#and whatever the heck shu was

[gelu-the-babosa-multiversal]

Ok. I will ask: Do siblings exist? What colors are they or gods?

uuunnmm I think that you are referring to Egyxos? But so then...

There is little variety of Gods in Egyxos. Most of them are humanoid or animal-looking. Colors don't seem to be an important factor in their hierarchy or status as Gods (BUT THEY LOOK FUCKING COOL)

But yes, siblings do exist among the Egyptian Gods that Egyxos chooses to show. Not only do we have Iside and Osiride (brothers in this version, not lovers. With Iside having Horus with an unknown character) but we also have the Pharaos who take part in the war as enemies but are also the sons of Ra.

Khufu/Kefer and Echnaton/Akhenaton/Exaton

Kefer is the little good brother who became the ruler of the Golden City while Exaton is the older jealous brother who started a war to become the supreme Egyptian God, or at least someone that surpasses Ra.

Shu might count as their younger brother as he was also created by Ra, but he is a robot so I will leave it open to interpretation...

Their war has been going on for a loooooooonnngggg time and Leo is like ¨I don't want to be the adult here¨

[bubblespalace]

How would the Sakamaki boys react to a Juggalo mc like catching them listening to the music or in Juggalo makeup🩸

Bubble: I was laughing writing this because picturing their reactions was funny! I don't judge people, you do you, but the diaboys are mean... so... Thanks for the request, love!

Shu Sakamaki:

"Ugh, you listen to that type of music?... Whatever... but maybe I should show you something more cultured."

Reiji Sakamaki:

"What type of crude music is this? This behavior must cease immediately, I will not tolerate this."

Ayato Sakamaki:

"O-oi! What the heck are you wearing?! You look like a fricken ghost, wipe that shit off!"

Kanato Sakamaki:

"W-WHAT TYPE OF RACKET IS THAT?! WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT CUTE MAKE-UP I PUT ON YOU JUST AN HOUR AGO?! YOU DARE WIPE OFF MY HARD WORK FOR THIS?!"

Laito Sakamaki:

"Ah! Bitch-chan you look scary~ Did you wear that to try to make me stop coming onto you? I'll tell you, it's not gonna work~"

Subaru Sakamaki:

"W-what the fuck? God, you're a weird one, don't let Reiji see you in that make-up... or any of the others for that matter."

[navigatewithchiku]

Overlord - verse

Sky Fox Office

Shu: …tldr, we’ll be the closing performance at this “TAR Fes” thing or whatever

Sosui: Exactly. It’s a band festival for teens. This year’s “TeenAgers Rock Fes” will be the biggest ever recorded. Among the participants, Shu is going to be the youngest, leading EpsilonPhi…

Being the closing act of such a legendary event is an unparalleled honor. They’ll all be looking at you, it’s a prestigious role.

Reiji: Thinking about it, one of SkyFox’s partners is sponsoring the event. So we need to appeal to that as well, I think…

Sosui: That’s why the performance of this new song has to become our new business card. You have to get it ready.

Shu: sure thing, we became pro after all, I heard what you said. I was thinking of writing a new song anyway.

Sosui: I’m glad we’re on the same wavelength. For the song sure, create what you want

Shu: Duh. It goes without saying

Reiji: This is our first performance since our real start with SkyFox. And the first impression is the most important.

Shu: We’re all talking about what we have to do but, old men what about you? You working?

Sosui: thank you for your concern. The response from the fans is positive, and the tickets are already sold out….there’s just one thing.

Sosui: Sincerely speaking, your reputation amongst the other bands is not good at all.

Reiji:  but it’s all bands we’ve never met before, so why?

Sosui: first of all, it’s because Shu is the son of Duck River’s CEO. Even if we say that they are not in good terms, during LRFes it was the talk of the moment, right?

Shu: Ha? That’s so stupid.

Sosui: also, all the accidents that happened at the Fes. The rumor that you’re the cause of all the troubles got around, and there are many people who don’t have high opinions of that.

Sosui: even if it we say that it’s all water under the bridge, rumors grow bigger. “What if they do the same thing to us?!” And stuff like that.

Sosui: this and that, I think it’s better to act fast, but…I don’t really know how it’ll go.

Shu: lets just leave them be, such stupid stuff

Shu: …either way, I’ll start working on the song.

I leave the schedule to you, old man, and Reiji. You decide it.

Shu: ugh, I got in a bad mood. I’m going on a walk and play somewhere before going home.

Epsi Sharehouse

Shu: I’m back. What are y’all doing, sitting there in silence.

Reiji: Shu, I was just about to text you. …some stuff is going down online.

Kanata: Shuu-Kun listen here!! We’re getting cancelled! It’s so baddd~~!

Tadaomi: Kanata-Kun, what does “cancel” mean? Are they deleting something?

Kanata: We’re getting a lot of focused attacks online, in short people are hating us online

Haruka: …bulls*it

Kanata: Rumors and anonymous reports are fueling it all. Look at all these posts! 

This gossip is burning hot

Shu: what the heck……

[noviceaoiryusei]

Oku Tomoya and Inaba Yu Special Interview Minato Shouji Coin Laundry TV Drama Official Visual Book 

Hello! Hello! It has been a while.

Recently, I was busy with real-life stuffs while watching my favorite BL shows or J-dramas weekly as a purifier. OTL So here I am posting after a while and bring y'all something wonderful (I guess).

So here's a special interview translation of my not-so-obvious-favorite-OTP that I'm posting on here and tumblr way ahead of all my pending drafts lined up on livejournal.

Disclaimer: I tried my best to translate it as close as the original itself.

Without further ado, please enjoy reading. (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

「 Oku Tomoya and Inaba Yu Special Interview 」 Minato Shouji Coin Laundry TV Drama Official Visual Book

We interviewed the two actors who portrayed as a pair supporting the side story of the drama to look back on the filming!

――　Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today. As for the characters Asuka and Shu, since the story of Asuka and Shu preceded the drama more than the original story, we think it must have been difficult for you to understand their characters. How did you plan your performance?

Oku:　When I first read the script, my first impression of Asuka was that he was a flirtatious and playful person. However, as his true feelings gradually came out, I realized that there was a gap between the two... So I decided to carefully handle Asuka's feelings when he was involved in between Akira-san and Shin.

――　Do you think that there are high school boys like Asuka-kun?

Oku:　Well... I don't think there's much in real life...

Inaba:　You even said some pretty nasty things. (laughs)

――　What do you mean by that?

Inaba: Before Shin and he got to be friends, there was a scene where he said, "Show me a picture of this guy named Akira". At that time, I was like, "This guy! (laughs)". As a spectator, I was cheering for Shin and Minato-san, and I thought, "What the heck... He's just in the way! (laughs)". But he was actually a very nice guy.

――　Thank you very much. Inaba-san, what did you think about portraying Shu?

Inaba:　First of all, there is a common blueprint called the script, and since we are building towards that, I wondered if it would be better to act first, even though there is no movement in the original work. Would it be alright, so that the fans of the original work won't be offended...

Oku:　That's our concern.

Inaba:　It was nerve-wracking, but the script was something we shared, so I tried to be sincere in my approach this time. It was difficult to imagine how much I could do, so I tried to pick up the human element of "Shu" and the story that was provided to us. I thought it would be better if I played the role with an emphasis on Asuka's relationship with the character.

――　Did you have any conversations with the producer?

Inaba:　I talked a lot with the producer, Kimura-san... I talked about things that I don't talk about with the directors. It was easy to ask him questions, whether it was trivial or big questions and it was a big help. It made me feel like, "Oh, so I can do whatever I want", "I wonder if it can become a good element if I abide it".

――　Kimura-san, what were you told about abiding it?

Kimura P:　To be honest, just because we talked about it, it wasn't a clear idea of how we should do it. But rather, we didn't set goals in a good way, as if there can be possibilities.

Inaba:　He didn't draw any conclusions. Kimura-san didn't say, "I want you to do this as the right answer" but rather, "I want you to aim for this as the right answer" and he would talk with me about the possibilities. So, for about two or three days, every time Kimura-san and I went into the field, we talked for about an hour each time whenever we go to the studio. It felt like the direction of the project was set within me.

――　Is there anything else you would like to add, Oku-san?

Oku:　I also discussed with the people around me what kind of vibe Asuka should have... This was my first time to play such a flirtatious role, so I wanted to cherish the original story, so I asked consulted people about how much I should be faithful to it.

As for relationship advice... as long as Asuka's good qualities come out, I think he'll be fine.

――　Is there anything that you think is different from the other roles you portrayed?

Oku:　I wore the Reebok Pump Fury sneakers that Asuka is wearing in his private life, and I thought we are the same. The difference is that I have a gal with me or not... I admire him for having three trendy gals with him. (laughs)

Inaba:　It is difficult for me to find anything that comes close to being exceptional. This is not because I seem to be a peculiar person, but because I wonder if I could live my life focusing only on one thing.... I admired him because thought it would be difficult for me to devote myself to something and go abroad to study out of a desire to "know". So I portrayed the role while thinking, "That would be nice. In a way, I think Shu is going straight ahead without being distracted by the noise around him.

――　We felt the sense of straightness. The way your eyes open when you perform was impressive.

Inaba:　The director told me to "look at things that aren't human. I sincerely listened to him and did it once, so it was like that... (laughs) I was helped by that kind of direction, and I was able to find the feeling that led to that facial expression. I thought I was able to create something like an attractive force so it was a great help.

――　If Asuka and Shu were your friends, what kind of relationship advice would you give them?

Oku:　Asuka must be very serious, so the way he approaches older people and younger people... he "went offensive!". (laughs) When I talked with the staff during filming, they said that it would be cuter for a younger person to attack an older person with all his might... (laughs)

――　Anything that you want to add, Inaba-san?

Inaba:　If I were to tell Asuka, I would say, "As long as your good points are shown, I think he'll be fine". When Asuka is with Shu, people around him think, "If he could show this kind of Asuka, things would go better and smoothly," but I think he has a dilemma that he can't show his good side that's why I tell him that. But I don't think he understands, so it's as if I haven't said anything at all.

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　Later on, If Asuka thinks, "So that's what this was all about" then that's fine with me.

――　Thank you very much. So what would you think if Shin and Minato-san were friends?

Everyone:　Ah~~~~ (laughs)

――　I'm reunited with someone I've loved for 10 years, but he hasn't reciprocated at all... to Shin, who makes a lot of fried horse mackerel...

Inaba:　It feels like "It's nice". I'll hit "Like".

Oku:　I think I would like to marry.

Inaba:　！？ He isn't your partner, right!? You've just changed the subject... (laughs)

Oku:　To Minato-san "He was just too honest". I'll say that "You should just be honest!"

――　How about you, Inaba-san?

Inaba:　We'll drink and say "It's tough, right~~"! "This feeling's hard, right~~".

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　We go out for a drink and I'm like, "That's tough~ good luck. But Minato seems to be alright... I feel something very strong disposition. I think he's the kind of person who hesitates but makes sound decisions even if he's left alone.

Oku:　Indeed. Minato-san, you really need to snap out of it quickly and straightforwardly... with such a dazzling high school student... you know. I know that your shaken up by Shin.... Even so, I hope that you'll wrap it up and get married soon.

I was grateful that the atmosphere that Oku-kun was creating was so relaxing.

――　What did you talk about during break time?

Oku:　We talked about our school days... Also, Inaba-san seemed to put his hand on my shoulder easily. He would suddenly put his hand on my shoulder, it feels just like Shu getting involved with Asuka then puts it aside quickly so it's like, "Oh, what's up?" or so it seems. (laughs)

Inaba:　Oku-kun, I just thought that you have shoulders are easy to put my hands on. When I was checking the camera position, I looked at him closely and said something like "Your shoulders are great to put my hands on". I said I'm going to destroy his personal space.

Oku:　We also talked that we both appeared in Kamen Rider.

Inaba:　Indeed, it's our common denominator. It's not a work that we did together so even during shooting we would talk about things like, "Is that guy there?" or "That staff member is really nice, isn't he?". We're a bit different from each other, so I thought of looking for something in common... Or maybe I was wrong. (laughs)

Kimura P:　I didn't have that impression that they were talking much behind the scenes, so it was like that. I have no idea at all.

