#and now for the save rise tags haha

[roxtron]

So I wanted to try to make a theory/analysis post on something I've wondered for a while: What the fuck are the Krang made of? Yeah that's literally my intro to this. Can I make smooth transitions? Absolutely not.

So starting out chronologically with their introduction, the majority of their animation shows smooth movements from their tentacles, basically like tentacles irl lmao. But further into that fight scene..

We can see their tentacles also strong enough to double as blades, able to stand up against (and nearly overpower) Leo's swords, and able to stab through Raph's shell. The material isn't exactly consistent in how solid it can be, able to go from the fluid movement of the tentacles, to sharp enough to function as a blade. This leads me to think their flesh is able to shapeshift in some minor ways, especially considering the way the tentacle shifts to become sharper as the Krang's leg is about to stab Leo.

And considering how goopy Krang 2 looks after being.. basically melted by April, it does show that at the very least their natural state of flesh is more fluid. Another interesting detail about this scene, and the way Krang 2 is animated after the attack that sort of feeds into the shapeshifting theory..

Back in the finale we're shown the skull of one of the Krangs. Yet after Krang 2 has her eye melted off, we see no hint of the skull. That could either just be from not wanting to add that much detail into the animation, which to be fair it would've likely given more extra work to animation that's already amazingly detailed as it is. OR- It could be from the flesh melting around the skull to keep it from being exposed. If we can see their bodies practically shift states of matter, and see Krang 3 use his own body to expand the portal, is it that much of a stretch to say they can shift their state of flesh to cover vulnerable parts of their body after being injured?

And another thing this screenshot helps to show, their bodies don't seem to all be made from the same material specifically. Normally I'd assume all the pinks/purples are the same type of flesh but I actually don't think it is. Their tounges specifically are shown to always be sharp, a slightly darker shade with the sort of lines and stripes covering it. Keep this part in mind.

After the Foot Clan get transformed into these creatures, it actually gives us further evidence on how the krang's flesh functions. When possessing humans, the Krang pieces sort of fuse and meld with human flesh. Whether it's adding on pieces, or, like with the stomach here, changing its shape entirely. But notice how they have those additions while still keeping the same colors their skin and bodies used to be.

But when Raph gets possessed? The Krang flesh doesn't fuse with his body at all. It's more of an add-on, especially with the way his arm back there shows the original shape of his hands, while still being covered in the Krang's pink. That, and his body isn't even the same color of pinks either. Some pieces are darker, and some don't even seem to be the same shape. Like I mentioned with the Krang's tounges earlier, I think those spikes on his arms and back are made of that same material. Darker color, lines and stripes, permanently spiked.. Sounds right to me.

Even in this scene, the colors of the tounge seem to match up, a lot of pieces attatched to his body fit into that, maybe that fleshy state inbetween transforming from fluid to solid? His tounge seems to be the only part of those spiked pieces that's able to mimic fluid movements, the rest seems to be solid in place. It definitely seems to be a different type of flesh, considering how the flesh around it seems to part instead of melding together.

As for the Krang's armor.. I was confused about it before but now that I think more about how the Krang themselves are built it's starting to make more sense. Essentially I think there's 3 main components to pay attention to. The darker gray of the chest and shoulderpads seem to be simple armor plates, made of some type of alien metal I assume.

The darkest blacks of the armor seem to just be the base pieces of the suit. I've seen theories it's partially organic, with the way it bleeds black liquid after Leo stabs into it, and honestly, that seems like a really good answer. I'm not sure if it's flesh with the black suit on top of it, or if that dark black with the markings is actually its natural state. (Though, side note, it makes me even more curious HOW they would've aquired or created this armor. Their tech is mostly made of flesh, sure, but with another theory about the Technodrome having a mind of its own, willing to let Donnie merge with it and control the ship.. It does make me wonder if their armor is made from the corpse of another being, or if they simply know how to create and generate flesh, and were able to mold it for their purposes.)

Anyway- The white pieces of the armor seem to be bone to me. What with the head looking like a skull, the tail having bone-structure and being animated that way, less smooth than everything else, jerking around each piece. But here's what makes it confusing, the gloves.

There's a couple scenes where the hand has folds on it. Yet the rest of the arm seems pretty solid, and the material must be solid enough to form claws at the end, so, what the hell is it?? This is what stumps me the most, it seems to be made of fabric and bone at the same time, I really don't understand it. The only real answer I have is that the material is comparable to the base body of the Krang. Flesh that's able to mold between different states, able to take that solid, bone-like appearance, to form claws at the end.. While still being moldable enough it's able to bend and fold like the tentacles can. Potentially, it's mostly solid and bone-like, but the pieces that need to be able to move are more flesh-like. The wrist and hands have more folds because they move more, and tend to get stuck in that state to move with the body, while the plates, spikes, and claws are able to be stuck in their solid states.

I dunno how to write conclusions, but that's most of what I'm able to observe for what the Krang are made of, and why pieces of their body function the way they do. Not only are they futuristic, they're also alien, so it's natural to assume they're just advanced enough to be capable of breaking these rules materials in our world have to stick to.

[autisticenbydonnie]

this comic but as an edit cuz I love this song with all my heart

[abibliophobiaa]

Beyond — s.h. x f!reader

Chapter Three: Marry Me, Today and Every Day

a/n: here’s chapter three of my purely self-indulgent fun, which shouldn’t be taken very seriously, if at all fic. haha. wanted to play around with one of my favorite tropes, so here we are with modern day!rich!fake husband!steve harrington x afab!reader. next chapter we get down to business, and maybe things will start to take a turn for these two. who is to say? also--the book r is reading is an actual fanfic by @blueywrites​ that you most definitely should check out. haha. just a fun little easter egg. 

warnings/tags: hugely unedited (10k words); mentions of alcohol; parent loss, both parties; r has a sister and father; smut in later chapters, so 18+, minors dni; additional tags to be added.

masterlist

- 

Sweat slicks your palms. Brings an awareness to every inch of your body as you pace around your bridal suite. Fear permeates every nerve ending. Sets them alight with a new sort of panic. This daunting, unrelenting, overwhelming knowledge that in less than an hour you’ll be a wife. 

In less than an hour, you’ll be the new Mrs. Steve Harrington. 

A Harrington. 

Married to a man who you barely know, and yet his is the name you splutter out when your father asks what you need, noticing the staggering rise and fall of your chest, palm over your sternum where your heart races beneath. 

The room clears out then. Faces pass in your peripheral vision, all varying degrees of worry lining them. Whispers, you’re certain, from your soon to be mother-in-law and Steve’s grandmother, over if you’re getting cold feet. 

And it’s not that. 

Not really. 

You’ve resigned yourself to the understanding that this is what’s best for right now. Marrying Steve pays for your student debt, which gives you the liberty to find work in the interim while finishing up veterinarian school, and thus aids in assisting your father in taking care of what he needs to. 

With money not being a worry in your mind, all your efforts can be in assisting the man who gave you life and lost his own love too soon. All your efforts can be put into that little girl with fire in her eyes and love in every inch of her bones—even when she’s trying to hide it in her cell phone, on social media, or scrolling through TikTok. It’s a sacrifice you don’t have any lingering regrets over. 

He stands there in his tuxedo and wire frame glasses, hair styled back to perfection in a way that’s still so strikingly him, and yet elevated in a way you’ve not seen him before. Your head photographer, Jonathan, waves the rest of his crew out of the room when he realizes you’ll be needing a moment, the rest of the bodies filling the space finally slipping out of the room one by one until it’s just the two of you remaining. 

“Wow,” he breathes out, swiping his palms against the front of the black tux, eyes roving your form. “You look—wow.”

“I, ah, thank you.” You allow your eyes to trail his form. The head to toe dress attire, the effortlessness in which he holds himself. Handsome, disturbingly so, and he never acts like he’s fully aware of the effect he has. “You clean up well, Mr. Harrington.”

He chuckles and suddenly you’re just a girl, and he’s just a boy, standing in a room together, taking in one another. It’s a slow perusal. Him, handsome as ever, in all black, save for the little floral arrangement on his chest that mirrors the one you’ll be carrying when you walk down the aisle, the glasses he’s wearing for the evening, and the gold watch around his wrist.  

“Are you okay?” 

He steps closer, hand extending slightly before it drops back to his side. Like he thinks better of it, like he doesn’t feel right about being near to you. It’s been that way since your bachelorette party. Since the moment he kissed you and forgot that next morning. The look in his eye when he stated plainly he didn’t remember much at all about the moment where you wondered, if only briefly, that there might be something more to this arrangement than two people entering a business deal. 

From that moment on, he’d made himself very busy, and you spoke little. Figured it was likely better that way. No way to muddle the lines established in your fake marriage. Better now than when you’re deeper into the arrangement, and delusion might have arisen. 

But now, in this moment, you need that nearness. Crave the touch of the only other person who understands what you’re going through. The only other person who appreciates the depth of the nervousness pooling in your belly. Circling around your heart like a vice. Clawing at your lungs to leave you breathless. 

“I’m just nervous,” you admit, trying to keep the frustrated tears at bay by inhaling deeply. He moves closer, thumb brushing along your right hand to where you’ve moved your engagement ring until after the ceremony when it’s joined by your wedding ring. “We’re doing something absolutely insane.”

“Completely,” he agrees, and those fingers drag along the inside of your palm. Your fingers reflexively tighten around his, comforting warmth seeping into flesh. “But you can say the word and I’ll call it off now.”

“You’ll let me be a runaway bride?” 

It’s a watery laugh that prompts Steve to grip your other palm in hand as well, giving both a gentle squeeze. Your eyes wander downward to the two tethers anchoring you to earth in this moment, then to the kind face of the man who is to be your husband in minutes. 

“Just say the word and I’ll come up with an excuse why it couldn’t happen.”

“No. No. I’m marrying you today, Steve.”

He blows out an exhale. A stray hair falls down into his eyes at the motion, and your fingers hesitantly reach up to push at it. His stare pierces you, hazel eyes warm as you card your fingers through dark locks, feeling them shift and move beneath your fingertips, impossibly soft and lush. 

Gently, ever so gently the hand curling in your right one loosens and circles your wrist like a bracelet. Rests briefly over your frantic pulse point, before trailing along the back of your arm. Faint brushes of skin back and forth, back and forth, loosening that breath presently hitched tight in your chest. 

“How about this,” he begins, eyes darting to where gooseflesh starts to prickle along your skin. You chalk it up to the AC unit in the bridal suite, meant to block out the heat of the city in summer. “When you walk down the aisle, you only look at me. Don’t look at anyone else, okay? It’s just you and me out there, no one else matters. Eyes on me.”

“Okay.” 

A long exhale leaves your mouth. Lungs deflate with the deepest breath in what feels like hours now. Steve’s fingers extricate themselves from yours in those moments of quiet, footfalls of his leather shoes clacking along the floor as he makes his way over to the door. His hand curls around metal when your voice breaks into the resounding silence, quiet and minuscule for you, and you loathe to admit there are nerves that still cling to every fiber of your being over what you’re about to do in front of hundreds of literal strangers. 

“Steve.” 

It’s simple. But he turns quickly, barely opens his mouth to speak when you rush forward and wind your arms around his waist. And there’s no protest. No argument as broad arms twine around your waist. As they rest low against your back, radiating warmth and comfort. 

He remains like that, quiet and steadfast, until you’re both ready. Until you lace your fingers with him and he leads you to where your father stands ready to walk you down the aisle. He hands you off to the older man, rests a comforting palm on his father-in-law’s shoulder and dips his head once. Tips his head in your direction and offers you a kind smile. 

“Eyes on me,” he reminds you. 

“Eyes on you.”

So it begins. 

-

There’s a ring on Steve’s finger. You notice it as you sit beside him at your sweetheart table, as strangers and friends alike offer you congratulations and greetings in support of your nuptials. 

Because you’re married now. Freshly Mrs. Harrington. 

In a whirlwind of emotion, you’d walked down the aisle onto that beautifully lit private rooftop. Admired only briefly the weeks of wedding planning spent with your new mother-in-law and followed Steve’s directions. 

Eyes on him to block out your surroundings, eyes on him to ignore the shutter of Jonathan’s camera, of the other photographers milling about. Eyes on him as you heard the audible sniffles of Steve’s family and your own. Eyes on him as the officiant had you recite words that would bind you to Steve as you slid rings on each other's fingers. Empty words that felt like ash on your tongue. Nearly choked you as you spoke them out loud in front of hundreds of people. Declarations of a devoted love shared between kindred spirits wanting to spend the rest of their lives together. 

And you’d kept your eyes on him as you were declared husband and wife, as your new name was announced to that rooftop gathering, as they’d announced Steve could now ‘kiss the bride.’ 

He’d been warm and welcome. Lips brushed against yours with a gentleness that had your head spinning, stomach swooping low in your belly. When he leaned back to take you in, his palm, the one where his new wedding band sat, cupped your face. To others, a sign of affection. To you, a reminder that it was only you two up there. Even as he leaned down and pressed his forehead to yours, as the room erupted into applause, and he whispered to you. 

“Keep looking at me until we get back inside, okay?”

A simple sentence. A comforting command meant to quiet your fears with the sound of his voice and the touch of his hand against yours.  

Now you sit in a romantically lit room, all atmospheric blues dancing along the walls draped in white with your new first initial of your last name highlighted on the dance floor. Beside you, Steve chats enthusiastically with a man and woman, who offer you remarks on your appearance. It’s all you’ve heard all evening. Comments on your new marriage, how beautiful you look, how happy everyone is for you two. 

You find it eases that tension, helps you settle in against your chair, still holding your husband’s hand as you sip daintily at a glass of champagne. That and Steve’s constantly checking in on you, making sure you’re okay, offering to grab you another drink despite the fact wait staff quite literally answers your every beck and call. There’s a gratitude toward him that rests behind your ribs, an appreciation regardless of the confusing few days you’ve had as of late with him. 

Your husband who is not. A man you share a name with and only that. Who you signed paperwork with and will be heading off on a honeymoon with come morning. A man whom you’ll be sleeping in a separate bed from tonight, when most would assume you will be consummating your marriage. There’s none of that, only a pre-planned understanding. 

Agreements, plans, business deals.  

Before your mind can venture any further, the Emcee announces your first dance as husband and wife. You’ve almost forgotten about this part in all your planning. Never really thought beyond the kiss at the altar. Even so, Steve’s cupping your hand and leading you into the center of the dance floor where a giant ‘H’ is emblazoned below, drawing you near to him in an embrace as the song begins and you’re swaying back and forth in the arms of your husband. 

“I’m scared to death that she might be it, that the love is real, that the shoe might fit.”

“People are staring,” you point out, curling your hands around the back of his neck, resting your head on his shoulder. 

“Today is our day,” he laughs against the top of your head. Warm breath puffs along your skin, shiver tingling your spine. “I think you've forgotten. Everyone is here to celebrate us.”

“She might just be my everything and beyond. Beyond.”

“You’re my husband.”

He chuckles again, chest rumbling near your ear as you sway, his broad hands against your hips, tugging you closer. 

“Guess that makes you my wife, huh?”

