeling that was the least of your problems right now.

“Y/n what’s going on…?” Nanami frightened grabbed your arm as she hid a little behind you due to all these immensing strangers that looked like they were ready to feed you to the sharks, literally. 

The guy walked past you both as he put on his bracelet, your eyes sharp as you watched it latch together automatically, your gaze jumping to everyone's wrists to notice you were all now wearing one. The TV suddenly lit up. 

Game 

You squinted your eyes a little at the sight of the screen, just what were you about to unwillingly participate in…?

Difficulty: 5♣

“The game you will be participating in is, Monster under the bed.”

A playing card? Monster under the bed? Your brows furrowed as you looked at Nanami who shrugged a little despite her concerned expression, looking just as confused as you. You could’ve made a joke out of this, surely it would’ve been easier. Maybe everyone would bust out laughing and you’d be at the end of a poor joke but...somehow you felt that wasn’t the case. Thus paying very close attention to whatever was on this screen, 

“Everyone will be sectioned off into pairs by the number chosen on your bracelet, when the doors to the ward open you will have three rounds ten minutes each to figure out who is the monster under the bed that must be returned to its own, once the ten minutes is up you must hide before you are found. If the selected pair that is the monster is chosen correctly it’s a Game Clear.  If the monster is not found by the end of the third round or if the pair fails to hide it’s a Game Over.” 

Rules: 

Once the doors are open you and your partner must find a hiding spot by the time limit

Both partners must be hidden. If one is exposed to the monster it’s a Game Over for both partners

There will be an X marked on the ground to place the monster of your guess onto. 

You will have three rounds of ten minutes each to find the monster.

Any attempt to remove bracelets results in a Game Over

If the monster is not found by the third round a Game Over.

The only Game Clear condition required is for the monster to be returned by the third round.

What…

What!? 

“Now the game will commence, you have five minutes to figure out who you have been paired up with before the doors open.”

Your mind was blanking as you watched everyone look down at their bracelet, hurriedly you lifted your arm as your mind blanked 2 looking back at Nanami her lips were already quivering as she sniffled lifting her arm in defeat as your lips dropped open, 5.

“Hey! Guess you’re my partner!” Akari grinned as she wrapped an arm around Nanami who sniffled, “Oh…” She looked between you both, “Oh! Oh don’t worry! We’re not the monster so I’ll make sure your sister lives! You should go find your partner.” 

Your hands trembled unsure of what to do before you went to hug Nanami, “Whatever happens just stay calm okay! I need to go find my partner now!” You whispered, kissing her cheek as she sniffled while nodding. 

Everybody was shuffling around looking for their partner now, you passed by a few people, 4, 1, 3...did you even have a partner…? You scanned around, your throat tightening a little in panic, there had to be a mistake! There were only 8 people surrounding you- you yelped at the tight grip that suddenly held your arm forcing you to turn around to be met with a white hooded figure, a lollipop handle hanging and earbuds in before sighing, “So it appears I’m stuck with someone useless.” The man concluded as he stood up making you back away a little as your lips parted somewhat indignantly. 

How...how rude! You looked up, unable to fully make out his face but you could tell you didn’t like him one bit, “I’ll…! First of all I’m not useless! I’m just trying to understand what's going on! This is insane! We aren’t actually going to die from this, are we!?” Pushing his hood down you were immediately met with a snide gaze and cat eyes that leered at you like you were nothing more then dirt beneath his feet, long blonde hair pushed behind his shoulders and his bangs hanging low, suddenly a viscous side smile appeared on his lips, “Apparently so, otherwise I wouldn’t have watched half my last game get their brains blown out and the other half hung.” 

You reeled a little away from the blonde, your face dropped in semi horror, unsure if this was just a sick joke or he was serious. You searched his face a thousand times over, but for the first time in your life, you couldn’t figure out what his goal was. You couldn’t figure out anything about him, except he was exceptionally cold, “Well I don’t suppose I have much choice to doubt you,” He said with an annoying sing song tone as he rattled his wrist that showed the bracelet with a matching 2 on it, “My name is Chishiya, just stay out of my way and we’ll both live.” 

How arrogant! You scoffed as he walked past you, not the least bit bothered at your offense as you whipped around, glaring at his back. How come out of everyone you got stuck with the most…! Pompous! Arrogant! Ugh! You crossed your arms as you followed behind him, stilling secretly sending daggers into his back with your eyes as everyone shuffled into the ward. 

Hospital beds were scattered around the room, a few closets and one large vent at the bottom right corner of the room ahead. 

“Wait, what is this?” The first person to speak was a fair thin older gentleman, he appeared friendly as he observed the room around him, everyone looked around in confusion as you noticed what he meant. 

Any possible hiding spot was covered by either sheets of metal or locked tight...How were any of you supposed to hide if…!? The rules mentioned nothing about solving puzzles to gain access to a hiding spot!

“Forget that,” Another man said with a sneer he was broad and a bit older, well into his late twenties at least, perhaps a gym coach? Or maybe a wrestler of some sort? He looked like he could break you and nearly every other person in this room like a twig, “We need to figure out who’s the monster. “ He cracked his knuckles as you leered a little away and nobody spoke for a second. 

Of course, who would out themselves as the monster, more importantly, how does one even know they’re the monster? You could immediately feel tension rise as the previous, more patient man spoke, a little more collected, “How about we just check one another's’ watches! If anywhere it would show us on that! One pair should work on solving these puzzles here so everyone has a place to hide” 

“Unless the monster is among us and it sabotages us so we all die by the time limit.” The girlfriend crossed her arms as she darted her eyes around. Truthfully you didn’t know what to believe, the wording on the soundbox was rather confusing as to just what were you looking for. Was the monster supposed to be in the group or it’s own entity?

“If that were the case it would’ve showed up on our watches, which it didn’t. So that won’t work.” Chishiya spoke matter of fact, his tone cool as his eyes gazed across the room before he walked away from the group inspecting various hiding spots granted you didn’t think he was about to help anyone but himself, if anything you were at least lucky that him securing a hiding spot meant it was one for you as well. 

You looked at everyone in confusion, some arguing while others scattered to look for a hiding spot as the clock ticked down. You breathed in relief at the sight of Nanami and Akari both going for a bed to hide under. Your gaze finally found Chishiya’s form before following him, unsure of what you were supposed to do, if anything outside trying to figure out just what the monster even was. 

You glanced up at the digital clock that stood above the entrance you had just come in from, it was already a minute in before you searched the floor where you found a red X in the center of the room, that must’ve been the...what? Offering spot? You cringed a little at the idea. Looking forward you peered behind Chishiya’s shoulder deciding to not think about that, it seemed the metal sheet that had wrapped around the bed and was sealed to the ground was locked by some sort of metal device…? Contraption? Lock?

“Isn’t hiding under a bed a bit obvious…?” You frowned as you crossed your arms, unsure as you looked behind your shoulder once more to where accusations were already being thrown in the group. 

“The vent is a decoy to make you waste time, I already checked,” Chishiya replied, his fingers nimble as they rattled the metal, “And even if someone were to accomplish it in the time limit it’s the most obvious spot the monster would first check. Next would be the closet given it’s at eye level and the first thing one is drawn too when they walk into a room.” 

Your lips parted a little in surprise at his assessment...obviously he wasn’t just overconfident, “And why this spot?” If he had really thought about all this in less than a minute then...did he have a reason for this spot? You now found yourself, slightly less annoyed and a little more curious as to what was going on in his mind. 

“If the monster were to check a bed it would be after his eyes are drawn to the closet. Next in that line of sight would be the vent directly across it, which would be his next place to look if not his first and vice versa. The beds are all staggered throughout the room making them less conspicuous compared to the other hiding places, the bed on the far end of the room would be no good.” 

Your brows furrowed in curiosity at his assessment as you watched Chishiya blow a piece of hair from his face, wiggling out one piece of the knotted metal, “It’s too far from the entrance where as the one in the middle is by average the one most people would start with, where as the first? It’s almost too soon in the start to look there thus making it the safest.” 

“It’s them! They’re over there conspiring!” You both twisted around to watch the broad man point an accusing finger at you both as your eyes darted from him to the clock on the wall, which read at six minutes. A few other pairs, relievingly so was your sister had started working on a hiding spot while a few others stood around and argued. 

Your face coiled a little as you replied, not appreciating the accusation to such a baseless accusation, did they not realize the longer they argued the less time they had to secure a hiding spot? “Someone who’s terrible at playing the minority would often be the first to point fingers. There’s only six minutes left before the first round is over and we need to hide. But if you want to talk about this then sure,” 

You stepped closer as you crossed your arms, scanning over him before continuing, “Let’s talk about the chances of you being the monster, ever since you first came in you’ve been all twitchy and acting like something is wrong. Even when we first got paired up, you seemed a little panicked. Anyways,” You turned around as you spoke, “How do we know one pair is a monster and not one single person?” 

“Eh,” Akari sat on the bed that her and Nanami chose as Nanami fumbled to work out the puzzle, she had always been good at those! You felt assured as your heart beat frantically at the idea of them not being able to get a hiding spot in time, “Let’s all calm down,” She gave an awkward laugh, “This isn’t a hearts game, we shouldn’t divide our trust. This is a team building after all which means this game should be making us work together, the last thing we need to do is throw that away on our own accord.” 

“...Team building?” You frowned as you murmured having not been aware that this was some sort of game category...Hearts? Clubs? The memory of the playing card flashing on the screen appeared in your mind again, right...was that to stand for some kind of game genre? If Clubs stood for team building then...there should be no reason that the monster is any of you. Why would they even suggest that to begin with?

Then...what was the monster? 

“One minute remaining.”

