#at what point does the grudge become too much? does it ever? does it just get harder to maintain?

[good--merits-accumulated]

@violetfudge re those prev tags, yeah T_T but can you imagine how much of a shitshow graduation would be? like they leave a seat free for Charlie because they're ALWAYS living around his presence even when he isn't there. Cameron tentatively tries to go up to Meeks only to be told, "I'm not shaking your damn hand, Richard". someone mentions Neil in a speech offhandedly and Todd disappears into the bathroom for a while and Cameron hears crying, but when he goes to talk to him Todd looks very, very pale, and so coldly furious he turns around and leaves. does Cameron have any other friends he can retreat to? i mean, i don't know if Welton likes a snitch. i think Cameron puts away his graduation gown and won't look at it, even when his mother insists. i think he feels kind of uneasy in a theatre for the rest of his life. i think years later he sees Todd on the street or Pitts across a traffic light or - once, Charlie, getting off a bus as he gets out of his car. they see each other as they cross. he looks good. they keep going. they don't turn back. (this is a very old story, there is no other version of this story. but you can't leave first if you never meet.) i think when Cameron's first child is born he puts aside five invitations for the christening, and his wife asks in her puzzled way, Richard, who are those for? Richard, I thought I knew all our friends. and as he moves to the stove to drop the invitations inside and watch them curl and burn he says Yes. You do.

do you think Cameron ever sat in a church afterwards and thought for hours about what he had done

[thesoftboiledegg]

"Unmortricken" was a lot. In fact, it might have been a little too much.

To start, I loved the glimpse of what exists outside the Central Finite Curve. The visuals were stunning and reminded me of M.C. Escher's drawings. The Jetson-like family was a nice touch--if anything can happen, who says they can't have different animation styles? All those colorful portals make me wonder what's lurking just out of sight.

It's also funny that the space outside the Curve is full of Rick's favorite thing: crystals. If he took a trip there, he'd come back with his pockets stuffed with gemstones.

Evil Morty's reappearance gave us a decent character study. Since he wasn't the antagonist, we saw him interact with the C-137s as a regular person. Morty's a little impressed, and Rick has a grudging respect for him. Others have called Evil Morty the Rickest Morty, and I agree: similar intelligence, similar technology and similar bloodthirst.

I was glad that he left in the end because that's what his character arc is about anyway. He doesn't want to be part of anyone else's story, not even another Morty's.

However, that's also part of the issue that I had with this episode. Seeing Evil Morty was great, but it was also a little...pointless? You could've had the same story without him. He's not working with Prime, and he has no ties to C-137 after "Rickmurai Jack," so it felt like the writers just said "Hey, you know what would be cool?"

I'm not against writers having fun and giving the audience what they want. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (yeah, groan at me, Marvel haters) is fan service in blockbuster form, and it was one of the best theater experiences I've ever had.

Still, if Evil Morty came back, I think he should've had a separate episode. The episode juggled C-137 Rick, Morty, Evil Morty and Prime Rick pretty well, giving them satisfying interactions with each other, but no Evil Morty would've meant more relationship development for the C-137s.

Evil Morty's backstory also didn't reveal much about him. I mean--yeah, we all figured that he had an abusive Rick and got fed up. The fact that he had a "regular" Rick instead of a deranged lunatic does make a point about the banality of abuse. Monsters aren't always raving maniacs who torture people in their basements. Ordinary people can wear you down with a slow drip of toxicity and neglect.

I enjoyed this episode, and Evil Morty's return was exciting, but cramming the series' two biggest antagonists and storylines into twenty minutes was a little overwhelming. New plot developments kept showing up, too: Rick found Prime! Prime's various lairs! Omega device! I would've preferred a two-parter.

I'll admit that if you told me that we'd see Evil Morty and Rick Prime in the same shot, I never would have believed you, but here we are.

On that note, Prime's characterization was perfect. No attempt at a cutesy, sad backstory; he's a laughing monster until the end. And is it really the end? He has regeneration abilities, but C-137 acts like he's dead and even gives up the search. This leaves us with a few options:

C-137 killed him.

Prime fooled C-137 into thinking that he's dead when he isn't.

C-137's keeping him alive for later use.

Hopefully, this is more complicated than it looks because I'll be disappointed if this is the end of Prime. He's a brilliant reflection of C-137: the Rick he'd be without his tiny shred of humanity.

And Prime's a maniac, but he tells C-137 the truth. Rick broke into Prime's house. He pretended he belonged with this group of strangers. He latched on to Prime's grandson because he never had his own. His brutal, violent streak never went away no matter how long he tried to play house.

Prime says "Admit it! You would have been me!" In season three and parts of season four, Rick was close. His love for his family--love that he pretended he didn't have--and desire for their approval just barely pulled him back. But what kept that spark alive? How close was he to becoming a cold, unfeeling shell?

In the end, C-137's not satisfied after he destroys Prime--and weirdly, I'm not satisfied, either. Beating Prime to an unrecognizable pulp doesn't bring Rick's original family back. It doesn't erase the atrocities that Rick's committed. It doesn't make his grief go away. It doesn't change the fact that Rick teetered on the edge of turning into the monster that he despised.

What's more satisfying is that Rick didn't turn out like Prime. His Morty doesn't give two shits about Prime, but he loves him. He hugs him in relief (come on, Rick, hug him back already!), cries out "Rick? Rick!" and shakes his body when he thinks he's dead, and talks excitedly as they return home.

Rick's going to therapy, which Prime would have mocked. He went from having nobody to living with FIVE kids if you count Morty and Summer. Even he and his Jerry are pretty tight.

Rick knows this, but he still feels empty all the time. Vengeance doesn't work, drinking doesn't work...wouldn't it be easier if he just switched off his humanity and laughed at everything, even his own death?

But now that he knows how it feels to be loved, especially by his hypothetical grandson, I think he'll always find himself at the Smiths' doorstep.

[twisted-wonderland-but-gayer]

Being His Sibling- Riddle Rosehearts

Idk the idea came to me. Yuu is GN— 6k words

Tws/Cws: Yuu is said to have medium length hair, Riddles mom is expectedly shitty and abusive, Yuu has shady behavior because of shitty abusive mom. Yuu is untrustworthy of Riddles friends for the first half. Hurt/comfort, angst with a good ending. No incest! Just Platonic!

Before NRC:

You were the older sibling of the Rosehearts family. Being the oldest, one of the very first things you have learned since becoming sentient is that a mothers love is no different from a mothers hatred. From the minute you could babble, your mother did everything she could do to control you. You weren’t allowed outside to play, you weren't allowed any snacks no matter how much your stomach rumbled. You weren't allowed to wear fun or silly stuff. And you were never allowed to fail or talk back.

Soon, your mother— the term rotted in your mouth— soon became pregnant again, and your precious little brother Riddle came to be. You remember your father holding you up to see the small bundle of joy in your mothers arms, excited that you may have a playmate. The excitement however, became resentment.

From the minute he was born, you were no longer a priority, usually being ignored in favor of the new addition to the family. Your chatter is ignored, your physical needs pushed aside, and your emotions bottled. Even when you went to talk to your baby brother and interact with him, mother would immediately begin to lecture you for seeing him without her permission, and you were locked away in your room to study. Yet whenever you peeked out, you saw your mother cooing and coddling Riddle, something you never really remember experiencing, but she would never play with the child.

Whenever you heard your mothers footsteps fade into the distance, you would come out to play, giving Riddle all the things you wish you were given. And one day, you heard his first words— your name. “Yu!” The baby gurgled, making you jump. “What did you say?” “Yuuu!” A wobbly smile grew on your face as you hugged the baby, in that moment promising yourself that you would always protect him

As you got older so did your brother, and mother did what she always does, control. But this time it was different. Mother would always praise Riddle for his studies, but never you. She was always lighter on his scolding, when she would scream at you. Though you were also locked away to study, she never really cared about your progress the same way she did Riddle’s. From there started a grudge that you would hold onto. What’s the point of doing anything mom wants when Riddle’s her precious little angel? If you don't matter at all what would it matter if you acted up?

Mother didn’t entertain your rebellious streak for long, the screaming match that came from you simply saying you wanted to go outside instead of reading left a mark on you. “I don’t get you, Yuu! I did everything for you! I cleaned you, I bathed you, I gave you life! I cook and clean for you! Why cant you be more like Riddle!” She screamed. “I'm sorry mama… I'm sorry!” Your child self babbled shakily while sobbing. “I just wanna play outside with the other kids!”

Father stepped in to try and stand up for you, but he got yelled at too. And you remember watching as your potential savior gave up on you, allowing mother to lock you away in your room again. And yet, you could still hear as she walked off, muttering insults under her breath, wondering why she ever had you.

Riddle soon became the age you were when you started ‘acting out’ and since then you’ve learned to be more sneaky. When mom went away you would sneak out to visit him in his room, playfully messing with him and getting him to take a break to play. “Won’t mom get mad?” Riddle asked, looking up at you with big stormy gray eyes. “As long as you don't tell her— that being said,” You dropped to your knees. You knew that even if she found out, you would be the one blamed for it, “Only I can visit you okay? Don’t come into my room..” “Why?” You chuckled, trying to find a believable excuse. “Cause my room is super boring! Seriously you won't like it.” “Oh.. okay!” Riddle beamed, allowing you to distract him from the theory books he’s forced to read, and telling him fairy tales instead to watch his eyes grow big with wonder.

Mom thought that you were no longer a problem. You never spoke up or out, you did as she said with your head bowed down, you always ate what she gave to you no matter how tasteless it was, and you excelled at your studies. Finally, she was relieved that you stopped resisting, not knowing how you actually were,

For months, you snuck out and played with Riddle in his room, even giving him the answers to some of the assignments mother forced him to do. At parties you were forced to attend, you went behind your mothers back to steal some sweets to sneak to Riddle, knowing how much he always wanted to try them. And when he was still hungry from the small portions of food he was given, you would give him yours, ignoring your own stomach just to see your brother beam.

One day however, Riddle came to your room. “What are you doing here? Only I can go into your room remember?” “Well, um, I know but…” Riddle pulled at your hand to guide you to his room. “There's people at my window!” “Really huh?” “Mmhmm!” Going into his room, you saw two figures peeking through. Both young boys, one a feline beast man with bright pink hair and a stunning smile, and the other a green haired boy with glasses closer to your age.

“They said they want me to play with them but I said I had to ask you first. Can I play with them? Please please please, Yuu?” Riddle pouted, and a pang of jealousy hit you for a moment before you let out a breath. You should be happy for your brother, even if you wish to join them, but you must stay behind and keep watch.

“Of course, Riddle.” You said. “Just come back in on my cue, okay? We can't let mom find out.” You smiled at him, helping him climb out of the window and outside, where you melancholically watched the trio play. It was okay though, your brother is happy just like you promised.

All good things came to an end, however. You were too late on your cue, and Mother found out. You have never heard Riddle cry as hard as he did that day in your entire life, his terrified wails leaving a scar on your heart. However you knew what came next was going to be worse. She was going to scream at you too. You heard Riddle apologize over and over and over and over— It was driving you insane.

