#anything else we see directed at others is just a hint of how she must be talking to herself

[moiraineology]

Sorry I'm on the pain train today, but I really think that Moiraine blames herself for what happened to her at the Eye all throughout season 2. This is a woman who has a plan within a plan within a plan, and even though she is fully aware of how dangerous the mission is, and how she is almost certainly going to die because of it, she still had some very specific expectations for how things were going to go at the (not-so-final) battle. She brought the sa'angreal for Rand to use, and she was ready to channel and fight for him while he woke up/gathered his strength/found a way to touch the Source. The thing she never expected to happen was for Ishamael to be able to cut her off even as she threw her whole body into channeling to protect Rand. We know how powerful she is. We know that this was her final mission. A suicide mission. Her entire being was devoted to that final channel and when Ishamael shields her, the sound she makes--total disbelief, panic--betrays the fact that she never imagined that he would be able to do what he did. She thought he might kill her for sure, and that she'd go out in a blaze of glory, but this? Left behind as a Forsaken's plaything? It was never something that crossed her mind.

The first shot of her we see in season 2 is her lugging those buckets of water across this massive canyon at Tifan's Well. There are cicadas buzzing, the brush is scrubby and everything (barely) grows in sand. It's hot as balls. And she is out there bringing bucket after bucket home so she can be in this tepid bath, reliving what happened to her and wishing, wishing, wishing she hadn't channeled in that moment. I think Verin is right to point out that this could be seen as an indicator of her strength in many ways, and Moiraine herself would probably appreciate hearing that ("Moiraine didn't know the meaning of the words 'give up'"), but I personally see it as a form of self-harm. She is punishing herself every day for what she believes she "let" happen to her. We also see her lash out at Lan later on, when he tells her that even multiple Aes Sedai couldn't still a person. She completely loses it and yells at him in an attempt to communicate how powerful the Forsaken actually are. I really read that as a manifestation of her anger toward herself. For not realizing how powerful Ishamael could be. For not making the "right" choice in that moment. Again, for "letting" him do what he did to her. We know that stilling is seen as a direct parallel to a violation (an assault) and it is a really common response to relive the situation in that way and blame oneself for something that isn't even close to being the survivor's fault. It makes sense that Moiraine's trauma response would be to blame herself. It also makes it about twenty million times more heartbreaking to watch relevant scenes later on, like when she talks to Rand about what a shield feels like (she is so angry in that scene, and again, I read it not just as anger directed toward Ishamael, but a very profound, overwhelming anger toward herself), or when she seems ashamed to let Rand look at her with the One Power at Lan's request. She can't even look at Rand (or Lan, for that matter) in that moment. She casts her eyes down. She doesn't want anyone to see her in that state, and it speaks to the enormous weight of the humiliation and shame that she's been carrying all season long.

Basically, I just want someone to cradle her tightly in their arms and just tell her over and over that it wasn't her fault. That what happened to her was Ishamael's choice and his alone. That it was his cruelty, and not anything she did or didn't do, that resulted in her condition.

[bbsmuts]

Mistaken Identity ft. Allissa Shin

A/N: Aaaaaand we have a special guest tonight, Miss Allissa Shin! I imagine this is something of a curveball, since I've never broken away from K-Pop idols, but here we are. I can't find fics of her ANYWHERE, so I guess it's good that I get to be the pioneer of it. Note that she will be one of the only people I write about outside of K-Pop, so don't bother requesting Taylor Swift or anything. This was another phenomenal pitch from @xiaoondc, the main contributor to my current success. It's also starting to seem like my readers are into BBC gangbangs, considering the number of pitches I have and have had that involve them. Allissa Shin looks so much like Rosé it's almost impossible to tell them apart in some photos. I'm ramping up the use of daddy and of tildes in this one at the suggestion of readers. So without further ado, I present Mistaken Identity. Forgive me if I spell her name with only one L, my brain thinks it should be spelled like that. Also prepare yourself for overly excessive use of tildes in Allissa's speech.

{Note: Any and all photos of Allissa Shin used in this work are 100% real and can be found on her Instagram, allissashin}

-상훈

Length: 5.34k

Possible TW: Bondage, spanking

Tags: Gangbang, BBC gangbang, DP, bondage, spanking, 69, cunnilingus, rimming

Allissa rapped the counter with her knuckles and traded another bill for another shot of whiskey from the bartender. She swallowed half of it, relishing in the spicy, woody taste with the subtle hint of sweet, and the burn that followed the liquor down her throat, making her wince a bit.

"Too strong?" The bartender asked, rubbing a glass with a pristinely white cloth. "I can get something lighter."

"Nah, it's perfect." She downed the rest of the shot and handed him back the shotglass, leaning back in the plush seat. "How many was that?"

"Nine." He replied, washing out her glass and drying it before it took its place in the cabinet. "Going through something?"

"Nope. Just felt like a being a little extra drunk tonight."

He chuckled. "Well, I'd advise you to be careful, Miss Shin. There are some who would take advantage of your intoxication."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

A huge, hulking black guy took the seat to her left, quickly joined by four of his buddies. From a glance in their direction, she could see that each and every one of them was not only very muscular and very attractive, and they were all wearing tank tops and sweatpants to prove it. The one closest to her had a large dragon tattooed on his right arm. She felt a distinct rush of arousal course through her, which might've been from the alcohol, but she liked it either way.

"The usual, I assume, Ekon?" The bartender asked. (I figured Ekon would be a good one because it's an Nigerian name that literally translates to "strong", which is quite fitting, considering who he is.)

"That's right. And one for all of my homies, on me." The guy on her left said in a deep, rumbling voice.

The bartender nodded and whisked away to prepare the drinks, and the guy threw a glance at Allissa.

"Oh shit, is that you, Chaeyoung? Yo guys, it's Rosie! Wassup!"

She looked over, confused, as the other guys erupted into cheers.

"Uhm...h-hi." She replied amongst the whoops. "Not to be rude or anything, but do I...know you guys?"

"Wow, after all this time you forgot about yo closest homies?" another one said, feigning tears. "Daaaamn."

'They must be mistaking me for someone else," she thought, watching them all colloquially fake being sad, during the course of which she conveniently heard all their names. 'Well...they are all really cute, I guess it couldn't hurt to play along.'

"Oh, shit, hey! I didn't recognize you guys at first!" She said in a bright tone, smiling. "Sorry about that, it's been too long!"

"Man, you gon' break a brother's heart messing 'round like that, forgettin' us." said the one directly to her left.

She laughed. "Yeah, sorry about that, E."

"Nah, you all good. Ayo!" He called to the bartender, who was still mixing the drinks. "Lemme get one for my homegirl over here too!"

He nodded and continued his mixing.

"What'd you order?" She asked.

"Girl, you don't even remember my go-to? Damn, we really ain't seen each other in a fat minute. I got all us some good shit, rum and liqueur and stuff."

"Ah." She said. "Sounds good."

"Trust him, it is good." One guy on the end tapped in. "And don't take too much, because that shit'll have you on the ground if you take one sip too many."

"Yo, remember back in high school? She couldn't handle anything!" This caused a fair amount of laughs, which needled her into speech.

"Yeah? Let's see how I am now then. I already had nine shots of Jim Beam."

"That's true." The bartender chimed in, bringing over the seven drinks. "Nine shots."

"Damn." Ekon said, accepting the drink and adjusted the chain on his neck. "Thanks, man. Somethin' musta changed since we last saw each other Chae, back then you could barely take one shot of henny. Nine shots of Jim Beam? That ain't never happenin' seven years ago."

Allissa suddenly realized something. 'Are they mistaking me for Rosé?' She thought. 'No way...well, still can't hurt to play a long a bit.'

"Well, a lot's changed in seven years." She said as the other guys calmed down, taking a small sip of her drink. "This is good."

He nodded. "Sure is. Rum, coconut liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice, stuff like that. So how you been?"

"Pretty good. You?"

"Same. Life's been good. You ever get that modeling gig you was always after?"

"Funnily enough, I did." She had actually gotten into modeling, just not the gig he was referencing. "Pretty successful."

"Oh, so you got some bands. Nice. I got a question though, don't answer if you don't wanna."

"Go for it."

"You still a virgin?"

"Hell no." She replied immediately. Allissa didn't know whether or not Rosé was a virgin, but she certainly wasn't.

"Really?" He downed the last sip of his cocktail. "Something's changed about that attitude too. Last time we saw each other you was saying you weren't gonna lose it until you got married."

"Guess I changed my mind." She took another sip of hers.

"How many?" Another guy down the line, who'd been lying attention to the conversation said. She didn't have to ask what he meant.

"Nine." She replied.

Ekon nodded. "Respectable amount. Less than I would've expected, to be honest."

She raised an eyebrow. "I said I'm not a virgin, not that I'm a whore."

He raised his hands. "My bad, gang, my bad. So you going anywhere else tonight?"

"I wasn't planning to, but I wouldn't mind."

"You wanna come back to our place?"

She was suddenly very aware of how sheer and tight her dress was, and more aware of how the defined muscles of Ekon's arms rippled with every movement.

She didn't say anything, but he could definitely figure out the change in expression on her face.

"Well?"

"S-sure, yeah." She said, voice wavering a little.

He turned to the guy on his left. "Yo, she coming home with us. Y'all finished?"

The other one smirked, nodded, and passed the news on while Eli turned back to Allissa, a smirk on his face too.

"You finished with the drink?"

Despite her anticipation and slight nervousness, she put on a bolder face and downed the last bit of the cocktail.

"I am now."

"Alright," he said, smiling wider, grabbing his keys, and tossing the bartender a wad of bills. "Let's roll."

...

Bursting through the doors into the cool night air was refreshing after the interior of the bar. Though cozy, it was warm and a little stuffy inside. Her steps were definitely weaving a little, but she made it to Eli's car alright. A classic '69 Pontiac GTO, painted black.

"Yo! You driving?" One of the other guys called to Ekon.

"Nah, you drive, Adrian. I wanna, uh...catch up with Rosie."

Allissa took the back seat, Adrian driving and another riding shotgun, and Ekon in the back with her. The engine awoke with a roar and the headlights switched on, illuminating the dark parking lot.

"I gotta say, Chae, you been doing some developing." Ekon commented as they started down a dark boulevard.

She had a feeling she already knew what he meant, but she asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean..." he gestured to her body then outlined a curvaceous figure in the air with his hands.

She blushed, hitting him on his muscular arm. "Stop!"

"I ain't joking, man. I mean...damn."

She giggled. "Thank you..."

He grinned. "Really is good to see you again though, Chae."

"You too. What are we doing when we get there?"

"We gonna figure that out when we get there. But I know you ain't stupid, you could take a good guess."

One look at his expression told her all she needed to know, and she looked away, the thought causing a thrill of anticipation and a fresh wave of arousal to a certain place in her lower region. She pressed her thighs together, trying to stave off getting turned on, but she couldn't stop her gaze from wandering over to his chiseled torso, on which every line, curve, and detail was put on display by the tight white muscle shirt. She found herself unconsciously licking her lips as her gaze roved over his perfect cumgutter abs, outlined pecs, and massively ripped arms. And from what she could see, he had a hell of a package in his boxers. (I feel so gay writing this entire part💀)

"Like what you see?" Her excitement and intense gaze did not go unnoticed.

"Mm, yes, I do~" It might've been the alcohol fueling her words, but part of it was coming directly from down below.

He chortled. "Yeah, I bulked up. Been going to the gym a lot recently."

She slid a hand over his rock-hard thigh, gently squeezing the fibers which felt like steel under her fingers. She gasped in pure arousal as her hand moved onto an absolute monster of a cock, which was massive without even being erect.

"Oh my god~" She massaged the phallic behemoth and moved closer on the seat, allowing him to put his arm over her shoulders and pull her into him. His powerful grip and iron-fiber muscles around her turned her on even more. His hand moved slowly downward, caressing the soft round of her breast through the thin fabric of her dress. She gasped again softly as his index finger traced her nipple, her sensitivity kicked up by the alcohol and how purely turned on she was.

"Save it for the room, y'all," said Adrian. "Ain't no one wanna see that."

"Don't even lie, bro, you know you want a piece." Ekon fired back. "Homie try to bullshit me..." he muttered. The other shrugged and stopped talking.

It was only a short ride more before they arrived at a large, mostly White House that resembled a a palace, with marble columns and everything. Allissa, even being the owner of a not-so-humble estate herself, was shocked at the sheer size and grandeur of the mansion.

"This is where you live?" Pleasure forgotten temporarily, she pressed her face against the window and gazed like an awestruck child.

Ekon chuckled, bringing his hand down to her now-exposed ass and giving it a strong squeeze. "Yup. There's five of us, we all live in the same joint."

"Wow..." His fingers wandered a little lower, pulling up the bottom hem of her dress so her thong was exposed.

"Damn, Chae, a thong?" He chuckled a little more. "Didn't know you was gettin' yo freak on so much."

"Mmhmm~" She bit her lip at the sight of his cock hard and straining against his sweats. "Fuck, you're big..."

Undergoing a sudden change of demeanor as they pulled into the driveway, he pressed her against the seat by the neck and spoke in his deep rumble of a voice. "And you want that, don't you?"

"Yes, daddy, I do~" Her voice came out as a whimper, his dominance only serving to make her more needy. "I want it a lot~"

"Well, yo ass bouta get it, hard."

"Oh yes, please, daddy," she moaned, his hands on her making her wet. "I want it!"

Ekon had opened his mouth to say something in return when the voice in the passenger seat piped up again.

"Y'all! We are 20 feet from the damn house, hold off for a second!"

"Aight, my bad bro. But you," he said, returning his hand to her neck as she giggled at Adrian, "better keep your little slut mouth shut."

"Yes, daddy," she said submissively, getting wetter by the second. They all got out of the car and walked quickly into the house, followed by the other two from the other car. The moment they all piled in through the door and it closed, Ekon pinned her arms to the wall above her head with one hand and kissed her, tongue aggressively pushing into her mouth. She moaned, his other hand going to her neck, while other hands pulled up her dress and caressed various other parts of her. Before long she was rid of her dress and left only in her bra and panties.

They backed off momentarily to admire her curvy, sexy figure. After a few "damn"s, they converged once more and she was pinned against the wall again.

She bit her lip as hands slipped into her panties and bra, teasing her sensitive spots and making her moan. Her hands, helplessly held above her head, twisted and writhed as multiple fingers plunged into her entrance, teased her sensitive clit, and rubbed over her nipples, assaulting her senses from every side. It had been a while since she had anyone, and she found herself quickly approaching her first orgasm.

"I'm gonna cum," she panted, gasping as several fingers found and roughly fingered her g-spot. "Oh god yes, I'm gonna cum!"

"Already?" Ekon said, triceps inconveniently flexing and turning her on more as he pushed against her hands and throat. "You little slut."

"Mmm, yes~" She moaned with rapid breaths, arching her back in pleasure. "You're gonna make me cum~"

His hand left her throat and slapped her face, leaving a small stinging mark in its wake. She was surprised at first and then felt a warm surge of sensual humiliation send a jolt straight to her pussy.

"A-ahh, fuck, yes, yes, ngghh yes, I'm cumming!" She bucked her hips off the wall, crying out in loud pleasure as she squirted on the many hands teasing her. She slid down the wall as the guys backed off, chest heaving even from the light orgasm she just had.

Apparently they weren't patient enough to postpone fucking her, so with little more ado they hoisted her to her feet and onto the rich white leather couch, a couple of them removing her panties and bra. Shirts were removed around her, filling her sight with abs and ripped arms. Jeans and sweats were next, taking boxers with them and leaving everyone present completely naked, and the other guys backed off as Ekon approached and went behind her.

She let out a sharp cry as a massive cock penetrated her pussy and immediately shattered whatever semblance of coherent thought she had left. The sheer size inside her stretched her walls out and caused a fair deal of pleasure and slight pain.

"Please," she murmured quietly, arching and then wiggling her ass to allow him better access, "ruin me."

He wasted no more time and started ruthlessly pounding her, loud claps on skin on skin sounding as he slammed his hips into her ass. She couldn't control the cries that left her mouth, face contorting in pleasure.

"Fuck!" She yelled, his cock reaching unbelievable depths inside her. "Oh my god yes, you're sso big! Oh yes, daddy, fuck my pussy!"

She could hear commentary from the five others, but her mind was too far gone to pay attention to it. He roughly grabbed her arms and held them behind her back, ramming her into the couch and leaving her helpless to the relentless assault on her tight tunnel.

"Yes, yes, yes, fuck! Don't stop, please keep going daddy!"

"Shut the fuck up and take it, you little whore." He leaned some of his weight on her, letting him growl in her ear, and pressed his hand over her mouth, muffling her moans.

"Mmph! Yes daddy!" Her voice was muted by his hand. He let go of her mouth and she turned her head to the side to survey his body. His hands left the couch as well, abs flexing to hold himself up as both hands were brought down on her supple ass in a punishing smack.

"Oh yes, spank me! Spank me harder daddy!" He gladly complied, landing more hard slaps on her ass. The sting brought her a blissful mix of pain and pleasure that was building up an orgasm like an edifice inside her.

"Shit, I'm gonna cum!" She heard the low groan behind her, accompanied by a few more spanks, and bucked her hips back into him as much as she could.

"Are you ready to take my cum, little slut?"

She nodded eagerly, still being slammed into the couch by his relentless thrusts. He delivered another hard spank to her ass, grip tightening on her arms behind her back.

"Try again."

"Yes, daddy!" She cried, eyes rolling into her head as the pleasure overtook her. "I want all of it, give me your cum, please daddy!"

A moan sounded behind her and a second later, a hot current of cum streaming into her pussy. The feeling of being filled with his cum overwhelmed her senses and threw her headlong into a strong orgasm; a wail of pleasure left her as she arched her back and squirted hard onto him.

She got barely a few moments' recovery before all the others approached and loaded onto the couch. Ekon stepped away and let them take their turn, and after one of them lifted her leg and positioned himself under her, she was penetrated in her ass and pussy by two enormous cocks.

Nothing but a gutteral, throaty moan was produced by her already overworked vocal cords. But she noticed two more guys walking around to her backside, and a thought crossed her foggy mind. They weren't going to...were they?

Her question was answered as the feeling of two more hard, throbbing tips pressing against her entrances sent signals of ecstasy to her receptors. With little more ado and no consideration for how much they were stretching her out (which was overloading her with pleasure), the shafts of the tips thrusted inside her.

"Fuck!" Pleasure turned her mind to mush for a moment as she briefly lost touch with reality. Two cocks in each hole; she hadn't been fucked like this in ages.

No, she hadn't been fucked like this ever.

Various murmurs of dirty things reached her ears, but none of them really registered with her brain. She kept up her dialogue of submissive moans, her pleas growing more and more wanting as she got more and more desperate.

"Oh yes, fuck my pussy," she panted, yelping as the smacks pelted down on her ass cheeks. "Fucking give it to me! Harder!"

All four cocks were pumping in and out of her with furious vigor; her pussy was soaked like a monsoon, and was made even wetter by the obscenities and degradation coming from behind her.

"Yeah, take these dicks, you slut!"

"You like being filled up like this, whore?"

"Yes daddy~" she whimpered, being overloaded with sensation. "I want all of your cocks in my tight little cunt! I'm your slutty little toy, keep fucking me just like that, yes!"

More spanks rained down on her ass, causing more waves of pleasure-pain to spread through her and intensifying the telltale tingling in her pussy.

"Oh fuck yes! More!" She cried. "Spank me harder!"

To her slight dismay, the slaps stopped. But a second later, something that stung a lot and something that was definitely not a hand made contact with her pinkened ass cheeks. She glanced around just as the strap was brought down on her once more, and a hand slapped her face. Her arousal turned to the max, she bit her lip and turned back around to a cock in her face. Without a second thought she opened her mouth and allowed it to push past her lips. She sucked passionately and hungrily, ignoring the slight discomfort she felt when his length went down her throat.

"Fuck, such a good little slut. Ain't that right, Rosie?" Ekon's deep voice was easily recognizable.

She nodded vigorously and continued impaling her throat on his massive cock. Her eyes rolled back and she gagged as her mouth and nose made contact with his pubes. She flicked her tongue out to trace circles on his balls as he grabbed her hair and held her right where she was. Slurping obscenely, she stuck out her tongue as far as possible to let him push every last centimeter into her squeezing throat.

"Mmph!" Her moans and gags were muted, but had she been able, the whole neighborhood would have heard her screams. She was going to cum and she knew it, the many cocks invading her holes proving to be too much to handle.

"Phhk!" More strikes from the strap, more thrusts from the guys. "Guhnuh kmm!"

Their hands stroked and caressed her passionately, in stark contrast to their cocks brutally, mercilessly pounding her. No relent, no mercy, no caring for anything more than raw pleasure. And she loved it that way.

"Daddy, I'm gonna cum!" She brought her head off Ekon's shaft and cried out to the room. "It's so fucking good, yes!"

She couldn't take it anymore. Her back arched and her hips bucked against them as her third orgasm slammed into her like a truck, her body trembling with the force of her squirting. Her arms gave out and her front half collapsed, burying her face in the couch. Still, there was no pause in the way they pitilessly railed her, driving their thick cocks in and out of all her holes.

Vaguely, she heard every single one say they were, too, on their way to orgasm, which brought her back to reality. She threw her head back and shouted out her pleasure, and her desire to be filled with cum.

"Please, daddy, cum inside me! Fill me up like the pathetic little cumslut I am! I want all of daddy's cum inside my tight little pussy!"

She bucked her hips into them in desperate need of another orgasm. Slaps landed on her face, heightening her arousal and making her even wetter, making her clench around the rods fucking her, adding to their pleasure.

"Fuck yes, breed me daddy! Fill up my pussy with your hot cum and breed me!" Her own dirty talk was turning her on as well as them, a fresh coat of slick lubricating her.

And then suddenly all four of them pushed as far as they could and bottomed out inside her, simultaneously painting her walls with thick ropes of warm, white cream and triggering her fourth orgasm. With a scream and a shaking body her pussy erupted, spraying their thighs with her own cum. One by one, each cock slid out of her, eliciting a whimper from her, and she was able to let her hips fall. Trembling and hypersensitive, she turned over and laid flat on her back, already feeling the cum start to leak out of her and drip down to the couch.

After a minute she sat up slightly and looked between her own thighs, where their cum and her juices were slowly soaking into the couch cushion.

"Oops," she giggled, letting her head fall back over the couch arm. "Guess you might have to get a new cushion."

Ekon chuckled from the other couch. "Chae, if we gave a damn, we'd fuck you on the bed."

He got up and walked away, his massive, semi-hard cock swinging from side to side. Despite having had four orgasms already, she found herself getting wet again at both the sight of him and the thought of getting fucked again. She reached down and gasped as she accidentally brushed her own clit; the touch sent pleasure shooting through her. Her soft moans did not go unnoticed, and as she fingered herself, they converged. She spread her legs eagerly, but instead of fucking her, one of them lowered his head to her soaking, tingling pussy and pressed his tongue against her clit. A high-pitched gasp left her mouth and her hands clamped down on the cushion as her hips immediately and automatically started grinding into his face.

"Oh god, yes," she moaned, eyebrows contracting up as he deftly swiped at her pussy. "Fucking eat me, daddy..."

Allissa felt her arousal and pleasure growing quickly. Clattering came from the next room where Ekon was.

"Oh yes, give it to me, daddy!" She cried, closing her eyes bucking her hips hard against his tongue. "Your tongue feels so good!"

She felt a cock press against her lips and immediately opened her mouth to let it in. She sucked on it hungrily, bobbing her head up and down.

Then someone pushed her legs up into the air, bringing her hips up, and she felt the tongur slide lower, down to her asshole. She shivered at the foreign sensation, and at the same time felt movement above her. To her slight shock, a second tongue planted itself on her pussy, and she looked down to see that the man whose dick was in her mouth had maneuvered into the top side of a 69 to eat her out. This allowed him enough leverage to thrust his hips into her face, driving his cock deep down her throat.

At that moment Ekon returned, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a massage wand in the other. Pinned down by 150 pounds of muscle, she could do nothing as he slipped the wand under the abs of the other guy and pressed it against her nipple. She moaned into his base, the vibrations adding to all the stimulation she was getting. The tongues probing her holes were very quickly catapulting her to her fifth orgasm; they had her bucking her hips and moaning with ease. Ekon's vibrator made her want to writhe and squirm, but she was helplessly trapped by the muscular body above her. Together, the sensations proved too much once more.

Wailing in ectsasy into the thick member in her throat, she clutched at his back and squirted intensely right into his mouth; the tongue in her ass was suddenly replaced by the head of a cock, closely followed by its shaft. Tears sprang to her eyes as she orgasmed again, hips jerking wildly as more cum streaming out of her.

Someone grabbed her and turned her over, sliding under her and pushing into her oversensitive pussy. Before she even had time to react, two more stretched out her saliva-covered asshole, and Ekon's cock returned to her mouth. From behind her, someone grabbed her hands and roughly tied them together. Someone grabbed her hair and pulled viciously, and Ekon slapped her face on both cheeks.

As soon as the others had come, she felt that all-too-familiar buildup of heat in her core. They reached points inside her she never knew could be hit, fucked her harder and better than she had ever been fucked in her life. Hands tied behind her back, hair being savagely pulled, ass being spanked hard, pussy, ass, and throat being mercilessly railed and used. There was no return to normal sex after this.

More slaps landed on her ass, thighs, face, and breasts, each one sending a jolt of pleasure-pain through her. She could feel herself and all the shafts inside her throbbing with need for release, and that they got.

The first one set off a chain reaction. The one under her groaned and buried himself balls deep inside her, explosively cumming and sending another tirade of warmth into her. At the same time, she and Ekon both met their orgasms, another load spurting down her throat. Several streaks of cum splattered onto her stomach, breasts, and face from the bystanders. A spray of her own cum splattered the thighs of the two fucking her ass, and the increased tightness of her ass caused two more loads to jet into her bowels. And then a second orgasm in a row hit her.

"FUCK!" she screamed as Ekon's softening length slid out of her mouth. Waves of ecstasy and intense pleasure slammed through her one by one, her mind going blank as they overtook her. Her world was a haze of bliss, and she could barely manage to crack open her eyes once the throbbing in her well-fucked cunt died down.