“Space and time in the afterlife. Will she have my kids? Will she be my wife?”

Your nose wrinkles at the newness of your title. Wife. Wife. You’re someone’s wife now. And he’s your husband. Husband. You mouth the word once more silently to yourself, finding it unusual, tongue stumbling over it, and snort into his suit. 

That hand around your right hip tightens. “Something funny?” he asks, but there’s a levity in his tone that has your mouth jolting upward at the corners. 

“Just…this day.”

“I know,” he agrees, voice growing softer as he adds, “people are also staring because you are beautiful, you know? 

“Steve.”

“It’s true.”

“Thank you,” you whisper, pressing closer to him. 

“I know this day has been…stressful for you, but you’re not alone. There’s two of us now.”

“She might just be my everything and beyond.”

Your head tips back at his words, feeble mind stumbling momentarily over his compliment, heart thumping as you say, “Like a team.”

He grins. “Exactly like that. We’re the Harringtons now.” 

“The Harringtons.” 

The name falls easily from your lips, but your quiet conversation is disrupted by the clanging of glasses about the room. Silverware all around the room taps against the delicate surfaces, a continuous tinkering around you both that has Steve’s mouth parting slightly. The pink of his tongue swipes briefly across his bottom lip before he closes it once more, lines of his throat bobbing on a swallow. 

“They want us to kiss,” you tell him, sliding one palm down from where it rests around his neck until it curves around the edge of his jaw. You tip his head your way slightly, eyes scouring face. “And will probably be wanting us to do so all night. So…guess we might as well put on our best show, huh?”

It continues for the duration of the evening. Kiss after kiss bestowed by your husband. Constant expected affection. His fingers laced between your own, your hand on his thigh, his head on your shoulder, lips at your temple, lips on yours. Over and over again for hours. This time in a way that the slight buzz you have from your champagne could never erase—from either of your minds. 

The evening itself becomes fun. Music changes and you’re brought onto the dance floor with your new husband and the friends from your hometown, as well as the ones he’s made along the way. Strangers who become dance partners. Bodies twirling and swirling along the floor, hands tangling with hands, laughter pulling from your lips. Like this, with Robin and Eddie’s forms near to your own, you feel lighter. Like this, when the song changes and you sing the words out loud in a silly rush with Steve in the center as those around you egg you on, you allow yourself to let go. To be free. To enjoy the evening that is about you and Steve. 

Before long your feet are aching. Heels are discarded beneath you at your table, hand in Steve’s once more, as your closest friends give speeches. For Steve, it’s a rushed flurry of words from Robin. She speaks mostly to the closeness they’ve developed in the short time they’ve been friends, but a bond that has easily etched deep between the two of them. Speaks of your time as her roommate, about how she’d only been kidding when she said maybe you should get out there and start dating and quickly fall in love with her friend. Laughs easily when she says maybe she should have introduced them sooner. 

It almost feels real, the words she speaks—the words Eddie speaks as he grabs the microphone and draws it close to his lips. He ties his hair back quickly, sweat from dancing clinging to the bangs dancing along his brow, and he clears his throat. Unrolls a piece of paper that’s on the tiniest scroll you’ve ever seen, but rolls all the way down to the floor when he unfurls it. The room bursts into enthusiastic laughter, your chest aching in adoration at the first words he speaks. 

“You see…before I knew Steve, I knew his new wife. We grew up together in some shit hole town—I can curse, right? Sorry for all the kids here. Anyway, we grew up together…as I was saying. So when she asked me if I’d still love her if she did something stupid, I was thinking she meant a prank. Steve, just a heads up, your wife is a menace. A total damn menace. But I'm sure you knew that already.” He pauses for a moment as Steve chuckles, nodding his head in agreement, then continues, “And then she goes and falls in love with this guy. Big boy Harrington.”

Another round of laughter echoes in the room, and Steve grips your hand tighter in his where it rests against his lap. 

“Pretty stupid, huh?” He chuckles to himself, folding the microphone against his waist for a moment as he bows, thanking the crowd for their involvement. “But it’s not that stupid when I really think about it. Because these two are some of the best people I know. Really and truly, and it makes sense that we’re all here right now. Right here in this room. Two people like this are meant to find each other. Drawn together by some…cosmic force. I mean, look at them! Have you ever seen two people so in love?”

The room leans in. Swells with emotion as Eddie sniffles audibly. This part, you know, is part of his speech. He’d read it to the two of you the night before, just as Robin had. Those around you don’t know, but you do. And still, your guests are nodding in agreement. Some are dabbing napkins into the corners of their eyes, swallowing down knots of emotion welling in their throats. Your own father glances your way with a fondness that cleaves you down the center, ears ringing as Eddie continues the rest of his speech, filling the cavity with guilt. 

Clapping hands draw you from your silent reverie, followed only by the sound of metal meeting glass once more. The sound of your heart pounding in your ears as Steve slides a hand along the side of your face and leans down for the umpteenth time that evening, stilling your mind with the glide of his mouth against your own. 

Soon enough, the bouquet has been tossed, the garter awkwardly collected from your thigh, and cake has been shared between the two of you, sugary remnants that linger in Steve’s hair (a mental note made to never mess with his hair ever again upon fear of death in your marriage) still visible as guest stand on either side of an aisle outside where a car is waiting for the two of you, lit sparklers dancing to life in their hands. 

Your eyes meet his. “Ready to go?”

He grips your hand. “We’re in the home stretch now.”

-

Seventeen hours. 

Seventeen hours is what it takes for you to arrive in the Maldives. Plus the time spent traversing you two across the main private island to your smaller bungalow only accessible by boat. You’ve barely had time to take in the beautiful sights, tiredness clinging to every limb, by the time the two of you are deposited on a dock leading to the place you’ll be staying for the next five days. 

Steve clambers down onto the wood beside you, his own form looking a little worse for wear. He’s not spoken in quite some time. Neither of you have, really. Not since you returned to your penthouse after the wedding and slipped out of your wedding clothes. Nor when you parted down opposite ends of the hall. Even at the airport your conversation had been simple, pleasant, easy chatter about the weather and what you might do when you get to the island. 

“Look how beautiful!” You enthuse, taking in the beautiful thatched roof of your private honeymoon suite on the water. 

Pretty purple light douses the building, casts that same hue across the surface of the lagoon that laps against the edges of the boardwalk. From where you're standing, you can see another pathway leading to an outdoor gazebo and dining area draped in flowing cream curtains that billow in the gentle caress of the breeze around you. 

You turn to look at your husband. “Wanna go explore?” 

He yawns, head dipping as your guide lingers behind on the boat, wishing you two a lovely first evening on your honeymoon. Inside you’re met with a beautiful living room with sliding glass doors that lead to a deck, fully stocked with a jacuzzi, pool, and a sunken outdoor bath. Tired bones scream at the prospect of using them, though you proceed further into the suite. There’s a beautiful kitchen with the option of a private chef, a gym, an indoor spa you know you’ll be utilizing, the master bathroom with a tub that looks like it could fit ten people, and finally…the master bedroom. 

The suddenness of your realization dawns, because your eyes immediately hone in on the one bed. A king bed, but only one all the same. You’re tired, you’re so tired that all you want is to peel back the covers and clamber in, but this throws a wrench into those plans. That clarity must also hit Steve, because he’s dropping his things to the ground and walking around the side of the bed to grip a pillow in hand, and begins making his way toward the entrance of the bedroom when you splutter audibly. 

“Where are you going?”

He cards his fingers through his hair, exasperation lining those withdrawn features. “There’s a couch I saw in the living room.”

You shake your head, reaching out to cup his bicep. It instantly tenses under your fingertips. You don’t dwell on it, and instead argue, “You’re going to kill your back. We’re here for five days. We’re adults…we can share a bed.”

It’ll be like a sleepover. An adult sleepover where no sex is involved. Definitely not on your honeymoon—and definitely not with the man you married nearly twenty-four hours ago who you know very little about. You don’t know his birthday, his likes, dislikes…you don’t even know his favorite color, his favorite show, or if he’s a dog or cat person. Sleeping in the same bed as him will be a cake walk. Nothing to even worry about. A mere blip on the radar.

“I just…I don’t want…” He exhales deeply, and you finally notice the dark circles under his eyes. “You’ve already done enough by uprooting your life and marrying me—”

“It’s a bed, Steve.”

That seems to quiet the tension in his shoulders. They drop into a slouch, his form trailing back over to the side of the bed facing the wall when you clear your throat, awkward laugh breaking into the otherwise silent room. 

“I like to sleep facing the wall,” you say gently, noticing the slight downturn of his lips. “But I’m assuming you do as well, so for the sake of both of our sanities I can sleep facing the door.”

He shakes his head vehemently. “No. No, I’ll take the door side. I can handle a few nights.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Happy wife, happy life, right?”

Your lip twitches upward. “You don’t snore, do you?” You ask teasingly. 

“I…don't think so. But I’m sure you’ll tell me if I do,” he says, moving himself around the bed once more. He settles down against the mattress, testing the surface beneath his palm. “Bed is soft.”

“I would hope it would be for a private honeymoon villa. Your mother really went all out, huh?” 

Your head tilts upward, taking in the vaulted ceilings. Where you’re standing you can even hear the sound of water lapping on the deck outside your windows.  

“Pretty sure she’s secretly hoping I extend the Harrington line this week.”

Your nose wrinkles at that. “We’re absolutely making a pillow wall after that comment.”

“I’m joking,” he grumbles, body falling backward onto the bed. 

One thing you’ve learned about Steve Harrington? He’s dramatic—impossibly so. Sort of like Robin, though he’s more frustrated outbursts versus her nervous or frantic ones. 

“Pillow. Wall.” 

“Fine.”

You walk over to the bed where your husband lays with his eyes closed and forearm strewn over his face. Bare knees brushing his, you reach out and tug on his free hand splayed near his hip, trying to drag him upward to no avail. 

“Stop being a big baby.”

“We just flew for seventeen hours,” he argues, sitting upright. 

“Steve. Lift your hulking ass off the bed. The sooner you get up, the sooner we go to bed.”

Your new husband grumbles to himself as he stands to his feet, helping you pull down the comforter on the top of the bed. Satisfied, you pluck a few of the extra pillows and make a line down the center of the mattress, pointing out your side and his, before slipping into the bathroom to get ready for bed. 

You follow your normal routine. Wash your face, brush your teeth, slip on a moisturizer. You change out of your clothes next, opting for a matching set of shorts and a tank top, before tossing your street clothes into a laundry bin and sliding into your “Bride” slippers given as a gift by one of your friends at your bachelorette. 

There’s a brief moment your eyes trail to the shower, where there’s glass paneling and a bench in the corner and then further to your right toward the gigantic bath tub you could practically swim in…and huff. Such a strange thing to be in this beautiful honeymoon hideaway with a man down the hall who regards you as a friend.

The same friend you now share a last name with. 

Pushing the thoughts aside, you meander back down the hall to your bedroom for the next five days and come to find Steve laying on his stomach with his broad back on display, sheets hung low around his waist. You can map the various freckles and marks along his skin from where he rests, head resting on his forearm. 

Smiling to yourself, you settle down into the bed and roll over to shut the lamp nearest your side of the bed. The room descends into darkness, and you whisper, “Goodnight,” before following him into sleep. 

-

Pristine blue water surrounds you as far as the eye can see. The world is quiet from your home away from home for the week, save for the rustle of your book pages turning as you progress through the story and the sound of Steve’s fingers clacking across a keyboard. You exhale with a long huff, pushing your sunglasses higher up on the bridge of your nose. 

Steve’s been working for hours now. 

Since you both woke up, really. 

Initially you had been a little miffed as you cooked up something for the two of you in your large kitchen, opting out of calling for a private chef to do so, and he pulled out his phone and laptop. You figured that was fine, up until the headphones went in while you sat down across from him and ended up sharing your breakfast in complete and utter silence. 

On its own, that wasn’t so much an issue. What bothered you was your request to go outside and enjoy the sun together, and he’d agreed. In your mind, his intentions were genuinely to spend time with you. He’d slipped into a bathing suit and everything, only to join you on the sun deck with his leather work bag, laptop pulled out before you could even get in a word of protest. 

“You know, most people enjoy their honeymoon,” you tease, turning the page in your book. 

You find yourself needing to take a break anyway. The two couples in your book are on vacation themselves, and the main character kissed the dark haired hero on the makeshift dance floor after one of the hottest dancing scenes you’ve ever read occurred. And seeing as your own honeymoon is not heating up, you’re frustrated. 

Increasingly so when he says, “This isn’t a typical honeymoon.”

“Weren’t you trying to wrap up the business before we came here?” 

You recall a conversation you had wherein he said as much about wanting to make sure he’d be able to partake in the Maldives, but it seems those words were rang untrue. 

“Yes, but…things happen.”

Your book thumps onto the lounger beside you. “You do realize everyone thinks we’re on a real honeymoon, right?”

He dips his head, sunglasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as he glances over the top of his laptop to glance your way. 

“Your coworkers are going to be confused why you’re logged in for work while you’re here. I mean—look how romantic this place is!”

“I’m not following…”

Huffing, you curl your legs beneath you, shifting your body toward him. “You’re supposed to be…you know, giving me attention every hour of the day while we’re here. Ravishing me. Going at it like—non-stop. It’s supposed to be overly romantic. Flowers on the bed, sexy showers, no sleep, naked trysts in the kitchen—”

“Fine.” He shuts the laptop. Tucks it away in his leather bag. “I’m logging off. Happy?”

You grin enthusiastically. “Very, husband.”

Steve disappears inside for a moment, then appears once more with his phone in hand. You’re about to argue with him when he shows you he’s playing a game of solitaire—which you snort at, shoving him when his eyes roll—and slip your sunglasses back on over your eyes. Opening your book, Steve pushes at the back cover, leaning in close to try and read the short description on the back of what lingers inside the dog-eared pages. 

“What are you reading, wife?” You catch the slight uptick of his lip; the smirk he tries to hide.  

Conversation. Small talk. You can work with that. “To Know You’re Mine.”

He tucks his phone near his thigh. “What’s it about?” 

“Swingers.”

“That’s very vague,” he points out. “Can you give me a little more than just ‘swingers?’”

Your brow arches. “Do you really care?”

“No, I’m asking because I’m bored.” 

Shifting your chairs closer to one another, you flip the book over so he can see the front cover and start pointing out the little cartoon characters on the nondescript covers on shelves everywhere nowadays. 

“So there’s these two who are dating, right? Have been for a long time. But it’s her first boyfriend and they live together. Then one day, he takes her to his friend’s show. And that’s where you then meet these two characters. Just so happens, they start swinging and…well, it gets really crazy. Do you want me to tell you the rest? I’m about…halfway.”

He nods his head and you explain the entirety of the plot so far. And maybe your honeymoon isn’t perfect, maybe jet lag kicks in and Steve starts to nod off right around the time you start explaining the chapter you’re up to, and maybe you have to nudge him to come inside so he doesn’t get sunburned. 

