#at least in part - bc he continues to give himself over to this fight against vitiate even if its not ideal to him

[tiredassmage]

tragic greek figures + your ocs

Thank you for reminding me I wanted to do this one, @captainderyn​! Uquiz, my beloved, diagnose my ocs, lmaoooo.

I have... honestly lost track of who has and hasn’t done this, so if you haven’t, I’m tagging you. I’m tagging you, I’m tagging you, I’m taggi-

(Dot, it’d help if you’d link the quiz)

Tyr Deckard - Patroclus

clever patroclus, beloved patroclus, poor patroclus: you do fall into madness, nor vanity, nor hubris. not, that is, for your own sake. love for that golden-haired man, sorrow for your countrymen; it is for his name that you don his armor, and for the dying greeks that you ride into battle. every piece of you is willingly given away, even if after you are gone there are wicked things done in your name.

Savosta - Icarus

what is there to be said of icarus? you were warned, yet you persisted, imprudently. but what of your first taste of liberation? the exhilaration that follows the first ray of the sun to touch you as you are, as a free man, makes you drunk on joy. we all know the foolish things that drunken people are capable of. was the fall as thrilling as the flight?

Lensan Ryaldar - Arachne

adept arachne, the things which you craft are born from years of careful practice, focused effort, and a drop of divine inspiration. your finished product shows the skills which you have honed over your lifetime, so take pride in that, but don’t proclaim yourself a peerless artisan, and, by the gods, show humility when you’ve been beaten.

Rhystyl Delavast - Achilles

best of the greeks, eager for honor, and quick to rage: you could easily live in content and easy until you're gray-haired, but glory and fame call for you just beyond the horizon. you are not prone to self-reflection and trip into the same pits of wrath at bruised pride over and over. are you truly ready to sacrifice everything so that your name will be immortalized? is your fury what you want to be remembered for?

[highvern]

Teach Me II

or private tutoring

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Pairing: Lee Dokyeom (Seokmin) x fem!reader

Genre: smut, humor, college au, frat!svt

Warnings: inexperience!dk, experienced!reader, mentions of previous drug use (weed) , oral (m. & f. receiving), cum swallowing, spitting, fingering, making out, strength kink bc he's hot, minor overstim at the end but he's just enthusiastic, fwb, this chapter is pure smut, spreading my DK is a munch agenda

Length: ~3.5k

Note: literally a doozy to write but its done, I have part 3-5 outlined so hopefully they go quicker, lemme know what yall think!

read more here

Tuesday Night Approx. 10:02 PM, DK’s bedroom

Dokyeom has come to the conclusion he’s hallucinating. The hot wet suckle of your mouth against the head of his cock, one hand jerking him in time with the motions of your head while the other gently cups his balls is just too good to be true. The view he’s witnessing is even more proof he’s gone certifiably insane. 

You’re knelt between his spread legs at the edge of the bed, shoulders framed by his knees. At some point Dokyeom fell back on his elbows, granting you as much room as possible to do whatever you want as he stares down his body at you. The rhythmic bobbing of your head hypnotizes him, forcing him to fight demons against the urge to wrap a hand in your hair so he has a better view of your mouth working his cock. He thanks himself for having the foresight to at least ask you to take your top off this time, allowing him the pleasure to view the long muscles along your spine flexing, only obstructed by the band of your bra.

You’re the goddess of his dick and Dokyeom is an avid worshiper.

The first and only time he received head involved too much weed (both of them), teeth (hers), and tears (his) for him to enjoy any of it. It had been so unpleasurable he had avoided doing anything since in fear of repeating the experience. 

You, however, make him regret not finding you on campus sooner. The genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment that radiates off you as you play with him has an orgasm tumbling towards him faster than he wants. When Dokyeom tries to inform you, hoping you’ll find a way to help him hold off, gasping your name and a broken “I’m gonna;” you respond with a delighted hum and work him harder.

“Holy shiii—,” he whines as you give a particularly harsh suck as he slides further in your mouth, tip nudging the back of your throat softly. A moan of your own shooting pleasurable snaps down his wrecked nerves.

He’s done for when your eyes peek open and find his.

Every muscle in his body clenches, his hips bucking up into your mouth despite his effort to remain grounded. Ears filled with the sound of his blood rushing, eyes squeezed tight. He knows he’s blabbering whatever praises have sat on the tip of his tongue since you started between deep desperate groans, but Dokyeom can’t hear a single thing. All he can focus on is how his cum shoots into your waiting mouth as you continue pumping him till his balls are empty.

You swallow his load with ease, popping off his dick to allow your tongue to dart and catch the dribble at the corner of your lips. If that’s how good it's gonna be everytime, Dokyeom is afraid he might fall in love with you from a simple blowjob.

“Good?” You ask with a cheeriness that seems a little out of place given that you’ve sucked his soul out.

Dokyeom’s brain function borders non-existent so he just grunts an affirmation from where he’s crashed on the sheets of his bed, tossing an arm over his eyes as he comes back to earth.

Your giggling has him cracking open his eyes lazily to find you resting your chin on his muscular thigh, smile wide, dangerously close to his softened cock.

“Are you the dick whisperer or?” 

More giggles answer him. You think it's cute how clearly spent he is, not bothering to hide how you affect him, no bullshit bravado some other guys try to pull. 

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” You coo.

“Well that was the best blowjob I’ve ever had.”

“My only competition is a girl from two years ago, but I’ll take it.”

You hop up next to him on the bed, lying parallel to his body as a comfortable silence settles between you. His eyes follow the steady rise and fall of your chest, gaze locked on how your boobs push against the thin fabric of your bra. Dokyeom just makes out the edges on what must be your stiff nipples poking through the cup. It makes him salivate.

“Can I try?” 

“Try what?” You ask, turning your head to look at his face.

Dokyeom rolls over, propping himself up on an elbow to loom over you. His nose traces your jaw, unable to keep his hand from moving across the plane of your belly, thumb burning against bare skin as it dips below the elastic waistband of your leggings.

“Wanna eat you out.” 

The gentle kiss he places under your ear is answered with stuttering breath and a subtle nod.

“Should I,” he swallows thickly. “How should I start?”

“Kissing is good.”

His lips leave a trail of gentle pecks across your cheek to your mouth. When your mouths meet, twin sighs leave your noses. You weren’t lying to him when you told him he was a good kisser. 

The hand that was tracing the hollow of your hip moves up to your jaw, caressing your cheek and allowing Dokyeom to move your head where he wants it. He tilts your chin up, dragging the tip of his tongue against your plush lower lip. Your mouth opens slightly, allowing wet muscles to meet tentatively. 

The vibration of your moan against his lips has his head dipping away.

“Good?”

You mutter a breathless “yes” into his mouth, missing his touch immediately. Your hands plant on the sides of his face, dragging him back in.

You both continue lazily, content in the way your lips meet and hands memorize the other's features. But Dokyeom longs to learn the ins and outs of your body, hoping he can make you feel at least a fraction of the pleasure you've gifted him twice now.

When he tries to disconnect your lips this time, you chase him. Pulling him back in with a maddening drag of teeth, followed by the dull sting of your nails against his shoulder. Your free hand moves his from your jaw down to your chest, giving him an encouraging squeeze to start playing with you.

Hesitating, his large palm gently fondles your breast, thumbing the edge of the lacy fabric hiding you from view. He isn’t doing much other than letting the weight of it settle in his hand. When you break away your gaze to watch his reaction, Dokyeom’s face is set in determination.

“You can do more.”

At your permission he gives a gentle squeeze, it’s sweet but not what you need. 

“Like this.”

Gently brushing him away, you flip the cup of your bra down to expose yourself to the chill of the air. Dokyeom eyes follow with rapt attention, hypnotized by the swell of your chest and the contrasting skin. He stares as you grab his hand again, moving it back to cup your breast. From the gaps between his fingers, ribbons of your flesh are still visible. When the calloused side of his thumb rolls across your nipple this time, you shudder.

“If you want,” you gasp, “you can use your mouth.”

That was all he needed to dive for your chest. Immediately opening his mouth to cover your areola, sucking with too much enthusiasm.

“Wait!” You wince, shoulders caving inward at the zap of discomfort.

Dokyeom jumps back like he’s burnt, terrified expression blooming on his features. 

“It’s okay! But you need to build up to it, ya know?”

“Like how?” 

“Kiss my neck, keep using your hands. But make me want it first and it’ll feel a lot better.”

“Make you…want it? But can’t I just give it to you?”

“Think of it like…” you rack your brain, but when the flex of his biceps catch your eye you continue. “when you workout! You need to warm up first or you’ll get hurt, right?”

“Yeah?” he questions, still unsure.

“So you gotta warm me up first. Just start gently and then… you can get a little rougher.”

“Okay, okay.” He mutters to himself. “Gentle then rough, make you want it. Got it.”

He moves his face back to your chest, rubbing his lips across the smooth skin at the hollow of your throat. Letting his tongue dip out, Dokyeom etches a scorching path along the dips and curves of your chest. He tentatively covers your bare breast with his hand again, squeezing gently while his thumb catches your sensitive nub.

“Much better,” you sigh dreamily, entranced by the featherlight touches he’s teasing along your skin.

“Can I take your bra off?” 

His question is barely intelligible since he mutters it into your skin, around his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

Without a word, you arch up and move your hands behind your back. One day he’ll insist you teach him to take it off himself but right now he zeros in on the way you’re pushing into his mouth as the fabric falls limp around your chest, exposing more soft skin for him to explore. You shuck the offending garment off your body, and toss it over the side of his bed. 

Completely bare from the waist up under him, Dokyeom props himself up to catalog the masterpiece that is you. Hair spread across his sheets beneath you, a few rogue tendrils twist below your chin and tickle your neck. Eyes hooded lowly, pupils blown wide. There's a faint blush spreading across your cheeks and down your front, making your skin glow mesmerizingly; and your lips, bruised and swollen, are parted around your shallow pants. 

Yeah, he can definitely get used to seeing you like this.

“What?”

“You’re just… wow.”

“Wow?”

“You’re half naked in my bed after destroying my dick, please be nice to me.”

You respond with a shy smile as you drag him back in. He leaves more kisses across your face and down your chin before getting back to work.

Experimenting, Dokyeom finds your tit. His teeth graze against the puckered bud sucked into his mouth, nipping it gently before laving his tongue across the sore flesh soothingly. He’s rewarded with an agonizing grind of your hips against his thigh, savoring the scalding heat of your pussy through the thin fabric separating you. 

“Again.” You tell him.

So he does.

He memorizes every dreamy sigh, satisfied moan, and sobbed hiccup released from your mouth. He also memorizes exactly what he does to deserve them. You like when he darts the tip of his tongue out to guide himself from one area to the next. Huffing when he blows a cool stream of air on the wet trail, giving rise to a litter of goosebumps. If he scratches his teeth on the more sensitive skin of your nipples or underside of your breast, you’ll hiss a sharp breath and twist your fist in the sheets beside you, back arching for more. If he plays with both of your nipples simultaneously, engulfing one between his lips and lapping with his tongue while his hand pinches and pulls the other, you’ll tremble in his hold and cry his name hoarsely.

He really likes that one. 

“Good?”

You’d think he was teasing if it wasn’t for the trickle of insecurity that seeps into his voice. 

“Great,” you praise, eyes shut against the pleasure you’re receiving. “You should take my pants off.”

“Really?”

“Want you to see how wet you made me.”

He chokes on his own saliva, coughing against you.

“Are you okay?”

His eyes are watering and his face is red as he catches his breath. 

“Oh my god!” Your eyes go wide with worry.

When he finally calms himself, he pins you with a stern look.

“You can’t just,” he huffs. “say stuff like that.”

“Like what? That you’re making me horny?”

“Exactly like that! God, I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“So you don’t wanna hear how much I want you to fuck me?” You whisper in his ear, lips dragging against the sensitive shell of his ear.

“No,” he swallows, your words decimating his brain and all common sense. “I do, I just, fuck.”

The last word he groans in response to you stuffing his hand between your spread thighs. The crotch of your leggings are soaked, clinging to the lips of your pussy thanks to your previous movement against his leg.

“Can you feel it?” You pant in his ear. “How wet I am for you?” 

The dirty words strike a cord. He did this; his kisses and caresses teased so much of your arousal of you that it’s leaking through your panties, past your leggings to soak his fingers.

Eyes drifting shut to focus on the slick coating his palm, Dokyeom lets his hand dip lower to push against where he thinks your clit is. The pads of his finger ghosting a tight circle of the digit at the top of your mound. His chest threatens to burst with pride when your hips stutter into his palm.

“Please,” you whimper.

It breaks his heart to remove his hand but he aims to make up for it by stripping off your pants in a rush. Dokyeom nearly rips the material apart when it catches around your thighs but he uses his strength to lift your hips, pushing them down your legs and off you like he has a personal vendetta against them. Your underwear comes off as well, tossed over his shoulder next to your forgotten bra and shirt.

Dokyeom lies between your splayed legs, chest flat with the bed as his hands hook under your knees and push your legs up to spread you before him. Your inner thighs are glistening, smeared with your own arousal that leaks from your cunt, lips swollen and flushed, clit peeking out from under your mound. A wet spot darkens the fabric of his sheets below you, increasing in size as your entrance squeezes around nothing. His nose is full of your heady scent, mouth watering for a taste.

He dives in while his brain sings his new life motto: gentle then rough, make you want it. Gentle then rough, make you want it.

Using his knowledge of what worked well on your chest, he blows a cool breath against your hot center. Dokyeom watches as you mewl above him, head falling back as your spine arches. Barely there kisses tease the sensitive skin of your thigh next to his head, punctuated by sharp nips of teeth leaving bruises blooming bright red in their path.

Dropping his hands from your knees but leaving your legs on his shoulder, he uses his thumbs to spread you apart, granting him unobstructed access to your most sensitive parts. He feels like a pervert; a voyeur, staring in awe at the prettiest pussy he’s ever seen. He knows he’s only seen one in real life (yours) but no one else’s will ever compare. 

Once Dokyeom has taken his fill, and you’re at your wits end above him, he uses the tip of his tongue to score a path from your dripping hole to your clit; moaning at the taste covering his tongue.

“More!” you whine from above, voice thick want.

“You said to make you want it.” He rasps, face still buried between your legs, mapping every ridge and dip.

“I do!”

“Let me play with it.” 

Dokyeom signs his requests with a firm lick to your clit against the flat of his tongue.