Inaba:　I thought it's alright if I don't talk too much. I don't think it was not my role to control the atmosphere. In this work, I often came in once in a while, did a little work, and left. I wanted to be able to get ready and say "start", "cut", "good job" and so on, all in a relaxed manner. So I don't think it's necessary to make Oku-kun relaxed... Asuka and Shu's relationship is also a highlight.

――　I see. It felt like you haven't seen each other for a while.

Inaba:　That's right. So the scene with Shu is one of Asuka's duality. I don't want him to be nervous, but he will be well prepared for it, and Asuka is the only one that I can't beat in here. (laughs)

Oku:　In this work, I wanted to improve the atmosphere on the site and make it more lively as a team. But there were some scenes where I was able to do it and there were others where I was not so, I also reflected about it...

Inaba:　But I think Oku-kun has helped a lot with the atmosphere. Well at least that's what I thought so.

Oku:　!　Thank you very much.

Inaba:　I was completely outsider in the role. I thought I was given a very important role as a sideline, but the main focus was Asuka.... I was not involved in the middle of the story at all, so the atmosphere at the site created by Asuka... or rather the atmosphere that Oku-kun created at the scene was very harmonious and I'm thankful for that.

――　Have you talked to Kusakawa-san and Nishigaki-san?

Inaba:　(Kusakawa) Takuya and I met, but Nishigaki-kun and I didn't have many scenes together. I felt like he was just greeting from a distance so I didn't do anything apart from greeting him back.... But I thought he was very nice when I saw him on air. I think it is difficult for a character to move forward with that energy because it's a story that won't start unless the character does that. Moving forward with faith takes a lot of energy, and I think it was very wonderful. I have known Takuya-kun for a while...

――　As for Takuya-san, we saw you mentioned about him in an another interview and mentioned that "he was kind to me when he taught me how to dance".

Inaba:　That's right. I knew he was a good guy, but there was a scene where I had to dance... apparently, the Sakuma family's Fukushi-san and I were afraid of dancing (laughs), but since I didn't have much experience and I was worried about bringing up what I had practiced all by myself. So, I grabbed Takuya-kun and asked him if "would it be alright?", he then stayed and danced in front of me... he was of great help.

――　That's so kind! The full video of the dance will be released sometime in the future....

Oku:　Is it full-length? But I messed up with the choreography....

Kimura P:　There's a time wherein Oku-kun bumped his leg, but he was so cute...

――　For Oku-san, how was it working with Kusakawa-san and Nishigaki-san?

Oku:　Takuya-san was a very reliable leader.

Inaba:　It would be better to say that they brought in a lot of food. They brought a lot, right!? Curry, jelly... all kinds of things.

Oku:　That's right. I was surprised when he gave me Godiva cookies during the first reading. I was like, "they even gave Godiva cookies during readings like this!". I was so grateful.

――　What about Nishigaki-san?

Oku:　Nishigaki-san was the closest in age to me, his presence was like an older brother to me on set. We're talking about trivial things like "that ramen shop is delicious". (laughs).

――　It's a very warm place. Were there any scenes that were fun or difficult for the two of you to interact with each other?

Oku:　 The reunion scene with Shu in front of the candy store was memorable to me. Asuka hasn't seen Shu in a long time was fidgeting, and the scene wherein Shu suddenly came closing the distance in between the two of them and said, "do you want to see it?", Asuka was already overthrown by Shu. It was our first time working together so I was worried about how I should go about it and prepared myself for it.... Inaba-san's mysterious performance as Shu....

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　I was told to act strange! I'll be on LINE news! I did it! (laughs)

Oku:　I myself was tossed around by the work, so Asuka was a nice flavor to it. As a result, the director praised me saying, "Oku-kun felt that he was being overthrown around, so your work was good". (laughs)

Inaba:　.... Oh, I have one! One thing... I was about to tell you about that Oku-kun story at the shooting.

――　Please let us know!

Inaba:　On that day, I was on the way to the location quite early in the morning and there were people on their way to work...... Oku-kun went off and suddenly said to the woman, "excuse me!". I thought, "huh..m what was he doing?" and then I saw a tag that was attached on her back.

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　With all his might! Oku-kun said, "the tag is still attached". Then, I knew that the costume department was already on site. So they took out a pair of scissors right away... (everyone laughed). Then the staff-san (costume department staff) said, "I'm going to cut it off!" and cut the tag. She said "thank you very much!". It was great that Oku-kun didn't miss the tag. The coordination was also wonderful.

Oku:　That sense of speed. (laughs)

Inaba:　That's right... So I thought I've seen something good, it went well. I didn't even noticed it. Even if I had noticed it... I would have just thought that there's something attached to it and that would be the end. but he went over and told her. The person wouldn't have to be embarrassed when going to its workplace. I thought Oku-kun is a nice kid.

Oku:　When people drop things on the street, everyone just ignores it, don't they? If I turn a blind eye to it, it will stay in my mind for a long time... Even if it takes a few years or even decades, I will definitely remember it....

Inaba:　Tags are just barely safe, there is no harm about it to say. You quickly rushed and call out to her without even thinking about it... he's so nice! I thought, "this guy is so nice! I'm talking about how wonderful Oku-kun was.

――　That's a nice story. Well then, what's Inaba-san's good points, Oku-san?

Inaba:　There's none!!

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　There's none! I tried to have several stories with my co-stars like this but I don't.

――　Like asking them if they could lend you sunscreen behind the scenes....

Inaba:　I'm basically just silent. Oh, there is one more story about Oku-kun. When I do this kind of work, I sign autographs on colored papers... It could be on the set or in this case, at the candy store, I do it as a way of saying thank you for all your help. But Oku-kun still can't do the ratio of his own signature in each sheet of colored paper yet, and it went over the edge.

Oku:　(laughs) I was just 17 at that time....

Inaba:　I was like "are you serious!?" When I had to be on stand by first thing in the morning but I was so sleepy... But then I decided to rewrite it... So I gave him some advice and rewrote it, but when I looked at it, the one that was sticking out was nicer... Ah, somehow I feel like we, adults could be also be wrong...

――　(laughs) Do you remember about this, Oku-san?

Oku:　I definitely remember it! I follow him religiously after all.

Inaba:　But really, it looked better that way. We even said, "that's weird!". Rather than being forced to do so, you could just be carefree.... Signatures are supposed to stick out.

Oku:　No, I want to give something more firm after all.

Inaba:　Yeah, I know it. But... No, it was actually great. You should put that on display somewhere....

I even went to clash it with my own feelings. I said, "I love you so so much!".

――　Are there any scenes in the entire drama that left an impression on you? If you have a favorite scene, we would love to hear about it.

Inaba:　Uhm, why are Asuka and Shu together... Definitely it's the scene wherein Asuka confessed his feelings for Shu was really good. The atmosphere at the scene was really interesting. After all... we were all heading that way.

Oku:　Indeed.

Inaba:　I wondered how it would turn out, but Oku-kun was straightforward and honest.... He did it without any tricks.

Oku:　I also like it... I also prepared a lot for that scene but... for that scene, I wanted to go with Asuka's feelings alone, so I didn't prepare anything and just clashed it with my own feelings of the moment. I said "I love you so so much!". I'm not sure if that was the right decision. But I hope that the viewers would be satisfied with it.

――　That was great. Any opinions, Oku-san?

Oku:　The scene in episode 4 after he fell into the pool. The scene wherein Akira-san said, "do you want to dry your clothes?", "are you asking me out?", "no way!". After that, in the last episode, they did the same scene again at the beach. I somehow felt... emotional or rather it was a passionate development... It fired me up.

――　Were you both on location for that scene or you're just watching the filming from afar?

Oku:　I was still there after crank-up and watched it with the staff at the end.

――　Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

Oku:　The drama version is a little ahead of the original. I'm worried if the content will satisfy everyone, but I hope you will watch us warmly. Please continue to support "Minato Shouji Coin Laundry".

Inaba:　First of all, I thank you for everything. With the original work and the drama, I think that the people who have made it to this kind of fanbook must have really love the work. The original work will still be going on... Would there a sequel? What would go on, is this the end?

Kimura P:　For the mean time, this is just the first part of the drama...

Inaba:　Is there a way to do it?

Kimura P:　It depends on everyone's support... so, yeah.

Inaba:　That's what I meant.

――　Shin and Minato's story has ended....

Inaba:　A margin.

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　No way, it's left behind. Especially Asuka and Shu, that part is not yet depicted.

――　Asuka and Shu are there. Shin and Minato are no more than amnesiacs.

Everyone:　(laughs)

Inaba:　If they stick together, there will be lots of problems.

Oku:　And then... It's like a trade-off....

――　You knew it very well! We are making an interesting extra edition of a story that is different from the novel. But it puts quite a burden on the actors... (laughs).

Inaba:　No, I think it'll be interesting if those two would switch places.

――　It starts with "we're chaging places~!"....

Inaba:　In that way, I could imagine what would "Minato Shouji" would be in the future. We do hope that you'd continue to like our work. As someone who was involved in this work, I would be very happy if you could see it through.

――　Thank you very much!

[elsalupa16]

Jeff's world secret (Cars 2 canny cravings)

Trigger warnings: cannibalism, gore and body horror

Lewis enter that place again, he isn't a demon anymore, he haves his two hands and his wepond he's haves knowleyof whatever is in this world until he found a clone of his Dead and murdered by whatever is that thing

Lewis Hamilton: What the heck? Why I have a clone of mi-

Out of nowhere a different Jeff appeared, he's not a prince he's a demon but he looks terrible

Sh4's world Jeff gorvette: CAREFUL HE'S HERE

Lewis Hamilton: GET AWAY YOU DISGRACE OF CREATURE!

Sh4s world Jeff gorvette: woah calm down I'm not a creature like Prince Sh4!

Lewis Hamilton: where's your crown, aren't you a supposed prince? And what do you mean by Prince Sh4?!

Sh4's world Jeff gorvette: follow me you'll get answers but be careful because my friend got killed by "IT"

Lewis Hamilton: whatever...

As Lewis Hamilton follows that weird Jeff gorvette until they enter a door, and some few hours Jeff goes outside Sh4's door and show the Toyko party but...

it looks black, empty, no decorations, it smells like blood and more, the racers looked different like Lewis Hamilton knows

Lewis Hamilton: What the heck happened here?!

Sh4's world Jeff gorvette: it's Prince Sh4, he is not a great guy

Sh4's world Lighting McQueen: Yo Jeff, you saved Lewis!

Sh4's world Jeff gorvette: He's not the one we know, the one we know is dead...

Shu's world Nigel Gearsley: GUYS PRINCE Sh4 is coming!

Sh4's world Jeff gorvette: Hide! He's not going to be happy with you!

Lewis Hamilton hid himself behind a wall of plants until he Saw Prince Sh4 he looked nice, a black n red prince suit looked handsome on him...

Lewis Hamilton: Why people think he's dangerous he looks like a nice gu-

Lewis Hamilton saw Prince Sh4 kill a random person, but he had the anatomy of a prince and he heard everything, he got terrified...

Lewis Hamilton: Holy shit! That's not good!

End for now...

[manipulatorkaleidoscope]

@herequeerandarmedwithaspear ssry for extremely late reply, but I’m here to answer it now!! (I just was- EXTREMELY busy lol)

okay so uhh, I don’t have that many head cannons for both of them, but if it looks like I do, it’s just because I type a lot to get my point across. Sorry. But enough said:

headcannon time!!:

Fubuki:

Okay for first of bro’s family and in turn bro is broke has heck. The way that his room looked in that one scene of turbo reminded me of how a room of someone that was broke. I’m sorry but it’s true. Fubuki is poor. He looks like he is poor. And knowing Fubuki, he isn’t looking poor just because of the aesthetic

Fubuki and Suoh have been put together to do countless group projects since half the time they had the same classes.

Due to visiting Suoh and as such, Suoh’s house so much, Fubuki has secretly grown to love the smell of flowers

After Turbo, Fubuki returned to Japan briefly to finish the school year there before fully going to America. He always comes to visit the beyclub from time to time though (everyone’s like “OMG. FUBUKI’S HERE!!” When he comes to visit. Some people are crazy enough to bring party popers or roll out the red carpet or something.)

Fubuki, ironically enough, does not like bananas.

He likes teaching younger kids that are in the raging bulls all the tricks he had learned (beyblade related or not). He just finds it fun.

He may be the designated shu kurenai of his season, but his report card says otherwise (instead of it being above average… itd average. As Suoh says “he’s the hard worker and I’m the genius”, or some sh*t like that)

Fubuki and Suoh OBVIOUSLY made up after the events of turbo. Bc c’mon. Why not.