Each cock pulled out of her holes, followed by a steady flow of slick and thick cum. When she had recovered sufficiently, she raised her head and saw that her body was a mess of handprints, red marks from slaps and spanks, bruises, cum streaks, and sweat droplets. Spent and well-used, she let her head fall back onto the armrest.

A short while later she got up and wiped all the various bodily fluids off herself with a towel and then returned to the living room, once-coiffed-and-pretty hair disheveled and, in her opinion, sexy as hell.

"Seems a lil' bit ironic to ask, but did you like it?" Ekon asked, reclining in a seat, as she flopped onto a different couch.

"Yes~" she replied, biting her lip and giggling. "A lot."

Gesturing to the amount of cum still leaking out of her pussy and ass, she said, "You boys really outdid yourselves this time, hm~"

He smirked and returned his attention to the glass of whiskey with an approving nod.

Then it occured to her that they were still under the impression that she was Rosé.

"Can I...can I be honest for a second?"

He nodded nonchalantly. "Go for it, homie."

"Well...I-I'm not Rosé." She said in a small voice.

All sets of eyes in the room roved around to her, a few eyebrows raised. "What?"

"I'm not Rosé." She blushed under their intense gazes. "You guys thought I was at the bar, and I thought you were really cute, so I played along, but I'm not Rosé, or whoever it is you thought I was. I'm really sorry."

Ekon and all the rest looked at her for a long moment, and then they all started laughing. Slapping their knees, rocking back and forth laughing.

"Wait, wait, wait." Adrian said, fighting to control his laughter. "So you tryna tell me I been fuckin' some random girl all of us dumbasses thought was our old homie?"

She nodded meekly, glad at least that they weren't mad.

The laughter erupted again, each one of them crying with mirth. Her face turned hot, her embarrassed in a way.

"Aww, she so cute when she blushin'," commented Ekon, still giggling over the mistaken identity.

"Shut up!" She blushed harder, giggling and covering her face with her hands.

He raised an eyebrow. "Come again?"

Realizing what he meant, she fell silent, a small blossom of arousal rushing to her pussy at his dominant tone.

"Do we need to punish you again?" His voice turned low, dangerous. She was silent for a moment, the small blossom blooming into a large and very wet flower.

"Yes please, daddy~"

A/N: I searched everywhere for more Allissa Shin smuts, and they don't exist. I mean, I searched on Tumblr, AO3, FFN, AFF, everywhere. So I guess I get to be the pioneer of Allissa Shin fics. Yay. This shouldn't have taken me a month to write, but wifi router problems, a considerable period of writer's block, work, and a fair amount of procrastination delayed it. Hope you enjoyed.

[cyberrose2001]

Can we pretty please have some angsty fluff?

Maybe Optimus Prime from TFP returning to Earth because he missed his s/o. (Let's pretend RID never existed. Please.) Maybe he left on a bad note and they told him that they'd never forgive him. And once he's back, she's completely ignoring him and she's trying her best to avoid him at all costs

You can choose what to do in the end. I want to see your mind wander :DD

Unforgiven Goodbyes

TFP Optimus x human! gn! reader

whoops

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of injury/blood, mental struggles, just straight-up angst.

Word count: 2,475

You're pissed off. No, you're more than pissed off. A tangle of emotions that would take a lifetime to detangle in your mind. You are pissed off, heartbroken, angry, yet excruciatingly relieved to see him.

But you can't bring yourself to face him again. That beautiful, other-worldly sculpted face seems to torment you whenever you close your eyes. That moment when he looked back at you before he plunged himself into the Well of Allsparks, the look of apologetic heroicness. It burned into your brain and left a nasty scab that you can't help but pick at. But the scar has healed. You've disciplined yourself to stop scratching it, but watching him walk through the hangar doors ripped it open once again.

You've distracted yourself as much as you can. Doing pointless chores around the new base the bots have made themselves at home with, going for long walks outside by yourself, hiding around every corner when you hear that rumbling voice. You tried everything to keep the wound closed, to pretend that he's still dead, to justify all the mourning you've gone through all these years.

Another reason not to face him was how you reacted when he told you his plan. You were the first to know, and you've never felt your heart sink so fast. It was like he had struck a dagger to your stomach and kissed you as you were bleeding out. You had exploded with anger you couldn't control and stormed out before he could do anything about it. You screamed at him as he collapsed onto his knees that you would never forgive him, and so far, you've kept that promise. The next time you saw him was before he made his great sacrifice, and you had nothing else to say to him. You couldn't say anything else.

And you won't for a long time, not when you have headphones on to block out the world. You stand at the sink in the human kitchen. It's semi-exposed to the main base, with a half-wall shielding the stove and sink. You're not sure why it's exposed; it must be concerning the lack of rooms in this old military bunker. You don't care anyway. You only care about scrubbing the dishes beyond clean and slamming them onto the drying rack before you break the delicate ceramic plates from gripping them too hard.

While cleaning the dishes, you don't realise how much of a racket you're making with your music blasting and capture the attention of the one bot you were trying to avoid.

Optimus.

He looks at you curiously, a hint of longing in his optics. Optimus knows you're avoiding him, and it's so blatantly obvious that everyone notices, too, creating tension through the base you could cut with a sharp enough knife. He wants to talk to you. He needs to talk to you. And so far, this is the only opportunity he's stumbled upon that could make it possible. Though, he doesn't want to frighten you and scare you away. He needs to be gentle and cautious in his actions, but it's difficult when you can't hear or see him.

Optimus reaches out, his servo twitching at how gentle he's trying to be. He touches your shoulder with a single digit but retracts his servo quickly when you jump out of your skin and drop a plate on the floor, shattering the ceramic in all different directions.

You scream then seethe, ripping your headphones off to face whoever dares to lay a finger on you, "Why the fuck would you-"

Frozen in your tracks, you stare at Optimus, the longest you've looked at him in a long time. Your heart snaps in two again, and the wound in your mind festers with flashbacks before you try to make a run for it. You don't get far, though, before you step on a piece of broken ceramic and cry out in pain.

"Ah!" You fall back on the ground, clutching your lower leg, "Fuck it-"

"Y/n, I am so sorr-"

"N-No!" You practically spit in his face. You let go of your leg and scramble backwards into a corner. With nowhere else to go, you turn to face him again and watch how his grip tightens on the railing before him. If looks could kill, Optimus would still be dead. Maybe you secretly hoped it was possible, "Get away from me."

"Please, you're hurt," Optimus looks down at your bare foot, now bleeding heavily onto the floor from a deep gash.

You furrow your eyebrows at him, not giving a damn that you're bleeding. You've been through worse, after all, "Oh, so now you care?"

Optimus tilts his helm, "What? I have always cared-"

"Oh really? You're really going to do this, Optimus?" You growl, grabbing the bench above you to pull yourself up, "You didn't seem to care about me when you sacrificed yourself! No, scratch that," You point a bloody finger at him, "When you fucking abandoned me!"

Optimus's shoulders sink, his grip on the railing relaxing as he feels like you've plunged a knife into him, "I did not-" He sighs heavily, like he cannot find the words, "Please... let us get you to Ratchet."

"I don't need his or- or your help," You hobble on one foot, hissing in pain as you make your way to anywhere else on the planet. The blood smears on the floor with every misguided step as you pass by him with a cold shoulder, "I've managed just fine on my own, Prime." You sneer at him.

Optimus watches you hop down the stairs, and he slumps his frame down on the railing. His vocaliser rumbles with regret and pain at how you're treating him. And it's not like he can blame you. Optimus would probably be stricken with the same grief if a lover of his decided to sacrifice themselves; he'd be absolutely distraught. And all that distraught just for them to return like it was a mere week-long vacation? Well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. He thought you would be overjoyed and run up to him with that beautiful smile on your lips, perhaps even beg for one of those joyrides he always loved taking you on through the desert. He thought you would've missed him, the bare minimum for someone who has lost a loved one.

Optimus sighs and lifts his helm from the railing before turning on his pedes to look for something else to distract him from you. He looks down before he takes a step and sees your trail of smeared blood on the concrete. His optic ridges furrow, a look of determination and apprehension as he steps to follow your crimson breadcrumbs out of the hangar doors.

Before he reaches the hangar doors, a soft touch plants itself on his shoulder, and he jolts slightly. Optimus turns his helm down to see a gloomy look on Ratchet's face, his servo squeezing his shoulder comfortingly.

"Let them go, Optimus," He speaks softly, "They need some space."

Space is the only thing he's given them so far.

-

"Stupid fucking dishes. Stupid me. Stupid him."

Your fingers tremble as you rip some of your shirt off to wrap around the gash in your foot. The minor hit of adrenaline quickly left you like a hit of nic as soon as you slumped down on the other side of the hangar outside. The dull throbbing turns into sharp pain as you tighten the fabric, causing a small whimper to leave your throat. You relax your head against the concrete wall behind you, wishing you could slam it against it instead. But anger slowly drains from your frame, and you bury your face into your dirty hands, and you sob—a heartbreaking sight to anyone that were to stumble upon you.

But you find that the tears weren't mourning from him, but for yourself.

How selfish are you? Are you so dense in the head that you're blindsighted to how much he loves you? How much Optimus missed you that even after facing the hereafter, he came back for you? How awful must the afterlife be for him to want to come back to you, of all people? These questions come flooding into your mind with every tear-jerking sob that wracks your body. But the one question at the forefront of your mind terrifies you, making you want to slump further into the self-deprecating aura you've swallowed yourself in.

Do you still love him?

You bite your lip hard. Do you still love him? That's a stupid question to ask yourself. Of course you still love him. You wouldn't be the person you are today if you never did.

Then why the fuck do you push him away?

You don't know. Maybe it was how you spoke to him before he took his own spark, being so ashamed of yourself that you could barely look at him. Or perhaps you've become too comfortable in your new adjustment to life without him, and for that to all come crumbling down so suddenly with no warning has shaken you to your core.

That's very selfish of you.

You know that. You've always known that.

Maybe you just weren't ready to let go.

A deep, trembling breath leaves your parted lips.

...

Yeah, you know.

-

Optimus stealthily follows the trail once again after Ratchet leaves. He just can't walk away after that encounter. And as much as it hurts him to see your reaction, he must ensure you're okay despite whatever you spit in his face. Optimus did not beg at the throne of Primus himself for another chance at nothing. He needs to make amends, no matter how much of a fight you put up at your wishes to be left alone.

Soft steps of his pedes lead him on a wild goose chase. It seemed as if you had stumbled around in circles for quite some time, the trail of blood looping around before overlapping itself to follow the edge of the hangar. Optimus become increasingly concerned about your welfare, worried you have lost too much blood. But he knows that you are tough if all these years on your own have anything to show for it.

His pace replaces stealth for hastiness as he continues on the trail, rounding the next corner of the hanger. He stops in his tracks when he sees you, and his eyes soften with pure broken-heartness. His servos clenching in regret.

He carefully approaches your slumped frame and stands before you. He first notices your foot, half bandaged and leaking slightly. You weren't wrong after all. You could take care of yourself. He smiles softly to himself at this.

Optimus carefully kneels in front of you, still a fair distance away. All he wants to do is pick you up and tell you that everything is alright, that he's here and not ready to leave again anytime soon.

He keeps his servos to himself for now.

"Y/n," Optimus begins softly, "I know you are upset," This seems like an all too familiar conversation, "And you have every right to be."

No reaction from you so far, a few sobs and hiccups. His spark clenches.

"I did not get a chance to tell you how truly thankful I am for you," Optimus continues, fidgeting with a digit in his lap, "How I still reminisce on our long-forgotten time together, even whilst I was merged with the All Spark."

Optimus takes a chance. He shuffles closer to you and gently pries your hands from your face like you were a pretty piece of wrapping paper he wanted to keep. His optics drag over your sodden face, how your eyes begin to focus on his. It wasn't the fiery look of anger he had seen just earlier but one that looked of surrender; you had given up a fight he wished he could've helped you with.

Optimus moves one servo from your hands to gently caress your face, a gentle digit brushing over your cheeks, "My, just look at you," He cups your chin softly, tilting your head to look up at him, "You are still as beautiful as ever."

He watches as the tears well in your eyes again, a small glimmer in your eyes that's more familiar to him than the dull. You grip his servo and pull it into a hug, resting your forehead on his wrist, and you cry.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry...I-I'm stupid... I shouldn't have..." You sob, clutching onto him with every fibre of your being, "Oh god..."

Optimus's spark fizzles and cracks at your heart-breaking apology and the tears dripping onto his servo. He gives you a sombre look before carefully pulling you into his servos, picking you up to press you against his chassis to return his long-awaited affections.

"Shh," He hushes your cries, pressing a gentle kiss to your head as he rocks you softly like a slumbering sparkling, "It is alright; nothing you say could ever make me resent you."

You sniffle, burying your head into his chassis. His familiar scent of motor oil and fumes fills your senses and relaxes you deeper into him. You try to speak, to say anything other than hiccuping pathetically.

"I-" You stutter, ripping your face away from his chassis to stare up at him. A shaky hand reaches up to touch him, a tiny 'tink' as your fingernail grazes against his face plate. He's real, he's here, and he's not mad at you. And the best thing is, he forgives you.

And you forgive him.

"I missed you," You take a sharp breath, "I miss you so much."

Optimus' sombre frown turns into a small smile; a weight lifts off his frame at your admission. The worry he put himself through all seems to melt away as he presses a soft kiss to your lips, hoping to melt away your grief with the kiss along with his.

You gasp softly. Far too much time has passed since you've felt those gentle dermas meld into yours, and as much as the past you wanted to forget how his touches felt, you find yourself kissing him back with as much need and passion. A few fleeting moments pass before you're forced to part for a much-needed breath. It feels like life has returned to you, like after all this time without him you were holding your breath in fear of drowning.

Optimus closes his optics, softly pressing his forehead against yours, leaning into the warm touch of your hands that he oh so craved. He knows you still love him, he never once doubted that deep down inside you always did, even after he had regretfully abandoned you.

"I miss you too."

Finally. He felt good to say that.

[royalarchivist]

Cellbit: You think the Cucurucho that likes you is the like, cheerleader one or is it the gun one?

Jaiden: Um, I- I'll be honest, I think both of them like me.

Cellbit: Wow, ok.

Jaiden: What can I say, I'm just super friendly.

Cellbit: Yeah...

Jaiden: [Laughs]

Cellbit: You know, Cucurucho liking you isn't that much of like, a good thing, ok? Just don't- don't get like, super–

Jaiden: No, I mean like, I'm not- I'm not saying that, you know, I like him back or anything, I'm just saying that they- they have a soft-spot for me. Whatever that means.

[ Full Transcript ↓ ]

—

Cellbit: How is your relation with Cucurucho going? Like, have you seen him recently?

Jaiden: Uhhh, what do you mean?

Cellbit: 'Cuz you have like, a rocky relationship with him, don't you?

Jaiden: Yeah, yeah, yeah, last- last time we- I– he took me away for a bit, but uh... It's been, you know, normal. I feel like he treats me the same as he does everyone else. Yeah, he gave me a task.

Cellbit: What's your task?

Jaiden: To research rhinos.

Cellbit: Oh, yeah, you told me about that! [...] You think the Cucurucho that likes you is the like, cheerleader one or is it the gun one?

Jaiden: Um, I- I'll be honest, I think both of them like me.

Cellbit: Wow, ok.

Jaiden: What can I say, I'm just super friendly.

Cellbit: Yeah...

Jaiden: [Laughs]

Cellbit: You know, Cucurucho liking you isn't that much of like, a good thing, ok? Just don't- don't get like, super–

Jaiden: No, I mean like, I'm not- I'm not saying that, you know, I like him back or anything, I'm just saying that they- they have a soft-spot for me. Whatever that means.

Cellbit: Yeah, when– like, if you ever see them with a chainsaw, you know, you probably want to go to the other direction, that's just like, an experienced hint I can give you.

Jaiden: Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Cellbit: But I don't think they would do that to you, they seem to have like, their own preferences and stuff.

Jaiden: Yeah, I mean, they've only done that to you, so they must– they just really don't like you.

Cellbit: Yeah, but they kinda like did some shtty things to other people, they shot Bagi, they shot- they shot most of the Island, at this point.

Jaiden: Yeah, they did, they did shoot Bagi. That's- that's not good.

Cellbit: Maybe they just like Hatsune Miku, and they- they confused stuff.

Jaiden: That is true! Actually, they're– I don't even know if this is like, who this is in the Federation, but someone um... Mouse was like, showing me a picture of– Sorry, I have to tab in. [She punches Cellbit] Um... [Laughs]

Cellbit: Ow, that was rude! [Chuckles]

Jaiden: I had to tab in! [Laughs] My Animal Crossing music had to restart!

Cellbit: [Laughs]

Jaiden: Mouse was saying that someone in the Federation uh, was placing tiny Hatsune Mikus in there, so someone in the Federation likes Hatsune Miku.

Cellbit: Hmm... That explains a lot, then.

Jaiden: [Laughs] What do you mean? No it doesn't!

Cellbit: No, no. Now I understand that it's a whole– it's a whole scheme, it's a whole corruption scheme, now I understand.

Jaiden: Ah no, it's not corruption–

[asarajaa]

Hi Sarah! Love you hcs could you do some hcs about bonten rindou who's trying to get attention from the reader but the reader is busy?? Thank you love!!!

Hello sweetheart! Tysm!

Ofc! Here you have it 🤗 🤗 🤗

My boy rindou needs to be more drawn, like I only found one GOOD pic of him in Bonten for the banner 😩😭

Warnings: fem!reader, fluff Words: 963 Disclaimer: English isn't my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!

Rindou wanting attention hcs

₊˚ෆ Okay so one thing that I know is that Rindou is an attention seeker (just like his brother), don't ask me how I just know 🤷🏽‍♀️

₊˚ෆ He's the little brother after all, what else did you expect?

₊˚ෆ Plus, Ran doesn't help, really. Like I believe that Ran's Rindou's number one fan. I hc that when Rindou had a theater or smh like that at school Ran would be in the first line recording, clapping, screaming and just being Ran tbh.

₊˚ෆ At the start of your relationship with him he wouldn't show it, he's a 29 year old mafia man who is independant (his brother doesn't count), but as it progresses…

₊˚ෆ Look, when it comes to you, realistically, or he couldn't care less or he would lose his mind. Like he's a mafia man, I don't know what you expected.

₊˚ෆ If is the last option, the only Bonten member apart from him you'll know is his brother, no one else. This man is like a doberman, he'll protect you even if that's the last thing he'll do.

₊˚ෆ Ofc, Ran would do the same. You make his brother happy? He would protect you no matter what, just like Rindou would do it with his girl. There would be 4 persons in your marriage with Rindou; the two of you ofc and then Ran and his wife.

₊˚ෆ Because of this closeness, you and Ran's wife inevitably became friends, reaching the point of being like sisters who grew up together.

₊˚ෆ The only way for you to be Rindou's wife is if you knew him before everything. Here, the woman of the process was you and the woman to whom Rindou showed his teachings was also you. The same happens with Ran.

₊˚ෆ You'll meet each other in your high schooler years and stay with together since then, as the same happens with Rans wife, you girls practically grew up together.

₊˚ෆ When your husbands work, you would be going to Pilates class together, having brunches very frequently, planning playdates for your children (if you have them) and so on.

₊˚ෆ Basically you girls are maintained, at their insistence more than anything (because there is no way your husbands will let their wives do a single bit of work).

₊˚ෆ In this family of 4, visit each other was a tradition. Every Saturday, you went to each other's houses to have dinner.

₊˚ෆ Of course, when you see your bestie you forget about everything else. She's your bestie after all, you've got to tell each other tea when the spoon, the sugar and the cup weren't around. And if there's someone to blame, it's their fault.

₊˚ෆ Rindou didn't notice, just happy to see you happily talking with your best friend. He knows he is out very often, so he's glad you have someone to talk to.

₊˚ෆ But when the hours went by, and you're just talking with his brother and his wife, Rindou started to pout.

"What? You're seeing things, go check yourself for schizophrenia baby." he'll say every time you bring up the topic.

₊˚ෆ Rindou's an attention seeker and a semidirect one, like he'll give you a very direct hint about his feelings. He's a man, he's not ashamed about his feelings (to the most of them) and he's a "were not going to bed before we resolve our problem" type of guy.

₊˚ෆ He demonstrated this after a while.

You and Rans wife were happily talking in the living room, Ran doing some comments here and there but mostly of all you and her.

"–and the house must be clean! And that's literally what he told Asteria" she finished, leaning back to her husband’s arm again.

"No way!" you gasped in shock.

"I know, right? After all the things Asteria has done for him." she said letting out a sigh "He has the nerve to ask for more when she has done the impossible for him and for their family."

"Men these days." you denied with disappointment, getting supported by an assent and a 'yeah' for her part "Oh! How did I forget it? We have a present for you guys for your new pregnancy!" you revealed enthusiastic.

"Really? You guys didn't have to." said Ran.

"Nonsense, we gotta show our good wishes for the new future member." replied Rindou "It's in the car, we'll go for it, wait here." Rindou said standing up first, extending a hand to help you standing up.

As you guys were going to the garage, you felt a hand on your waist, pulling you closely to Rindous body.

"You know, you seem to enjoy the company of your best friend who you see almost every day more than the company of your husband, the one who is out very often." he said, giving you a squeeze on your waist while he took out the car keys with the other one.

"Ow, you want my attention? Is that what's going on?" you said teasing him, losing the warmth of his hand as he went to get the gift.

"Yes. I would be grateful, thank you." Rindou said directly, coming back with the gift (a very pretty baby cart that costed thousands) in his hands.

You chuckle as you were going to his side, hugging one of his arms and starting to tell him that it would be great to have another baby (or your first) so that It could be your best friends partner and thanks to that you could become family and- No, Rindou, our marriage is not enough, if our kids get married it would be like another different level.

Rindou, looking at you while you were daydreaming about some childhood best friend trope, wouldn't avoid the thought of-

Anything to see that smile in your face, my love.

₊˚ෆ Two month went by, and guess who's pregnant?

I love Rindou sm 😭💗

I hc that he would be very direct like he wouldn't have any drop of shame in his body.

omg it's currently 0:28 and I didn't make my masterlist yet 😩

Update: omg I’m so dumb, I just noticed that the request said that the reader was BUSY like doing smth and not having time 4 him like I didn’t finished reading the request– omg I’m so stupid 💀✋🏽

I’m so sorry, please send me a request saying if do you want me to change it or anything. I’m so sorry but it’s currently 1:57 and my brain is not braining 😭😭😭

So sorry baby :(

28/04/24

© asarajaa — Please, do not copy, translate or reuse my work without my permission.

[yuseirra]

(Probably my final analysis about this guy unless something new comes up) There is a reason why Kamiki must be a god from a thematic perspective.

+prediction: This manga's ending can be really unhinged lol

I haven't encountered any spoilers regarding the ramaining chapters and if I get sent ANY, I WILL block you. No prior warnings. I was too tormented by those earlier. I don't deserve that for having cared for hikaai..(But if I get anything right.. You may o<-<.. Ohh I have so many love-hate relationship w this comic.. I guess I'll be able to get over with this whole nervousness soon one way or the other)

Jotted this down earlier, used machine translator haha ;v;

To elaborate, I think there are two remaining ways to handle this character. One is to treat him delicately (but considering the limited chapters left, this seems almost out of the question; everyone keeps saying he's dead and it's over, and it upsets me. I don’t think that way. I’m not even sure if he’s actually dead, yet everyone seems so certain he is, and it’s depressing. Wouldn't that be a really bad outcome? It’s not about liking the character; it just feels so unfair to both the readers and the character if the story goes in that direction. Just brushing him off as a villain would be too shallow, and I don't think it would make for a good story. But everyone else seems to have given up... Should I give up too? Would the author make such a choice? I’m sorry, but I really don’t think they'd finish this story so sloppily after getting this far. If so, I’d say I could put more effort into writing about him, but I don’t want to speak like this about someone else’s precious work.)

The other option is to treat him as a "fallen god" like the title suggests, glossing over some details. This way, they can maintain some narrative consistency without devoting much chapter space to him. There are actually a lot of hints regarding this (for example, if we assume he actually killed a lot of people, it could explain why no bodies were ever found... Like, we might get a news story in the next chapter about hundreds of bodies being discovered in the mountains because the power that concealed them vanished after his death (which would be terrifying. Then I’d be left baffled & wondering again, what kind of person was Ai really involved with?;; why the heck did the writers make her love such a guy?? I explained how this could work in a way IF he's a god in my earlier posts)).

Looking at the broader scope of the work, if we try to understand what the story is aiming to convey, there’s a clear significance to the character.

If they want to bury several dark aspects of the entertainment industry in him and just decide he is the reason behind it all, then he can't just be an ordinary person.

Seriously, Ai wouldn't have died for this kind of reason if she wasn't a celebrity. Nino and Ryosuke, these deranged individuals, wouldn’t have meddled in her private life and family matters, claiming that she must be the perfect idol, that she can't have a boyfriend or children, chasing her down, and trying to kill her if she weren't one. Many of Ai’s miseries stemmed from her being an idol, where her individuality was not accepted, and this isn’t a problem that can be resolved by simply taking down one madman—it’s connected to societal perceptions. To write this off as being Kamiki’s fault doesn’t even seem possible to me. That's not just simply bad writing, it's irresponsible and harmful. So I don't see the writers making such a choice. They're smart people.

Even if Kamiki harbored resentment after breaking up with his girlfriend, Ai wouldn't have been harmed if she wasn’t a celebrity. Nino even mentioned that Kamiki only talked about Ai. If Ai had been a regular person, what he did probably would have just him reminiscing about her as an ex-girlfriend. Seriously. Does this really make sense for it to believe that Kamiki orchestrated Ai’s murder? There should be a better reason. Otherwise, it’s just Nino and Ryosuke being unhinged, right? Wasn't Kamiki a minor in middle or high school at the time? I doubt he would have directly ordered anyone to kill Ai. Does he seem like someone who would harm Ai deliberately? If that were the case, why wouldn’t he have sought revenge immediately after the breakup? Why wait four whole years? Why? Even if he had anger and resentment (which I believe he did not...this guy never blames Ai.)would die down a lot within that much timespan. Honestly, I have no idea. Considering about the major event at time being Ai's dome concert, I plain think he'd have intended to send flowers through a friend to congratulate her about it, but then the accident happened. Ai’s comment that “our kids are smart and will understand our situation” suggests they weren’t completely out of touch. Maybe Ai told him where she was, which is why he knew about the hospital on her delivery day. Just WHY would he harm her? He's been throwing away his entire life away for a cause related to her for over a decade after she's deceased!! He never wanted to hurt her!!