“Ahh!” You croak, convulsing from the sudden simulation. One hand flying to his hair to keep him in place.

Dokyeom is all too happy to continue, lapping indecently at your pussy. In his opinion, feeling your essence coat his chin and cheeks as he works you is almost as satisfying as having his cock in your mouth. Seeing you get off above him clicks why you were so enthusiastic when the roles were reversed. He could live and die eating your pussy without complaint.

The rush of pleasure has your thighs attempting to crush his skull. When he pulls your legs apart brutishly you arch again, turned on at the thought of him using his muscles to pin you down and leave you at his mercy. He folds you in half easily, hands pushing the back of your thighs up and out his way.

Since his hands are occupied with pinning your legs in place, one of you attempts to assist him. The hand not fisted in his hair shoots to your pussy, spreading your lips for him and directing him to your clit. Dokyeom doesn’t hesitate to tease your nub framed between your fingers. The occasional brush of his drenched lips or pointed tongue against your hand makes your head fuzzy.

Dokyeom feels you snatch one of his hands away from your leg, pulling it to your face. You suck two of his slender fingers into your mouth, moaning when they press down on your tongue causing you to drool around them. Dokyeom opens his eyes to gape at the vulgar display, hips twitching against the bed when your eyes meet his.

Holy shit.

He’s torn between wanting to stretch you open around the digits you're currently lapping at and letting you continue, imagining it's his cock between your lips. Fortunately for you he doesn’t ponder his choice for too long. Pulling his hand away, his eyes stay trained on yours as he reaches under his own chin to circle your hole. The mix of saliva and the juices of your pussy let him slide in easy enough, silky inner muscles eager to pull him deeper. 

“Spit on it,” you beg, eyes glassy.

He swallows harshly. If he was capable of any thought other than how sexy you are, he’d kick himself for how he let your first time together play out. Virginity be damned, he could have cum from this alone.

Dokyeom is more than willing to give you whatever you desire so he pulls away just enough to spit harshly on your clit, watching the bead race to where his fingers spread you, allowing it to disappear inside the rim of your entrance as he pumps his arm. He fumbles to reattach his mouth to your clit, lashing against the nerves as he stuffs you full; desperate to have you come on his face.

You're a moaning mess above him, hair matted to your sweaty forehead, hands threatening to rip the sheets apart as you fist them. 

“Give me another one,” you instruct, immediately granted your wish.

All you can do is gawk at Dokyeom below you as he brings you to your end with embarrassing speed. Every muscle in your body is pulled taunt, threatening to break any second as tears fill your vision. Your orgasm right there but just out of reach. But when you catch the way Dokyeom is humping against the bed, you snap. You don’t care that his roommate might still be home as you throw your head back with a sob, tears spilling down your face as endorphins blaze through your veins. Your mind is incinerated, vision filled fuzzy with fireworks. You can’t breathe as you gush into his mouth, thighs locked around his head and threatening to suffocate him.

To his credit, Dokyeom doesn’t stop despite the way you thrash below his mouth. If anything, his efforts increase, only encouraged by your shaky moans and shaker thighs. He snags both your ankles in one palm, stretching your legs up and over his head as far as can before pushing them back into your chest to twist you in a V. You get impossible tighter with the shift as he continues to stuff your clenching entrance while he licks your clit, a mess of spit and arousal pooling between your cheeks. You have to pull him away by his hair, interrupted several times by him diving back in to suck up your juices, fingers pushing more and more out of you to drip down his wrist. When you whine and tell him it's too much he finally relents with a gentle kiss and one last thrust before releasing your legs and resting his cheek on your thigh.

You both lay there in silence, panting against one another. Dokyeom kisses back up to your face, dropping sweet pecks to the tops of your thighs, across your hip bones to your belly button where he lets his nose trace up to your sternum and finally to your chin. When you open your eyes you find him staring at you sleepily.

“Hi,” he says, voice thick.

“Hi,” you smile.

He dips to press one last kiss to your lips before pulling you into his arms, pillowing your head on his bicep and brushing his other hand through your tangled hair. He ignores the way his sticky cock throbs against his leg, focusing on caring for you rather than himself.

“Good?” He mumbles against your forehead, lips resting on your hairline.

“I think you’re lying about never having done that before.”

“Scouts honor, you’re the first.”

“Honored. Glad our first tutoring session was so successful.”

First? He thinks. 

“There’ll be more?”

“Well, yeah,” you whisper, suddenly bashful in case he’s no longer interested.

“Sweeeeeet!” he whoops.

You roll your eyes at his boyish response but feel yourself smile anyway. If he can learn to fuck you as well as he eats you out then you’re in for a ride.

[magewritesstories]

[ ᴍᴇɢᴜᴍɪ ꜰᴜꜱʜɪɢᴜʀᴏ ] ꜰᴜꜱʜɪɢᴜʀᴏ'ꜱ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜɪᴛ ᴏɴ!

summary; based on that one juju stroll where megumi's gicing a girl directions and yuji, nobara and gojo decide to be menaces (like always) tw; none, just some cute fluff note; thought this would be cute bc the juju stroll popped into my head today word count; 505 ('s a tiny blurb, but i might write a part ii) jujutsu kaisen masterlist // main masterlist

YOU WATCH IN CONFUSION AS THE THREE STRANGERS FIGHT OVER YOUR MIDDLE-SCHOOL CLASSMATE.

You don't know how you ended up in this situation—just that you were out shopping with a few friends and saw one of your old classmates and thought that the polite thing to do would be to say hi.

(definitely didn't walk up to him because you had the biggest crush on him back in middle school, nooo definitely not that.)

You'd been standing in front of the fancy glass showcase of the local coffee shop, trying to pick between two flavours of fudge cake when you saw a familiar bob of spiky blue hair.

Just a few feet away from you stood Megumi Fushiguro—the ex-middle-school bad boy and also your first-ever crush. Typical? Maybe, but in your defence, you were a big YA romance fan back then.

He was absentmindedly scrolling through his phone as he waited for his order. Probably black coffee, you thought to yourself.

Now, you don't what on God's green earth possessed you when you walked up to him, but something did.

"Fushiguro?" You called out, taking a few steps towards him, "Megumi Fushiguro, right?"

The boy in question looked up in confusion, before pointing at himself.

And then you realised he probably didn't remember you.

"Uhm, I'm L/N Y/N," You continued as you came to a halt in front of him, "We went to the same middle school?"

His dark blue eyes widened in realisation—he's still as pretty as he used to be—and he nodded. "I remember, we were in the same chemistry class."

"Yeah, it's been a while," You reply with a smile, "I thought I'd say hi and—"

Before you can finish your sentence a boy around your age with spiky pink hair and indentical scars under his eyes throws his arms around Megumi, blubbering something through teary eyes.

Your ex-classmate manages to pry the pink-haired boy off of him, but before he can say anything a girl with auburn hair walks over to you three, shouting something.

And soon enough an older-looking man with white hair—who you recognize as Megumi's older brother (at least that's what everyone thought he was) because he'd been to your school once after one of Megumi's fights—was added to the mix.

Which is how you landed in this situation.

You watched the three strangers fight over Megumi, who buried his face in the collar of his clothes growing redder by the second. Whether it was out of embarrassment or anger you didn't know.

"Uhm..." You looked around before quickly grabbing a napkin and jotting down your number.

Again, what on God's green earth possessed you at that moment to give you that much confidence? No clue.

"Here, text me when you've sorted out—" You vaguely gestured towards the three fighting strangers—"That."

The blue-haired boy looks like he wants to say something but decides against it, pocketing the napkin instead whilst watching you walk away with one last wave over your shoulder.

[1whore1gang]

it's the little things 🤍

This is part 4!!

Read parts 1-3 HERE

Warnings: more angst, I'm so sorry BUT BUT BUT theres sickeningly sweet fluff at the end so bare with me ;), cussing, emotions, mentions of SA

I tried to make this one longer bc i feel like part 1 was so good and then 2 and 3 kinda flopped so heres me trying to write more than I usually do.

Also, I'm surprised no one has noticed a small writing detail I did last chapter regarding Price. I'll do it again in this chapter to see if anyone can catch on hehehehe :)

EDIT: not me saying I wanted to attempt to make this as long as part one when part one was 2,437 words and this one ended up 4,314 words....oops

Taglist: @gaymistakeboi @batw3nch @thedevillovesflowers @almightywdm @ghostslittlegf @sketchyfandomgirl @under-the-dirt @clear-your-mind-and-dream @darkangel4121 @vreselia @llemes @stargaliz @rockcollector3000 @nottrosaxx

(sorry if i forgot anyone!!! please yell at me if I did!!)

"Stop that!" Your voice was almost begging as Soap kept grabbing at Ghost's little hoodie strings. Soap kept fighting with Ghost all day and you couldn't handle it anymore. You finally picked up Soap and put him alone in the playpen. "You're in time out."

He began to wail, making you shed tears of your own. You were exhausted from the three little boys. They'd been causing trouble lately and keeping you up all night this week.

Gaz looked up at you with a little toy car shoved halfway in his mouth, blinking innocently as Ghost continues to play with his blocks as he was before Soap grabbed him. "At least you two are giving me a break today." Soap continued to wail dramatically, not even crying, just wanting your attention.

Laswell had told you that he needed to learn that he's not the only one you take care of, so you sometimes have to leave him to cry it out on his own to teach him. She'd stopped by the other day to brief you on a new group of recruits.

She was definitely questioning why you of all people had your Captain's so-called 'nephews' and you had to think on your feet, but she didn't buy it.

"Tell me the truth, who's kids are these Y/N?" Her voice was in that motherly tone she had mastered with all of you.

"You wouldn't believe me." You said, trying to quiet Soap's crying, which led to her advice about letting him cry it out.

"If you're going to tell me they're yours, yeah I won't." She shook her head, becoming increasingly more annoyed with you.

"Promise you won't report me for drugs?"

"Depends."

You had told her everything about finding the boys like this, and she had to take some time to think it over until she noticed how Soap only plays with Ghost, and how Gaz keeps to himself and didn't cry once while she was there. She took a day before she texted you again telling you she was there if you needed any help.

That was 3 days ago, and you didn't want to bother her since she had taken over some of your duties since your hands were quite full.

You leaned against the foot of your bed as you finally heard Soap's cries die down, turning around to see he had tuckered himself out into a sleep. You took a couple of deep breaths, trying to dry your tears when you felt little hands on your feet.

You opened your eyes to see Gaz and Simon grabbing at your toes. They both sit down at your attention. You went to go move to see what they needed when Gaz gave you a goofy smile.

Smiling back, you swopped him up to your chest to rock him, almost thanking him for bringing a smile to your face. You heard the familiar little grunt from Simon as you looked at him.

His hand was just outstretched towards you with one of his little blocks, offering it to you. Laughing a little, you took it and noticed the letter on the block was your initial.

Your eyes went wide as you looked back at Simon. "You know...or do you?" The question was more for yourself than him. You knew Simon couldn't understand you, he was a baby, there's no way he could.

"Is this me?" You cooed, pointing to the block he gave you. He grunted in response. "There's no way." Was he actually coherent? Was your Simon in there, he just couldn't express properly? Or had little Simon heard your name enough times that he knew? You felt something wet on your neck and saw Gaz drooling, thanking the universe that two of the boys so far have gone down for a nap.

Setting him in the playpen, you return to Simon, wanting to see if there was any way you could find out if he was cognitively adult Simon. "Do you know what's going on?" Your voice was gentle and quiet. Watching adamantly, you waited for him to give you any reaction. "Simon?"

His wide eyes looked up at you, focused shifted from his toys. "Do you know?" He blinked a couple of times, then looked around the room. He grunted a couple of times before looking down at his blocks.

"Simon?" You said again sweetly. You watched as Simon's lip began to quiver as he looked over his blocks, he began to cry, grabbing at the blocks and then throwing one before beginning to cry. "Oh honey, I'm sorry."

He reached out for you and you picked him up, comforting him. "It's okay honey, I'm sorry." You could tell something had bothered him, but what?

He wasn't wailing or screaming, just a silent whine of a cry. Almost like he was sad or frustrated. "Are you mad at something?" You moved to where you could see his face, cradling him.

You watched his breathing catch in his chest at your question. You ran two of your fingers over his little chest, rubbing circles to calm him. "Breathe Simon, don't hold your breath on me. You're okay, work through the cry sweetheart."

Your touch immediately helped him take in a good sized breath. "That's it." You watched him slowly calm himself down as you shushed him and held him. "Did your blocks make you mad?"

He crawled out of your arms clumsily, the most movement you've seen from him. He threw another block, not aggressively or at anything, but at the ground. "Yeah? Do you not like your blocks?" You reached for another toy for him to play with but he grunted.

You snapped your attention back to him, "What's wrong? I wish you could tell me." You felt helpless. He clearly was distraught over something, and you had no way of knowing what was happening.

He stared down at his blocks again, breathing in huffs. He held one out to you after picking it out. It was a 'Y' block. "What does this mean? Does this mean you understand?" He grunts.

You feel tears sting your eyes. "You know..." He grunts again. "Oh my God!!" You pick him up and stare at him. You bring him to your chest in a small hug, teary eyed. "I'm gonna get you boys back to normal, I promise."

Some hours passed and you had attempted to get a sign out of Gaz or Soap to no avail. It seems as if Simon was the only one who was cognitive of what was going on, but you still were unsure of the extent of his knowledge and awareness.

It's been a week since you had seen the Captain, and as much as you told yourself you wanted to keep it that way, deep down you wanted the softness he had when the boys were were first found. At night, you'd catch yourself dreaming about the way he looked that evening he popped into your office to ask if you were hungry, or the way he speak quietly to you in the mornings knowing you were up late with one of the boys.

Laswell hasn't mention anything about him either but you didn't know if that was a personal choice, or if she actually had no information regarding him.

You wanted to know where he was. Not only did you miss the warmth he held when you two were handling this situation, but you missed his help. He would always let you sleep in or let you take a rest. He cooked and stepped up so you weren't overexerting yourself.

You missed the companionship.

You glanced over to the clock to see it was nearly midnight, but when you scanned the time stamp on your phone, you saw a message from your email.

It was from General Shephard. It was sent hours ago.

Dear Lieutenant L/N,

I am writing this to you to pass it on that the Private you sent to me regarding sexual harassment has been found innocent. There was no camera footage found after review and he has no background violations or any previous infarctions.