Suddenly, you entered the room. You were going to get screamed at anyways, so what did it matter? “Yuu get out of here, dont think your off the hook either! I can’t believe you went behind my back like that! I thought your matured! Aren’t you supposed to be a role model for your little brother?!” “Aren't you supposed to be a mom?”

“Excuse me?!” The wretched woman demanded.

“You treat me and Riddle like shit!” The woman’s face contorted with shock at the language that she never taught you— unaware of the secret books you hid that she didn't approve of. “All you do is scream at us and lock us up! Whenever we ask for anything and do anything you don't like, you just scream at us!” You sobbed, “Why did you even have kids if you don't want to raise them!”

“Do not speak to you mother like that—“

“You’re not my mom! You are the worst mom ever! I hate you! Ever since Riddle was born you always ignored me! And you don't even take care of him either! This is why you and dad fight all the time! You’re never happy with anything. Even when I do everything you ask you're never impressed! All you do is scream! I hate you! I hate you so much!”

Your kid self sobbed, and mother seemed to forget about Riddle, harshly grabbing your arms and dragging off. As she did, you saw your father behind her, merely standing by, doing nothing to save you. You weren't allowed out of your room for days, you weren’t even allowed around Riddle without supervision either.

That's when you really became unruly. If mother locked the windows and doors of the house you would pick them and sneak out. When she conducts room checks, you memorize all the places she looks so you can keep your forbidden goods hidden. Mother hated you, and she made it known. Everything she said was a snide remark at you. How at 18 you will be kicked out. How awful of a kid you are. How fat you're getting since you're sneaking food. How your magic will never be as good as Riddles since you're slacking off.

One day, however, it all boils over. You don’t remember how old you were— 15? 16? Maybe 17? But what you do remember is mom starting up a classic screaming match, talking about how ungrateful and wicked you are. Comparing you to Riddle and saying how she hopes you haven’t corrupted him with your evilness.

“Don't you dare bring Riddle into this! This is between us. This argument is between us! How dare you accuse me of hating my brother, when you have done nothing but make his life hell, when all you have ever done is turn us against each other! When you placed my entire worth on a few pathetic books” You screamed back at her as the verbal abuse continued. Riddle soon came down from his room, as you looked at him.

He’s gotten taller now, and face slightly longer. He walks with perfect posture. Usually, you felt comfort in your brother, but you noted his unimpressed expression. “Riddle, please, don't get involved. This is between me and mom.”

“Why do you hate her so much?”

“What?”

“She’s right.”

Mother seemed to smirk as you turned to look at him

“You’re joking.” You sneer.

Riddle glares. “It's not her fault that you don't care for the rules. If you only followed them, you wouldn’t be in trouble all the time.”

“That's the issue, her rules always change for me so she has a reason to keep getting mad at me.”

“Maybe if you kept studying you wouldn’t be so stupid as to not understand the value of rules! She’s right! You have done nothing but cause trouble for as long as I can remember! If you would just listen—“

You shook with anger, “Don't you dare talk to me about listening, Riddle! I gave everything for you! Don't you dare pretend the happiest days of your miserable life weren't because of me! I did everything I could to try and look after you and you just—“

You were silenced by a loud slap across your face. It stung. You froze, holding the area as it bruised, bleeding in the areas where the nails made contact with your skin. “How dare you talk to your brother like that! Stop being so jealous over—“ You didn't register what she said, your ears ringing as eyes welling with tears as all you could was look at Riddle who seemed to stare at you with disdain.

This wasn't the Riddle you knew. The Riddle you grew up with. The Riddle that babbled your name as a baby. How long have you been protecting a stranger? Acting up so he can have the slightest bit of freedom that you longed for.

You narrowed your eyes before clenching your fists. "Shut up!" You snapped at your mother. "I'm sick of you! You want me gone? Fine! I'm out!" "Yuu Rosehearts! You go through that door I'm calling the police!" "Go ahead! Tell them what a shitty mom you are! And you!" You glare at Riddle before closing your eyes. "Just stay out of my life."

You walked out, snagging a fair amount of money that you saved over the years to book it out of the Queendom of Roses, finding your own place to crash at as you work a few jobs to keep yourself afloat, up until you are invited to NRC.

At NRC, before Riddle:

You were sorted into Heartslabyul, the dorm of law and order much to your surprise. You were expecting Scarbia or Savanaclaw given their dorms ‘survival of the fittest’ themes. Still, you would take what you could get.

As you stood in line for your dorm, you noticed a familiar green-haired man in the same group. Trey made eye contact with you, obviously surprised to see you, and gave you a nervous smile. You glared at him before looking away. You wanted nothing to do with the man that's responsible for feeding into Riddle’s issues. You both avoided each other, only interacting with necessary and never dragging anything out with each other.

Surprisingly, you thrived in Heartslabyul, able to heal your inner child with all the mundane tasks you had to do, even guiding others and helping them with theirs. You did well in school, usually getting the top score on every test. You had to get good grades for a good job, especially since your parents cut you off financially. You can’t afford to slack off, and yet, you helped to tutor others. Not to mention your magical knowledge and use was already ahead of most others.

At some point within the year, the dormleader approached you, much to your surprise. He noticed all you heard work and wanted to hand off the title to you. After all, next year he would be a senior and would have to go off campus. He would need someone to look after the dorm when that happens and after all he’s done, he needs a break.

Being a dorm leader would look great on transcripts on top of all the other benefits it had. You accepted, and the crown was passed down to you. You were honestly the best dormleader at the school given the fact you knew how to lead, were kind, and got all your shit and trauma together. You were relaxed, but still implemented rules, including all of the Queen of Hearts rules to honor her dorm. Of course, you weren't too strict.

“You need to have lemonade with two sugars,” You mentioned to your dormmate. “Eh- sorry dorm leader I’ll—“ “Don't panic, just stand up and drink it.” “Huh?” You smiled. “If you truly look at the rules and all the addendums, you’ll find a lot of loopholes. The rules says you have to sit down and have two sugars in lemonade. It didn't say what you couldn’t drink while standing.”

You smirked, your mothers rules and years of having to deal with shady jobs made it easy for you to find exploits in any sort of fine print handed your ways, and you were sure to try and teach your underlings the same. Even if they didn’t use exploits and didn’t care much for the crazy rules, you didn’t mind. You weren’t a tyrant. The entire dorm looked forward to each Unbirthday and Birthday party you planned, each one stretching traditions to their limit to offer something unique.

Your knowledge of contracts and high test scores even attracted the attention of other dorms, especially a certain octopus. When you caught some of your students in shady contracts, you would review it with them and point out everything they could take advantage of. This led to you being confronted by the Octavinelle housewarden pretty quickly, though annoyed he was quite impressed.

“Now there Yuu, I do hope you can not interfere with business.” “I don't plan to. If any of my dorm members decide to sign their life away, that's their fault. I can point out a few chips in the contract, but it’s not my job to save them.” Azul seemed impressed. “My, my, it’s quite rare to find someone so reasonable!” Azul smiled with his honeyed voice. “I do wonder how you did not end up in our dorm.”

***

On top of your housewarden duties, you also ended up finding a wonderful job working for Mostro Lounge, not at Mostro Lounge. Your quick thinking and keen eye helped to calculate Azul’s profits faster than he ever could— you had experience from your times of being homeless and couch surfing. On top of that, you would always point out where he could make a contract more water tight, or places where he could reword it so can exploit his victim for even more. It gave you work experience and a good wage that you and Azul both fought over in your business contract together.

Ironic how Azul ended up with another rowdy and rule breaking member under him, as you also stretched the contract you made to its limit. Azul for once didn’t mind too much, since you were fair as long as he was. Plus you keep those twins out of his way too.

After all of these years of working your ass off, you finally, finally made it. You had a stable home for the next few years. Food security! A job! Spare money for little things! Amazing grades! You made it! You would be fine! Despite everything you have gone through, you are going to be okay. You looked in the mirror of your room admiring the hair you dyed to cover up the ruby red locks of hair that tied you to your past. You were free.

It was one night in your dorm, where you were approached by Trey. Even though it has been a year, it was still awkward between you two, and you both didn’t talk to each other. You looked at Trey with the best neutral expression you could muster. “Can I help you?”

“Riddle is coming.” “Pardon?” “Riddle has been accepted into Night Raven, he’s coming next year.” You shut your eyes pensively. “I see.” “Y’know… maybe you both can… Make up…?” You shot a glare at Trey. I’m not taking advice from someone as two-faced as you— an asskisser, you wanted to say. “I’d rather not.” You simply said, making your way to your room. “Goodbye Trey, do not stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.” You warned, entering your room just to lay back on bed and stare at the ceiling with a newfound dread.

The next year with Riddle:

You stood as the housewarden representative of your dorm, watching as freshmen emerge from their coffins to get sorted. Then you saw him, Riddle. The red haired freshmen walked down the carpet to get sorted when he made eye contact with you, eyes widening for a brief moment before narrowing into a glare, not recognizing you at first with your dyed hair. He stood in front of the mirror, and though you knew it was unlikely, you still hoped that somehow, he would not end up sorted into your dorm.

“Heartslabyul.” The mirror spoke, and like that, everything started to crumble.

Guiding the freshmen to the dorms you stopped them in front of the dorm entrance. It was the dormleaders responsibility to assign everyone a card. “You will be a fine spade,” You said to one before allowing them in. “And you a diamond.” You waved the next person past you. “And you…” You paused when Riddle stood in front of you, before clearing your throat. “A heart would be most suited.”

The welcoming party went fine. You kept it traditional and laid back to not intimidate any of the new members, allowing everyone to socialize. As you engaged in the festivities and croquet, you noticed Riddle and Trey socializing, your brother looking sternly at Trey, before glancing over at you. You had a suspicion that even after all of these years, Riddle still needed to be superior to everyone. Your position as leader would not last long.

***

You had finalized the papers and packed your things. You were moving in the dorm you should have been a part of from the start: Savanaclaw. Azul cried crocodile tears that you didn’t join him, but you know that though you would have loved to be friends with your boss, he was a ticking time bomb of greed. Being under his control at all times was dangerous. Leona on the other hand, ultimately didn’t care about who joined so long as they could sort out their own shit. He was a safer, more minor and reasonable timebomb.

After packing, you went into the rose garden, noticing you were being followed in the distance. When you got to the center of it, where your favorite place in the whole school was, you turned around. It was Riddle and Trey. Tsk, what a surprise.

“I know you were ignoring me.” “Was I, dear brother? My apologies, it was never my intention.” Riddle would have nearly turned red if it wasn't for Trey putting a hand on his shoulder. How pathetic. He was just like his mother.

“I am here to tell you that I intend to duel you for the position of dorm leader.” “Okay, here.” You take off the crown on your head and offer it out to him, watching as your little brother stares at it a mix of baffled and offended. “Is this a joke? Or are you really that lazy and weak-willed?” Riddle demanded, “I refuse to just accept the crown, you need to put in the effort as a leader should!”