Going back to the point, if his character isn’t going to be given proper focus (but considering they even brought in a famous voice actor for him, wouldn’t he be more significant than just a side character?), then it would make more sense for him to be a god. That way, he can absorb the societal context surrounding him. Like, he was originally a divine guardian of the entertainment world, but he became corrupted and fell into madness because of humanity. And there are plenty of odd situations and foreshadowing that can only be explained this way... His unique connection with Ai, the intensity of his attachment—it wouldn’t need further explanation, because there’s a narrative that exists beyond the story itself. If he’s treated as just a person, he holds no symbolic value and is merely a broken-minded individual—a mere psychopath. What would that contribute to the story? It shouldn’t go that way. It wasn’t until Chapter 154 that I realized, “Ah... This guy wasn’t supposed to be the culprit.” I just kept following along from there. If the story has a message to convey, it needs to address this. I can see where it's headed, and it’s frustrating, so I just want it to show a bit more! And then they say the story is ending soon. I think the most pressing need for the story now is to resolve its thematic elements.

I can think of about three or four scenarios for how this manga might end. Remember Chapter 156-7 or so, where Aqua and Ruby have that conversation? That chapter is narratively ominous. After reading that, I thought this story might end as a vision flashing before the eyes of two dying people. Like, “You had fun, didn’t you? This kind of life wasn’t so bad, right?” If that chapter is any indication, it’s not impossible that the entire story has been a well-constructed stage, all fiction! That chapter gave me a weird vibe, so I mentioned that the author might craft an ending that over 70% of the readers would dislike in a post once.

If it takes a really bold direction, it could end like that.

Or it could go with a more conventional ending. But this story, since Chapter 1, has been talking about how “everything is fiction, the world is fiction, and it hopes for good lies.” I think something that ties back to that concept will come up at the end.

And the last scenario is an ending that tries to hold onto some deeper meaning (but that doesn’t rule out an Aqua-Ruby flashback ending... lol. They could try to maintain meaning even with that or fulfill Aqua’s dreams of going to medical school and ending up with Kana~~).

Honestly... Even with four chapters left, I’d like them to dedicate like two of them to Kamiki. If we’re talking about liars, he’s as much of a liar as Ai, but he hasn’t been highlighted at all. Is becoming like Ruby supposed to be ideal? I haven’t been convinced of that... If this story wants to say something meaningful about the entertainment industry, it should address the lies required by idols and actors alike.

Wrap up Aqua’s story in one or two chapters, give Kana a happy ending (Kana’s been through a lot in the narrative), even if Aqua and Ruby don’t find happiness, I think Kana should at least find some fulfillment. MEM-cho will do fine, and Akane’s smart, so she’ll be okay.

Kamiki and Ai deserve about half of the remaining focus, thematically speaking. Even if Kamiki ends up being too far gone and deserves to rot in hell, we should at least understand who he really was. Ai’s true feelings were revealed, but Kamiki never got that chance... He never had a real opportunity to be happy, either. To me, he’s more of a person who was pushed to the brink and went mad rather than someone purely evil, so I can’t stop thinking about him. There’s a reason the story was written this way, and I want it to show that. There's someone broken and hit and hurt, but no one's taking responsibility for it. Is that right? Is that what you call justice? I don't think so. It gets on my nerves. I knew that he was a noble soul before they even brought that up. He used to be kind but something pushed him so far. A good story should show what broke him.

The recent chapters have been intriguing but not particularly substantive, mostly dropping hints without much resolution, given the remaining chapters. Can they really tie everything up? I have my doubts.

I just want the story to hold onto its meaning, regardless of the characters’ fates. That’s my hope. For me, this piece is about the message. I really wish it gives out a good one. I’ll keep quiet now; I really hate being wrong—

Did I figure out what this manga is trying to convey? If I have- I hope it goes in that direction. I do have an idea. It’s still possible, after all.

[superfanficnatural]

The Son: Chapter 24

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Male!Reader (The Son)

Summary: You’ve finally broken free of the forces controlling you at a great cost, though the cost of doing so was even greater than you thought. Now, you fight for the antithesis of what you had been representing, and have to grapple with finding your own place in the galaxy while grappling with the person trying to find their way into your heart. Will The Son choose the light? Or the dark? Whatever the answer may be, may the force be with us.

A/N: I screamed while writing this, then again while getting ready to write this author note because… THE SMUT IS FINALLY HERE!!! I am so sorry this took ages, school has been kicking my ass and this smut was testing me, but I hope that it’s good enough to make up for lost time! While I knew this was gonna be a slowburn series, I did not expect it to take this long even though yeah they've been together for a few chapters by now... but oh well?? Also, this chapter was beta’d by the lovely @h1gh-funct1on1ng-soc1opath !! So huge shoutout and thank you to them! Check out their amazing works as well for more male reader and beyond! As always, I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: Fluff, SMUT, NSFW (18+), Kissing, Rimming, Fingering, Unprotected Sex, Breeding, Dirty Talk, End of the world sex? lol, Choking, Biting, Overstimulation, Masturbation/Mutual, Rough Sex AND Soft Sex?, Praise???, Slight Possessiveness?

Word Count: 6,782

Italics are your thoughts

Masterpost

“What?” you could see Poe’s heart drop.

Your connection to the force was finally rectified and you felt it clear as day; Leia was gone, “I don’t understand...”

You wondered if the Resistance had been attacked or something along those lines until the connection became clearer to you. It wasn’t as if you could see or hear anything, necessarily, but the information was given to you intuitively. She had given her life in hopes to save her son. 

“Where’s Rey?” 

Poe didn’t respond for a few moments, still swallowing what he thought he heard you say before coughing it up, “She... she went after the wayfinder but Kylo came. They fought but we couldn’t see clearly. We don’t know what happened to Kylo but we saw Rey take off in his ship.”

Maybe Leia transferred her life energy to Kylo after Rey struck him down? Impossible, force healing requires direct touch, let alone the incredible distance she was away. She must have projected herself outwards to try to connect with him, knowing that he most likely... didn’t have much time before he truly fell to the dark side. And where did Rey go? She wouldn’t just abandon us… I have to trust she knows what she’s doing, we have enough to worry about right now.

“Poe, I’m sorry.” You walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, “General Leia is gone. She gave the last of her strength to reach Kylo one last time.”

He kept his eyes locked on yours while you spoke, trying to see if there was any hint of uncertainty in your gaze while he fell into his shock. He finally broke your gaze and looked to the floor while his hand came up to rest on yours, releasing a huff of breath which he was most likely holding while you spoke. 

“How are we supposed to do this without her?” he whispered. “And now we’ve probably lost the wayfinder, Rey is AWOL...”

“Hey, we’ll do whatever we can, ok?” Your other hand came up to his cheek to bring his eyes back to you, “We’ll go back to base, regroup, come up with something. We have to.”

His eyes were filled with vulnerability as they met yours, “Y/N, I...”

You knew his feelings exactly, the fear that you would lose this war and ultimately, each other, “I know. Let’s not go there just yet. Catch me up on everything else.”

He nodded while he blinked a few times, sniffling, “We fixed the ship enough to take back off and we’re heading back to the Resistance.”

“What about Jannah and the rest of them?” you questioned.

“Turns out, all former Finns, they defected as well. Left them behind but with our number, I think we can count on their help,” Poe explained.

You hummed while nodding before you talked for a short while longer, knowing that you had to go break the news to Chewie as well. It was painful, Leia was one of Chewie’s oldest friends, and one of the only remaining ones after Han and Luke had died. The cries he let out were the most gut wrenching you had heard in any species, and you were there for him with Poe along with Finn after telling him as well.

It was a difficult ride back through hyperspace for all of you, memories of your time with Leia coming back to you nostalgically. Though, not long after everyone became aware, the ship had exited hyperspace and was back on Ajan Kloss.

After landing the ship, your group all came out defeatedly. Your endeavor only resulted in nothing, and the Resistance that you were coming back to didn’t have your incredible General to welcome you either. Lieutenant Connix was there to greet your team with a solemn expression on her face as well. She was leadership in the Resistance almost as long as Leia was involved, making her one of Leia’s closest confidants in the Resistance. They must have been very close.  

“There’s terrible news,” she informed.

“We know,” Poe sighed. “The Resistance has lost its best leader.”

She pursed her lips slightly and sighed, “It’s not just Leia. Come with me.”

You and Poe shared a concerned look before taking off after her, Chewie going off somewhere else as he was still processing his grief and Finn heading elsewhere. Following Connix, you eventually reached central command, a bunch of stations set up outside near the cave entrance in the jungle. Waiting for you there were Rose and Beaumont, another high ranking Resistance member in intelligence. 

He was the one who spoke as you arrived, “Kijimi has been destroyed.”

You gasped and Poe took a step forward hurriedly, “Kijimi? How?”

“A blast from a star destroyer,” Connix explained. “A ship from the new Sith fleet. Out of the unknowns.”

Poe turned and sighed, his eyes closing defeatedly while Beaumont circled, “The Emperor sent a ship from Exegol. Does that mean every ship in the fleet...”

“Has planet killing weapons,” Poe finished his line of thought. “Of course they do. All of them, this is how he finishes it.”

Even now that you’ve re-established your connection with your dark nature, you felt more confident though. Even if you were to unleash your full power at what you knew was the incoming nexus event, would even that be enough to win the war?

“To believe he was capable of something of this scope,” you thought out loud, thinking back to how you feared the worst out of him after his actions years ago.

One of the monitors began to chime and Rose leaned over to check on it, “Listen.”

Everyone quieted down and walked closer to the monitor as it was playing an audio message. 

“It’s on every frequency,” Rose mentioned as she flipped through the channels.

While everyone listened intently, Beaumont began to translate, “The Resistance is dead. The Sith flame will burn. All worlds surrender or die. The Final Order begins.”

“Leia made you acting General,” Rose aimed her words at Poe.

You looked at him, seeing the visible strain on his face from such losses and what was to come. Things were becoming dire, and you didn’t know what you could do to stop it.

“What now?” Rose asked.

The makeshift meeting had adjourned with Poe not being able to answer the question. He stood there for a few moments trying to think of something before he let out a grunt and said to keep working. As he walked away, he made sure to turn his face towards you and make eye contact, signaling that he wanted you to follow.

You looked around the room to Beaumont, Connix, and Rose before giving them a sympathetic look and leaving to follow Poe. His pace wasn’t exactly slow as he seemingly wanted to get out of there quickly, leaving you to already try and catch up to him after leaving.

Before long, though, you had come up to him and walked beside him, turning your head to look at him. He turned his head to meet your eyes and you were shocked to see them filled with vulnerability. Without being able to get a really good look at it, he turned his head back to focus on walking. It seemed like he was about to cry to you and your heart sank in your chest. 

You hadn’t noticed it but he was walking in the direction to his room and before long, he opened the door and went inside without a word, leaving you to follow and close the door behind him, “Baby, please talk to me.”

He turned back to face you once you had closed the door and you were met with the same glazed eyes, “I don’t know what to do.” He sighed and raised his hands up to his face, covering them with his fingers and muffling his speech, “I can’t lead all of us. This is probably suicide no matter what, anyways.”

You came forward to take a hold of his hands and remove them softly from his face, forcing him to look at you, “Hey, take a breath.” A tear escaped from his eye and your heart cracked in your chest, “Oh, Poe. Leia wouldn’t have entrusted you to lead if she didn’t believe that you could do it.”

He sniffled, breaking his gaze before returning it to yours with a different look, “I don’t want to lose you. We don’t have enough people or manpower to win this war, I don’t want to lose you.” 

He whispered his final words as his voice threatened to break, his eyes shutting closed, fresh tears escaping from his lashes. 

Your eyes wet with your own tears, your heart reflecting his thoughts in the feelings it gave you, “I know, I know.” You placed your forehead on his, “We’ll make it through this. Together.”

The two of you held pressure against one another, the closeness chipping away at the sadness eating at you both. The room was silent and you couldn’t focus on anything but the feeling of Poe’s hands in your own, your breaths mingling against one another, the emotional hurricane that the two of you were in the eye of .

Your eyes opened shortly after his and while you separated a few millimeters, the two of you maintained your closeness. No words were exchanged between you, only the train ride of intensity your eyes were burning into each other with.

A glance down at your lips had a nerve spike up your back and prompted you to do the same, looking down at Poe’s soft lips. You weren’t sure if you had inched closer or if he did but your lips connected like magnets, fitting together as if you had been kissing already. 

The rush of emotions, along with the tears, had made your body more sensitive, and his lips felt divine in that moment. Every brush of them, the suction of them, the slight feel of his stubble at the edges of your lips, it was a delight that had you desperate for more.

Your lips parted for the first time and you let out a gasp, the breath you were holding nearly bursting from your lungs. Poe had done much of the same, his warm breath cascading over your neck and sending goosebumps down your chest. He took the opportunity to snake his hands out of yours and pull them around your body, holding you close. In this exchange, your hands came up to cup his face, your thumb wiping a tear that had fallen.

“I love you, Y/N Y/L/N,” he whispered.

“I love you too, Poe Dameron,” you returned with just as much love.

Both of you leaned back for more as the next kiss seemed more hungry than the last; Poe’s once soft and loving kiss turning into a deep and passionate one. It made your cock jump in your jeans and heat to rush through you. Moaning into the kiss, he took the opportunity to snake his tongue in and get a taste of you. While you had been completely inexperienced before, you had kissed Poe many times by now and had gotten pretty used to it. Sex, however... the two of you had not tried yet. His hands tightened around you and you felt a moan rise from deep in his chest.

“I need you,” Poe just barely made out the words before diving right back in for another kiss.

The overwhelming passion that burned through the two of you was something neither of you had felt before. Never had the two of you needed another person so badly, had craved everything that they had to offer so much, needed them more than the air that you had breathed.

He turned the two of you around and the back of your legs hit the edge of the bed, Poe easing you down onto the bed while you crawled up to get comfortable. Poe followed you the entire way before reaching down and grabbing the hem of his shirt and raising it over his head, tossing it to the side. His gorgeous bronze body stood over you now, your eyes appreciating the hair traveling down his happy trail. 

“Eyes up here,” Poe managed a smirk, reaching his hands down to pull your shirt up under you as well.

You blushed slightly and allowed him to help you out of your shirt, plopping back down on the bed with Poe’s arms now resting on the sides of your head. His face was just above yours and he smiled lovingly down at you, one of his hands coming to comb through your hair and push it back before plunging down and kissing you again. Your hands came up to his sides and began to stroke at the skin, affectionately trying to hold him close.

Knowing that this might be the first and... last time that the two of you could be like this, it made the moment all the more special. The two of you knew exactly what you were at risk of losing and it made all of your inhibitions fade away. 

“I know we haven’t-” Poe began.

“I want to do it,” you stopped him, knowing what he was talking about.

He smiled back at you, “Are you sure?”

“I am. I want... I want you inside me,” you blushed, never speaking so lewdly before.

Poe’s eyes widened at your bold words, never knowing you were capable of it. His cock raged hard in his pants and he was shocked by how effective it was to him, “Anything for you.”

Poe had wanted this for months, and so had you, but Poe knew you weren’t quite ready. It  wasn’t exactly easy having a moment to yourselves ever, constantly either on mission or doing something separately. 

Poe couldn’t help but kiss you again, moaning into it as the promise of what was to come excited him. While you did feel a bit nervous about your first time, you were actually thankful that your recent mission had you not eating for a while. Though the main reason was because you were with Poe, because you could trust him with everything that you had.

Your slightly shaky hands reached down to start unbuckling his belt and you managed it thankfully easily, before unbuttoning his pants and unzipping. By then, Poe had broken the kiss and moved his hands down after getting off of you to pull his pants down, getting them to the bottom before realizing he had to unlace his boots. You noticed yours were still on as well and you moved to unlace and toss them to the side along with your socks and pants around the same time Poe had removed his. Now, Poe was back on top of you with only his tight underwear on, his ridiculous bulge clearly seen to the eye. 

Your eyes widened slightly and Poe noticed it, “It’s ok. I’m not gonna hurt you.” He leaned down to place a soft kiss on your lips before moving to pepper kisses along your neck, “I’ll make sure you’re ready for me.”

You leaned your head to the side as your eyes drooped closed, a satisfied breath escaping your throat at his actions, your cock bobbing in your own underwear. 

As his head was aimed downwards to kiss your neck, he noticed your cock jerk in your underwear, “Looks like I’m the one who should be nervous for next time.”

You blushed and let out a small laugh, “I like the sound of next time.”

He returned his gaze to you at that, the love in his eyes shining heavier than before. Bending back down to kiss you, he pressed his hips down and rubbed the two of your cocks together through the fabrics. The friction felt delicious and you moaned into the kiss, Poe’s tongue exploring your mouth. Pre-cum leaked from your cock, throbbing and hard since basically the first kiss, leaving a wet pool on your underwear. 

Poe broke from the kiss and reached over to the table next to the bed, popping open a shelf and grabbing something from inside. He placed it down next to you and you looked over to see that it was lube. While you were looking over, Poe had grabbed at your underwear and pulled it down in one smooth motion before you had time to even react. You turned back and he had a smirk on his face before he grabbed your thighs and pushed forward. It forced your back to curl up and your upper half to press a bit into the bed, somewhat holding you in place. 

You gasped and Poe had a full grin on his face now, the slightest twinge of hunger behind his teeth, “This is a cockpit I plan on commandeering.”

You blushed at the ridiculousness of his words but couldn’t even open your mouth to get your response out before he plunged his tongue into you. Your back arched and your eyes squeezed shut, it was an incredible feeling. The prodding of his tongue into your hole, the gripping of his hands on your thighs to keep you in place while he dug into you. It was all new to you and while it was slightly off-putting for a brief moment, it immediately turned into pleasure. 

“Poe,” you weakly moaned, your abdomen seizing randomly as the pleasure coursed through you.

His eyes were initially focused on the same thing his tongue was, devouring your ass, until he heard your sweet moan grace his ears. He had made you moan in many different ways before but this was different; you sounded truly vulnerable and his cock involuntarily jumped. The moment he looked up to meet your eyes, he struggled to keep a moan from escaping his chest at seeing your flushed and weak state. His tongue swirled and licked stripes across the inside of your cheeks, slipping as deep into your hole as he could get, pulling more strained whines to flow through your throat.

He would alternate every once in a while and blow on your hole, making you hiss with the cool sensation before he dove right back in. If you hadn’t known any better, you would have thought he grew out his stubble for this purpose exactly. As he tongued you, his chin and cheeks brushed against the back of your balls and the inside of your thighs.

He even went as far as driving a stripe up your hole with his chin, the short hairs sending your sensitive hole into a frenzy before returning with his tongue and soothing the sharp sensation. Your hands were clutching the sheets around you with a death grip, trying your hardest to try and relax your muscles down there for him.

“You look perfect, so absolutely perfect,” he managed a mutter before plunging back in for another taste.

You moaned loudly at his newfound passionate intrusion and one of your hands flung up to grip in between your legs at his hair, holding on for dear life. Poe moaned into you as the slight sting on his scalp made his cock jolt in his underwear, basically soaked completely through with the amount of pre-cum he was leaking.

The both of you were pleasantly astonished, you because you had never felt pleasure like this before, and Poe because, even with women, he had never been so lost in his senses like he was right now with you. If it weren’t for the perfect specimen in front of him, Poe would have been lost in thought of how he never tried it with men before. But he knew the answer to that without even having to think about it, it was because it was you. 

“Poe, please,” you wished you could manage more than the repetition of ‘please’ along with his name but you were completely lost to his advances on you.

He growled against you, his own impatience further driven by your own. One of his hands that he was using to hold your thighs rushed down to his underwear, which he haphazardly shoved down his legs in one push. Because your leg was no longer supported, it dropped down. As Poe straightened his back to press up against you, it came to naturally wrap around his hip while the other remained in his grip.

Poe looked down at you, legs spread for him, hole puckering and wet, face flushed with pleasure and body heaving with your breaths and wished he could burn the image into his memory. But his boy was waiting for him, and he wouldn’t make him wait any longer than necessary, as he was just as impatient. 

“Grab that bottle, sweetheart,” Poe’s raspy voice asked of you.

His voice was deeper than usual and you could feel the rasp in his chest against your leg, sending a shiver throughout your body. His eyes, while soft and caring, had a deep, unsatiated need behind them. You felt as if he was barely able to hold himself back and it made your body thrum with excitement.

Reaching over to the bottle that was near your head, you timidly offered it to him while looking down at your chest, feeling a slight wave of embarrassment. Poe had caught on and smiled slightly. Idiot, he thought to himself before he softly dropped the other leg he was holding to the side and guided it around his hips to lock with your other leg. 

He grabbed the bottle with one hand and dipped forward with his body, using his other hand to grab at your chin. He peppered a few kisses along your jawline before his lips came just before yours and he looked into your eyes, “Look at me.” You pulled your gaze up at him and blushed once more, his eyes so close it took up most of your vision before his lips faintly pulled into another smile, “I love you.”

“I love you to-” you immediately went to respond, but were silenced by Poe’s lips surging forward to claim yours. 

Moaning into the kiss, you wrapped your arms around his neck, your ankles locking around his back to press him as close to you as you could. Your tongues brushed and swept against each other as the suction in your lips pulled more and more noises to come from you and Poe. Because he had reached forward, his now bare cock was pressing up against your hole as he grinded against you.

Poe tightly gripped the bottle that he held, pressed against the bed to help hold his weight while his aching cock begged to push into the tightness in front of it. The other hand, once on your chin, now slightly applied pressure against your neck.

Poe broke the kiss by applying a bit more pressure with his fingers, forcing your neck to slightly crane up and give him access. He dug his face in, his stubble brushing against your sensitive skin while his lips and tongue left marks as deep as he could.

“I’m yours, completely,” he muttered before biting down on your carotid.

You yelped slightly into a moan from the sudden action, unable to even form a reply as Poe held you so tightly, so possessive yet gentle, while his ministrations on your neck had you nearly passing out.

“And you’re mine, right? I wanna hear you say it, Y/N,” his words seemed as if they were intended to come across dominating but, instead, came out more desperate than anything.

You finally managed the strength to respond, “I’m yours, Poe. All yours.”

He let out a deep moan, a satiated one, before you felt his cock physically pulse against you, making your eyes roll to the back of your head. Without stopping his onslaught on your throat, Poe snaked his arm out from your throat and moved his other arm over, expertly popping open the lube bottle with one hand while squeezing it into the other. You hadn’t even noticed all of this with your eyes shut in pleasure, Poe’s lips unrelenting and traveling across every plane and crook of your neck.

After he felt enough lube pressed onto his finger, Poe reached his arm down towards your hole, backing his hips up just slightly and leaving your lower section colder than you liked. However, that cold was suddenly replaced by a new coldness against your aching heat, making you yelp out. Poe smirked against your neck.

The cold quickly transitioned to warmth as he began massaging the lube around the area of your hole, using a finger to rub circles directly on it, sending an animalistic feeling crawling up your stomach. Before long, his finger inched past the ring of your muscles, softly massaging the flesh inside. Once again, the intrusion felt extremely foreign but pleasurable all the same, your back arching into Poe in response.

He smirked against your throat once more, nipping at the skin before taking your lips in another kiss. As he did, he inserted a second finger, silencing your yelp with his own mouth. His warmth was welcomed as you let the kiss distract you from the probing of his fingers. 

“You’re doing so good,” Poe muttered into your lips. His fingers curled upwards a few inches inside of you, “It won’t be long now.”

You moaned loudly, your muscles clenching reflexively as Poe took your lower lip into his teeth, biting down just slightly before he licked a warm flat stripe across the side of your lips and cheek. His two fingers were initially testing the waters with you, but they began to explore on their own accord, scissoring you and stretching you out as they wished. 

“Enough, please just f-fuck me,” you whimpered out, any sense of shame from your words or actions in this bedroom no longer a concern.

Poe flexed his fingers once more inside you, as if testing something, before he responded, “Ok baby, I won’t keep you waiting any longer.”

Your hands broke from his neck as he straightened back up, grabbing his cock with one hand while the other hand brought the lube bottle closer. His weight and warmth no longer covering you sent a shiver down your body and you eagerly waited for him, your legs still wrapped loosely around him. He squeezed more liquid out of the bottle directly onto the shaft of his cock and began to use his other hand to stroke slowly, spreading the lube across his length.

While doing so, your eyes became mesmerized by the sounds and sight in front of you, his large and calloused hands slowly stroking his huge cock plainly for you to see. Poe noticed the impatient and hungry look on your face and couldn’t help the smirk that graced his face while he looked down at you. His cock in his hands while he looked down at the person he loved the most, spread out and waiting for him; it made him harder than he had ever felt before. 

“I’m coming, sweetheart,” he cooed as he began to shift his weight forward again.

The bottle was tossed to the side of the bed, one of his arms coming up near your head to hold his weight in a fist while the other held his cock, aiming it in the direction it needed to be. At first, Poe couldn’t help but brush his cock up and down at your entrance, teasing and prodding the hole. Feeling his hard rod against you, teasing you, drove you insane, as all you wanted was it inside of you. 

“Sorry,” he bent down to place a firm kiss on your forehead with a slight chuckle. “I just want to savor every moment of this.”

A lazy smile graced your face before you intended to respond, opening your mouth but nothing coming out, instead a rush of breath. He had pushed past the ring of your entrance and held his head inside. It was much... much wider than his fingers, and they were wide already. 

Immediately, your body tensed up, and your hole tightened on him like a vice grip, your arms flinging right back round his neck and gripping. He growled and fought the urge to push forward in that moment. Instead, now that he was seated in you enough, he chose  to bring his other hand up to the other side of your head, allowing him to lean further down and reach you. You were a whimpering mess, unable to form words as the full feeling inside of you made your thoughts blank out.

“Shhhhh,” he placed a soft kiss on your nose. “It’s just us,” he comforted.

He didn’t move a centimeter, as much as his hips were screaming at him to do so as he let you acclimate to him. Your eyes were squeezed shut, fingers digging into Poe’s neck and shoulders as you tried to calm your body down. He laid butterfly kisses along your face the entire time, the little sensations gradually helping you relax around him. 