Maybe you watch him as he lays down on the living room couch and you drape a blanket over his slumbering form. Maybe you settle down on another couch and roll over onto your side to look at him, your book long discarded on the coffee table. Maybe you allow yourself to roam his features, so much younger than his twenty-seven years when he’s resting like this—when he doesn’t have a whole company on his shoulders. 

Maybe you close your eyes too and join him. 

-

Suffering from jet lag, your first day is spent mostly lounging around. Sleeping off the long trip you’ve taken to get to where you are. Steve sits on his couch near you, and you sit bundled in blankets on the couch opposite. You watch reality TV, a show where couples pair up in a villa and try to make romantic connections, and scroll through social media. Allow yourself to click through different stories from your friends accounts, glance at the few articles printed, and scour the comments beneath regarding your recent wedding. 

TikTok is blowing up with videos of you and Steve photographed with Eddie. You are in your wedding gown and Steve is beside you, hand in yours. He looks happy. Genuinely happy in a way that has you smiling over to where he sits, hazel eyes drifting your way curiously. You don’t even know how they got access to them in the first place, and likely don’t even want to know. 

Overall, it seems like most are impressed and craving more photos. Wanting the inside scoop on the famous Corroded Coffin member’s best friends. No one seems to question the validity of the marriage, though there are questions as to why so quickly, but are snuffed out by those who make note that it isn’t like the two of you haven’t been in the same social circles for some time now. That it was a matter of time before the two of you realized love was always there, right in front of the both of you, and all you needed to do was reach out and grasp it.

By the next morning, you’re both awake and ready to take on the day, ordering a boat to the main island for your spa day. The prospect of a massage after the weeks spent planning your wedding sounds lovely, and you tell Steve as much, leaning into his frame as your guide asks how the first day of your honeymoon was. 

“Amazing,” you gush, though you spent another night with a mountain of pillows between you and the man beside you. The only reason you’re close now is because they’re watching your interactions, gauging the newlyweds. “It’s so beautiful here.”

And that’s that, until you arrive at the spa booked for a private afternoon with your new husband, compliments of your new mother-in-law and the travel agent she’d worked alongside to make sure your accommodations were all you could ever dream of. 

The only detail left out on your itinerary was the fact it was a nude spa. Fully. Part of some “bonding exercise” as the attendant explained before the two of you entered the hot spring, freshly massaged and draped in the coziest of robes to ever grace your skin. 

You’re left alone with Steve in a darkened room warmed by the steam rising from the water’s surface, eyes dragging along his presently clothed form.

“I’ve seen your chest? You sleep shirtless, which…I mean, is fine. And uh…you’ve seen me in a bikini. It’s kind of like that, no?”

“Except now we’ll be naked.”

“Well, there’s that.”

“Yeah, that.”

“I mean, it’s not that serious. No cause for alarm bells,” you say, trying to ease the tension rolling off of Steve’s shoulders in waves. “I mean, you could always turn around and I can get in first. Just…eyes above the water level only.” 

Steve rubs a hand along the back of his neck, nodding slowly. “Yeah. Sure. Okay, you go first.”

He doesn’t move for a moment, and you rush over the small deck to turn him around so he’s facing the wall. With his back turned, you untie the robe and drape it across a rack, then move over to the water’s edge to dip your toes into the water with a sigh. Warm water laps at your skin, coaxes you further into the hot spring until you’re settled down on a bench, water up to your shoulders, hopefully obscuring the rest of you from view. 

“Okay, I’m in,” you announce. “You can get in. I’ll close my eyes.”

You pinch them shut in emphasis, clapping your hands over your face just in case. The sound of his bare feed padding across the deck reaches your ears, followed by the splash of what you assume to be a foot stepping into the water. It’s followed by a low exhale. 

You pop your eyes open momentarily and Steve’s voice has you clapping them shut frantically. A shout of, “I’m not in all the way!”

“What are you waiting for?! Jesus to come back?!” 

“Oh, I don’t know, to adjust to the warm water. It’s cold out here.”

You scoff. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I didn’t see your dick.”

“Can you not?” 

“What? I didn’t!”

“I’m glad you didn’t!” 

You scoff. “I mean, ow. That’s kind of rude. I’m your wife.”

“Did you bump your head and forget the part where we’re on a fake honeymoon, following our fake wedding?” He whisper-yells, still not moving down the stairs leading into the sauna.

“I didn’t say I want to see it! Don’t get too big of a head now,” you amend, eyes narrowing. “Steve, just get in, please.” 

Your sigh of exasperation has him moving swiftly. Water ripples around your shoulders, gentle caresses against skin as he settles down beside you and announces you can open your eyes. 

“There’s this dinner spot I think we should try out tonight. It’s on the main island, but it’s supposed to be really good,” he says after a while, drawing your attention to him. “I figure it could be nice to spend an afternoon out. Together.”

“Is my husband asking me on a date?” You tease, watching as his head submerges itself under the water, leaving you in solitude. “I’m kidding. Kidding, Steve. This seems on brand; my husband trying to escape me on our honeymoon.”

He emerges with a laugh, hair slick against his head, broad chest heaving up and down as he catches his breath. It’s then your eyes wander southward. Hitch on the hair lining his chest, the way it trails below the surface of the water, hinting at a downward path your heart clenches at the mere prospect of following.

Steve’s…well, your husband is handsome. You’ve known since you met him that first time nearly a year ago. But now, sitting there, with the ring you got him your ring on his finger as he cards his fingers through his hair. It…shouldn’t do anything, but it does. Bubbles to life feelings you would rather push away, sweep under a rug, ignore. 

Deflect, deflect, deflect. 

It’s easier this way. 

Because he’s not your real husband in the ways that matter. 

Capturing your current distraction as you continue to mindlessly stare, Steve taps your shoulder, drawing your gaze back to his face, your mouth twisting into a frown. 

“Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t looking I—”

Scrambling to escape the moment, you start to rise a bit from the water, only for Steve’s gaze to stray. “Eyes up here, Harrington,” you tease, shoving at him and forcing him deeper into the water, hazel eyes bright and wide, holding you in place there in that sauna. 

He laughs, spluttering as his head dips beneath the surface. 

A deep, hearty, lyrical sound. 

That laughter continues until dinner, where Steve brings you to a lovely outdoor restaurant on the beach. All around tables lit by candlelight outline the sandy floor. Little twinkling lights illuminate the space, hidden in the trees, curling around their slender trunks. It’s gorgeous, and you say so as your waitress congratulates you on your marriage while she seats the two of you, offering a bottle of champagne gifted by your mother-in-law. 

Until it stops because of a simple sentence that makes Steve stiffen on the spot: “Are those the new Harringtons?”

-

It’s supposed to be easy. A business deal with a contract like the ones he’d grown up reading. An exercise his father had him do often: would hand him a detailed contract, pages thick, and see if Steve could find the faults within. It’s why he knows the one he drafted up for his own marriage was—or rather, should have been—perfect. But marriage contracts don’t account for persistent wives. For the types of women who seep into the crevices of your life and make themselves known. 

And that, he finds quickly, is you. You’re vibrant and joyful and downright fun to be around, and try as he might to deny it, finds himself enjoying your company. But he’d told himself, from the moment on that rooftop when he’d asked you to marry him, that these things could only grow complicated if he allowed them to. If he allowed himself to open up, to feel, to wonder. 

Such as this moment, presently staring him in the face. You are in that pretty, off the shoulder cream dress he’d seen you unpack back in the bedroom that clings to your every curve, as Carol and her husband, Tommy H, settle down at the table beside the two of you. And, naturally, you slip into easy conversation with them. Chipper chatter as you catch up on the happenings of your honeymoon so far. 

“Isn’t it just so beautiful here? It’s actually our first time here too, but it has been so lovely. Have you two been able to get out and see anything? I’m sure you’re still in that first few days of your trip bliss,” Carol asks, waggling her brows teasingly. 

“I…uh, what?” You pause for a moment, reaching across the table to grab Steve’s hand in yours. As if you’ve just remembered you’re married and are meant to play the part of a newlywed. “Oh, yeah…so we have a private bungalow on the water. So you can imagine…” 

“That sounds so romantic. Ugh, honey—” She reaches over to clasp her hand around her own husband’s forearm fondly, as if she’s reliving memories of their own newly wedded bliss. “If you haven’t seen any beaches yet, you definitely need to. The water was so perfect. We also tried out this really lovely breakfast place. Great for a morning meal and it’s connected to the sweetest trail. Such pretty scenery here, isn’t there, Tommy?”

Tommy nods, turning to Steve when the girls slip into easy conversation, grinning widely. “She seems great, buddy. So happy for you.”

“She really is,” Steve admits, catching the profile of your pretty face. The upturn of your lips that has his heart careening into the pit of his stomach. 

He hates when it does that, and it seems to do so all the time now. 

He knows it’s not coincidental. 

And that’s the problem, now isn’t it? 

The charm you possess. The way Carol and Tommy talk to you like they’ve known you for years as opposed to the few minutes it takes to learn their background history. To find out that they know Steve from the private school they went to in the city. You quickly learn Steve and Tommy played baseball together, before Steve went to business school and Jason pursued the major leagues. They’ve not seen each other in years, so there are no hard feelings about not being invited to the wedding, but they’re happy for the two of you. 

Steve told himself marrying you would be easy because he knew little of you. You’re his best friend Eddie’s best friend. You were previously Robin’s roommate. But up until your vows at the altar you were a name his friends would bring up in conversation, and now you’re central to a majority of his conversations, share a last name with him, have now shared a bed with him. 

Luckily, there are only a few more days left of your honeymoon. A few until he’s back in the city, back to work, and back to normalcy. You’ll be heading back to school, he’ll have a semblance of reality he feels he’s been lacking, so wrapped up in wedding planning and get togethers, and he’ll have no questions as to why he’s finding it so hard to keep your marriage strictly as what it was always intended to be: a business deal. 

For now he’ll have to deal with you grabbing his hand flirtatiously when an Emcee announces a competition for that evening that manages to put a new glint in yours and Carol’s eyes. An expectant glee for him to participate with you, keen on competition, despite his grunts of protest. 

For now he’ll have to deal with the way your eyes meet him as a coconut is pressed between the two of you and the game of the evening is announced. Coconut smoochie, wherein two couples compete to bring the coconut between their bodies up to their mouths for a kiss, without using their hands. 

For now, he’ll have to deal with the smirk that lines your lips as he starts shifting this way and that, coconut rolling between the two of you, sliding against his abdomen, his chest, your chest, your breasts. 

For now, he’ll have to ignore the way you grin to yourself when Carol and Tommy drop their coconut behind the two of you, how satisfied you are when Steve manages to get the coconut under his chin and pinches it there. 

“Harrington, you’re not so bad at this,” you tease, chest against his, hips against his. 

One wrong move and—

“Can’t believe you got me to do this.”

“You’re on your honeymoon. Live a little. Life doesn’t have to be numbers and contracts all the time.”

And you’re right. He knows this. But he hates the way his stomach twists violently, how his heart clenches as your lips press against the coconut and the other side is pressed to his mouth. Hates how when you’re announced the winners and the coconut drops to the floor between you, his palms sweat as your arms come to curl around his waist. 

Because you’re his wife, yes. 

Technically. 

On paper, at least. 

But that’s all it can be. 

This affair, this agreement—it has an expiration date. 

Three years. 

Three years and then you’ll be gone. 

Lost to him, like so many others. 

For the sake of your agreement, it has to remain that way. 

-

Light seeps in through your bedroom window. A heaviness around your waist, like a weighted blanket, keeps you still. Comforted. Warm. A sigh spills from your lips, pleasant and happy. Contented. Burrowing deeper into that warm, you hum, relishing in the feeling of it. Of being cocooned, safe, held close. 

Held close. 

Held close. 

Held— 

Head shifting, you come to notice Steve flush against your back. His hips against your backside, thighs tangling with yours, and that weight around you? Yeah, it’s connected to a wrist, a bicep—because it’s an arm. Steve’s broad arm cages you in against his bare chest. His warm, freshly tanned, bare chest. Those fingers around your hip curl tighter. The arm around you tugs you closer, though you’re not sure how much closer two people can be without climbing into the other person, and you realize the very…interesting situation you two have found yourselves in. 

His body against yours. Your body flush against him. His breath in your hair, along your ear, his mouth near the hinge of your jaw. If he moves even the slightest bit, they’ll make contact with your skin. And you’ve kissed Steve enough times now to know said kisses are dangerous. They’ll only lead to dreaming, to questioning, to wondering. 

You don’t have time for any of those things. 

Your honeymoon is coming to a close soon enough. Only a few days left now, and then you’ll be back to your own lives. To normalcy. Or as normal as two people freshly married can be.

“Steve?” Your voice is quiet in an attempt to not startle the man holding you. 

His mouth shifts near your ear. A low yawn spills against your jaw, heat fanning across your skin. “Yeah?”

“You’re squeezing me,” you point out, wiggling your body for emphasis. “Our pillow wall fell down in our sleep.”

But it’s in the wiggling against his solid form that you realize there are actually three people in the room. Your husband, yourself, and the warm, thick, long, and presently hard erection pressed against your bottom. 

It’s also when you hear the slow exhale of your husband’s breath along the hollow of your ear. A telltale sound, even in the short time you’ve been married, that signals he’s hardly awake. Still in that wispy world between waking and sleep. Deciding to not rouse him further, you settle back down into his embrace. 

Or rather, try to. When you do so, your body freezes on the spot. Cold water seemingly drops from a bucket onto your shared bed. Because Steve whimpers against your shoulder. 

Whimpers. 

A breathy, needy sound that has your stomach fluttering. And further still, as your heart rate picks up, realization dawns. Your knee involuntarily searches for its twin beneath the covers, thighs clenching around Steve’s thigh. This time, he moans. A deep rumble in his chest that vibrates along your spine, has your fingers clutching at his arm slung low around your hips. 

“Steve,” you try again, pleading with whoever listens from above as Steve’s hips roll forward, cock pressing against your backside again, making your pussy flutter around nothing. Betrays you and your damn emotions. Your pillow swallows your moan, desire racketting in your veins. “Fu—Steve.” 

Awareness grows. Waking follows. Steve starts to shift behind you, arm loosening from around your waist, chest slipping from your back. His form moves toward the headboard and you try to not miss the loss of his warmth so deeply, try to not linger on the instantaneous loneliness that creeps when the king sized bed grows even larger before you, the gaping maw between you created by lies and acts, touted before your closest family and friends never so insurmountable. 

As you rise from your own pillow and look at him, he tugs the blankets higher up on his hips, hands moving to the bedside table to grab his glasses and phone. Your mouth opens to speak, to reassure him it’s fine, that it happens, that it’s just a silly pillow wall, but he mutters shower and slips out of the room and down the hall. 

Huffing, you roll onto your back, listening to the sound of your racing heartbeat coming back to a normal rhythm. It’s joined a moment later by the water running, the gentle rainfall of the shower head in the master bathroom sparking to life, likely steaming that room. 

You don’t want to think about it. 