Best Regards,

General Shephard

You felt your heart sink in your chest. There's cameras all over the training room, how could they not see it? The familiar sting landed in your throat as your emotions took over you.

Innocent? After what he did? How could Shephard not see that?!

You felt like you were going to scream, the pain unbearable.

It made you think back to Dubai. The severity of that event would've landed that man in jail. The way you had bruises on your neck and hips from the harsh grip of his hands for weeks, the way you limped for days. You remember the cold stare of your Captain when you told him, the nonchalant "Brush it off."

You were crushed.

You had lost.

The sun shone through the windows of your room as you woke up, looking over to see Gaz and Ghost already up. You picked them up to change them and then situated them in holsters, one on your chest, one on your back.

You did the same with Soap and then placed him on your hip, taking them to the kitchen to feed them.

Taking a moment while the bottles warmed, you took in the sight of all three boys in their highchairs, drowsy. Their little eyelashes fluttering as they struggled to stay awake, babbling and cooing.

It made you take a step back and really breathe in the moment, this may be the only time in your life that you're able to have this motherly role, even if they aren't your kids.

The microwave beeped and you shook the bottles, handing each one to the littles, watching as the half-hazardly drank the bottles. You felt a joy spark in your chest, enjoying this time with them despite the trouble they cause.

And here you thought they were troublesome as adults. Jokes on you.

You sat down at the breakfast bar as you waited, your mind drifting to distant memories.

"Y/N!!!" You could hear Soap's voice as you fell to your knees clutching your shoulder in pain. Removing your hand, you saw the blood seeping into the cotton material of your uniform. The sounds of warfare around you felt muffled as the pain radiated through your body from the gunshot wound.

You leaned on your hand to steady yourself, trying to breathe through the pain as the sound of skidding sounded in your ears. Looking up, you saw Soap sliding over to you, firing to cover you. "Get on my back! We gotta get ya outta here lass!" You moved slowly, trying to stay off your right arm. You winced as you climbed onto his back, squeezing your legs to keep yourself up as you wrapped your arms around his shoulders.

He had carried you out of the fire into a safe house not too far away as he immediately performed first aid to your shoulder. You remember the way he remained calm when his face was in your eyeline, but you could watch his muscles tense as he worried about your state.

The memory made you smile. Soap was always there for you, like he had eyes in the back of his head. Anytime you got hurt out in the field, he was worrying himself sick. He cared so much, and had such a big heart of gold.

"How dare you?!" You laughed, slamming down your Uno cards.

Gaz taunted you as he celebrated his win. You two were in a tent on a mission trying to boost both of your morales. Uno was your favorite game, but he was too good at it for your own good. No matter how strategic you were, he would always win.

Gaz was like that at every game, the rest of the team dreading game nights. Once in awhile though, you'd catch him letting you win because he enjoyed seeing you rub it in everyone's faces. It brought him joy to see you smile, so if he had to take a loss, he would.

You heard a whine as Soap finished his bottle. The other two boys were still working on theirs, so you went to go wash out the empty one.

"Ghost! How copy?" Your voice was panicked as you frantically looked around Las Almas. You were completely separated from Soap and Ghost. Soap had ended up around two miles from you, but Ghost wouldn't come through the radio. It had you so anxious you were going to be sick.

"Soap, do you have visual on Ghost?"

"No," his voice was strained from his shot wound. "There's a church about halfway between us, let's meet there and regroup."

For the next hour and some, you and Soap worked together to find a church, and when you did, Soap was already there. You rushed to him, relief washing over you until you heard a familiar hum.

Turning around, you say Ghost. "Don't fucking scare me like that ever again!" You punched his chest. "I thought you were dead!" You were angry with him, trying to land a hard hit on him.

He grabbed his arms and wrapped them around his waist as he silently brought you into an embrace. You cried into his chest as he brushed his hand over your head, the other drawing shapes into your back. "You're not gonna get rid of me that easy." He let out.

"You scared me so bad, I thought I lost you." You said through sobs.

"You'll never lose me."

Once the boys were finished with their bottles, you washed everything out and put the boys in some fresh clothes. You had decided you were going to take them out as you needed more supplies.

Maybe you'd stop by a park on the far end of town so they could get some fresh air too.

And everything had gone according to plan while you were out.

You even stopped to get ice cream, giving the boys a bite or two each of your own cup.

The day was full of fun and laughter, the sun was bright and the boys were well-behaved.

When you arrived back to base, you opened your door and set your bags down and put the boys in their playpen when you heard someone clear their throat.

"Y/N..." You turned around to greet the person in your room.

"Laswell, what's wrong?" You saw the solemn look ridden on her face.

"It's John, we need to talk about him."

You had brought her into the kitchen of the compound, brewing some coffee as you both sat down. "I don't really wish to talk about him right now." You said as you scoot your chair in.

"I know what happened, he told me everything. But, there's something you need to know. I know where he is, and I'm worried about him." She looked at you, silently asking you to hear her out. "I know he's not your favorite person but-"

"He disregarded my sexual assault in Dubai and prevented me from reporting it and when I called him out, he walked out on me. On top on everything else he's done, of course he's not my favorite person, he never has been." You were already fired up.

"I know what he did. I found him yesterday in his office, passed out drunk. He had your file pulled up on his computer. When I finally got him up and had him sober up, he spilled everything. He was crying. John doesn't cry Y/N." Laswell was trying to get to you through your emotions. You weren't falling for that.

"Why would I give a shit?"

"I've never seen you this fired up over him, there's something you're not telling me." That motherly tone is back. Your mind went to his kind smile, the gentle look in his eyes.

"He let me in." Your voice was quiet.

"Excuse me?!"

"When I brought the boys to him, hoping to find some help or answers, he wasn't the man I've come to know through my time of service. He wasn't Captain Price anymore, I saw John. He was kind and warm and gentle. He was sweet to me and helped with the boys, always letting me rest. I saw his smile, and the look in his eyes was unlike anything I've seen before. I've had a glimpse and now I'll never see it again." You felt hot tears sting your cheeks.

"I wouldn't say that." Laswell shook her head. "There is so much you don't know about him dear, you should go talk to him."

"I can't even look at him after he walked out."

"Give him a chance to explain himself." Laswell put her hand on yours. "Let him tell you for himself."

Your eyes widened at the gesture. "Tell me what?"

"What's got him so in his head. Please." She begged you to go see your Captain in his office. After some convincing and more tears, you finally gave in, just to get her off of you.

Your footsteps were loud in your ears as you approached his door, knocking lightly. There was no response. You slowly turned the doorknob, entering the room, closing the door behind you.

You froze at the sight before you. There were files all over his desk, most of them with your name on it. Your Captain was sitting with his head in his hands. "Captain?" Your voice was meek.

His head shot up, wide eyes staring into you. You could see the bags under his eyes, his eyes red from crying. He had a bottle of bourbon on his desk, only a droplet or two left in it. "Laswell said you had something to tell me." You said, not wanting to make anymore eye contact.

He remained silent, the room thick with it. You heard him stand from his chair, but you remained with your gaze on your shoes. "I-" He began. "I won you the case."

That's when your head snapped up. "What?"

"The Dubai case. With that guy. I, uh, I filed everything together and he's being put in jail."

You were confused. "You're 3 years too late."

"It's taken me three years." His words cut you deep. "I went straight to Shephard and Laswell when we got back from the mission. I filed a case against him in your name."

You stood dumbfounded. "That doesn't explain the way you reacted, nor the way you walked out on me." You were still hurt. You couldn't forgive him.

"Understandable." He sniffled as he began to fiddle with the files on his desk. "There's no excuse for the way I reacted, but you do deserve an explanation." He cleared his throat and looked up at you. When you didn't say anything, he continued. "When you came to me about it, at first I didn't think anything of it. I had a lot of female soldiers doing that to me that trip just so they could get sent home early or get a fat check. I caught them lying and they'd immediately back down. My mind told me you were doing the same thing." He takes in a shaky breath. "That was until I came to find you one morning and caught you changing. You were putting your shirt on when I saw your bruising. It looked like you had been beaten, I watched your walls come up that day and I watched you cower into a shell of yourself. That's when I know you were telling the truth."

"Why didn't you say anything?" You spoke up.

He sighed and took a second to collect himself, on the verge of tears. "I knew the statistics of women winning these types of cases, especially with the lack of proof. I snuck pictures of you to document your marks, and I asked every soldier I could to find a witness. No one came forward. The case would've never won, and I knew that. That's why I never said anything to you, I couldn't stand to watch you feel the pain of not getting the justice you deserved. Shephard and Laswell told me how poor the evidence was, and the three of us spent years trying to dig up anything we could." He paused, pulling out a piece of paper. "6 months ago, a witness came forward. That put the case over the edge and we won. I found out this morning."

You scanned the paper, the woman was a victim of the same man, same situation. Reading over it, you related to every word. This woman won you the case. "So what's your reasoning behind you being an asshole the entire time I've worked with you? Even as a Lieutenant yourself, you were always an asshole to me."

Price sighs, then walks around his desk to face you. "I was angry. All these years, I've been angry. Before my promotion, when I met you, you were just a Sergeant. I watched you in the field and around the male soldiers and I felt angry. I knew you'd be a problem and I knew I'd have to deal with it."

"Then why did you invite me to join the 141?" You were confused.

"The anger only multiplied when your case came to be, I was angry at the thought you'd lose and the son of a bitch who hurt you would still be loose to hurt others. I've been angry with you all these years because I knew one of these days, I'd run the risk of losing my rank." Price took a step towards you. "I was angry at the thought of losing you."

You continued to stare at him in confusion. "What're you on about?"

"I would never be able to have you the way I want, it'd be frowned upon." Your eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" You took a step backwards as his hand cupped your face.

"You haunt me. Your smile, your eyes. The way you laugh from your chest. My dreams are littered with images of you, reminding me of what I can't have."

"Why can't you 'have me'? I'm on your squad?" You were oblivious to his insinuations, confused as could be.

"Because I could never ask you to love a man you hate."

His words shook you to your core. "I love you Y/N, I have since I found you out in that shack in the mountains abandoned by your unit. I love the way you effortlessly care for others, the way your perfume lingers in a room. As soon as I thought I had suppressed by feelings, you show up at my door with three children. Yes, they're our coworkers, but I couldn't help but see the big picture. I see the way you interact with them, the way you molded into this figure that had nothing but admiration and love. It was so different from the woman I know in the field, the woman behind the rank."

He was staring into your eyes when it all hit you.

The way you played images of him shirtless that one night you opened the door, his kind smile, his gentle eyes. The way you dreamed of him in the kitchen cooking for you.

You loved him too.

You glanced down to his lips and without another word, John pulled you into a kiss. Your lips molded into his, his kiss warm and passionate. He kissed you like he'd never get to again.

The kiss slowed down time, and all you could think of was his hands holding you tightly against him like you'd disappear if he let go.

"John..." You said as you backed away. "I love you too, I've missed you." He kissed you again before sliding his hand down to hold yours.

"Let's go home."

The ride was silent back to the compound, even as you both approached your room. Laswell left with a nod and a wink to you.

You thanked your lucky stars you listened to her.

All three boys looked up at John from the playpen, wide eyed. Gaz began to cry as John swooped him up and comforted him. "They missed you too. It was tough doing this alone."

"I'm so sorry I walked out, I should've told you then and there, stayed around."

"You're here now." You smiled up at him as he leaned in to plant yet another kiss to your lips. You giggled as you heard Gaz giggle and Soap and Ghost let out little babbles and flailed their arms in excitement. John chuckled too.

"Do you think they saw this coming?" He asked.

"Probably." You moved to go change into your pajamas, John doing the same. Coming out of his bathroom, you saw him shirtless and wearing his signature flannel pants. You took in a deep breath.

"Like the view? Cause, I'm loving mine. C'mere." John sat on the edge of his bed as his hands ran over your thighs. "Do you feel comfortable sleeping here? Or do you still want the couch?"

You thought for a moment. "Can I have one more night on the couch?"

"Whatever makes you feel at home." John smiled as he crawled back into bed, wishing you a goodnight.

You smiled back as you climbed under the blankets on the couch. As much as you wanted to sleep next to him, it was intimidating for you. You needed to muster up the courage to be that close to him like that.

For now, you were just happy you found your feelings for him and you learned how his behavior all these years was because he was fighting for your honor.

You had John back, and that's all you could ask for.

[cruyuu]

hi! i hope you don't mind this ask. i've been reading your meta lately and i was curious. do you think maybe sukuna rejected yuuji's offer because he knew yuuji would be the one to really change/teach him? the last few chapters have been crazy bc yuuji has been basically breaking sukuna's mask of difference apart, in chapter 265 especially. he has the most power over sukuna & i think sukuna knew if he'd accepted yuuji's offer, his ideals would erode for sure, and he couldn't have that.

Hi! Not at all, my ask box is always open <3

Well... For Sukuna to continue being who he is (the King of Curses), he has to be untouchable, but more importantly- he has to be feared and hated. This is why some have considered him a calamity... because Sukuna truly had no connections with anyone, did stuff of his own accord, killed people for fun and tried his damn hardest to be a menace to society. Considering that he is the embodiment of the word "curse" and isn't trying to forge connections but lives to cause ruin, it's quite likely he was born as a curse, not as a human. Hence his form. Hence his viewpoint. Hence him feeding off misery and being stronger with it. Hence his behavior. Hence Yuuji's words.

Part of why Sukuna was so dead-set on crushing Yuuji's ideals and causing him as much pain as he could fits with the endgame and implies that he could sense Yuuji's kind spirit from the get-go. It implies that Sukuna knew Yuuji wouldn't hate him so easily so he did his best to be as brutal as possible. It also implies that maybe the reason why Yuuji was capable of suppressing him was because he didn't fear nor hate him at all actually.

Remember that Yuuji is somebody who sees good in everyone, human or curse (courtesy of his grandfather who changed his mindset because he chose to die). Even though he did try to hate Sukuna, embrace that cog mentality to its fullest and exorcize him, that truly wasn't possible for him.

He sees good in everyone. He can't just kill him. He'd rather they try again than do so. Even if Sukuna is everything that Yuuji is fighting against, he still won't kill him. He won't hate him. He can't.

Reaching Sukuna is technically an impossible feat, considering Sukuna lives for his own whims and doesn't care for others. He has grown powerful because he was feared and hated, hence reaching him and connecting with him would– by logic– mean his death.