Arman:

My man likes to garden. Or literal anything that has to do with plants. I guess my man just likes plants period.

In a way he’s much like Shu but like a more responsible, less impulsive version of him. By that I mean basically is that he will be the most responsible person in the room if he HAS to be, because I aslo feel that that’s something that Shu would do (except that Arman would do this without pulling a stupid and getting himself caught up in his own snakepit mess)

He probably likes classical music, but Japanese classical music specifically (listen to it guys. It WILL blow your socks off)

He’s that one nice yet overprotective brother, not just to Taka, but to EVERYONE (okay except Arthur due to obvious reasons)

(Due to the fact that in the manga Gwyn kind of broke his bey) I feel like Arman was suspicious of Gwyn when he saw him initially (like In a “what’s this guy doing here” *pause* “this guy that’s…up to NO GOOD-“ kinda way)

He likes gold accessories. Not because of the way he acts, but because of a thing that happened in a dream I had about him…hee hee… 🤭

Everyone keeps telling him that he looks like gon from hunter x hunter and he is so done. (Don’t tell him that unless you want the biggest bombastic side eye of your life)

If you do get on his good side though he’ll be the most loyal piece of sh*t you have seen in your entire time though. This is my pro tip for you, whatever you plan to do with that.

If you do betray him though, after the initial betrayal, he’ll hate you forever. There is two sides of this Arman , so be careful not to betray him.

(but even though Gwyn kinda did betray him (& the rest of the victories) they have made up and now they’re cool, so forgiveness IS possible)

Time for the ratings!!:

Fubuki:

✨8.5/10✨. He was a great charather, great guy. The writers did him great justice…although much like other turbo characters, he was only revelant for the only first half of the season. I liked him a normal amount. He was there, he’s chill and cool with the kids, what else could you ask for??? Like- seriously??? His character and personality was nailed perfectly too, and the fact that he didn’t instantly become buddy buddy with Aiger is perfect. Kudos to the writers and the handling of this charather. Only reasons not a 9/10 or a 10/10 is bc 1) he’s not my fav character like ever ever and 2) I just like Arman better lol

Arman:

Solid ✨9/10✨. At first I found it funny that we didn’t have a Kiyama for Dante and instead this guy, but when his own unique personality set in that wasn’t just another copy paste Kiyama or copy paste Shu Kurenai, I was so impressed. I don’t think that Dante could have worked as a character if he had a Kiyama, so I’m glad that Arman filled in that void instead. He was so cool too. The fact that he kept it together most of the time but sometimes had moments were a more silly side of him poked out worked PERFECTLY. And DONT get me STARTED about how he pulls out those goofy looking glasses and begins analyzing stuff. I just like that sh*t. Only reason that he isn’t a full on 10/10 is bc I like other characters above him. Sorry Arman 😓.

(Aslo, sorry, original asker of request for the super late reply, but here you go! Enjoy!)

[fakesimp]

shu cooked left no crumbs im dead idk how i survived all i know is i started the live as a casual yaminion and came out even moreso a yaminion

Live for me, 😭

Don't die, at least take me with you, despite me not actually knowing whatever the heck is happening in the live 😭

[wordsmith-storyweaver]

Random Thought(s) about TGT/Shadow & Bone:

Okay, so we know that Nikolai looks Fjerdan (because his mother was a Fjerdan royal and his father was a Fjerdan ambassador), which is something that the show nailed with Patrick's coloring. So, what does a "typical" Ravkan look like?? Does Aleksander "pass" as Ravkan?? (I know there are arguments that he is possibly Shu, or mixed heritage like Alina and Mal in the show) The show doesn't answer or address this directly.

As someone who had to convert from monotheism to whatever the heck Ravkan religion is and as someone who grew up in a country where Grisha were actively persecuted, the queen would definitely have had a hard time adapting to the constant presence of Grisha in her home. The fact that she's "homesick" enough to have an affair with one of her countrymen proves that she had difficulties in letting go of her upbringing. As such, Genya being placed in her household as a servant is both a wise and a risky move. IF the queen had shown herself as adaptable and willing to change her thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, then having her exposed to a Grisha on a personal level would have been a genius move. She would have a face, a personality, a living, breathing example of the Grisha as humans- it's easy to demonize and Other a People when you don't have specific examples of them in your life. Genya was a way to humanize the Grisha- as human beings, as Ravkans, as Fjerdans, as people who have a positive impact on her life.

However, part of the problem lies not just with her Fjerdan prejudices against Grisha, but as her Royal, classist prejudices. The show connects the dots directly (and brilliantly) by having her scoff at Nikolai when he scold her for not having protected Genya from the king- "she's a servant". So, even if she had been able to overcome her prejudice against Grisha- which, to be fair to the queen, is not directly addressed in either the show or the books, so may have happened- she could not overcome her blind belief in the superiority of the upper classes/the Monarchy (she does snidely refer to the Little Palace as "quaint" in the show, which could be a dig at the supposed pretentions/ambitions of someone she believes to be part of the nobility/aristocracy, putting Kirigan in his place beneath her in the pecking order). His gamble, if this was the case, only partially paid off.

Which brings me to Genya's statement in season two that completely erases the bonus short, The Tailor, from show Canon. She claims, before begging Kirigan to let her go, that her treatment at the hands of the king should be his "greatest shame". She says this as if 1) she had no choice in whether to remain after the first incidence of assault, 2) she was not given the choice to act as a spy (which, to the best of my recall, we were not told whether she was asked to spy when first sent to the queen), 3) she was not promised that her assault would be avenged (either by another if she chose to leave, or by herself if she chose to stay), 4) she did not know/understand that she would be assaulted again (if she chose to stay), and 5) that it is part and parcel of the role of a spy/saboteur that there is always risk of physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Her statement also implies heavily that he knew what was going to happen to her from the beginning- for, if she truly is/represents his most shameful action, then he must have knowingly sent her to be demanded/maligned by the queen and brutalized by the king. All of which contradicts what was established in TGT Canon.

[barryductions]

I just finished one season of my first Shonen Jump anime: The Promised Neverland. I... don't know how to describe it at all. It was dark, certainly. It has its fair share of cute moments, too. And the intro slapped hard.

Now I'm just trying to put together what the heck I just watched. One thing's for sure, I don't want to watch the second season since fans know how well that went. Find out for yourself why.

I can think of a couple reasons why I watched this entire set of twelve gut wrenching episodes; one being the voice actors and two being... well, I thought it would be cool to check out. I was genuinely scared of Ray at times. And the demons, I guess.

Regardless, it was fun for me to finish this off. They better make a better Season 2 because I don't wanna end this on just a cliffhanger. Or I can just read the manga. That would be great. I'll see you guys in a month or whatever. Bye!

#thepromisedneverland #shonenjump #shonenjumpmanga

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[hydrofates-moved]

Spoilers for the eternal weaving event

I know it’s only day one of the event but I can’t not ramble about it. Here’s some of my favorite moments (expect more eventually, I’m not done the story yet and tumblr has a photo limit) including:

Wataru being his dramatic self in a way

Blushy shu while also him admitting he thinks matching clothes are cute (which, same)

And whatever the heck Mika’s got going on in his hometown when it comes to baseball

[dddomenstarstwst]

➜ Polyamorous relationship with Valkyrie

Prompt: Polyamory

Character: Shu Itsuki, Mika Kagehira

Warnings: Polyamory, sub!Shu, sub!Mika, dom!gn!reader, pillow princess, riding, blowjob, fingering, voyeurism, exhibitionism, praise kink, body worshipping

Word count: 661

SFW

➜ Having both Valkyrie members crushing on you is a bit difficult, especially with how different both of them express their feelings

➜ Mika is pretty much open about it, he's clingy, he asks you out, he shares stories about new dolls he found

➜ Shu is more distant, his attitude doesn't really change, however he tends to compliment you more and nag you less harshly

➜ Most likely Mika confessed first, but stated that Oshi-san also has feelings for you and it would be more fair to hear him out too

➜ After you listen to Shu's confession, you surprise them both when you return their feelings, saying that you're more than okay with polyamorous relationship. And so are they

➜ Being in a relationship with Shu and Mika is somehow wholesome, they both are pretty close and sharing a partner doesn't make them jealous

➜ Mika is very affectionate and he likes to hold hands with the both of you, likes to kiss and cuddle. Shu, though clearly not used to it and thus very embarrassed everytime, like those moments too

➜ Mademoiselle likes you a lot, and seeing Shu's proud and warm smile, when you talk to her about things, is so cute. Mika likes to tease him about it, saying how soft he is for you. Shu doesn't justify him with an answer

➜ They both like to take you out on dates, even though their ideas of a date might differ you find every single one of them enjoyable. Mika likes to go shopping together, whether to buy new outfits or fabric for Shu. Itsuki likes to have more indoors dates, with freshly brewed tea and light-hearted conversations

NSFW

➜ If you think Mika would be a pillow princess in bed, you are sorely mistaken. Mika is more active, he likes to ride you a lot, he likes to rile you up to the point you bend him over any surface and fuck him in front of his beloved Oshi-san

➜ Shu on the other hand is a big pillow princess, and he likes to lay down and receive things. He cums really fast when one of you fucks his hole and the other uses his mouth. That's a sure way to see him thrown off and really desperate for you and Mika

➜ While we're at it, Mika gives great blowjobs, he's eager to learn how you like it, he's up for a challenge and can take it all in his mouth even though he gags and chokes a lot. Shu is a little uncertain and can't take it all, but he thrives for perfection and is too stubborn to give up, so he ends up focusing more on the tip working his tongue around it

➜ They both love to put up the most erotic show for you to watch. I'm talking caressing each other's naked bodies, producing pornographic moans and giving you teasing glances

➜ They would absolutely ride a double-sided dildo, while you watch and praise the heck out of them. Shu would be the most affected by your encouraging words, and he'd end up begging you to touch him

➜ When one of them misbehaves Mika, focus all your attention on the other member, praise him, kiss his body, finger him gently, tell him what a good obedient boy he is and fuck him roughly. The one who misbehaved Mika will end up crying and apologizing, begging you to please please please forgive him

➜ They also like to worship you and your body, kiss every inch of your body and make you feel good. For one of them Shu it's a great way to show his real feelings and a way to thank you for loving him unconditionally. He Shu would absolutely do whatever you say, if you want him to finger you, his digits are already inside, want him to blow you, he's already chocking on your cock, want him to ride– well not without blushing like crazy while he tries to take you whole in

[diaphobic]

[TW Gore]

(Sister au that's obviously based off of my oc. Reaction for all of the brothers.)

You somehow obtained information (gossiping amongst the familiars, reading her diary, etc) about the reason why you're little sister would almost throw up and try to starve herself from eating anything related to human blood. Heck even blood in general sends her into a panic.

As it turns out she had a human friend that keep a secret for 3 years prior before living at the Manor. It was ended as soon as her uncle found out about it and as a punishment he made her consume not only her flesh, but her blood over a period of three days.

Shu: “Tsk, so that’s how her bothersome fear developed? That is a brutal past, even for a vampire. It isn’t my problem though. Pwaahh… She better not die like this. It’ll piss me off more if she does.”

Reiji: “Good grief. To think such a thing would have happened to that girl. Though I did recognize she was overly sensitive regarding subjects pertaining blood or gore. Hoh, an ‘anti-vampire.’”

Ayato: “Geeh.. Just thinkin’ ‘bout that shit makes my stomach turn. How the hell did she manage? Whatever! That shit isn’t somethin’ I have to deal with. What’s pissin’ me off is she’s takin’ her anger out on us because she’s so damn hungry!”

Kanato: “Eh? Is human flesh something to be squeamish over? Fufu, but I think it’s rather tasty. A pitiful girl she is. I do not understand why she cares so much about eating a human. They’re nothing compared to vampires. Isn’t that right, Teddy?”

Laito: “Uwaaah…~ Little lady had her fair share of trouble, didn’t she? Time for big brother Laito to come to the rescue as always! Nfu~ She’ll get the hang of being a vampire by the time I’m finished with her.”

Subaru: “Kuh.. How dare those assholes do this to her? Shit! It’s not like I care for my siblings or anythin’, it just pisses me off that someone got the upper hand over her! Seein’ her so unhappy like this pisses me off.”