“I don't see why, I’m transferring dorms.” Trey raised his brows, “To where?” “Octavinelle,” you lied, not wanting to risk them harassing you in your new dorm. “Anyways, here you go, Housewarden Riddle. I’m sure you and Trey here would be wonderful leaders.”

“I refuse! Put in some effort for once in your life, Yuu!” Riddle scolded you in that damn tone mother always used on you.

You just laughed. “You do not deserve my effort, firstly. Secondly, are you being intentionally dense or have you forgotten what I said to you— I want you to stay out of my life. I do not want contact with any of you anymore. I'm done! I'm sorry it ended this way. I hope you get everything you ever wanted and I hope I hear nothing about it, truly, I do.”

You throw the crown onto the ground as you take a deep breath. “Don’t visit my new dorm. Do not look for me at all. I am tired of you always making me feel bad about myself and having to be superior to me. The years I spent away from all of you, were the happiest I ever had.” You glared, tears in your eyes as you look for any trace of what remained of the brother you once knew, only to be met with disgust, he huffs then speaks.

“Why would I ever visit or look for you? We are not family anymore if I recall, and we were never family to begin with. It’s ridiculous of you to even think I would want to be related to someone like you in the slightest.” Riddle stated. “You weren't my sibling. You never were, and never will be.” His glare made you chuckle cynically.

“Is that so? Well then, I’m glad that's the case…” You take a few steps closer to him, towering over Riddle height wise. It's impressive how much someone could grow when they weren't stressed all the time and had some proper food. You lowered your voice. “I cannot believe I wasted my entire life protecting you. The amount of abuse I have taken in your stead, all for nothing. You, you're just like her.” You sneer, pushing past Riddle before pausing. “I used to have a brother once you know? He had the kindest smile and the wildest imagination. Whenever we played pretend together we would imagine that we could both take over the world as brothers in arms. I wonder what happened to him.

You take another step forward as Trey looks away from you. “And you.” You sound absolutely feral by now. “I would have expected you of all people to not accept roles that you don’t want to be in,” You leaned in closer. “You damned two-faced son of a bitch. You allowed this to happen to him.” You didn't even look back at Trey as you made your way out of the maze, back to your room to change clothes, pack your bags and go.

***

Since the first week that Riddle took charge, you have heard nothing but horror stories. He was as tyrannical as you imagined him to be. Whatever, it wasn't your problem anymore, the others will get fed up and deal with him eventually, and maybe then he will finally learn. Besides, Trey seems to have no issues anyways.

Life in Savanaclaw was bliss, you fit in a bit too perfectly, not afraid to rough up others if it came to it. You shared a room with your closest friend, Ruggie. It surprised the both of you with how close you came, actually. Coming from a poor background, you both shared tips for saving money and DIY, along with helping each other do some sleazy things to get by.

You both helped each other get jobs, and you even helped Ruggie pay for stuff with no strings attached since you were more well off. You lended each other's stuff all the time. You even help him grab discounted stuff in bulk for him to take back to his village. You helped to tutor each other in subjects you both struggled with and would even allow him to copy your homework. You both understood each other. Finally, someone gets you!

You rarely see Riddle. The only time you ever do is during test postings. You go up to check your score, and as usual, it is in the top spot. Satisfied, you shrug and turn around, and go to walk off, when you see your brother in the crowd. Riddle's eyes look at the top spot in a mix of disbelief and jealousy, absolutely miffed on how he wasn't on top. You looked up to see where the Riddle's test was, just to see it directly below yours, only one extra credit point behind. You don't think much of it. You leave.

Every test, you would go and glance at the wall, just to make sure your grades were fine, and everytime you notice how Riddle looks absolutely frustrated. You honestly aren't doing it to try and get back at him at all, in fact you wouldn't care if Riddle beat you, as long as you were on the wall you were above average. Eventually, Riddle does beat you on one test— Algebraic Magic Notation, something you never really cared for.

You saw yourself in second place, noticing in the corner of your eye how Riddle seems to stare at you for your reaction, before you just shrug as you walk off, feeling a glare in the back of your head as you do so. You had lunch with Ruggie today.

Overblot:

You have heard about that new magicless student around. Enma Yuuken, his name was. Apparently he caused a lot of commotion at the entrance ceremony and is a dorm leader and stuff now, cool, good for him. You never expected him and his Heartslabyul friends to seek you out however.

You were exiting Mostro Lounge after some accounting and contract checking Azul had you do for his next big plan. As you walked through the dorm on your way out, you noticed a certain quad behind you. “… Can I help you?” You turned around and asked, looking at the students. There was a spade and heart with a collar from your brother around his neck, along with a tall, broad student behind them, monster on his shoulder.

“Hey are you Yuu? Chenya said we could find you here.” The spade asked respectfully. “Chenya huh…” You crossed your arms. “What do you need?” You asked curtly, staring at your newly dyed hair in the windows of the lounge. “Is it true Riddle’s your brother?” The heart asked desperately and sighed. “Not anymore. He’s dead to me. Is that all you need?” You narrowed your eyes.

“O-oh! Uh…” Deuce stuttered. “That doesn’t matter, can you tell us why the hell he's like this?” “Can I go back to my dorm?” “Is this not your dorm…?” Yuuken asks. You just blink at them. “Everyone we asked about said your from Octavinelle.” Grim muttered, you gripped your Savanaclaw ribbon in your fist to hide it.

"Firstly, I am a liar and you should never live in a place that your employer has control of, it will always result in a power imbalance, and believe me you do not want someone like Azul to have leverage over you. Secondly I don't share where I live because of people like you trying to ask me about Riddle."

You stare over at them watching as they all stare at each other with a tinge of guilt. You huff, "Fine, if you have questions, follow me. It's not safe to answer them here. There are eyes everywhere."

***

You look around outside of the dorm as you lead the group down the hall before stopping. “Okay what do you need to know?” “So your brother,” the heart starts. “How the fuck did he end up the way he is?” At that you let out a short laugh. “Oh, is that what this is about?” “Yeah sort of!” The heart sputters. “Look, we're trying to get him to stop being… like that… and we need to learn about him first!”

“I’m afraid you’ve been led on a wild goose chase. I haven’t had contact with him in years.” “Eh?!” The group booms. “Yeah, sorry about that, he told me I was never his sibling and that I never would be. If you really want to know why he’s like that, you should ask Trey.” “Trey?” Grim asks.

You nod. “They grew up together too, and he was around him for much longer since I left. Good luck overthrowing my brother though, if you need anything else let me know, though we haven’t talked to each other in a while, I can read him like a book.”

***

You didn't expect the quad to show up again the next day, this time at lunch where you sat. “What is it now?” You ask curiously as the heart— Ace, you learned, sits across from you pouting with his collar still on. “We’re challenging Riddle to the seat of housewarden!” “Oh?” Yuuken looks at you seriously and nods. “We need you to tell us everything about him."

You chuckle sadly. “Even if I did, you all stand no match. We were both forced to study magic before we could even walk, and you both have barely learned how to change colors of objects using magic. I’m sorry, but you cannot win.” Grim whines and Deuce sighs, “What, you saying we're weak?” “I am saying you are inexperienced. Do any of you even know how to cast a warding spell?”

The card soldiers went silent. “You know…” Yuuken starts. “Didn’t you fight Riddle since you were the housewarden before him? What did he do?” “I didn't. I gave it to him and left the dorm.” “You what?! You willingly handed over the dorm to him?!” Ace gawked. “I’m sorry, but it is not my job to save him from himself. Even if I won, he would just keep bothering me over and over. I ran away to get away from the person who defended the person that hit me, forgive me for not wanting to put up with him again.”

At that the table quieted. “So uh… what's your magic like… or your unique one at least…” Deuce asks. “Wouldn’t you like to know? All you know is that it tends to break the rules of everything around me when used— Ironically, with it, Riddle's spells wouldn’t even work with how by the book all his are.” “Breaks the rules..?” Deuce echoes. “Can’t tell you anything else, sorry.”

“Wait! What if we brought you with us as backup?” “It would be an invalid duel, I’m not from the dorm anymore.’ “What if you support us in the shadows or something.” “That's cheating!” Yuuken scolds. “Exactly.”

The cards sigh and you frown. “Look, I cannot help you with that from here, however, on the day of the duel I will accompany you. I'll hide in the crowd and step in if he takes it too far, since he tends to.”

He took it way too far as you stood before your brother, filled to the brim with blot. You sigh as you stand behind the freshmen you came to support, no longer hiding. “Come on Riddle. It doesn’t have to be like this.” “SILENCE! I am… I AM RIGHT! I AM STRONGER! You know NOTHING! You ran away! What would you know?!” “We aren't getting to them. Freshmen, get out of here, this is between us.”

“Nuh uh! I’m kicking his ass too!” Ace says. “Right!” Deuce replies. Yuuken pulls out his kendo stick, ready to fight despite being magicless. “Fine then, just follow my lead.”

***

You watched as the blot left your brother in front of you. The tyrant, no longer fighting. Then, and only then, did you collapse from your injuries. Even when you gave those freshies direct orders they put themselves in harm's way, meaning you had to tank the hit for them. “Yuu!” Deuce called out. “I'm fine! I'm just… tired…” You felt blood drip down your face as you laid down.

Upon snapping out of the blot, you heard sobbing, the same sad sobs that happened on that fateful day. “I'm sorry!” Riddle shouts, reminding you of how mother would making him apologize over and over. Your head pounds, and the next thing you feel is someone sitting next to you, putting a hand near your face to check your breath before resting it on your cheek, and you recognize it.

They were larger than they were before, but the softness was unmistakably Riddle’s. His hand held you face the same he did when you were both kids and you would lift him up in the air, pretending that he was flying. You smile and open your eyes, and are met with his face looking over you.

He was sobbing, face flushed and hair unkempt for the first time in his life, and yet the look in his eyes was unmistakably the Riddle you once knew. You smile up on him and reach up to cup his face as well. “I think… I finally found my little brother I used to play with after all these years…” You chuckle before sucking in a breath at the pain, making Riddle panic and pull you onto his lap. “Yuu!”

Riddle holds you close to him, pulling you in a hug. “I’m sorry! You were right! You were right… I treated you badly… Will you ever forgive me….?” He sobbed into your neck and you reached up to hug him. “I wasn't mad at you, Riddle. I never was. I was scared… Scared I lost you to her.”

You were critically injured, in unbearable pain, and yet here you were still protecting and comforting your little brother like you always swore you would. “I love you Riddle, always did you know that right?” Riddle choked back a sob and nodded. “Good, I’m glad you know.” “Don’t leave me… Please dont leave me alone again! Not after I just got you back…” “Hey… don't worry about me okay? I'll be fine, I’ve experienced worse. I'll bounce back in no time, and we can have tea parties again, Just like when we were kids,” you choke, and Crowley comes in just in time to pick you up as you struggle to breathe, making Riddle get up and crowd you.