If he is loved, pitied, accepted, anything outside of the norm (of what curses are)... he will die.

Now with this in mind, the end is the biggest form of care you can get because the selfish Sukuna still chose to give up (unlike his nature), release Fushiguro (unlike his nature), not return to Yuuji (unlike his nature) and choose death (again quite unlike his nature). He practically proved himself capable of feeling by considering Yuuji's viewpoint and choosing to die instead of just continue surviving (which was what Yuuji was offering). Keep in mind that wishing to survive (that he fears death, also) is one of Sukuna's own character traits so his end is quite unexpected. Yuuji was offering him exactly what he wished for (even if he'd be trapped, at least he'd still be alive) so for him to refuse– and yet fulfill all other things Yuuji had asked of him– is weirdly unlike him.

Ofc, some would argue that he didn't choose to give Megumi's body up but that he got rejected but that doesn't really make sense because Yuuji is the only one capable of surpressing him. It was only because his soul got reduced to a single finger that he was capable of being defeated (as well as Yuuji's own Dismantle which helped in weaking his soul even further).

Or at least that's how I see everything. :)

Clearly, Yuuji affects Sukuna to a great degree and, with the ending in mind, I think choosing to coexist with Yuuji would go against who he is as a character. Curses cannot coexist with other curses, and because Yuuji is half-human, half-curse (his true nature is unknown but because we know he's retaining elements of Sukuna's it's clear that he might be more curse than human atp), it's highly likely that this is why he chose not to return to his body.

Because of that (waves at the paragraph above) entire the thing, the reason for his death could be theorized to be the death of Sukuna the curse. Sukuna, as a human (wheter reborn with no memories or a reincarnation) still has a chance. Yuuji speech highlights the whole "being cursed from birth" so there might be some merit to this. Perhaps Sukuna died precisely so he could be reborn as a human (and not a curse) and so he could be reunited with Yuuji (and truly coexist with him– not as a vessel, not as a curse, but a human).

So yeah... there you go. Hope you enjoyed my rambling and I hope I made sense. This is just the way I see it. You do have a point that Yuuji is the only one capable of changing him and that is precisely what he did (in a way).

Sukuna's indifference isn't truly indifference. Still, he can't behave better because that would be behaving like a human which is something that he isn't. Even though he does contradict himself often, he still doesn't acknowledge this openly but you could read his death as final acknowledgment of that because... otherwise, wouldn't he still seek survival? Wouldn't he continue to persist?

Maybe (hopefully) canon will shed more light onto them both so that we don't have to piece the puzzle pieces together. As for whether or not Sukuna might be back (reincarnated, reborn, whatever) remains to be seen.

[jaqobis]

sorting out some finale impressions after sleeping on it

it's like.

moiraine being able to burn the ships despite the oaths; the protracted scene of renna's murder; perrin going into a rage and killing bornhald senior; rand one-shotting turak etc; mat stabbing people left and right with the dagger; nynaeve torturing the sul'dam but that plot coming to nothing (returning to that in a moment). like i read the interview, i know what the rand scene referenced. i can imagine the perrin scene was buildup for fear of the wolf. it's not that i just don't get it.

but like did dain necessarily need Valid Reason to hate perrin lol. again, i can see what they're doing. but What If The Whitecloaks Were Here To Fight The Seanchan -- which, yeah, they do oppose the seanchan in the books. but the specific framing of them to help and whatever, when no one else was willing to. specifically also throwing siuan under the bus bc allegedly the amyrlin also got a letter about this. even if this turns out to be a lie, this is the standing narrative for now, and in combination with everything else they did with siuan this season, yikes.

i read the interview, i know what the rand thing was referencing, but also that's a scene of rand acting in self-defense against darkfriends that were literally about to murder him. if he'd struck a second later, or waited, they might have succeeded. more importantly that's where he's in a situation where people have been trying to murder him literally day and night for, like, months. he hasn't slept in as long. the context is totally different. there is also a rand scene in TFOH where he talks about how it feels unfair to use saidin against non-channelers. you can just as easily argue that he Wouldn't do this.

i actually, personally, think it's very important for the egwene/rand parallels that her friends were there to save her from the seanchan, and that he later has to save himself from the box. i also think it was important for her development that she could know she has friends who would and do come for her. i also personally find that narrative much more satisfying, cool as her Moment was. i'd been spoiled about her killing renna going in, and like we can discuss morality whether rj was Right to ask if revenge is justice or if it's More Right for egwene to kill renna, we'd be here forever. i'm not really looking to comment on that. it is kind of a weird vibe to remove a meditation on violence, however, in a series that is anti-war, in a finale that seemed to make a lot of choices to depict and make this battle Cool, etc. that had us watch renna die for quite a long moment. renna certainly got what was coming to her, but idk.

Violence Is Cool. Traumatic Experiences Lead To Empowering Moments. that's the vibe it's giving.

lan continued to be used just to prop up moiraine and explain how she's feeling and talk about how good she is. at least daniel henney got a pretty cool fight scene!

tbf leaning on the whitecloaks and ishamael as sad and sympathetic has sanderson written all over it

making the sul'dam weak channelers seems to lose some of the hypocrisy central to the seanchan empire; losing some of the hypocrisy and deep societal rot undercuts the commentary on institutional-level change needed to remove the damane system. combined with the deaths of both collared sul'dams, that secret also goes lost.

(they certainly might bring it back and address it later, but arguing that It's 100% Coming, Shut Up & Stop Whining is just as much of a bad faith argument as claiming the show sucks bc hurin isn't in it. i can only comment to what exists now. also, frankly, i've been told things i was criticising previously were OBVIOUSLY going to be addressed in the finale and. weren't? so like.)

nynaeve really was allowed to accomplish nothing useful huh. no speech about justice, no part of the successful figuring out how to uncollar, no healing, no protecting her friends from forsaken, nothing. for all that elayne was immediately walking around everywhere after her dramatic wound, they could've just. let nynaeve do that.

like i obviously understand that they're showing the block is a real problem, which it is, but this is a choice that was made.

also not a single mention of ryma after her big sacrifice huh. it would add approximately 5 seconds to runtime for the wondergirls to talk about saving egwene and ryma at any point.

loial's speech about them all being heroes + mat's hero of the horn thing + crowds cheering (yes i remember the end of tdr) + etc etc really building up this idea of Heroism As Cool. could be something they'll work to subvert later but it's certainly an element that existed in the books at this point. that they've stripped out.

also like why even bother destroying the heron mark sword without the buildup of why it matters to rand or why its destruction was narratively impactful. unearned. rand saying he won't serve ishamael in a thousand lifetimes, unearned. there were plenty of other moments that didn't feel earned to me that escape me now, which. a shame!

i've already rb'd a post that laid out my feelings about rand thus far pretty well so i'll mostly spare y'all but. it's an incredible disservice to his character to take a scene where he tries to sacrifice himself for egwene/his loved ones, knowingly opens himself up to terrible pain, and thereby gets the wound that gives him chronic pain for the rest of his life and kills him, and make it...a mistake of mat's. like. yes, we've seen him try to sacrifice himself at the eye. there's nothing wrong with repeating this beat? it's called a consistent character trait. it was already a subversion of the conceit of a 1v1 op heroic battle. they tried to fix something that didn't need fixing, to make a point it was already making. also rand just immediately up and about after getting this wound, even with healing, where he was out for days in the book. it just doesn't bode super well for depiction of chronic pain sufferer rand al'thor. i don't doubt they intend to show us the wound breaking open etc etc but you're also undercutting significance on multiple levels out the gate. it bothers me! but i'm chronically ill with chronic pain so i'm not going to pretend this is some coldly logical clear-eyed opinion.

also perrin killing bornhald sr the same way he killed laila. except it's not even an immediate heat of the moment in the same way, he had to go out and find bornhald sr and stab him repeatedly and be held back. like i love hopper too (another death that felt really. gratuitous in handling.) but christ's sake. it's sure a Look.

tl;dr the themes??? ? ? the themes ???? ? ? and then i remember the sanderson of it all and i understand lmao.

[cdroloisms]

like as far as the finale streams go, there's quite a bit that we can say preeeetty definitively were lies. c!dream literally goes into this whole thing like "this is the part where we monologue at you" to c!tommy, which is taking the credibility of literally everything he's saying and cutting it at LEAST by 80%

(me too tubbo)

the saw trap, rather definitively, was 100% bullshit top to bottom. i mean, come on now. dream literally gives him steak that they could've used to depress the pressure plate, and he's completely unsurprised about the two of them surviving. plus he literally added a bonus "WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE'RE EVIL" thing. like, laughably fake.

along those same lines, i mean, the "we killed vikk and lazar in every possible way for months" doesn't seem credible in the slightest. first of all, what months? unless they were doing so post-prison (and they continued to do so...after they supposedly found out about revivals causing instability???) -- and the whole point of bringing that up in the first place was pretty much just to set up for the saw trap. any and all death experimentation seems kinda limited by the fact that XD was apparently getting pissed over it

speaking of which, have we considered how funny it is that like there's a good chance that fewer problems were caused by the revival experiments compared to like. foolish dying from fall damage while building. bc foolish SURE DID DIE A LOT

i also want to bring up the "bring an army here to fight against us" moment just because it's ... so overt. i don't think it's a lie, but was dream like more than heavy-handed in hinting at what he wanted tommy and tubbo to do? holy shit yea

like, it's giving "talking about putting c!tommy in the prison" levels of overt.

the rest of it gets...a little murkier though, and in part because c!dream seems to at least, to some degree, contradict himself? i mean, what he says about death being permanent is SUCH a glaring example of this

like, he's clearly got some strong opinions on the permanence of death and revivals that he brings up. a lot. but at the same time, death being impermanent is also a problem...

...and specifically, a problem in the eyes of the god here. which is accurate--we've seen XD specifically make a whole Thing about how he needs souls, how he needs death. (though it does look like he's also kinda...beholden? to something? when he mentions that too, which is interesting.)

and look, here, too, when talking about death:

like i think it's pretty undeniable that c!dream...doesn't. actually want people to die. he's got an issue with this whole death thing. like--look at what he says, even, about the fact that they have to kill everyone? he literally calls it a problem. hell, when he could, by all means, technically get "closer" to his goals by killing c!clingy, he doesn't take it. he even revives tommy after killing him.

he's very explicit about not wanting death in the final stream, as we see here:

i've seen a few interpretations about what dream wanted being to, essentially, become immortal with punz after killing everyone. and i always didn't really agree, though i couldn't pinpoint specifics either--for one, the specific point of "only you two will be left" is something that tubbo points out first, not either dream nor punz. further, when dream mentions who would be left after "killing everyone," he actually specifically doesn't say that it's about the dream and punz show and the dream and punz show only--it's a choice of "join us in our research or die."

further...well, it's rather antithetical to what have been c!dream's stated motivations the entire time, right? dream doesn't want peace on the server in terms of just having like one (1) other person around that agrees with him or whatever. and again, there have been some mentioned contradictions just from these two streams alone. but looking at the contents of these last two streams again, and especially looking at the focus c!dream has on "everyone living forever and being friends and being invincible and the server being completely vanilla again" plus the return of mr. "end justifies the means", i can 100% see some kind of plan where--facing an immediate world reset--c!punz and c!dream decide to go for plan "kill people to appease the god while gathering anyone that's willing to do research with us to Figure Out How To Fix Things." the emphasis that c!dream presents on death not mattering, calling the revive book the "greatest thing" that's happened to the server, even, going "yeah it might hurt, but we can go back" seem to suggest that everyone that was babyjailed in limbo in the meantime would then be able to be revived after they idfk kill god or whatever.

like. i don't think they actually have Too Much of a plan, though we don't know that much bc we don't know how much their research went into. hell, we don't even know how much XD is actually involved in all of this! the events that trigger everything that happens looks to be almost completely out of punz and dream's control--they didn't seem to expect or even know about the nuke, they weren't involved in the egg hatching, and they weren't with eret and foolish fighting XD. all they did was...well punz revives dream and dream kills and revives tommy. (which, ironically, also what they literally said they shouldn't have done because it's what caused the instability????) -- as i pointed out in the last post, i'd say a degree of like "this is inevitable nothing matters" definitely affects c!dream in these streams, with the end of the world kind of happening around him. but as for whatever goal he DID seem to be working towards, the idea of doing research + wanting knowledge + murder for like, an actual purpose that aligns with earlier stated goals (preserving the server and making it so that people can live in peace without being haunted by death and pain and destruction) feels like it reads relatively well with what we know about 1) XD having to do with the reset, and the server being a cycle that involves worlds coming into existence and ending over and and over and over again and 2) what c!dream says in these streams, specifically referring to his stated end goal of living forever with everyone and not simply striving for immortality in its own right

[the-cat-chat]

April 13, 2024

Split (2016)

Three girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.

Warning: Review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

JayBell: I can't communicate how much better this movie is compared to its predecessor, Unbreakable. Honestly, why on earth they forced them to be linked is a mystery to me.

James McAvoy kills it in this role, as does Anya Taylor-Joy and even the other two kidnapped girls. But I really want to highlight James McAvoy. It's a difficult role to be convincing in. Like he really has to make people believe his character possesses these personalities and he commits himself totally to this role. In the end, I even felt bad for the abused guy at the core.

This movie packs an emotional punch in a lot of ways. My god did the gross uncle in Anya Taylor-Joy's character's past makes my blood boil. Her whole background is just sad, but it does end up with her empathizing with her kidnapper and giving her the ability to survive in the end. I like this idea that her "weaknesses" are actually her "strengths."

I'm reducing my rating a little for a few different reasons. One, I don't like the way they show the initial kidnapping. It happens so slowly and the response time of Anya Taylor-Joy's character feels unrealistic. Like I understand being in shock and everything, but it feels off. Also, a random dude jumps in the car and the one girl politely says, "Hi, I think you've made a mistake :)." I don't know, I just thought that whole scene could be different, both in dialogue and action.

Second, I understand that Anya Taylor-Joy's character had like "advanced survival instinct" but it is rather odd that she is so against the plan to ambush the guy entirely. Three on one, one girl stands behind the door and hits him over the head with the toilet tank lid while the other two (and eventually all three) fight him at the same time. I think I would have liked to see this attempt at least once (and have it fail in some way) so that question is answered in the viewer's mind.

And lastly, I think the motivation for The Beast to both choose and spare his victims is a bit weak and underdeveloped. But a small adjustment to dialogue and I think this could have been addressed.