The lights suddenly began flickering, “Got it.” Chishiya yanked the last piece of metal undone as he pulled the sheet of metal off, everyone was now scrambling and the few who had not done their puzzle were now panicking. Getting down you crawled under the bed, your back flat to the ground as you inhaled sharply as you noticed the lights beginning to dim, “This is...uncomfortable.” You mumbled, trying to ignore being pressed shoulder to shoulder with a man you didn’t even know besides him having a god complex, “We should’ve went with the vent.” 

“By all means, if you want to try and get yourself killed already. Go for it.” You turned to look at him, dark endless cat eyes meeting you as you harshly glared at him, why was he so condescending!? 

You were about to snap back something before you realized it was completely dark and the door slammed open causing you to jump. Was your heart always this loud? You could see the heavy boots step against the ground making you unsteadily inhale, swallowing as you closed your eyes. You could only place your trust that Chishiya hadn’t picked a horrible spot. 

More importantly your mind was plagued with worry for your sister, you had been so caught up you hadn’t even tried to help her yet...did she even…! You heard a sudden loud scream from two people causing you to stiffen as you looked up at the bed frame lined with wooden planks. You could only cower back down at blood suddenly painting the floor.

Your stomach suddenly churned as you covered your mouth. So he wasn’t lying. Chishiya however looked just as nonpulsed as he did when he first told you himself, his eyes blankly staring up at the bed frame as if this was just a regular game of hide and seek as people screamed as they were torn apart. 

Or that’s at least what you assumed it was. 

After an agonizing few minutes the doors finally closed and the lights flickered back on making you breath in relief as you waited a moment, could you even bear to face what was waiting on the floor? You winced a little before something caught your eye. What was with all this extra wood stuck in the frame? 

Chishiya had already gotten out from under the bed and before you suddenly heard a few girls scream, your sister among them making you puff and breath as you scrambled from beneath the bed.

Standing up your mouth agape at the horrid sight of the female and the broad male that had been too focused on accusing others, they didn’t have...enough time...it looked like they had been completely mutilated, blood pouring on the floor and the smell made you want to gag as you looked away. 

“Well, now what do we do.” Akari scratched her head, also not looking phased that two people had just been brutally killed. Your eyes stayed placed on the bodies before they slowly trailed to your hands, the memory of blood staining them still fresh in your mind. 

“Well we have to figure out where the monster is?” The girlfriend of the couple spoke up, she looked around somewhat suspiciously, “But I’m not sure where we could find it? Maybe it has to do with the bracelets? Maybe there’s a clue hidden.” 

“Oh what about in the cabinets?” The collected man from before offered as he went to search the cabinets, your frown furthered as you glanced around. Everyone was now getting along, still on edge but along at least. 

Chishiya only leaned against the wall, his hands in his pocket as he rolled the lollipop in his mouth, his gaze the same steely one it was before as if he had done his job in securing his temporary salvation and was now done. 

Or maybe he just didn’t know what to do? It was obvious his strength didn’t lie in teamwork, clearly. But then again, you weren’t sure what was going on, you couldn’t get a read on him. Crossing your arms you stayed beside him, your eyes briefly washing over your sister who was working Akari to dig through a desk together. 

“Cabinets and drawers are too obvious.” 

Chishiya’s eyes flickered to your figure, his expression just as cold if not...a little smug maybe? He said nothing in return as you continued, “If we’re looking for a monster, it’s obvious it’s a metaphor for something. Inanimate most likely,” Your eyes flickered around the room, inhaling sharply, why did it feel like the answer was right in front of you? 

Think…! You glanced at the clock, only six minutes left. The rounds were really short…! “It’d be something small and inconspicuous, something that’s in plain sight….but easy to miss...and the game said it was a pair which means there’s more than likely two.” 

“Three,” You glanced at Chishiya as he spoke, pulling the lollipop from his mouth, that permanent smug look on his face as he answered, “Two is what they want you to think and if you spend a round searching for each like they hope it’s game over by three.” 

You rubbed your neck as you frowned, “It’s already the second round and we haven’t even found one…” You glanced around before you suddenly perked up, “Wait…!” Getting back down on the floor you laid on your back as you pushed yourself under the bed, “Chishiya! Help me get this thing out!” 

Within a moment the blonde appeared as well, his eye sharp and keen as they noticed straight away what you were tugging at, “You think this is the monster?” 

You looked at him as you raised a brow, “We have less than four minutes left on our second round, you have a better idea?” Chishiya said no more but helped regardless, successfully with the both of you maneuvering it around from beneath the wooden boards you managed to get it out. 

Holding it up you looked at it, “It’s a poppet doll.” You turned to face him as you smiled in accomplishment, “They’re typically used as curses to place upon people in folklore. If anything is a monster, this would be it.” 

Excited at your first victory you pulled out from beneath the bed as you waved it up, “Hey guys! We need to start looking for something similar to this! If not a replica.” Everyone huddled around you examining the doll before the microphone sounded, “One minute remaining.”

Everyone had immediately scrambled back to their hiding place as you ran to the red X, placing the poppet on it, that's the reason that had to be there right!? You’d just have to see, hurriedly you ran back to your spot under the bed. Making it just in time as the lights flickered off. 

The door slamming open once more as you slowly inhaled, it had to work right? If not...then you were at a loss for what to search for and you were utterly screwed. 

The boots stomped against the floor past the bed as you closed your eyes, unable to calm yourself. After a moment you heard a screech and something rip open before screams followed making you jump. Chishiya’s eyes were on the feet that stood by the closet that had been obviously ripped open. 

You heard the sound of something wet and a gurgle before a body slumped to the floor and you could hear begging before something got snapped in half causing you to close your eyes once more...Did you make it angry!? Was that not it? Fuck. You had never felt this stressed before as it roamed around, passing in front of your bed as you tensed.

Was this your last moment alive? Truly? 

Much to your relief, the door closed once more before the lights followed, flickering on, relaxing a little you sighed as you reluctantly got out from underneath the bed with Chishiya to see what had happened. Much to your horror it was the man who had been so kind this whole game and his partner. 

The monster didn’t check anywhere in the first round, yet he did this round? You tried to block out the bodies slumped in the corner as you glanced at the red X, the poppet doll gone. 

“Why- why were they killed!” Nanami’s eyes began to water as she grabbed her head, “This makes no sense!” 

“If it accepts the doll that means we only need two more. What happened to them is irrelevant.” Chishiya stuffed his hands back into his pocket as you glared at him sideways, not appreciating his careless tone. You could deal with it, but you didn’t want your sister dragged into it. 

Grabbing your chin you thought about it for a moment, “Well...the game said to return the monster to its own and…” You glance down at the X, was there some kind of unsaid rule that if you didn’t get all three of them on the first try that it would start hunting down players? “How would a mother feel if they only returned one of its children?” 

“This thing doesn’t have feelings,” The girlfriend of the partners replied coldly, her eyes like steel of her own as she clung to her boyfriend, “It’s as he said,” She waved to Chishiya, “It doesn’t matter, we’ll be like them if we don’t figure this out.” 

You glanced around the room, “Tell me this, if it doesn’t matter, then why did they give us all these different hiding spots?” Everyone was silent, all eyes on you as if your question didn’t make any sense, your eyes flickered to the clock that was nearing eight minutes, you didn’t have time to monologue, “No think about it. The monster never intended to look for us- that was never stated in the rules. So why did they give us all of these choices if we only needed one per pair? My point being, if we found one poppet in our hiding spot then...You get where I’m going with this? Chishiya.” 

He glanced up at you acknowledgement as you curved a brow, your lips threatening to tug into a smile as you tilted your head, “How confident are you in solving that vent?” 

He glanced back down and for the first time, you watch a cocky wide smirk twist onto his lips, “You’re lucky to have someone as smart as me here to be able to open it.” You tucked your tongue into your cheek as in annoyance as he sauntered over to the vent already getting to work, “As for everyone else, we need to open up as many of these as possible to find the other two.” 

Everyone immediately scrambled to get to work, with only seven minutes on the clock this was...going to be difficult. First Nanami and Akari searched all the opened spots as you worked on another bed. Rubbing your head as muttered, “Shit...I never was good with puzzles.” You awkwardly hung your head in defeat temporarily, briefly letting your eyes shift to Chishiya who was fiddling with several locks, his gaze sharp and you couldn’t even imagine all the calculations going on in his mind. You were somewhat envious of what it would be like to be that perceptive to anything adhering to logic and solution. 

“Aha! Found one!” Akari yanked the poppet from the top of the closest as Nanami covered her mouth, looking like she was gonna throw up being so close to so many dead bodies. You ignored the grisly sight at the second victory of the poppet doll. Akari quickly placed it on the X as you began to work on the puzzle once more, looking up at the clock. Oh no...Oh no there was only three minutes left!

“Chishiya! Hows that puzzle coming along.” You called out, trying not to sound alarmed but you could see the clear cut annoyance on his face as he continued working through the locks, “If you’d like to help while struggling on a novice lock feel free.” He replied condescendingly, not appreciating the pressure. 

You rolled your eyes with huff as you finally managed to get it undone, feeling triumphant as you searched under the bed but there was no luck, “There’s nothing here!”

“Or here!” 

Several people called out as well as you rubbed your head, standing up, “If the only other place that hasn’t been searched is the vent then maybe there’s only two? It did say a pair.” You felt a lump of anxiety well in your chest at the sight of the clock ticking close to a minute and half. 

“Should we really take the risk?” The boyfriend asked as he rubbed his neck, concern on his face as he looked around, “If we’re wrong then we’ll all…” 

You hadn’t even thought of that…

“...! Hey.” You turned to Chishiya who seemed to be trying to get your attention making you immediately come over, if he was asking for you it’d have to be for something important given there was nearly less then two minute on the clock, “Hold this right here.” He immediately pushed your hand onto the lock right where he wanted it, “This is a two handle mechanism meaning that there needs to be two people unlocking it. Push down and out at the same time.”