[nabrizoya]

honestly would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the nikolai duology because i really only see blanket praise or blanket hate for it whereas I see a lot of wasted potential. Bardugo's actual writing was beautiful as ever for the most part, but the choice of the plot/beats feels baffling to me. I love Nina, but her parts felt so separate from the rest of the book until the very end, and even that felt off. I liked the first 2/3 of KoS enough, dealing with the monster, political tensions, 1/2

and even the cult of the starless saint was at least interesting because dealing with people trying to rewrite the narrative of their greatest enemy (who hurt these young leaders in deeply PERSONAL ways) was really compelling (making him literally come back was. a choice) but I feel like somewhere in the last third, KoS went in a wholly differeent direction, and RoW has this vibe of feeling like she definitely wrote it after reading the show scripts or even seeing some footage. idk. 2/2

I will try to be brief (1/12)

Hey anon! Thank you so much for asking this even though it took 38756588247834 years to answer this I’m so sorry !! The Nikolai duology was good—wonderful too maybe because of the myriad of themes and topics it discussed and explored, all in addition to how beloved these characters are. For me, it’s the end of KoS as it is for you, and the entirety of RoW in particular that irk me the most.

I have very little issue with KoS, and I agree with everything you’ve said. The political tensions, the sort of urgency in trying to secure a country at the cost of personal reservations, preparing for a war that seems unforgivably near the door, etc. was all thrilling. After all, it is the first installment in the duology, and it’s supposed to set the course for the upcoming books.

KoS managed to introduce the stakes and the circumstances, lay the rails for what the characters will face and what it might mean to a vast set of entities connected to the events. And it’s hardly out of sense to expect Rule of Wolves to pick up where the previous book left off and carry forward the themes and plot points introduced in the first book.

Except, RoW failed spectacularly in that aspect.

Rule of Wolves: the second book, and the supposed finale to the Grishaverse and the Nikolai duology; it fails to continue the other number of threads that KoS set up for it, effectively compromising the characters, their characterizations, the themes and other political tensions and stakes. The due importance that should be given to the heavy set of topics that get brought up in the povs are not through, nor are the small details that Leigh added to the conversations evolve into something worth talking about, which are the actual points that could have been given some more page time to explore than just making them facts or points of nostalgia for the characters.

If you take a step back and analyze the whole timeline, events, characterization, objectives of the arcs and the plot points etc. etc., all the way from Crooked Kingdom to Rule of Wolves, there’s so much that is left out and tied in, quite haphazardly, which leads me to believe that Leigh wanted to attempt writing a duology that is more plot-driven than it is character driven. And we know that Leigh writes character driven stories brilliantly, and SoC, CK and TLoT are testament to the same. Heck, even TGT has more consistency than whatever TND has.

So, objectively? Plot possibilities? Characterization? Potential? Personal goals? Addressing the very serious themes it brought up, in little or major light, but give no proper elaboration about them?

The lost potential readily compromised the characterizations of many characters, and it all amounted to their arcs being very underwhelming.

I’m dividing this into four parts and here’s the basic outline.

Writing and Plotting

The Plot, Possibilities and Potential.

Characters, Characterization, Character Potential.

Remedy (what I think would've worked better to tie this all up)

This can get very looong, so be forewarned.

I. Writing & Plotting

Now, Leigh Bardugo’s writing is exceptional, no doubt. The sentences are short and flowy, and convey the tone, psyche, environment and the setting and its effects on the pov character marvellously. It's also immersive. It’s the same in Rule of Wolves, except, a little or a lot weaker.

The two main parts of this is that one, that Leigh slightly overdid showing a lot more than telling, and two, that the RoW (and perhaps KoS too), was more plot driven than character driven, the latter of which is actually Leigh’s strength.

In Rule of Wolves, Leigh’s writing seemed very choppy and snappish. The descriptions were lacking, or maybe that’s just me wishing for more internal conflict and dilemma, and going back and forth in one's own head for a bit. It felt like she showed more than she told.

Example being how Zoya ‘snaps’, ‘drawls’, ‘scoffs’, or ‘scowls’ less, and even if that’s supposed to be show Zoya beginning to be a little less unpleasant than she usually is, the tone in those chapters was not strong enough to distinguish how and why the character was acting a certain way. Nor pinpoint an explanation on what brought that change about. (And there were many instances like this with many other characters), which resulted in the characters themselves feeling so off to me.

Leigh’s characters are important to the story. They carry tremendous weight and actively contribute to the plot. Except, by focusing a lot more on the plot, some parts of these characters’ relevance was not up to the mark. It is greatly due to how weak the plotting and pacing of the book was, tbh, more than just her writing.

Consider: Mayu Kir Kaat. She is integral to the story, but she is thrust into responsibilities, and that doesn’t give us much time to see her as a person, and then as a person with a duty, like we see with most other characters. Whatever parts of her we did see were very circumstantial and timed, which is probably the reason why not many we’re unable to appreciate Mayu as much as we should. (Maybe fandom racism also plays a part, so, well,,,).

Like, we know from Six of Crows and with The Language of Thorns, how great care went into describing the characters’ state of mind, which further heavily influenced their choices and decisions. This time though, I think she wanted it to be more plot driven, hence the whole crowded feeling of the book and general worry about oh my god too much is happening, how will all this be solved and all that.

And this, I think, greatly hampered Leigh's writing, leading to unsettling and rather unsatisfying character arcs. Not to mention that there was quite little space given for the characters to develop or let them grow in a satisfying way which touches on most of the elements and themes that get brought up with regard to their powers and potential,,, and when it was indeed brought up, it was all in vain since they were never followed through.

That's one of the biggest problems for me in RoW: Plot points brought up in KoS were not brought forward in RoW.

II. The Plot, Possibilities and Potential.

Phew. Truly buckle up because this train has too many coaches. And to discuss them all, let’s keep the starting point as Crooked Kingdom.

a) Parem

Now, by the end of Crooked Kingdom, we know some important things about the parem.

It's dangerous asf for the Grisha who have to sacrifice their will and capabilities for a short time superpower high that they didn’t even ask for

Which means they are more often than not forced to consume the drug

Shu Han is the creator of the Parem and are also creating a new kind of soldiers called Khergud (who additionally require Ruthenium, but we’ll talk abt that later)

Fjerda snatched the formula after kidnapping Bo Yul-Bayur, keeping him away in the Ice Court and in their possession, and used the Parem to further their own heedlessly heinous agenda

I think it’s easy to understand how KoS started off on the right track, considering that Kuwei Yul Bo is mentioned, the antidote and jurda is brought up and so come the political tensions alongside it (what with the impending war, the demon, the lack of funds in the coffers and security and peace for the country alongside safety for the Grisha).

The point is, parem is a character of its own. CK was its inception, and its fate was decreed along with its lifespan and its doom. Ideally, by the end of RoW, parem should have been vanquished while addressing its nature as a deadly drug, the addiction and aftermath, and the key person who will guide the plot: Kuwei Yul Bo.

Parem is a political tool that pitted countries against each other, making one another their allies or enemies. (Though parem is not the only one factor). Ravka doesn’t yet know about Kerch’s neutrality. The Shu made their move to assassinate in the end, just as Fjerda cleared the air about their goals.

Point is, parem is weapon, a new kind of warfare that keeps getting alluded to in KoS. The first book gave a glimpse of how the Shu and Fjerda are using parem, thereby exploiting, prejudicing etc. the Grisha in their countries. Khergud whose humanity is washed away with parem + ruthenium, and the Fjerdan Grisha (are targeted) drugged and exploited while be subjected to torture, training and imminent death, parametres of these outcomes being severely gendered.

Ravka too wanted to weaponize it and create a usable strain that would still give the Grisha their powers but at a minimal cost, until Nikolai’s conversation with Grigori convinces him out of it and to use only the antidote for the Grisha.

And when are the contents of this conversation brought up again?

Never.

Another aspect of parem (that the conversation also covers) is this: that what was once merzost, parem is its strange cousin. Parem parallels breaking the bounds of Grisha norms unnaturally, while merzost takes it a step further to break the bounds of nature itself, which comes with a heavy price. They're both the same with little differences. Amplifiers are in tune with this discussion, hence the conversation between Zoya and Nikolai about how, and whether or not the abomination in him, the parem, and the amplifiers are tied together. This gets brought up again in the conversation with Grigori.

Parem parallels the superpowers, something that Zoya too manages to achieve once the corruption of the amplifier business is resolved, which makes her realize how in tune with nature the Grisha must be, and how limited the Grisha powers until then had been. And why the amplifiers were a corrupted piece of magic.

Zoya was supposed to be the conduit in that sense that she reversed the Grisha norms and understood the importance and nature of small science. This is alongisde parem getting abolished or resolved in the least, be given a redressal.

Yet instead in RoW, we barely see any of Zoya’s powers, nor even her experimentation and hunger for power which would give her protection. We don't see how she begins to realize that while power was indeed protection, it was also a responsibility. Not clearly, anyway.

So like, not only is this entire discussion thrown away in Rule of Wolves, but no matters are resolved either. Parem did not reach its end like it was supposed to. Merzost with regard to parem would have been an excellent thing to address, with or without the Darkling being present, because the blight is there. But that doesn’t happen.

What happens instead? We get one chapter of Grisha getting the antidote during the face off at the start of the book, the women in Fjerda are not brought up again and instead we jump to Shu Han. Kuwei is also conveniently forgotten because hey, the Zemeni are here so it’s all sorted!

RoW could have (should have actually) sought to address both the political and medical (?) aftermath and implications. Maybe it did succeed in showing the political side of it, with regard to Mayu, Ehri, Makhi and Tamar’s storylines. But that’s only in Shu Han, whose state of affairs we had NO idea of until RoW. No idea, so much that it was completely out of the blue.

And what we did know (get to know about in KoS) is Fjerda and the affairs there remained… unsolved.

(...sorry).

b) Grisha Powers

Re: From the conversation between Nikolai and Grigori, and Juris and Zoya, about how parem and the amplifiers are parallel to each other in terms of being abominations, a corruption of Grisha powers. Now the theory of it is not entirely explained, but we do know that the parem and whatever Zoya learnt from Juris was meant to move along in the same direction.

But we don't see another mention of it, except maybe we could dig a little deeper and realize that it all adds up because Zoya is the Grisha Queen of Ravka, Summoner, Soldier, Saint, all of it rushed and unnecessarily magical in a war so dire and realistic in RoW.

Welp.

c) Spy business

Just… genuinely what even was Nina up to in RoW? A spy, sure, but only to garner information on the pretender?

Why couldn’t there have been two responsibilities for her to uncover: the lies or truths about the pretender while the Apparat causes hindrances, and Nina trying to seek out more documents of the locations and labs where the Grisha women are being tormented and the other Grisha being weaponized? It could have been a leverage to discredit Fjerda in front of everybody in the Os Kervo scene. Imagine if Nina whipped out the documents of Grisha labs and brought the truth of the exploitation and killing and kidnapping etc. in front of the convention of all nations. All of it together would have upped the political tensions by quite the notch.

Even then, there’s a possibility that it wouldn’t matter either because the Grisha aren’t exactly valuable to all the nations. But killing and exploiting is still wrong so maybe it might have worked? Or see, even if it wouldn’t have, the slow and sluggish realization of Mila’s identity by Brum, and alongside writing it as a tragedy where Nina’s efforts seem to have gone to waste, or where Nina is telling Zoya about not accounting for Prince Rasmus’ word and she informs her about the documents she has snatched? Something could have been done here?

The point is, KoS focused on Fjerda and its unraveling, and it wasn’t continued with and through in Rule of Wolves. Instead it sought to find the problem in a whole new country, Shu Han, and fixed it within the same book leaving the other country as it is.

d) Ruthenium and the Blight

Ruthenium, the metal that is an alloy of regular metal and Grisha made steel, could have been utilized more significantly in the books.

I mention it in association with the blight because while on one hand it is true that the blight is an area full of nothingness, ruthenium as a metal could have been utilized to show the effects of rushed industrialization that is leading to the ground losing its essence. This is supposed to be advanced warfare after all. Besides, Makhi loses someone very dear to her. Perhaps ruthenium is more dangerous in Shu Han because the Shu use it to create the khergud, so the constant manufacturing of it has been leading to the metal leeching the lands of their fertility, along with the blight.