“They’re going to be alright, right?” Riddle sobs. “Riddle,” you mumble. “Takes a lot more than that to kill me.” You beam confidently, despite the various injuries on your body. “Right now your dorm needs you. Show them what a great leader you can be, kay? I always thought you played a better queen than I did…” You slur. “I know that Heartslabyul will shine better with than it did with me.”

“Come on Yuu, let's get you to a doctor.” Crowley says, flying off with you in his arms. Riddle watched as he shook, and a smile grew on his face.

Resolution:

You lay on one of the beds in the nurse's office. Pixies come to cater to your needs every once and a while as you rest to the sound of the heart monitor beeping. You turn your head to the side to look in a mirror and your hair is an unruly mess that matches you, this time however, it is the same ruby red that matches your brother after you used a coloring spell on it. And for once, you do not hate your resemblance to him.

A knock is heard from the door, and you watch the door open in the mirror. Riddle comes in, a small tray in hand. The minute he sees you, he carefully approaches, placing the tray on the bedside table. You prop your bed up to see him better, smiling gently to try and ease his guilty and nervous expression.

“It’s nice to see you.” “I um… brought you something.” Riddle mumbles, opening the box he brought in. Unveiling it, you can see it is a tiny strawberry tart, the ones you would always try to sneak to him when you lived at home. The edges were burnt and it was slightly misshapen, but it was perfect. “I um.. made it, by myself.” He holds his hands in front of himself and looks down.

You reach over for it just to cause Riddle to fuss over you. “Don't move, you're hurt, I’ll feed you.” The housewarden holds the box in his arm, pulling out the spoon he brought with him and carefully scooping up a piece shakily before holding it to your mouth. “Heh, I can get used to this.” “You still have the energy to tease me on your deathbed? You really are… something…” Riddle pouts, making you snicker internally as you take the bite, savoring the tart in all its glory. It’s probably the best thing you’ve ever had.

“I'm sorry, I’m sorry… The tart is really good though…” “We are planning to have an Unbirthday party to make up for the last one… It was supposed to be today, but I put it off so you can come when you're better… If you want to.” “Will it be like the tea parties we imagined as kids? Where were together and can play and eat whatever we want?” “Yes, yes it will be just like the tea parties we had as kids.”

You tear up a bit. “I would love to.”

[madelynhimegami]

Arle Nadja Guide

I've heard a couple people say that they feel like they don't really get a good feel for who Arle is. Dunno if this will change their minds any, but I hope it helps.

Arle Nadja is freewheeling and easy come, easy go girl.

She loves adventure and exploring. Especially when that prominantly involves dungeon crawling.

Helps that she's been doing it from age 4.

Arle is, in fact, so hooked on dungeon crawling that Ringo and Amitie had to actively prevent her from entering what she already knew was a trap made to look like a dungeon entrance.

In addition to the adventuring, Arle likes travel as a means to meet new people with different ways of living.

She's well aware that most of her friends (especially from her own world) are insane. But she loves them regardless.

Arle isn't materialistic. As long as she has a way to get her basic needs met, her interest in wealth is, at most, transient.

Similarly, she's not particularly interested in becoming powerful.

I think she still likes learning new stuff about magic, including new spells, but the power of the magic in question is inconsequential to her.

Arle acts and speaks very casually, regardless of where she is or who she's talking to. She doesn't really care for formality and dislikes being expected to act a certain way.

Consequently, she has no reason to really ever acknowledge or respect authority without them earning it.

She made fun of brick jesus and his decisions to his face (at least before learning she was dealing with a small child).

I feel like Arle tends to be pretty good at reading vibes of others. As in, she can generally tell if someone is dangerous, stupid, struggling, being forced to act a certain way, sincere, or manipulative.

If so, she doesn't use that skill very often, because she's encountered too many people she will never understand she prefers to live and let live.

Arle is always willing to lend a hand to those in need of one. In fact, she's not very good at refusing to help, if asked.

Arle doesn't plan ahead very much. She just goes with the flow of things and assume that it'll all end up working out for the better.

She's not particularly inclined to strategic thinking (though she is perfectly capable of it). Her preferred method of handling obstacles is to face them head-on.

Satan doing something stupid? Beat him up. Door blocking the way? Tear it off its hinges.

That said, Arle is quite flexible, able to work with rapidly-changing circumstances, plus she's good at imrovising solutions.

She also probably has plenty of survivalist skills. You don't survive 12+ years of dungeon crawling without having a good sense of knowing what will or won't kill you, and how to protect yourself from the latter.

(I hate that I have to say this, but that does include bathing. Not washing dungeon gunk off is how you get fun and exciting new diseases.)

Her spells reflect those priorities, as well. Most of her combat-oriented spells aren't for dealing direct damage, but for self-defense.

Even then, she's has a blasé attitude towards danger, and doesn't get threatened easily in the slightest.

This is a girl that got into multiple fights with an owlbear and won before she started kindergarten.

She's not reckless, however. She's very aware that she's not invincible or unstoppable, and has reliable risk assessment.

Tight situations where she's in more trouble than she was prepared for is where a lot of her improvisation skills shine.

Arle's really forgiving. She doesn't hold grudges or resentment, even if someone has reduced her to her last frazzled nerve.

Case in point, she became friends with a man that abducted her and subsequently tried to kill her. Despite his protests.

Her gregariousness tends to grow on people, making her pretty good at making friends (albeit not as good as Amitie).

However, her forgiving nature only extends to herself. Threaten or annoy her all you want, she'll let it slide. But if a friend of hers has a problem with you, so does Arle.

Arle has a very dry sense of humor. She can snark with the best of them.

She mostly employs sarcasm to tease her friends (mostly the ones from her world), but she'll use it in full force if something annoys her enough.

(These often overlap, especially when Satan's involved)

She also can and will verbally destroy you for your nonsense if pushed far enough.

While known to get annoyed, frustrated, or agitated, Arle very rarely (if ever) gets truly angry. I firmly believe attacking a friend with intent to seriously harm is one way to do it, however.

She tends to have more patience with anybody younger than her. Doubly so if she has reason to believe they're relying on her.

Arle is very stubborn. She dies hard and never gives up.

It also makes her strong-willed enough to resist possession. She's actually on the record for forcibly expelling Ecolo from her body by attacking herself.

Both the above tie into Arle's greatest fear: helplessness. She is terrified of being trapped in a situation where there is absolutely nothing she can do to affect it, even superficially.

Much like Ringo, I think Arle is, in theory, a perfectly capable cook. But unlike Ringo, where Arle goes off the deep end is her obsession with curry. She'd pretty much always prefer making that.

Although not a powerhouse, Arle isn't your typical squishy mage. She's fit and resilient enough to get by a lot of her situations. And she can throw a good punch if needed.

We don't see it very often anymore (which is a shame imo), but Arle is a capable staff wielder, and will use one as a magic focus if it's available.

I think Arle used to be more self-centered and interested in magic for her own gain, but changed after a certain incident while she was at magic school.

Because of the incident, she's decided that there is no knowledge, possession, or power that is more important than the lives of other people, especially those you care about.

That being said, she actually doesn't remember the incident very clearly.

Of note, even before this personal epiphany, Arle was against fighting lethally and made it a point to only leave those she fights unconscious. She's even begged her friends to not kill someone even if it would help her.

The epiphany is another reason why she's less materialistic, however.

Arle is a believer in the idea that it's the journey, not the destination, that matters. Several of her adventures end in disappointment or anti-climax, but she gets over it quickly.

No matter how an adventure ends, there's bound to be another one over the horizon.

Because of the above, and her aforementioned penchance for flexibility and adaptability, Arle doesn't let setbacks bother her. If she can stand back up, she can always keep going. And she will.

Although Arle isn't at all shy, she doesn't like to be made the center of attention or put on a pedastal. She's just a girl doing her thing, y'know? To her, that's not something she needs to be lauded for.

She's also doesn't really show signs of physical or romantic attraction of any kind. She can recognize a person as being handsome or beautiful, but only does so as a neutral descriptor.

Arle is the only one that can truly understand Carbuncle. She's fully fluent in gu, as well.

Somehow that lets her understand other mascot-like critters, on the rare occasions she comes across them.

[miraclecherryblossomsblog]

"Protect what you regret"

I actually had this idea reinforced by my brain when it kept telling me mean stuff (one of those weeks u know :/ )

tw mental breakdown, anxiety, wukong being wukong, angst to happy ending, devotion, pls dont expect it to be good ok, idk shi about story telling but i'll do my best here, shits long again

This would be one of the breaking points for Ane, being stressed about having to adapt in a fictional world with no logical sense, survive the millions of fucking yaoguai's who only see her as a easy snack and dealing with a rude ass monkey that had the ego bigger than a mountain (hehe)

That and missing her family, feeling the more they go into this path the more fruitless it becomes for her. Would she even make it to the final point of their travel or die in the hands of monsters

Her anxiety was getting her to the point she couldn't sleep, dreams of past encounters would jump back into her memory and torment her.

Wukong starts to take notice of how much quiet she has become, note that in this point of the story Wukong considers Ane a friend he can annoy and tease in the asshole way (not romance yet)

So he goes and does what he does best, annoy her until she tells him what's up with her, however.....the way that he approached the situation althought it did get her to spill the beans it happen in way that was.... he kinda disregarded her feelings a bit and well

It didn't go well. His name calling made her lose it and she screamed her frustrations at him, insulting him in both her languages, not letting him even speak as she screamed her anger at him

This was new to him, usually she would just get cranky at him which would just amuse him, finding her distress funny but she would later just let it go (not really she just would shut up about it, she tends to hold grudge but she knew she couldn't afford to so she just left it there)

She was so done with his bullshit that she couldn't care less whether her words hurted him, the most shocking part was when even after he tried to dismiss her words she didn't hesitate.

That's right folks the monke got slapped.

It didn't hurt him ofc but the shock was too big. His eyes wide doing nothing as she continued screaming at him, daring him to hit her, telling him she couldn't care less if she killed her in the spot. Here sandy was already prepping himself in case wukong DID act up but... he didn't.

Her eyes were probably the most hurtful part for wukong because for once he really noticed the emotion in them...Anger, fear, sadness, he could see them all around her irises, her body language, her words.

Even after she stomped away as he could only watch, once he got over his shock his brows furrowed, his fist clenched and the ground shaked, letting a loud growl he jumped away not hearing the rest of the crew call to him as he flew with his cloud away.

Sandy looked for Ane while pigsy stayed with the monk, Tang watching in worry as not one but two of his disciples went off their ways.

It was that time away when Wukong started to recall the fight she had with her and started to reflect on himself and ironically it was Ane's anger that started to make him realize his feelings for her, it was her trying to avoid him after the fight that it made him want her closure, to complain to him, to look at him again....to please make those eyes that hold in her soul to look at him and forgive him

Its when the romance started, him trying everything to prove to her that he can be better, that he can change if she lets him in into her heart, he will beg if he must

He promises that she'll never have to feel fear again as he'll be her protector, promising her that if ever any of her hair strands is even touched he will burn down everything for her. To please smile at him again for not he would feel his heart crumble

It took Ane longer to figure out her own feelings and let her wall crumble but hey it worked didn't it <33

[sparrowofthedawnsworld]

Thrills In The Night - Danny Wagner

A/N: For plot purposes, the Halloween party takes place at Sam’s house in Nashville! I love you guysss SO much! Happy to finally get this out to you.