“Hide! Everyone needs to hide now!”

The lights were beginning to flicker as everyone scrambled to hide, stress evidently put on your shoulders now more than ever. You could only hope he was right with your life on the line, “Now!” You pushed down on your side, the lock sliding as you pulled out, pulling a piece of metal holding up the lock directly out as Chishiya did the same with his side. 

The lock fell off as well as the metal of the gate of the vent, you immediately with no hesitation leaned inside it was dark and hard to make it out anything besides the steep drop off. So he was right, this was a waste of time for a hiding place. 

Looking down you caught sight of wood before laughing in relief, “It’s here! Wait shit! Chishiya! It’s too far down in the vent, you’re gonna have to lower me down to reach it. Time?” 

“Forty five seconds.” You felt unfamiliar hands on your hips lifting you up as you were lowered down, “We have time.” 

You squinted trying to see as you reached down, “Lower me further! I’m not quite in reach,” Your muscles began to ache in your shoulder as you reached harder, growling in frustration, “Time!?” You were lowered a little further, the wooden poppet brushing against your fingers. 

“Thirty seconds! Could you go a little faster?” 

“Could you lower me a little quicker- Ah! Hey did you almost let go!?” You snarled back, grabbing the poppet doll, giving a good yank as it lodged in between the crevice it was in, “Get me back up! I got it. Time!” 

“Twenty seconds.” Chishiya called back, pulling you up as you gasped, pain from the metal jabbing into your stomach evident as you were met with a darkening room. Setting your feet firmly on the floor your eyes flew to the flock fifteen seconds and your spot was all the way across the room….! 

“Where are we supposed to hide!? We can’t get all the way there in time!” You hissed out running to the X as you dropped the poppet down. The lights shut off as the final five seconds counted down and before you could do anything you were shoved to the floor as you squeaked. Your body throbbing in pain and your mouth immediately covered as you were met with the coverage of a bed but neither one of you were bold enough to try and scramble beneath it as the doors slammed open. 

Fuck.

Your whole body was tense as your eyes squeezed shut, you were just a little ahead of the X here, if this is all the poppet dolls...they’d have no reason to go further into the room...unless...Your hand squeezed tight around the wrist of the hand that covered your mouth as you tried to calm yourself at the loud thudded footsteps. 

It was quiet for a moment before you heard more walking before the doors closed. 

“Game Cleared”

The lights turned on as you fell limp against the side of the bed, Chishiya’s hand removed from mouth as you pushed your hair from your face, closing your eyes as you breathed in relief, “Holy shit.” Was all you could mutter to yourself, you had never been more grateful to breathe air in your whole life. 

“I guess you weren’t that useless after all huh.” Chishiya clacked his tongue as you turned your head to look at him, raising your brows as your face contorted into something between insult and amusement. 

You’ve only known this man for a half an hour and yet...something about his words, if you dug down deep past that smug expression of his, was this a compliment? Looking away you pressed your tongue into your cheek, trying to keep from smiling, “Yeah, and you’re still conceited and arrogant but, I guess you have a good reason to be.” You glanced back at him again but you could hardly hold his gaze, something in that brief moment was electrified between you both as you laughed somewhat sheepishly, closing your eyes as you looked away once more. 

What the fuck was even wrong with you? If this was back before today you would’ve totally kicked this guy in the balls and went about your day.

“Y/n!” You straightened up at the sound of Nanami’s voice, your expression brightening as you stood up, quickly running to her as you hugged her tight, “I can’t believe that just happened…” She whispered to you as she pressed her face into your neck. You couldn’t either but, you were thankful you had survived this game. Whatever it was. 

“Come on, let's get out of this room.” You tugged on her arm, no longer wanting to be in this death room despite knowing it was all over. Pulling her out you paused at the sight of the TV and a...register…? You bracelet unlocked as you took it off, tossing it on the table as you tilted your head. 

“Congratulations Game ''Clear ``.''

“...Now issuing visas to those who survived the game…?” You furrowed your brows as you glanced at Nanami who rubbed her head in confusion. You grabbed the receipt as you looked it over with a frown before picking up the 5 of clubs playing card along with it. Odd. 

“It’s how many days you’re allowed to stay now! Almost a whole week, that's a good score for a first game!” Akari called out as she patted your back making you jump a little. 

Almost a whole week…”Until we have to play again to...continue our stay?” You raised a brow, deciding not to ask what happens if you refused. While you had many questions, you had a feeling you knew the answer to that one. 

A part of you couldn’t even believe this had happened, or was it all still a dream. 

“Hey…! Sorry for all of that in there,” You turned to see...oh…! It was the boyfriend of the partner, the gifrlfriend stayed behind looking brooding, “I’m Ryu and that’s my girlfriend Hiroko I was...ah…” He faltered a little, rubbing the back of his neck as his gaze flittered to his girlfriend who was glaring him down, “You should stop by the Beach- I...I think you guys would make good additions! Bye!” He hurried not even finishing his original sentence before scurrying off making you furrow your brows at what he even meant. 

“The hell?” Akari raised a brow as she watched the guy run off, “Seems to me he wanted to chat more…guess we know who's really pulling balls in that relationship.” 

Nanami suddenly snickered, covering her mouth as she giggled, “Hey Akari! Why don’t we stay together! We did really well in the game together!” 

“Awh shit, if you guys really want me too!” Akari offered a quirky smile as you laughed, you had no problems with someone staying behind with you. Looking past Akari your smile faded a little at the sight of a white hoodie exiting the entrance. 

“Hey- I’ll be right back!” You pushed past the both of them who paid you no mind as you pushed out of the exit and down the stone steps, not sure why your feet were making you chase after such an egotistical man but…!

“Chishiya!” You called out, making the man pause, he turned around, pulling the earbuds out as he glanced up from his hoodie, raising his brows in acknowledgement, “Um…” Why did you even chase after him…? You stepped down the last step as you wrapped your arms around yourself. 

It was silent for a moment as you berated yourself internally for why you seemed so speechless all of a sudden. Chishiya however didn’t seem to mind, his eyes absent now as he stared up at the hospital, “I used to do my clinical rotations here.” 

You were broken out of your silent thrashing of internal humiliation as you raised your brows, lips parting in curiosity as you asked, “You were a doctor?” 

“No,” Chishiya snorted, that amused calico look of his on his face once more as he looked down at you, “I was a medical student. Training to be a doctor but that obviously didn’t happen…” His lips curved into a frown, his eyes cold once more as they looked back up at the building, “I came here tonight to see if anyone I knew would be here.” 

“Oh…” You looked away, feeling somewhat awkward and unsure of how to reply to him as silence took over once more beside the occasional rustling of the wind in the tree’s, the urge to speak overtaking you to the point you couldn't resist, “Chishiya...I…” You looked away, feeling somewhat bashful, “We...made a really good team back there.” You forced yourself to look up at him as you offered a bright yet subtly shy smile, “If you want...you could stay with us…?” 

Chishiya pulled the lollipop stick from his mouth, letting it drop to the ground as he spoke, “No thanks.” You turned to him in surprise as you frowned a little, you shouldn’t have expected anything less…

“Oh...I understand.” You offered a weak smile as he turned his back on you and began to walk once more, “I just have one more question,” You called out causing him to pause, “...Do you by any chance know about a place called the Beach?”

Note: Whew...! As a lurker in the Alice in borderland fandom I saw a lot of people complaining about the lack of Chishiya fics so I decided to volunteer myself and take on for the team to write a series for this little blonde fucker so PLEASE let me know your thoughts and I hope you enjoy!! Also

[ordinaryschmuck]

What I Thought About "Echoes of the Past" from The Owl House

Salutations, random people on the internet who most certainly won’t read this. I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.

What probably gets debated the most in the fandom is the legitimacy behind King being the King of Demons. Some believe that there's truth to his statement, while others, like me, like to think that he was just some stray Eda picked up off the streets. Either option seemed likely, especially since Season One never gave an answer that leaned one way or the other.

Then here comes the writers finally answering the question of who King is in episode THREE of Season Two! Because, again, they don't waste time on giving fans exactly what they want.

Fans wanted answers behind King, we got 'em, and analyzing what those answers mean requires going deep into spoilers. So if you haven't checked the episode out yet, I highly recommend that you do. Trust me, it's worth seeing.

Now let's review, shall we?

WHAT I LIKED

Luz Experimenting with Spells: Hey, look! More proof that Luz isn't an idiot like some people flanderize her to be!

But, seriously though, this is a perfect little thread to introduce into the story. Luz collecting knowledge from Lilith's old books and past work she and Eda made adds to Luz's intelligence while also providing a believable explanation for how she gets new spells. It's also nice to see that she has this little notebook (or spellbook) to help see what works and what doesn't. It's a level of experimentation that proves her dedication to becoming a witch while also exemplifying how she isn't stupid. Occasionally reckless, sure, but you can't say that the person who figured out an invisibility spell through showing her work is also an idiot.

Francios with a Knife: How did Francois get a knife? I don't know. But the fact that a random knife plopped out behind him with little to no explanation is funny, and I will not hear otherwise.

I don't make the rules. I just abide by them.

Luz’s Invisibility Spell: I breezed past this, but I honestly love this invisibility spell. More specifically, I love that there's a limiter. It can turn you, objects, and people you're in contact with invisible, but only as long as you can hold your breath. It helps make the spell something the characters can't always rely on, which is appreciated. Because if it works as long as they concentrate, what's stopping them from sneaking into Belos' castle and assassinating him in his sleep? It's a smart way of explaining why they can't always rely on something, despite how insanely useful it is.

Luz: Let's gush about Luz some more, shall we!