P.S. Was there a reason The Beast always has to leave his underground lair to transform? I'm still confused about that. Cause the dude leaves his place to transform only to turn around and come back to the place he left. Why not transform there?

P.P.S. I'm not even addressing that ending with Bruce Willis. I'm pretending it doesn't exist cause it's STUPID.

Rating: 6.75/10 cats 🐈

Anzie: I am going to bring clarity to my review and not act like I should have a room at the asylum. But no promises. * also this movie gave me full blown kidnapping nightmares that I thankfully forgot after being awake for 10 seconds. And my fingernails are demolished.

First the actors and their acting. All the awards. Give them allll of them. Anya Taylor-Joy is always so captivating and amazing but it’s the situation where you’re always thinking it’s Anya Taylor-Joy, which is what I did the whole time with James McAvoy in this, but I was totally committed to her story, what would she do next, what’s going on here?? And now that I think about it, it might be bc her hair was a dark brown and I’m just used to the blond, so I could disconnect that part of my brain. And then we have James McAvoy. I’m scarred. Mr. Tumnus. First the bald head. Just wow. I knew that would hit me but it hit me. And all his personality!!! He did soooo much. Like just different ways he carried himself or body language or his face. He’s an actual genius. That being said I was in total panic mode the entire time, and just the watching him portray this kind of condition made me feel bad for people afflicted bc all I could think was how exhausting switching continuously would be - and then when his real self came back and had no clue everything over years had happpenedddd gawwwd.

Second the story and plot.

Again amazing and terrifying- on the surface you think its pretty straightforward with just him kidnapping the girls (which can I just say wow they need some better situational awareness) and then him switching personalities- but there’s sooo many details and then you have the girl’s story and it’s all so detailed- plus the tigers all over and how his one personality talks about animal facts?? But then they’re in an old part of the zoo. And his one bad personality is the Beaaaasst!!! It’s 10/10. Oh and the toothbrushes for all of his personalities. I do wish maybe with the video diaries we could maybe see more of his own identity- but I get that it’s for shock factor when he “wakes up.”

The ending.

I don’t wanna talk about it I will turn into the beast. The music. The fact you know Bruce Willis is there just bc of the music and that it’s panning around the dinner with the news about him on. And that dumb lady that can’t remember Mr. Glass’s name. Really. And the stoooopid line from Bruce Willis. Gaaawd. Tranquilize me now. Pls. For the love of gawwwd. And that all of the personality’s are called The Horde. How long was that brainstormed. My soul. My emotions. My feelings. My regrets. My brain. I honestly just need to see Glass bc I need to see how James McAvoy is caught.

Rating: 4.5/10??? Cats 🐈 I’m real conflicted

[strangefellows]

Something that occurred to me this morning and that's been living rent free in my head all day RE: Canto IV part 3 and the Yi Sang / Ayin parallels (under cut bc spoilers for Canto IV and Day 50 of Lobcorp):

Watching Yi Sang's interactions with his mirror self/Sang Yi reminded me so much of the Keter suppressions, especially Day 50.

And I went back to look at a lot of the Day 50 spoken dialogue during the workday and...

I want to hope that Sang Yi makes it retroactively clear that we do not, actually, know the real Ayin's opinion on his fate. We don't. The only person who says he should be happy and satisfied and willing to fade away is "A", who we talk to on Day 50, who isn't Ayin. It's simply Ayin's Sang Yi, Ayin's mirror self, a part of his consciousness.

"A" is the one who says it's okay to fade away. "A" is the one who says to be satisfied with the work you've done so far. "A" is the one who says all that's left to do is watch. He says you/your and we/us constantly -- he's not saying how Ayin feels, he's saying how he should feel.

In fact: "A", in his final line, says 'fade away without a trace'-- which is a direct quote from Carmen. And I don't know about you, but at this point I don't trust a goddamn word out of that woman's mouth, especially when it's involved with someone she very clearly manipulated at least a little.

(I could write an entire essay on how I feel like Carmen manipulated Ayin into the situation we see in Lobcorp due to using her near-suicide against him as leverage, as well as the conversation she conveniently has with him before that about 'oh, if anyone said something mean to me i'd probably do something drastic, but not you, right, you can endure' and making him promise to continue her work...but I'll leave it at that for now.)

My point remains: how did Ayin feel in those last few moments, that final day? Was he crying? Was he angry? Did he beg not to disappear? Was he okay with it? Was he resigned to his fate? We don't know. We were just told by "A", his mirror, how he should feel.

In fact, "A" as narrator is the one telling us about all the flashbacks from a present-day perspective. He's not letting us see, he's not showing us how Ayin felt back then, he's telling us. He's not showing us how Ayin feels now, he's telling us. We're told secondhand everything we know about Ayin: from "A", his mirror, from Hokma and Angela who are biased in opposite directions. From the other Sephirah, who are also biased. Because the real Ayin, our "X", never had a voice or a face of his own, we don't know a single damn thing about him. Not really. Not like Angela and Roland. We're only told how he felt, what he was like from others' perspectives.

And it's so, so tragic.

It's why I am so sure Limbus will bring Ayin into the picture again somehow, whether or not Ayin is Dante like I theorize: seeing the parallels and seeing Sang Yi so heavily parallel "A" and Day 50 in the cutscene during the final boss fight -- it paints a stark picture that we have never, ever seen Ayin have a voice of his own. He's never been free to speak for himself. Never been given a chance to show who he is or how he feels. He's been told by everyone else who he is, and was, and how he should feel about it over and over for 10 thousand years. It's not fair. It's so deeply sad. Does Ayin even know who he is anymore, amid all the memory loss, all these people telling him about himself from biased perspectives? And he never was allowed a chance to learn-- in the end, he was told to fade away, and be okay with it, and we never even saw how he felt about that, either.

The first and last time we're giving Ayin's actual name...is right before he disappears. It breaks my heart, especially now with the parallels to Yi Sang -- Ayin, unlike him, was never allowed to fly again. He was just...swept away into nothing. (Fly My Wings fits so well as an Ayin song too, hoough...)

So I think, given we now have a protagonist who's also had his voice and face stolen from him -- who struggles to be heard and seen -- who is around people who know him and refuse to tell him the answers -- who has to find out who he is on his own, discover himself from a blank slate...I really do think at the very least we're going to get a very blatant parallel, if not Dante being Ayin outright.

It just doesn't feel right for them to just leave Ayin as a nothing character in a series where he's so, so important. We know more about fucking Carmen than him, and she's been a ghost that haunts the narrative since day one!

Anyway, oops, this got longer than I thought it would be.

[chevvy-yates]

What does your heart look like?

@hydrasshole, @theviridianbunny, @elvenbeard and @morganlefaye79 tagged me doing this quiz. Thank you. <3RULES: Take this uQuiz for your V/OC.

While I was already writing Ry, I continued with the rest because I knew I would get tagged at least 4 times xD, so have all my blorbos in one post. I will color what definitely applies to them and bold the last sentence(s) because it mostly turnd out very accurate what they need to do in order to achieve love, to be happy, content and at peace with their lives:

Ryder

Iced over, out of the sun

Your heart is very lonely, isn’t it? Is your fortress of ice self-made? Are others afraid of you, or are you afraid of them? Are you afraid of hurting them, or of being hurt? Vulnerability and connection can be frightening, but that’s no reason to shy away from their light, to tuck yourself small into corners, to build up frigid walls to keep yourself from feeling. You will heal when you allow yourself to draw closer to the flames and thaw.

Ryder would say people are afraid of him, but in reality he's more afraid of them and what they think of him. He never received any value before he actively changed his life and found his small circle of close friends which he also calls his family. His real family hated him, reduced him to nothing but someone who couldn't do things right. No one liked him for his kind, warm and romantic personality, so he built up that ice cold iron fortress. Everything that clashes against this wall will ricochet into another direction. Only his closest friends are allowed to open a magic door to come in and see (parts of) his true personality. Inside that fortress beats a big heart with passion ready to give all the love he's got to offer. But beware of that black distorted shadow roaming the fortress. Keep distance from, it is not friendly. Ryder can't do anything against it. It's like a parasite you can't get rid off. Trying to fight it could end mortally for anyone. That beast doesn't want Ry to have peace and likes to keep him at a certain level of anger. Such anger that leads him to go berserk and tear everything apart. Ryder is indeed afraid of hurting his loved ones, therefore has to often wall them off as well. That doesn't mean he does not let anyone in. Sometimes you need to leave him be until he feels ready and in control to let you have a look. It will always be dangerous, though as long as this distorted warden is accommodating his fortress somehow guarding Ryder's heart and soul that desperately want to be loved and give all back. So, even if he falls for someone and shows it, he will never be allowed to let himself go and give himself completely into their hands. Therefore he only trusts those who he believes are strong and cautious enough to be aware of his beast any time.

There were a few questions where I couldn't decide if I chose “I am angry. (you are afraid, terribly so)." or "I am a monster. (Did they tell you that? or did you tell yourself?)" bc Ryder is both - so I did it twice to see if the outcome would be different which led to the same above. I've had the same problem with the home question but it still turned out like above. Ryder has a big home, it is empty because there's lots of space but he likes to be there so "Empty. I can't stand to be alone there. I'll be with everyone else." fits only 50%. The other 50% would be: "What home? I can't stop. There are things I need to do." because he indeed has a lot of merc things to do but he appreciates being at home as well, so it didn't fit either. I went with "empty" in the end.

—

Thyjs

A bird struggling to get loose

Your heart can never hold still. It pounds against your chest frantically, always turning your sights to one thing after the next. When was the last time you were certain? The last time your life was stable? Maybe this is how you prefer things. On the move constantly, not tied down to one person or place. You chase one goal after the next. Can you ever really feel complete without a place to land? Shouldn’t you build yourself a nest?

Thyjs never stayed long in the places he lived during his soldier career. It always required him to be on the move. He got his home in Amsterdam, but the longest amount of time he spent there in a row was two months when he got forced to pause after a hard operation. He's constantly been on different missions and in combat zones all over the world, so he was in fact never tied to one place. Not until the Badlands accident, not until he has somehow forced himself to settle down in Night City becoming a merc. He was chasing one goal after another which led to him getting ranked up until 1st lieutenant. It laid more responsibility into his hands: actively plan things, care and look out for his squad mates, boost their morale, make decisions that could be of serious consequences and so on. He never tied himself to anyone in terms of settling down and marrying, because he didn't want them grieving should he die. If there's something Thyjs does not like it is becoming static. He constantly needs to do something, a purpose in his life or it will become a dread to him. As a soldier he had that, as a merc he feels there's a lot more static daily routine he can't cope with at first. He needs to adjust himself, find balance that leaves him content enough to go on with his new path. Luckily for him NC is never that static either, fast living, changing — it will give him enough adrenaline situations once he finds out. So, yes, Thyjs is like a bird — tied to the army he swore to serve his whole life but somehow he got free from these invisible chains, ready to look for a place to build his nest so he can settle to find his place in the world. He wants to have something stable but is just scared it might change him. Meeting Ryder was a good accident, because Ry will always be a challenge and gives him the chance to feel complete without having to worry about falling into some static (family) life. It opens the opportunity for him to eventually open up, let his craving heart give the love and affection that stacked up all those years. I was surprised it turned out to be that fitting for Thyjs. My boys are all water signs, but I do not picture Thy as an (in the) ocean animal but as a stormbird/seabird — a giant petrel to be more specific; those large seabirds live mostly pelagic. He's a bird that's constantly flying around out in the ocean only resting at the shore for a certain amount of time. So, that text pretty nails it for him.

—

Vijay

A cage with iron locks

You are an enigma. You take care to remain that way. You aim to keep people guessing; your motives are uncertain even to yourself. What is it you truly want? You’ll never know if you keep your heart locked away like that. You deserve to be known, truly and fully. Stop being afraid of what you might find if you open your heart up to self-reflection. Stop thinking that no one will love you the moment they understand you. You are more than the facade you put on.

Netlords!!! Vijay is ultra cagey! He's always lending an ear and takes on everyone else's problem, making it his as well (see long-term Ry up there (depression, anger), Arki as well (the fucking entire story), even Hizumi (big Tyger Claw problem)) but never lets himself help. Good luck trying to get through to him. You either have to learn how to decode 100 enigmas in a row without making any mistake just to get through to his data fortress that locks all his problems away you have to hack into as well, or; you gotta be Arki. Ryder knows there's no getting through. Vijay will change the topic if you try and at some point you simply give up and leave him be. If you never witnessed a moment where he's showing he's got a certain problem, you will probably never notice that he even has them! You can only guess, because he won't tell you. Even if he is connected to the net almost 24/7, he feels disconnected, not complete, like he's missing something, but he is not sure if he will ever find it, because he doesn't know what exactly missing puzzle piece to fill that empty space and unknown knowledge. Opening up towards others is his greatest challenge — speaking about his past, about what he's done, what he is really capable of doing if he would make use of it but fears he might end up going cyberpsycho or worse. So yes, he fears himself and thinks no one can understand neither help him, since his problem seems not solvable anyways which is why he keeps everything to himself instead. He's got to learn, to let this mask fall and accept the offered help. Learn to give his loved ones the chance to lend an ear and listen, give advice, find a solution – together. His life would be so much easier that way and probably also help stopping his excessive overthinking a little. With Arki (and a bit later also Jaysen) he finds the one he can open up to and eventually talk about it all. He does not know why out of all it is Arki, but once he shows up there's light brought in to find answers — for both of them and the rest of the team as well. Netlords! Vijay always comes off as the boy with no problems, but he's got them. I did his and Jay's parallel and was quite surprised they end up entirely different and the text brings up exactly what I pictured about V all the time: the cagey boy with all his locked away problems.

—

Jaysen

A compass that doesn’t waver

You are someone who is certain of what you want. Maybe you always have been, or maybe you made a discovery that you haven’t been able to tear your eyes away from. Your heart is set and certain. You fight endlessly for your goals. Above all else, you know who you are and what you are trying to achieve. Just be careful not to tear yourself or others apart in pursuit of your ideals.