Eventually, your hole relaxed around him enough for movement and he pecked you on the lips, “Are you ready for me to move, sweetheart?”

Panting, you nodded, a strand of hair falling onto your forehead and sticking to the sweat, “Please, Poe.”

He kept his face against yours, not breaking his eye contact with you as his hips began to apply more forward pressure. The two of you panted heavily, Poe with the strain of holding back in your perfect warmth and you from the incredible fullness you were feeling. Gradually, he pushed deeper and deeper inside of you, and it wasn’t long before you felt like you couldn’t take any more.

“Poe,” you gasped as you felt him dangerously deep. “It’s too much.”

He shook his head and looked deep into your eyes, “My N/N can handle anything. We’re almost there, baby, you can take it.”

His words seduced your mind into believing him, or perhaps your mind already did in the first place, and simply needed some convincing. Feeling like he was nearly inside of your stomach, you had finally felt the familiar brush of his pubic hair against your thighs. You would have let out a sigh of relief if it hadn’t been for the spot he seemed to unlock deep inside of you with his last portion. The moan that came from your chest was as loud and deep as it was sudden, ripping from your throat with such force it shocked even you.

Poe grunted out a deep and long breath as he finally felt seated inside of you fully, completely connected with you in the deepest way possible. Shivers rampaged through your body and nearly made you begin to convulse, emanating outward from deep in your stomach and anus into the rest of your body. 

“P-P-Po-e,” your words stuttered like you were in the shivering cold, your entire body on fire with sensitivity.

“Does my cock reach that special spot, baby?” he muttered into your ear, voice low and almost threatening.

Knowing you were incapable of words, you nodded your head with fervor.

He chuckled darkly, “I’m taking advantage of that, just so you know.”

His hips retracted and slammed forward, his cock nearly escaping your hole before plunging back in. 

You screamed out and Poe brought one of his hands that was holding up his weight to come around your throat much like before, “Let me hear you, baby.”

He didn’t stop there, but instead began to keep a pace, fucking into you roughly like you had been going for hours already. If Poe’s plan was to take advantage of your overstimulation, he had succeeded. Let alone you were still reeling from the sensation you felt when he bottomed out in you as you never felt it before, you were forced to confront that sensation every half second as it was aggressively abused by Poe.

Your eyes began to lose focus and roll to the back of your head, your throat constricted with your muscles tightening and barely able to pull any breath. His hand wasn’t keeping your airflow out at all, pressing in expert spots that applied pressure stimulation without clogging up your throat. 

“No no, you’re not going anywhere,” Poe’s hand left your throat and moved to the back of your head, holding it firmly and tilting it back to face him. “I wanna see my work.”

Your cock, which you weren’t even able to fathom to think about, was bobbing fiercely, pre-cum leaking from your slit onto your stomach in waves. Whatever he was hitting was a button that ejected more pre-cum from you, every slam of his cock, balls deep, sending another slight rush of pre-cum forward.

Stars were dancing slightly in your vision but you managed to pull your gaze into Poe’s, his hand keeping your head steady helping for the most part. His eyes were the darkest you had ever seen them, pupils blown wide as he drank you in like water in a desert. He kept up his bruising pace all the same though, the sound of his hips slapping against you filthily filling the room.

You tried to get words out, but every time, they only came out as broken gasps, your jaw basically stuck in an O position. Poe was loving every second of it; the fact that he could break you apart like this so easily, and the look on your face... he nearly came on the spot. Though, he gave himself a break, and you as well, finally slowing his pace and only pulling out halfway before slowly edging his way back in.

You gasped, your lungs finally working like he had flicked the on switch. Poe gave you a chance to regain your breaths mingled with the moans from his slow and methodical movements, once again licking and sucking on your neck, one of his favorite spots he had come to find out. 

“I hope that wasn’t too much,” he softly kissed your skin, apologizing with his tenderness.

You shook your head without even thinking about it, “N... no it... it was so good.”

Poe had glanced down and you could feel the rumble of his chest, your eyebrow furrowing in confusion, “Whats-”

You looked down to see what he was looking at as he had looked back up at you, a goofy smile on his face. Looking at your stomach, there was a clear white liquid all over you, and not the transparent kind from pre-cum. You had orgasmed solely from his fucking just then, and you couldn’t even tell from how lost in your pleasure you were. 

“At least I’m doing my job right,” Poe quirked, tilting his chin up to kiss you.

You sighed contently into the kiss before it turned into a slight moan, his cock brushing up on your walls delicately. You only had a single orgasm yet your entire body was buzzing, your legs twitching ever so slightly. Let alone you were already emotional from what was going on, your stimulation had tears building up in your eyes, just barely holding back from falling onto your cheeks. 

“I love you so much, I can’t even explain it,” Poe admitted against your lips, accentuating the curve of his hips while he pumped into you.

“I love you, Poe. I love you so much,” you responded in tandem.

Your bodies had a cover of sweat, some of it falling from Poe’s hair onto your chest and neck. The room was hot, ignited by the passion between you, reflecting the fire you felt in your stomach. His hips began to pick up speed slowly, every thrust becoming harder, hungrier as your walls enclosed him in. The spot deep inside that he abused moments ago now felt more sensitive than before, hisses passing through your teeth from the stimulation.

Poe reached his left arm down to your cock, his right hand strained in the pillow next to you before he took it into his hands and began to stroke. Your hand reflexively tried to leave his neck and move his hand away as the feeling was simply too much, but Poe expected it. 

His hand left your cock only momentarily to grip your wrist and bring it back around his neck before returning his hand to your cock, “Keep your hands there.”

You whined, digging your fingers into his shoulder bruisingly, “Poe, it’s too much.”

He dipped again and claimed your lips, silencing you as his hand picked up speed, now nearly matching the speed of his thrusts. He curved his fingers expertly around your head each time his hand rose, and it was so sensitive it nearly hurt. You had already leaked an abysmal amount of pre-cum on top of cumming already, and you felt you had nothing left to give; but Poe was adamant in his efforts to prove that wrong. 

“I want to feel your cock pulse when you cum because of me,” Poe gritted against your lips, his words only sending you further down the depths of pleasure. 

You could feel Poe’s cock pulse within you, the veins of his cock pulsing and brushing against the ridges of your hole, his moans and growls growing louder as he approached his own climax. 

“I’m gonna cum, baby, can I?” he wanted nothing more than to breed your hole, to completely make you his, but he needed to make sure you wanted it too.

You nodded your head desperately, “Please, Poe. I want it inside me.”

Your own need for him to load you was the thing that sent Poe completely over the edge. With a loud moan, he rutted his hips as hard and deep as he possibly could and began to pump his seed. The sheer look of pleasure on Poe’s face along with feeling his warm cum filling you up sent you over the edge as well, your cock straining at full mass as it unloaded.

Your vision nearly went black from the force of your orgasm, let alone Poe’s cock slammed against your prostate, his cum pumping into you coated it completely, leaving a fuzzy feeling to emanate throughout your body. Your cock sputtered a good amount, the first sputter rising as far as your upper chest before the rest needily pumped over Poe’s fingers and onto your stomach.

Poe’s orgasm lasted far longer than yours, you could feel his cock jerking and pulsing in you for so long, more and more warm cum being released from his balls. Your eyes were stuck watching Poe’s frozen expression, his pleasure so heavy and consuming that his brain had trouble keeping up. His eyes were unfocused as all he could sense in that moment was his incredible orgasm, along with the feeling of your warm tightness around him.

After what felt like a minute or two, his cock finally stopped jumping and Poe gasped sharply, intaking heavy breaths as the muscles in his upper back and arms nearly gave out. You encouraged him, allowing his body to fall on top of yours, your cum now mingling between your warm and spent bodies. His face was pressed into the crook of your neck as his hips stayed pressed up against yours. Your legs remained wrapped around his hips loosely, his cum locked deep inside of you. His weight on top of you felt heavenly in that moment, and you reveled in the feeling of his strong and muscular frame encompassing you.

“I don’t think... anything in life will ever get close to that,” Poe managed out while trying to catch his breath. 

You smiled widely and warmly, your entire body relaxed and completely blissed out, “Only thing I can think of is doing it again.”

Poe’s cock twitched inside of you, the cock that was beginning to soften proving its resilience. 

You moaned deeply, completely overstimulated before Poe chuckled slightly, “Sorry, but that was your fault. Got me thinking.”

You chuckled weakly before heaving a satisfied sigh, closing your eyes and relaxing into the bed. One of your hands came up to start brushing at his hair and playing with the locks absentmindedly, Poe humming in contention. The moment the two of you shared was the most intimate and precious so far, and the both of you wanted to sit in it forever. However, you and Poe knew that there were pressing concerns, and they weren’t going to wait for you. 

“So, ready to save the galaxy or die trying?”

Next Chapter

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[spooky-all-year-round]

Battle Confession

The prompts: "I thought I'd never see you again" and "You said... 'I love you'."

SFW G/n Reader x Ominis. This takes place post-game, I left it open for what the situation could be but if the triwizard tournament happens their 6th year then this would be in their 7th. Cause Hogwarts can never have one peaceful year. =)

Trigger warnings: hints of violence, anxiety, sad ominis, but it's happy I promise!

You were running flat out, students were being ushered out of the castle in droves. You were forcing your way past and between them. You had to get to the fight. You rounded the corner and spotted blonde slicked back hair and a robe lined with green. Slamming to a stop you shouted his name, grabbing his left hand with your right and placed your left hand on his right arm to stop him fully. "Ominis i need to tell you something." You were desperate, he had to know.

"What? Tell me later, we need to leave! The teachers said we all need to get off of school grounds! Its not-" he started.

"Ominis I dont know how this will all end. But I need you to know that I love you!" You placed a quick kiss on his cheek before taking off again. His shouts were quickly drowned out between the distance and the sounds of everyone leaving. All you knew is that you needed to save everyone. You needed to save him. Even if it meant you couldn't stay by his side.

You awoke a week later in the hospital wing early in the morning. Matron Blainey filled you in on your injuries and what she has done to heal them and on all the gifts that were left and visiors that had come by. Most notably one Mr.Gaunt, who came daily and for as long as he could. After all was said and done she stated she wanted to keep you overnight for observation and gave you a potion to help you sleep some more.

When you woke up this time it must have only been a few hours later. You could feel drops hit your hand and just as you wondered how there was even possibly a leak in this castle, you began to notice things. That hand was warm, clasped between two of someone else's. And there was a soft hitch in breath before more quiet shuddering breaths came. "Please, you have to come back. You cant leave me." A stiffled sob. "I cant lose you. I wish I had stopped you. Dragged you out of the school myself. I cant believe I froze. That I let you run off into danger again."

You're heart ached he couldnt possibly blame himself. You body was sore and so tired but you had to push through. You had to let him know it wasnt his fault. Sweet Ominis, sitting here crying, blaming himself for your reckless heroics. Had this been what he has been doing every day he visited?

You started trying to push yourself up but only managing a few shifts thanks to the sleeping potion weighing your body down. But it was enough to catch his attention. Because he let out a small gasp and a whisper of your name as if he couldnt believe you were awake. You slowly blinked your eyes open squinting at the sun coming from the other side of the room. His face was one of shock, his beautiful icy blue eyes looking in your direction, even from this angle you could see the beautiful star burst pattern in them. He stood up while reaching for his wand, ready to grab Matron Blainey. He stopped short when he felt your hand tighten around his as you begged, "No please, let me be with you for a moment. I spoke with her earlier." He sat back down obligingly, you could now see his puffy eyes and the hint of red on his nose and cheeks from crying. Slowly you reached up with your other hand to gently hold his face. Another tear started to roll down his cheek. "Ominis my dear, please dont blame yourself. I had to do it. I had to save the school, I had to save you."

He shook his head. "To hell with the school. The teachers could have handled it. You've saved it before so why must you again? I should have stopped you. I should have begged you. Anything to get you to come to safety!" His words were cut off by another sob and you took the chance to stop his spiralling.

"They needed me, they needed my powers. They're strong but they needed my magic to put a stop to it. I'm sorry I didn't explain more but I had to go. The longer i took the worse the aftermath wouldve been." Your voice was almost a haze as you did your best to keep yourself from crying.

"You said ...'I love you'." His voice trailed off with that statement. It hung in the air like a question, a plea to know what you meant.

"I thought I'd never see you again. I wanted you to know for a while now. We became so close so quickly and I fell so hard. I couldn't ever get the courage to tell you, I didn't want to lose you over it. But knowing there was a good chance I'd never see you again... I had to tell you." The words just came spilling out. You were anxious to explain, not wanting him to cut in.

He was silent for far too long, his tears had stopped at some point, but your's were welling up. The panic set in, your heart going both too fast and too hard. It hurt so bad, like your heart might break your ribs. He didnt return your feelings. Here you were, ruining one of the few friendships you had because you just had to spill your heart out. Your whole body was trembling and now your tears were streaming non-stop down your face.

He chuckled before bringing your hand to kiss the back of it. "You couldn't find the courage? Well I don't feel like such a coward hearing that. My darling, I have been infatuated with you for so long. I don't know when it turned to love, but it has been that way for a while. You are the warmth of the sun wrapped up as a person. The sweet melody that gets caught and stuck in my head. A cold drink on a hot day. A comforting story after a terrible nightmare. I have bent to your whims when I was solid as stone to others. I would find a way to give you the universe if you so much as hinted that you wanted it. I would do anything if it made you happy, regardless of how it made me feel. I dont know why but something in you pulls me harder then any accio that could ever be performed. I have heard of soulmates and it would be the only explanation I could give right now. I never wish to lose you and it killed me to think I almost did. You feel like safety and comfort to me... I love you so much."

His declaration knocked the wind out of you. How could you respond to that? So you did the only thing you could think of within your physical abilities. You pulled his hands back towards you and kissed both of them. "How could i go anywhere when the one place i want to be is with you?"

[fandomzwriterk]

Smoke and Mirrors

Pairings: Tomas Vrbada/Smoke x OC

Warnings: slight gore + Amnesiac!OC + religious trauma (?) + characters dying + hinted innuendos later on + Kuai & Bi Han trying to be good brothers + Liu Kang as a dad figure (?) + Tomas just being his sweet lovable self + Bi Han being kind of a dick + Kuai Liang having no clue what it’s like to have a sister + confused “brother” Kuai Liang (?) + Raiden, Kung Lao, Johnny, and Kenshi being simps (mostly Raiden)

PT: 6/?

While Kuai and Bi-Han went on a mission in Las Angeles, Angel and Tomas were stuck back at base with Raiden and the other new recruits. Liu Kang didn’t take Tomas with his brothers, which in of itself was an odd thing. Angel didn’t mind though, as long as she wasn’t alone.

“So how did you come to join the Lin Kuei?” Raiden asked the pale haired girl

Raiden and Kung Lao sat at the steps of main path to the training grounds where everyone else was. Angel was nearby, sitting on a rock thinking with her back to them.

“I’m sure it was a grand story right? Much like the brothers?”

Angel was silent, hearing them but never saying a word.

“I’m sure your family must be proud too… or the family that raised you right? Bi-Han and Kuai Liang’s parents right?”

“They didn’t raise me. I showed up here months ago. That’s all.”

“That’s all? There has to be more right?”

Angel stood up, turning around to face both men as she stood towering over them.

“No. There isn’t. As far as I know, I remember nothing before I came here. All I have are the times I’ve spent here for the last few months, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m happy I have something to be in the Lin Kuei for.”

Raiden and Kung Lao were silent, letting Angel jump down and proceeding to walk away, letting Tomas walk in their direction as Angel went the other.

“Angel?”

She ignored him, walking past him as he watched her attention turn away from Raiden and Kung Lao.

“Did I say something?” Raiden asked

Raiden was concerned, he was a newbie to everyone here and he probably just offended the last person he wanted to wrong.

“What’d you say?” Tomas asked

“I just asked how her time was here as a kid and she told me she’s barely been here for a few months. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“We swear it wasn’t our intent.”

“I know. You’re curious, trust me I know. It just takes time with her.”

“She said she doesn’t remember anything. Is that true? How does she know her name though?”

“Oh that’s the name I gave her. She didn’t have one, so I called her that and then so did everyone else. It just stuck.”

“Oh. You really seem to care about her don’t you?”

“Of course. She’s probably my best friend here, and maybe my only friend.”

However… Raiden and Kung Lao didn’t believe him. But then again, as Liu Kang said, Tomas has a good heart, so maybe it’s just his nature to love and care for everyone the same. Maybe that was also because Tomas kept to himself, really only talking to his brothers and Angel.

“Why did you pick the name Angel?”

Tomas shrugged, he didn’t really have an answer. He just knew of angels from stories his mom told him, and Angel radiated that “energy” about her.

“Anyways. We’re gonna go train but can you tell Angel we’re sorry for us?”

“Sure guys, I will.”

And they all went separate ways. Tomas walking to find Angel while Raiden and Kung Lao went to train on the other side of the base.

“Angel? Where did you go?”

Silence greeted Tomas as he took quiet and careful steps, making sure not to disturb Angel in case she didn’t see him coming.

“Angel?” He whispered

“Tomas?”

His attention went up, noticing Angel sitting on the roof of a small hut that some foot soldiers slept in.

“I’ll be right there.” Tomas answered as he used his smoke magic to disappear, then reappearing next to Angel who was seated at the edge of the hut

“What made you come looking for me?”

Tomas adjusted his sitting, hanging his legs over the rooftop with Angel as well. Angel looked sad, seeming to try and think of something.

“Are you alright Angel?”

She nodded, just sighing as she moved her hands back, deciding to lean back a little to stare at the sky. The covers over her eyes intrigued Tomas each and every day. What could possibly be under those? What color did they look like? White? Red? Tomas wanted to know.

“You ever take it off?”

“This?” Angel asked pointing to her eyes with her pointer finger

“Yeah. How can you even see? Is it just muscle memory?”

“I… I don’t know. It’s as if I can see everything, but it’s like I’ve done this all before.”

“Before?”

“Like this just a memory that my own body remembers, just not me. As if I have no control, I just see and speak.”

Angel looked defeated. What even was she to begin with? How do you start a whole life over with no memory of anything before the moment you open your eyes, like nothing ever happened.

“Maybe, it’s just you. Maybe somehow, before you came here, maybe you were a good fighter. Maybe you were the strongest out there.”

Tomas was optimistic at trying to help Angel to remember anything, even if it didn’t seem significant at first. I hurt him to see Angel sad, after all she’s been good to him and his brothers. Tomas was willing to help someone who cared for him back, so he was going to do anything his friend asked of him.

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out together.”

Angel nodded, still staring out into the horizon, seeming to be thinking of something.

“I’ll see you in the morning Tomas.” She spoke softly before standing up, spreading her wings and taking off towards the other side of the complex

Next morning…

Angel woke up when a loud sound of someone screaming jolted her senses awake. Looking to her left and onto her table side, she reached for a small blade, letting it extend into a spear as she jumped out of bed. One hand in front her and the other behind her, Angel slowly walked to the door. She opened it, slowly looking left towards the wall that was next to Kuai’s room, who was at the end of the hall. She looked right, seeing Raiden about five feet in front of her also walking carefully and slowly. Quickly, she pulled her head back behind the door.

“What in the world are you doing?”

“I came to see if you were awake. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

Angel made the blade disappear, standing up to full walk out the door.

“It wasn’t you who woke me up. I heard someone screaming.”

“Screaming? Oh you mean Johnny.”

“Johnny?”

“One of the new champions from last night. You know, the one Lord Liu Kang wanted to find.”

“Right. I remember.”

“Well come on! Everyone’s waiting for you.”

He turned and ran down the hall, completely forgetting the fact that Angel had her hair over her face in case the wraps fell from her face. She turned to walk back inside her room, making her way to the long white outfit she wore every day. It was almost like a robe, but the back was longer than the front. Her wraps lay on top of the robe, also noticing her golden robe pieces were a little dirty.

“No problem. I can easily clean this later.”

She put on her robe-like dress, making sure the sleeves were perfectly cut halfway down her shoulders. She didn’t show as much of her body like Smoke and his brothers did, but Angel still felt happy with what she wore. The perfectly shaped hole on the back was small, but just big enough for her to spread her wings comfortably. So with her dress on and her golden bands on her wrists, Angel walked out the door and went to go outside. It wasn’t even five seconds before she walked out that a loud “FUCKING SHIT” could be heard somewhere in the distance.

“Oh no.”

To be continued…

[bonetrousled]

please please please please gawd tell me more about ur pap being the knight theory OR if u would so pls direct me to where u talked abt it before. u have truly GRIPPED me w this

OH GOD I HAVE SO SO MUCH OK. so i DO have the papyrus powerpoint HERE which has a section on that a little more in-depth and i will say i am not the first to come up w this idea but personally it's the only option that makes Complete sense w no holes to me. this is all going off the concept that papyrus is likely younger here bc sans asks kris to hang out w him. my ramblings under a cut bc im about to go fucking CRAZY

the knight, by people that have seen him already, is always referred to w he/it pronouns. papyrus and sans are the only characters that fit the he/it bill (both of them are referred to with it/its in the lost soul fight, nobody else is referred to this way)

there is NO way that kris OR susie could have made the dark worlds in chapter 1 and chapter 2. the dark world had to have been opened AFTER noelle and berdly got to the library (since their books and stuff are open) but BEFORE kris and susie arrived, crossing all of them off potential dark world opener lists. also up until this point kris didn't even Know how to open a dark world

there's the closet in the library that states that "a very large person could easily fit inside". papyrus could have potentially been hiding in there and waiting for others to come to open the fountain. additionally in ut he says that there's no skeletons in his closet- except him sometimes

but then the question of motive comes up. Why would he do that?

so far from what we've seen in deltarune, papyrus is an asocial shut-in. given that the main core of other characters hasn't really been altered, we can also assume what he wants MOST is to feel important and be liked, like in undertale. combining these two aspects leads us to someone who can't bring himself to socialize with others in the real world, but DESPERATELY wants to feel necessary and admired.

the whole deal w the dark world is wish fulfillment, at least as i see it. susie gets a cool outfit with spikes and makes friends, she has her own room with her own style, etc. berdly gets a cool, nerdy sci-fi outfit and is put in charge, and even gets to have a heroic moment towards the end of chapter 2. noelle gets to tell her true feelings to a mother figure and gets to spend time with susie. so if you get what you want most in the dark world, it would make COMPLETE sense for papyrus to not only be spending time in them, but opening more fountains to spend as much time in them as possible.

plus, what have we seen the first two chapters thus far? EVERYONE important and in-charge LOVES the knight. all they do is talk abt him and how awesome he is. double tying in this aspect of wish fulfillment to the weird, perfect nature of hometown- people who didn't really get a chance at life are still alive, everyone is happy, that sort of thing. papyrus is the ONLY main character out of all of undertale that NEVER gets what he wants. every other character gets some sort of completion to their arc, some sort of resolution and closure, they meet their goals, they achieve something. by the end of true pacifist, papyrus doesn't get ANYTHING. his friend count is still stagnant, he never proves himself, or gets any sort of important role (he only becomes the ambassador if you DON'T want to). putting two and two together here, it would make perfect sense for papyrus to finally get his moment- by his own hands.

plus, and this is just a little obvious here, but if you become what you want the most in the dark world, and papyrus wanted to be in the guard- what would you call a member of a royal guard? a knight.

alongside the weird, vague hints that papyrus must have had SOMETHING happen to him in his past and that he wasn't always a great guy (very adamant about how people can change, the "I'M A PRETTY BRUTAL KIND OF GUY" line, the way he admits to you in aborted no mercy that he was going to blast you to smithereens) and we NEVER get resolution/explanation for that (or any of the other weird shit he says [see powerpoint]) i feel like there's just too much setup here for any other option to make sense to me. papyrus is also just very obviously toby's favorite character from ut, he's the only one he ever commissioned art for just to have and he clearly really enjoys writing him and doing stuff w him. anyway ummm im insane :) *grins*

[jiayuechen]

Viper, please scold me again.

【Chamber X Viper】 Valorant fanfic ongoing.

Chapter 1

Seeing Doubles

*I’m not a native speaker so I’m looking forward to your suggestions on my vocabulary and grammar.

“Viper, you must let me take you out some time. ”

“Viper, I know the perfect place for dinner, dancing.”

“Viper, don't pretend you're not happy to see me. ”

“Sabine...”

"Shut up!" Viper finally couldn't bear it anymore and yelled at Chamber, "I've told you not to use my real name during missions."

Chamber remained silent, then let out a few awkward laughs.

The same drama played out every time Chamber and Viper teamed up for a mission.

Out of respect for Viper, most agents quietly stood by and watched the entire drama, privately exchanging comments.

But there were also younger agents like Phoenix and Yoru who didn't care, expressing their views publicly.

"This isn't the first time, is it?" Yoru said gleefully.

"Sorry, I've silenced Viper again," Chamber apologized with remorse.

Thus, Viper faced the second painful moment in her life — embarrassment.

No one ever considered why such an awkward drama continued to went on between Viper and Chamber.

One, a French agent known for elegance and finesse.

The other, an American scientist turned to the dark side for revenge.

Logically speaking, with Chamber's emotional intelligence, if he truly wanted to pursue Viper, there would surely be better tactics.

And conversely, knowing Viper's character, if she truly wanted to reject Chamber, she would have more decisive methods.

Furthermore, with their respective charm and abilities, they could undoubtedly find better partners.

So why continue this same drama?

No one knows, and no one has really thought about it.

After all, those who come to Valorant each have their own purposes — whether to find long-lost family, reclaim lost memories, or see departed loved ones reborn.

As long as there’s no conflict with oneself, no one delves into the true motives of others.

Just like how Chamber and Viper treat each other at this moment.

"Chamber, I think we need to have a serious talk."

After the mission, Viper pulled Chamber aside.

"Well, I've been wanting to have a chat with you. Let's find a coffee shop..." Chamber seemed genuinely unaware of what Viper was talking about and pulled out his phone.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Viper looked visibly impatient. "I want to discuss about how you flirt with me in front of other agents."

"Well..." Chamber stopped joking around.

He knew Viper is not an idiot. Also, he knew very well that the real issue between them was the trust issue almost every Valorant agent had with Chamber. Viper was particularly sensitive to this, never truly trusting Chamber since he joined, and always ready to eliminate him.