And so also to broker peace, Ravka could have provided aid in some ways. :

1) The Darkling sacrificed himself, as a result of which the blight vanishes. While the blight took away her niece, the possibility of a blight persisting despite the ending of RoW could be attributed to ruthenium.

2) Ravka could provide the reversing effect to the alloy of ruthenium and metal using Grisha and otkazt’sya engineering and ingenuity to replenish the lands.

All in addition to whatever will be Shu Han’s policies to bring lushness to their lands.

e) Women and War:

Holy fucking Shit, where do I start with this?

Whatever we saw in Fjerda was haunting, and we see it from Nina’s chapters. There’s literally no resolution for it, nor is it ever brought up again, at all. In Zoya’s chapters, we see through her eyes the brunt that Grisha faced with the war, and in a country that has refused to recognize Grisha as the citizens and considers them expendable.

Add to it her own narrative of how the women are never mentioned, let alone the ones that she has lost or has known to suffer, at the hands of the war, at the Darkling's torture and powers. The description of these women suffering, often being forgotten and thrown aside as mere casualties… where or when was it ever going to be brought up again?

Like, switching between such horrifying things happening in Fjerda to whatever was happening with Zoya and Nikolai and Isaak is such a contrast, horrifyingly demeaning and insulting, even more so when it failed to align with the importance of parem and offer a solution to both these problems.

Now switch to Rule of Wolves, where the Tavgahard women immolate themselves on Queen Makhi’s orders. Not only is that such a cheap and insensitive thing to do, it gets treated a simple fucking plot point in the book, and it barely gets addressed afterwards. Women in Asia have a vastly complex and complicated history with fire, and this is a serious criticism that culturally affects readers in personal ways. And what gets done about it? Fine, Zoya feels baaaad, sorry oops why would the women do that?!?!?

Where is the adequate sensitivity to the topic? Where is the continuation of the pain Zoya feels for many people, despite them being the enemy? How does she honour them? Where is all that dilemma and pain? Why does she not think of them or just get a line or two to talk about them?

Where is the due importance for this suffering given? Structurally and culturally?

f) Soldier, Summoner, Saint / Yaromir the Great

We never really get any explanation for why Zoya deserves to be the Queen, and why she is the best. But we do get to see why Nikolai isn’t the one supposed to be on the throne, and it’s not just because of his parentage but also because of his failings and doubts and the need for acceptance with the secrets he carried.

Here's the thing though; it’s not just about her showing mercy. It’s very subtle, and in good sense, should actually have been given a little bit more importance that be loosely brought up at random times.

Keeping aside the fact that Zoya is representative of Ravka—a woman, a Grisha, a Suli girl who changed the course of war and who knew what it was like living in poverty, being as an underprivileged person of the society in addition to the trauma from then and the state of living at her aunt’s place—which is meant to be covertly apparent, the other reason tracks back to Yaromir the First, who with the help of Sankt Feliks of the Apple Boughs—the one who raised the thornwood—lead Ravka at that time into the age of peace.

The Darkling testified that in his POVs, that while Feliks and Yaromir worked in tandem for Ravka, Aleksander worked for safeguarding the Grisha. In one sense, Zoya is supposed to reflect that moment in history in the present moment, except she is Queen and Sankta, and Grisha, all three at once.

It is brought up in one of the Darkling’s POVs and once in the conversation with Yuri in KoS. Other than that, we never actually get any more hints of this explanation in the text, which is the reason why the entire ending felt so so rushed, and like a fever dream, that even if it was a plot twist, it was kinda very baseless when it should have been more ohhhhh sort of a thing.

g) The Starless Cult and Saint Worship

This cult had immense potential to blossom into many things, some of which were indeed touched upon in KoS when Zoya says that she saw a bit of herself in Yuri, and brings up time and again how easily she’d been led and had not been aware enough of what’s right and wrong, just as she supposes Yuri is too. And to some extent, there is truth there, because in the Lives of Saints, we do see why Yrui comes about to hail the Darkling and how it parallels Zoya’s, of being helpless and ten being saved by a different power/ their own power, respectively.

That’s where it forks, that Zoya is older and realizes the path that Yuri has chosen and understands that it won't happen until he realizes it himself because the Darkling’s crimes are so obvious.

Even then, there’s still more potential: This cult could have been the mirror that would make Zoya reflect on the questionable methods of the Darkling, and the ways in which she might be mirroring them, despite or not it is the necessity because of the war. How she is training soldiers too, just as the Darkling did, and while the need to take children away from their homes just as soon as they were discovered Grisha was abolished, it was war, and they needed soldiers.

So like, there’s quite a big narrative going on here, how mere children are pushed into one path of becoming a soldier and the whole system that was that the Darkling followed to train the Grisha and all of that. All of this in addition to the juxtaposition to the Grisha being seen as elite despite them being hunted, and the people who are not Grisha frowning upon them. This is also the work of the Darkling, which actually paves the way to see how there can be a world where the Grisha are not feared or seen as abnormal, despite or not they are given a Saint-like narrative.

This cult could also have been the segue to discussing Yuri and his brainwashing, and the sort of cult-ish behaviour of believing in something firm when you couldn’t believe in yourself, or not seeing the magnitude of the crimes of their supposed Saint, alongside always staying focused on becoming a soldier only and never actually thinking beyond what is told.

Some of these are very subtle and some are brought up, but never given too much of an explanation.

Genya brings up another good point in the funeral chapter, about how Fjerda seemingly taking into the whole Saints thing could mean that if the Darkling moved there, he could very well sprawl his influence there to bring in supporters. Which leads to another discussion that gets brought up towards the end of the book: about Nina telling about the Ravkan Saints to Hanne and therefore to the Fjerdans,,, which doesn’t exactly sit right with me. It’s still a very nascent topic, and I think SoC3 will explore this path of faith and personal beliefs etc. but leaving it just there, while talking so much about Saints in both the countries,,, don’t exactly know how to put it into thoughts here.

But regardless, the cult of the Starless had different potential to talk of (blind) worshipping of an ideal without critically examining why the person must be put on the pedestal in the first place (and if it is simply power, then there is actually a narrative right there, which RoW gets right, about the people valuing the power still, as a result of which the monarchy still persists at the end of RoW. Even then, there’s more discussion awaiting there).

Not sure if any of this makes sense, but I’ll leave it at this here for now.

edit: 05/07/2021 | I think what I was trying to say here is that we do not have any kind of narrative evidence to seeing how and why it seems right that the Fjerdans will worship Ravkan Saints; is it merely because they are all Grisha? Or is it because of the segue explore this path of faith and personal beliefs and all of that, of the talk of the monastery and the Grisha there being of all identities, that a monastery is in Shu Han, that it has Djel's sacred Ash tree so far away from Fjerda... much to think about.

III. Characters, Characterization, Character Potential.

Mostly going to be about Nina and Zoya, but I’ll bunch up the rest of them at the end.

a) Nina

*head in hands*

I severely mourned how poorly Zoya was written in RoW, but then I realized that more than Zoya, it’s Nina whose potential was severely undermined and wasted. On one hand, I’m glad she uses her powers and quick thinking,observation and her own tactics to analyze the population and opt for the best way to make them see the truth she wants to show them (eg: making Leoni and Adrik and Zoya saints and also showing that the Grisha are the children of Djel via people’s belief to Joran and Rasmus’s mother).

But then, it’s like you said; her parts were so offbeat and outpaced and completely disjointed, when in fact, Nina is the thread that ties all the characters, their plotlines and potential, together. Nina is connected to Zoya and Hanne, two equally important characters and main characters of the duology. Whatever scope Nina has, they are greatly in parallel to Zoya and Hanne. And it’s all literally there, in the text! What a waste.

Though keeping aside these parallels, Nina’s own journey from Ketterdam to Ravka to Fjerda, while is spoken about, doesn’t touch some other parts that I see potential in. Or this is just meta.

Nina has grief not just from Matthias’ death but also from the loss of her powers as Heartrender. So much of the Second Army was built on being a soldier, and perhaps the Darkling was not outright disdainful of racial differences in his army, yet he still stripped every part of the children away until they weren’t children anymore in his view. They’re all soldiers… (albeit his soldiers, preparing them to do his bidding because hey, give and take right?). Nina was a soldier, and she is a soldier still under Zoya’s role as a General, but an ‘other’ of a soldier. That’s her only identity, and the loss of her powers means that she’s a different kind of soldier.

I imagine that this entire time, some small part of Nina longed for normalcy, or whatever settled as normal for a life like hers. In the sense that she wants to go back, but what is back and where exactly did she want to go back to? What was the before and after and where did things go wrong or change? There’s tragedy in the realization that whatever you were before what you became is not a place you can return to, and that’s a different kind of loss that she has to bear, and all by herself. She has powers over the dead now, a strange power she learns to grow to, but all the places she has been, all the lives she has led and people she had been, everything might seem like they’ve all been locked away in some strange place leaving her barren and indisposable.

She’s off to Fjerda as someone she isn’t, figuratively and literally. In KoS, Nina brings up many times how odd she feels as Mila and in some capacity longs to be Nina Zenik again. This ties in with the previous point of returning to somewhere, but where?, but is also a segue towards body dysmorphia, the thing that Nina and Hanne’s storylines parallel and connect too with in a small way. It’s a great line to follow to discuss what her discomfort with her body means to herself while it means something entirely different to Hanne, who is also not entirely comfortable being who they are. (This discomfort further which leads to gender dysphoria, while for Nina, it will be about learning to accept her powers. I’ll add on to this in a bit,).

I'm mourning the lost potential of that experience being a parallel to Hanne’s own feelings, of a discussion between people being uncomfortable with their bodies, something that can mean multitudes to each person and on their own accord.

In parallel to Zoya, I like to draw it from the fact about Nina wanting to go back to who she was, while Zoya actively tries to lock her past away and drown it somewhere or throw it to the storm, never to hear of it again. She has no identity other than being a soldier, and that’s enough for Zoya, because who she was before she was a soldier is not pleasant. But moving from being just another expendable shell of soldier under the Darkling’s rule, Zoya becomes the one third of the Triumvirate, and then the King’s general, all of which bring self-awareness of Zoya’s capabilities and challenges that are bound to excite her. But all of these also compel Zoya to be many other people to others as she slowly grows to realize that power is not just protection but also a responsibility, and it will inadvertently mean confronting her past of her lost identity, realizing the how of the Darkling, and how harmful it was. As Genya puts it perfectly in Rule of Wolves, that they were all taken away when they were young kids, not even barely children, and then thrust into responsibilities that didn’t allow them to be anything else other than what the Darkling told them to be.

Back to Nina; a few other great parts about Nina’s arc could have been about her connection to languages, as language being a mode of strengthening identity, in addition to growing to her powers. In RoW, there’s this line that goes ‘how sweet it was to speak her language [Ravkan] again’, and the feeling of homesickness. Like, Nina is trying to connect to Ravka through what she knows best—language, and then stories. In that, Nina realizes a part of her identity, which could also act as a segue to Zoya reclaiming her own heritage and ethnicity. Not only that but Zoya and Nina’s stories are literally so intertwined that it’s hard not to see how their choices and line of thought affect one another’s arcs, in the grief they have and how they choose to treat it, and also show why Zoya is particularly protective of Nina (and keeps wishing that she doesn’t become the monster Zoya had become, in the sense that Nina is more mature in handling her grief than Zoya was and the entire mercy plotline ties Nina, Zoya and even Genya together. More meta, haH).

And that’s why the ending doesn’t make sense. Even though the part about her not being comfortable as Mila is not brought up many times in the continuing chapters (and that’s why perhaps naming Nina’s discomfort as body dysmorphia may be wrong), there’s still the part of Nina readily accepting to be who she was a Mila and remain in Fjerda that seems iffy to me. Especially when Nina and Hanne literally a few chapters ago think about running away (it may be just another alternative they might be fantasizing about, but I think it still means that they both want to be their true selves without hiding any parts of it away). So her staying as Mila… well, it doesn’t exactly add up.

I’d also add the part of Nina’s story mirroring Leoni’s, and how she is from Novyi Zem and being a part of the Second Army meant that she had little to no connection with her past, her culture etc. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part that Leigh went for that arc.

edit: 05/07/2021 | I don't agree with my point anymore about Nina not having the kind of ending I assumed she might have, considering that it is very well possible for Nina to treat her identity as Mila as a fresh start, as a Grisha with a command over the the dead and begin a new normal that is suited for her. You can read more here.

b) Zoya

For one, white passing Zoya is not canon to me. I simply pretend I do not see it.