"Echoes of the Past" is another episode that has Luz on top form. She is constantly supportive of King, even if Lilith has a point in the dangers of indulging his fantasy as a powerful tyrant. Doing so would cause more harm than good, especially when King finds out Luz doesn't believe him, but her going along with it was all done with the best of intentions. Luz doesn't want to hurt her friend, and even if she did in the long run, she still makes up for it by helping King learn more about his past.

And, as another reminder, Luz isn't stupid. She's the first to say they should leave when it's clear how dangerous the castle is and is quick to figure out there should be more at the top. Luz is a loyal and caring friend who's also guarded and intuitive when the situation calls for it. This episode understood that, so here's hoping other fans will too.

Lilith: Yeah, she's still growing on me.

I feel like this episode shows a better idea of Lilith's place in the group more than the past two. She's a person who's obsessed with knowledge and learning but considers herself above the jovial nature of King, Luz, and definitely Eda. Therefore, she acts as the perfect catalyst for what jumpstarts this week's adventure. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that she almost instantly dismisses King's claims due to considering herself more knowledgeable than everyone else. Still, I like how she's willing to believe King once she finally sees evidence that seemingly proves he really was the King of Demons, to the point of referring to him as "her lord." Hooty does the same thing, but it comes across as him fearing for his own life and choosing to be friends with someone who could maybe kill him in an instant. For Lilith, her newfound respect comes from the desire to learn more, and it's that desire that makes Lilith an enjoyable character to me. It's adorable to see, and it has some comedic flavor in moments like when she dismisses everyone else and their emotional revelations to take pictures of the carvings around her. I'm sure she'll cause some controversy like other characters with rushed reformations, but for me, I'm more than ok with her addition to the main cast.

More of Lilith’s and Hooty’s Friendship: HOW DOES THIS WORK!?

ON PAPER, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA, BUT IT F**KING WORKS!

HOW?!

WHAT BLACK MAGIC DID THESE WRITERS USE TO MAKE A RELATIONSHIP SO UNEXPECTED COME ACROSS AS SO ENDEARING AND ADORABLE?!

And where can I get some for my stories...just asking.

But seriously: HOW?!

Hooty Making Himself Portable: Ah, yes. The classic bit where a character does something horrifically grotesque off-screen, and we have nothing but character reactions and sound effects to imagine what happened between shot A and shot B. It's an oldie, but given how hard I was laughing (mostly because of Luz's gagging), it's still a goodie.

Eda’s Portable Bathtub Boat Thing: I mean...I was expecting Eda would use something to catch up with the others, but...that thing...well...I mean, I'm still laughing just by thinking about it. That should tell you how well executed this joke was.

John Luke: ...I'm gonna go ahead and add him to the list because HOLY S**T was this guy disturbing! From his design to his movements to even the sounds he makes when moving, everything about John Luke screams as something that will stay in kids' nightmares for a while. Now, this might seem like a complaint, but to be honest, I'm more than alright with how creepy John Luke is. I highly doubt adult viewers will consider John Luke scary, but I guarantee he'll terrify some of the youngins that this series is aimed for. And that's fine. It's good to creep kids out a little bit with something somewhat scary, as it might introduce them to more good horror stories later in life.

Plus, the reveal that John Luke was only a guard for King is pretty solid narratively speaking. You can see how John never really meant to hurt King aside from one accident when Eda escaped with him. If you want to read into it, I guess it might be questionable to tell kids that something that looks dangerous is secretly nice, but that's really nitpicky, in my opinion. John Luke was a fantastic threat that is designed and animated well, with a solidly executed twist. Some might hate what he presents, most will fear him, but we can all agree on one thing: His theme is awesome (can I get the track for that, please)!

King’s Backstory: Finally, at long last, we know who King is, thus putting an end to a year-long debate. And I fully mean it when I say that the writers gave the best possible answer. Because in a way, everyone was right. Yes, King was just an animal that Eda decided to adopt, like the nature-loving hippie she is inside (She's got the hair for it). However, while he may not be the King of Demons himself, he is still the son of someone who deserves that title. So while he isn't the King, there's a chance he might be the Prince. Once again, there's no direct answer, but given how the writers came up with something that pleases everyone while still providing more questions for debate, it acts as a brilliant move, in my opinion. So whatever answer we get next, I'm sure it will be just as perfect.

Baby King:

My heart was not prepared for that level of cuteness!

King’s Breakdown: NOR WAS IT READY FOR THIS LEVEL OF SADNESS!

But in all seriousness, a HUGE round of applause to Alex Hirsch for his performance in this episode. He expertly captured the raw emotions of shock, anger, betrayal, and sadness that King must have felt when finding out that everything he believed he was is a lie. It's one of those moments where I don't hear a person voicing lines in a booth (or wherever the hell VAs are voicing characters nowadays), but instead hear a living person being emotionally torn apart. It was heartbreaking seeing King so vulnerable as he's so guarded with his emotions. Seeing him like this adds so much more layers to a character that many would mistake him as a cute, comedic animal sidekick. But just like with Luz, there's more to him than people will tell you.

“I don’t even know what’s real or fake anymore!”: I'm just pointing out this line because I believe it's what convinces Luz to help King learn more about who he is. Hell, not knowing what's real or fake is the main reason why Luz got sent away in the first place, so I feel like she can relate to King when he's in a similar predicament.

Hooty and Lilith vs John Luke: This was just a cool scene with some epic moments of dodging John Luke's attacks and some funny ones, like how Hooty said the word "pain." It's a ten out of ten that I would rewind to watch again.

King’s Other Horn: I'd question the logistics of how a horn that got broken off when he was a baby still manages to fit perfectly in the present...but it is neat symbolism of King accepting his past and letting it be a part of him, so who cares?

(The fact that the colors of the broken-off piece don't match the rest of the horn is nice attention to detail as well.)

WHAT I DISLIKED

It's a Little Too Predictable: I pretty much figured almost every little twist the episode offers. But, I'm willing to say that's because I'm in my twenties, and I've seen enough stories similar to this one, so I'm more likely to know what will happen. The little monsters watching this will see it for the first time, so they'll most likely get more surprised than me...And that was my only complaint about the episode...which is more of a personal problem than an actual issue...I guess that means it's perfect.

IN CONCLUSION

"Echoes of the Past" is an easy A+ in my book. It gives lore and backstory that furtherly develops the characters that episodes like this should. It also tells a tragic story about King that still sprinkles in a few good jokes every now and again to lighten up the mood. Sure, there are some nitpicks I could mention (how did King remember his own birth?). But when the good stuff is done so well, what's the point of dwelling on small, insignificant issues? This is still a phenomenal episode that flew past all expectations I had for it, and it continues the winning steak this season is having so far.

(But that's still three home runs in a row. Meaning that a stinker is coming. Ooiee, is it coming!)

[azucanela]

Dating korra would include

BEING KORRA’S S/O[GENDER NEUTRAL]

BEING ZUKO’S S/O | BEING SOKKA’S S/O

SUMMARY: life with korra from confession to marriage

WORD COUNT: 2.1k

WARNINGS: no major spoilers 

A/N: SOMEONE WITH T A S T E, i hope you don’t mind but i kinda just did the same thing i did for my zuko headcannons so feel free to scroll straight to the during the relationship bit if you just want dating korra h/c :D 

also i have 300 followers now what, i literally had 200 like yesterday hi everyone <3 um i really need to start pulling out all the stops

GETTING INTO THE RELATIONSHIP

she’s a simp.

that’s it. thats the headcannon. she has literally liked you since she met you and has said nothing, but you probably know since she’s so damn OBVIOUS ABOUT IT

korra is very in tuned with her emotions so when she realizes she likes you she’s pretty okay with it, a little more flustered during your interactions, but after a while her goal is to make you feel how she feel which is flustered.

she has no shame though, she knows she is hot and she wants you to know she thinks you are hot

lots of flirting on her end, so naturally you kinda begin to think she is joking and think nothing of it

this was not her intent, and now that you are desensitized to her flirting and not reacting flustered like you did when she first started she is frustrated™

you were not understanding that she very much likes you

stupid

she hasn’t said anything outright to you about it though, which is the main reason you are like lol this is a joke, my crush fake flirts with me i am okay

spoiler alert: you are not okay with this it hurts ow

so now shes getting ridiculously affectionate with you, which, tbh, she always was, but not its RIDICULOUS, korra is out here throwing an arm around your shoulder, randomly grabbing your hand, kissing your cheek

shes trying really hard to get her point across like really really hard

like painfully hard

if she likes you its probably because your fun, like you really spice up her life and introduce her to new things and go on really dumb adventures and really important missions with her and you put up with her and wow now korra is simping oops

you’re also probably forcing her to stay healthy, since i honestly think that despite having such an appetite, korra will forget to eat and take care of herself sometimes.

she is so bad at drinking water i swear to goD

there are two situations here

situation one is where korra finally realizes that you CANNOT READ SIGNALS AT ALL and decides she going to be upfront with you about her feelings

she’s either going to just flat out kiss you next time she sees you or spill all her emotions, of both in no particular order

you’re like reading in your room in the air temple, just vibing, and you see her coming towards you with a determined look on her face and you’re like ??? lol okay

you go back to reading only to have her hand reach under you jaw and she brings you into a kiss and now you’re like LOL OKAY

you honestly think that this is just another one of her stunts to get you flustered and means nothing

stoopid

and then she pulls apart and just starts spilling her feelings and you’re like :O omg me too 

and she’s like, “great, we’re dating now.” and suddenly she’s kissing you again, and between kisses you’re like, “im sorry what?”