As the false flattery slowly faded from Chamber's handsome face, an image of a shrewd arms dealer reappeared behind the mask. Viper's lips twitched slightly behind her mask. She paused and said, "I like things direct. First, less flirting during missions, more focus. Second, don't use my real name when other agents are present."

"Is that all?"

Chamber seemed to relax a little.

"That's all," Viper replied. Her tone was gentle and enticing, revealing no hint of fear or suspicion.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes," Viper continued.

"No problem!" The usual pleasing smile returned to Chamber's face. "Um... just to confirm, so it's okay to call you Sabine in private or in letters, right?"

"Whatever suits you," Viper replied casually. "You're charming, Chamber, but not as clever as you think."

"So, let's get this straight, what are you really conflicted about?" Reyna took a deep sip from her coffee cup and asked.

"I don't know why I said that." Viper poured coffee from the siphon into her cup as she spoke.

"You mean saying he's charming?"

"Yes. I just wanted to say he should focus more on the mission, and I didn't want to delve into anything else. But I don't know why I said that."”

"Firstly, Viper," Reyna set down her coffee cup, "are you sure I'm a good emotional counselor?"

"I wouldn't talk to that woman who does revive stuff or those brats," Viper replied.

"What about Killjoy?"

"We don't discuss matters beyond the experiment."

"Ah," Reyna sighed heavily, "I never thought I'd see today."

"Let me ask you, Reyna. With my temper and age, would a man as young and rich as Chamber pursue me purely out of affection?"

"Correct." Reyna replied frankly.

"Then why would he pursue me?" Viper asked.

"Chamber is slightly more astute than other businessmen, in that you can never see through his true intentions," Reyna replied. "Just as I didn't understand why he would spend so much money supporting my shelter."

"If we don't know his purpose, but Cypher and Fade haven't intervened, it at least proves that this purpose won't conflict with the objectives of Valorant for the time being,"

"That makes sense." Reyna replied.

"So, here's the question. Considering Chamber pursues me for his own reasons, would you fall in love with a man flirting with you like that?" Viper asked.

"No, I'd just give him a headshot." Reyna replied bluntly.

"Exactly, so his actions wouldn't achieve his purpose. Do you think Chamber, with his abilities, would not realize this?" Viper pressed.

"Well..." Reyna hesitated, "maybe French men are just more confident? They think they know everything about women."

"If it's just a pursuit out of genuine affection, that makes sense. But if there are other motives, he seems to be overly confident," Viper concluded.

Reyna nodded, taking a large gulp of coffee to digest all this information.

"But..." Viper looked out the window thoughtfully.

"But what?" Reyna looked at her, puzzled.

"I'm thinking, if his goals don't conflict with Valorant and he needs my help to achieve them, why can't he just tell me directly?" Viper replied.

"What?" Reyna was so surprised she almost sprayed coffee everywhere. "What are you planning, Viper?"

"I don't actually dislike him," Viper answered. "The real reason I hesitate to get close to him is because of that sense of mistrust. He's keeping too many secrets from us."

"So you don't actually like him, right?" Reyna seemed almost unwilling to accept these words from herself.

"I said I don't dislike him," Viper reiterated. "It's just that I think he's not very clever. He hides himself so well that it makes everyone wary."

"But that's just who he is!" Reyna was struggling to organize her thoughts. "I mean, if he were to reveal his intentions and you disagreed, what would he do next? After all, he's a businessman."

"But right now, There’s not even a possibility of me helping him. He should take a chance at least," Viper replied.

"So we just have to wait for him to come around, is that it?" Reyna seemed more confused with each passing moment.

"I don't think he will come around," Viper said.

"Then let him be."

"But is it a good thing to have someone in Valorant who can't be trusted by others?"

Reyna chugged coffee like a relentless coffee pouring machine, trying to keep her brain awake with caffeine.

Despite the fruitless conversation with Reyna, Viper engaged in some introspection and began to understand the source of her inner turmoil.

Perhaps Reyna had a point. Chamber wasn't sure if he cared about his true purpose, and he feared that revealing it would lead to Viper rejecting him completely.

If that was the case, why not give him a chance to speak up?

Viper casually picked up one of Chamber's love letters, dipped it in the specially crafted green ink he had given her, and started writing on parchment. The writing process wasn't easy; despite having a template to follow, Viper wasn't adept at writing such sentimental things. Considering that anyone else seeing the contents of the letter would lead Viper to poison herself, she decided to personally deliver the letter to Chamber.

"Sova, where's Chamber?" Viper asked.”

"He's in the VIP lounge at Breeze," Sova replied, focused on adjusting his bolt without looking up.

"Thank you." Saying that, Viper left Sova's room.

It took him a moment to realize.

"Wait, who was she looking for just now?!"

Realizing something was wrong, Sova hurriedly ran towards the rooms of Cypher and Fade.

The bar at Breeze was as lively as ever.

Up on the third-floor VIP section, a regular patron awaited in his trademark white shirt and blue waistcoat—a Frenchman known as Chamber.

"Sir, your guest has arrived," the waiter whispered in French.

Chamber discreetly placed a rendezvous anchor under the table corner, then went down the stairs.

Rendezvous, also known as French Displacement, was a secret technique allowing for a swift retreat to base when combat turned unfavorable. By placing an anchor at a safe location, one could quickly escape the battlefield within a certain radius.

Leaving an anchor was a habit Chamber developed over years as an arms dealer.

After all, in this line of work, you never knew what tomorrow might bring.

The term "French Displacement" might sound like mocking cowardice for thinking of escape during negotiations, but for an arms dealer, adaptability was a necessary quality in this less-than-glamorous business.

On the other side, Viper also arrived at the VIP section of the Breeze bar, holding what was referred to as a "love letter."

She glimpsed Chamber coming down from upstairs, appearing to wait for someone.

Despite its concealed location, based on their familiarity with each other's habits during missions, Viper discovered the rendezvous anchor under the table corner.

Viper knew Chamber wouldn't place an anchor here without reason. She had also heard rumors that Chamber had encountered the Chamber from Omega and they had even collaborated. Surely, this anchor was meant to guard against a certain collaborator.

Putting on a gas mask and holding a vial of snake bite venom, Viper found a narrow corner on the VIP balcony where she could hide her figure. From there, she observed every move along the seaside through the railing.

About two minutes later, a man approached Chamber.

He wasn't wearing overalls or formal attire, just casual clothes, but his build and mannerisms were strikingly similar to someone Viper had in her mind. Viper vaguely felt she had seen this man somewhere before, but couldn't recall why.

"Could it be him?" Viper widened her eyes. She couldn't believe this person would still appear here.

Viper scrutinized the man in front of her against her memories, finally confirming him to be the same person—the senior engineer from Kingdom Corporation whom Viper had encountered during the lab attack years ago.

She watched as Chamber exchanged a few words with the man and then handed him a note. In return, the man handed over a document.

Unconsciously, Viper tightened her grip on the snake bite venom in her hand. Scenes from the uncontrollable memories of the lab attack flooded Viper's mind.

—flames soaring, devastation everywhere, and the people she cared about forever left behind.

She saw Chamber shaking hands with the mastermind behind all this pain, seemingly enjoying their cooperation.

Just like years ago, anger once again filled her chest, accompanied by myriad pains and despair rushing over her.

Viper struggled to contain her emotions, but her grip on the venom had become uncontrollable.

Click

The snake bite venom slipped from Viper's hand and fell to the ground.

The vial of this poison was not sturdy, designed to shatter upon impact, increasing the damage from the glass shards and allowing the poison to seep into the skin.

"What's happening?" Security and patrons from the Breeze bar rushed over upon hearing the noise.

Viper didn't have time to explain. She knew that soon, fully armed police would arrive here. To avoid raising suspicion, she deployed a smoke screen to obscure the view and swiftly left the bar.

Five minutes ago, on the beach of Breeze.

Chamber watched as his former colleague, dressed in cheap casual clothes, walked towards the beach. He reached out his hand and waved to the man, seemingly nostalgic for their past working together.

"Mr. Fabron," the tall man also extended his hand, friendly gesturing towards Chamber.

"You guys are down to selling action briefs for money now?" Chamber joked lightly.

"Mr. Fabron, you're generous with money. That’s why we're willing," the man replied unabashedly.

"According to the agreed price, here's the check," Chamber said, handing the check to the man.

"And here's the brief you requested," the man handed over the documents promptly.

"Pleasure doing business," Chamber extended his right hand, ready to shake hands with the man.

"Sorry, I just have to ask," the man double-checked the check, seeming a bit incredulous, "This is just an action brief from many years ago. Why is Mr. Fabron willing to pay such a large amount to buy it? Is there something of interest to you?"

"It's none of my concern," Chamber replied, "but it's important to a friend of mine."

"A friend?" The man seemed to doubt his own ears.

"Yes, a friend..." Chamber's gaze dimmed momentarily, but then returned to his usual ambiguous smile, "Actually, I'm not sure either. Just thought I'd buy it first and show her, might be useful."

"Well then, best of luck to you," the man extended his right hand and shook Chamber's hand firmly.

Click. The snake bite venom shattered on the ground, making a piercing sound.

Chamber turned towards the noise, spotting a familiar figure with a gas mask slipping into the toxic fog she had created.

"Oh no," Chamber muttered to himself, without saying goodbye to the man, he hurriedly chased after Viper in the direction she had left.

Viper returned to her room.

The mishap left her shaken to the core.

That anger... that heart-wrenching pain...

After all these years, she had never realized the strength of that force could be so overpowering.

The attack years ago had turned both her and Omen into dreaded monsters.

Omen's terror stemmed from his appearance, while Viper's horror perhaps came from within.

"Instead of shaking hands with that man, I might as well drink my own poison," Viper muttered calmly to herself.

Indeed, just seeing Chamber shake hands with that man caused her to accidentally drop and shatter the snake bite venom.

Did she have the capability to handle Chamber's darker, deeper secrets?

"If his goals are related to that experiment, would I really be able to stop myself from killing him?" Viper murmured to herself again.

She tossed the love letter into the poison, and used a bottle of chilled champagne to calm herself once more.

On the other side, Brimstone's office door was heavily knocked.

"Come in."

"Brimstone, we can't ignore the issue with Chamber any longer." Fade entered, throwing a stack of letters onto Brimstone's desk.

"Is it because of those threatening letters, or do you think Chamber is connected to the people who kidnapped your loved one?"

"Not the threats. It's Viper."

"What's wrong with Viper?"

Fade took a deep breath and said, "I swear on my life that Frenchman is in love with her. Viper went to Breeze's bar to see him today."

Brimstone paused for a moment, then slowly responded, "Since Killjoy and Raze got together, we no longer prohibit romantic relationships between agents."

"That's not the point!" Fade was almost incoherent. "He's a dangerous man who made a deal with his Omega World self. If his intentions don't conflict with the protocol, I might turn a blind eye. But Viper is different. Do you know why the Scions of Hourglass is still hunting her? Do you know why Omen tried to kill her during the lab tragedy years ago? We haven't figured any of this out, and you're okay with Viper being sweet-talked and bombarded with sugar-coated bullets by Chamber every day?"

Brimstone fell silent.

Fade quieted down too, looking pained and occasionally groaning.

After a moment of contemplation, Brimstone finally responded to Fade's concerns with a question of his own.

"Fade, do you think Viper is smart?"”

"Very smart. She's one of the smartest women I've ever met. That's why I came to you. I can't stand seeing such a smart woman being deceived so easily."

"If you think she's smart too, maybe you should trust her like I do."

“What do you mean by trust her?”

"If neither of us knows Chamber's true intentions, what's the best way to figure out?"

Fade pondered for a moment and retrieved the letters from the desk.

"But I must say, this approach carries great risks. If it fails, we'll both be held accountable."

Brimstone remained silent, nodded, and watched Fade leave.

[ja-ck-ar-se]

Thinking Too Much

I’m only up to where the English TL of the novel is so this isn’t spoilers for later on or anything - just my brain working too hard in the wrong direction. Probably.

On the topic of the Immoral People needing Yoojin to gather a certain number of S ranks...

I thought according to the obv answer that maybe they want one or multiple of the kids to die so he can x2 and off the Filial Addicts and KO the Source... Then when thinking about why the White Bird took Yoohyun’s corpse, I recalled how Yoojin was told that their Source was the only one with Caregivers/Nurturers (right?). And how they seem to be getting stronger (not physically). Ch 77 of the manhwa even highlighted how normal people see born S ranks compared to Yoojin, and although his love for his brother was indeed sweet, I can’t help feeling like there was something else at play. Even if all the previous ones loved their wards as much as Yoojin and didn’t feel the slightest hint of fear, there’s also the fact that Yoohyun loved him enough to die, unlike the other S ranks with Caregivers/Nurturers, and I'm willing to bet that the kids under Yoojin are the same.

So something about their Source is different. Or changing?

The Immoral People made the system, but it has been said that they didn’t give everyone their powers. Then wouldn’t that mean God aka the Source did? And unlike the rest, it specifically created the concept of Caregivers/Nurturers? Or people with the capacity to acquire those titles?

So did it want Caregivers/Nurturers, intentionally or instinctively? Did it want them to grow? Why?

Of course, it could also be the White Bird’s interference, but something must be different about it for her to love it like so rather than worship the Sources like the Filial Addicts.

Am I thinking too much?

Either way, one of my final results is a bit... off-putting.

I’m pretty sure at this point that Chirpy is either the White Bird’s child or clone/offshoot/avatar or something, and she did uncharacteristically show up to take Yoohyun’s corpse - I take that as her trying to establish a link with Yoojin. And we know she loves their world’s Source, meaning her taking action is more than likely for it.

So... Strengthened Caregiver/Nurturer + for the Source = the Source... needs a Perfect Caregiver/Nurturer? The White Bird (and prob the Source too) plans to have Yoojin apply the keyword to the Source? 

Tell me why I felt sick after thinking this?

Why does this novel make me think so much ah

[spnhunter4life]

So Long Version 2 Chapter 6

Word Count: 7.2k

A/N: If you haven't picked up the hints of it yet, I think my feelings on John are made pretty clear in this chapter. This one is angsty, but we get to see Dean and Jenna taking care of each other which is always nice.

Warnings: character death, canon typical violence

Series Masterlist

Ages 20 and 22 May 18, 2001

We unlocked the door to the abandoned factory and took off in different directions, moving quietly, guns at the ready. After searching the entire manufacturing floor, we met at the bottom of the stairs leading to the office area. Dad started up the stairs first and I followed closely. The first office we checked was empty. The second too.

The third is where we found it. Peeking through a window, we saw the wraith standing above a man who had been tied to a chair. The wraith let the spike slide free from her wrist and moved to stand behind the man. He was struggling, trying desperately to free himself as she placed the tip behind his ear. Dad kicked the door in.

There was nothing I could do but watch in horror as the wraith, startled by the noise, shoved its spike deep into the man’s brain, killing him instantly. I knew I was dreaming. This was the third time I’d seen his death tonight, my mind processing the disastrous events of the day the only way it knew how. By making me relive it in excruciating detail. 

Dad fired three times in quick succession, each silver bullet finding a home in the wraith’s chest. I ran over to the man, desperately checking for a heartbeat even though I knew I wouldn’t find one.

“Let’s take care of this,” Dad said gruffly, already dragging the body of the wraith to the middle of the room.

And then we were at the factory door again, starting the whole nightmare over. We had just met up at the bottom of the stairs when I was woken up by a fist banging on the door. I groaned and turned on the lamp on the nightstand before getting out of bed and drowsily making my way to the door. Dad had gone out to drink. He never handled it well when we weren’t able to save somebody. He’d probably forgotten or lost his key, not for the first time.

I opened the door, ready to be faced with the sight of my dad drunk out of his mind and needing help getting to bed. My breath caught at what I saw instead.

“Dean? What’s wrong?” I asked, alarmed at the sight of him.

He was there, red eyed and miserable, looking completely lost. It concerned me more than it would have if he came here covered in blood.

“I didn’t know where else to go,” he admitted, voice cracking. A tear rolled down his cheek.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again as I let him into the room, trying to remain calm despite the panic flaring in my chest. 

After shutting and locking the door, I began to look him over for any sign of injury. He looked ok apart from a mostly healed scratch on his right temple.

“Sorry to barge in on you like this,” he apologized as he wiped away another tear. He stood in the middle of the room, seeming unsure what to do with himself. “It’s just… well, like I said. I didn’t know where else to go.”

I’d only ever known him to be confident, unbreakable, ready to take on the world. I was one of the only people who ever got to see his more sensitive side, but even in his most vulnerable moments I’d never seen him this… broken. It scared me.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me to the couch. Seeing that he was ok physically, the next conclusion I came to was that something must be wrong with Sam or John. It couldn’t be anything too serious. If there was something really bad happening he would have told me right away so that we could fix it. He probably wouldn’t have even come to me, he would have found a closer source of help. On the other hand, if it wasn’t serious, why was he here, looking like his world was collapsing?

I’d talked to him three days ago. It was our monthly phone call, a tradition we’d kept going. Everything seemed fine then. He seemed happy enough. They were between cases, keeping their eyes out for something new. They had been in Indiana. Dad and I were in Pennsylvania, so we’d even talked about meeting somewhere in the middle once we finished our hunt. What had happened between then and now?

“If you’re not ready to talk about it, that’s fine,” I assured him even though I felt like I’d go crazy if I didn’t find out what happened. “Just at least tell me that Sam and John are ok.”

He laughed bitterly.

“That depends on how you define ‘ok.’”

My heart skipped a beat. Had I been wrong? Were things more serious than I anticipated? Were Sam and John laid up comatose in a hospital somewhere or something equally bad? I’d never been a big fan of John. I cared for him only because Sam and Dean did. I would mourn his loss only for their sake. But Sam… if something happened to him I didn’t know if I could handle it.

“What happened?” I asked again, a little more demanding this time. Dean seemed to notice the room for the first time, looking around as if searching for something.

“Where’s Ben?” he asked, noticing his absence. 

“Out. Drinking. Dean-” I tried again to get some answers, but he cut me off.

“Rough hunt?” He knew my dad wasn’t usually one to spend the night getting drunk. He only did when things went wrong.

“The guy didn’t make it,” was all I said. “What’s going on?” 

He ignored me again.

“How are you doing?” He asked, avoiding the conversation I was trying to start. Worrying about someone else was Dean’s go-to way of avoiding his own problems.

“I’m fine,” I told him, giving up on my questioning. He would talk when he was ready. He looked me over doubtfully.

“You don’t look fine,” he said.

“Gee, thanks,” I muttered, self consciously trying to smooth down my hair and noting my very wrinkled pajamas. “I see you haven’t lost your ability to flatter the ladies.”

“I just mean you look tired,” he clarified.

“Yeah, well, that’s what happens when someone knocks on your door at,” I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “3 in the morning and wakes you up,” I deflected. There was no reason for him to know about the nightmare that had been playing on a loop. He couldn’t do anything about it anyway and he clearly had enough on his mind.

“Sorry,” he winced. “I shouldn’t have come. Or at the very least I should have waited until morning.”

“No, don’t apologize,” I quickly backtracked. “You can always come to me when you need to. You know that. It doesn’t matter what time it is.”

He nodded in understanding.

“Seriously, Dean. No matter the time, no matter the reason. I’m always happy to see you,” I told him, wanting to be sure he knew I meant it.

He sighed, ran a hand over his face, and turned to face me, tears shining in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

“Sam’s gone,” he said. “He left us.”

“What?” I gasped out, shocked.

“He’s going to college. Says he’s done with hunting,” he continued. I hugged him, wanting to comfort him and not knowing what else to do. He hugged me back immediately and buried his face in my shoulder.

“I can’t believe he actually did that,” I said, feeling more hurt than I had any right to. I’d barely seen Sam in the last three years. It’s not like he’d abandoned me. Somehow it still felt like he had. And I knew how unbelievably painful this would be for Dean. His appearance and behavior suddenly made sense.

“What do you mean? You knew he was planning this?” Dean asked, pulling away from me, sounding betrayed.

“No!” I assured him. “I mean, he always talked about wanting to go to college, but I thought that’s all it was. Talk. I didn’t know he was ever actually considering it.”

“Well apparently he was. Thanks for the heads up,” he snapped, standing up and starting to pace.

“Dean, I’ve barely talked to him in the last year. How was I supposed to know?” I snapped back. “Plus, you were there for all of our conversations, so you know it’s not like I was secretly planning with him.”

“You’re right,” he sighed, sitting back down. “You couldn’t have known. But he’s never in his whole life said a word to me about college. I didn’t realize that’s something he wanted. Why didn’t you tell me back then?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I figured you knew. Besides, I thought it was just a dream. I didn’t think he’d ever actually go for it,” I explained.

“Looks like neither of us know him as well as we thought we did, then,” he said, putting his head in his hands. I put my hand on his shoulder and rubbed my thumb back and forth.

“Why did he leave already?” I asked. “It’s only May. He just graduated. Literally days ago.”

“From what I could get out of him, he wasn’t planning on sticking around much longer anyway. He just… announced it, out of nowhere. That he was leaving us. And he seemed relieved.” he told me resentfully. He looked up at me then and I moved my hand away.

“I know he’s never loved hunting or the way we were raised. I know he’s always wished we were normal. But how could he leave us like that? How can he care so little about our family that he would tear it apart? Things weren’t perfect, but they weren’t that bad were they?”

“No,” I agreed. “It wasn’t bad.” 

It broke my heart to see Dean hurting this way. I desperately wanted to make it better. But I knew I couldn’t.

“What did your dad say?” I asked. Dean let out another bitter laugh.

“If you think you’ve seen my dad mad before, think again. My ears are still ringing from all the shouting. From both of them.” He paused as if remembering the argument. “He told Sam if he walked out that door he’d better never come back,” he said.

I let out a breath. I didn’t want there to be any more tension between them than there was likely to be already from the fallout with Sam. John would undoubtedly take his anger out on Dean.

“And he was ok with you coming here?” I asked. Dean straightened.

“If he’s got a problem with it, it’s his own damn fault,” he fumed. “He took off as soon as he and Sam were done screaming at each other. I waited for hours, but he never came back and wouldn’t answer my calls. He left me too.

“So I got in the car and just started driving. I didn’t even know where I was going until I was halfway here. I guess I must have known subconsciously where I wanted to go.” He took a deep, uneven breath before continuing. 

“Sometimes I feel like I care about my family more than they care about me. That I need them more than they need me,” he confided. “And it must be true. Otherwise they wouldn’t have left me.”

“Dean, no,” I told him firmly. “Don’t you ever think that. Of course they care about you and of course they need you. I don’t think they realize how much. They’re too stupid and stubborn to see how much they rely on you. Don’t let them make you feel bad about yourself. They don’t see how important you are to them. They don’t see how you’ve held your family together. But you know what I see?” I asked him, making sure he was paying attention.

“I see a man who puts the needs of his family above his own, who has done so his entire life. I see a man who cares so deeply about his family that he’d do anything for them. I see a man whose family really doesn’t deserve him.”

He was looking at me intently, face full of gratitude and pain.

“Don’t leave me,” he pleaded. “I couldn’t bear it if I lost you too.”

“John didn’t leave you,” I told him. This much I knew. John was a grade A ass, but he hadn’t left Dean for good. “He just needs a day or two to calm down. I can’t believe he was selfish enough to not even answer the phone though,” I grumbled.

“Please,” was all he said. My heart broke for him again.

“I would never leave you Dean. Never. I promise. You can stay here with me for as long as you want, and then you’re always welcome to come back. Anytime. You won’t lose me. You can’t lose me. Even if you try,” I told him with a small smile.

He smiled back before collapsing back against the couch.

“I should let you get back to sleep,” he said.

“I’m happy to stay up and talk. Or just hang out,” I told him.

“I know. But I’m actually pretty exhausted myself. I’ve been driving since yesterday afternoon,” he said.

“Okay,” I agreed. “You might as well take my dad’s bed,” I told him. “Who knows when he’ll stumble back in. And he can take the couch.”

“I’m fine on the couch,” he answered, standing up. “I’m just gonna grab my stuff out of the car.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Positive,” he said. He pulled me in for a quick hug and I felt him relax a little. He gently nudged me in the direction of my bed and left the room. 

I sat on the edge of my bed, waiting for him to come back. I relaxed when I didn’t hear the Impala’s engine roar to life. He came back in a minute later with his duffel and a small blanket I remembered being left in the car for nights they slept in there.

I laid down, getting comfortable as I watched Dean take off his layers of jackets and unlacing and taking off his boots. He laid down on the couch and sighed.

“Goodnight Jenna,” I heard him say.

“Goodnight.”

~~~~~

Apparently I wasn’t meant to be getting much sleep tonight. It took about an hour for me to settle down again and I was just on the edge of sleep when my dad stumbled through the door. Thankfully he didn’t wake Dean up – the slow, even breathing I could hear coming from the couch assured me of that – but the disturbance left me once again wide awake. 

I rolled over to look at the clock. 4:30. I sighed and restarted the process of getting to sleep, resigning myself to being very tired in the morning. I would need a lot of coffee.

~~~~~

Despite the rough night I had, I was still the first one up at 8. I wasn’t surprised my dad was still out. After the night he had, he’d probably sleep for at least a couple more hours. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised about Dean either. He’d had an emotionally exhausting couple of days. That took a lot out of a person. Coupled with his twelve hour drive here, he would need as much sleep as he could get.

As quietly as I could, I got dressed, threw my hair into a messy ponytail, and slipped out the door. I walked four blocks to a little coffee shop and bought coffee and donuts for everyone. Drink carrier and plastic bag full of donuts in hand, I slowly made my way back to the motel, enjoying the morning air.

I quietly opened the door and a quick scan of the room confirmed that both men were still sleeping. I set our breakfast on the table and sat down. As I waited for them to wake up, I sipped on my coffee and started a book I’d been wanting to read for a while. I’d barely started the second chapter when I heard Dean moving.

“Hey,” he said in a sleep-roughened voice. I looked over and saw him sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Hey,” I greeted, bookmarking my place. “How’d you sleep?”

“Not bad,” he said as he got up and stretched. “You?”

“Not bad,” I echoed. “I got breakfast,” I told him.

“Aww, thanks sweetheart. You really know how to take care of a guy, don’t you?” He teased, protective humor fully in place this morning.