See, her race was handled very badly. Making her half-Suli was supposed to show the struggles and the trauma that the ridiculing of her identity by other people has caused to her. Except, not enough time nor text is given to thoroughly discuss it. Not to forget how problematic of a narrative in itself it is to make Zoya white passing.

It would have made more sense to make her dark skinned and predominantly Suli-looking than whatever yt bs she was put through. Her not being white-passing would have led to conversations about tokenization, or people caring little about her and not giving her any respect because she is Suli. Or being called beautiful to the face and praised just for it or a harmless tumble in their point of view.

So like, instead of making the ‘mistake’ of seeking for acceptance, seeking appreciation and love, from her mother at first and then the Darkling, Zoya instead makes herself someone to be feared, if respect was not what she deserved. The iciness is a part of her and has always been, but all of it soon became a shield, an armour that she vowed to harden her heart with. Just the sheer impact of this narrative and her reluctance, and seeing Nikolai love her for beyond who she thinks she is… if all of this was canon, I’m pretty sure I’d have built a shrine for this duology.

Let’s now talk about her grief, and...

…

Okay it’s not for me to point fingers at how Leigh chose to write about grief because there’s no one way or one proper approach to go through that pain, and if that’s how she chose to write about grief for Zoya, fine! But I really wish we’d have gotten a little more into her head to see how the trauma has affected her thoughts and how she struggles against why and what exactly it is that Juris wants her to do. That enough time and text was dedicated to Zoya’s feelings and the mayhem it caused her, as a result of which the dragon’s eye took its cue and made things more unbearable to her because she was the only one to bear them all.

Like, I feel like Zoya was overwhelmed throughout the book and in between she had some skyhigh responsibilities to discharge and it’s all so inconsistent and poorly woven,,, it completely dissolved her character from KoS and made it 10000000x more miserable for me to read her POVs. And honestly, what even were her assignments that the Kirkus review mentioned? Never an inch of text in RoW is given to decipher her complications of her mind, the muddled sense of hopelessness and fear that grips her time and again. Why overwhelm her so much that you fail to do her mental state and capacity any justice?

I’m not going to be harsh about how much David’s death bothered me-- no actually fuck that; what’s the point? Fine, he died. All because you wanted to make his death a plot device to make Zoya reconcile with loss and deal with it? Where was Genya’s grief? Literally no point of having a death in the book at all, and it didn’t even achieve anything. (I’m still trying to wrap my head around why David’s death was important and maybe if I find some straws, I’ll consider…)

There were so many other ways around it; could have brought back Lada and killed her off, or have the Darkling piss her off so badly or just. Something. Instead of whatever happened with David. I think this is too harsh and insensitive of me to say about Leigh, but still… there’s a myriad of other ways to have gone about it. Helping Zoya deal with her grief with Nikolai at her side, to understand that the rage that was fueled from her loneliness, like it had been in the past, could now be a weight that Nikolai was willing to carry with her… Helping someone with their grief, staying and choosing is also a love language you know?

So in that regard, I won’t regret saying how flat the garden scene was to me. Zoya’s lines, though tinged with grief, were so out of what I would expect KoS Zoya to say. Maybe it’s also because of how bitter I was reading about David's death, despite that part being spoiled for me.

The cost shouldn’t have been David’s death, especially not when his death too wasn’t properly handled at all, and Genya’s grief was never spared a second thought beyond bringing Titanium.

+

Now let’s talk about how Out of Character Zoya was throughout the book. Her punchy attitude was missing, and even if she was warming up to her friends, we see little of the iciness she continues to retain. Another part of this is about exploring her relationships, particularly with Nikolai and her growing feelings for him. I wish we’d have seen them grapple with more of their confusion and propriety, if only for the yearning™. Besides, no matter how cute their scenes were, they were mostly (like maybe some. 70%) awful to read them, simply because it felt so odd to see Zoya be so open with Nikolai, all of a sudden.

A part of this definitely has to be the fact that we don’t know just how much time has passed between the end of KoS and the start of RoW, and we never, never see any description of they regarded their feelings for each other and how they understood it themselves. I don’t actually know how exactly I can put this into words in a manner that will make sense, but the only scenes where I appreciated Zoyalai were in the Ketterdam chapters, ONLY. The rest was… bleh lmao. Their scenes were so cute and brilliant, and if only we’d seen more of the internal conflict and had given some more time for them to practically approach their feelings but still end up in the puddle of it. If only.

Their scenes apart were the good ones, because that’s where we finally see Nikolai feeling the loss, no matter how temporary (on the verge of being permanent since it’s the war), of not having Zoya with him, of not being there with Zoya because who else would it be if it wasn’t her? Zoyalai had good scenes but they barely lived up to the mark lol. Their feelings are never thoroughly explored, nor their mental capacities.

While we’re talking about Zoyalai, let’s also talk about how lame it was for Zoya to say that Nikolai was the golden spirited hero all along, from the very start, when canonically we know Zoya had little to do with him in the earlier books, that she may have only been physically attracted to him and never saw him as more than just some guy with a responsibility to manage, and had sooooooo much distrust about him. And that it was only in the next few years of working with him and alongside did she grow to recognize his efforts and relish in the hope that he was building for Ravka, inadvertently making Zoya hopeful too.

Nope. Instead, we’ll just throw in some destiny bs that he was the one all along rather than show that the beauty of their relationship did not stem what they perceived of each other, but was instead built on strong respect and admiration for one another and their capabilities. 100% destroyed their relationship for me.

+

Some good parts about Zoya’s arc in RoW was how she acknowledged her past mistakes, and the nuance that was touched upon in seeing sense in becoming a soldier from the start, that offered her a chance to be anything other than a bride. That some part of her was grateful for the Darkling for teaching her how to fight, while still keeping Genya’s words in mind about how they were mere kids, children who had only one path to traverse because the Darkling (who wanted their acceptance and loyalty) nor the Kings of the country let the Grisha be anything else other than pawns of the war. That she recognizes her mistakes as a teen and how self centred she was, that her being snotty had at times cost some peoples’ lives too. And she doesn’t take the blame all up on herself, because it’s not hers alone to bear. Super good.

Also, the way Zoya comes to view power as responsibility instead of merely as protection was something cool to read about. It’s not clear in the books, but Zoya actively tried to not be the Darkling while still continuing to build an army for the war out of necessity, and actually sharing some parts of the dream that the Darkling had for the Grisha. I can’t articulate this so perfectly, but the point is, Zoya trying to avoid becoming a tyrant like the Darkling was an active process that she was constantly trying to change, and where Zoya could not recognize her own feelings and inherent thoughts about warfare that in some ways did mirror the Darkling’s, by the end of book, Zoya is much more self-aware and conscious of herself and her power than she was at the start of the book. And this was well done.

+

Now, what is up with YA and making people turn into giants or animals lol wtf. Why couldn’t we have seen Zoya use her dragon powers in a way that symbolizes the conditions of her dragon amplifier and the power of the knowledge she obtained from Juris? She is a Saint, and we’ve seen that their powers allowed them to cause ‘miracles’ and such, as we see at the start of KoS and at the end.

Why couldn’t we have seen Zoya dabble with her newfound powers and completely lose her shit in anger during the wae, only to rein back in mercy, just as someone from Fjerda begs for forgiveness since they see her then as a Saint? Adrik and Leoni used their powers in Fjerda, so having Zoya bring about a conundrum of all orders and do something about it would also have been cool, wouldn’t it? In the funeral scene we see her turn water into ice, thereby making a path for Genya. Why couldn’t we have had more exploration of the importance of the dragon’s eye and the general nausea of being overly empathetic every. damn. time? Why didn’t we get to see her powers? Why couldn’t we have seen her fail in them and realize that the reason she was not perfect was because she was trying to be strong on her own and was not relying on others and joint effort?

Her turning into a dragon was genuinely the most baffling part bc here’s a war that’s so serious and dire with metals and bombs, and then here’s this magic that will solve all of it entirely. Like I’m not saying it was bad, (I am actually saying just that) but I also don’t know what I am saying, except that the ending felt like a fever dream.

…?

Not sure if I’ve managed to convey it properly, but well. Zoya felt out of character throughout RoW, and that the only place I saw KoS Zoya was in the final Os Kervo scene where Zoya finally agrees to be the queen.

c) Nikolai

Nikolai’s arc was very satisfying and brilliant to read about in RoW. In KoS, he seemed very much like a passive character, one of the reasons why his stunt with the Shu in RoW was appreciable, no matter how ill-timed of a plot turn it was. His journey throughout this book was also introspective to see why others deemed him unfit as the King, and even if they were his enemies who thought that in want to dispose him from the throne, Nikolai realizes that him being on the throne is not of much value and that this book was entirely about him seeing his privilege and making decisions to counter and correct the mistakes he’s made. That was nice. Oh, also his father not being an antagonist was a pleasant surprise.

I don’t have many complaints about him, except perhaps wanting some more internal conflict and elaboration about his feelings for Zoya. Them being apart was where it was satisfying, and then in the Ketterdam chapters. His arc could have been better in KoS, but that’s to blame the plot for the characterization.

d) Hanne

Now, from the very start, their arc was super good and it only got better and better until… the ending. Except it’s so odd that Hanne, a poc, has to now live as white person, while feeling comfortable in their transmasc identity. Icky, no? That you need to eliminate one part of your identity in order to feel safe and comfortable about another? Add to this the whole white-passing Zoya thing,,, doesn't exactly send off the right message.

Together with Nina, the ending seems uncharacteristic for both of them. Them coming to accept their powers and knowing to use their powers on their own accord was brilliant, though the entire husband business felt very,,, eh to me, even if it did make sense. The ending about their name and their new identity was too vague.

e) Genya, Leoni and Adrik, Kuwei, Mayu,

Genya is the one who faced the most disservice along with David. While there were exceptional parts to both of their plotlines, it's still sad that even if David's death was necessary, we don't get to see the entirety of her grief and the possible anger, and that her kindness is simply used as the justification for lack of portrayal of grief.

It really did take me by surprise, mostly because I wasn't a fan of the original Shadow and Bone book, but seeing David's conscience and self-awareness, along with Genya's (and Zoya thinking of how she wouldn't let any harm come to them, which shows a bit of her development towards her character development), was plenty refreshing. David and Genya were genuinely the highlights of the book and to kill David off was just. doesn't sit right with me.

Leoni and Adrik deserved more page time. They’re saints and immensely capable (no wonder they’re now the Triumvirate), but a few more pages for them to shine would not only have been nice, but also a necessity.

And now, Kuwei...

....

I mean,,, parem should have been the plot, alongside the entire weaponry and the discussion of making a city killer. But uh… that didn’t happen.

There's not much I have to say about Mayu, Tamar and Ehri, except that their plot was superb, only very badly timed.

There's more to talk about them in the remedy tho.

IV. Remedy

Here’s the deal. Before KoS release, there should have been a Nina novella.

Nina is a very important character. All of her potential, alongside many other parts of her personality--from dealing with grief, to accustoming to her powers, to growing stronger--there could be so much to do with her as a protagonist, alongside another character: Mayu.

A whole book dedicated to Nina in Fjerda with Hanne? Brilliant. Show Stopping. Mind blowing. It gives SO much page time to explore not just Nina and Mayu, Hanne, but also Zoya, Leoni and Inej. All together.

How?

Nina’s plotline carries the entire medical effects of the use of parem, just as Mayu’s will carry the pain she feels about her brother being a part of the khergud program. The novella will give ample time to flesh them out as characters and protagonists, each dealing with plot problems and problems of their own--like the loss of ones powers and newfound responsibilities, and the shared loss of a beloved person in parallel, even if neither Nina or Mayu interact on page.

Fjerda and Shu Han could be tied together with one chapter as a POV from Zoya (or maybe two), who, along with the Triumvirate and Nikolai, are completely at loss with the political scenario in the country, and are debating over what should be the course of action. Zoya receives news from the scouts, and missives from Nina, and Tamar takes care of the information she garners from the rest of the network, including Shu Han.

Like, the entire surprise of finding a Zoya POV, from a character whom until CK we’ve known as cold hearted and stern and not giving a fuck about anything or anyone, be humanized in that one chapter, thereby building up the anticipation for her arc,,, the very potential,,, *chef's kiss*.