Jaysen in fact knows what he wants, is doing and he believes it's the right way to do it. In fact one day he made a discovery he couldn't get away from because he still has unanswered questions that only will solve once he gets to find his brother Vijay and the entire thing starts rolling and making sense. Jaysen knows who he is, he also knows a few bits of his past that V does not know (yet). Jay knows what he's capable of doing and doesn't shy away from doing it. He can be ruthless in that way — the entire opposite of his little brother (who just stopped being like that). Once he's got a trace, he's pursuing it like a mad man, which means he does everything to get to the set goal. He's been searching for his brother for years, never giving up and if someone wants to stop him, to get to V, Jay will use everything he's capable to do, he doesn't care if someone might die along the way (who e.g. could have simply talked out of it). Jay always thinks what he does is right and moral is often the last he cares about. As long as it benefits him, it's a good thing he did. But that bold last sentence is in fact a reminder and warning for him, to remember he should not overdo it because there are consequences to it that do not look good. Even if he says he can't turn cyberpsycho for mysterious reasons he seeks answers as well, people will definitely see him as one.

Jaysen, be careful what you do. You really need your lil' brother to keep you grounded. The text only told me once more he's the chaotic good boy of the team. He does what his conscience tells him to do for the greater good. He does not care about following society’s rules, he cares about doing what’s right and benefits him.

—

Tagging (sorry if you already received and did this - no pressure as always):

@gloryride, @nervouswizardcycle, @imaginarycyberpunk2023, @dreamskug, @jessxmetal, @86maylin, @lokiina, @sammysilverdyne, @caer-oswin, @miss--river

[littlesparklight]

There is probably at least some version of the following already somewhere on my blog, but this is the most recent/current version of the history of the Trojan royal family that I have made for my ficverse!

It's a mix of myth and real-life details taken from the annals/correspondence of Hittite kings, which is (part of why) why Troy the city is much older than it would have been if I'd strictly followed myth alone. I'm also prioritising the idea that Dardanos received land around Mount Ida, where he founded his city and where Assarakos and his family (leading to Anchises) rule, so Aeneas comes to Troy during the war after Dardanos has been sacked, for example.

Anyway;

I. The first kings. In the second half of 1700's, Zeus fosters Xanthos/Scamander and Hermos, after which they move to the lands of their respective rivers, settling in like any of the nature gods do with and among the landscape and mortals living there. During Hattusili I's campaign against Arzawa, Xanthos convinces the local mortals of the country around his river to not stand in the way of the Hittite king, and urges Hattusili himself to show friendship to them; in the wake of his victories, unknowing of who and what Xanthos is (as he's disguised), he makes Xanthos king of the land. The locals do not protest (especially those who are well aware of what and who Xanthos is) and are rather grateful that his level head saved them being subjugated in the same way as many of the other lands of the alliance.

This is around 1630 BC, and Xanthos rules until his son is old enough to take over after him (it's a bit of an interesting experiment in closer association with mortals for Xanthos, but he is more than happy for it to be over. Simoeis thinks him a fool to have played along from the start and even more so to have continued to do so so long.) Xanthos also institutes greater individualized worship of/for his foster father, which becomes one of the Troad's most important cults. Later, in the early half of the 1500's, while Leto is mostly staying around coastal Anatolia, she comes by the Troad with her young twins; Xanthos hosts them. The locals make shrines to the young deities and their divine mother, understanding what they are since their local river god is hosting them. This begins the second half of a very long and important cult for the region (and especially the city/ies attached to the ruling family).

Teucer comes to the throne of Troy/Wilusa in 1530 BC; early in his reign he wishes to establish a city somewhere in the Troad and when Apollo is visiting, asks the god directly - he gets the oracle that he should settle the colony where the settlers are "attacked by earthborn". Sending out an initial scouting group, it gets plagued by mice that eat all the leather in the south part of the Troad, and this is how the oracle is interpreted; the men then pray to Apollo, who drives off the mice in return. This further establishes him as Troy's/the Troad's god, and Teucer raises a temple to Apollo Smintheus (or rather, Apaliuna(s) Smintheus).

II. Dardanos Dardanos arrives to the Troad/Taruwisa from Samothrace, marrying Bateia, the daughter of the current ruler Teucer, son of Xanthos and the mountain goddess-nymph Idaea. As part of his marriage he receives land in the foothills of Ida, building Dardanos. Dardanos has three sons (Erichthonios and Zakynthos, Ilus); his son Ilos, wishing to honour the city Teucer ruled, moves to it when he's twenty. He makes expansions and such here, gaining Apollo's favour. Teucer dies in 1445 and Dardanos becomes ruler of the whole kingdom. Dardanos, still spry despite his age, fights with his sons in the war of the Assuwa league (around 1400 BCE) against Tudhaliya I/II.

Dardanos dies here, given a glorious death by his father (Iasion died about a decade before); the older Ilos dies as well. Erichthonios becomes king; wishing to honour both Teucer and his brother's work, he moves the capital to Troy/Ilion and gives rulership of the city of Dardanos itself to his brother Zakynthos. Erichthonios dies in 1375 BC. Zakynthos, despite having both a first rank wife and second rank one(s), plus maybe a concubine or two, remains childless (he is infertile), so there was considerations even before he leaves on the trip that Assarakos would take over ruling Dardanos from him. He leaves on a long trade/diplomatic (guest-friendship) journey at 65, in 1355 BC, where the aim is to also find somewhere to found a colony, but before doing so formally adopts Assarakos and makes him his heir. When the ship reaches the island he makes his namesake, Zakynthos decides they will stop here, and sends the ship back with word to have Assarakos take over Dardanos from him. The city is mostly independent of the greater kingdom, but still subordinate to/closely connected with the capital.

III. Tros and Beyond Between 1379-1375 BC Tros and Tantalos war on and off over the lands/cities north/south of their own (mostly aggression from Tantalos), but they come to a vague agreement after intervention from Hattusa.

Still, early in 1374 BC Tros sends a young Ilus to sacrifice on Lesbos, which, being at least nominally under Seha's rule, Tantalos takes as a spy attempt, and a confrontation that resolves in a tense parting takes place. When Pelops is brought back in 1365 BC, Ilos (and Tros) supports the new ruler, partially because his son is to be married to Kleopatra, partly because they always clashed with Tantalos (and do want more power/influence southwards), and partially because he doesn't want a tainted line like Tantalos' back on the throne of a country so close to them. As most of the population is on the new king's side (the noble echelons split rather evenly between them), he and Ilos wins. (Sources: Pausanias 2.22.3, Diodorus Siculus 4.74.4, Dictys Cretensis 1.6 ; the sacrifice on Lesbos inspired by the version in the Suda where (a) Tantalos kidnaps Ganymede after suspicion of espionage via a sacrifice.)

In 1357, a couple years after Ganymede's abduction, Ilos (and Assarakos), leads a force against the Bebrykes to the east (on the coast) who are trying to take more land; it ends with a resounding Trojan victory and their territory expanded to the river Aesepus; Adrastus, leader of the men in this area, is made/remains a sub-king now under Troy and he makes a shrine to Nemesis in commemoration of this victory. Ilos marries his daughter Eurydike. A little over two decades later he goes to Phrygia on a guest-friendship journey and attends athletic games of a Phrygian king (it's the royal family Hecuba is born from). As prize he's given fifty youths and fifty maidens, plus, by an oracle, a cow. Where it lays down in Troy is where he establishes a new shrine for the Palladium (and thus Athena).

Tithonos is taken by Eos a couple years before Laomedon gets charge of Poseidon and Apollo's punishment for the uprising against Zeus that they participated in; his loss, even if technically an honour as much as Ganymede's taking was, is part of the reason why he ends up treating his divine labourers as he does. Not the only one, for while he's a passable father and king, he is a flawed and greedy, as well as overly prideful, man. The latter is also part of why he deals with Herakles as he does, but again, not the only; Herakles demands the divine horses gifted to Tros as payment for his aid, and Laomedon is at that moment more concerned with getting his daughter back safe (as well as the threat to his people dealt with), than with the insult it means that Herakles is demanding what was a divine gift and isn't the same as any other possession. Afterwards, because of this difference and that he doesn't think he should pay that as a price, he refuses to give those particular horses.

Priam befriends Apollo during his year of service, and shortly before Herakles comes with his six-fleet force Priam has married Arisbe; Aisakos is born after the partial sack. Priam doesn't necessarily think they should give the divine horses, but advocates for his father to give horses descended from the foals Boreas begot; this his father refuses (though Telamon, sent as envoy to 'peacefully' demand the lacking payment, refuses this as well), and then also has the Achaean envoy imprisoned. Priam helps them escape while his father musters a surprise attack on Herakles' ships. Priam's half-brother Boukoulion as well as Laomedon die in the ensuing attack, the city breached in one of its weak points (where the mortal-built citadel wall meets the divinely-built city wall), but Priam closes the gates to the citadel walls and even without Zeus' compassion for his cupbearer and putting a stop to things here, Herakles wouldn't have been able to overcome to Palladium's protection at this point.

A little over a decade later, when Priam arrives to aid the Phrygians against an Amazon incursion, he falls for one of King Dymas' daughters, and marries her; Priam, after Arisbe refuses to even be a second-rank wife and Priam too fond of Hecuba to not have her be anything less than first-rank, ends up divorcing Arisbe and marrying her to Hyrtakos instead. Priam and Hecuba's first child and oldest son is born not long after that.

[ohlovxr]

Okay! So this one is just kind of a random fantasy I thought I would share with you. It’s been my “trying to drift off to sleep so I’m going to write an imaginary scenario in my mind” type thing. Anyway! So reader is chosen by some sort of mystical birthright to be an avatar for a god or goddess(I’ve been imagining it as Ammit because they may or may not also be a sort of tugawar bit between Harrow and the Moonboys). Anyway, Khonshu doesn’t want this goddess or god to come to power, so Khonshu basically orders the Moonboys(player’s choice) to kidnap her to keep her out of other people’s(or Harrow’s) hands and to perform a ritual where whichever Moonboy has to take the readers virginity in order to bind her power to Khonshu instead of whichever entity she was supposed to serve. Thus binding the Moonboys and reader for life, pretty much. They refuse at first and then meet her and instantly develop an obsession. I’ve been picturing it more CNC or heavy dubcon(oops, my bad).

And for extra spice, sometimes Layla shows up for the party. Either just the help the Moonboys or as an avatar herself.

I’m a simple girl who loves her fantasy world. Okay, I’ll see my self out now.

🌹<—- that’s for you for putting up with this nonsense.

stop because this is giving massive jake vibes… as far as we know right now (bc i’m not a comic reader no one bash me pls), jake serves khonshu faithfully. whether he believes in his ideology or just does it to protect steven and marc, he goes along with whatever he’s tasked to do. this, to me, is giving huge heavy dubcon because like… jake does the kidnapping to at the very least stop harrow from completing the ritual… he stalls the next part for a bit

my brain just thinks of him becoming more and more obsessed with you as time flies and mostly because, as weird as it sounds, you continue to fight him and be difficult and filled with sass even when he’s offering you his version of kindness - although very stoic and cold, he’s not a monster and just keeping you chained up to a wall wherever he’s got you holed up. he lets you roam free in the secured place and gives you everything you need

he becomes obsessed with all that fight in you - the lust for you starts to grow on steven and marc despite their best efforts as byproduct of jake’s feelings - and finally gives into khonshu’s plan

just think… he literally doesn’t need to tie you down or anything for it. it’s a whole fight, filled with mean words and tears on your part, but given his strength and training, it’s still far too easy for him to strip you down, pin you to the bed with one large hand holding your wrists tight above you head, and slot himself between your thighs

in spite of how much you fight him though, he’s met with your wet pussy when he presses his cock against you. he slides through your folds n let’s his cock gets coated in your slick n his tip keep bumping into your little clit just so he can watch you bite your lip to fight off whimpers and moans

ugh and when your cute hole just opens right up for him when he starts pushing into you and you’re still managing to stutter ruthless insults his way, he teases you, “does this turn you on, mi amor? fighting me like this? because i promise, what you’re feeling right now is going to feel ten times better if you decide to be a good girl and bend over for me the next time.”

… despite the fact that it has you clenching around his cock and gushing slick onto his balls, that makes you spit in his face because as if you’d submit to him, but that just has him grabbing your jaw n forcefully opening your mouth to spit into it just to prove a point

[skoulsons]

“oh baby girl”

this scene is so… I cannot watch it, any part of it, without getting choked up. Their story never fails to get me. Baby girl was a coined term. Sarah’s coined term. By him. His daughter. The most important person in his life. It was her nickname. And we only hear him say it once, but we know how special it is to the both of them. Probably called her it the second he held her for the first time. It holds weight and emotion and depth. That word is one of the last things he has as a connection to Sarah. Besides his watch or the cut on his nose.

And so here comes winter. He and Ellie are stuck with each other. I believe Fall and Joel taking Ellie back from Tommy above Jackson is *their* point. The point of Joel saying he’s going through with this completely and that, once they reach the fireflies, they aren’t going their separate ways. He’s going all in. He’s risking getting attached. He’s letting himself have this second chance at fatherhood.

And so they go through fall for and winter and Joel gets injured and Ellie meets David and Joel wakes up and…Ellie’s gone. Who even knows what he remembers. If the last thing was him getting stabbed through the abdomen with rebar, or if he had a moment in this old, cold house basement where he was aware. Either way, Ellie is gone. Maybe she’s out getting food or scrounging for supplies. Maybe she’s tending to Callus. Maybe she’s just sitting upstairs on a couch to be a little comfier. But, obviously, those are all shut down when Joel starts taking fire. And so he runs through this town, roughly stitched up, probably starving, thirsty, and hasn’t properly moved or stretched in who knows how long, trying to find Ellie. Because now, something’s happened to her.

And so he runs through this town and tortures and brutally kills men to find her. And eventually he finds her in a burning restaurant, kneeling over a man and hacking his face off with a machete. He runs over and pulls her off the man and tries to comfort her and Ellie immediately starts pushing him away (mini headcanon plug. Definitely believe prior to this, he’s comforted her with a hug. It just…I don’t know. Him repeating “it’s me” just gives me that feeling. Also the fact that my love language is physical touch and will find a way to say they hugged at x point in the game whenever I can bc I love hugs ☹️ also the fact that he just hugs her so easily and has his head against her head and how she just falls in to his shoulder and-). He desperately tries to get to get her to look at him and she’s using as much strength as she has left to push him away because she thinks he’s one of them. And so eventually he grabs her face and makes sure that she sees him. She sees who it is and knows that she’s safe. And immediately she collapses in to him and he brings her as close as he can.