“you heard me. do you have a problem with that?”

you just kiss her again

situation two is where you get sick of her and realize woah she may or may not be in love with you and so you confront her, and now there is a lot of yelling because you are frustrated™ and like screw you korra

you honestly think she is either madly in love with you and just doing this as a joke, and you genuinely think the latter is more like so you lowkey start crying and korra immediately begins to panic

she’s like, “why would i ever joke about that! i’ve literally been trying to get that through your thick skull this whole time!”

this time you kiss her first and korra is throwing a party in her head but she also feels really bad for making you cry oops

DURING THE RELATIONSHIP

okay so korra happens to be very much a simp

and you happen to be very much the mom friend™ it doesn’t matter if you are a boy girl or none of the above, that is your trademark my friend

she’s very affectionate and now that the two of you are dating she is at a whole new level.

important meeting? you are in her lap she does not care. war meeting? she is cuddling you as you explain the plans of attack and DAMN DO YOU LOOK GOOD DOING it

since being the avatar is MUCH more a political position now though, she does try to keep your relationship slightly on the down low, even before you were dating, you both had reporters constantly asking about your relationship and she doesn’t really like that

they are nosy and she does not approve. korra understands wanting to know about her avatar duties, but anything outside of that in regards to her personal life annoys her

loves kissing you, and when she does it tends to be intense and passionate. after a particularly tough day though, her kisses can either be slow and sensual because she just wants to have a nice soft and domestic day with you

OR

they can be harsh and almost brutish, she will get rough with you because she is highkey pissed at everything that day and making out you with is her stress reliever

really likes cuddling and anything domestic in general. she’s really happy with you, and she kinda has all the love languages

she seeks validation when the press is particularly harsh since being the avatar is HARD and as much as she wants to, she cannot please anyone, so please tell her she is doing amazing

so many acts of service up in here, she will randomly do stuff for you, spontaneity is kinda her vibe ya know

very vocal and expressive about her feelings, communication is key with her

arguments aren’t a rarity tbh, but when they do happen they tend to be more of debates over little things like what’s better, pineapple pizza or no?

major fights tend to end poorly since she can be a little stubborn when it comes to such things, but she will admit she was wrong and apologize IF she was wrong

if she wasn’t wrong but the argument got out of hand, she’ll apologize for that but will affirm her correctness

kiss her scars, she has them, and she is proud of them but 

support her at her pro bending matches and she will DIE, so happy, literally sososososososo happy, hugs you, loves you, yes

treats you as an equal no matter what, even if people think that as the avatar she should see herself as something more than

very protective of you.

like if someone flirts with you, she is clingy x10. if someone hits on you despite your protests, she HITS them. if someone threatens to hurt you, she promises to end them. 

MARRIAGE N STUFF

WELP

she’s gonna realize she wants to propose when she almost loses you, or in the middle of a battle. when the reality of potentially losing you hits her she is gonna realize she wants to live out the rest of her life by your side, protecting you

situation one is where she literally, in the MIDDLE OF BATTLE, without a ring, just proposes. you are being a baddie, bending if you are a bender, fighting the opposing enemy, looking MIGHTY FINE while doing it

“marry me.”

you falter, nearly getting hit as your head whips over to her and you’re like, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”

and she throws a giant rock at the opposition, temporarily indisposing them, “yes?? why wouldn’t i be.”

Someone comes up behind you and you elbow them in the face and ram your foot into their knee, knocking them down, “RIGHT NOW?” 

she throws a whip of water in your direction and you dodge it, allowing her to take out the enemy behind you, and you throw a whole dagger at her to do the same. “that was close.” she narrows her eyes at you bc you lowkey look like you wanna kill her rn as you two hide behind a barricade for cover and an explosion washes over it, “you could’ve killed me.”

“you just about gave me a heart attack when you PROPOSED two minutes ago, need i remind you.”

korra raised a brow at you, “is that a no...?”

“do you even have a ring?”

korra gives you a look that gives you the answer and you groan, “i cannot believe you.”

“you really should’ve expected this.”

“i know.”

“i get to pick the ring then?”

“you’re probably going to plan the whole wedding.”

“alright.”

theres a boom from beyond the barricade you two have hidden behind as korra looks to you, “alright?”

“i’ll marry you.” you elaborate, giving her a bright smile.

situation two is more depressing lol

you have been SHOT oops, don’t die pls because korra CANNOT handle it after everything that has happened to her, so if you die she’s done

she’s kinda just sitting at your bed side and it hits her that you could die basically any day now, and she would have so many regrets

she wished she kissed you more, told you she loved you more, held you longer, spent more mornings with you and your bedhead, she wished she learnt to cook so that she could surprise you with a meal when you get home from a long day of work, she wishes she did a lot of things

she wishes you two were married.

korra is now having an existential crisis, and everyone is telling her that she has to go home, get some rest, you’ll wake up eventually, you’ll get better, but you don’t wanna wake up to korra being a mess

she knew they were right, you always scolded her for not taking care of herself, so she decided to follow some of their wishes

Korra cannot bring herself to go home, there are so many reminders of you that it hurts, and she kinda just decides she’ll stay in a hotel and wash up and such.

besides, you are her home.

after leaving the hotel, she ends up going the jeweler and buying the ring she believes screams you

when korra returns to the hospital, she contemplated proposing right then and there, before realizing that you’d probably yell at her for choosing such a ridiculous time and you already had a lot on your plate

once the two of you return home and you are in the midst of recovery, she did learn to cook, so you wouldn’t feel the need to do so, and given your situation she fears you’ll injure yourself further in the process.

you two are eating dinner and you’re babbling on about something you’d read, and she suddenly decides to get up and walk over to you, leaving you like ???

then she gets down on one knee and you are like :O

she’s like, “marry me.”

naturally, you start crying and nodding because wow this is such an intimate moment and just happiness

kissinggggg after that 

the wedding is, under NO CIRCUMSTANCE public, the most private and intimate wedding ever. korra hates reporters after her life as the avatar, she doesnt want strangers at her wedding.

any and everyone she has ever fought beside is there though, its wholesome and nice

definitely cries when she sees you at the altar

her vows are MASTERFUL AND TEARJERKING 

its a pretty basic wedding though, unless you prefer something over the top, the food is nice a mix of both your cultures and favorite things and there’s beautiful lighting

definitely done on air temple island, and tbh tenzin would probably walk you down the aisle because i said so

married life with her is even better, she lives for he domesticity of it all, especially lazy sunday mornings with the light filtering in and you just looking all pretty and having a lil fun

iykyk

honeymoon in the spirit word lads

bolin is your number one supporter

life with korra is a 10/10 i do recommend it

A/N: im kinda in love with korra lol this requests made me happy

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 308 Spoiler Thoughts: Beat His Ass, Young Midoriya!

Chapter leaks are out!  Full chapter hasn’t been revealed yet (and take what I say with a grain of salt until the official translations come out), but I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on.  Nothing super heavy, but it’s an action-packed chapter that shows us how much of a badass Deku has become since he left UA and went all vigilante on us.  So, let’s do this:

Before we get into the chapter, I need to mention our mangaka, Kohei Horikoshi-sensei’s comment this week.  He’s basically apologizing for taking a break last week, calling himself a “small-fry”, and promising to pick himself up.  Horikoshi deserved a break last week and he is by no means a “small-fry” for creating one of the best and most popular pieces of fiction in the last few years.  I hope that he knows that and that he shouldn’t blame himself for taking a break.  

So, the chapter picks up right where we left off!  Deku and Muscular’s battle begins and Muscular recognizes Deku’s voice.  He says that he’s been waiting for this moment as everyone else he’s faced have been weaklings compared to Deku.  As far as we know, Deku has been the only one to even beat Muscular by himself.  It took over 100% of his strength to do so, but Deku did manage to kick Muscular’s ass.  It makes sense why he’d want a rematch.

I need to take a moment here to talk about how awesome Deku looks in his Vigilante costume (as I’ve decided to call it).  The tattered clothing really works for him and the dark sclera around his eye adds to the effect.   Again, I love that he’s finally putting the bunny hood and metal mask to use.  I mean, he used them before, but not as a real part of his daily costume.  He looks almost like a completely different person with them on.  I’d be scared of Deku tbh.  

As the fight continues, he gives the injured Yo Shindo to his GF, Tatami.  Tatami can’t see Deku’s costume because of the smoke surrounding him, but she does kind of recognize his voice from somewhere.  I do wonder if Tatami’s going to put the pieces together and find out that the vigilante is Izuku Midoriya.  And I wonder if she’s going to get the word about his actions spreading and if that will reach our UA kids.  Or the news stations will, that might happen too.  

Speaking of smoke, DEKU UNLOCKED THE 6TH OFA USER’S QUIRK!  The 6th user is the Tobio Kageyama-looking dude with the long collar (He’s cute btw 😳!) and his name is “En” which translated to smoke.  His Quirk is Smokescreen which explains the smoke surrounding Deku at the end of the last chapter.  Deku is using the Quirk too much, so he needs to calm down a bit and use each Quirk individually.  There’s actually quite a bit that Deku could use with a Quirk like Smoakscreen: He could hide himself for a sneak attack, he could use it as a distraction, use it if he needs to retreat, etc.  My mind immediately went to Pokémon (because of course it did) and how Team Rocket would constantly use moves like Smoakscreen and Haze to either distract Ash and Co. to confuse them or use a sneak attack, or run away from the protagonist.  It’s another support-type Quirk, but it’s a damn good one if used right. 

Edit: There’s a panel that shows the scale of how much Smokescreen Deku used and it’s A LOT.  Like, the smoke is covering several streets and it goes to the top of some buildings.  It’s hard for really anyone to see anything.  Deku’s really trying to keep himself in the shadows, I suppose.

To use all his Quirks well, En suggests that Deku think of each Quirk like a support tool.  So, Float is a jetpack, Black Whip is a long string of rope, Danger Sense is a radio, and Smoakscreen is a flare or some kind of smoke grenade (I don’t know the specific name).  This is a really good way of thinking for Deku since he’s been using object-focused metaphors for OFA before.  Remember the “Egg in The Microwave” and the “Turntable in The Microwave”?  Similar to that!