WARNINGS: 18+ minors DNI! Arguing, light fingering, borderline hate-fucking, hair pulling, choking, slapping, unprotected sex.

PLAYLIST HERE

MASTERLIST

••••

In your opinion, there was nothing worse than being stuck somewhere with the unbearable need to be fucked cursing through you and no way to rectify the problem.

Especially when your raging need was all at the hands of someone you absolutely could not stand.

When you had agreed to come to the Halloween party that Sam was throwing at his house, you had absolutely no idea you were going to come in to find Danny dressed as Peter Criss.

It was single handedly the hottest thing you’d ever seen, but also the worst… Considering you had settled on dressing as a 70’s groupie as a last minute costume.

It was far too coincidental for your liking.

Sitting at the island in the kitchen, Josh was sitting directly across from you. It was becoming increasingly more difficult not to turn in your stool and stare into the living room at Danny.

You just tried to stay occupied by sipping on your drink, somewhat listening to Josh talk as you fought with yourself mentally. You just couldn’t help it, though. Eventually, you had turned almost all the way around and couldn’t keep your eyes off of Danny for long.

“You’re staring awfully hard,” Josh giggled, stopping in the middle of his previous sentence to point out the obvious. He subtly motioned towards Danny, who was mingling with a few people you didn’t quite recognize.

A crimson blush tainted your cheeks, “Shut up, Josh.”

“I’m just saying!” Josh laughed, throwing his hands up in defense. “Those ‘fuck me’ eyes could be seen from the other end of Nashville.”

“I’m not making fuck me eyes, Joshua,” you mumbled under your breath, but Josh still heard it. “I’m just buzzed.”

But you were indeed making eyes, longing and craving to have him in a way that goes far deeper than just fucking. You’d loved Danny since you were in your senior year of school.

He just always seemed to have other plans, though.

Not taking you to prom seemed like one of those “other plans,” hence where your dislike started. After the two of you graduated, the gates of hell opened up between the two of you and it had been that way ever since. You wanted to fuck him. God, you really did. However, you refused to do anything until he apologized for all those years.

“Whatever. You’ve been sipping on that drink for an hour now,” Josh scoffed, seeing right through you. “You’re not good at lying, so don’t even try. You should really just-“

“Please,” you cut Josh off. “Don’t go into another ‘you two just need to talk it out’ speech.”

“BUT YOU DO!” Josh was clearly adamant… As he was with a lot of things. “You two need to talk it out, yell it out, fuck it out, something! Quit holding a damn grudge and just-“

“-What does who need to do?” Jake cut off his brother, joining in on the conversation and sliding onto the barstool next to you at the kitchen island.

“She’s been sitting here giving Danny the biggest fuck me eyes.” Josh said, not needing to elaborate much further to fill Jake in. Josh continued on, “I was trying to tell her they need to talk it out. The same thing we’ve all been saying…for what? I don’t even know? Countless years now!”

Jake looked over at you with a disappointed shake of his head, bringing his drink to his lips.

“Stop being stubborn and just do it. You can’t hate him forever. I mean, look at him-” he turned to peer over his shoulder briefly. “-he’s dressed up as the drummer from your favorite fucking band!”

“I’m well aware,” you snapped lightly at Jake, getting frustrated from the conversation and the incessant ache between your legs. “But I’m definitely not fucking him. That’s not gonna fix anything! Plus-“ you glared back in the direction of Danny. “-He’s even more cocky than normal tonight. Not cute.”

“What did I tell you about lying.” Josh squinted his eyes towards you, pointing an accusatory finger. “You think his cockiness is hot. Even if it’s just a little bit.”

“Fuck off,” your pleading groan only amused the twins even more.

“Just imagine it,” Jake started dramatically. “Danny fucking you, makeup smearing everywhere, those drummer arms manhandling you… You know you want iiiit.”

“Christ, Jake, you’re starting to make me wonder if she’s not the only one who’s got the fucking hots for Danny tonight,” Josh jested with a straight face.

You couldn’t help but to burst into laughter at Josh’s banter. Jake’s face contorting in distaste only making it even funnier.

“Josh?” Jake glared across the island at his twin.

“Hmm?”

“Shut the fuck up.” Jake motioned towards you and back to himself. “This is about bug, not me.”

Your hand smacked over your face, “No! No. This is not about me. We’re changing the subject.”

Some say the universe has a sense of humor… To you, a sick sense of humor.

“Well, what do you know!” Josh smirked, taking note of the Kiss song that started blaring through the giant speakers in the living room.

“You know what they say in this song, don’t you, bug?” Jake didn’t wait for your answer. “‘The first step of the cure is… A KISS!”

“You two are so insufferable.” You glanced around, noticing that Sam was nowhere to be seen. Sliding off the barstool, you grabbed your drink off the counter. “I’m going to find Sam.”

“I think he’s upstairs rolling a blunt.” Jake nodded in the general direction of the stairs. Josh gave him a questioning look, opening his mouth to correct Jake on Sam’s whereabouts. Jake stopped him with a pointed look, hoping you didn’t notice the interaction.

Too lost in your own head, you didn’t. Much to Jake’s relief.

You waved them off and went on your way to hunt down Sammy.

Carefully, you worked your way through the sea of people in the living room and slipped up the stairs, B-lining it down the hallway towards Sam’s room.

Little did you know, their grand scheme was falling flawlessly in line.

Jake was already well underway of taking care of Danny.

“Hey, Danny.” Jake’s hand landed on Danny’s shoulder with a light smack. “I think Sam is looking for you.”

“Sam is? Really?” Danny turned around to face the younger twin. “Where is he?”

“I believe upstairs is where he is now,” Jake told him simply. “Said something about rolling a blunt and then coming back down to look for you again. Since I saw you first, I figured i’d just send you his way.”

“Okay, I’ll go find him.” Danny nodded, immediately disappearing into the crowd of people.

Jake snickered turning to make his way back to Josh, “They are way too fuckin’ easy.”

Danny was only moments behind you, just barely missing you as you continued your search for Sammy.

“Sam?” You called out his name as you entered his bedroom. Nothing.

You walked through his room and double checked the bathroom, only to see he was nowhere to be found.

The guest room was the only other place you knew that he might be so, you slipped off to check there too, just in case.

No sooner than you made it into the guest room to look, Danny was making his way down the hallway to Sam’s room. Going through the same process of checking throughout his room, just as you had done moments prier.

The guest room turned up empty, and you let out a confused, annoyed huff.

And to add to your inconvenience, as you were making your way out, Danny came sauntering through the door with quick strides.

You jumped and flung a hand over your chest, admittedly startled by his unexpected presence, “Fuck! You scared me.”

“I would say the same, but you’re not nearly as intimidating,” Danny snickered, the roll of his eyes even more noticeable from the dark makeup surrounding them. He was quick to keep you from making a snarky comment, “Have you seen Sam?”

“If I had, why would I tell you?” It was childish, but you didn’t really care. “I’m looking for him too.”

“God, why are you such a fucking child?” Danny’s head tipped back with a groan. “You’re always fucking-“

Just as Danny was about to bite back at you, the bedroom door slammed shut and cut him off abruptly, filling the room with a deafening silence.

Faint laughter could be heard from the other side, both of which you recognized. A look consisting of pure horror, mixed with realization and anger washed over your face.

You rushed over to the door, frantically trying to pry it open.

The first name you could think of screeched out of you,

“Jake!” Venom dripped from the loud call of his name as you slammed your hand against the door. “Open the fucking door or so help me god!”

“Nope!”

There he was, calling back to you from the other side. The smile was evident in his tone.

A second voice, belonging to Sam, added on, “See you two love birds in the morning!”

Danny came up behind you, just as angry as you were.

“Jacob! Sam! This isn’t funny at all!”

There wasn’t another sound to be heard from the other side of the door, besides the light thumping of music from downstairs.

“Fucking sneaky ass bastards,” Danny muttered, clearly fighting the urge to run his hands over his face. “This is just great.”

“How do you think I feel?” scoffing, you moved away from the door and over to the bed, plopping down on it with a heavy sigh. “You’re the last person I wanna be locked in a room with.”

“Likewise,” Danny shot back, sitting down on the floor in the corner of the room. Purposefully keeping distance between the two of you. “You’re insufferable.”

“What?” A noise of disbelief flew out of you. “I’m the insufferable one?”

“Yes, actually.” Danny’s arms crossed over his chest, mimicking that of a child being scolded. “Strutting around like you own everything.”

“Mmm, good one, Daniel,” you praised sarcastically. “What a lovely thing to say about a lady. Fitting, given your costume. You know, since Kiss was insanely disrespectful to women.”

The comment set something ablaze in Danny, causing him to suddenly scramble up from the floor.

A finger was pointed at you as he stepped closer, “Don’t ever compare me to them like that.”

“You are dressed like Peter Criss.” You gave him a once over, trying to contort your face into a look of disgust.

“They’re your favorite band!” he argued, crossing his arms across his chest. “Make that make sense.”

“I like their music, not them as people.” It was a true statement, to be fair. “There’s a big difference, Daniel.”

You mimicked his position; crossing your own arms over your own chest.

A smirk tugged at Danny’s painted black lips, “So you don’t think they were hot when they were younger?”

“Of course they were.” You tried to fight against the blush threatening to cover your cheeks. “That doesn’t make up for their lack of morals, though.”

Danny simply hummed, lingering for a moment like he was about to say something. You waited with bated breath, but got nothing. He turned back towards the corner and returned to his spot on the floor.

Almost two painfully quiet hours went by. Nothing but the soft vibration of music and the occasional buzz of one of your phones as you two scrolled mindlessly - actively avoiding each other.

Severe boredom was starting to set in, having switched back and forth between all of your social media, multiple times.

Chancing a glance at Danny, he was still sitting on the floor, phone in hand and scrolling through it lazily. Your eyes lingered on him for a moment, taking in the makeup covering his face. His hair, the white tank top that you had only kind of tried to ignore all night, the muscles in his arms, the two leather belts crossed over his chest.

“It’s rude to stare, ya know.” His eyes didn’t leave his phone screen.

You immediately tried to cover your ass, “I wasn’t-“

“Yeah, you were.” Danny finally looked up, eyes burning holes through your body. “Don’t even try that. You’re a horrible liar.”

“Not the first time i’ve heard that tonight,” you muttered, returning your eyes to your phone.

“Let me guess-“ Danny dropped his phone into his lap. “-Josh told you the same thing?”

You swore your eyes were going to pop out of your face. Embarrassment surging through your body.

“How the hell do you know that?”

“He told me.”

“But how? You’ve been locked in here with me.” Your face burned profusely.

“I know.” Danny clicked his tongue. “It’s been miserable.” He picked his phone back up from his lap, “But he texted me.”

“Oh. Fucking fantastic,” you groaned, covering your face with your hands.