Try hard to not think about the figure of your husband slipping into the stream. Try not to imagine the sight of his bare chest on display, rivulets of water dripping down his sculpted abdominals, fingers running through the hair growing longer since you’ve met him on his head, along the stubble that’s lining his jaw and upper lip now. Try to not imagine him still pressed against you, rolling his hips against yours, drawing a quiet moan from you. Definitely don’t imagine what he’s likely doing in the shower to alleviate his…situation. Your fingers edge along the hem of your sleep shorts as you try to block out the image of his corded arms straining in the shower as those long fingers curl tight around his c—

No! 

Absolutely not! Not going there. 

NOPE. 

-

The day before your flight home arrives sooner than you expect it to. Five days of…well, maybe not marital bliss, but something, passing before your eyes. After the night you woke to Steve’s arms around your waist, the pillow wall became a pillow mountain. 

And, though you loathe to admit it, you hate the mornings that follow. They remind you of what you can expect once you’re back in the city with him. Nights where you slip to one end of the hall and him the other, where you pass each other on the way to grab coffee in the morning, where you wave goodbye before one of you leaves and silence follows. 

Steve wakes early the morning of your last day, mutters that he’s going to spend some time in the private gym, leaving you to make breakfast for when he gets out. With both a plate of eggs and coffee brewing for your husband, you open your laptop with the intention of making sure all your classes have been set up. 

What greets you there isn’t…well, it’s not unexpected. It was part of your deal, but you hadn’t anticipated him paying the bill already. 

Thousands of dollars were paid, bringing your total due for the semester down to nothing. 

Zero. 

Zilch. 

Eyes burning, you close the lid of your laptop, sniffling as Steve enters the room and thanks you, taking a bite of his breakfast. 

“You didn’t have to cook again,” he says. “We haven’t called the private chef at all this week.”

You shrug, wiping at your under eyes quickly. “I don’t mind. I like cooking. I’ll have to go shopping when we get home.”

Home. 

That’s right. 

The walls of your penthouse that feel so far from it are, in fact, your home. 

“Don’t drive yourself crazy cooking all the time. I order out or go out most nights anyway.”

“Right,” you say, dipping your head and pouring him a cup of coffee. “I’ll be busy with school soon anyway.”

“Exactly.” He sips his drink. “That should be your main focus.”

“Right.”

Awkward. 

Stilted. 

Uncomfortable. 

Those feelings linger as you step out onto the hammock outside, dangling over the water below. Your book is back on your lap, Steve’s on your right, freshly brought up to speed on where you’re at. The main character broke up with her boyfriend and told the main male lead that they need to stop seeing each other. 

Needing to take a break from it, tears gathering in your eyes, you tip your gaze up to the sky. The sun beats heavily on your head, warms your skin, and makes you sleepy. 

Steve turns his head your way, fingers trailing along your forearm, breaking you out of your silent reverie. “Hey. Are you okay? You’ve been a little quiet this morning.”

“Yeah.” You nod, rolling over onto your side. Reaching up to place your book on a safer spot of the deck, you shift closer to him, lips turning downward. “I saw you paid my semester—”

“I told you I would. It was part of the deal.”

The deal. 

The arrangement. 

“I know, I just…seeing it was kind of overwhelming. In a good way. In an…I’m really grateful kind of way.” A slow exhale spills from your lips, chest falling with the effort of it. “I know we didn’t get married in the most, uh, conventional way, but—there are things that this will allow me to do that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It’s a big weight lifted off my shoulder. So. I guess thank you for marrying me.”

The corner of his lip twitches upward as your husband rolls over onto his side, sunglasses blocking half his face from view. “This is also a weight off my shoulders, too. I think you forget that. I needed to get married for the company—”

“A company you don’t want,” you tease, wrinkling your nose. 

“A company I don’t want,” he agrees, chuckling lightly. “But I’d rather it stay out of my cousin’s hands. So thank you for marrying me.”

“Ready to go home, Mr. Harrington?”

He snorts. “Sure, Mrs. Harrington.”

-

-

[judesmoonbeauty]

Ghost House Report: A Requiem For You -Harrison Gray Epilogue

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do not post my translations elsewhere. If you'd like to be added to my translations tag list, please comment below. Thank you, for you support! ☾.

Harrison: Prove it to me. Don’t leave me Kate.

Harrison: Right here, right now. Until I’m satisfied.

Harrison: ….Be prepared for tonight.

Kate: Mm…

True to his words, the taste of Harry’s scent immediately hits inside my mouth.

His tongue entangles with mine, sucking it, licking every inch inside of my mouth.

Wherever Harry touched, his fingertips, the inside of my mouth, they were all hot.

(…..My body’s sensations have returned.)

In response a hot tingle sparked from deep within me.

(I’m here. I want to…feel Harry more.)

Removing his tongue, he tightens our intertwined fingers.

Wanting to give Harry my aching heat, I wrapped my legs around him -

Harrison: …You trying to stir me up?

Harry released one of his hands and slid it up my leg.

Harrison: But now….I don’t think I can be kind to you.

Lifting up my legs, his fingertips mercilessly penetrate me, and tease my honey-soaked spot.

Kate: Ahhh…..

Harrison: …Yeah, that’s your reaction.

I want Harry to use his hand to unleash even more passion.

As I cling to Harry, both our body heat and breathing rise.

Kate: Ah…..Harry……

As I try to undo Harry’s pants with shaky fingers, his hand is placed on top of mine.

Harrison: What do you think you’re doing?*

My face flared with shame at his pointed remark.

Kate: ….That was mean….

I looked up an glared at him -

Harrison: Heh, that’s the face I wanted to see.

Kate: Mmm

With our lips completely consumed, and his hand still on top of mine, I slowly removed his pants.

I shivered as I felt Harry’s supple body sway.

As our breathes mix, my mind becomes hazy, but one sense remains sharp -

(Ah….Harry’s…..)

I felt Harry’s heat press against and penetrate me deeply.

Kate: —Nggh!

Harrison: …..You’re so warm inside.

Harrison: Feels good.**

His movements become increasingly stronger, melting me completely.

Kate: …..Nn, H-arry…….Aah, Haa.....

Harrison: …..Ngh, say my name more

Harrison: ….It’s not bad….hearing you call my name

Harrison: …Hey, Kate?

My moans became louder as I obeyed his sweet coercion.

Kate: Harry….HAAA….H-arry……

My core was so stirred by the excitement that I responded to Harry unconsciously.

Harrison: Haha…. you’re too honest with your feelings.

Harrison: That honesty….always saves me.

I keep calling Harry’s name provocatively, wondering how I look in his mint-colored eyes.

There was no time to think about my appearance with our bodies stacked on each other, we conveyed our thoughts with our gazes -

We were filled with passion together until we reached exhaustion.

Kate: …..Mmh.

Feeling something warm touch my forehead, I lift my heavy eyelids.

Harrison: Good, it’s you.

As the morning sun shines brightly on him, looks at me with relief.

Kate: ….Good morning.

The happiness of waking up to the smile of my beloved one warms my heart.

Harrison: Even so, you were being possessed by a ghost.

Harrison: You’re always getting into trouble.

Kate: I……I’m sorry.

(It’s true….Harry was there this time, so I was safe.)

There is no room for objecting, so I kept quiet.

Harrison: ……I don’t want to want to take care of a troublesome person like you.

Kate: Huh.

-My mind went blank.

His mint-colored eyes were as cool as ever.

(….I knew it.)

Kate: That’s a lie, isn’t it.

Kate: Harry….despite all of your complaints, you helped me in the end.

Kate: I know best that you’re a kind person

Kate: …I’ll try my best not to be too dependent on that kindness.

His eyes staring at me soften.

Harrison: ….Yeah, it was a lie.

Harrison: You always get into trouble, so I’m used to it.

Harrison: Helping you is something that I want to do.

Harrison: Just….promise me one thing

Harrison: ….Don’t leave me so easily.

His genuine voice engraves itself on my heart.

Holding my head tightly, he kisses my forehead again.

Kate: …Of course, that’s what I intend to do. I’m stubborn.

Kate: Even if you don’t like it Harry, we’re sticking together.

I hug Harry tightly, and bury myself in him, inhaling his minty scent.

Harrison: Yeah. Try your best not to be disliked by me.

Kate: …..You don’t have to tell me that.

Kate: Anyway, I know that your meanness is how you express your love, Harry.

Harrison: Huh, so does it make you happy when people are mean to you?

Kate: I didn’t say that.

Harrison: But you simply didn’t say it.

He grabbed my chin and locked his gaze with mine.

Kate: …..So crafty.

(Oh, even though you can see it clearly.)

Harrison: You’re the one who wants to stick to a crafty guy.

Kate: …..That’s right, Harry….I’m happy even if you’re mean to me.

Kate: Even when you act like that I feel as if you’re thinking about me, Harry.

(I said it.)

Rather than be embarrassed, I decided to express my feelings to Harry -

Harry’s face suddenly looks down.

Harrison: ….Yeah, it’s definitely you.

Harrison: That’s why I’m always thinking about you, Kate.

Harrison: Stick to me and let me be mean to you forever.

Kate: Ugh, of course you’ll keep being mean to me.

Harrison: Fuwaha…..in any case, there’s not point in leaving.

Kate: Mm……

Our lips come together as if sealing a promise -

My heart and body are filled with joy of being by Harry’s side.

*This line translates to, “What are you doing,” but the following line’s translation explains that Harrison is trying to make Kate to feel shame by his remark, so I chose to change this to “What do you think you’re doing?” to try and bring that out more.

**Technically, he just says good here, but his face screams “Feels good”, so I changed it to that.

[Master List]

Tag List: @theimaginativelyreticent @sapphire-323 @sh0jun @letter-from-afar

Dividers: @/brokenbard

*Ahem* this was the first time I've ever translated Harrison smut....it was definitely interesting...ummm maybe...awkward(?) Other than translating is lines in other stories as a supporting role, this was my first Harry translation....I hope in time I can get a better grasp of his writer's style as I do more in the future. Anyway, it was a fun translation.

[iprefertheterminsane]

Take me Home (Where I Belong)

I'm almost finished with my domestic perryshmirtz 5+1, which I'm gonna upload to ao3 soon so here's a tease in the form of the first chapter!

Rating: G

Relationship: Perry the Platypus/Heinz Doofenshmirtz

Tags: Human Perry the Platypus, pre-slash, domesticity, Perry's moved in before they even stopped calling themselves enemies, it's normal to want to kiss the homies sometimes, right?, long suffering Charlene, Perry's got 4 kids actually and that fourth one is Vanessa, haha Perry the Platypus you are dating my father.

Even after having his plans foiled for the day, Heinz doesn’t let him drive home.

“Look at yourself, Perry the Platypus, you’re barely standing on your own two feet.” The scientist points out. He’s right, of course, not that Perry will let him the satisfaction of agreeing with him. It seems to mean less than little; Heinz had already buckled him back into the passenger seat of his truck with the tenacity of a father, and Perry is just barely conscious enough to comply- a bit dumbly, but the taller man does not seem to mind-without much of a fuss. He’s still talking, naturally. Perry has gotten so used to the chatter the droning had begun to take on an ambient sort of feeling, like brown noise. “-practically an accident waiting to happen. Honestly, you’d think Francis would want to try keeping his best agent alive-that agency is gonna do you in better than I would, one day.”

Perry considers giving up a token protest-he had gotten here with the hoverjet on auto-pilot; the routes between the lair and Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc. has long been keyed in as his defaults-but decides otherwise. He really was quite exhausted, surely it would be no bother to let Heinz drive him back to Evil Inc. where he’s parked. Why waste fuel when a cheaper of transport was on offer? The Major has particularly been going on and on lately about turning the office more green and saving energy, no doubt one of their latest efforts to cut costs-so he was doing the agency a favor, really. He trusted that Heinz was a reliable enough driver when they’re neither forced to undergo the serial killing obstacle course that was the Drusselsteinian Driving Test Route.

He would sleep in just until Heinz gets them back home. Decision made, he lets himself rest his eyes.

00..00

“Up, up, up, Perry the Platypus you don’t really expect me to carry you up the stairs do you-,”

“-Ok, here we go, sit here-no, no, don’t lay down just yet you need to take your shoes off Perry the Heathenpuss-,”

“-I am not letting you sleep in the corset of a waistcoat Perry the Platypus, wow is this Kevlar? No wonder you can stand my Titanium punches-Ok uppies, I should probably help you take this tie off too, huh? They could strangle you in your sleep, y’know, nuff said, if nuff was-y’know, me-it’s so weird to see you so biddable, Perry the Platypus-,”

“-ok, last thing Perry the Platypus, yes I promise, just need to help you get under the covers, alright? Now, isn’t that better? Aw, look at how cute you look, Perry the Platypus, like a little angel-,”

“Good night, Perry the Platypus.”

00..00

Perry snorts awake in the penthouse guest room with the covers pulled up to his chin, blinking against the light of the setting sun from behind the half-shaded curtains facing east of Danville.

He isn’t sure what’s woken him, but finds himself unable to go back to sleep. This was probably a good thing-he’s never stayed behind in Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc. for so long without making his excuses before, and the clock shows that he’s nearly late for dinner back at the Flynn-Fletcher’s household. He’ll have no trouble flying home now, he feels perfectly well-rested.

Rising to his feet, he finds himself underdressed. His hat rests on the right-hand nightstand, right next to his sleeping head, and the rest of his clothes-vest, tie and shoes-draped carefully over the chair that looks like it’s been dragged over from the kitchen, positioned right next to the room’s entryway, deliberately left ajar. He shoves the hat back over his head and toes his shoes back on, but blinks deliberately at the rest of his attire. They are, of course, crucial parts of his armour, but what was to fear for stepping out without them? Heinz’s scheme was thwarted for the day, and lest the man was suddenly overcome with another plan while Perry was out, which he sincerely doubts, Heinz would not have reason to attack him out of the blue, and certainly not out of armour. He was obsessed with playing fair, and acting by the book. As far as they are both concerned, they were now both off the clock.

Perry decides to take the clothes and fold them over his arm, but he steps out without putting them on- the vest tends to cinch, which he tolerates, but not without reason-and goes to search for his host to make his goodbyes.

It’s easy enough to find him; Heinz is in the kitchen, naturally, making dinner for himself, with Norm at the dining table carefully slicing vegetables and making prep; something doughy, it seems. Perry wonders if it’s pie-Heinz makes wonderful doonkleberry pie. He rests his hips against the doorjamb, and chatters his teeth to make his presence known, a noise Heinz is well familiar with. It cuts off the man’s mindless chatter, and he beams. Perry can’t help his own answering smile.

"Ah, Perry the Platypus!” He crows. “Just in time for dinner! I don’t suppose you mind setting the table, just need to give me another couple of minutes-,” he cuts himself off as he sees Perry shaking his head, and Perry signs, regretfully, that he has to make himself scarce.

“YOU AREN’T STAYING FOR DINNER?” Norm asks, as despairingly as his cheerful-sounding robotic voice could make it sound. His mouth is down turned.

“Yes, it’s already so late, Perry the Platypus, surely your report could wait a couple of more hours.” Heinz adds, cajoling. “I worry you know, a man has to eat homemade meals every couple of days, else you tend to get sick to the stomach. I don’t know if you cook. I’ve made lemon pie for dessert.” Heinz sing-songs enticingly at the end, and Perry has to admit it’s persuasive. The man really does have a knack for baking.