Edit: Fan-scans are out.  It seem like Deku is actively talking to En here as if he’s a little voice in his head guiding him on what to do.  My guess is that after his coma talk with the OFA Holders, Deku can now talk to the vestiges consciously.  He doesn’t need to enter a dream-like state to interact with him; it’s just a thing he can do willingly.

So, Deku uses each Quirk individually and finally ties Muscular down with Black Whip.  I can’t describe it, but it’s so cool to see Deku in action here absolutely folding Muscular.  He really has improved since their last fight. There’s one panel that has a close up of Deku’s masked face and he looks so damn cool!  I’m so tempted to color it when the official translations come out.

Deku is asking Muscular where AFO and Shigaraki are, but Muscular doesn’t know.  He also asks why Muscular is doing what he’s doing, but Muscular just responds that there is only blood and battle in his heart and  he doesn’t want to live a life where he regrets not fulfilling that (his name is revealed to be Gouto Imasuji btw.  Don’t know the translation behind that, but I assume it has to do with his Quirk and his violent personality).  So, this confirms that Deku is actively looking for Shigaraki and AFO.  He’s not just saving people left and right, but he is actively looking for the big bad on his own.  I can’t see that ending well without help unfortunately.  Deku’s also trying to reason with Muscular to see if there’s a different path for him similar to his fight with Gentle and LaBrava.  He’s really going for the “Save People’s Hearts” route and I can understand why.  That’s Deku’s character at its core.  It’s why he wants to try to save Shigaraki despite everything.  If there is a different path for a villain, then Deku will try to lead them to it.  Unfortunately, villains like Muscular don’t always have that path.  

Edit: Actually, you know what, how in the world did Deku know Muscular’s real name?  Did he see it on the news somewhere?  Did he do some research and manage to look it up?  Does he have someone to give him intel?  I mean, unless Muscular’s name was broadcast out there, his real name is some very specific information Deku got a hold of.  

Finally, as he remembers Shigaraki and Kota (the small boy Deku saved back in the Forest Training Camp), Deku runs towards Muscular with full speed and finishes him with one powerful punch!  Deku speeds past Muscular as we finally see his face again under the mask (Badass Deku🥵)!  One Punch Man has left the chat, my dudes.  For real, though, if Muscular really is defeated, it’s amazing how flawlessly Deku beat him.  Deku used every Quirk well and efficiently to dodge Muscular's attacks and pin him down so he could get a clean hit in.  Everything was calculated and executed perfectly.  This is not the Deku we knew back in the Training Camp Arc.    

Edit: Ok, it was explained that Shindo’s Vibration actually did effect Muscular’s Quirk.  Then tendons in his muscles were pulled and were starting to unravel.  That’s what made an opening for Deku to get a good hit in.  I think it would’ve been hard for Deku to knock Muscular out with one punch if that opening wouldn’t have been made.  So, Shindo wasn’t entirely useless.  

And that’s it from what I can gather!  Damn good action-packed chapter! A+ art and writing from Horikoshi once again!  This man just keeps bringing us 🔥.  I’m so glad to see Deku fight like the badass he’s meant to be.  I wish it didn’t have to take a war and several near-death experiences to get here, but Shonen gotta Shonen.  He knocked the lights out of Muscular, I almost feel sorry for him.  He got his ass kicked by the same kid twice in less than a year.  You should’ve stayed in Tartarus, my dude.  Really, all prisoners should’ve stayed in Tartarus.  If Deku can defeat Muscular, then none of them stand a chance against him now.  I can only assume Deku’s going to go after everyone who was associated with the LOV to find Shigaraki and AFO at this point.  Thankfully, we don’t have a break next week.  Will En teach Deku how to play volleyball?!?  I’m kidding!  I do want to know what our UA kids are doing, especially Bakugo, Shoto, and Uraraka.  This would be a good time to transition to them.  Like, they can see Muscular’s capture on the local news, put the pieces together, and go after Deku.  Or we could just keep focusing on Deku’s vigilante adventures, that works too!  

Me @ Deku:

[silkeris]

I’m the Strongest | JJK

characters : sorcerer!reader x itadori yuji x megumi fushiguro ft. a crumb of satoru gojo

summary : you’re a special grade sorcerer with a mysterious cursed energy and is introduced to itadori yuji

word count : 1291

warnings : slight blood and violence

author’s notes : this was very rushed and ~spoiler alert~ drew inspiration for reader’s cursed energy from naruto. now i know the nine-tailed fox doesn’t work like that but just work with me here lol. oh, and grammatical errors. let me know if you enjoy and want me to make another part!

You were laying on your back, under the shade of a tree, gazing up at the clouds when you heard your teacher walking by. You propped yourself up on your elbows when you saw that he was walking with a pink hair boy. You were about to return to your position when something caught your eye.

A mouth on his cheek?

The boy quickly slapped a hand where the mouth appeared but as if the mouth had a mind of its own, had made itself known once again on the back of his palm.

Interesting, You had thought. Maybe Megumi knew something about this.

Turns out, Megumi was knocked out in his dorm room, bandages covering his body. You stood above him, with your hands on your hips as you assessed him. You leaned down and gently poked his cheek.

“Megumiii,” You said his name in a sing-song voice.

“Me-gu-mi!” You poked his cheek with every pause in his name.

He stirred awake and looked at you annoyed, “What is it?”

“Who’s the pink-haired kid?” You asked and seated yourself on his bed.

He huffed a sigh at your action. He answered, “New student that’s gonna join us. He’s also Sukuna’s vessel.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief. “No way! Hmm, so that mouth was probably Sukuna’s.” The last part you mumbled, mainly to yourself.

Megumi looked at you in confusion.

“Don’t worry about it. Also Megumi, ever since you graduated middle school I feel like the roles are reversed. Why is it that you’re constantly getting beat up now?” You giggled at him.

He sighed at you and threw a pillow in your direction. You quickly dodged it. You were about to tease him more when you heard Gojo’s voice in the hall. You both quickly got up and peaked your head in the hall.

“Fushiguro! A girl? Woah, were we interrupting something?” The pink-haired boy exclaimed.

“Ugh, as if. As beautiful as Megumi is, he keeps rejecting my feelings.” You told the boy.

Megumi sighed again and said, “There’re a bunch of empty rooms aren’t there?”

When Megumi started talking to Gojo, you introduced yourself to the pink-haired boy. “I’m L/N F/N!”

The pink-haired boy said, “I’m Itadori Yuji. Also known as Sukuna’s vessel!”

“So I’ve heard. So how does it feel to be with an old man inside you?” You asked him curiously.

“Hmm…” He looked up in thought, “I can hear him in my head so it’s interesting. He was also not a fan of being called an old man.”

He looked like he wanted to say more when Gojo interrupted, “Ahh! There’s my favorite student! I’ve seen that you have acquainted yourself with dear F/N-chan!”

You sighed at your teacher, “You act like I wasn’t here the whole time.”

“Oh! I forgot to mention! You have a mission tomorrow! Come see me later to see the details!” Gojo said to you. He turned to the two boys, “You two! We’re going out tomorrow! We’re going to get the third first-year student!”

“Uh, don’t your mean the fourth?” Yuji questioned.

“Nope,” Gojo replied and pointed at him, “Because you’re technically the fourth one.”

“Gojo-sensei!” He said.

“Yes, Yuji-kun!” Gojo said back.

“Why isn’t L/N-san coming with us?” He questioned.

“Because, she’s needed for a special-grade mission.” This time, it was Megumi who had answered.

“Uh,” Yuji said, “What does that mean?”

“Basically, it means I’m the strongest!” You had replied to him with the grin.

The two boys looked like they were experiencing deja vu.

You had just gotten back to Japan when you received a call from Jujutsu High’s assistant manager, Kiyotaka Ijichi.

“Hello?”

“L/N-san. I’m sending you coordinates. Please get here immediately. It’s an emergency.” He rushed out.

You immediately straightened up, “Got it. Please fill me in while I’m on my way.”

As you made your way to the detention center, you had gotten all the details about the situation.

“Where is Megumi and Yuji right now?” You asked Ijichi.

“It seems that they are around apartments in the area. I would advise going up onto a roof to get a view.” He answered.

You nodded and took off.

Crap, you thought. This was bad. Megumi, I swear, you’re just asking to be beat up this time. Seriously, the next time you wanna pull this stunt, I’ll give you a real beating.

You were running on a rooftop when something caught you eye. Two people fighting. More like one person fighting and the other taking all of the hits. You quickly ran and jumped off the building, landing in between the two.

“Hmm… What is this?” Yuji- no, Sukuna asked.

“I see. You don’t actually look like an old man.” You had replied to him. You quickly assessed the situation and saw that there was a whole in Yuji’s chest.

Holding Yuji hostage. But what does he want from Megumi?

“Megumi. Break time. I’ll handle this.” You smiled at him.

You activated your cursed energy, nine tails of red energy came out behind you.

Sukuna maniacally grinned and yelled out, “Show me what you got, Jujutsu Sorcerer!”

Before you could even attack, Megumi yelled out, “L/N! Stop!”

Megumi stumbled in front of you, facing Yuji’s body. “I didn’t save you because it was the right thing to do. I’m not a hero. I’m a jujutsu sorcerer. That’s why I never regretted saving you. Not even for a moment.”

The black markings started disappearing on Yuji’s body. He responded while smiling, “I see.”

Yuji looked away, bashful, “You’re so smart, Fushiguro. Thinking about all sorts of stuff, unlike me.”

Blood started dripping from his mouth.

“Oh! Sorry… Time’s up. Fushiguro, as for you, Kugisaki, L/N and Gojo-sensei… Well I guess I don’t have to worry about you two. Live a long life, okay?”

Yuji’s body dropped to the ground. There was a pregnant pause of silence.

“Y-yuji?” You stepped forward.