He doesn’t know what happened. He doesn’t know why she was slicing this guy up with a machete, why she’s sobbing, why she’s fighting against him so hard, why there were so many men outside trying to keep Joel away. But he can guess. He did find meat ledgers and people (it was people right???) hanging upside down. He at least knew a little of what they were all about.

And so he calls her babygirl. That term that was Sarah exclusive? Ellie has become that now. That new daughter. That thing that kept him fighting. Is keeping him fighting. The person who gave him a second chance at fatherhood after it got cut so short. The most important person in his life now. All he knows right now is she’s hurting and scared. Something happened here. And while Joel would probably love to continue to beat this already very dead man to a place even further than death, she matters first. Their safety, her safety, matter more.

And when they get out, he’s gentler. More soft spoken. After closing herself off more due to trauma, he opens up more. Maybe to try and get her to open a bit and get her back to the spunky Ellie she used to be. Which is a bit of helpless hoping (get it) on his part, but he has to try. He tells her he’ll teach her guitar because it’s something he thinks she’ll like. A piece of dialogue I always found interesting is when she tells him about her dream about the plane crash. He says “why don’t you tell me about it?”(I think, could have that a bit wrong). Way earlier on in their trip, guarantee he would not have cared about this or what she had to say. But her talking about this dream could’ve been the most she talked in a week. Or more.

I totally forgot where I was going with this at ALL. It’s 2am when I’m writing this which means it’s joelellie depression hours which means USELESS rambling and overthinking their scenes and their relationship and everything about them because my hyperfixation over them won’t leave me alone and I’m nearly incapable of not thinking or talking or associating anything and everything with them. Props if anyone got through, this has been sitting in my drafts for 3 months and I didn’t check it at all so if it’s terrible grammatically, I apologize 😭

[miyacreampie]

Lenny sensei's night class has begun!~♡

“Senpai~♡”

synopsis 💭;; Tanaka gets jealous bc some bitch talking to his man.

note 🖋️;; IT TOOK A WHOLE FUCKIN WEEK TO WRITE THIS. WHY DOES WORK ALWAYS PREVENT ME FROM DOING THE THINGS I LIKE? WHAT THE ACTUAL FU- by the way, ‘Isayama Misaki’ is based off of some asswipe I used to know- also, I ran out of ideas at the end, so it kinda cuts of lf at the good part. I apologize to the anon that requested this.

Requested by anon ♡

Male pronouns used

Tanaka wasn't a jealous man. Or at least he'd like to think so.

(Y/n) was pretty popular around campus, so it wasn't a surprise to see a few fangirls here or there. It kinda reminded him of Oikawa—except (Y/n) didn't exactly pay his fangirls any attention. (And he didn't have an ass as flat as printer paper.) But did that stop them from trying to get into his pants? No.

In all honesty, Ryu felt lucky that he had someone like (Y/n) as a boyfriend, although he didn't like the fangirls—who paid him no mind whenever they were together. It annoyed him that they kept surrounding (Y/n) who clearly wanted nothing to do with them, begging him for dates, one night stands, anything.

To say that Tanaka was mildly uncomfortable was an understatement.

🌇🌇

Today was a bit different. Instead of a crowd of women rushing towards (Y/n), it was just one—; Misaki Isayama. The woman (almost) every guy considered perfect. This was...manageable, but what did she want? Well—at least it was only one girl. He had only woken up a little over an hour ago, and wasn't exactly ready for his simps just yet.

“(L/n)-chan, can you help me study for the science exam that's coming up?”

“Just because you're my upperclassman, doesn't mean you can call me that.” (Y/n) said quietly, rubbing his eyes, then yawning. “I'm on my way to the lecture hall though, so maybe after that? I should be fully awake by then..”

Misaki smiled and nodded her head. “It's a date!”

“No. No it's not.”

🏙️🏙️

Tanaka let (Y/n) lean on him during the lecture. That turned into one sided cuddling from the sleepy man. Ryu thought it was cute how (Y/n) always clung to him when he was sleepy. He was a little sad when (Y/n) fully awoke, and let him go, but it was for the best.

“Oh, Ryu-san. I'm tutoring the rumored ‘perfect woman’, and it's gonna be awkward with just the two of us, so can y—”

“You headin to the library? I was on my way there anyway. I'll join ya.”

The (h/c) haired man nodded, and they both walked all the way to the other side of the schoolyard to the library building. Tanaka even held (Y/n)'s hand to flex on the girls they passed by. Some of the girls were noticeably annoyed or a little angry, which pleased him.

When they finally arrived, Misaki was standing by the door. Upon seeing Ryu, she scowled. But it was only for a second.

“Ah, (L/n)-kun..who's this?”

(Y/n) smiled, oblivious to Misaki and Tanaka glaring at each other. Needless to say, the intense atmosphere went right over his head. “This is my boyfriend..Tanaka. He'll be joining us if that's okay.”

“‘Perfect woman’ my ass..the only ‘perfect woman’ I know is Kiyoko-san.” Tanaka mumbled under his breath. (Y/n) may not have known, but Misaki and Tanaka were always competitive with each other. Other times he wouldn't have cared, but now that (Y/n) is what he's fighting for, he wasn't gonna back down.

“Oh, it's fine.” Misaki said through gritted teeth.

🏙️🏙️

Isayama and Tanaka were left sitting at a table alone, while (Y/n) searched for the science books. They sat in complete silence, but it was almost as if you could hear their thoughts—mentally arguing with one another.

(Y/n) returned with three books, seating himself between Isayama and Ryu. “Okay! Let's get started!”

***

As (Y/n) went on explaining the laws of physics (because Tetsurou used to tutor him), Misaki and Tanaka continued their epic staring battle. The battle ended once they noticed that (Y/n) had stopped talking. He was chewing his tongue in thought, trying to figure out how to pronounce a word.

Misaki didn't notice, but (Y/n) had gone from physics, to microbiology. In less than five minutes.

“Something wrong?”

“How do you say this word again..?” The (e/c) eyed man pointed to a bolded word in the textbook, leaning back a bit so the other two could see.

A suffocating silence reigned over the three of them, but only for about three seconds.

Isayama squinted a bit before she spoke. “Endothelial?”

“Oh yeah. Thanks, senpai.”

Isayama smiled smugly at Ryuunosuke. The said man had a visible tick mark (💢) on the side of his head, symbolizing his annoyance. Tanaka only wanted (Y/n) to call him ‘senpai’—even if they were the same age (if not, then (Y/n) might be older). It made him feel like he was a dependable upperclassman, maybe even a bit turned on in certain situations. But hearing (Y/n) call someone else senpai..made him a little sad.

His thoughts were interrupted by his phone vibrating. As Tanaka reached into his pocket to get his phone, he caught (Y/n) putting his own phone in his jacket pocket. Tanaka turned on his phone to see a message from (Y/n) in his recent notifications.

Pretty boy💖: Go to the bathroom. I'll join you later.

Although he was a bit confused, he got up from his chair. “‘M gonna go take a leak.” Ryu said as he started to make his way towards the men's restroom.

Almost five minutes pass before (Y/n) goes into the bathroom after Tanaka, telling Misaki that he was checking on him. As soon as (Y/n) had passed the first bathroom stall, he was yanked into the second one, the door locking almost immediately after it shut behind him. He wasn't given any time to react before he felt a familiar pair of soft lips violently smash against his own. (Not violent enough to make his mouth bleed or anything. Chill.)

A heated battle for dominance arose between the two, (Y/n) quickly taking the lead as he gently bit Ryu's lip.

They didn't want this to end, but eventually Tanaka had to break the kiss because he couldn't breathe. He stood there, breathless in his boyfriend's arms, not wanting (Y/n) to let go.

“Ryuunosuke..” Tanaka flinched upon his first name being said—even though (Y/n) said it many times before. His reaction brought a smile to (Y/n)'s face. “I love you~..” He said, drawing out the three words in a sing-song voice.

Ryu felt his legs getting weak, and held onto (Y/n) for dear life. (Somewhat out of fear that he might fall.) He wasn't actually feeling like this because of three words...right? “Babe..am I supposed to be kinda horny right now?” It was a bit of a strange question, but hey, it never hurts to ask.

(Y/n) chuckled. “Well, yeah. I might have to carry you out of here once we're done.” His warm smile from earlier didn't falter as he spoke.

‘How can he say something like that so casually? If I say something like that, I'd get d–’ Ryu's thoughts were snapped away when he felt his chest touch the stall divider and his pants being pulled down. He let out a soft moan as (Y/n) stroked him through his boxers.

🏙️

‘What the hell is taking them so long?!’ Isayama got up from where she sat, and went to the men's bathroom. There wasn't anyone around, so no one would see her going in. She opened the first stall's door. ‘If they ditched me, I swear to go–’

“W-Wait, (Y/n)!~ Haa!~♡”

“Geez senpai, you're so wet inside~..♡”

Misaki froze. She couldn't be sure that it was (Y/n) and Tanaka in there—but those were definitely Tanaka's pants hanging over the second stall's door. Now she felt more..curious than angry. Isayama slipped into the first stall, carefully and quietly closing the door behind her, and slowly locking it so it didn't make noise.

Ryu tried to keep his breathing steady as (Y/n) fucked him with his fingers—even though that did absolutely nothing to help his current situation. Hell, he couldn't even process words anymore. The only actual word he could say was his boyfriend's name. He eventually remembered how to speak after about two minutes of being finger-fucked.

He wanted to sound more demanding, but his voice came out more whiny than what he'd have liked it to. “Fuck me already..ya fuckin– Hng!~” It may have been that he couldn't process it, or that (Y/n) had moved at the speed of sound, but Tanaka wasn't able to register how fast (Y/n) pulled his fingers out, and shoved his cock into his still tight hole. He wanted to say something, but all that came out was a choked whine.

“You were saying?~♡” (Y/n) asked, though it sounded more like a demand than a question.

Tanaka wasn't given a chance to answer due to (Y/n) ruthlessly fucking the poor man senseless. His loud whines and moans echoed throughout the bathroom, much to (Y/n)'s pleasure. He wanted everyone to know that he was a taken man. He wanted everyone on campus to hear Ryuunosuke's pleasurable cries.

Hearing the two men fucking in the next stall turned Isayama on to no end. (Even though it was more of (Y/n)'s voice that made her wet.) But she resisted touching herself because she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she masturbated to her rival getting fucked. (A kinda stupid reason, but okay.)

“Fu–fuck, (Y/n)!~ So good..it feels so good!~” Ryu babbled, the words almost incoherent as he attempted to push back against his boyfriend's cock. “More!~ Give me more!~♡” He begged, voice broken and choking on his own breath.

The (e/c) eyed man didn't say a word. As his senpai had politely asked of him, (Y/n) drove his cock so deep into Tanaka that the said man let out the loudest drawn out moan (Y/n) had ever heard from him. If it weren't for the cum spewing from the teary eyed man, (Y/n) would've thought he had hurt his lover. He wasn't entirely sure until he felt Ryu continue to push back against him, desperate for more friction.

“Aww..you're so cute when you act like a bitch in heat, senpai~..♡”

He only got a choked whine in response.

“I'm pretty close anyway..do you want it inside?~♡” (Y/n) asked, pulling the shaky man up to his chest. Again, only a whine. (Y/n) parted Ryu's lips with his fingers, those fingers soon being coated in saliva. “Use your words~..”

Finally, Tanaka spoke, despite his unintentional dry heaving. “Fuck me- please~..”

“As you wish~♡” (Y/n) almost whispered, gripping Tanaka's cock firmly, earning another broken moan from the said man. “You're the only person I'd fuck like this, you know that, right?” He said, as he rubbed the shorter man's stomach.

“Y-Yeah..that makes me happy~..”

Lmao this was like- 80% highschool drama (in a college setting), and the remaining 20% being me getting horny for no reason. Also, I'm aware this made no sense. None of the stuff I write makes sense. :)

The class session is now over!~♡

[robinofgothamcity]

"I hope you're happy but not like how you were with me. I'm selfish, I know, I can't let you go so find someone great but don't find no one better. I hope you're happy, but don't be happier."

characters: kenny omega / chuck taylor

pronouns used: she/her

note: not checked for grammar or spelling mistakes / pls let me know if you want this to be turned into a series bc I have no issue with continuing it and tbh i proabaly will just continue with it even if no one wants a part two lmao

"that's crazy," you murmured against your cup of hot chocolate, "wild even. I didn't do it though," you emphasized your innocence as you raised your hands up. Britt shook her head before leaving the area where you and Kris were sitting at. Kris chuckled to herself, "her Adam has been kicking my Adam's ass for weeks now, she'll live," you gave her wink.

"you dating Adam?" she asked. you shook your head no, Kris feeling that you were lying, "we've been friends for years!" you exclaimed, "plus he's got a girlfriend that he's told no one about and I'm not a homewrecker Statlander," Kris was taken back by the news but immediately dropped it as you both heard the crowd pop in excitement.

"no fucking way," you gulped in nervousness as you realized who made his untimely return. Kris stared at you like a deer in headlights. you noticed that familiar curly blond and brown hair from anywhere and so did everyone else, "fuck," you whispered not believing that Kenny was actually back.

there happened to be an unwritten history between you and Kenny. one that a few knew about but the relationship was far from healthy. you two were each others late night calls and when Kenny went on break for his injuries, he dropped you and you didn't bother to contact him in order to check up on him. you figured if he wanted to speak to you, he would and you were no one to chase after a man. especially one with Kenny's reputation.

"we really had to have the fight after them, didn't we?" you ran your hand through your hair in irritation as the crowd was still going wild. Kris could tell your mind was somewhere else now and you were in no state to even be around him, "lets go before we run into him," she said grabbing your hand.

you were in a feud with your best friend and since it was a tag feud, you had teamed up with the make up'd man himself, Danhausen. the two of you worked previously together and you both had great chemistry in the ring so it was easy money to put you two together. Kris had gone with Cassidy as her partner since she was affiliated with Best Friends.

"hey Dan," you whispered, not as excited as usual. he saw the mix of emotions on your face as Kris vaguely explained everything to them, "don't worry! I got you! I won't let him mess with you," Dan replied. you chuckled unenthusiastically, "I appreciate it but I'd like to keep you alive. at least for my sake and so your wife doesn't murder me for getting you hurt again."

he nodded knowing you had a point. your theme went off as Dan put his cape on and you grabbed your gloves. the two of you walked out, having everyone cheer at the goofy show you were putting on the way to the ring. Kris turned to Kenny, seeing the way he was staring at the monitors intensely.