But he’s already missed out on family dinner yesterday, due to making up for Agent G’s maternity leave, and the Flynn-Fletchers would worry if he missed out on another. He knows for a fact Linda’s made her award-winning meatloaf tonight, and hedgehog cake for supper. He’d hate on missing out on the treat for the world.

He’s halfway through realizing he’s said it out loud, ‘I have homemade meals at home,’ before he freezes, taking in Norm’s and Heinz’s curious blinks, and his hands pause abruptly, letting the sentence trail off awkwardly. He could see from the look on Heinz’s face that he was curious, mouth opening as if to pose a question, but seems to ultimately decide against it. They’ve both scrambled enough of the expected norms of their Villain-to-Spy nemesis-ship today, and crossing the line to figuring out Perry’s home life seems a midge too far, even for them.

Heinz hums, and changes the subject. “Are you really driving home fully dressed like that?”

Perry looks down at himself. ‘What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?’

“Nothing, which is my point. You could just leave them here, you know, they’re all dirty, Norm can run them through with the rest of the day’s laundry, and you can pick them up tomorrow. It’s weird to see you all dressed down, you know, but not bad weird, a good weird, makes me feel like a good host. That’s how you know you’re an adult sometimes, ugh, just listen to me talk about good hosting etiquette, Vanessa never has to worry about that sort of thing you know, even though she should. I hope Charlene’s teaching her.”

Perry’s wandered over to the coffee machine at this point, using context clues to figure out how it works and avoiding the large red button in a transparent case on the right-hand side of it’s case. He taps it, and churrs again.

“Oh, coffee! That’s a good idea, Perry the Platypus, some strong caffeine to help drive you through that traffic, I bought this travel mug for you!” Heinz hands him a short and stout chrome and teal travel mug with a silicone top and an anti-slip base. “I saw that color while scrolling through Etsy while I was looking at bento-boxes for this scheme I’m cooking up next week-oop, forget I said that Perry the Platypus, no spoilers! It reminded me of you! But the travel mugs aren’t related, it was just in the same shop, I love travel mugs, especially these newer novelty ones, you know there were never any novelty items back in Drusselstein, on account of the state largely frowning on any sort of color or patterns-,”

Perry churrs again, twisting the top of his cup back on and pointing out the door. Heinz visibly deflates.

“Oh, right, yes, leaving, of course, Perry the Platypus, let me just let this simmer and walk you to the door-and leave the clothes with Norm, Perry the Platypus, I’ve told you, you can come to fetch them tomorrow.”

Heinz helps hold the mug for him while he gets himself settled back in the hoverjet, and the clock on his dash informs him he should reach the house just in time to reach the Flynn Fletchers begin dinner if he rushed. Heinz leans forward to hand him the travel mug, leaving them close, just close enough that Perry feels the ridiculous urge to-maybe-leave a soft kiss on the other man’s cheek, the way Lawrence does when Linda was about to leave the house for the errand of the day.

Heinz doesn’t seem to notice, mumbling about setting the mug just right into the cupholder behind the handlebar, because it was hot, Perry the Platypus, we wouldn’t want a repeat of the driving test incident, do we? When Perry switches the jet on, Heinz waves. Perry, inexplicably, tips his hat back in return.

It isn’t until he’s 15 minutes away from the house that he realizes he really had left his vest and tie behind at Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc. He hopes Heinz doesn’t plan to do anything inadvisable with them.

For some reason, Perry doesn’t believe that he will.

[kabie-whump]

Spinning the Whump Wheel - Part 2

The Wheel chose...

Drugged!

I've been itching to write more Angel Dust whump so that's what I'm gonna do. This takes place somewhere around the end of season 1 but before the battle.

// forced drugging, Angel-typical sexual content including non-con mentions, Valentino (i just found out that "#tw valentino" is a real tag and that's hilarious to me), some offensive/ableist language

~~~

It had taken many hours of puppy-dog eyes from Charlie, but Angel had eventually agreed to commit to getting sober for good. It hadn't been easy. The withdrawals were a bitch at their best and near-deadly at their worst, but somehow he had survived the worst of it and is now going on two months sober.

The thing is, Angel's job is way harder when he's actually aware of what's going on.

It used to be so easy to get in front of the camera and let himself get carried away just playing whatever role was assigned to him. Now, Angel can't stop getting distracted by anything and everything.

Wait... I'm being too loud, aren't I? Should I save it for the climax? Wait, now I'm too quiet. What is my face doing? Ugh, that light is blinding me. Oh good, I'm finally going numb down there. That'll make things easier. Hang on, has this guy always been this damn ugly? It doesn't matter, no one's looking at him anyway. They're looking at me, shit. Pay attention! Face. Legs. Tits. That's it. I'm nailing it now. Or, am I getting nailed? Haha, good one Angel.

"Cut!"

Angel freezes. The actor on top of him pulls out and lets go of his throat, sitting back on his heels.

Behind the wall of lights and cameras, Valentino rises to his feet. He stalks over to the bed, and Angel feels himself shrinking into the blankets.

"Something wrong, Val?"

Valentino huffs. "Are you seriously asking me that right now?"

Shrinking back even more, Angel can only nod meekly.

"You've had off days before, Dust, but this?" He gestures at Agnel with disgust. "We've got hours of footage and I can't use any of it! It's all shit! Why're you being such a spaz today?!"

"I... uh..." Damn, Valentino is so much scarier while Angel is sober.

"Now you can't even talk right! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"I-I'm sorry, Val! I'm just... I've been tryin to get clean and it's messin with my head. That's all it is."

That explanation seems to piss the overlord off even more. "You're fucking sober?!"

Angel nods, averting his eyes.

Valentino visibly forces himself to calm down, a cold, unnerving smile settling onto his face. "Well, why didn't you just say so, baby? That's an easy fix."

Angel's gaze snaps up to his boss. "Huh?"

Then Val's hand is grabbing him roughly by the chin and pulling him close. "Here you go, baby." With a wave of his hand, Val summons a few pills.

"Oh- uh... No thank you." Angel tries to back away but Val keeps a tight grip on his face, squeezing hard enough for his mouth to pucker open.

"What'd you say? I can't understand you," Val says, his voice getting darker by the second. "It almost sounded like you were refusing my gifts, but that would be absurd, wouldn't it?"

"Val-"

Valentino takes the opportunity to shove the pills into Angel's open mouth. Then he slaps a hand over his lips, keeping him from spitting them out.

"Swallow," he growls.

Angel does it before he can even think about resisting. There's some stupid part of him that wants this. Wants the excuse to be high again. He can go back to Charlie crying about "he made me do it!" and "it wasn't my fault!" and then she can't get mad at him.

But he'd worked so hard...

Val releases him and shoves him back onto the bed, then turns him so he's laying on his right side. Angel knows what he's doing. The drugs will kick in faster this way.

"Keep shooting," Val says nonchalantly as he retreats back behind the wall of camera equipment.

Angel squeezes his eyes shut as he feels hands on his body once again.

Sorry Charlie. Maybe next time.

~~~

The wheel was made by @ofinkandstardust

[silver-wield]

Ffxvi ending spoilers

I'll tag this too, but this is your warning, I'm about to rant about the ending.

Because I didn't like it.

Lemme preface by saying I loved the game! Love Clive, Jill and everyone else in the cast, except Annabel, she's a bitch and deserves to die. Main story is great, sidequests great, combat is fun and it's great. Except the ending.

It's one thing to pepper hints throughout the story when you have a hero who maybe hasn't done as much to earn the definitive ending you, as a player, expect, and wind up with some ambiguity as to their fate.

It's totally okay to have secondary characters' fates left up in the air and wondering what became of them because they are not your primary hero.

It is not fucking okay to throw out not one, not two, but four ambiguous ending hooks when a hero such as Clive has literally done everything humanly possible to earn the kind of ending you see in ffix, with our hero returning home to his loved ones.

Onto the actual ending. Last chance to dip.

No pics except at the end, but I will be describing what happened.

Last chance fr

Can't say I didn't warn yall.

After Clive defeats Ultima and destroys the crystal, we pull back to see it crumble. Now, if you were going for an ambiguous ending, at this point you would leave Clive there and not return. It's a stupidly high drop and it would leave his fate literally up in the air.

Nope. We see he survives the thousands of feet fall into the ocean and makes it to shore.

We rejoice, believing he'll be okay and keep his promise to Jill to return and actually save himself along with everyone else like she's been begging him this whole time.

Haha, you thought.

Clive attempts to use magic, only for his hand to petrify. He smiles, knowing he's succeeded for definite. And then come some last words as he stares at the star he recalls Jill making a wish on, and his hand falls to the sand in the typical symbolism for death, which we've seen multiple times not only in this game but across FF.

Cut to Jill, staring at the star, which winks out of existence. She bursts into tears and runs to the deck, fearful it means Clive's dead. Torgal howls, mourning his master, and that should be clue enough that Clive is dead because Torgal never gave up looking for Clive all the years they were apart.

Then, comes the pathetic trope of the "light of hope" as the sun rises, and we see Jill's tears stop as she looks at the horizon.

I saw someone say they spent a stupid amount of time looking for a boat and claiming Clive is rowing back to her, but you have to look reaaaaaaally hard to see it. That's because there is no boat. There is no boat.

Jill is recalling her own words and hoping Clive will return to her just like the sun rises, and that's what we're supposed to cling to. Her words, along with all the other "hints" left along the way about Clive saving himself, how he should hang up his sword and pick up a quill (and I'll get to that in a second) and all the plans he makes for a life once things are over are meant to make us hopeful he's alive, despite the previous scene of deathly symbolism.

Then come the credits. No, we didn't see anybody else at the Hideaway besides a short moment with Gav, Mid and Edda, so literally everyone's fate across the realm is left open ended, which is so fucking unsatisfying. As unsatisfying as the ending to ffxv when we see empty landscapes because most of the fucking population across the planet is dead bar a few pathetic survivors huddled in Lestalum, who we don't even see enjoying the "new light of hope" because apparently a view of a barren landscape is meant to be good enough (and then came the dlc with one alt ending and a novel with a "definitive" ending that erases the original canon one because they fucked up so much they couldn't even work out how to end the damn game. Showing a mostly dead world with a "hopeful sunrise" ain't it. Nobody's alive to enjoy the fucking hope!)

Anyway, this is not a ffxv rant, so moving on. After the credits is a short scene of a beautiful cottage surrounded by greenery and flowers with two boys and a smol dog. The elder boy has Clive's dark hair and the younger has Joshua's hair colour. They're doing chores without magic and lamenting that magic and eikons are fairytales and Clive's favourite play makes a reference as well.

We end on a book written by Joshua Rosfield that depicts the war of eikons that the boys are pretending to play out in the garden.

And that's our fourth "did he live?" moment, using Harpocrates words about picking up a quill, and taking on his dead brother's name so it might always be remembered the way he took Cid's name on, Clive writes about his people's deeds. But did he? Or was it one of the Undying who penned it and listed Joshua, their lord, as the author?

But you know what? I don't give a fuck about some distant future where Clive's efforts pay off and the world is free and safe. It was a fucking given that would work out.

What I cared about and wanted to see was the characters I cared about being free and safe.

Throwing some NPC children with Clive and Joshua's hair colours at us as some consolation prize while Clive finished either dead or unconscious alone on a beach and Jill is sobbing is not the ending any of us laboured for. We have no attachment to these children, and the weird fucking hint about reincarnation or whatever that was, is fucking stupid and undermines everything about them living and dying on their own terms. The idea that Clive and Joshua, having been imbued with the power of the phoenix will rise again in some distant and free land, undermines everything they did in destroying magic and eikons and crystals. It's not a good enough ending when it comes off the back of the absolute fuck all that came before the credits and reincarnations were never introduced as a concept in the entire game.

Maybe if they showed Clive alive and reunited with his loved ones it would be a further heartwarming moment to see his and Joshua's souls together in another life. Their bond is such a huge part of what makes the story so damn good, but as it is, it feels cheap and flatter than a pancake to end like this.

It's clear the devs teams eyes are on future dlc to pick up where this "ending" left off and hopefully provide the fulfillment we expected, but to have the canon ending at this point of their next gen mainline FF game be so disappointing and low note just isn't good enough.

And people can say there's hints all over and we just need to look, but after everything Clive went through, we deserved a little more certainty of his survival.

All we needed was a boat on the horizon.

[geodetojoy]

ALRIGHTY i am no longer busy so heres my full thoughts on Newsies :DDD

tagging @royallygray and @mysteriouswolf if yall wanna read :D

ok this shit got LONG so the rest is under the cut

GOD where do I even start its beautiful its wonderful its emotional i love it so much

Ill try not to copy my intermission thoughts too much (if you havent seen those here they are)

Ok lets talk about the history of it. A quick google search says its based on a strike in 1899, and Roosevelt ran for presidency in 1901, so we'll just say the musical takes place in 1899 too (correct me if theres a different confirmed time).

During this time, work conditions are absolute shit, monopolies and trusts are on the rise, and the concept of a union has recently emerged. I really didnt need to say much of this bc its apparent in the musical, but i love historically accurate stuff so deal with it /lh

And in the musical we see the beginnings of Roosevelt's trust-busting and ideas of social equality that he acts on during his presidency (it also kinda ties into his environmentalism stuff a bit too!)

And after reading up a bit on the strike the musical was based on, a lot of the effects of the strike in the musical were historically accurate too! the newsboys could sell back papers they werent able to sell on the streets, but the price was unfortunately not yet lowered. (also, the names of the publishers in the show are historically accurate as well!!! makes my little history brain happy :DDD )

SO whats the point of all of my rambling here?

people make historical art all of the time. we see it in musicals like Annie, Hamilton, and so so many more. obviously this goes beyond musicals here, but since newsies is a musical ill try to stay with that topic.

anyway, we learn about history to learn from it. we see these past issues that our previous generations struggled with, in these art forms as to be easily digestible, and we discover their solutions. we get to see the humanity behind the issues and the conflicts they faced to overcome them. and ofc its not the only reason, but one reason these stories are told with art is to bring attention to them. people are way more likely to listen to music than study a historical textbook. so, they make it entertaining. they make relatable and lovable characters. they make people care about the show and subsequently the issue itself. all of this is to explain how and why things that happened in history are bad as to never repeat them again.

We see these topics of worker mistreatment, corrupt businesses, child labor, gender/sex inequality, and the class separation all brought to the spotlight in this show, and it does a damn good job of showing the pain and suffering they cause. the story of this show is incredible and so very important to learn about.

OK now onto the actual musical itself im done nerding out

ive done a lot of charater analysis already in that intermission post bUT WHO SAYS I CANT DO MORE HAHA

im saving jack for last bc theres so much to unpack there

KATHERINE MY LOVE <3333

Everything about her being a girlboss absolutely remains the same shes INCREDIBLE

and holy shit PULITZER'S HER DAD???? i love her even more. she directly ran away from an easy life to follow her own dreams and pursue her own passion from scratch. incredible. inspiring. mwah

i also just love her personality. shes so bubbly and happy and passionate and bright and optomistic shes the best <3

oh god crutchie. hes absolutely my favorite btw im sorry everyone else i adore him <33333

GOD his prison song actually killed me. im fully dead. deceased.