“Well you’re not particularly difficult to take care of,” I informed him. He laughed and headed to the bathroom. 

I opened the noisy plastic bag and took out one of the donuts while I waited for him. I wasn’t really worried about being quiet now that Dean was up. Drunk as I knew he was last night, I figured Dad would sleep through a bomb going off.

“What did you get?” Dean asked when he emerged from the bathroom and sat across from me. I just pushed the bag in his direction in response, letting him look through the variety of donuts I’d chosen. 

He picked a powdered sugar one, looked me right in the eye, and took a big bite, getting the sugar all over his mouth. I just shook my head in amusement.

“You’re like a three-year-old,” I informed him. 

“Nah. A three-year-old doesn’t know that this stuff,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee, “is where it’s at.”

I chuckled and took another bite of my own donut. We spent the rest of the morning talking, filling in details of things we didn’t have enough time to talk about over a phone call. My dad woke up around 11. I’d ended up drinking his coffee a couple hours ago, needing the caffeine boost and knowing it would be cold by the time he got to it anyway. 

He gave Dean a cursory greeting, not even bothering to ask about the surprise visit. After taking a quick shower, he left to do who knows what. He didn’t give an explanation.

I was still sad about the news Dean had brought last night. I couldn’t imagine how hard he must be trying to cover his pain right now. But I was also happy, so incredibly happy, to have Dean here with me. In the same room. It happened so rarely these days that I never failed to appreciate it in the moment. I secretly dreamed about a day when we could be together every day again.

For now I’d content myself with the time I did get with him. I wondered how long it would be this time.

~~~~~

Turns out, it wasn’t very long. Dean and I had gone out for lunch, reminiscing about some of the sketchy looking places we’d eaten in over the years. We were just getting back to the motel when John called. And he was mad.

From across the room I could hear the angry tone of voice coming through the phone speaker. I could only hear Dean’s side of the conversation, but it was enough to piece together what was going on. John had finally gotten over his fit of anger and come back to the motel to find Dean gone. Dean mostly stood there and took the verbal beating. Only once did he try to defend his actions.

“You left. You just took off. And you wouldn’t answer the phone.”

I couldn’t hear John’s response, but I could take a pretty good guess as to what it was. He would say something about how Dean should have known better than to take off. He should have stayed put and waited for John to get back. Like a dog, sitting at home, waiting for its master’s next command.

Dean’s posture changed, any thoughts about arguing gone. He was back to being that good little soldier, ‘Yes sir,’ or ‘No, sir,’ the only words escaping his mouth.

There were few things in this world that made me as mad as John’s treatment of his eldest son. I wanted to snatch the phone from Dean’s hands and yell at John for throwing a temper tantrum. For abandoning Dean in that heartbreaking moment and leaving him behind, the exact same thing he was mad at Sam for doing to him. I wanted to tell him if he was going to behave like a child and treat Dean like a broken toy, then he didn’t deserve to get him back. 

I didn’t say any of this though. I clenched my hands into fists at my side, gritted my teeth together, and kept my mouth shut. 

Dean hung up the phone and immediately went to grab his bag.

“You’re leaving?” I asked, unwilling to let him go so soon. Not wanting to let him go at all.

“I have to. Dad needs me.”

I scoffed.

“Don’t start with that Jenna,” he said tersely. “You wouldn’t abandon your dad. Why would you expect me to abandon mine?”

“Yeah, well my dad wouldn’t abandon me. Tell me again what John did just a couple days ago.”

“He didn’t abandon me. He just needed to cool off. Like you said. And I’m sorry, but where exactly is your dad right now?” He snapped.

“That’s not even close to the same thing and you know it.”

“How is it any different?” He asked.

“First of all, my dad didn’t just up and leave me behind because he was angry. He’s out trying to deal with what happened last night.”

“And my dad wasn’t trying to deal?” He challenged.

“Your dad left you behind!” I shouted. I was mad at John, not him, but I was also frustrated that he couldn’t see how terribly John treated him.

“My dad would pick up the phone if I called him right now. And he wouldn’t have left at all, except you’re here and he’s trying to give us some time alone.” I told him.

Dean opened the door and stepped into the parking lot, walking around to the trunk of his car.

“Dean, stop.”

“I have to go, Jenna. It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree because it’s not your decision,” he said as he threw his duffel in.

“I know,” I said placatingly. “But can you just stop for a minute?”

He closed the trunk and looked at me expectantly.

“I don’t want to fight,” I told him.

I saw the anger leave him. That quickly. And I realized his anger hadn’t been at me either. He was probably just overwhelmed.

“Neither do I,” he agreed. He sighed and wrapped me in a hug.

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” I said sadly. 

“I know. I’m sorry,” he said, squeezing me once before letting me go. Then I thought about the reason he was even here.

“You want me to drive to Cali and whoop Sam for you?” I asked teasingly, hoping that making it into a joke was the right call. 

“Thanks, but no. All I ever wanted was to protect him. And when we were kids I wished so badly that he could have a normal life. That he didn’t have to be caught up in all this hunting crap.” He smiled ruefully. “Be careful what you wish for, I guess.”

I didn’t know what to say in response. I’d undoubtedly come up with a good reply later and kick myself for not thinking of it now. So I settled for the best thing I could think of.

“Call me when you get there.”

“I will,” he assured me. Then he climbed into the passenger seat and drove away.

Ages 21 and 22 December 29, 2001

Dad and I were currently in Chicago, working a case we suspected to be ghouls. Three different mausoleums had been disturbed in two different cemeteries. Whoever had broken into these places hadn’t stolen any of the valuable items inside, but had opened up the caskets. And then the bodies. And they’d eaten them.

It was late afternoon and we were going over the information we’d gathered over the past few days, working on narrowing down the location these things might be hiding in when I heard the rumble of a familiar engine. My focus, which had been tenuous at best at the anticipation of this moment, flew out the window.

John was taking a few ‘personal days,’ whatever that meant, so Dean was coming to stay with us for a few days. I wished we weren’t working so we could just spend time together, but I was excited to see him either way.

I jumped out of my chair so quickly it would have fallen over if my dad hadn’t caught it. I stood at the door, waiting for him to knock before opening it. I didn’t want to seem too eager or like I’d been watching for his arrival. Which I hadn’t been, despite how much I wanted to. The curtains had remained closed in order to discourage looking out the window and not focusing on the case. It’s not my fault his car was so loud.

The thirty seconds or so it undoubtedly took for him to grab his bag and walk to the door felt like an eternity. Finally, there was a knock. I quickly unlocked the door and threw it open, huge smile on my face as I hugged him.

Dean seemed a little startled at how quickly I threw myself at him – so much for not seeming eager – but didn’t hesitate to hug me back.

“Hey, sweetheart. I missed you too,” he mumbled so only I could hear.

“Alright, give the man some room to breathe,” my dad teased.

I wasn’t even close to ready to be done hugging him. We hadn’t seen each other since the night he told me about Sam going to college, and I missed him so much. Not that that was a feeling I was unfamiliar with, but being away from him was getting harder. I let him go and took a step back, giving him space.

“How’re you doing, son?” My dad asked him, placing an affectionate hand on his shoulder.

“I’m good, Ben. Thanks for letting me crash with you,” Dean said, moving to the couch to set his bag down.

“Of course. We’re always happy to see you,” he assured Dean. “We’re still working on a case right now. You’re welcome to join in if you want, but if you’d rather take a few days off, that’s no problem.”

“I’m happy to help, sir,” Dean said, unsurprisingly. 

“Great!” Dad said, smiling warmly at the younger man. “We’re trying to track down some ghouls. We were just working on figuring out where they might be hiding,” he said, walking to the table. Dean followed.

“So far, we’ve narrowed it down to-” My dad’s phone rang, cutting him off. He fished it out of his pocket.

“Hello?” He answered, business voice in place.

“Where?” He asked. Then, after a brief pause, “I’ll be right there.” 

He put the phone back in his pocket and looked at me and Dean.

“They just found another grave that’s been opened up. I’m going to go check it out. You two keep working here,” he instructed.

“Where was this one at?” I asked.

“Same cemetery as the last one,” he said as he shrugged his coat on.

“So that makes two at each cemetery,” I commented. 

“Right. So let’s get on top of this before there’s another one,” he said, closing the door behind him. I heard his truck’s engine sputter to life, and then it was just me and Dean.

“Which two cemeteries have been hit?” Dean asked, in full hunter mode. I fondly rolled my eyes at him, but answered his question. The sooner we finished this hunt, the sooner we could just relax together. I listed the two cemeteries, pointing to their locations on the map we had rolled out on the table.

“They’re probably hiding out somewhere in between the two,” Dean said.

“Yeah, that was our thought too. We were just working on narrowing down the most likely locations,” I told him. 

Working with Dean was comfortable. We easily fell back into our old rhythm of working together as we analyzed and theorized. When Dad came back an hour later we were feeling pretty confident that we’d found the two most likely places.

“Good work,” he praised when we told him what we’d come up with. “Let’s go grab something to eat and then we’ll go check them both out.”

“We can go check them out first,” I suggested, wanting to finish this case as soon as possible.

“Food first,” Dad said. “There’s no reason to be hunting on an empty stomach when we’ve got time. Based on their pattern, they won’t hit another grave for a few more days, and they won’t leave their little nest until then.”

We piled into my dad’s little truck, me squished in the middle seat between the two men, and drove to a nearby diner.

We chatted as we ate. Dad mostly listened, letting Dean and me do most of the talking, but joining in every now and then with a comment or question. It was nice. It was the happiest I’d been in a long time. I looked forward to the next few days of this.

~~~~~

We were back at the motel, readying weapons and just about to drive to the first location Dean and I suspected of being their hide out when Dad’s phone rang.

“Hello?” He said. He listened to the voice on the other line, frown growing on his face. “I’m on my way,” he said, hanging up the phone. 

“Change of plans,” he told us. “Jenna, I guess you were right. We shouldn’t have stopped to eat first. That was the groundskeeper at the second cemetery.”

“There was another one?” I asked. “Already?”

“Apparently,” he said, climbing into his truck. “I’m going to go check it out, see if I can catch a trail. You two go check out that abandoned church like we planned. Be careful,” he warned.

“And Dean?” He added, almost as an afterthought. “Take care of my girl.”

“Yes, sir,” Dean answered without hesitation. Satisfied with his response, Dad backed out of the parking lot and drove away. 

Dean put his shotgun in the trunk of his car and I threw mine in alongside it. He closed the trunk and slid into the driver’s seat as I got into the passenger side.

“It’s weird that they’re breaking pattern like this,” Dean mused as we pulled up to the old church. There was a crypt below it. The perfect place for a monster that fed on the dead to hole up.

“Yeah, I thought so too. Let’s just hope that it gives us another lead if neither of these places end up being right,” I said.

We made our way into the crypt, Dean going first. It didn’t take long to realize we were in the right place. The remains of chewed on corpses littered the ground. Coffins that were decades old had been opened to make room for the bones of bodies the ghouls had dragged back here to feed on. I wrinkled my nose at the smell.

We made our way through the place carefully, guns at the ready. In a small room in the back we found three old mattresses laid out beside each other. 

I heard a noise behind me and spun around just in time for one of the ghouls to reach me and knock the gun out of my hand. Before he could do anything more, I punched him in the nose. I used the half second it took him to recover to aim a kick straight at his stomach, sending him stumbling back a few steps.

“Get down!” I heard Dean call from behind me. I dropped to the floor and heard the gunshot behind me. The ghoul went down, head blown to pieces. I quickly grabbed my gun off the floor and stood beside Dean, aiming at the doorway, ready for the other two to come.

“Where are they?” Dean hissed after a couple of minutes. 

“Maybe they haven’t gotten back yet,” I said. 

“What?” he asked, agitated at not knowing where the threat was.

“Maybe the other two went out to the cemetery and this one was left behind to guard the place or something. They might be on their way right now. Maybe we should find some place to hide and wait for them to get back. Ambush them,” I suggested.

Dean considered the idea, weighing our options. Then he stiffened. 

“We need to go. Right now,” he said as he hurried from the room.

“What? Why?” I asked as I followed him.

“Why would they leave one behind to guard the place? They shouldn’t have any reason to worry about someone stumbling in. And even if someone did, they wouldn’t find anything they’d consider suspicious,” he said.

“So they knew we were onto them and left one behind to kill us if we found them. It was a trap,” I concluded, catching onto his thought.

“No Jenna,” Dean said. We made it out of the church and ran for the car. “There’s strength in numbers. Why would they send two out to a place they would be long gone from by the time we heard about them and leave one behind to take on a group of hunters alone? It was a trap. But the trap wasn’t for us.”

“It was for my dad,” I said in horror. We reached the car and Dean had the Impala screeching away the second the doors were closed.

“They found out about you guys somehow, so they dug up another body, probably somewhere they knew it would be found quickly, and then sat back and waited,” he continued piecing things together. He hit the steering wheel in frustration. “I knew something was up when they changed their pattern,” he seethed.

I got my phone out of my pocket and dialed my dad’s number. He didn’t pick up.

“Drive faster,” I urged, the dread I was feeling building.

When we made it to the cemetery we jumped out and split up. Dean had wanted to stay together, but I argued that we’d cover ground faster apart. My dad’s life was in danger, and I wasn’t going to waste time.

I ran through the cemetery, keeping my eyes open for any recently dug up graves – they would be particularly easy to spot with the layer of snow on the ground – or open mausoleums. I was about halfway through when I noticed one of them had a door cracked open. I made my way over as quickly and quietly as I could. 

I probably should have taken my time, assessed the situation and gathered as much information about what I was about to walk into as I could. I should have. But I didn’t. I kicked the door open the rest of the way and took in the details as quickly as I could.

There were two people in the middle of the room, standing over a dead body. It was fresh, partially eaten. It was the cemetery groundskeeper. And his face was staring back at me from one of the two men above him. The ghouls. They both lunged for me. I had my gun already aimed and fired at the closer one. His headless body collapsed to the ground.

“Jenna!” I heard Dean call, alerted by the gunshot.

Realizing he was outnumbered, the third one bolted out of the building. I was about to go after him when I noticed the other person, sitting against the wall across from the dead body. Dad.

“Jenna!” Dean called again when I didn’t answer him. His voice was much closer now.

“I’m fine, Dean!” I yelled back, willing it to be true. Willing my dad to be ok. “Go get him!” 

I rushed over to Dad, gasping at what I saw and choking back tears. 

“Dad!” I cried out. There was a knife in his chest. And he was in a pool of blood, not so much sitting as being held up by the wall.

“Jenna,” he rasped out. I grabbed his arm and put it around my shoulder, trying to help him stand. He gasped in pain and sagged against me. I let him go, not wanting to make things worse.

“It’s ok. It’s going to be ok,” I said through my tears, trying to assure myself more than him. “We’re going to get you out of here. As soon as Dean gets here we’ll get you in the car and to a hospital.”

“Stay with Dean,” he said.

“Dean’s fine. He’ll take care of the last one. I’m not leaving you,” I told him.

“Stay with him,” he repeated, reaching for me. I grabbed his hand. “You’ve been… so sad without him,” he breathed. I could tell talking was difficult for him.

“Shh,” I ordered. “It’s ok.”

“No, listen,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to live… without him. You should… be with your soulmate.” I gasped at his statement.

“You knew?” I asked.

“I’ve suspected for a long time,” he confessed. “Since before you even turned 16. He’s… a good man. And I want you to know… for what it’s worth… that I would be proud to have him… as a son.” There was blood coming out of the corner of his mouth now.

Hurry up Dean! I mentally urged.

“That doesn’t matter,” I told him, trying to get back on track. “We’ll get you help. Everything will go back to normal.” I heard the gunshot then.

“I love you Jenna,” he told me. “Be happy.”

“Dean!” I screamed, and then in a quieter voice, “Dean’s coming now Dad. Just hold on.” His breathing was getting more strained.

Dean came crashing through the door then, gun held at the ready. His eyes zeroed in on us and he lowered his gun, coming to my side.

“Help me get him to the car,” I told him.

“No,” Dad protested.

“I’m not just going to leave you here to die, Ben,” Dean said as he bent to grab him under the shoulders. “Grab his legs,” he instructed me. With the knife buried in Dad’s chest, Dean wasn’t able to swing him over his shoulder.

“Stop!” Dad gritted out, gasping in pain as our attempts to move him jostled the knife.

“What do we do?!” I wailed as we reluctantly set him back down.

“There’s nothing you can do,” Dad breathed out. “Remember… what I told you,” he said to me. “Be happy.” Then he turned to Dean. 

“Take care of my girl,” he said to Dean for the second time tonight. Only this time his meaning was very different.

“I will,” Dean assured him, realizing we were running out of time. I realized too.

“I love you,” I sobbed out as I hugged him as tightly as I could. I felt his hand smoothing over my hair once. Twice. Then it fell to the floor beside him.

~~~~~

I didn’t know how long it had taken him to convince me to leave the cemetery that night. He’d sat with me for a long while before he left to take care of the bodies of the two ghouls. 

“Jenna,” he said gently a few hours later. “I know you don’t want to hear this, and I don’t want to be the one to say it. But we have to get out of here. We have to…”

“We have to burn his body,” I said numbly, finishing his trailed off sentence.

“I’m sorry,” Dean said. I knew he was right though.

Dean carefully carried my dad’s body over to the Impala, laying him on a blanket in the backseat.

“Are you ok to drive?” he asked me. “We’re going to need to get your dad’s truck out of here too.”

“No,” I said.

“Ok, no problem. I’ll take care of it later then,” he assured me.

“No, I mean I don’t want it,” I told him. “We have to burn the body anyway, right?” I asked rhetorically. “So let’s just do it in the truck. That way at least we don’t have to spend the rest of the night building a pyre.”

Dean hesitated a little before answering. 

“Are you sure, Jenna?” 

“I’m sure,” I told him. I didn’t want to keep that truck. I didn’t ever want to see it again. It would just be a constant reminder of what I’d lost tonight.

We drove to an open field a few miles outside the city, Dean in the Impala, me in my dad’s truck. I watched stone-faced, all cried out for now, as Dean transferred Dad’s body from the Impala to the truck and then covered them in gasoline and salt. I watched as he lit the match. And I said goodbye to my dad for the last time.

~~~~~

I’d spent the last three days laying in bed, crying until I couldn’t anymore. Dean stayed with me the whole time, sitting beside me, holding me, his presence a silent comfort. One that I couldn’t appreciate right now. I felt hollow inside.

He did his best to encourage me to eat and drink. I made myself drink a little each day, but I couldn’t eat. 

John called Dean on the fourth day, wanting Dean to meet him in Arizona. Dean told him no. He said he wasn’t going to leave me alone and that John could do the job alone or find someone else to help. It was only the second time I’d ever heard Dean openly defy John. And that’s when I realized how concerned he was. So I decided it was time to move on. 

I started eating again and made an effort to talk and make jokes. He seemed relieved to see me doing better. 

On the fifth day, I told him he needed to go back to John.

“I’m not leaving you alone. I’m going to stay with you as long as you need. Dad will be fine on his own for a while. We’ll meet up with him when you’re ready,” he told me.

“I need some time, Dean. I don’t know how much. But I’m not going to ask you to leave your dad on his own. I’ll go stay with Bobby for a while. I’ll be fine,” I said.

Dean wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but after a little bit of convincing, he finally agreed.

“Let me know if you need anything,” he said when he pulled up at Bobby’s, reluctant to leave me. “I promised your dad I would take care of you. I intend to keep that promise,” he told me.

I just smiled as I grabbed my bag from the back seat. 

“Thanks for everything Dean. I’ll see you later,” I told him. Then I walked to the house, not giving him a chance to answer. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep from crying if I had to watch him drive away.

As I climbed the porch stairs, I remembered my dad’s last words to me. Be happy. Maybe I’d see about meeting up with Dean and John soon. Once I’d had time to process and was ready to start hunting again.

Chapter 7

[beloved-daydreams]

Folktober2023 Prompt: "Graveyard meet-cute" 🪦🥰

An attempt by

Hosted by @jurdannetrevels and @jurdannet

📘 1 800+ words

😎 Characters: Taryn, TheGhost/Larkin, Myriadh

✒️ Tags: unexpected, terrible flirting, banter(?)

📢 Summary: The Ghost has appeared out of thin air, an entrance truly worthy of his codename. And for no tangible reason, he sticks to Taryn until she realizes the outrageous truth: this insane man is trying to flirt with a pregnant and widowed woman!

🧐 Author’s note: Third and last part is here! First part was for "Corn maze" and the 2nd one for "My sister, the serial killer." Hope it’ll be fun to read as much as it was fun for me to write!

✏️✏️✏️

"Hey, paying a visit to your sister?" Larkin smiles, a smile that looks tense to me, though it doesn't make sense. Why would he be tense?

"Something like that, I suppose so, yes." I try to tell him plainly but it comes out as clumsy.

We stare at each other for a bit. It doesn't seem like he wants to let go of me right away, he keeps looking at Myriadh as if she's a bother. Does he have something important to tell me? Could it be about the reason why Jude left today? Though I can't imagine it must be too serious since we're surrounded by all the flowers of the corpses she has gathered. Nonetheless, I got the hint so the natural thing to do is to act accordingly.

"It's alright Myr, I know him. Please leave us."

"How far away, my liege?"

I point at the daffodils in the distance, far enough for her to see us but not hear us. She nods and steps away politely. Once she has reached the spot I directed her at, I start.

"So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

Larkin smiles at me curiously, as though he has no idea what I mean by that.

"I just think it's better to have some privacy even for small talk, don't you think?"

I sigh, planting my hand onto my face.

"Really? You made me send Myr away just for some small talk?"

He brings his hand to his nape, scratching it pointlessly. A gesture that shows he's uncomfortable about something. It doesn't serve as anything else than a sign of his groundless nervousness since I cannot imagine the nape is a spot that can often get itchy.

"Well, isn't she more of a chaperone given to you by your sister rather than a proper attendant? I bet she reports your every move to Her Highness."

So annoying. So what? What does it even have to do with him? I'm pregnant and weak, I'm not doing anything of note lately anyway. Even if that were true, if Myriadh is sending reports to Jude, it would only show that Jude's worried about my well-being since I visit so rarely. That's all.

"It doesn't concern you. And even if your guess is true, all it tells me is that Jude cares for me."

"Then you must be glad. I mean, that you betrayed her and she forgave you." A haughty smile. Almost a sneer. His words ring true but his voice has a human quality to it. Now this is definitely sarcasm.

"Well, I suppose you must be relieved as well. Since your friends and my sister forgave you after you blew up their base and dragged Jude to rot in the Undersea."

His face drops. I've managed to completely wipe his smile off of his face with my cruel retort. Larkin has gone red, embarrassed. Not sure if he had gone too far and I was genuinely pissed or if I'm playing him as payback, he stares silently at the ground next to my feet.

"Relax. I guess this just proves we're both pretty terrible. No need to feel so bad."

Or at least that's what I like to say to convince myself.

Larkin's gaze goes up to my face again but he's still a bit shaken, or rather he's thinking about being more careful with his words from now on. Seeing him like that satisfies me, I can't help it. Still, I suppose I should lend him a hand.

"Are we just going to stand there? Since you've already made me lose time I'll take this as an opportunity to walk around some more."

His eyes light up a bit. It's funny, back when I first met him, I hated the way he looked. Despite being half-fae his genes are much "heavier" on the human side. Yet having a better look at him now, he possesses a sort of tranquil beauty to him. Something serene that I don't possess. He feels familiar yet otherworldly at the same time, how contradictory.

"Is something wrong?"

I immediately shift my gaze to the side, pretending that I was looking past him and not at him.

"Nothing, I hope that didn't make you uncomfortable. I didn't mean to."

His lips press together, I recognize that mannerism. He's trying to hold back a smile. Why? What's so funny?

"So that attendant," He starts, weighing his words. "Myr, was it?"

"Oh no, her name is actually Myriadh but I call her Myr."

"Are you two so close already?" He looks a bit baffled. As if I've just told him that I'm nicknaming a complete stranger. I shrug.

"Not really, but I appreciate her. Also, calling someone by a nickname gives them a sense of familiarity, don't you think? I'd like us to have a good relationship."

Larkin stares off towards Myriadh with a strange look. Then I notice him slightly fiddling with his cuffs before stopping as soon as he notices what he's doing. Then he almost shyly shoots me a glance.

"If I were your servant, what would you call me?"

I blink a few times at him. Not sure why he'd like to know. Is that his roundabout way of asking me if he can come work for me? Is that it? Nonetheless I entertain the thought.

Larkin. Honestly, I don't find it to be a pretty name. Then again, I never liked mine either so who am I to judge, really? I try to compose a wholesome nickname based on some not so good source material. Larky sounds too silly. Lar is kinda ugly. Lala is too cute and doesn’t fit him.

"...Larlar? You don't have an easy name to work with."

It's still so bad yet he smiles wholesomely nonetheless.

"Hmm. I guess it's the best you could do with what I have, yeah."

"Well, you could also be Boo." I regret the words as soon as they escape my mouth. Larkin stares at me, eyes wide.

"Boo?"

"Like, you know. The Ghost. Boo. Like how ghosts go boo when they try to scare someone off…" I blush at my stupid idea and even more idiotic reasoning. Yet he laughs this time.

"I'm worried about your child, do you already have a name in mind?" He throws at me.

"Excuse me?! I do have some ideas and they're all good, mind you."

"Hmm, I'm not so sure about that. Are you certain you don't need someone's help to name them?"

Larkin swiftly plucks out a marigold and puts it in my hair, I jolt. Not because of the contact, but because of the sudden realization of what he was actually trying to achieve this whole time. This crazy man wanted to flirt with me! Not to mention in a graveyard at that.

I make my eyes big at him, giving him a somewhat scolding look.

"Are you trying to flirt with a pregnant widowed woman?! You're insane… also, your attempt is extremely poor and lacking in manners."

"Well, considering you murdered the husband in question, I don't believe you must be so sad about being widowed. Plus, I think a half-faerie child would be way happier with a half-faerie father like them instead of the unbearable prick Locke was."

I can't hold my laughter at the utter audacity of that statement. It is refreshing though. Larkin is one of the few folks aware of what truly happened. Because of that, I mostly get pity and attempts at kind and reassuring words. Rarely ever confirmation of what I thought of Locke in a closed-off part of my heart.