And by the end of book, we could have an POV--or maybe a cameo if not a POV--of Inej meeting Nina on one of her travels of slave hunting. Inej could help take care that the women that Nina has rescued (as Nina does in KoS) reach the Ravkan shorelines safely. But, for a price.

The entire parallels between Leoni and Hanne and Nina could be set up, while also building up the narrative for the Saints’ plotline with Adrik's, Leoni's and Nina’s powers (like it was at the end of KoS). KoS and RoW would thereby continue it by tackling the weaponization and the antidote, Sainthood and the rest of the politics of it all.

Coming to Shu Han: one key aspect that I’d love to have explored would be the importance of art, during or despite the war. Of how war or pain chips away culture, while detailing on the ill effects of it from the commoners' perspectives, from the soldiers etc. Art is integral to Shu Han and could be portrayed by Mayu’s pain finding balm in poetry, of seeing glimpses of Ehri poring over poetry also mayri ftw, of politics that Makhi is weaving against Ravka, etc.

Or also add some more length to Zoya’s POV and explore a bit of Tamar and Tolya and Kuwei’s interactions and perspective added to it, of missing a home that they seemed to not know, or know; of discussing culture and differences on the basis of where they’re from (maybe the twins are from the borders, while Kuwei grew up near the capital or somewhere distant from the borders etc.), all while directly pointing at Zoya’s heritage and how it ebbs at her conscience, no matter how much she wants to bury it.

POTENTIAL !!!

Like,,, Nina novella would have been too powerful. It would have been perfect. I think I’d excuse bringing back the Darkling too if this was the case. (Or maybe not).

But welp.

Hey, thanks for reading! Not sure if you could make it this far, but if you have, you honestly deserve a medal for sitting through this all. I can’t imagine how tiring it must be to read through this, considering it seemed to take it more than month to compile this there’s also me procrastinating on it too so i’,mbhbdhshfsdn

Drop an ask if you want to talk more about this!

Sincerely, thank you!!!

[khiazeriawis]

WITLESS

main masterlist | next chapter

pairings; very ooc! emma x f! bi shuji's sis reader.

synopsis; who would have thought that the hot-headed, cocky hanma (y/n) can be tense and shy when it comes to this one sweet yet shrewish rich girl, emma sano.

cw; cursing.

#chapter 002.

(y/n) finally came back to her sense "the heck..." she snapped back, biting the side of her mouth as she let out a scoff from her lips before looking back at the female with an irritated facial expression.

"that was the last pack I have yet-"

the female chuckled "does it look like I care?" she cut (y/n)'s words off as she swayed her hair; she rolled her eyes at her and turned her back, walking away before (y/n) could even mutter a word.

"did-...did she just- " (y/n) remains at her place stunned at the female's behaviour.

"it seems like 'master' (y/n) found her match!~" yuna riomi valerie, the school's muse and (y/n) hanma's childhood friend taps (y/n) on her shoulder and teases her.

"whatever..just leave and tell shu to buy me a new one yuri." (y/n) just huffed at her before going back to her spot earlier.

yuna riomi valerie or should I say just yuri in short just like what (y/n) called her, placed her left hand on the middle of her chest, red eyes widening at (y/n)'s response.

"really? you're going to demand me to go down again just to tell your brother to buy you- "

"hmm yeah, that's it." (y/n) responds to her, simply.

yuri looked at her unbelievably "come on, (y/n) I climbed 13 long stairs just to go up here and then.." she sighs, pursing her lips, tightening her fist a bit as she saw that (y/n) didn't mind her at all and just stared at the sunlight.

she was about to capture (y/n)'s attention when her phone suddenly rang and out of curiosity she took her phone out from the pocket of her dress and a smile appeared on yuri's lips when she saw the caller's id.

"uh- nevermind how many packs do you want?" she inquired, stuffing her phone back into her pocket as (y/n) chuckled at her.

"just 3 packs and the one who called you...was (y/n) fyeon, am I right?" (y/n) hummed as yuri scratched the back of her neck and smiled, nodding her head. "seems you really like her since your face is red af even though she just called your number" (y/n) hummed as she noticed how her friend's cheeks turned rosy-pink.

"I do but...I mean she is beautiful and fun to be with-"

"but she likes yuzu and not you, how dull."

"damn who hurt you today and please, she already said she doesn't like her..." yuri uttered.

"and you believe her?"

"yeah," yuri nodded her head, laughing confidently about it as (y/n) only face palmed and hugged her knees.

---

whilst listening to a song she walked at a sluggish speed not minding even if she was all alone on the street with owls eyeing her from far away.

she flinched as someone suddenly hugged her from behind and instantly took the small knife from her pocket coat and pointed it at the person.

"woah, calm down it's just me!"

"the fvck rindou you scared me!" (y/n) shouted back as she stuffed the small knife back into her pocket whilst rindou sweated a bit as both of his arms were raised next to his head.

"well?"

"what?"

"idiot why did you leave?" rindou hummed, raising one brow as he removed his glasses and placed it on (y/n)'s eyes instead.

they both continued walking as rindou carried (y/n)'s bag "i'm sleepy and shu doesn't want to go home yet..." (y/n) mumbled.

"still it's dangerous to go home alone, you should've told him to bring you home first...."

"as if he'll listen plus I can handle myself rinrin, stop scolding me," (y/n) chuckle as rindou only sighs and rolls his eyes as they both continue to walk until they reach their houses, they both bid their goodbyes and go inside their home.

---

"ow ow shit,owhh" (y/n) curses under her breath

emma continued what she was doing as she sighs and pinned her wrist to the bed that keeps trying to push her away.

"stay still." she sternly demands as she finally finishes putting remedies on (y/n)'s wounds.

(y/n) finally, sigh in relief. she smiles and opens her arms to hug emma but the girl pushes her away gently while arms crossed and glancing outside.

"wha-"

"no cuddles for you, i'm still mad about what you did." emma cuts her off; the tone of her voice was serious. emma rolls her eyes again as (y/n) pouted.

"emmmmaaaaa....." (y/n) pouted as she hugged emma tightly, placing her chin on her shoulder.

"(y/n) get of-"

"sorrryyy pleasee?" (y/n) whined as she nuzzled her face on the crook of emma's neck while emma tried to get her off but (y/n)'s grip on her was tight.

"babbyyyy come on, sorry, please?..I admit I was wrong, I fought back b-but I promise I won't do it again!" (y/n) stutters and raises her one hand as a promise while emma only raises her brow and looks at her with a smile pasted on her lips.

she took a step closer as she got on her tiptoes and (y/n)'s eyes widened as she closed her eyes when she thought emma was going to give her a kiss but instead she received a flick on her forehead. "ow"

"dummy you always say and even promise you won't get into fights again but you never-"

"y-yeah I know but really, this time I promise you.." (y/n) says smiling as she grasps her hands and looks at emma with puppy eyes.

"gross." emma uttered as she looked away, smiling at herself and turned her attention back to the window as (y/n) only chuckled and hugged her from behind.

the couple watches the city lights and cars from the outside of the big window, being pleased with each other's warmth not until-

their moment with each other was suddenly interrupted when (y/n) received a call from her phone.

"oh shoot" she nervously stuffed it back inside her bag after cancelling it.

"Is there something wrong?" the blonde female asks as (y/n) hums "nothing terrible it's just shu," she said placing a kiss on her cheeks.

"already? didn't you say we're going to watch some movie-"

"yeah...but it seems important based on his texts also," (y/n) retorted as she finished wearing her shoe.

"alright, get home safe okay?"

"I will" she smiled before she exited.

"huh? going home, is the movie finished already?" mikey pouted as soon as he saw (y/n) come downstairs.

"uh no but shu wants me to go home right now so yeah...sorry mikey" (y/n) chuckled, scratching the back of her neck.

"I see."

"anyways gotta go now-"

"wait (y/n).." mikey mumbled as (y/n) stopped at the entrance of the front door.

"yeah?"

"how long will you intend to hide your relationship with my sister from everyone, mainly with your brother?" mikey abruptly asked as (y/n) turned speechless.

"mikey...."

"look (y/n) don't you think your brother deserves to know about this? I mean not only that, don't you think-"

"I am actually thinking of telling him that right now. so don't bother I never intend to hide it honestly, I am just finding a right time and I think now is the time for that" (y/n) explained, she sigh deeply as mikey hum and just nods his head.

---

"shu- oh mom, dad!" (y/n) was quick to kiss her parents cheeks as soon as she saw them while shuji, her brother, was only gazing at the vase on the side.

"how is my little princess?" her dad said as (y/n) only chuckled awkwardly and gave him a kiss on the cheeks.

"princess eh?" she thought to herself before sitting beside her brother who was still not looking at her nor their parents.

"uh- do you want something to eat or drink? juice maybe?" she inquired as her parents chuckled.

"no need we're going to depart soon anyways"

"ohh okay if you say so.." they talked casually as shuji was still quiet.

"so son, I heard you have a girlfriend?" her dad talked, shuji snapped back and grinned a little.

"hmmm, not yet dad" he mumbles as their mom and dad laugh at it.

"haven't made her say yes yet?" this time (y/n) was the one who answered it while holding her laugh.

"how can he make her say yes when he isn't even courting the girl dad!" (y/n) nudges shuji's shoulder as (y/n) and mr. hanma laughs.

"tsk,"

"come on you two, stop teasing him." mrs. hanma talked.

"sorry mom"

"sorry darling"

(y/n) and mr. hanma said in unison as mrs. hanma smiles.

"how about you (y/n)?" mrs. hanma asked with raised brows and (y/n) can see how serious she is.

"yes mom?"

"do you have a boyfriend?" (y/n) suddenly coughed at the sudden question.

"are you alright?" mr. hanma asked worriedly as (y/n) pursed her lips and nodded her head.

"I don't have a boyfriend but a girlfriend...." she answered, whispering the last words in a very low voice.

"what was that?"

"mom..dad...shuji... I have something to tell..." the three went serious yet confused about her statement.

"what is it? seems you got nervous" shuji asked, the tone of his voice was serious.

"I....."

work of fanfiction any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, either certain events, are merely coincidental. names, characters, business, and events, are rather the product of the writer's invention or were used in a fictitious manner.

all rights reserved Ⓒ khiazeriawis.

[liannelara-dracula]

🤒DL

Alright this is finally done. I am trying to get to other asks do not send in other ones.

Sakamaki

Shu:

He let’s you handle yourself at first.

But if he notices that you aren’t getting better or need help he will come to you.

He isn’t strict with medicine but rest.

He wants you to sleep.

So he cuddles you.

He literally pulls you down to lay with him.

Will

Take you to the doctor if needed.

He isn’t too worried.

He will give you affection cause he knows he can’t get sick.

Reiji:

Is sooooooo strict, like no joke.

He watches you like a mom.

Gives you remedies and medicines to treat you.

He keeps you in his room to have you rest on his bed. So he can watch you of course.

It’s also cause he likes to secretly watch you sleep.

If it’s bad like a fever or worse he carries you everywhere. Obviously bridal style.

He checks your temperature and asks you were it hurts.

If you want affection he doesn’t give it to you bc your sick. He won’t get sick but he just feels the need to punish you for getting sick.

Though he will kiss the top of your head after he checks your temperature.

Laito:

He’s pretty good at taking care of you.

Actually knows how to care of you, with Reijis instructions of course.😂😂

He worries a lot

To the point where it’s annoying.

“Bitch Chan do you need this?” Or “How do you feel? Does it hurt?” He’d ask, just getting on your nerves.

Tries to be helpful but he’s nervous.

Finds your stuffy nose and red face kinda cute.

“How adorable.” He’d tease tapping your nose.

“Ugh.” You’d huff.

Overall he tries.

Ayato:

Bro here really tries, like he does his best.

Always asking Reiji or Shu how to do things.

“Bro how do I check the temperature again?” He’d ask.

“Just put it on her forehead and it’ll tell you.” Shu would sigh.

“Thanks, dude.” He’d say before leaving.

He will take pictures of you while you’re sick.

Hands you tissues, or water.

Gives you fluffy blankets.

Makes horrible soup.

Gives you his hoodies.

doesn’t kiss you tho.

“Human germs can’t effect you.”

“Really?” He’d ask.

“Yes, idiot.” You’d joke.

Kanato:

Is pretty good.

watches you like a hawk.

knows how to make you fall asleep.

Sings you to sleep.

He feeds you his sweets and his cake.