THE NEWSIES ARE SUCH A FAMILY GAHHH THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH RAHHHH

the sheer ecstasy i felt when he came back and hit Snyder with his cane i could not stop stimming MY BOYYYY

the absolute definition of sunshine character. he sees everything as glass half full and wants just the brightest future he deserves the absolute world

and ik i talked about it earlier but i adore how they take such a neutral opinion about his leg. people give him shit for it, and his brother beat them to a pulp. its just a part of him and they love his whole being, so why would they not love that about him too?

Les only got better as the show went on. i thought he was a smartass before LMAOO

AND THE DATE BIT??? WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM???? AND IT JUST NEVER GETS BROUGHT UP AGAIN LMAO WHAT

i think the biggest change i felt towards a character was Davey

he grew on me soooooo much his character growth is everything to me

he went from trying to stay out of their business to teaching them what a union was to helping them start it to running it himself when jack ran off to convincing jack to come back when times got tough he is sooo important to the story

and to me. hes important to me <3

OH AND RACE

i saw people mention the name before but i didnt know which he was until they addressed him directly I LOVE THAT GUYYY

especially in king of new york hes got such a big personality what a silly guy

OK now for the guy the silly the mc jack

At the beginning he is entirely driven by both his love for his family and ofc his dream of living in Santa Fe, but atm hes just trying to get by so hes more focused on the newsies. but a boy can dream

then he gets all caught up in the strike business and only focuses on that for a while bc he wants to protect his boys

then shit goes south. they get essentially jumped, and crutchie gets hurt and arrested.

and he thinks, what was it all for? if he couldnt protect his brother (never living that down btw), whats the point of even trying to strike anymore

so he changes his focus back to santa fe. the one thing hes still got going for him.

and he gets confronted by katherine, les, and davey, and they knock some sense into him. stopping the strike isnt going to take away any of the harm done. the danger is expected, theres no way any of this could go down without some form of a casualty. so why not try to do something about it. the only way to make this situation better is to get back in the game and keep pushing for change.

and ofc the thing with katherine which ill talk abt a bit more later

in all of this, something in him changes. he dreamed of santa fe, a simpler life, one where he didnt have to worry about having to afford food and clothing for the next day.

but what he never considered was the loneliness. sure, he offered to bring crutchie and katherine with him, but hed be leaving behind so many more. and thats when he realized he never needed to get out, he just needed things to change a bit. and they did! because of the strike, living became so much more affordable. no it wasnt perfect, but it was enough to be safe and secure, just like he wanted. and he had his family beside him the whole time.

ill admit that before i sat and thought about it for a while, this ending was really unsatisfactory to me. i mean we got how many santa fe reprises? all for naught?

but in reality, santa fe would never be enough for him. hes just so used to this life surrounded by the people he cares most about and doing everything in his power to protect him, hed just be so bored, so understimulated, and hed just continue to yearn for more. that path of wanting would never come to a conclusion and hed live his life never truly being happy. so i really do thing he made the right choice in staying, because new york became his santa fe. he didnt need to seek it out, it came to him.

Ok now with him and katherine

ill start by saying i do really adore them. i feel like a lot of what im about to say might seem like i think otherwise, but i truly do think theyre very sweet

ok so every interaction of theirs in act one was. very uncomfortable to say the least. he honestly seemed really predatory at times and it just really felt like an old-timey romance where the girl doesnt know her worth so she flocks to any guy that shows interest in hr bc she thinks its her only purpose

now obviously that is NOT the truth, those were just my first impressions. Katherine is extremely capable of taking care of herself and deciding what is and isnt right for her, she likes jack purely because she can and does. she knows her worth and just likes him bc she likes him, no strings attached

i will say the first kiss kinda caught me off guard lmao. like i knew they were gonna be a thing but that is NOT how i expected that to go down. its likely just bc of my aroace-ness but i saw no sign of them actually getting together prior to that, aside from them being the main man and leading lady in the show so ofc they have to be together. i mean ig her reaction to him drawing her was a bit of a hint but still. ok maybe its just bc im demi. hadnt thought abt that until now. damn. is this a normal thing? maybe it is. maybe im being too harsh. idk lmao

anyway ill admit the kiss was successful in getting his attention and getting him to listen to her so ill give it that lmaoo but tbh i did tune a bit of their song out bc it started to make me a bit uncomfy but i did liste back to it later on. they really seem to have a healthy relationship where they both care about the other and know the other is strong enough on their own, they just both want to be a part of the other's life. its really sweet! theyre so supportive of each other!!! green flags all around!!!

the bit with him learning shes pulitzers daughter was really interesting to me. at first she tries to talk to him but he kinda brushes her off, but from then on he just kinda has full faith in her? i mean yeah he gets upset about it bc he thinks she lied to him, but i dont think he thought she had any ill intentions. that was a complicated sentence lmaoo damn. i think he really understood that she wanted to help, he was just caught up in a lot of Feelings and was afraid that she wasnt trustworthy despite him still trusting her. and then he let her explain and from then on they fully support the other and trust each other immensely

so yeah first impressions were a bit iffy but i think theyre very sweet <333

OK GOD CAN I GUSH ABOUT THE STAGE DESIGN FOR A BIT???? GAHHH

i mean the moving stairs and scaffolding arent new. i know this. but just the way they frame scenes with the scaffolding is stunning. the chase scenes??? dude. enthralling. the bits where theyre in the city and they have people just up their acting like civilians? SO cool. makes it incredibly more realistic and believable. and the way they projected images onto the curtain-like things they pulled down was extremely creative!!! like in theory its such a simple design. it was literally nothing more than the scaffolding and stairs, and a few tables and wagons and such in certain areas. but they did SO much with it it was hard to believe it took place on a stage. ofc the filming helps with that but still. the start felt like it was on the roof of the building bc of a combination of the lighting and the use of just one of the scaffolding pieces. and when theyre in buildings, the wall of scaffolding works really well as a backdrop!!! and i already talked about the city street scenes, it fits perfectly. god its so inspiring id love to be behind something like that one day

OK AND THE CHOREO??? the sheer ENDURANCE of these people HOLY I COULD NEVER. THE FLEXIBILITY? THEYRE ALL LITERAL GYMNASTS WTF ARE THESE FLIPS AND HANDSTANDS IM SORRY???? holy shit its all SOSOSO impressive

oh my god i havent even talked about the MUSIC yet

if i had to choose a favorite song, a, i would punch whoever told me that in the face, and b, i would simply combust bc i cant choose just one

my top three tho would have to be between king of new york, carrying the banner, and crutchies prison song (idk the name its not on spotify :'((((( ) in no particular order

i havent had them on repeat enough to have any memorized, but i did remember santa fe, carrying the banner, and the world will know from the last time i watched it and i belted along to all the parts i knew this music is so good at hyping me up I WANNA START A UNION

and oh my god katherines voice???? stunning. her song is sooooo good. her part in king of new york is incredible. i love her <3

jesus christ this post got out of control. im still not done lmaooo

ok one thing that really has nothing to do with the musical itself is just the fact that it reminded me of so many other musicals ive seen at specific parts, even some of the songs sound like others i know.

Santa Fe really reminds me of Maybe from Annie, both music-wise and lyric wise. i mean theyre both "i want" songs so it makes sense but i feel like they sound kinda similar too. honestly a lot of the music sounds like Annie, but maybe its just the types of instruments used and thats just how musicals sounded when they were made. i think they were made about the same time. *checks spotify* ok well the newsies i listen to was produced like 40 years after Annie so maybe that just a stylistic choice-

idk why but the beginning of watch what happens sounds like the intro to reginas speaking part in meet the plastics lmao-

oh and brooklyn's here has the same beat as the military from Seussical but thats just bc its a marching song lmao. its also the same beat as the spanish alphabet song my spanish teacher used to use!

ok and this one really doesnt make sense but something to believe in reminds me of the power in me from Twisted lmao- kinda similar message ig? and sound vaguely similar? but idk it really doesnt make too much sense

i should. i should sum it up. this is getting out of hand.

okay i love this musical sm. clearly. do you see how long this post is. i was missing out when i refused to listen to it previously. oh my god.

and for some reason it really makes me wanna go watch my favorite musical so im ending this here TO YOUTUBE I GOOOOO TY FOR READING IF YOU DID AND TY TO ROYAL FOR UNINTENTIONALLY PUSHING ME TO WATCH THIS HAVE A GREAT DAYYYY

[sungtaro]

2023 kpop recap ♡ tagged by @ambivartence !

Groups You Started Stanning?: well the big ones of course are wayv and nct (mostly 127 but i tune in for nct u of course of course ... loved golden age) ... i would say i also got really into triples this year musicwise, but i don't actually know the girls

New Ult Biases?: dejun ... my cringe bestie it was inevitable from the moment i saw him cleaning up poop on the puppy interview ...

Idol(s) Who Got The Most Of Your Simping?: idk you all tell me . i think i'm pretty normal KJSGJHBS but i'm sure we can make some arguments for mr. jaehyun and also my husband sehyoon who returned from war god bless

Most Streamed Group(s): cravity, treasure, enhypen, and purple kiss according to my spotify wrapped; nct and wayv definitely are my most streamed in the last couple of months though!

Most Streamed Soloist(s)?: woodz is the only one who made it into my wrapped report, but i'd guess probably also yena, yuri, and maybe eric nam

Top K-Pop Song(s) Of This Year (Opinion Or Streaming, You Choose): nct djj perfume is definitely my song of the year. others i think deserve soty shoutouts: save me kill me - cix, busted - woodz, rising - triples, fate - enhypen, agit - purple kiss, kick it 4 now - tnx, regret it - exo

Top Debut This Year: for the girls kiss of life with shhh ! for the boys ... dojaejung counts right ??

Choreographies You Learned: i don't learn choreo like on purpose HAHA but i can kind of dance along to groovy by cravity

Albums/Merchandise You Bought: too many albums per usual since cravity and treasure both had comebacks, and i just started buying for my new obsessions 🧍🏼‍♀️ i also got a tshirt at the omega x concert, and mary and i got the new truz crossbody bags which are actually so cute ... and we also got wayv seasons greetings to share which i think was a great decision

New Kpop Mutuals You Made?: my new nctuals i love u guys thanks for letting me in and treating me like a bestie even though i just got here 7 years late with my giant iced coffee in hand and sporadic posting around my insane work schedule. and for anyone else who started holding my hand this year, just know ... i don't let go easily or ever ! 😈

Tagging: gonna go through my follow list and tag my most recently made mutuals as inspired by that last question hehe no pressure though! also sorry if we haven't actually interacted before, in my mind we are best friends as soon as u follow me back . just fyi . <3 @minhyukie @bouncingback @neonsbian @irlvernon @lenteur @yutaslaugh @yunogf @baekhyunnybyun and bc i mentioned her in here @dongkwan teehee

[xerophylloom]

The Times They Are a Changin' by Bandtrees and Hatsunoid is absolutely amazing

...And if you can handle the contents of it. No seriously. The fic is definitely dark and if you're sensitive to MEDICAL ABUSE, GORE, AND ABLEISM—Don't read it. It's especially centered around those and unless you close your eyes for all of it, you're not going to be able to handle it.

BUT!! It's so good, I would love to erase my memory just to experience reading it for the first time all over again. The disturbing parts aren't OOC (in my opinion at least) and it's very well-written, some optional out-of-site parts too.

A Laconic Summary: Mob loses control over his powers and causes permanent brain damage to Reigen and Ritsu. This fic explores the possible effects of that

Things of Note (as tags): Ambiguous Ending, Parasites (Specifically maggots and they're not TOO important, but they're there during a somewhat important moment)

Extremely long rambling (with spoilers) below the cut

This fic is so good, I created a sideblog for my AO3 to post about it. This fic is so good, that I had to stop what I was doing even though it is probably going to be detrimental to my grades. This fic is so good, that I was nearly about to rip my hair out from its roots

It's about 100k chapters long, separated into two parts. I'm easily bored and there's been plenty of times I've read a fic with maybe half the length, gotten bored, and thought of some parts as a slogfest even when it really wasn't—I just suck at getting through longfics. But reading through this, there was never a point where I thought that. Tensions were always high, rising even when I thought it wouldn't be able to, and I would end up near-screaming

And the way it shows how different characters feel? Gorgeous. Amazing. Love it.

Obviously, we have the normal book style descriptions from one character's POV, but then we have Teru's diary and Shou's little monologues(?), and it's all really cool??!?! Maybe that's what helped keep my attention. That and the little off-site links.

Speaking of those, I think I found all of them, but I'm not that observant so I could have easily missed some. And wow. Jesus christ. The last couple ones, the ones of Shou's gallery as his phone was getting wrecked, I was. just. In shock. I'm a very sentimental person who cares about photos and things, and I don't know how Shou didn't begin loudly crying right then and there because I would have

And god, so many times did I think 'Is this fic going to have untagged MCD?'. I was constantly at the edge of my seat expecting that someone would die. Reigen, Ritsu, Mob, Shou, Teru, Dimple (especially when he confronted Mob right as he was about to lobotomize Ritsu)... Basically all the main characters in the fic had moments where I was preparing to mourn

Mob really left for the deep end in this fic. I won't say that I fully get why he was so convinced that what he was doing was right, but it makes sense for him. He's not the type to let go easily, he's someone who draws strength from his bonds, and his aspect could be blood. And almost all his life, the message to never give up was basically struck into his head over and over. The one time I can recall where it wasn't? Claw, Seventh Division, where Reigen told him it's okay to run away. But I doubt that tilted the scale into being balanced in the slightest. There's so much more I could say about him in this fic. But I'll save it for now

Teru was... Teru. I understand him more than I did Mob, I think if I were in his situation, I would have maybe stopped at a certain point but we would be very similar in most of the actions we take. In the first chapter, I went 'haha silly!' at his entries. Seeing them as a little treat between the downers surrounding it. But then after he helped 'operate' (It doesn't feel right calling it that), I guess it really hit me. Then I started questioning if I would have done what he did. Then I realised I would have. Then I spiralled until I told myself this kind of situation will likely never happen to me and if it does, I'll get to it when I get to it

Serizawa is easily one of the ones you can feel for the most. Unlike Mob and Teru, he hadn't done anything to Reigen and Ritsu personally. And unlike Shou and Dimple, he didn't say harsh words. Perhaps you could blame him for not taking action sooner, but they all can be blamed for that.

Shou... Oh my god. Shou. At first, I was ready to fight Shou tooth and nail because really? That one comment on FriendBook wasn't necessary. I don't know how or why Mob didn't block him. But then as Mob spiralled further and further, I was hoping for him to make his way back into the narrative to save Reigen and Ritsu. Then he did. And he failed and he was injured and I thought he was going to die. Then he didn't. And it's implied he could have helped them. But could he have also made it worse? Who knows, that's why I put Ambiguous Ending as a thing of note.