I dig into my brain. What is the appropriate response here? What would be the correct way to act? There just isn't and I already blew it off by laughing anyway. So I just play along.

"Alright. Well, I'm thinking of redecorating the unbearable prick’s castle grounds. I'll get rid of the maze and replace it with a pretty garden. If you help me, I'll indulge your ridiculously scandalous thought of courting me. Or whatever it is you were foolishly thinking."

Larkin gets down on one knee, takes my gloved hand, and before kissing it, he has the gall of removing the glove for direct contact. I think his strange affection towards me might secretly be quite worrisome. But well, I can’t deny the fact that I'd rather raise a child with a husband at my side than to raise them alone. He gets up and instead of giving me the glove back, he shoves it into his pocket.

"As proof of your promise." He says.

"That's usually for a promised duel, not a run of the mill promise." I correct him.

"Well, then let's see if your composure is sturdier than my advances. That will be the duel."

I furrow my eyebrows.

"I feel like you're going to be extremely persistent and possibly annoying. Don't make me regret it."

"You won't." He puts his hood back on and as he's about to do the same with his mask in order to disappear into the darkness, he adds: "You didn't have to pretend earlier, by the way. I like the attention." I can feel my chest get hot as he snickers before leaving. I guess I should've known, no matter how clumsy he was with me, he's still an assassin. Of course he'd notice that I was checking him out.

And as soon as he leaves, Myriadh hurries over to my side, asking me if everything's alright. All I can note to her of that interaction with him, is that this guy is going to be trouble. Well, for me that is.

We then march towards the carriage to leave, truly this time, I remember that just before Larkin appeared, Myriadh was about to tell me something. I urge her to continue which makes her smile kindly at me.

"I just wanted to tell you that personally, I find you lovely in the mornings, my liege. Especially the rare days when you have had a good sleep, I can immediately tell by the tangles in your hair, which are equally as lovely as your sleepy face."

I blush.

I suppose that I'm still way too guarded with Myriadh despite what I told Larkin about wanting to get along with her. That's often what I do, I get along but I don't get close. Maybe I should once in a while.

"Myr. From now on, if I'm having trouble sleeping, would you sing me your lullaby?"

Her eyes widen slightly at that but she answers me rapidly and calmly as always.

"Absolutely. I'm honored that you're willing to give me such trust, my liege."

The next day, by the time the sun had set, the maze had been wiped off and somehow, miraculously, some marigolds were already blooming in the empty space.

✏️✏️✏️

It was very fun to imagine how Taryn and The Ghost might act around eachother although I can imagine that I was most likely COMPLETELY off-base here.

This is probably the last piece of writing I’ll post for Folktober2023 unfortunately, but HEY I still wrote for 9 days out of 13! And it was my first time in trying to participate to something like this. Who knows though, if I get hit with inspiration I might write for the other days later.

Pleaseeeee leave some comments/tags for ya girl 🥺

[moonlight-prose]

first you flirt with layla and end up kissing her- which ends up making marc jealous in return. he spends days moping about and starts making snarky comments to hide his jealousy (he’s not so great at hiding it)

then you kiss steven, who can’t stop thinking about it for the next couple of days. filling his and marc’s head with thoughts about you

eventually marc ends up drunk at your front door crying about being the only one being left out (he’ll deny he cried about it)

KISS ME, KISS ME, KISS ME

a/n: this drabble was MEANT to be super short and small, but i ramble so here we go my darling. i hope you enjoy!

word count: 1556 (don't look at me)

pairing: layla el-faouly x reader, steven grant x reader, marc spector x reader

warnings: kissing, more kissing, and some spit kink (again really don't look at me)

The first time you kiss Layla it’s soft. Softer than you imagined it would be—a direct opposite to what you usually get when kissing other people. She doesn’t swiftly grasp for you; doesn’t bite down harshly on your lip to remind you who exactly was in charge. No, it’s tender, gentle and by all means reverent. She leads you into a dance of subtle hints and sweet smiles, until you feel a dizzying high that’s so different from anything you’ve experienced before.

Before you even notice it, she’s licking slowly into your mouth—tongue pressing against yours and you swear you can taste that coffee she always orders in the morning. Her hand is buried in your hair—not enough to hurt—just enough for you to clasp onto. A reminder that this wasn’t Marc or Steven…this was her.

She pulls away, eyes fluttering open to take in your almost intoxicated expression. That sight alone draws her lips up in a smile—not quite a smirk, but you can see it beneath the surface. She likes the way you look. As if you’d bend to her will with yet another kiss and the truth of the matter was…you would.

“Fuck,” you whisper, eyes hazy as your mind came up with scenario after scenario.

“You’re so pretty,” she murmurs. Sliding her thumb along your bottom lip with barely any pressure, she gathers the saliva left behind and pushes inward until your lips are wrapped around her finger.

If you died in this moment—you’d be okay with it. Given the way your insides had turned molten and your brain short circuited the second she placed her lips on yours. Whimpering, you drag her closer until your lips are back on hers and she’s once again leading you through a dance you never wish to stop. You want the taste of her burned into your mind. So sweet and subtle, but strong enough to get drunk off of.

You don’t stop kissing her until she has to leave and even then you beg for one more in the open doorway of your home.

You kiss Steven for the first time three days after Layla. What came over you to reach over, drag him in by the collar, and slot your lips against his you’ll never know. But you’ll never forget the way he gasped—a shudder running down his spine as you tangled your fingers in the hair at the base of his neck. It’s not nearly as intoxicating as Layla and you’re thankful he doesn’t overtake you, but it’s beautiful.

He sighs into your mouth like he’d thought of nothing else for months, before he’s lightly dragging his hands upwards. The pressure of his palms against your waist is enough to drive you mad. Or at least drag him so close his scent is burned into your senses, the way his tongue hesitantly sweeps through your mouth. He doesn’t know how to kiss—that much is obvious—but it doesn’t stop you.

Oddly enough the door opens and Layla walks in. A smile gracing her face as she finds you practically sitting on Steven’s lap, your tongue sensually pressing against his until he’s shaking. You nearly feel bad for making him whimper, beg, plead for more. Except then you pull back to see his face and realize…this is what Layla must have seen on yours.

It’s a new kind of high to see Steven’s eyes all glassy—his lips in a perpetual pout that has your own curving up to a smile. You like him like this. Putty in your hands as you slowly lean in to kiss him again. Layla’s lips press against your bare shoulder—whispers of how good you two look together echo in your ear before she’s pulling away. She had her time with you…now it’s Steven’s turn. Fair is far after all.

That doesn’t stop you from licking into Steven’s mouth, gathering saliva on your tongue before moving away to cup the back of her neck, pressing an open mouthed kiss on her lips—pushing Steven’s spit into her mouth. She moans into the kiss, her hand tightly gripping at your hair before shifting back and leaving the two of you alone once more. Steven is greedy enough to cup your cheeks and turn your face back to his with enough timidness to melt your heart.

He wants you—craves you, and it’s there you realize that you’ll give him whatever he wants just to have a chance to kiss him like this again.

“Well I just don’t see the point in kissing them both,” he mutters into his glass of whiskey.

Your eyebrows raise as you attempt to bite back the smirk that threatened to show on your face. “You don’t see the point in me wanting to kiss…both of them.”

He grumbles, the scowl you recognize so well on his face once again returning. “Well yeah. Layla is my wife–”

“Divorced.”

“And Steven is literally apart of me–”

“I’ll give you that but–”

“So why did you want to kiss them and…” he trails off, staring into the amber liquid as if it would give him all the answers he sought.

Smiling, you lean forward to cup his chin and drag his head upwards so his eyes lock on yours. “Marc…did you want me to kiss you too?”

The red flooding his face tells you everything you need to know. “No,” he states. “Absolutely not. Have fun with both of them.”

Letting go of his face, you lean back—swallowing the rest of your drink and shrugging. “Whatever you say Spector,” you tease, getting up from the table. “Enjoy your drink.”

It’s two hours later that a sullen knock is hitting your door. Before you even open it you know it’s him—can feel it in your bones—and low and behold you swing the door open to see him…drunk. He leans against your doorway, the curls more pronounced and falling into his face the way Steven wears it. You nearly mistake him for Steven until he begins speaking—the American accent coming through thick and strong.

“Why didn’t you kiss me too?” he asks, eyes glassy with unshed tears.

The sight alone nearly makes your heart shatter. “Oh baby,” you whisper.

“Steven’s been replaying the kiss you two had and all I can think about is…why didn’t you kiss me? Did I fuck up somehow? Or…or hurt you?”

He didn’t know how wrong he was. You had wanted to kiss him the first day you met him—the anxiety of the day still prominent in your mind, but you could recall your imagination running rampant with thoughts of him. Of Marc and his lips. Without another word, you drag him into your home and shut the door. He’s moping, you can see it written across his face. Of course, you won’t tease him about it. You know what longing for kisses feels like.

“Do you want me to kiss you Marc?” you asked gently, cupping his face to keep his eyes level with your own.

“I just–” His eyes close. “Yes. I would.”

Leaning in slowly, you press your lips against his and feel the steady rate of your heart speed up until your nerves are all you can focus on. Even when he’s not trying, he’s good at this. He moves sluggishly, breathing harshly against your cheek, until his brain finally catches up with what’s happening. The world turns on its axis as you’re walking back until you hit a wall, his lips now giving you a run for your money. Whereas Layla was teasing and giving, Marc takes. Steals your breath and makes you beg for more.

Where Steven was soft and hesitant, Marc is strong and dominant. There’s something in his hold that says he wants this—you—but he’s also afraid of hurting you. As if you’ll break beneath his palms. Moaning into the kiss, you shudder when his tongue sweeps along yours, running along the top of your mouth and dragging another sound from your throat. Why you hadn’t kissed him sooner, you don’t know. You were sorely regretting waiting so long at this moment.

“Marc,” you gasp, eyes fluttering shut when his teeth pull at your bottom lip gently.

“Mhm.” It’s mumbled against your cheek, his breath hot along your skin.

He’s driven your mind to madness, the heat burning through your body until you can’t think straight anymore. You don’t even fucking want to at this point. All you can sense, taste, feel, is Marc and you want more. You want him to drag you to hell and back with his lips alone. Tugging at his hair, you manage to gain the upper hand, sucking on his tongue and smirking into the kiss when it’s his turn to moan.

“You’re right,” you breathe, choking when he nips down your throat. “I should have kissed you a lot sooner.”

It’s a day later when Layla hears about what happened. You bet the hickeys on his neck tell her the story and you joke that they are now matching. Steven is last to find out—laughing at Marc’s expense when he learns what exactly occurred. It’s enough to make you smile. Even though Marc refuses to accept the fact that he begged…let alone nearly cried.

That however is soon rectified when you press your lips against his again.

[fannish-karmiya]

Wei Wuxian’s Position in the Jiang Household

Fandom tends to mischaracterise Wei Wuxian’s position in the Jiang family greatly. A lot of people project more modern ideas about adoption onto his relationship with the Jiang siblings, and write as if he really is their sibling and only Yu Ziyuan’s abusive nature gets in the way of their bond.

This strikes me as a bit misguided. While adoption was practised in ancient China, it was mainly for the purpose of obtaining a male heir in the absence of one, or obtaining more daughters to marry off for alliances. Jiang Fengmian had no reason to adopt Wei Wuxian into the main family, and he didn’t. Wei Wuxian’s position in the household is far more nebulous than that, and honestly it’s hard to find an exact corollary, in Chinese history or in any culture, precisely because it was so messy and ill-defined.

A Companion to Upper Class Children

Wei Wuxian is the son of a servant of Yunmeng Jiang; it’s notable that Wei Changze is always referred to this way, rather than as a disciple. Wei Changze wound up leaving the sect in order to marry Cangse Sanren, and Jiang Fengmian considered them dear enough friends that when he heard they passed away, he spent years searching for their orphaned son. He wound up finding Wei Wuxian on the streets of Yiling and brought him home as his ward.

Wei WuXian was taken home by Jiang FengMian when he was nine.

Most memories from back then were already blurred. Yet, Jin Ling’s mother, Jiang YanLi, remembered all of them, and even told him quite a few.

She said that, after his father heard of the news that his parents both died in battle, he had always dedicated himself to finding the child that these past friends had left behind. After searching for a while, he finally found the child in Yiling.

(Chapter 24, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear from the start that beyond this sense of obligation to his old friends, Jiang Fengmian also had a role set out for Wei Wuxian: he wanted him to be a companion to his children, and Jiang Cheng in particular.

He encourages a friendship between them, insisting on a sleepover between the two a week into Wei Wuxian’s stay.

On the second day, Jiang Cheng’s puppies were given to someone else.

This angered Jiang Cheng so much that he threw a big tantrum. No matter how much Jiang FengMian comforted him gently, telling him that they should ‘be good friends’, he refused to talk to Wei WuXian. Quite a few days later, Jiang Cheng’s attitude softened. Jiang FengMian wanted to strike while the iron was still hot, so he told Wei WuXian to sleep in the same room as him, hoping that they’d grow fonder of each other.

[...]

That night, Jiang Cheng locked Wei WuXian outside his room, refusing to let him in.

[...]

Wei WuXian waited outside for a long time. When the door opened, before the joy could spread onto his face, he was bombarded with a pile of things being thrown out. The door banged shut again.

Jiang Cheng told him from inside, “Go sleep somewhere else! This is my room! You’re even gonna steal my room?!”

[...]

Standing outside, as Wei WuXian heard that dogs would come bite him, fear immediately bubbled within him. Twisting his fingers, he hurried, “I’ll go, I’ll go. Don’t call the dogs!”

Dragging behind him the sheets and blanket that were thrown outside, he ran out the hall. Having only arrived at Lotus Pier for a short period of time, he didn’t dare jump around yet. Every day, he obediently holed up in the places that Jiang FengMian told him to stay at. He didn’t even know where his room was, much less have the courage to knock on other people’s doors, scared that it’d disturb someone’s dreams.

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

After Jiang Cheng is worried about getting in trouble, he goes to Jiang Yanli for help, and she searches for Wei Wuxian.

But this was the first pair of shoes that Jiang FengMian bought him. Wei WuXian was too embarrassed to make him go out of his way to buy another pair, and so he said that they weren’t too big. Jiang YanLi helped him into his shoe and pressed the hollow tip, “It is a bit big. I’ll fix it for you when we get back.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian felt somewhat uneasy, as if he did something wrong again.

Living in other people’s homes, the worst that could happen was to make trouble for the hosts.

Jiang YanLi put him onto her back and began to walk back, wobbling in her steps as she spoke, “A-Ying, no matter what A-Cheng said to you, don’t bother about him. He doesn’t have a good temper, so he’s always home playing with himself. Those puppies were his favorites. Dad sent them away, and so he’s feeling upset. He’s actually really happy that somebody’s here to be with him.”

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

Later, Wei Wuxian offers to cover for him, saying simply that he ran outside by himself because he was scared. In this one case it feels like a genuine instance of children showing solidarity and covering for each other’s little misbehaviours. But it also follows a pattern of Wei Wuxian doing this and making excuses, time and time again, for Jiang Cheng. I wonder if on some level, he already knew that his role in the household was in part to be a companion-servant to Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian normally never puts up with people treating him poorly or being arrogant; he constantly bites his tongue when Jiang Cheng does so around him. While they study at Cloud Recesses, Jiang Cheng frequently insults Wei Wuxian, who always just smiles and laughs it off.

Jiang Cheng humphed, “Him? He wakes at nine in the morning and sleeps at one during the night. When he wakes up, he doesn’t practice his sword or meditate; he goes boating, swims around, picks lotus seedpods, and hunts for pheasants.”

Wei WuXian replied, “No matter how much pheasants I hunt, I’m still number one.”

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng scolded with a darkened expression, “What are you proud of?! What is there to be proud of with this?! Do you think that it’s a glorious thing to be told by someone to get lost? You bring so much shame upon our sect!”

(Chapter 16, Exiled Rebels translation)

We never see Wei Wuxian excusing this sort of behaviour from any other character; he has no problem scolding Jin Ling for his arrogant attitude and telling him that he shouldn’t be imitating his uncle, after all! It’s only where Jiang Cheng is concerned that he does this, and honestly, even then he seems to be quite aware that Jiang Cheng’s behaviour is wrong; he simply accepts on some level that it’s his role in the household to put up with it.

He actually does, very gently, try to guide Jiang Cheng at times. In Lotus Seed Pods, for example, he tries to give Jiang Cheng advice on how to flirt with some of the maidens in Yunmeng and make friends:

Wei WuXian threw the seed pods toward the shore. It was a far distance, but they landed lightly in the women’s hands. He grabbed a few more and stuffed them into Jiang Cheng’s arms, shoving, “What are you doing, just standing there? Hurry up.”

After a few shoves, Jiang Cheng could only accept them, “Hurry up and do what?”

Wei WuXian, “You ate the watermelon too, so you also have to return the gift, don’t you? Here, here, don’t be embarrassed. Start throwing, start throwing.”

Jiang Cheng snorted again, “You must be joking. What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Whatever he said, however, even after all of the shidi began to throw seed pods, he still didn’t start to move. Wei WuXian urged, “Then throw some! If you throw some this time, next time you can ask them if the seed pods tasted good, and you’ll be able to make conversation again!”

[...]

Jiang Cheng was just about to throw one when he realized how shameless it was the moment he heard it. He peeled a seed pod and ate it by himself.

[...]

After a while of laughter, he turned around and looked at Jiang Cheng, who was sitting at the front of the boat eating seed pods with a long face. His smile gradually disappeared as he sighed, “Well, what an unteachable child.”

Jiang Cheng fumed, “So what if I want to eat alone?”

Wei WuXian, “Look at you, Jiang Cheng. Nevermind. You’re hopeless. Just wait to eat alone your whole life!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even sighs rather disappointedly when Jiang Cheng refuses to take the hint; he knows that Jiang Cheng’s sullen behaviour is going to make him miserable down the line, but all of his gentle efforts to nudge him in a better direction have failed.

He also speaks with great awareness of Jiang Cheng’s flaws after the fight in the ancestral hall:

Wei WuXian reached out with one hand and massaged his chest, as if trying to break up the pent-up feeling inside his heart. A moment later, he blurted, “I knew Jiang Cheng wouldn’t have let us go so easily. That brat… How could this be?!”

[...]

Wei WuXian’s eyelids throbbed, “Every one of them. The brat’s been like this ever since he was young.He’ll say anything when he’s angry, no matter how bad it is. He gives up on all grace and discipline whatsoever. As long as it’d annoy whomever he’s against, he’d say it no matter what terrible insults he uses. After all these years, he hasn’t gotten better at all. Please don’t take it to heart.”

(Chapter 90, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is so interesting to me, because it really makes it clear that Wei Wuxian has always been aware of these flaws of Jiang Cheng’s. He hasn’t been viewing him through rose-coloured lenses or making excuses for him because he’s ‘family’. He puts up with Jiang Cheng’s behaviour because being his companion is one of his duties in the Jiang household. It may never have been directly stated, but there seems to be some unspoken understanding to this effect.

I honestly don’t know if there is any official role in history (in any culture, not just China) which perfectly correlates to this. In China a lady’s maid was expected to also be a close friend and companion to her mistress (in canon, see Bicao to Qin-furen and Yinzhu and Jinzhu to Yu-furen). In Europe an upper class woman would hire a lady’s companion, a woman from the lower fringes of the gentry who would serve as her companion in exchange for financial support.

I don’t know of any version of this role which involves two men. In general, this sort of role existed because upper class women were confined to the household by and large, and had very limited social spheres. Men, meanwhile, had much greater ability to meet with their peers and make friends. I almost feel like Wei Wuxian wound up being shoved into this role simply because even as a child Jiang Cheng was so unsociable that Jiang Fengmian didn’t know what else to do!

Wei Wuxian also at least once steps in and starts a fight in place of Jiang Cheng (essentially taking the fall for him). He does this when Jin Zixuan speaks disparagingly of Jiang Yanli at Cloud Recesses:

Jin ZiXuan asked in reply, “Why don’t you ask me how on Earth can I be satisfied with her?”

Jiang Cheng instantly stood up.

Pushing him to the side, Wei WuXian walked in front of him and sneered, “You sure think that you’re pretty satisfying, don’t you? Where did you get the guts to be all choosy here?”

[...]

Wei WuXian sighed, “… It’d be nice if shijie came. It’s fortunate that you didn’t hit him.”

Jiang Cheng, “I was going to. If you didn’t push me, the other side of Jin ZiXuan’s face would also be ruined.”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s also very notable that Wei Wuxian is never shown having friends outside of Jiang Cheng’s social circle, despite what an outgoing and friendly person he is. Any time he expresses interest in someone for himself, as with Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng tries to nip it in the bud. Being unable to deter Wei Wuxian from Lan Wangji directly, Jiang Cheng instead tries to drive a wedge between them, constantly telling Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji hates him.

“Yeah,” Nie HuaiSang spoke, “It looks like he really hates you, Wei-xiong. Lan WangJi usually… No, he never does something so impolite.”

Wei WuXian, “He hates me already? I wanted to apologize to him.”

Jiang Cheng sneered, “Apologizing now? Too late! Like his uncle, he surely thinks that you are evil and unruly to the core, and didn’t bother to pay you any attention.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng pulled him even closer, “It’s not as if you’re familiar with him! Don’t you see how much he hates you? You’re going to carry him? He probably doesn’t even want you a step closer to him.”

(Chapter 52, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even directly orders Wei Wuxian not to invite Lan Wangji to come visit him at Lotus Pier during the Lotus Seed Pod extra.

Wei WuXian, “Why are you so upset? My watermelon almost flew away! I was just being polite. Of course he wouldn’t come. Have you ever heard of him go anywhere by himself to have fun?”

Jiang Cheng had on a stern expression, “Let’s make this clear. I don’t want him to come, anyhow. Don’t invite him.”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not only Lan Wangji he tries to steer Wei Wuxian away from; he also interrupts his conversation with Wen Ning at the archery competition:

Wen QiongLin was probably one of Wen Clan’s disciples furthest in bloodline. His status was neither high nor low, yet his personality was timid. He didn’t dare do anything and even his speech stuttered. Through much practice, he had finally conjured up the courage to enter the competition, but he blew it because he was too nervous. If he didn’t receive the right guidance, perhaps the boy would hide his true self more and more from now on and never dare to perform in front of other people again. Wei WuXian encouraged him a couple of times and touched on a few areas of growth, correcting some miniscule problems that he had when he was shooting in the garden. Wen QiongLin listened so attentively that he didn’t even turn his eyes away, nodding uncontrollably.

Jiang Cheng, “Where did you find so much nonsense? The competition is starting soon. Get into the arena right now!”

Wei WuXian spoke to Wen QiongLin in a serious tone, “I’ll be off to the competition now. Later, you can see how I shoot when I’m in the arena…”

Jiang Cheng dragged him away, short of patience. He spat as he dragged, “See how you shoot? Do you think that you’re a model or something?!”

(Chapter 59, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even when it comes to Wei Wuxian’s friendly flirtation with Mianmian, Jiang Cheng has something to say and tries to deter him from her:

Jiang Cheng, “The one that MianMian gave you? I didn’t.”

Wei WuXian exclaimed his regret, “I’ll find her for another one later.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “You’re at it again. You don’t really like her, do you? The girl does look fine, but it’s obvious that she doesn’t have much background. Maybe she isn’t even a disciple. She seems like the daughter of a servant.”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with servants? I’m also the son of a servant, aren’t I?”

Jiang Cheng, “How can you compare to her? Whose servant is like you, having your master peel lotus seeds for you and boil you soup. I didn’t even get to have some!”

(Chapter 56, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng really does seem to view Wei Wuxian in a very proprietary light; he’s not allowed to have any friendships which don’t exist under Jiang Cheng’s direct control.

The idea that Wei Wuxian was meant to be Jiang Cheng’s servant-friend is reinforced at its darkest when Lotus Pier falls: both Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian’s last words to Wei Wuxian are an instruction to protect Jiang Cheng.

One hand holding him, Madam Yu grabbed Wei WuXian’s lapels with her other hand as though to strangle him to death. She spoke through clenched teeth, “… You damn little brat! I hate you! I hate you more than anything else! Look at what our sect has gone through for your sake!”

[...]

Madam Yu, “Don’t make such a fuss. It’ll loosen up when you’re somewhere safe. If anyone attacks you on the journey, it’ll protect you as well. Don’t come back. Go to Meishan straight away and find your sister!”

After she finished, she turned to Wei WuXian and pointed at him, “Wei Ying! Listen to me! Protect Jiang Cheng, protect him even if you die, do you understand?!”

[...]

Jiang FengMian stared into his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out. Only after pausing in the air did he finally touch Jiang Cheng’s head, slowly, “A-Cheng, be well.”

Wei WuXian, “Uncle Jiang, if anything happens to you, he won’t be well.”

Jiang FengMian turned his eyes to him, “A-Ying, A-Cheng… you must look after him.”

(Chapter 58, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even Jiang Fengmian, who supposedly favoured Wei Wuxian, only gives him instructions as pertains to his own son; he doesn’t spare a single last word for Wei Wuxian himself.

A Lower Status Family Member

It wasn’t uncommon throughout human history, across many cultures, for wealthy families to take in relatives who were orphaned or had otherwise fallen on hard times. They tended to have a lower status than the main family; they lived with them and were still a part of their social sphere, but were not quite equal, either. The English term for this is ‘poor relation’.

Obviously, Wei Wuxian isn’t actually a blood relative at all. But his position in the Jiang household definitely has some similarities. He lives in the main house, eats meals with the family, attends school with the son... He is even on some conditional levels accepted into the gentry of cultivation society. But he isn’t a full equal member of the family, either.

The fact that he’s Jiang Fengmian’s ward, not a blood relative or adopted into the main family, puts him at even more of a disadvantage. It seems that Jiang Fengmian paid for all of Wei Wuxian’s expenses:

Wei WuXian took a bite, “Back then, I didn’t even have to pay when I ate at the dock. I grabbed whatever I wanted, ate whatever I wanted; ran after I grabbed, walked as I ate. A month later, the vendor would get the reimbursement from Uncle Jiang.”