“Mhm. Said something about how you tried to say you weren’t giving me ‘fuck me’ eyes earlier.” Danny’s tone was laced with amusement, staring down at the text message from Josh with a huff of a laugh.

Your stomach twisted into suffocating knots. “I wasn’t making eyes at you! How many times do I need to say that?!”

“Cute that you’re trying to deny it so hard.” Danny locked his phone and laid it down on the floor next to him. “Josh also told me you’d probably do that.”

“Josh can fuck off,” you uttered, trying desperately to keep your eyes on your phone.

Danny didn’t bother with a reply. Rather taking advantage of your eyes being glued to your phone, just like you had done with him. He languidly scanned over your body; taking in the tiny shorts you were wearing. The skin tight top with a leather vest draping over it. How your legs were crossed and the slight shaking of your hands as you held up your phone.

You could feel his eyes lighting you on fire, only fueling the heat between your legs that you didn’t want to admit was even there.

“It’s rude to stare, ya know?” You tossed his own words back in his face, finally pulling your phone away and tossing it down beside you.

“Just admiring the little groupie,” Danny snickered, making your cheeks heat up. “How convenient that you picked that as a costume.”

“Yeah, well… I didn’t have time to come up with anything else,” you shrugged.

Agonizing silence fell over the two of you yet again.

You stared up at the ceiling, trying to force your body to stop the nearly constant pulsing between your legs. All while trying not to glance down at Danny too often.

“It’s painfully fucking obvious,” Danny spoke up suddenly. “I hope you know that.”

You glanced down at him in utter confusion, “What’s obvious?”

“How turned on you are.”

You swallowed the growing lump in your throat, listening to your heart rate pound in your ears as you fixed your eyes back on the ceiling above you.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Danny chuckled cockily, eyeing you. “Is it me?”

“Your cockiness is showing, Daniel.” The words left your lips far less harsh than you wanted them to.

“Your stubbornness is showing,” Danny chided lightly. You knew something was about to snap between the two of you.

“I mean, are you really that oblivious? Or are you choosing to ignore it?”

“Ignore what?!” Sitting up straight on the bed, you shouted the words at him. “And you’re really gonna speak on being oblivious?”

Danny got up from the floor, flailing his hands exasperatedly into the air around him. “The god forsaken, suffocating, intoxicating fucking tension in this god damn room!”

“Of course I feel it!” you yelled back. “I’ve been feeling it all fucking night thanks to that- that costume!” your hands gestured to his body.

“Let’s fucking do something about it then!” Danny was inching closer. Dangerously close. “Or are you still mad that I didn’t fucking take you to prom all those years ago?”

There it was. The moment neither of you had ever talked about, but that had haunted you since the day it happened. Danny was the only guy you had ever had feelings for. He was still the only one to the day.

It made you even more angry that he knew it upset you, but hadn’t tried to fix it all this time.

“Oh, fuck you! That was forever ago!” you seethed, getting up from the bed to stand in front of him. “I’m over that!”

“Oh, That’s hilarious, bug!” the humorless laugh that floated out of him - paired with the nickname that you only let the Kiszka’s use - only fueled your anger even more. “You’re not over shit, clearly! Since you’ve made hating me your only personality trait ever since! Doesn’t that get exhausting?”

“Surprised you even noticed my change of heart!” you scoffed. The two of you were so close, you could feel each other’s breath hitting the other as you yelled back and forth obnoxiously. “Especially since you couldn’t even bother to notice my feelings before! Or you did and just didn’t give a fuck?! I can’t really tell anymore!”

“For fucks sake! What do you want me to do?!” Danny practically screamed, volume getting slightly out of hand. Neither of you cared. “Do you want me to write my apology across the fucking sky with an airplane?! Use the paint off my face to write it across these white ass walls?! What. Do. You want?!”

The words were flying out of you before you could stop them…

“God damnit, Danny! Maybe I just want you to fuck me!”

Your chest heaved almost in perfect timing with his. Intense silence fell over the two of you as you both stood there drowning in the thick, lust and anger filled air in the room.

As his last bit of composure snapped inside him, he rushed through the last little bit of space remaining between the two of you and forcefully yanked your body into his.

Your lips crashed together in an hungry kiss - teeth clashing together, gasps and frustrated groans leaving both of you. It was suffocating both of you, but neither of you wanted to stop.

“That… can be arranged…” Danny rasped out through his labored breathing, only pulling away long enough to get the words out.

Your lips reconnected again. The paint on his face was surely smearing all over your lips and chin, but you couldn’t be bothered to even give it a moment of thought. His hands held onto either side of your neck, pulling you as close as he could get you.

Haphazardly, Danny backed you up towards the bed. His hands slid down from your neck to find the front of your vest, shoving it off of your shoulders without even breaking the kiss.

When he did finally brake away, he shoved you down onto the bed roughly.

“Since we hate each other so much-“ Danny crawled over top of you. “-I’m gonna fuck you like it. It’s only fair, don’t you think, princess?”

“Seems fitting,” you rushed out, trying to pull him back to you. “You have a lot of making up to do before anything other than hate-fucking is an option.”

“Please,” Danny’s hand wrapped itself around your throat. “After this, it’s all you’re gonna want anyway.”

His other hand slipped beneath your shirt, exploring around - the feeling of your lace bra making him shudder.

Both of his hands joined together at the hem of your shirt, eagerly tugging on it, “I want this off.”

You leaned up from the pillows, hands fumbling around with his in your clumsy attempt at getting your shirt off.

Annoyed and desperate, you shoved his hands away, “Just let me fucking do it.”

Your shirt was discarded somewhere on the floor, hitting the hardwood with a soft thump.

The black lace bra that was finally on full display had Danny’s eyes growing even darker. His hands ran across the cups, the dainty design softly scraping the skin of his calloused palms.

“Such a sexy little groupie,” he smirked, dipping down to attach his lips to your collarbone. Slowly, he worked his way down until he reached the edge of your bra - leaving a path of black kiss marks as he went.

“Don’t call me a groupie,” you huffed, arching your chest up into Danny’s mouth.

“She says as she’s dressed like one,” Danny snickered, tugging the cup of your bra down just enough to reveal your hardened nipple to him.

His mouth wrapped around it, tongue flicking over it teasingly.

With a whimper, you pushed yourself up and reached around for the clasp to undo it, “Need this shit off.”

“Are you gonna let me take anything off, or would you rather just get up and strip for me?” Danny rolled his eyes, taking the straps of your bra in his fingers and tugging it off himself.

Before you could even process that he’d pulled it off and tossed it to the floor, Danny was shoving you back down against the bed. His mouth wrapped around your left nipple, his fingers pinching and teasing the other.

“Fuck, Danny!” You sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, arching your body into Danny’s.

A low hum tumbled through his chest as his tongue flicked over your nipple. After another moment or two of paying it merciless attention, he switched to the other side and gave your other nipple the same attention.

Your hands, exploring around his toned arms and underneath his shirt, traveled down to his pants. You fumbled around with the button, all while he was pulling whimper after whimper out of you. Once you got it undone, you pushed at the material in attempts to start getting them off.

“Eager much?” Danny mumbled against your skin before fully breaking away to take his pants the rest of the way off.

“You take too long,” you said, working at the button of your shorts.

Danny snatched both of your wrists, all but crushing them in his hands. “Leave me something to take off, or so help me god. I’ll only slide these shorts down just barely enough to fuck you in them.”

With a frustrated exhale of a breath, you yanked your hands out of his grip and dropped them down to your sides.

“That’s much better,” Danny smirked and trailed his fingertips just above your shorts. “Now… You want these off?”

You looked at him with an incredulous expression, “What do you think?? Yes, I want them off you asshole.”

Danny laughed darkly, leaning down to kiss a line across where his fingers had just traced. “Say please.”

You let out a humorless laugh, “You’re joking.”

The glare Danny shot you was evil. His dark eyes burning into yours, silently threatening you.

“Please…” you forced out through gritted teeth.

Danny’s fingers slowly worked at the button and zipper as he continued to taunt you, “Say it like you mean it, baby girl.”

“Please, Danny,” you repeated, only a little sweeter. “Take them off.”

“Aww, so she can be sweet.” There he went again, talking as if you weren’t even there.

His hands hooked themselves into your shorts, pulling them and your panties down together in one strong tug.

They, too, were tossed away somewhere - his own eagerness and hunger completely taking over him as he caught the slightest glimmer of wetness between your folds.

“Fuck,” Danny sighed. He pushed your legs apart, hands running up and down your thighs while he drank you in. “What got you so wet, princess? Huh?”

“I’m not boosting your ego like that,” you scoffed. “Nice try, though.”

“You’re dripping onto these sheets right in front of me,” Danny cocked an eyebrow. “You think that’s not already an ego boost?”

“Danny, just shut the fuck up and do som-“

Danny’s hand came down hard against your center, the sound of the smack bouncing from wall to wall around the small room.

“You run your mouth way too much,” Danny said, watching your face twist up in a mix of pain and pleasure. His fingers found your clit and lightly circled over it, drawing a genuine moan from you.

“Awe, you like that, princess?” Danny asked lowly, tone lending a taunting edge.

“Oh, fuck, Danny.” Your hand shot down to grab onto his wrist, trying to add more pressure.

“I’ll have two apologies to give after I’m done with you…” Danny mused, fingers abandoning your clit and gently grazing through your folds. “One for her… and one for you.”

A loud moan was ripped out of you as Danny’s hand came down with another harsh smack over your pussy.

“Fuck! Danny, fuck-“ you cursed, your grip on his wrist doing absolutely nothing.

Danny leaned over you, lips brushing over your ear, causing your body to break out with goosebumps.

“That’s for talking to me like a little fucking brat,” Danny spat, delivering one last slap to your aching pussy.

“Fuck you!” you gasped, eyes briefly squeezing shut. Even though you loved it, you were gonna act like you didn’t. “What was that one for?!”

“Because your face looks pretty when I do it.” A fourth slap followed his answer. “You sound so pretty too. So pathetic.”

“I can’t stand you,” you grumbled halfheartedly. A statement that was becoming less and less true, but you were going to milk the situation for what it was worth.

“You don’t mean that,” Danny grinned, hooking his thumbs in his boxers, shoving them down and off his legs.

Avoiding having to respond to his comment, you wrapped your hands around the belts still crossed over his chest.

“You want them off?” Danny asked.

You tugged him to you, shaking your head no. Your lips met in another hungry and urgent kiss, little noises and gasps being released from one mouth and into the other.

Breaking away from the kiss for air, you gave the belts another tug, “No. I want them on…” you breathed. “Something to hold on to… if I need it.”

“What?” Danny eyed you with a smug expression. He pushed your legs farther apart, teasing himself through your folds. “Afraid you won’t be able handle it?”

The scoff that emitted from you sounded almost forced, like he had called you out and you were making a lousy attempt at covering your ass. Danny wasn’t buying it, even a little bit.

“Poor girl,” he smirked, eyes fixed on where your bodies were seconds away from being joined. “If you don’t wanna get fucked like a brat-“ he pushed into you with one smooth and deep thrust. “-don’t be one.”