You crouched down to him, turned him onto his back and laid his head on your lap. You looked up to the sky and closed your eyes.

I’m going to kill them. I’m going to kill those goddamn elders and everyone who was involved with this.

You took a deep breath.

“Fushiguro-kun. Please go get Ichiji-san.” You told Megumi.

He hesitated for a moment, then realizing that this was almost like an order, using his last name to emphasize it. He nodded in response.

When he left, you focussed your cursed energy into a tail behind you, to touch Yuji’s the center of Yuji’s forehead.

You were suddenly transported into a different place. No, almost like a different realm. You were at the bottom of a blood soaked and skeleton flooding shrine. You looked up at the pile of bones and saw Sukuna sitting atop, on a throne made of bones.

“Oh, what’s this?” He questioned. “Never has a soul forced its way into my domain.”

“What’s your plan?” You pressed him. “There has to be a reason why you’re still taking shelter in Yuji’s body when he’s dead?”

“The game has changed.” Sukuna replied simply. His silence after his reply told you that this was the end of the conversation for this topic.

He cocked his head and looked up to the never ending ceiling. “It seems that it’s time for you to go, little fox.”

Before you could say anything more, you were forced out and awoke to Ichiji shaking your shoulders. You looked around, a bit disoriented, and saw Ichiji. You grabbed his wrist tightly, your claws drawing the slightest bit of blood and said, “Get Gojo now.”

[shimmershae]

Just watched the episode and I’m going to have a lot of thoughts for you, most of them probably bordering on incoherence (LOL) so this is your last chance to nope on out of this post because I’m going to go ahead and put everything else behind a cut to save the eyes that do not want to see any  spoilers at all.  Unlike mine, that very much wanted to see but in a lot of cases?  Could not see shit, but I digress.

Shae’s stream of consciousness coming at you in 3-2-1.  

First of all, can I saw how good it is to have my show back again?  Like, no.  I don’t quite have Season 5 levels of excitement about the new/last season, but it is definitely nice to have all these characters back.  

So all these thoughts of mine.  Okay.  Bear with me because there be a whole lot of them, lol.  

My immediate impression as the episode opened was WHOA.  Such a cool shot of Daryl with one light wing, one dark wing (representing the two sides to Daryl maybe--the man of honor versus the man he was raised to be, hmm?) looking out over some dark vista of something.  Seriously.  It’s dark.  My room is also dark at the moment and still I was squinting to see.  To make out what I’m “looking” at.  I really, really hope the rest of this season isn’t this hard to make out.  

Is that a tank?  Kinda sorta a callback to Rick’s first episode?  If so, cool.  If not, well.  Us fans have always put way more thought into things.  For real.  Change my mind.  

Holy intense eye contact, Batman!  Daryl Dixon has literally never looked at anyone--not BethusConLeah--in quite the same smoldering way as he looks at Carol.  It’s next level.  I don’t know why people be fooling themselves into thinking different.  

Let’s see.  I can make out--besides Daryl, Maggie, and that face mask dude I already forgot the name of--Kelly, Magna, Jerry (who’s that with him?), and Carol.  Sorry.  My world, like Daryl’s, inevitably narrows to Carol.  She’s loking fierce and fine AF per usual.  

Was that Rosita I noticed rewinding to relive Daryl eye-fucking Carol?  

I’m guessing this is the army base they talked about in 10C.  

That Walker perking up like “I smell food--pancakes and bacon and oohhhh” has me giggling inappropriately right off the bat.  WTF.  

Look at all my fabulous ladies tiptoeing through that Walker minefield.  And Carol spotting that gun that might be useful right away.  Listen, if you don’t think her mind ain’t always ten steps ahead of everybody else’s, you’d be wrong.  

So.  Are these Walkers just so old and feeble not even the call of fresh meat attracts them?  Because just tiptoeing through their midst without the knockoff Lady Gaga meatsuits or skin masks has never really worked before that I can remember.  

I just want to see most of this season.  Is that really too much to ask?  Don’t X-Files and Game of Thrones us, Angela.  Please and thank you very fucking much.  

Okay.  Is the one drop of blood thing making anybody else have 28 Days Later vibes?  Kinda?  Sorta?  No?  Just me?  Okay then.  Carry on.  

Wait a minute, though.  How they be explaining how Daryl keeeps acquiring all these new tats all the time?  Hmm?  It’s like they just quit giving a shit about continuity in these latter seasons.  

I mean.  Do Walkers sleep now?  LMAO.  What is this?  I guess they’re constantly evolving?  

There’s my baby Lydia.  Love my smol bean.  

Alright though.  I love to see the ladies of TWD kick some ass.  It’s very gratifying.  Gimps would never.  Thank you, Angela.  

Clever, resourceful, calm and collected, quick thinking Carol to the rescue!  Seriously.  Her haters must be withering away inside with absolute envy.  

Hey, ya’ll.  Remember when Carol was still mastering her sharpshooting skills at the Prison yard and shot at Rick’s feet?  Her little “sorry, sorry”?  LOL.  If Rick could only see her now.  Wait.  He already knew what so many of his stans refuse to acknowledge--Carol=ultimate survivor and true savior to the group many times over.  

Maggie’s got herself a gun, too.  Go my badass girls.  

Of course, Carol’s got everybody’s back.  Of fucking course, Daryl’s got hers even when everybody else seem frozen in some kind of awe or stupification or something.  Microcosm of the whole damn show right there.  

Carol’s like “here’s your knives, love of my life.”   

Eh.  Maybe that’s just me.  

Nah.  She’s totally thinking it, too.  

YAS!  YAS!  Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride with the top billing.  How very far my babies have come.  

Listen.  I miss all the characters we’ve lost.  Absolutely.  But I love the ones that are still with us, that have been with us for so very long so hard.  Whether I love their stories or decisions or not.  

Is that THE Alexandria sign?  That sign’s been through some shit.  

DOG!  Daryl kneeling to embrace our Grimes babies has me all up in my feels.  And how cute is Dog getting all excited and making sure he’s the first one there to welcome back, Daddy?  

Hershel is literally just as puppy dog cute as Glenn ever was.  Really some Grade A casting.  

What did Maggie call Mr. T?  Ducky?  Dougie?  Sometimes with Maggie?  I really cannot tell.  Anyway.  He’s Mr. T. for me until I find out differently, probably through rewatching with close captioning, lol.  

Maggie’s got more people.  So.  Some new redshirts to sacrifice for plot purposes.  I don’t know if I should bother learning their names or not. 

I seem to remember Meridian being mentioned in one of the episode synopses.  

Sophia’s hair tie around Carol’s neck will never fail to be an emotional throat punch.  My heart.  

“They come at night and by the time you see them, you’re already dead.”  Welp.  Guess that means we ain’t seeing shit for at least this first third of the season, lol.  Very horror-eque though.  

“You’re leaving to fight ghosts.”  Aaron, to Maggie.  So I see Aaron’s the type to get the hell outta Dodge when the Boogeyman comes calling, hahaha.  Least he was.  In the old world.  

Rosita’s pissed off expression at Gabe’s decision to volunteer for the so-called suicide mission gives me life.  

My baby Carol is tired AF of suicide missions.  You can tell.  Also?  Methinks she has something to prove to Daryl here.  Or at least feels like she does.  

Dog with his little tactical vest.  I love it.  

I guess I get why they had Carol and Rosita stay behind.  They had to more evenly split up the badassery to make things more fair and balanced, lol.  

Okay.  So Negan’s definitely earned everybody’s disdain.  But they’re being woefully short-sighted by not at least hearing the dude out.  Isn’t he at least native to the area?  

“That is God telling us to turn around.”  I’m actually on Negan’s side with this one, but Gabe answering him with “I’m pretty sure he would have run that past me first” has me howling with laughter.  Father Gabe has gone straight up savage in these last couple of seasons.  Rosita’s influence, perhaps?  

I see what Angela is doing.  Trying to make Negan the voice of reason.  In this particular case?  It’s kind of working.  I’m still ultimately on Maggie’s side with this though BECAUSE GLENN.  

Imagine showing up to work and unironically dressing like a storm trooper every day.  Excuse me while I LOL.  

Even in the ZA, there’s bullshit paperwork.  

“Pumpkin colored spacesuit.”  Good one, Ezekiel.  

LOL forever.  I love Princess.  

“Michonne.  Our Michonne shut people out of Alexandria for years.”  Timely reminder that choices aren’t always perfect.  Neither are people.  

WTF is reprocessing?  Sounds ominous.  LMAO at Eugene’s “Okay.  We gotta go.”  

What in the actual hell with all those bagged, squirming undead?  Creepy AF in that subway tunnel.  

Should I just go ahead and call that the Easter bunny?  We’ve had some version of it pop up since Season 1.  

Is it stubborn pride with Maggie or what?  Why go through with something when all signs point toward the wisdom of stopping?  You can argue that she’s acting similarly to Carol last season, but there’s a huge difference here folks.  Carol did her damndest to Lone Wolf that shit and minimize the danger to those she loved.  Maggie’s straight up enlisting those she “cares about” to carry out her mission of revenge or vengeance, what have you. Let’s see if she gets near the amount of hate for it.  Personally, I don’t blame her for her feelings one bit.  They are valid.  But her knowingly drawing the others into the game?  That’s my sticking point.  That’s how she and Carol differ, even if some people refuse to see or accept it.  Anyway.  Hopping right on off my soapbox.  

“Why don’t you get up on your little tippy toes and try?”  Omigosh, I’d dying.  When I tell you I about passed out with laughter, I do not exaggerate.  I should hate Negan forever and I do.  Really.  But I adore JDM and he frequently makes me LOL.  He’s made Negan entertaining if not completely redeemable since Angela took over and more layered so I say kudos.  