"where are you going?" Cassidy asked suddenly. Kris walked over to Kenny, staring him down in fury as she grabbed him by the shirt, "if you make her lose her concentration, I will find a gravesite and make sure you get buried in there alive. heard me, Omega?" she threatened. Matt, who was standing next to Kenny, stood back in surprise as the man himself was taken back, "did you hear what I said?" Kenny nodded stiffly as her theme went off not a second after.

Cassidy had to give her props. he never thought she'd threaten the executive vice president of the brand she worked for but from the looks of it, Kenny had taken into account what she said. you were talking with Dan, making sure to make it as dramatic as the two of you usually were. Kenny didn't like the tag team of you and him. he knew your style and Dan didn't match up with it. a part of him knew it was possibly the jealousy overtaking him but he didn't want to admit to that part.

"damn, Kris really told you how it is and she follows through on her promises," Nick taunted, "just ask Leyla." Kenny slapped him in the back of the head, "it's different now. we're different," Kenny replied as he saw Dan tag you in. you were still the same wrestler you were when he left. flawless and well executed.

you backflipped, kicking Kris in the face before performing one of Kenny's infamous moves. the two of you had learned the move together while in Japan and it wasn't one you did often but it did do some serious damage. Cassidy quickly tagged himself in, earning a manic laugh from Danhausen as he jumped in.

the match went on a bit longer before Dan managed to submit Cassidy into tapping out. you jumped on top of him, laughing in excitement as he lifted you onto his shoulders. you waved at the crowd, earning cheers once again as Dan held you tightly against him to make sure you didn't fall off. once he let you down, the two of you walked onto the ramp, hands in the familiar Danhausen pose before leaving in dramatic fashion.

"great match!" Nick complimented. you gave him a tired thank you as Dan and Kris quickly moved you away before Kenny could even think of speaking to you. you helped Dan remove the makeup as he was on the phone with his wife. you could tell the makeup was irritating his eyes and it wasn't exactly the most comfortable feeling in the world.

"hey, you looked amazing out there! we'd love you to recruit you for Best Friends," you heard the voice of Chuck Taylor say. you smiled at his offer but shook your head, "I don't think that'd work Chuckie plus Kris would outshine me," you joked. Chuck sat across from you, Dan having already left to go take a shower.

"sore?" he asked. you nodded, trying to stretch yourself to get the knots from your neck. he went behind you, pulling your hands down, "let me help," he offered. his hands went to your neck, not knowing where to start so he began massaging the parts that always got sore for him. you started letting out sighs of enjoyment as Chuck continued. the two of you were the only ones in the hallways so to anyone, it sounded like the two of you were doing something completely different.

Chuck eventually started stretching your leg out as you told him Kris had given you a good kick in the back of the leg. "wait Chuck, not there I'll start-," before you could say anything else, you started wailing from laughter. the booming of it causing people around you pop there heads into the hallway.

"woah!" Jay Lethal's voice came in. you looked up and saw him, Ricky, Matt, and Kenny at the entrance of the hall, "never saw you as that type of woman," Matt joked. you sighed seeing everyone but Kenny start laughing. Chuck unintentionally pulled you closer to him as he helped you up. you dusted yourself off, murmuring that you needed to get showered and dressed.

"getting it in with the woman at the top of the division...I like it," Ricky told Chuck. he waved him off, "it's not like that. she's cute....gorgeous actually but she's an honorary member of Best Friends. I don't think she would ever see me that way plus she deserves more than just late night hookups," Chuck looked over to Kenny as he said that. Ricky and Matt shook their heads, "don't sell yourself short, you never know," Jay said.

the three departed ways which left him with just Kenny. the curled haired man stared down at Chuck, "you'd be right Taylor," Kenny finally said. Chuck scoffed, "they might be telling you what they believe but we all know she belongs to me. she'd never fall for the likes of you or anyone else that you associate yourself with. she's better than that. she's elite and everyone knows that. I'd watch your back if I were you."

Chuck stood stunned at Kenny's words and didn't respond. Kenny gave him one final look before leaving. Chuck made his way back to where Kris, Trent, and seemingly you where at. you were at the vending machine, wanting to chug down a Red Bull after your shower and talking with Britt when Trent noticed the very displeased look on his best friends face.

"something wrong?" he asked. Chuck made sure that you weren't in earshot of what he was about to say. "Kenny just threatened me I think," he simply stated. Trent and Kris looked at him in shock, "what? how?" she asked, feeling that this had something to do with you.

"I was helping ( your name ) stretch after your match with her when Jay, Ricky, Matt, and Kenny walked in on her laughing. we weren't in the most compromising position but after they all left, he kind of just told me to stay away from her and to watch my back."

Trent stayed silent as Kris stood up, growling about how he didn't listen to her when she said to stay away from you, "follow me," she exclaimed, grabbing his hand and dragging you over to him. she saw Kenny on the other side of catering, wanting to make his move on you.

"you're gonna kiss her, right here and right the fuck now. I didn't go through seven months of heartbreak from her for him to just ruin that in one night," Chuck stood dumbfounded once again. he didn't know what to even think but there was no time for that now. you were still standing and talking with Britt when you noticed Chuck approaching you, Kris not too far behind.

"hey Chuckie, what's up? the boys didn't mess with you too harshly, right?" you asked. you knew how Jay and Ricky were. Chuck shook his head no but he heard Kris's pushing continue, "Chuck? you good there, love?" you asked again.

he moved Britt to side slightly and grabbed you by the collar of your jacket for a kiss. you heard gasps from everyone in catering as Britt let out a surprise 'oh shit' meanwhile Kris clapped happily and Trent rolled his eyes at all this commotion. first his drama with Yuta and now you? he could never catch a break, could he?

you let him continue to kiss you as he put his hands on your face softly, "you claim to be a gentleman for someone who didn't ask to kiss me," you joked as he pulled away. Chuck laughed nervously, "you're mad, aren't you?" you shook your head no, "just didn't think you saw me that way. you seem pretty shocked about it too."

"should we leave or? because it seems like everyone is intruding on a private moment" Britt laughed from behind. you rolled your eyes and leaned against Chuck, "shut up and everyone, mind your business. don't act like your business isn't constantly aired out online."

"we need to talk about this privately,-" you told Chuck before you three heard a throat clear from behind you. you turned around to see Kenny fuming with anger, "I thought we talked about this, Chuck. I didn't think you needed an even harsher reminder," he said before going in for a swing to Chuck's face, "Kenny no!" you heard Matt and Nick scream as you rolled your eyes in agitation. "oh shit!" Trent and Cassidy exclaimed not long after as they stood up to go to Chuck.

high school drama, you thought in your head.

[besanii]

I need to know what caused Wei Ying to finally initiate a physical relationship with Xichen. Was it for Lotus pier and what the empress said? He does seem to have some feelings towards Xichen so did he not mind it bc of that? What does Xichen think about this whole thing ahhhhhhhhh so many questions. Sorry Lan Zhan cause ngl I ship them

[ part one (LWJ) | two (LXC) | three (WWX) | four (LWJ) | five (NQY) | six (WWX) | seven (LWJ) ]

[ follows on from six ] 

Alive.

The word washes over him like a wave, bringing with it a rush of joy and relief—his brother is alive—that lasts only a heartbeat before the significance of the news comes crashing down.

His brother is alive.

An arrow to the shoulder, the report had read. Knocked overboard in the heat of the battle and disappearing under the churning waters; for days they searched, picking through the bodies floating amongst the debris long after the Dongying forces had retreated. 

They found him, a day later, half-drowned and delirious with fever, unable to fight. News of his death in battle spread as he lay in his bed, one foot already through the gates of Hell and yet still strategising, planning, during his brief moments of lucidity. Conscious enough to know that they can use his perceived death to their advantage.

And indeed with the loss of Gusu’s greatest commander, their enemies pressed them harder, forcing them to cede waters they had previously held strong. Little did they know they were being lured into a trap, one that would decimate their fleet and end the battle once and for all.

“And how is Hanguang-wang now?” Lan Xichen asks. Only years of experience keeps his voice tightly controlled and his hands relaxed as they rest on the spacious desk before him.

“Replying to Huangshang, Hanguang-wang asked this lowly subject to pass on the message that he is well and not to worry,” the messenger reports. “Hanguang-wang has also said he will stay on to fight until the war is won, as is his duty as the commander of the fleet.” 

As a brother, Lan Xichen knows he should recall Lan Wangji from the front lines, allow him to return to Caiyi to nurse his injuries. As Emperor, if his best commander reports he can continue to fight and his staying on increases their chances of victory, then he has no reason to refuse. As a man—

He tells himself the rush of relief that courses through him at the news is because his brother is well; he does not allow himself to entertain the other reason. It is too shameful to admit, even to himself.

In the end, the Emperor wins out, as it always does.

“Very well,” he says finally, pressing the tips of his fingers together as if he is giving serious consideration to Lan Wangji’s request. “We will grant Hanguang-wang the right to stay, as reward for his loyalty.”

--

He does not call on Chenghuan Hall.

He tells himself it is to give Wei Wuxian space in the wake of such momentous news, to allow him to process it fully in his own time without the added pressure of Lan Xichen’s presence. It is a flimsy excuse, one he knows does not fool his Empress at the very least, whose knowing looks and raised eyebrow has his insides twisting with guilt and shame like a child caught stealing treats from the kitchens. So he avoids her palace too, and seeks refuge in the Imperial study until late in the evenings.

A whole month passes where Lan Xichen does not allow himself to see Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian does not send word to him either.

He wonders if he’s left it too long, whether Wei Wuxian would be upset or angry at their situation—at him, for putting them in this situation. If it is too late to show up now, after a whole month of silence, and try to make amends. 

Fortunately—if one could call any part of this fortunate—the decision is made for him when Wei Wuxian himself walks into the Imperial study one night and kneels in the centre of the chamber. Lan Xichen watches dumbly as he prostrates himself, forehead pressed against the tips of his fingers on the cold stone floor, his hair loose and unbound, spilling over his plain white robes, the very picture of contrition and penance.

“This lowly concubine pays greetings to Huangshang,” Wei Wuxian says, his voice loud and clear in the quiet of the study. “And humbly seeks your forgiveness.”

“Wuxian...” Lan Xichen begins hesitantly. He breaks off, looking around at the eunuchs stationed around the study with their heads bowed. “You may leave us.”

It is only after they file away, closing the double doors behind them silently, does Lan Xichen allow himself to cross the chamber to where Wei Wuxian is still kneeling. He hurries to help him up, grasping him below the elbows, but is met with resistance as Wei Wuxian stubbornly keeps his head and shoulders bowed.

“Wuxian,” he says helplessly. “There is no need for this.”

“This lowly concubine dares not stand until Huangshang has forgiven me for my transgressions,” Wei Wuxian replies, still in that formal, wooden tone of voice Lan Xichen has come to know too well. He sighs.

“It is cold tonight and you are barely dressed. You will catch a cold walking around like this,” he tells him gently, softening his grip on his arms. When Wei Wuxian still refuses to budge, he sighs again and tilts his face up with two fingers under his chin. “There is nothing to forgive, you have done nothing wrong,”

There is confusion and wariness in those grey eyes as they finally meet his, two emotions he had hoped never to see again.

“Huangshang is displeased with me,” Wei Wuxian says quietly, tightly, as if he would fall apart if he raised his voice. “Ever since the report from Jinghai. Huangshang can no longer bear the sight of me, now that Lan Zhan—” he bites off the name with a pained twist of his mouth.

Lan Xichen recoils as if struck. He had known the nature of their relationship before his brother’s departure, and their plans for his return. But hearing his brother’s given name, such an intimate address used so freely and without thought, is a stark reminder of what he had done. Who he had taken.

Wei Wuxian knows it too, from the shudder that runs through him as he exhales, and the way his hands curl into fists in his lap.

"This lowly concubine does not dare presume he has any right to beg forgiveness for putting Huangshang in such a difficult position,” he continues, the barest hint of a waver in his voice. “I only wished to let Huangshang know that he does not need to trouble himself over this any longer.”

There is a ring of finality to his words that immediately catches Lan Xichen’s attention.

“What are you saying?” he asks warily. “Wuxian—”

Wei Wuxian shuffles backwards, putting enough distance between them so that he can prostrate himself once more, touching his forehead to the floor.

“This lowly concubine begs Huangshang to grant me the death penalty.”

“No.” 

The word forces itself from Lan Xichen’s lips before he even realises he’s spoken, a spontaneous, visceral reaction full of hurt and fury beyond his control. For a long moment after, he cannot speak around the vice clamped tight around his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. Wei Wuxian replies, but his voice is only a faint murmur against the blood roaring in his ears; he cannot see his face to read his lips, but Lan Xichen already knows what he will say.

“You cannot ask that of me.” The words rasp painfully against his throat. “I will not be the reason for your death.”

Wei Wuxian raises his head and Lan Xichen freezes at the sight of the tears in his eyes, the same hurt, the same helpless fury colouring his cheeks and knitting his brows.

“And I am not willing to be the conflict that destroys the relationship between brothers,” he cries. “I cannot—I will not do it. Huangshang. You cannot ask that of me. Please do not ask it of me.” 

He lowers his face to the floor once more.

“This lowly concubine is only alive today because of Huangshang,” he says, voice small and trembling but with an undercurrent of steel. “I should already be dead. If Huangshang grants me the death penalty now, it will only be putting the situation to rights once more, and Hanguang-wang will be none the wiser upon his return.” 

Lan Xichen reaches out a trembling hand toward him, but stops short, hand hovering just above the top of his head. He cannot ask this of him. As a brother, and as a man, he cannot do it. As an Emperor—

Almost as if sensing his indecision, Wei Wuxian raises his head, leans into the palm of Lan Xichen’s outstretched hand and smiles as those long fingers mould themselves reflexively around the curve of his cheek.

“This lowly concubine will never forget the kindness and affection Huangshang has bestowed upon me,” he murmurs. “So if there must be a sacrifice, please let me make it in your place.”

--

TBC (yes I have just decided there will be a part two to this)

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buy me a ko-fi!

more paper-thin fic | verse

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Notes

Such drama! Much angst! 

Sorry this took much longer than anticipated, mostly cos I’ve been devouring ancient Tezuka/Fuji fics and falling back into the ancient Tenipuri fandom in the past couple of weeks. So, uh, don’t be surprised if my next thing is Tezuka/Fuji instead (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