Your jaw fell slack at the feeling of Danny filling you up. Though it wasn’t exactly the circumstances you had hoped for, you didn’t really care anymore. You had always imagined your first time with Danny to be sweet and soft. Lots of sweet foreplay and giving each other everything. But, being that you were seconds away from being fucked senseless, covered in black and white face paint and hickeys, you were happy it wasn’t happening that way.

You needed him and you couldn’t wait a minute longer.

“God damn it,” Danny muttered, sucking in a hiss of a breath through his teeth as he started to move. “You feel so fucking good.”

“Harder, Danny, please,” you begged, feeling his cock brush against places inside you that were previously untouched.

Danny placed his forearm down beside your head, supporting his weight. His other hand found yours and laced his fingers with it, pushing it up above your head to add to his leverage over you.

He shoved himself even deeper into you with a sharp and precisely angled thrust of his hips.

The noises that erupted from you was so unexpectedly loud and high pitched. Embarrassment might have made an appearance, had you been thinking of anything other than Danny’s cock filling you up.

“I think I prefer you moaning over talking.” Danny teased, finally picking up a much quicker and deliberate pace.

Your hand squeezed around his tightly as you moaned loudly again, each thrust of his hips knocking the air from your lungs.

“Yeah, you like that?” Danny bit at the skin of your jaw and neck. “You like when I talk to you like that?”

Whines and moans continued to flow from your payed lips. The places Danny was managing to hit inside you were more than enough to make your brain temporarily short circuit.

“Fuck, Danny, i-“ you sputtered.

“Not so feisty now, are you, princess?” Danny taunted, readjusting his position above you.

He hooked both your legs in his arms, pushing them back until his hands met with the mattress on either side of you.

The new position provided him a whole new angle, his cock reaching even deeper inside you as his thrust grew more relentless and rough.

You looked up at him with lust-drunk eyes, barely forcing them to stay open. Your mouth hung open, airy whines and loud moans tear their way out from deep within you.

“Oh my fucking god, Danny,” you whined, slipping your hands beneath his white tank top to claw at the backs of his shoulders. “It’s- you’re so-“

“Come on,” Danny encouraged teasingly. “Spit it out, baby girl. Use all those words I know you have.”

You clenched around him, head pushing back into the pillows as your arched your body into him. All you could offer him were more moans of intense pleasure.

“Look at you,” Danny cooed, still holding onto that taunting tone. He kissed along your collarbones before adding on, “Sweet little thing is speechless.”

Letting go of your legs, he pulled out of you, laughing lowly at the cry that left you from the sudden empty feeling.

Danny grabbed onto you, flipping you over like you weighed absolutely nothing. He pulled you up onto your knees, the rest of your weight falling to your forearms. As soon as he pushed himself back in, your whole body falter and shook.

“Have a fucked you out already?” Danny’s hands gripped at your hips, keeping you up. “I was- fuck- I was right,” he rasped out. “You can’t take it.”

“I can, I can,” you insisted through your moans. “Fuck, you just- it feels so good, Danny!”

A smile tugged at his lips that he was glad you couldn’t see. He could do this forever and it was finally setting in that, that’s exactly what he was planning to do. So long as you decided to forgive him after it was all said and done…

That tightening in the pit of your stomach started to become more prominent, rapidly growing tighter and tighter as Danny’s hips snapped loudly into yours.

A guttural noise sounded from him as you squeezed around him, alerting him that you were getting closer.

“You’re getting close, aren’t you?” Danny asked, cursing to himself as he worked to put just a little more power behind each of his thrusts.

“Yes,” you croaked out, barely audible with your face buried into the pillows to help hide your louder moans.

“Stop,” Danny’s voice rang out, firm and demanding. He reached forward, tangling his fingers into your hair, pulling you up from the mattress and against the front of his body.

“Don’t hide. Let everyone downstairs hear how good I’m fucking you,” Danny said lowly right into your ear.

His other arm wrapped around the front of your body, hand traveling down to your core to rub two of his fingers over your clit in rapid circles.

The pleasure surging through you was debilitating; the only thing keeping you upright anymore being Danny’s strong grip.

“Danny, I- It’s so much, I can’t-“ You choked out, both of your hands clinging to his forearm just like before, in attempts to somehow slow him down.

“Shut up and take it. I got you,” Danny used his grip still in your hair to tug your head back, giving his lips access to the side of your neck.

“I can do this all night,” Danny mumbled against your skin. “I’m not gonna cum without you.”

With a harsh bite into the conjunction of your neck and shoulder, paired with a little more pressure from his fingers, a pornographic sound exploded out of you. It almost didn’t sound like you. There was no doubt that everyone still partying away downstairs heard it.

“Fuck, there you go,” Danny continued his assault on your neck, working you through your orgasm. “Cum for me, baby. Let me have it all.”

His own high followed just moments after yours. The most beautiful sounds you had ever heard from him, being sent almost directly into your ear.

“Fuck… fuck,” Danny cursed, his thrust growing sloppier and grip loosening around you. “God damn…”

Carefully, Danny let you both fall forward onto the bed. You both fought to catch your breath, still clinging to each other like you wouldn’t be able to stay tethered to earth without the touches of one another.

The two of you just laid in comfortable silence for a few minutes, until your heart rates and breathing slowed enough to get words out.

Danny was the first to fill the silence.

“I’m sorry, bug.”

Your heart suddenly started to pound again out of giddiness.

You turned over in his arms to face him, “For what?”

“For pushing you to the side all this time...” Danny’s eyes were much softer. “For being too afraid of my own feelings for you to do anything about it.”

“I suppose I can forgive you,” you smiled. “But… could you apologize again when your face isn’t covered in makeup, Peter Criss?”

“Oh, shut up!” Danny playfully shoved you off, rolling his eyes at you halfheartedly. “You’re right, though…” Danny sat up, eyes scanning over your body and the smudges of makeup covering nearly every inch. “We’ve-“ his voice broke with a laugh. “We’ve definitely made a little mess.”

“You made the mess,” you smirked at him, shakily trying to pull yourself up from the bed.

“Yeah, okay. Whatever,” Danny chuckled.

After watching you struggle to stand up, he came around to your side of the bed and picked you up in his arms bridal style.

“Sure looks like you can handle it, alright.” Danny shook his head as he carried you to the bathroom.

Your hand smacked at his chest, cheeks burning as a crimson blush adorned them. “Oh, fuck off…”

<>

Blinking the sleep out of your eyes, you started to shift around - the strong arms around you, preventing you from doing so.

You glanced around the room, noticing the door was slightly cracked open now.

Those fuckers. You thought to yourself.

They must have come to unlock or unblock the door at some point after you and Danny had fallen asleep. You were very thankful for the blankets covering both of your naked bodies; neither of you having wanted to put your costumes back on after showering.

Your eyes flicked over to look at Danny. He was beautiful when he slept. The peacefulness of his breathing and the way his defined and sharp features suddenly looked so soft.

Suddenly, one of his eyes popped open and a wide, lazy grin stretched out his perfect lips.

“Staring again, huh?” he mumbled sleepily.

“Admiring,” you corrected, smiling back at him.

“‘Admiring’,” he parroted, pulling you closer to his body.

“Danny, shouldn’t we get up soon?” You questioned, despite not wanting to move in the slightest.

“Absolutely not.” Danny had shut his eyes again.

Faint chatter coming from downstairs, of what you could only assume to be at least two Kiszka’s already awake, floated through your ears.

Danny hummed in acknowledgment to their loud voices. He mocked in a higher voice, sounding much like Sam, “Not ready to hear ‘I told you so’.”

“They were right, though,” you sighed, snuggling your face into his chest. “For once, I’m glad they were.”

“At least they wouldn’t have had to lock us in here if you weren’t so stubborn,” Danny giggled, full on laughing when you pulled back to look at his face.

“I will get up and leave you here.” It was a fully empty threat.

Danny cocked an eyebrow at you, challenging you, “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you nodded once.

“Go ahead, get up then.” Danny let go of you, clearly scheming by the playful sparkle in his eye.

Your eyes narrowed at him, but you moved to get up anyway, just to see how far he would let you get.

And it certainly wasn’t far.

You barely had the blankets thrown off and one leg dangling off the edge of the bed, before Danny was snatching you by the waist and yanking you back into his body.

“Danny!” you squealed, positively letting the whole house know that you two were awake.

“I’m not letting you go that easily, silly girl,” Danny said lowly into your ear, playfully biting at your earlobe. “You’re mine now.”

“Do you think we could convince them to lock the door back?” You asked softly, brushing your lips against his.

No sooner than the question was emitted into the space between you and Danny was opening his mouth to answer, Sam’s voice boomed from the hallway.

“Absolutely not, you fuckin’ love birds!”

@shutupdevvie @spark-my-nature @belovedsamuel @gardensgatedaisy @ageofbarbarians @theweightofjake @jake-kiszkas-smirk @positivegvfthings @gretasmokerising @jordierama @doodle417 @asparrowofthedawn @jakekiszkasleftnutsack @greta-van-chaos @skankforjakekiszka @sarakay-gvf @teddiie @colorstreammind @ofburningskies @of-infinite-wonders @groovyvanfleet @samkooszka @lunaindigoraven @gvfpal @ascendingtostardust @streamsofstardust @cal-a-bungaa @juliensbakery @gretavanbitches

[guzhuangheaven]

I'm rewatching Ruyi, and all I'm thinking is, "Why is Yanwan such a stupid person?"

She is surviving and thriving because of luck most of the time. How is it that her mother murders his child and Hongli thinks that maybe she is not evil because her mother didn't confess Yanwan's part but he spend over a decade hating on Yuyan because of an accessory and her ambitious son.

I feel the writer faltered and could have made her a more subtle and clever villain. Her only becoming a Consort because Hongli wanted to piss of Zhen Huan, I think sucked the most.

See, here’s where I think the writing is genius in terms of human psychology, because it shows just how utterly narcissistic both Qianlong and Yanwan and how much they see themselves in each other. Yanwan panders to Qianlong’s narcissism, so he literally willfully tells himself that a woman he favours can’t be that bad, to the point that he actually believes it. He wants to always forgive Yanwan whenever she pisses him off, because he can’t admit that he likes or gets turned on or whatever by someone so despicable, because what does that say about himself?

In the situation with Yongjing, he would rather believe astrology nonsense that Ruyi’s vibes killed Yongjing than consider there was foul play. He gets so hyped up with the idea of Yongjing being a good omen that when Yongjing dies he feels like he's losing face to ever have hoped so much. Face is a huge deal to a person like Qianlong, he can't deal with losing face like that so he turns it on Ruyi instead. Later he would rather deceive himself that yes somehow Yanwan’s mother can miraculously pull all off this huge feat of paying off midwives and people both inside and outside the palace to endanger Yongjing and frame Hailan in the process, than admit the obvious that she couldn’t possibly have done all of this without Yanwan’s will or involvement. And some people really are just so narcissistic that they would believe these excuses they tell themselves rather than think that they might be wrong.