DON'T FORGET THE OUT-OF-LINK STUFF!!! Mixed media fics that have off-site links are truly beautiful. My friend and I love that shit. Should she ever get into MP100, I'll recommend this fic to him with a shit-eating grin on my face. I hope the word count doesn't intimidate him erogdfkg... Every single bit of the off-site links I saw was just so cool. The art of Reigen made me feel strong unease, the real videos too, and that one animated video with Ritsu and Mob and Teru. Okay basically everything gave me a strong unease. But that's the point!!! And it was done well!!!!

This fic is pure talent, skill, and effort put into something that shouldn't just be preserved via a PDF file, but should be carved into stone for future archaeologists to discover. I wish I could hold even a fraction of power needed to create something this masterful

On a more less-serious note to finish this off: Mobway. Red Mobster. I was about to lose my shit. Every single time one of the companies showed up I was about to tear my hair out (in a funny way) because it felt like falling for a prank. I ESPECIALLY LOST MY SHIT AT PSYCHOLOGIST PEPPER BECAUSE IT TOOK ME SCROLLING DOWN BEFORE REALISING. Truly, the minds behind this were geniuses

Also, this might sound weird, but I got reminded of KomaedaLoveMail while reading this. The off-site links to websites for sure helped, but I guess I just associate talk of gore in written form in this way with KLM? Or maybe I haven't quite recovered from consuming that piece of media (Can you even call KLM that?) yet. This isn't bad by the way, I loved deepdiving into KLM even though my feeble brain couldn't comprehend shit.

And and one last note- Opening the song link in the end notes was like emotional whiplash. I had to sit there for a bit to process. Good music

This is a whole mess. Even for a ramble, it's a whole mess. I don't have words or sentences or even phrases for how I feel right now. I'm a mess

[managician]

Thanks again for answering all my questions! I have some more for Sontails, my own this time instead of from a list. Take your time if you need to with your exams, I don't mind! :)

"Who wakes up early and who sleeps in?"

"Which trait does each find the most endearing about the other?"

"What does each do/say that almost always makes the other flustered and blush?"

"How often did they share a bed before they started dating?"

"How often does Sonic brush Tails' tails, if ever?"

And finally, not necessarily a Sontails question, but very much related:

"How did Amy inevitably find out about Sonic and Tails' relationship, and how long did it take her after to get over her feelings for Sonic?"

Thanks to you for sending more of these lovely questions in! I’ve been having lots of fun with them.

I’m almost done with exams, thankfully, so thank you for your patience as well! I hope I managed to entertain you with my answers x)

“Who wakes up early and who sleeps in?”

I think both would be early birds, though if someone was to sleep in, it’d be Tails. I can totally see him staying up late working on (x) project and then waking up late a result, whereas Sonic tries to keep a regular schedule, for the most part.

But outside of that scenario, the two of them look the type to rise and shine pretty early, since we know they are quite the active people.

Unless it’s one of those rare days where they feel like lazying around for a bit, probably. In which case they just stay in bed together till one of them (Sonic) gets hungry and gives them an excuse to go grab a bite for breakfast, haha.

“Which trait does each find the most endearing about the other?”

Tails loves how caring and cool Sonic acts with everyone! His genuinely good personality and will to help out any friend in need is one of the things that would make him fall for the hedgehog in the first place, I’m sure.

I know their Adventure/Sonic X era origin story got retconned by now, since it’s been made so that Sonic saved him from bullies and Tails decided to tag along with him (instead of Tails just one-sidedly following him because he thought he looked epic). But tbh both versions really highlight to me the fact that Tails is just blown away by Sonic as a whole, which is super sweet.

For that reason, I like to imagine that Sonic’s kindness remains his favourite trait throughout the years. Not only is he a hero with outstanding strength, he’s the best person Tails ever got to meet -- how perfect is that? 

On Sonic’s side, he adores how sweet and loyal Tails is while still having a strong sense of justice. The amount of things this little fox has done for his sake —fly him over all sorts of dangerous waters and cliffs, plan to break into prison to rescue him, get into fights, etc.— will never fail to amaze him. 

I feel people sometimes forget Sonic used to be a completely solo fighter before meeting him, so Tails being willing to stick through thick and thin as long as they’re together would mean the world to him. They both get attached so fast and it only grows stronger with time :’)

“What does each do/say that almost always makes the other flustered and blush?”

Sonic just needs to bring up how awesome and perfect his partner is for him to get all embarrassed. Pretty easy stuff.

It’s like... a bit crazy for Tails to have Sonic acknowledge that there’s things only he can do/can do much better than him, The Hero (tm), y’know? Tails is not used to hearing people think so highly of him, and to have the one he admires say it without a hint of hesitation will never fail to fluster him.

Tails is not really one to pamper him with verbal affection like that, but he’s got it even easier. He just needs to wrap his tails around him and snuggle up to him without warning and BAM, Sonic is also a blushy mess in 100% of cases. 

He’s always felt to me like someone that would offer casual affection better than receive it (which is tied to my headcanon of Tails usually waiting for him to start any affectionate gestures), so just have the love of his life give him the warmest hug ever and I guarantee he’ll be at least a little embarrassed.

In general, it’s not super hard for either of them to blush, though! They’re one of those mushy couples that will always make the other feel a bit weak on the knees, methinks.

“How often did they share a bed before they started dating?”

Very rarely, if at all, I'd say.

This came up in one brief line in my Sonic/Nine fic, but I don't see Sonic as much of a bed person. The only place I recall seeing him sleeping on (in the games) is a couch! And he has a pretty nomad lifestyle, so beds just... Don't seem like they'd get along with him very much.

I think the only times they would have slept together before they dated would be if they were, say, in the middle of travelling together and needed to sleep outside for the night. So they'd snuggle close to avoid getting cold, since Tails' namesakes do a really good job of keeping their body warmth.

...That'd be more like sharing the floor or a tent than sharing a bed, now that I think about it. Oops. XD 

Yeah, I just don't see them bed sharing all that much, at least not with sleeping purposes. Cuddles in bed are always A+ okay for both of them, though! And Sonic's a lot more willing to try to sleep next to Tails after they start dating, if it's something that would make his boyfriend happy.

“How often does Sonic brush Tails’ tails, if ever?”

He definitely does, although it’s hard to pinpoint how often, or if it's even a 'regular' thing between them. Hmmm...

Something like once a month sounds good in my head. That way it's a bit of a special occurrence, but they get to look forward to it.

It's kind of a relaxing routine for them both. Sonic loves Tails' tails and treats them with care, and Tails likes having someone else take care of them, especially when that someone else looks like he's really enjoying himself while brushing his fur.

(As mentioned in the ask, the last question is not strictly a sontails one so I’m putting it under a read more, just in case somebody checking their dash/the ship tag wouldn’t want to read it.)

“How did Amy inevitably find out about Sonic and Tails' relationship, and how long did it take her to get over her feelings for Sonic?”

Funny that you asked this! It's a very interesting question and you're gonna get me to talk a bit about my view on modern sonamy, something I don't really do often, so buckle up.

Now, this might be partly because Amy reminds me of a friend I had, but I tend to see her as someone who's chasing the 'high' of having a crush rather than a serious, down-to-earth relationship.

"I miss the good old days. Hangin' out with my hero, Sonic... Chasing bad guys... And blowing them away - ha ha!" This is one of her first quotes in SA1, and I found it interesting that she emphasised how both chasing after Sonic and beating up robots made her life feel thrilling and fulfilling.

It's like she's one of those people that just wants to be in love as part of her life experience, if that makes sense. She didn't wait to fall for anyone naturally; Sonic showed up one day in Little Planet, saved her and she went "that guy, that's the one for me.”

And she loves Sonic dearly for who he is. He’s her hero. Finding him was a fated meeting that signaled the start of a new chapter in her story.

However, I genuinely think she’d love to see her two friends together and happy, too. 

The way I like to imagine it, she finds out about it before Sonic and Tails have actually shared that they’re an “item” now with the gang. In a very casual way -- just something like her going to Tails’ workshop looking for Sonic, walking in on the two of them sleeping on the couch with their hands intertwined, and having that little oh realisation moment that Sonic wants to be with someone else.

Obviously, she'd struggle with knowing that all her honest, good-hearted efforts to catch his attention would've never done the trick. How long has she been playing an impossible game? She'd be kinda mad at both Sonic and Tails for not telling her about their feelings for each other sooner, as it would've saved them all some trouble.

Though you can't help but sympathise that they wouldn't want to share the news yet, since being strictly 'best buds' has been their whole brand for like... Forever. It's a delicate situation on both ends.

Thankfully, Amy is someone that lives life head-on almost as much as Sonic himself does, so I want to think she'd try to be supportive of them and gradually get over her heartbreak after some months. No point in dwelling on something that's already settled, right?

All she can do is be a good friend and, this time, try to find someone that's right for her. Who knows? She might end up finding the ideal partner to bring fun into her life again :)

[royalfirefly]

Tagged by @everysinglepheel

Post a screencap of your lockscreen photo and a screencap of the last/current song listened on Spotify/YouTube, as well as the last photo of a celebrity that you saved in your phone.

Lock screen is art of my OC Sepulchral as a skydancer from Flight Rising that I commissioned from @rotclaw last year! It's been my lockscreen for over a year now. I love it so much.

And I've been listening to FOB's newest album on repeat for the last week haha.

And... I don't really have any celebrities saved on my phone. But Leon from Resident Evil counts right

[elemmacil]

UM EXCUSE ME I'M SO HERE FOR THE 1920s PZA au?????? That's such a good concept?? If you get around to posting it pls pls tag me I'd love to read it 😍 and the rest of your WIPs sound super cool! — @johaerys-writes

!!!! Aahhhhh!!! I will do so!! ❤️ So while I posed the initial idea in a Hades discord a while ago (though I think a more general jazz age au had come up once before that) the au as a whole really quickly took on a life of its own. A number of people have contributed to it and have written/are writing their own iterations, and drawing(!), it’s basically a collective effort that’s been super fun to watch unfold. Key items are Achilles being gender fluid him/her and Patroclus with a war injury that requires him to have a sexy knife cane haha. There were dayssss where nothing except jazz au was being discussed, it was glorious.

You should definitely check out this fic by infinitesle! But also since you tagged me for the wip Wednesday, I’ll take the opportunity to share a lil sumthin-sumthin from my own wip. 👀🤲🏼 (Tentative title????? “if that isn’t love it’ll have to do / until the real thing comes along”.)

Flushed and laughing softly, Zagreus lets Achilles reel him in by her grip on his shirt collar. His knees sink into the sofa’s plush, patterned velvet cushions, and one of his hands lands on the jut of her hip. He can feel the band of Achilles’ lingerie, the floral lace, beneath his palm through the thin green silk of the dressing gown. He had something prepared on the tip of his tongue, something cool and clever. Whatever it was flees him beyond recall. From her heavy, hooded stare Zagreus’ eyes drop, helplessly, to where Achilles’ dressing gown gapes open. Her chest rises and falls, a little unsteady. Between the swell of his breasts, small whorls of hair glint like spun gold in the lamplight. A perfect match for the long curls hanging past his shoulders. Achilles shifts, slightly, and her gown gapes wider. The breath punches from Zagreus’ lungs. Someone’s already left a bruise, there. Patroclus. “The night isn’t getting any younger,” Achilles tells him, low and amused. “Just kiss me.” There’s nothing Zagreus would love better, just now. Or perhaps ever again. The flush must reach up to his ears, he can feel how hot they are; as their laughter subsided Zagreus’ nerves have risen again. But Achilles’ wine-red lips part slightly as Zagreus leans forward, and Zagreus’ heart damn near beats itself out of his own chest because of that alone. Oh, she does want him. She wants him. Isn’t that something else? Something that could drive a man mad. Make him leap as high as the stars. Fly him to the damn moon. Beneath his, Achilles’ lips are warm. Soft. Zagreus can’t help the sound he makes. So much and so little about Achilles is soft, Zagreus thinks; his grief cuts, her anger bruises. Even her joy is bright enough to hurt, if you stare overlong. Zagreus has never heard Achilles sing and not wanted to cry, a little. When they first met he thought there wasn’t a damn thing in the world that could touch Achilles. Not truly. But then Achilles began opening up to him, in fits and starts, little by little. Until Zagreus finally understood what Patroclus meant about diamond scratching diamond. ‘Cause Achilles is tender as anything, when his hand brushes Zagreus’ cheek in the hall. When olive eyes land on Patroclus’, across a piano. When Achilles used to let tears streak his face in the middle of the night, or when her breath hitched on the last refrain of Sweet as the Mourning Dew. When he laughs, rumpled from sleep and slumped over an armchair. Or when, as he is now, as Zagreus lifts a hand to brush her hair over her shoulder and gently cup the back of his neck, he feels the way Achilles begins to melt like butter left in the sun with a shivering sigh— Ain’t nothing in the world that could hurt Achilles, he knows, save for Patroclus. Save for Zagreus, now.

[juniemunie]

Hey! I'm loving all the rotbtd content! I was wondering if you knew any really good fanfics or have any recommendation posts for the fandom! I'm dying without content!

.... tumblr ate whatever I was trying to say before and it destroyed me. I'll try again sdfkjgbdslfkjbsl

Hiya! Glad to see you're enjoying the rotbtd I've been reblogging haha!

As for post content, it's been a long time (YEARS) since I've last been active in the fandom so idk any recent fanfics or posts lately but I'll scroll and reblog and tag any I can so you guys can enjoy if you go through my blog! You can also check out those I've reblogged, especially those that do edited gifs and fanart! I’ll try to contribute myself when I have the time!

-//-//-//-

As for fanfictions, I'll put links for the old fanfictions I've saved in my old Fanfictiondotnet that should earn me a veterans discount kdsjgbsdkf

These are really old, and honestly, I’m too lazy to check if they are any good to current me. My tastes and opinions of the characters have evolved and changed for all the characters, but younger me enjoyed them so I’ll add it here.

All of them I think are either Guardians of the Season AU, or a Hogwarts AU

Here they are, starting off with the Hogwarts AUs:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9490838/1/The-Big-Four-and-the-Wizarding-School

This is one I remember clearly because the clashing of opening narrations was hilarious

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9248460/1/The-Big-Four-Rise-of-the-Brave-Tangled-Dragons

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9710308/1/The-Big-Four-and-the-School-for-Witchcraft-and-Wizardry

Idk if this happened to any of the fanfics I linked but I remember this one Hogwarts AU fanfic where Jack, Merida and Rapunzel fight Pitch alone recklessly, and just as they were about to be defeated, Hiccup comes in to clutch because he’s the only one with the brain cells to go “Hm, maybe, just maybe, we need to go get Sandman and the others, you know, the ones that are better equipped to deal with this” and it made me laugh so hard that I still remember it today

Guardians of Seasons/Guardians AU:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9417735/1/Guardians-of-the-Seasons

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9658154/1/The-Four-Spirits-of-the-Seasons

MISC/Modern AU:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12155701/1/How-To-Tangle-Four-Brave-Guardians

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11259884/1/Lord-Of-The-Bots

-///-///-///-

Now for AO3, I’ll add along any fanfic I come across that is good to me, but currently all of them are quite old and very Hiccup centered, because I have extreme tunnel vision for my favorite characters!

seasons die before they are born    

https://archiveofourown.org/works/744682

the only one I think that gives everyone equal screen time but in angsty ways, as you can read from the title

it is the still and silent sea that drowns

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1360195

Sail

https://archiveofourown.org/works/802157

[scriberat]

7 snippets, 7 people, as tagged by @wolven-writer :D gotta provide 7 wip snippets hehehe

1. "Actually, I wanted ta ask you somethin'. See, I wrote a poem for someone special, and I need to know if it's any good in the structure, bein' a limerick an' all."