He has a point about Maggie playing dictator.  Damn you, show, for slanting the writing just that smidgen that makes Negan make sense over his victim.  I guess, though, it’s better this way.  Gives both characters more shades of gray.  

“He’s a dick but he makes sense.”  I feel like this is Angela calling us all out when we dare to harbor any lasting resentment toward Negan for what he did to Glenn.  

Speaking of--Negan.  You deserved Daryl’s punch to the mouth.  You just went a bridge too damn far.  

“Keep pushing me, Negan.  Please.”  Warning shots fired, Asshole.  You better watch yourself around the Widow Rhee.  

Have I mentioned how much I love Princess?  Her shipping the Commonwealth guards is killing me, lol.  I can’t wait ‘til she meets Carol and Daryl.  She’s going to have their number in two seconds flat.  

I like Ezekiel and Princess as a duo.  I’m not saying romantically necessarily.  I just like them in scenes together because they’re fun.  There’s sort of a protective indulgence Ezekiel seems to telegraph whenever they’re in scenes together.  Like he’s like don’t hurt this one.  I don’t know.  For all these words I’ve written, I can’t quite find the ones to adequately describe what I mean.  

The wall of the lost gives me such Battlestar Galactica feels.  What sad thoughts it inspires.  

Eugene in that Commonwealth gear.  Omigosh, lol.  So did they just sneak up and take Princess’s little Commonwealth ship’s gear when they were sneaking off on their own to have a quickie?  

Princess finding that note for Yumiko on the wall actually gave me chills.  Yeah.  I’m easy.  Just the suggestion of someone getting reunited with lost family gets me all up in my feels.  Yumiko saying “I have to stay”?  I felt that.  

Oh no.  Dog ran off!  Somebody protect my favorite fictional puppy.  Of course, Daryl goes after him.  He’s always been the sweet one.  Merle said it.  

Eh.  Negan taking Maggie’s hand at the end there would have smacked too much of Negan Sue and Maggie’s biggest plot of the season would have been prematurely dealt with so I get why they did what they did.  But c’mon.  It’s not really that big of a cliffhanger, is it?  

Okay, so Angela calls those sleeping beauty Walkers “Lurkers” and I get it.  Apparently they’re a bigger deal in the comics, but I really don’t remember seeing them all that much on the actual show.  Somebody jog my memory.  

Of fucking course, you can actually see what’s happening in the inside the episode clips.  I wish we could choose to view the episode with that lighting because some of us be blind.  And this time I mean in the more literal sense.  Not the figurative one.  

Anyway.  I’m going to stop trying to write a novel for ya’ll and move on to better things.  Like maybe a nap.  Maybe some early dinner.  I don’t know.  I’m tired AF and need a little recharge.    

Before I go, though?  Overall impression of the episode?  I liked it.  There were parts that I loved (all the ladies being badass, every second of Carol, Daryl reuniting with the Grimes babies and Dog, all things Princess, some of Negan’s one-liners about had me busting a gut, Rosita serving looks, Kelly and Lydia getting to be badass too) and parts I didn’t love (not being able to see a damn thing, Angela trying to tip the scales in Negan’s favor, not enough Carol or Aaron or Rosita, no reunion between Aunt Carol and the Grimes babies even though that picture floating around suggests it was at least shot, not being able to see a damn thing, all the Alexandria people playing follow the leader for Maggie when she’s been gone 6 years and Daryl’s right there--hell, even Father G deserves the honor over her because it’s obvious they’re not exactly on the same wavelength anymore).  

I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m just glad to have our show back.    

Later, lovelies.  

[danwhobrowses]

One Piece Theory - End of Act III: The Tragedy

Been a while since I’ve done a theory vid but this one bubbled under the surface the more I thought about it when watching chapter review videos

Spoilers for One Piece up to Chapter 1002

So as of current, Chapter 1002 depicts the five Supernova fighting Kaido and Big Mom. It may look decent because the Supernova have their hits in, but nobody is attacking Big Mom - which has already hurt them dearly - and Kaido is kinda fighting with one arm tied behind his back, until Onigashima stops floating in the air by Kaido’s fire clouds they will never have his full attention.

What looms over the audience is that traditional kabuki follows a 5-Act Structure, and Act 3 usually ends with a great Tragedy before the Act 4 Climax, there’s also Hawkins’ prediction that someone will likely die. This allows fans to believe that the Supernovas vs Yonko rumble is doomed for failure. and this may be partly the case - but not the whole story.

The Battle of Attrition Typically, fights against strong adversaries last days. The Akazaya fought Kaido’s forces for Days, Ace for Jimbei for Days, Aokiji fought Akainu for Days, Roger and Whitebeard fought for Days. So unless you have extremely overwhelming power like Marineford did against an old and sickly Whitebeard, you are gonna be fighting strong opponents for a long long time. And the Supernovas don’t have that time. This is why the Yonko have such confidence right now, even though the Supernova can hurt Kaido, they are still confident that they cannot outlast their endurance. And 1002 does prove that correct, for Zoro to land a strong hit he’ll have to exhaust himself with Enma and the remaining supernova were unable to use their haki well enough to dodge the Yonko’s attacks. This will also be worse on Luffy because his current state is only a temporary boost. Gear Fourth may soon run out. And then Luffy is a sitting duck.

The Sacrificial Play: Overview My theory right now is that Gear Fourth will be running out soon, maybe even next chapter where Luffy is the only one still gunning at Kaido. I also think that using Ryou in Gear Fourth may cause the timer of his state to fade quicker, since he’s using more Haki to enhance his attacks - thus why he used Red Roc in Gear Third. Luffy has already used Gear Fourth on a Number as well, so there is reason to believe that Gear Fourth is nearing the end of its timer. So what happens to Luffy when he cannot use Haki for 10 minutes? The Yonko will probably toy with him a bit more, not fully wasting him as of yet because they want to make an example of him. I expect this because we’ve seen this before in Luffy’s fights, against stronger opponents he tends to have a ‘time out’ between fighting; against Katakuri, Doflamingo, Arlong, Crocodile, Lucci and Moria there hit a point where Luffy was drawn away from the battle or the enemy distracted by another opponent so he could recover and return to the fight, this was even done in Marineford. The question that falls now is who will give Luffy this respite? So far I can see 3 options, all of which are self sacrifice. The Sacrificial Play: Kid

Luffy’s prison buddy adventure with Kid has often been one-sided. Kid acknowledges Luffy but refuses to work with him. After all, Luffy is his rival, in all manner of sense he is the closest opposition he has to their dreams and yet they are also quite similar. 

There’s also the matter that Kid may not be as immune to Luffy’s whims. We all remember that face he pulled in Udon, staring down Luffy in a begrudging nature, there can be a few reasons why Kid may decide to take Luffy from the fight and perhaps throw him into the hole in the Dome’s skull.

If he does, Kid will be able to shrug it off as either ‘You’re getting in my way Straw Hat’ - given his desire to take Kaido’s head for himself and the rivalry of the three captains, or stating it as repayment for saving him and Killer from drowning at Udon. Of the three this is my least likely one. Not that it cannot happen, it would be pretty cool, but I feel as though the next two will have more emotional responses towards it.

The Sacrificial Play: Zoro

It wouldn’t be the first time that someone of immense strength went to kill Luffy and Zoro came in like a bullet. Zoro could very well kick Luffy down the dome in order to sacrifice himself for his captain again - knowing better than the other Supernova the limitations of Luffy’s Gear Fourth and that the healer Marco is waiting below.

This would definitely give Luffy more motivation to get back into the fight, and perhaps time for Zoro to stand out alone in a fight against two Yonko using Enma - a weapon that certainly has both Yonko worried - as far as he can manage it.

Zoro is highly likely and it’d definitely lead to some heart-in-mouth reactions from fans, but we don’t expect a death flag on Zoro here, this isn’t the same as Thriller Bark and he’s literally just got a new sword. If anything it’d be a valiant sacrifice but not one where people may worry what happens when Luffy returns to the top of the dome.

The Sacrificial Play: Law

For my money, Law is the person who will move Luffy - and Zoro - away from the fight to save them. In past chapters he’s stubbornly trying to deny that he has any loyalties to the Straw Hats and his loyalty has been questioned throughout Wano’s acts. We are constantly told that ‘Pirate Alliances often end in betrayal’ which would make this a difference of the norm, he could also be the one Hawkins is talking about since he knows for a fact that Law is on the loose.

In Marineford, Law saved Luffy and while that did mean that Luffy was indebted to Law that debt may be repaid in Law’s eyes for help with his revenge plot against Doflamingo, that being said Law may still feel a responsibility to Luffy as a doctor, the Hippocratic Oath coming into play. There is also that Law does truly believe in Luffy’s strength and also knows Gear Fourth’s limits having seen it in Dressrosa. 

It would also not be the first time Law, Killer and Kid have worked together, they fought together to battle a Pacifista in Sabaody and at the very least lived to escape, so there might be confidence in forming a team like that to at least hold down the Yonko until Luffy comes back.

While fans believe Law to be safe because he found a new purpose, there is threat of him dying. He confronted Kaido without his crew, including the three he brought to Onigashima and he struggled to fight Doflamingo alone - if Hawkins confirms that the odds are for Law to Luffy that can add more urgency too. He is a side character beloved, strong but also has the same mental weaknesses as Ace did, it does feel like we are building for Law to at least bet his life on Luffy and Zoro, Shambles-ing both to where he put the Akazaya (which could be the same place Yamato is to bring him back into the raid) leading to another tower climb where Luffy and Zoro will have to cross King, Queen and reconvene with the remaining crewmates, Marco, Tama, Drake, maybe Hawkins and Apoo, and possibly Carrot and Wanda, to return to the fight where they’ll find a near-dead Law, Killer and Kid - which in turn will lead to a larger party including the entire crew fighting the Yonko for the climactic stage of the arc.