You have to convince him a lot of times that your not dying and that it’s just a cold.

He likes to cuddle with you so much.

You become the little spoon. No objections.

He likes to give you blankets and pillows.

He’s very good at giving medication to you if needed.

If his brothers are being loud and you need rest he’ll get angry and tell them to be quiet.

“Be quiet! Can’t you see your upsetting Y/n!?”

He’d yell before closing the door to come back to you.

“Okay you can rest now princess.”

Subaru:

He is soooooo worried.

Protect him I swear

He is so caring and sweet.

Will get you anything and he makes sure you take the medicine.

He might forget and then he’ll get mad but you tell him it’s ok.

Would take you to the doctor if things got worse.

He’d really help if you needed it.

If he saw you could handle it he wouldn’t interfere.

But he’d check up on you.

And kiss your forehead, especially if you have a fever.

He’d also give you cuddles if you were cold.

Overall he’d be really sweet.

Kino:

Takes pictures of you for black mail.

Not so good at taking care of you.

He’s like a Ayato in that sense.

His soup will be salty.

He will give good massages tho.

Cuddles.

Buys you medicine tho.

You mostly have to take care of your self tho.

But he’ll make sure it’s not an emergency or something.

Otherwise he’ll get you some help.

Mukami

Ruki:

He knows you don’t need help but he’s helping you anyways because he says you don’t know how to take care of yourself.

It’s just an excuse to be with you.

He is very caring and gentle with you.

Reads to you a lot to comfort you.

Temple and forehead kisses.

He brushes your hair a lot.

He also makes you take baths to relax not with you tho since your sick and he knows you don’t feel the greatest rn.

Gives you medicine and if you hate it you’re still taking it. He doesn’t try to give you other flavors that you’d like either he just tells you to suck it up.

“Ruki it tastes horrible.” You grimaced at the spoonful of dark liquid he was about to give you.

“There is no other way of getting better. So open wide.” He’d be a little smug about it seeing you act like a kid.

You are usually in his bed bc he supervises you when you’re sick.

He will cuddle with you too.

Keeps a close eye on you.

He doesn’t want you to help him bc he knows you’re weak right now.

He would carry you around if needed.

Yuma:

He does his best if he needs to step in.

Cause Yuma has a big heart.

He will carry you anywhere and everywhere. Bc he doesn’t want you t be by yourself.

Ruki would have to tell him how to use the medicine properly cause we all know Yuma can get upset with instructions.😂😂

Really cares for you but he sometimes wants you to be tougher cause he thinks it’s just a little illness or whatever.

Though after he sees you trying to follow up after him and you can’t he stops and apologize.

He will probably hold you like a little kid when he picks you up. Which is so awkward.

“Yuma put me down. I can still walk there.” You’d say a little annoyed.

“Aw, are you embarrassed little pig? It’s not like you’re wearing a skirt.”

You roll your eyes at him just give up.

You have to remind him when you have take your medicine cause he forgets.

He will help you in the shower even you don’t need it or want his help.

“I’m okay. I really don’t need help washing myself.”

“Two showering is faster than one.” He’d say pulling up the hem of your shirt above your waistline.

“Yuma I’m sick, this isn’t appealing.” You’d pout.

Tho he always reassures you, you look beautiful anyway.

Kou:

He’s pretty decent with taking care of you if you need it.

You sleep in his bed cause he wants you too.

He makes you food and gives you medicine.

He finds you being sick a little too cute.

Like all your little sneezes and red nose.

Even tho your really annoyed.

He is sweet with helping you but you always tell him you got it.

Sometimes he can annoy you so you pretend like your sleeping😂

He likes to cuddle with you.

He gives a lot head pats.

Will baby you.

“Here let me help you walk there? Do you want to shower? Some water?”

And so on.

He just gets worried.

Azusa:

Soooooo gentle and sweet.

He helps you with everything.

Brings you the homework you missed and completes it for you.

But he tells you everything you need to know.

Makes you food even if he sucks.

Cuddles you.

Gives you the medicine and listened to Ruki’s instructions.

He is very careful.

Worries over you a lot.

So he checks your temperature often.

He will keep you company and won’t leave.

Is just so sweet and will carry you if you don’t feel good either.

Likes to prepare baths for you too.

He puts a lot of flowers in it with a bath bomb too.

It all smells really nice.

Tsukinami

Carla:

Keeps an eye on you.

He knows what it’s like to be sick.

Helps you as best as he can.

Pretty good at making you food and remembering when to give medicine.

He’s like a doctor honestly.

Will allow you to sleep his bed instead.

He checks your temperature and places a kiss to your head.

Reads you books probably.

You mostly sleep so he doesn’t have to be around you too much.

Shin:

he’s not that great.

it’s cause he doesn’t get sick so he doesn’t get it.

he tires tho.

but he gets impatient.

“How the heck do you read this damn thing?”

“Shin, you’re reading it upside down.” You’d giggle.

You mostly take care of yourself but he is willing to help if he’s that you need it.

He actually likes to take care of you.

Sucks at making food.

no really.

Finds your sneezes cute tho.

He likes to hug you too, cause it gives you comfort.

And it’s probably the only thing he can do.

[noona96n]

Shu Yi just wants to forgive Shi De

Shu Yi wants answers, yes, but it doesn’t matter what Shi De’s answers are bcs he’s already forgiven Shi De… he just. wants. Shi De. to. admit. his. fault.   (x)

before continuing (judging), pls read my stance on this scene

one question + many lies

the one thing Shu Yu wants from Shi De the most is answer, is for Shi De to admit the atrocity he committed (cheating on Shu Yi, which Shi De obviously didn’t but Shu Yi’s a fckn dumbass). 

in the 1st scene, Shu Yi was literally waiting for Shi De to put a label to their relationship. it’s as if he’s waiting for confirmation that he still has the privileges of calling Shi De out on his cheating ass 

in the 2nd scene, literally, right after this, Shi De says ‘i owe u for making u wait for 5yrs’ which wasn’t an admittance Shu Yi was looking for. he was waiting for Shi De to admit that he cheated on Shu Yi. and how do i know? bcs right after saying ‘5yrs’ Shu Yi immediately brought up the fact that he & his fake gf are going so well he’s introducing her to his dad 

Shu Yi’s always, always waiting for Shi De to address the digression of cheating on him when he was in America. 

so, yes, i do think the one thing Shu Yi wants most from Shi De is for an opportunity to forgive Shi De… the prospect of finally getting answers and finally be able to forgive Shi De is literally the one thing that keeps Shu Yi from going anywhere. 

Shi De says he’s sorry and mentions ‘America’ and Shu Yi’s eyes immediately go soft, his voice loses every remaining rage, the way he says Shi De’s name turns gentle, his subsequent demand is even gentler. heck, his hand stops gripping and turns soothing, his fingers reaching up to smooth Shi De’s anguish

he only gets angry again when Shi De becomes coy… “messes” with him. he even goes through the trouble of pretending to go to work just to get Shi De to go back to the reasonings again and then Shu Yi allows Shi De to drag him to the other couch thing bcs Shi De promises to give him answers. 

Shi De is literally violating him (apologies if this word is too rough but drop me a note if u can think of a better word bcs i can’t rn) and all Shu Yi can think about is the fckn reason why Shi De abandoned him and cheated on him.

he even says 'if u have ur reasons, then tell me’… he’s willing to let Shi De do whatever he wants as long as Shi De tells him the t r u t h but Shi De lies, and lies, and lies, by omission, with his kisses.

Shu Yi accepting Shi De’s lies

the heartbreaking thing is, Shu Yi kisses Shi De back the moment Shi De’s lips are on his. Shu Yi loves Shi De so, so much it physically hurts me to watch and this is why i said that Shu Yi loves Shi De so much he just can’t stay mad at Shi De… he’s literally waiting with bated breath for Shi De to apologize for his mistakes so he can go back to loving Shi De again without hating himself too much for loving Shi De beyond anything else.  ((x))

Shu Yi immediately kisses back the second Shi De’s lips are on his… no hesitation. 

he misses this, he misses Shi De, he wants this, he wants Shi De-

-but he also doesn’t want it at all.

he wants answers, he wants Shi De to stop keeping secrets, he wants Shi De to tell him the fckn truth; so that he can forgive Shi De and kisses Shi De back with all his mouth and loves Shi De again with all his heart. ((x))

‘if u have ur reasons, tell me,’ he practically begs, only to have his plea ignored with a kiss to the corner of his lips.

all he gets in return are lies by omission and, i think, in that moment, he’s resigned to not getting answers, he’s resigned to the fact that he still loves Shi De endlessly and immensely even if he’s not getting any answers.

once again, everything in their relationship are going to operating on Shi De’s terms (x)

Shu Yi is soft & pliant for Shi De only

it’s also fascinating how Shu Yi is still so soft and pliant for Shi De even when he’s mad as heck at Shi De. like, he’s more than capable to dragging & tossing Shi De around but he doesn’t. 

Shi De is drunk out of his mind rn and, if Shu Yi wants, i truly believe he could just push Shi De a bit more and Shi De would’ve tell him anything and everything.

Shi De cries and all the growling and roaring in Shu Yi mouth just… melt away. he doesn’t yell, not even once, even when he has every rights to, even when Shi De accused him of not knowing anything.

it’s as if seeing the person he loves most so broken and depressed kills all the rage within him.

the gentleness (x)

i do wonder… how many time has Shi De lightly tapped Shu Yi to calm him down? how often he did it? in what other situation did he do it? 

it’s such a… ‘learned’ action, as if he randomly finds out one day as he tried to sooth Shu Yi’s nerve, and he used it ever since… just to give Shu Yi a sense of comfort.

and comfort Shu Yi it did; Shu Yi just… melts. he’s instantly calm and docile, even leaning up to press his face closer to Shi De’s… and then he cried, as if he misses Shi De’s fingers against his skin, calming him down, as he lulls Shu Yi into a sense of security w/ his soft shushing & featherlight kisses

a hot mess of misunderstanding

another fascinating thing about this entire thing is that they’re operating on a whole bunch of misunderstandings:

Shu Yi wanting to know why tf Shi De cheated on him

Shi De not understanding that Shu Yi wants to know why he cheated on him (bcs Shi De didn’t freaking cheat on him) and presuming that Shu Yi wants to know why he ghosted Shu Yi

Shu Yi presuming that Shi De can’t tell him about the other woman (there’s no other woman u dumbass) when it’s actually Shi De not being able to break whatever promise he made to Shu Yi’s dad

Shi De wanting to know why tf Shu Yi’s messing w/ him

Shu Yi not knowing that Shi De knows about his scheme so he assumes Shi De’s just playing games w/ him and fckn w/ his head on top of cheating on him

one last remark

just bcs Shi De’s ass is naked on the daybed & Shu Yi is a condescending ass in the morning doesn’t mean they had sex the night before. Shu Yi’s out to break Shi De’s heart… do you think he’s incapable of stripping Shi De naked and lying that they had sex? 

also, sometimes, men can’t get hard when they’re drunk lol like they just can’t get an erection or maintain it if they do get one. it’s a thing called ‘whiskey dick’ lol google it. (also, Shi De’s ass clearly has never been drunk out of his mind before if he thinks he can have sex when he was that drunk lol )

do i think they make out until Shi De passed out or vomit? fckn yes. does that make the noncon kissing okay? NOPITY NOPE.

the eng sub in the vid is translated from the jpn sub provided by RakutenTV

SY 一体何なんだ。 SY いい加減にしろよ ガオ シードー。 SY 聞こえないのか？ SD ごめん。アメリカへ… 行くべきじゃなかった。許してくれ。（the actual Chinese words Shi De used was ‘sorry’ but i really like how the jpn translation opted for ‘forgive me’） SD チャンスが欲しい。イチからやり直せないか。 SY アメリカで何があったんだ。こたえろよ。 SY 一体 何があった？ SD 教えてくれ なせなんだ？ SY 嫌がらせのつもりか、 ガオ シードー？ SD それは君だろ。 SY どういう意味だ？ SD 君は何も知らない。（pls, this phrase has such a ‘you know nothing, jon snow’ vibe lol） SD 君は幸せな人だよ。ずっと 守られている。 SD どこへ？ SY 仕事に行く。 SD 知りたいだろ。 SD 何も感じないのか？ SY もう。 SY ガオ シードー ふざけるな。ガオ シードー。 SY 理由があるなら 言えよ。