The elephant headed elezen stared at her before sighing and giving a dejected bwoop. Hilda grinned, then sat him down and cleared her throat.

"There was once was a man given laurels

Who fought like an angry ma coeurl.

Braver 'n all,

he comes to the call

And his name is Ser Aymeric d'Borel."

"How did you know it was me?" Aymeric asked, sighing. Hilda laughed loudly.

"You're bleedin' obvious, stiff-spine!"

2. jacke: hooty hoo i sure love protecting limsa lominsa from the shadows

leo: gods i love treasure. i love treasure so much and flying

rando: haha! i have taken ur treasure, now im skedaddling to my home in limsa!

leo: o no. get back here! my gold!!! my gems!!!

jacke: oboi dock information. waow someone got stuff from the sea of clouds?? cool af bro!

rando: wehehe i stole it fair n square—tf is that

jacke: is that boat flying?

leo: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

jacke: oh jfc. uh. llymaen's dick we're all dead

leo: -lands safely bc he's Experiencedtm- wheremst the FUCK is my shit

rando: fuck

jacke: hold on there cove

leo: what. what did u call me

jacke: cove. it means. nvm. anyway. he stole that treasure fair and square—

leo: yeah from me

jacke: and weve got rules in limsa that say piracy is allowed

leo: takin it back.

jacke: not allowed

rando: go ahead and try

leo: i will cut you. where is your ship. where is his ship

jacke: i dont have that info

rando: if you try to raid it i will summon my lackeys and end ur life

leo: motherfucker. i entered some ancient ruins full of allagan bullshit and a mega fuckton of demons. i saved the goddamn warrior of light in their darkest hour. i am finding your stupid ship and i am taking my shit back

leo: fuck you.

jacke:

rando:

leo: now for my—

jacke: the warrior of light???????

leo: treasure—

jacke: as in THE wol!?

leo: can i—

jacke: that dork on the docks over there!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?

leo: -looks over- oh aye! hey!!!

wol: -waves-

3. Isa looked up from his plate, his fork stabbed into a chicken leg, concetration moved completely from the food. Both Xemnas and Xehanort watched him with curiosity.

"The moon," he murmured. "It's rising."

"And?" Xehanort asked, raising an eyebrow—just as Isa closed his eyes. In a wash of twinkling lights, his hair shifted from its cobalt blue to an icier hue. When he opened his eyes, they were gold, just as they'd been the night before.

"So that's it. I had wondered why your eyes were green," Xemnas said, smiling. "Does that transformation happen daily?"

"Yes. It only happens on the planet, however, when the moon offers its power once more," Isa explained. He tore some chicken out and ate it. "Thank you for the meal."

4. Erichthonios hiked his hood up on his shoulder and steadied himself as the railcar rocked back and forth. It wasn't as steady as he had been told, so maybe this type of car was different? As it rocked again, he thought maybe there was a first class type.

Someone bumped into him and yelped in surprise. They looked up at him with wide blue eyes and tousled, silver hair. Erichthonios stared. He wasn't sure of what to do, exactly. It didn't matter, in the end, as the person righted themself and chuckled.

"Sorry about that. I was careless," the person said, smiling. Erich thought it was a nice smile, certainly different from what he had experienced of the city so far. It wasn't overwhelming or cruel or anything of the sort.

5. "Gil for your thoughts?" Erichthonios said. Speaking of, if he didn't get that stuff from the swamp, he wouldn't get paid... It'd be a cold night in the dirt for him, then.

"I am here to help a friend, but..."

"Oh." Erich nodded. That made sense. By this time, most people had a crew they could run with and work with. Splitting the rewards of higher-risk and higher paid jobs, hanging out with each other, becoming closer as people—

"...around," Themis continued.

"Pardon? Sorry, I zoned out," Erichthonios said, rubbing his head. How embarrassing, he'd been the one to ask the question.

"Oh, I was saying my friend may not need too much help, so I doubt they'd mind if I stuck around for awhile."

"I see. Why stick around here? It's the end of the world," Erichthonios said as they approached the gate.

"The aether of this place is fascinating. Don't you think? The truth is, I'm here on a mission from Sharlayan to look into all of this," Themis said. "Maybe we can reverse it, is what my friend thinks."

Did he kiss this friend, too? Erichthonios looked up to the sky where a dome of corrupted aether hung over them all. It could make it difficult at times to see what time of day it was.

"So what were you out in The Thicket for?" Themis asked. Erichthonios jumped, making Themis giggle. "You are easily distracted."

"I just have a lot on my mind," Erich said. "As for why... I was asked to fetch some herbs from the area. I got a few of what they asked for."

"And then every Morbol from seedling to Malboro got hungry for gunbreaker?" Themis chuckled. "I have heard that they will sometimes rampage if they sense something good. Carnivorous plants are like that."

6. He ran a hand through his hair and laughed nervously.

"Was that... too much?"

"Too much what? Passion?" Amity laughed. "I see now that your passion lies in the potential of the life to be lived. It was obvious all day long, but even the words to speak it are clear to me now."

She smiled softly, watching the glow of his eyes, fussed with a curl, then looked up at the stars. "I... I wish I could be more like you again. That part of me waxes and wanes, I'd like it to fuel me so."

"You feel the same?"

"Torn in twain when someone dear dies? And so the flowers weep." Amity swept her arm around and laughed quietly. Hermes closed the last of the distance between their bodies and cupped her scaled cheek, rubbing the dark keratin.

"They shine like stars... Much like your aether," Hermes said quietly. He leaned in. Amity did the same—and pulled back just before they met.

"I can't," she said, scooting away. "I'm sorry."

7. "Help me," he said. There was no sensual feeling to it, no lust, just a command to come and assist. Ansel did so, moving inside as Strix prepared a couple cloths. He handed one, damp and warm, to Ansel, who took it in hand and started on Strix's face.

It was a delicate operation, he knew. Each feather was made of shaft and barbs and barbules, as Strix had explained one night, amidst careful preening. Ansel held the cloth over the dried cum and tried to hydrate before pulling. Then he took it off, one spot at a time.

Strix was working between his legs during the soaking process, but when Ansel started stroking his skin with the washcloth... he nearly melted on the spot, eyelids closing halfway and hand faltering. He soon regalvanized himself and set to once more, getting himself cleaned up with somewhat rougher strokes. He knew what his feathers could handle.

No one had ever been so gentle before.

if you see this, feel free to do it ^-^ tag 7 folks after

[atopearth]

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei Part 1 - Noritsune Taira Route

I heard that the heroine is really cool in this one, so I have high hopes!! I also love historical settings, so hopefully this will be a fun ride! I'm going with Noritsune first because he's the recommended first route and because he appeals to me the least so I want to get him out of the way loll. Seems like Noritsune and Shanao are already on opposing sides considering their family backgrounds where Shanao's father lost in the war against them🧐 Shungen seems to be like the childhood friend servant friend. Hmmm Tomomori is the son of Kiyomori, so he's a future heir to the Heike family who are enemies of the Genji family which the heroine Shanao is from. Noritsune is the nephew of Kiyomori I assume? I feel so bad for Shanao's mother. First, her husband died, then she had to be the concubine of the enemy who killed her husband so she can save her child, and then tossed to someone else. What a tough life... On one hand, it was sad to see that Shanao's mother seems to have cut all ties to Genji to live a new life, but on the other hand, I'm happy for her if everyone believes she had a terrible life since Shanao's father died. She seems to have a new family and is living happily and I honestly think that's such a blessing for a woman back in the day. Yeah, it sucks that Shanao feels "abandoned" but I think the fact that she gave herself over to the enemy back then already shows how much she loves Shanao and even if they can't be together now, knowing that love should be enough imo. It was cool to see Shanao defeat Noritsune so easily, he felt so insulted and shamed, I loved it hahaha. It was obvious Benkei didn't like the Heike but I didn't expect him to so vehemently want to become Shanao's vassal. It seems like he's much more passionate about wanting the good for the people than I thought?

Shungen and Shanao's relationship is very heartwarming, it feels very comfortable in a sense for me. Shanao really is very kind, considerate and smart. I love how she decided that she needed to make a scene and make everyone know she was excommunicated from the temple and is leaving, just so that the Heike can't pretend they didn't know she was kicked out and still attack Kurama Temple (where Shanao and Shungen grew up and stayed for their whole life until now) for what she did to the Heike . I love how bloodthirsty and bored Shigehira is haha. As for Noritsune, I feel bad for him. It's so distasteful to have to lead an army just to erase the disgrace of your defeat. I think it was nice to see him understand Shanao's thoughts and feelings of not wanting to be restrained by the Genji and Heike names and just wanting to live life as who they are. Lmao, I honestly didn't expect Benkei to be such a soft guy and be so happy about getting to be Shanao's vassal hahaha, he's so cute. It's sad that Shanao has never seen her brother before, and that she still can't see him because of political reasons. Hopefully we see him later on! Noritsune is really cool to so bravely discard the Heike name to live the life he wants to live and follow his own beliefs. Shanao's words gave him the push to do it, but still, it's a very difficult decision and I can't help but admire his conviction. On the other hand, I'm glad Noritsune ditched Kiyomori, he obviously wanted Noritsune to apologise and beg him to not expel him from the Heike so I'm happy he didn't get what he wanted.

It's actually really cute how clueless Noritsune is towards the way of gathering information. The funniest thing was when he thought the townspeople were scared of strangers instead of thinking that it's because he's a Heike lolll. Although Tomomori and Shigehira tagged along with Noritsune mostly because they thought it would be interesting and fun, I'm glad they did because Noritsune is even more clueless than them haha! I admire his desire to live the way he wants but he definitely needs someone to help him think about stuff like food lol. When Noritsune said "All the things you don't know are things you can learn. I guess that's what it means to live on your own", I couldn't help but think yeah he's right. I love how positive he is and how he views it all as a learning experience rather than feeling anxious or worried about it all, instead he's just taking on everything as it is, one by one, living true to himself and doing what he can in the way he can as he learns and grows.

The Sato brothers are pretty!! Why aren't they LIs?😭 Yasuhira too omg. No wonder why people keep comparing the LIs to the side characters lolll. Anyway, Noritsune's new look is very pretty, I legit love it. Lmao at Noritsune always needing to protect the merchants, they're like princesses needing his protection all the time🤣 Otherwise, I really loved how Noritsune thought it was natural for him to discard his life up to this point for chasing after Shanao to fight against him haha, obviously it's more than just a fight to him but it is crazy when you think about it haha. I can't believe Kiyomori literally instigated a rebellion and basically took over by having his grandchild become Emperor. Noritsune and Shanao bonding over how they both grew up wanting to be strong for their mothers was sweet. It's honestly so crazy but so cool how Noritsune is so obsessed with keeping Shanao safe because he thinks the only one who is allowed to defeat her is him haha. The CG with Shanao giving him warmth was very pretty, but Noritsune is kinda dying so I guess I shouldn't say it's nice haha. Shanao betraying her allies and letting Noritsune go is definitely a very big betrayal and I can understand why everyone would be disappointed in her, but I have to admit that I would be the same as her and wouldn't be able to bear seeing Noritsune killed like this.

It was hard to see Noritsune so emotional over Shanao or should we call her Yoshitsune now that she's of age when she ran away during their fight to heed to Yoshinaka's orders and for the plan to defeat the Heike army. Personally, it was obvious what Yoshinaka had planned and I kinda expected him to have laid out spikes or something in a valley (glad he didn't I guess haha) but yeah, even though it is terribly distressing to see the Heike soldiers scream that they don't want to die as they're pushed off the cliff by their clueless comrades, I can't fault Yoshinaka for executing this plan because this is war and they don't have time or resources to spare for the enemy who wouldn't have spared any sympathy for them. It's definitely a cruel way for these people to die though and I can see why Shanao (I'll keep to Shanao since Yoshitsune feels weird) and them are left with a bad taste in their mouths especially since they were the ones who lured them to the valley to their deaths. I don't blame Shanao for going with her beliefs and taking out Yoshinaka's soldiers to protect the helpless women and children. It was sweet to see how protective Noritsune was over her though and it made me really happy when he confessed. It was even more sweet when Noritsune told Tomomori that Shanao doesn't need protection, and that they trust each other with their backs in battle.

I didn't agree with Yoshinaka's way of doing things but I didn't think Yoritomo would destroy them😟 Honestly, it's terribly saddening that the soldiers followed Tokuko just because of her and not because they actually believed the Genji were liars or something. I feel so sorry for the Heike people who died because of Tokuko's selfish actions. It was very sweet to see Shanao and Noritsune get to live peacefully in the countryside. Noritsune plowing the fields is a funny image to imagine but as long as they're happy, it's good. I'm glad they talked about the guilt they both have to bear in order to live this life together. Both of them have to live with the guilt of leaving their people behind in different ways, and it's sad but I'm sure their people wouldn't be mad at them for choosing to live this way. It's just really sweet that Shanao is always the one that helps Noritsune think things through more and change his mind out of stubbornly doing things he shouldn't be burdened into doing. I do feel bad for Norimori, Noritsune's father though, being a prisoner of the Genji for the rest of his life is saddening to think about. I hope it'll at least be peaceful.. The bad endings were quite saddening, but I think I quite liked the one where they got to die together.

Overall, Noritsune still isn't my type (so it took me a while to get through his route lol) but I can't deny how much I loved his growth throughout his route. Initially, he was a guy obsessed with fighting with Shanao and alot of the time, I was like geez, this guy needs to chill, and even though his desire to fight Shanao doesn't change, I loved seeing his determination. He left his own clan to search for his own path, he never compromised his principles and always forged right ahead regardless of whether he felt prepared to do it or not, he just did it because he felt it was right and that it was what he needed to do, and even though there were moments when he wasn't able to protect what he wanted to protect, he always picked himself back up to fulfill what he wanted to do. At the same time, I loved how just as his determination motivated Shanao to make decisions she always wanted to but never had to courage to, her existence and actions also encouraged Noritsune to not waver in his beliefs just because he was a Heike. Even though I wouldn't exactly say their romance was romantic because it was rather simple, but I think I loved how their love was one of mutual respect and admiration. They both desired the same things, loved the same things and fought for the same principles and it was because of their similar experiences that they both mutually understood the value and the importance of peace, and how much they wanted it and to live in such a place. So even though Noritsune isn't my type of guy, I still very much love him and his route because it was very motivating and sweet.