(Chapter 86, Exiled Rebels translation)

While this is a bit of conjecture, I gather that he was given access to family money as if he was part of the clan, and could just charge Yunmeng Jiang whenever he shopped in Lotus Pier. Which is great so long as Wei Wuxian is accepted in Yunmeng Jiang...but as we see during the Burial Mounds settlement period, the moment that acceptance fades, Wei Wuxian is left out in the cold without a single coin. And because he isn’t a member of the family, it’s a far easier matter for him to be thrown aside, as he was when Jiang Cheng grew angry with him over his decision to protect the Wens.

Of course, Chinese families traditionally did share their wealth, and still do nowadays. Ideally, in a loving family, this is a positive and means they all support each other; but when that isn’t the case, it leaves the victims of abuse vulnerable.

In Wei Wuxian’s case, he has some of the benefits of being a member of the Jiang clan, without ever actually being a member. He can be cast aside at any time, and he is never afforded the same respect by wider cultivation society which an inner clan member would have.

I don’t believe the novel ever directly addresses Wei Wuxian’s acceptance into the guest lectures at Cloud Recesses in this light, but the donghua actually has a very interesting little exchange about it which takes place between Nie Huaisang and a relative of his:

“Wei-xiong is just a disciple from Yunmeng. Why could he come to Gusu to study?”

“Wei-xiong is the son of Jiang-zongzhu’s old friend. He has been treated as their own son.”

“Oh, I see. That explains why they don’t look like master and servant, they seem like brothers.”

(MDZS Donghua, Episode 3, Guodong Subs)

Wei Wuxian was only allowed to attend these lectures, which seem to mainly be for sect heirs and inner clan members, on the grace of being Jiang Fengmian’s ward (and probably to accompany Jiang Cheng). While this exchange is not from the book, we never do see or hear about any of the other students being outer disciples rather than members of the main clan. Here’s what the novel had to say about it:

In that year, aside from the YunmengJiang Sect, there were also the young masters from other clans, sent to study here from parents who heard of the reputation. The young masters were all around fifteen or sixteen. Because the sects all knew the others, although they weren’t close, they had seen others’ faces before. It was widely known that, although Wei WuXian’s surname was not Jiang, he was the leading disciple of the sect leader of the YunmengJiang Sect—Jiang FengMian, and also the son of his friend who had passed away. In fact, the sect leader regarded him as his own child. This, along with how youths were not as concerned with status and ancestry as elders, they were soon friends. Only a few sentences passed, and everyone started to call others older brothers or younger brothers.

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

And Wei Wuxian isn’t treated as an equal at school, either; when he and his friends get up to mischief, he’s frequently the only one punished. Nie Huaisang even notes that Lan Qiren seems to be far harder on him than the other students:

Nie HuaiSang spoke, “Why does it seem like old man Lan is especially strict towards you? He always directs his scoldings at you.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

And we see Wei Wuxian being the sole one punished out of a group taken for granted by his friends multiple times:

As a result of cheating notes flying everywhere in the air, Lan WangJi suddenly attacked during the test, and caught a few initiators of the commotion. Lan QiRen exploded with anger, writing letters to the prominent clans to tell on them. He loathed Wei WuXian—in the beginning, although these disciples could hardly sit still, at least nobody started anything, and their buttocks were able to stick to their legs. However, now that Wei Ying came, the originally spineless brats were influenced by his encouragement, venturing out at night and drinking alcohol however they pleased. The unhealthy practices grew greater and greater. As he had expected, Wei Ying was one of the biggest threats to humanity!

Jiang FengMian replied, “Ying has always been like this. Please take care to discipline him, Mr. Lan.”

And so, Wei WuXian was punished again.

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

The boys were all cheating, but Wei Wuxian is the one punished most severely. This happens when he's caught sneaking alcohol, too (though to be fair to Lan Wangji, he probably was only punishing him, and himself alongside him, for being outside after curfew when he threw them off the wall).

Of course, Jiang Cheng didn’t dare to say that Wei WuXian was at fault. Thinking back, it was them who urged Wei WuXian to buy liquor. Each and every one of them should have been punished. He could only speak in a vague way, “It’s fine, it’s fine; it’s not that serious! He can walk. Wei WuXian, why are you still up there?!”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not entirely unreasonable for the one who gets caught to take the punishment (what’s he going to do, rat his friends out?) but their ready acceptance of this does fit into a pattern.

Jiang Cheng’s top was tied at his waist. Hearing his mother’s chastise, he hastily put it over his head. Madam Yu scolded again, “And you boys! Can’t you see that A-Li’s here? Who taught you brats to dress like this in front of a girl!?”

Of course, it was needless to think who led the group. Thus, Madam Yu’s next sentence, as usual, was “Wei Ying! Do you want to die!?”

[...]

He could still feel some pain in his back, so he tossed the paddles to someone else, sat down, and felt the stinging piece of flesh, “How unfair. Nobody else was wearing anything, but why was I the only one who got scolded and beaten up?”

Jiang Cheng, “Because you hurt the eye the most with no clothes on, for sure.”

[...]

Everyone nodded. Wei WuXian, “Thanks for the praise, you guys. I’m even starting to feel some goose bumps.”

The shidi, “You’re welcome, Da-Shixiong. You protect us every single time. You deserve even more!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

While we know that Yu Ziyuan is an abusive person in general, she abuses Wei Wuxian far more harshly than anyone else, even the outer disciples. It’s made clear to us in Lotus Seed Pods that she whips him regularly over minor infractions:

Madam Yu was even angrier, “How dare you run! Come back right now and kneel!” As she spoke, she let loose her whip with a flip of her wrist. Wei WuXian felt a searing pain slash across his back. He loudly exclaimed, “Ow!” And almost tripped on the ground.

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

And that his back is heavily scarred from it:

He felt his back, covered in scars both old and new, and still couldn’t hold back the question he’d be thinking about, “How awfully unfair. Why is it that I’m the only one who gets beaten up, whenever something happens?”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

Rumours about this even made it outside of Lotus Pier; during their visit to the ancestral hall years later, Lan Wangji even states that he heard about some of it:

Lan WangJi had on an expression of understanding, “Kneeling as punishment?”

Wei WuXian mused, “How did you know? That’s right. Madam Yu punished me almost every day.”

Lan WangJi nodded, “I have heard of a few things.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s so famous that even people outside Yunmeng, even you Gusu people know—how could it be ‘a few things’? But, to be honest, in all these years, I’ve never seen a second woman whose temper was as bad as Madam Yu’s. She told me to go to the ancestral hall and kneel no matter how small the matter was. Hahaha…”

(Chapter 87, Exiled Rebels translation)

Wei Wuxian’s lower social standing is definitely a part of why Yu Ziyuan is able to abuse him so terribly and receive little to no censure for it. Everyone at Lotus Pier simply takes it for granted, with the exception of Jiang Yanli who at least does try to deflect her mother when she is angry with Wei Wuxian:

Yet, all of a sudden, someone’s quiet voice drifted by Madam Yu’s ear, “Mom, do you want to eat some watermelon…”

[...]

Jiang YanLi almost cried from her mother’s pinching, mumbling, “Mom, A-Xian and the others were hiding here to relieve the heat and I came here on my own. Don’t blame them… Do… Do you want some watermelon… I don’t know who gave them to us, but it’s really sweet. Eating watermelon in the summer is great for cooling down and quenching thirst. I’ll cut them for you…”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

She both tries to deflect her mother from her anger, and also outright states that Wei Wuxian and the other boys weren’t at fault. Jiang Yanli seems to be the only one at Lotus Pier who ever does this.

After the war, Wei Wuxian attends social events at Jiang Cheng’s side but is never quite treated as an equal, either. See how at the Flower Banquet, Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue greet Jiang Cheng but not him:

Suddenly, a voice spoke, “Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Lan.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Wei WuXian’s heart jumped. Nie MingJue turned around again. Jiang Cheng came over, dressed in purple, hand on his sword.

And the person standing beside Jiang Cheng was none other than Wei WuXian himself.

He saw himself walk with hands behind his back, wearing all black. A flute in the shade of ink stuck to his waist, hanging down with crimson colored tassels. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Cheng, he nodded in this direction to show respect. Attitude slightly arrogant, he took on a profound, disdainful appearance. As Wei WuXian saw the stance of his younger self, the root of his teeth even cringed in soreness. He felt that he really was pretentious, and itched to just beat the hell out of himself.

Lan WangJi also saw Wei WuXian, who stood beside Jiang Cheng. The tip of his brows twitched ever so slightly. Soon afterward, his light-colored eyes returned to where they were, still looking forward in that composed way. Jiang Cheng and Nie MingJue nodded at each other with grave faces. Neither had anything unnecessary to say. After a hasty greeting, the two walked their separate ways. Wei WuXian saw his black-clothed self glance around as he finally saw Lan WangJi. He looked as if he was about to speak before Jiang Cheng came over and stood to his side.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

They then proceed to talk about him and his lack of a sword behind his back, never having said a word to Wei Wuxian himself:

Nie MingJue’s gaze turned over again, “Why does Wei Ying not carry his sword?”

Carrying one’s sword was like wearing formal attire. In such gatherings, it was a non-negligible indication of etiquette. Those from prominent sects saw it as especially important. Lan WangJi responded in a lukewarm tone, “He had probably forgotten.”

Ning MingJue raised a brow, “He can even forget something like this?”

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

At Phoenix Mountain it also seems that Wei Wuxian is conditionally a member of the gentry, but not treated like an equal. Sometimes there are these more cheerful interactions:

Holding the flower, Lan WangJi seemed to be quite cold. His tone seemed cold as well, “Was it you?”

Wei WuXian immediately denied it, “No, it wasn’t.”

The maidens beside him spoke at once, “Don’t believe him. It was him!”

Wei WuXian, “How could you treat a good person like this? I’m getting angry!”

Giggling, the maidens pulled their reins and went to the formations of their own sects. Lan WangJi lowered the hand that he held the flower with and shook his head. Jiang Cheng spoke, “ZeWu-Jun, HanGuang-Jun, apologies. Don’t pay attention to him.”

Lan XiChen smiled, “That is fine. I will thank Young Master Wei’s kindness behind the flower in place of WangJi.”

(Chapter 69, Exiled Rebels translation)

But then he will be publicly disparaged and it is readily accepted by others. Jin Zixun first starts an argument with him by criticising Wei Wuxian for fighting Jin Zixuan, then turns the topic to Wei Wuxian’s having taken a third of the prey in the hunt.

Jin ZiXun, “Wei, just what what do you mean by going against ZiXuan so many times?”

[...]

Jin ZiXun sneered, “How is it presumptuous? How is any part of you not presumptuous? Today, in such an important hunt involving all of the sects, you really showed off your abilities, didn’t you? One third of the prey have been taken by you. You sure feel pleased, don’t you?”

[...]

He mocked, “But it’s only natural that you don’t think you’re in the wrong. It’s not the first time that Young Master Wei has disregarded the rules. You didn’t wear your sword in both last time’s flower banquet and this time’s hunt. It’s such a grand event, and you care nothing for courtesy. In what regard to you hold us, the people who are present with you?”

[...]

No disciple had ever dared say such lofty words in front of so many people. A moment later, as Jin ZiXun finally regained his composure, he yelled, “Wei WuXian! You’re only the son of a servant—how dare you be so bold!!!”

(Chapters 69-70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Naturally, Jin Zixun is able to weasel out of giving an apology, even though Jiang Yanli demands one. And guess who also takes a third of the prey, but this time without any censure?

Jin GuangYao, “In reality, not only did Young Master Wei keep a third of the prey to himself, our eldest brother has eliminated over half of the fays and the monsters as well.”

Hearing this, Lan XiChen laughed, “That is how Brother is like, after all.”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Never a Brother

As I’ve already mentioned, Wei Wuxian was never adopted by Jiang Fengmian, or adopted into the clan in general in even a distant way. And this nebulous ‘we’re letting you live with the main family as a charity, but you aren’t really one of us’ attitude also reflects in his relationship with Jiang Yanli.

I’ve already discussed how Wei Wuxian was more like a companion servant to Jiang Cheng than a brother. It’s also worth noting quickly that neither of them ever refers to the other as a brother. Wei Wuxian refers to Jiang Cheng as his shidi a few times, and Jiang Cheng never even refers to him as his shixiong (because Jiang Cheng views him as his servant, not as even a martial brother, I’d argue).

Only one member of the Jiang family ever does use familial terms to refer to Wei Wuxian: his shijie, Jiang Yanli. At Phoenix Mountain, when Wei Wuxian is being insulted by Jin Zixun, Jiang Yanli stands up and defends him, and states clearly that she considers Wei Wuxian a little brother:

The people who gathered around Jin ZiXun had on the same dark faces as he did. Yet, taking into consideration Jiang YanLi’s background, they didn’t dare talk back to her directly.

Jiang YanLi added, “Besides, hunting is hunting, so why bring the matter of discipline to the table? A-Xian is a disciple of the YunmengJiang Sect. He grew up with my brother and I, and so he’s as close as a brother is to me. Calling him the ‘son of a servant’—I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this. And thus…”

She straightened her back and raised her voice, “I hope that Young Master Jin ZiXun would apologize to Wei WuXian of the YunmengJiang Sect!”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

It doesn’t come through in the Exiled Rebels translation, but she actually refers to Wei Wuxian as her didi in this scene, not her shidi. She’s trying to draw a line and state that Wei Wuxian is a part of the family. However, no one takes her seriously, and shortly afterwards we see Jin-furen insisting that Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian shouldn’t be walking alone together because it would be inappropriate.

Jiang YanLi whispered, “That’s not necessary. I’d like to have a few words with A-Xian. He can walk me back.”

Madam Jin raised her brows, looking Wei WuXian up and down. Her gaze was somewhat cautious, as if she was feeling displeased, “A young man and a young woman—you two can’t stick together all the time if nobody else is present.”

Jiang YanLi, “A-Xian is my younger brother.”

[...]

Wei WuXian lowered his head, “Excuse my absence, Madam Jin.”

He and Jiang YanLi bowed at the same time. As they turned around to leave, Madam Jin grabbed Jiang YanLi’s hand and refused to let her leave.

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jin Zixuan also never treats Wei Wuxian the way one might a brother who is still angered with him over his past dismissive treatment of his sister. For example, see their argument at the Flower Banquet:

Before he could see how Lan WangJi reacted, a series of clamor suddenly came from the other end of the base. Wei WuXian heard his own raging shout, “Jin ZiXuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

Wei WuXian remembered. So it was this time!

On the other side, Jin ZiXuan also fumed, “I was asking Sect Leader Jiang, not you! The one I was asking about was also Maiden Jiang. How is that related to you?!”

[...]

Jin ZiXuan, “Sect Leader Jiang—this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

[...]

...Jiang Cheng’s voice came, “Wei WuXian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”

Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “Next time? There is no next time! Whether or not she’s doing well isn’t any of his business, either! Who does he think he is?”

He turned around and started to leave. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Get back here! Where are you going?”

Wei WuXian waved his hands, “Anywhere is fine! Just don’t let me see that face of his. I never wanted to come, anyway. You can deal with whatever’s here yourself.”

Having been abandoned by Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng’s face immediately clouded over.

[...]

Jiang Cheng stowed away the clouds on his face, “Don’t mind him. Look at how impolite he is. He’s used to such rude behavior at home.”

He then began to converse with Jin ZiXuan.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng also quietly dismisses the notion of Wei Wuxian as a brother in relation to Jiang Yanli; when they visit to show him her wedding dress and she asks for a courtesy name, Jiang Cheng specifically says:

Jiang Cheng, “The courtesy name of my unborn nephew.”

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Not our nephew, mine.

Even the disastrous invitation to Jin Ling’s one month celebration is framed as a favour to an old shidi, not a family member:

Jin ZiXun, “Since you’ve heard it from him already, you should know that I can’t wait. Don’t tell me that you’ll disregard your brother’s life for the sake of Sister-in-Law’s shidi?!”

Jin ZiXuan, “You clearly know that I’m not that kind of person! He might not necessarily be the one who cursed you with Hundred Holes either. Why are you so rash? I was the one who invited Wei WuXian to A-Ling’s full-month celebration anyways. If this is the way you do things, where does that leave me? Where does it leave my wife?”

Jin ZiXun raised his voice, “It’s best if he doesn’t attend! What does Wei WuXian think he is—does he deserve to attend our sect’s banquet? Whoever touches him gets nothing but a splash of black! ZiXuan, when you invited him, weren’t you worried that you, Sister-in-Law and A-Ling would receive an irremovable stain for the rest of your lives?!”

(Chapter 76, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear that not only does wider society not consider Wei Wuxian and the Jiangs siblings...they themselves don’t, either. Wei Wuxian, after all, readily accepts that his relationship with them is over after he leaves the sect:

Before they parted, Jiang Cheng spoke, “We won’t see you off. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw us.”

Wei WuXian nodded. He understood that it wasn’t easy for the Jiang siblings to have come out here. If someone else saw them, all those things they did for the public to believe would be wasted. He spoke, “We’ll go first.”

[...]

He turned around, knowing that it’d be a long time before he’d get to see the people he was familiar with again.

But… right now, wasn’t he on his way to seeing people he was familiar with as well?

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Cast Aside

The way cultivation society treats Wei Wuxian when he is not with the Jiangs is also very revealing. Any level of respect he is given is contingent on his position in the Jiang household, and when they aren’t around that minimal respect fades away. Look at how disrespectfully he is treated when he approaches Jin Zixun to ask for Wen Ning’s location.

Wei WuXian didn’t make small talk either, getting straight to the point, “No thanks. I don’t.” He nodded slightly at Jin ZiXun, “Young Master Jin, could I please have a word with you?”

Jin ZiXun, “If you have anything to say, come after our banquet is over.”

In reality, he didn’t want to talk to Wei WuXian at all. Wei WuXian could see this as well, “How long do I have to wait?”

Jin ZiXun, “Probably around six to eight hours. Or maybe ten to twelve. Or until tomorrow.”

Wei WuXian, “I’m afraid I can’t wait for that long.”

Jin ZiXun’s voice was arrogant, “You’ll have to wait even if you can’t.”

Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, what do you need ZiXun for? Is it a pressing matter?”

Wei WuXian, “Pressing indeed. It allows for no delay.”

[...]

Jin ZiXun, “Wei WuXian, what do you mean? You came for him? You aren’t standing up for a Wen-dog, are you?”

Wei WuXian wore a broad grin, “Since when is it your business whether I’d like to stand up for him or cut his head off? Just give him to me!”

At the last sentence, the grin on his face vanished. His tone turned cold as well. It was clear that he had lost his patience. Many of the people within Glamor Hal shivered in fear. Jin ZiXun felt his scalp tingle as well. Yet, his anger soon soared. He shouted, “Wei WuXian, you are too bold! Did the LanlingJin Sect invite you today? And you dare run wild here. Do you really think that you’re invincible, that nobody has the courage to confront you? Do you want to overturn the Heavens?”

Wei WuXian smiled, “You’re comparing yourself to the Heavens? Excuse my language, but your face is a little too thick, isn’t it?”

[...]

Just as he was about to rebut, sitting on the foremost seat, Jin GuangShan spoke up.

His voice seemed kind, “It’s not anything too important anyways. You youngsters, why lose your tempers over such a thing? However, Young Master Wei, let me be fair here. Barging in when the LanlingJin Sect is holding a private banquet is indeed inappropriate.”

To say that Jin GuangShan didn’t mind what happened at Phoenix Mountain would be impossible. This was also why he only smiled when Jin ZiXun bickered with Wei WuXian but didn’t stop them, and only spoke up when Jin ZiXun was at the disadvantage.

Wei WuXian nodded, “Sect Leader Jin, it was never my intention to disturb your private banquet. My apologies. However, the whereabouts of the people whom Young Master Jin took are still unclear. Just a moment of delay, and it might be too late. One of the group had once saved me before. I will definitely not sit back and watch. Please do not feel pressured. I will make amends for this at a later date.”

[...]

After a few laughs, he continued, “Sect Leader Jin, let me ask you something else. Do you think that, because the QishanWen Sect is gone, the LanlingJin Sect has all right to replace it?”

All was silent within Glamor Hall.

Wei WuXian added, “Everything has to be given to you? Everyone has to listen to you? Looking at how the LanlingJin Sect does things, I almost thought that it was the QishanWen Sect’s empire all over again.”

[...]

A guest cultivator on his right shouted, “Wei WuXian! Watch your words!”

Wei WuXian, “Did I say something wrong? Forcing living people to be bait and beating them up whenever they refused to obey—is this any different from what the QishanWen Sect does?”

Another guest cultivator stood up, “Of course it’s different. The Wen-dogs did all kinds of evil. To arrive at such an end is only karma for them. We only avenged a tooth for a tooth, letting them taste the fruit that they themselves had sown. What’s wrong with this?”

Wei WuXian, “Take revenge on the ones who bite you. Wen Ning’s branch doesn’t have much blood on their hands. Don’t tell me that you find them guilty by association?”

Another person spoke, “Young Master Wei, is it that they don’t have much blood on their hands just because you say so? These are only your one-sided words. Where’s the evidence?”

[...]

Jin GuangShan stood up as well, his face a mixture of shock, anger, fear, and hatred, “Wei WuXian! Just because… Sect Leader Jiang isn’t here doesn’t mean you can be so reckless!”

Wei WuXian’s voice was harsh, “Do you think that I wouldn’t be reckless if he were here? If I wanted to kill someone, who could stop me, and who would dare stop me?!”

[...]

“Young Master Wei really is too impulsive. How could he speak in such a way in front of so many sects?”

Lan WangJi spoke coldly, “Was he wrong?”

Jin GuangYao paused almost unnoticeably. He immediately laughed, “Haha. Yes, he’s right. But it’s because he’s right that he can’t say it in front of them, correct?”

Lan XiChen seemed as if he was deep in thought, “Young Master Wei’s heart really has changed.”

(Chapter 72, Exiled Rebels translation)

The only person at this banquet who speaks to Wei Wuxian respectfully is Jin Guangyao, a consummate manipulator who is also of a lower social status. Everyone else speaks to him dismissively, refusing to respect his request for Wen Ning’s location even though he states that Wen Ning helped him during the war. Wei Wuxian is extremely polite at the beginning of this conversation, and only slowly begins to lose his temper when Jin Zixun speaks rudely and Jin Guangshan decides to bring up the matter of the Yinhufu (Wei Wuxian is right in suspecting him of wanting to replace Qishan Wen, of course, and that it’s very bold of them to think they have the right to a spiritual tool of his just because...they’re rich?).

When the sects meet at Koi Tower to discuss the breakout at Qiongqi Path, no one considers Wei Wuxian as an independent agent who they might actually want to meet and negotiate with themselves. He is a wayward servant of Yunmeng Jiang who the sect leader has failed to keep in hand.

Jiang Cheng only spoke after a few moments, “What he did was indeed a bit too much. Sect Leader Jin, I apologize to you in place of him. If there’s any way at all to help the situation, please let me know. I’ll definitely compensate for things however I can.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan, “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. All of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actually respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside? Things like how during the Sunshot Campaign the victories of the YunmengJiang Sect were all because of Wei WuXian alone—what nonsense!”

[...]

Lan WangJi sat with his back straight, speaking in a tone of absolute tranquility, “I did not hear Wei Ying say this. I did not hear him express the slightest disrespect towards Sect Leader Jiang either.”

[...]

The good thing was that, not long after he felt awkward, Jin GuangYao came to save the day, exclaiming, “Really? That day, Young Master Wei busted into Koi Tower with such force. He said too many things, one more shocking than the next. Perhaps he said a few things that were along those lines. I can’t remember them either.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan followed the transition, “That’s right. Anyhow, his attitude has always been arrogant.”

One of the sect leaders added, “To be honest, I’ve wanted to say this since a long time ago. Although Wei WuXian did a few things during the Sunshot Campaign, there are many guest cultivators who did more than him. I’ve never seen anyone as full of themselves as him. Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”

[...]

“In the beginning, Sect Leader Jin asked Wei Ying for the Tiger Seal with nothing but good intentions, worried that he wouldn’t be able to control it and lead to a disaster. He, however, used his own yardstick to measure another’s intents. Did he think that everyone is after his treasure? What a joke. In terms of treasures, is there any sect that doesn’t hold a few treasures?”

“I knew that something would eventually happen if he continued on the ghostly path—look! His killing intents are being revealed already. Killing indiscriminately those from our side just because of a few Wen-dogs…”

[...]

Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?”

He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, “Sect Leader Jin, that’s enough. I’ll go to Burial Mound and deal with this.”

Jin GuangShan felt satisfied, speaking in a sincere tone, “That’s the spirit. Sect Leader Jiang, there are some things, some people that you shouldn’t put up with.”

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is very reminiscent of the way that Jin Zixuan would often turn around and say, ‘Why aren’t you controlling your servant?’ to Jiang Cheng whenever he had a dispute with Wei Wuxian over his treatment of Jiang Yanli.

When Jiang Cheng goes to the Burial Mounds and Wei Wuxian defects from Yunmeng Jiang in order to help the sect save face, Jiang Cheng treats this as a personal betrayal. He not only challenges Wei Wuxian to a duel but then announces that Wei Wuxian has betrayed Yunmeng Jiang and declared himself the enemy of cultivation society:

After the fight, Jiang Cheng told the outside that Wei WuXian defected from the sect and was an enemy to the entire cultivation world. The YunmengJiang Sect had already cast him out. From then on, no ties remained between them—a clear line was drawn. Henceforth, no matter what he did, they’d have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect!

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

“Wei Wuxian has betrayed the sect, and publicly regards all cultivation sects as enemy! Yunmeng Jiang Sect hereby expels him, breaking all ties with him and drawing a clear line between us. Henceforth, no matter what this person does, it will have nothing to do with Yunmeng Jiang Sect!”

(Modao Zushi Radio Drama, Season 3 Episode 5, Suibian Subs)

Naturally, no one ever questions this or wants to hear Wei Wuxian’s side of the story. Jiang Cheng is a sect leader and Wei Wuxian his servant, and that is all cultivation society needs to know.

In Conclusion

Wei Wuxian was never really part of the Jiang family. The wider social view was that he was a servant who was lucky to be taken in by the family and allowed to live in the main house alongside the sect leader’s children. He’s accepted into cultivation society conditionally, but only as someone who remains a rank below everyone else.

This attitude isn’t just the wider social view which the family themselves disregard; they all play into it. Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Cheng both actively enforce it, Jiang Fengmian passively enforces it, and Jiang Yanli tries but fails to break through the social barriers between them.