Yanwan says it very succinctly in the end, he chose her, he raised her up, if she’s horrible, then what is he? That’s why he can’t ever admit to Yanwan’s worst actions until he can’t be in denial anymore, when it’s all shoved into his face in the end.

Yanwan basically spends her entire time as consort failing up because her benefactor (Qianlong) is too narcissistic to admit he was ever wrong and has the ultimate privilege to get away with that mindset. This happens in real life…

Anyway, I think while Qianlong is aware of Yanwan’s ambition from the beginning from the way she approaches him, and he nurtures that ambition to use her as a weapon against the empress dowager and Ruyi at times, he doesn’t see Yuyan (or do you actually mean Luyun and her hairpin?) in the same way. We see the Yuyan’s scheming private moments but I think for Qianlong, she’s just this plaything gift from a tributary state with a sharp tongue, and she is the equivalent of a sexy lamp to him. So he is blindsided when that toy dares have her own goals and uses her son to push her own gains.

If you mean Luyun, I always thought it was a perfect concoction of coincidences that sets up Qianlong’s suspicion of Luyun, from Langhua suddenly recommending Luyun as the next empress on her death bed even though she hasn’t shown any preference for Luyun before, after Qianlong just learnt that Langhua had supposedly done all these evil things, and then Luyun’s hairpin being found at the wrong place, then suddenly Luyun showing desire to compete to be empress that she didn’t have before and both Yongzhang and Yonghuang who were raised by Luyun acting up at Langhua’s funeral. With his tendency for paranoia of course he would be suspicious of her and he can continue to hold a grudge because Luyun isn’t a mirror to him the way Yanwan is.  

[anxresi]

So, it turns out Chloe IS going to return for S6... this hot off the press from her voice actor... (actually from back in Jan, but who's counting?)

...So why, my dears, couldn't I give a damn?

Probably because, as arguably the writers had no idea what to do with her in S4 and S5 other than strip her of all personality, agency & likability, what's the point in her still remaining?

*She's not going to be a hero again, Manbaby Astruc has made this PERFECTLY clear thankyouverymuch. IMHO, she's far more useful as a tool for him to take out his warped misogynist humiliations on, apparently. Why he doesn't just buy himself a blonde mannequin, call it 'Chloe' then beat it with a wooden stick whilst shouting various profanities within the privacy of his own bedroom, IDK. Maybe it's good therapy for him to expose his weird hang-ups in front of a mass audience? Hey, if it works for him... good for you, buddy! I just wish the rest of us didn't have to suffer to aid his treatment.

*As a villain, Chloe's threat level is arguably less than 0%. She is now written to be dumb as a post, no-one trusts or likes her and everything she says and does seems more cartoonishly infantile with every tortuous appearance since S3. The ONLY time she posed any vague threat is during her massively overhyped team-up with Lila where basically she was little more than a pawn to the Mary Sue Of All Lying B*tches... and those two episodes where she took over Paris as Mayor with a bunch of robots were undebately the most stupid ones of S5. Which if you've seen the competition, you KNOW that's some achievement.

*My prediction is: They're gonna rehash the same tiresome schik we saw before she got on that plane at the end of S5... perhaps they'll give us a one episode Hope Spot upon her unexpected arrival back where it looks like she's changed after attending a 'tough school' in New York/London but OH MY WORD WHAT A SURPRISE it turns out to all have been a ruse to become Queen Bee again. YAWN. She'll move straight back into her old room... Andre and Audrey will reconnect... and it'll be like nothing ever happened. In case you hadn't noticed, this show handles plot continuity or character development about as well as Marinette keeps her distance from her crushes.

*'But where does that leave Zoe?' You might ask, to which I can only respond with a succinct 'If you had the Hubble Space Telescope on full power, you still wouldn't be able to locate how little I care about that particular subject.' Maybe she'll carry on as Vesperia. Maybe she'll get a girlfriend. Maybe she'll do something halfway interesting, and give the viewership a heart attack out of sheer shock value alone. It doesn't matter to me one jot... less because I curse the ground this insipid plot device masquerading as a serious character walks on, but simply because I have no faith in the utterly abysmal writing this show has displayed for years and years now. Chloe could take over the lead role in a SHOCKING twist, they could change the name to Miraculous Queen and I STlLL wouldn't give it a second glance. The fish rots from the head-up, guys.

(Okay, so that's a bit of a lie. I would probably sneak a peek at ONE episode out of sheer curiosity, but you and I both know with HIM in charge the standard won't improve one iota. Plus, it isn't gonna happen anyway... so why am I tying myself in knots speculating about an impossible scenario?)

Anyway, I've nattered on for too long. I'll just leave you by answering Selah's somewhat disingenuous last question there about 'your favorite Chloe line of season 5'.

This implies we were watching 'Chloe'. As far as I was concerned, we weren't. Not the Chloe I fangirled for in the very beginning and got me involved in the show in the first place because I could relate so much. Not the Chloe who got so many other fans emotionally invested in her personal and familial struggles, before her character was comprehensively trashed by a ruinous creator with a grudge.

So in answer to your question Ms Victor, none. Because it simply wasn't Chloe.

[zeravmeta]

the thing about ibuki douji is that she is your friend. like once you sit down and have a conversation with her she is very much your friend! but she also is as far on top of the monster-divinity scale you can get so she is also this incarnation of the land being who sees humans as insects because they really are on that comparable scale to her, she shares the same type of mindset that shuten has when it comes to viewing humans as entertainment but unlike shuten who was horrified by the knowledge that she is a monster, ibuki simply took it as a fact of life and thus doesn't mind if she eats someone. she was going to eat guda in heian kyo just because they were a human who underwent so many experiences and didn't look at her in fear, and that made guda interesting in her eyes. it was as simple as "this human is interesting" -> "i like seeing them" -> "i want to consume them". in the same vein, she then HELPS guda in heian kyo defeat limbo just because watching limbo flail about was funny to her, to the point where limbo even gets a debuff in the fight from ibuki laughing at him. she's capricious and whimsical and literally every action she does is dictated by fleeting desire.

but the thing that prevents her from becoming a full on monster, the thing that made ibuki the aspect of shuten that was friends with kintoki as a child, is that shes friendly. shes a people person and she isnt against the idea of getting closer to people.

what held shuten back is ironically ibukis greatest strength, and its why shes an aspect of shuten that shuten herself rejects, the idea that she could have been more intimate alongside humans: shes just like kintoki! kintoki is someone on an equal footing of being a divine monster but his heart primarily lies in humanity, hes compassionate and built himself up by living alonside humans compared to ibuki who sinply lived on top of the mountain. ibuki douji is easily what kintoki COULD have become had he not been raised alongside humans and grown as a human, a powerful divine monster who consumes as they please, operating on nothing more but whims and interest. but that in turn does not mean either of them are horrible monsters just because they are inherently incompatible with humans.

They both just love life too much to ever become monsters, they love people and humans and new experiences and every single part of modern humanity that makes it so much fun! They are too high on the spice of life to ever become fully monstrous, and its why shuten and limbo are "failures" in this respect: shuten was too afraid to take that next step for fear of hurting someone she loves, while limbo as humanitys greatest failure doesn't allow himself to grow, to experience new things, to be fun and have fun living as a human. They are stuck in the past and only now are cautiously taking those first steps to be more than an echo and a grudge.

Ibuki Douji the god is a divine calamity whose very presence beings storms and fear and chaos, but Ibuki Douji herself is your friend!! Your friend who loves hanging out with you!!

[staticflood]

---SPOILERS FOR SHADOW GENERATIONS---

Ok so hear me out.

I think all these npc choices are meaningful. Showing different ways Shadow lives/thinks or *could* live and think. Think of Shadow 05.

Orbot and Cubot are very simple characters and this game if recall correctly is the first one they've ever been in without Eggman. Which isn't too notable, but it does speak to the one nature of their characters. Mostly in that they serve Eggman.

Sonic Battle was one of the games that touched on this aspect of Shadow's character a lot too. His use as a tool, a weapon to be aimed. He is treated this way by Eggman too, in SA2, Heroes and Shadow 05.

Orbo and Cubone don't really have a place in the story. At this point in Shadow's arc, he is very much assured of his autonomy.

Big The Cat is a phenomenal character, and I will not hear otherwise. He embodies one of the core themes of not just the series but Sonic and Shadow specifically. To live freely and do as you please.

Shadow is defined by making his own decisions. Living by his own code. Big the Cat is him fr.

Shadow throughout this game displays his mean streak. You see him about to explode in anger for the whole first half, and while it slows down in the second half because of Maria, it never goes away. Omega feeds into it like a bonfire so they're best friends.

And friends is a good word. Omega isn't a one-note murder-bot. He's relieved when Rouge is safe. He tells Shadow about how he trusts him. This anger and violence are part of Shadow, but they still leave room for love and compassion.

Shout out to E-123 Omega being the funniest guy in the room in another game btw. Long held record.

Maria and Gerald are very interestingly framed in this game. Shadow's first instinct on seeing them is to protect them. To save them from whatever impending disaster is coming. In what is a very character defining play, Shadow ignores this, squashes it immediately. There's something bigger going on here. And only when he sees them again, the big bad is out of the way does it all come back. That hope, that dream...

Talking to Maria throughout the game does a great job painting a picture of The Ark without the grief-stricken lens of Shadow and Gerald. We get to see the center of a tragedy talking about her home.

Maria shows so much love and honesty that you can see why the grudge about her fate lasted so long. She becomes such an emotional battering ram for Shadow all while she's just happy to talk to her friend.

And interesting point to note, at many times in the game, Maria is horrified by the anger that Shadow displays. What Omega encourages him to do is unfathomable to her, and hammers the point home for Shadow that he isn't theirs.

Their presence reflects what Shadow used to be. Before all of his mew experiences. Which brings us perfectly into who's sitting between Maria and Omega, Rouge.

Rouge is beautiful in this game. She Flys in at the last world and becomes an emotional rock for Shadow. And eventually, who he leaves white Space with. Back to the real world.

Rouge represents his current life. His family, the ones who care about him. Rouge offers the love and acceptance of Maria, with a tacit understanding and respect of his power and brutality.

I love this game. I want more of this. Give shadow his own franchise. Put him in everything. Shadow Frontiers. Shadow Colors. Shadow Spinball

[amiharana]

Ok here's my headcanon. I always thought Link's first love was archery, he seems to be a jack of all trades but I think the first weapon he picked up was a bow. I think (besides Nintendo giving botw so much emphasis on the bow) within Hyrule Kingdom Hateno has a strong archery culture with all the hunting and the horseback archery range. And Links early proficiency with a bow basically made a future in combat necessary for him so he practiced with a sword as well and learned spearmanship from Mipha (and he was remarkably quick to pick up on those) but after he pulled the Master Sword he spent most of his time with a sword..

But of course all the best archers in the world are in Rito village. And as a kid Link always wished to one day shoot with a Rito bow and he definitely knew all the names of the famous Rito archers and when news came of a young archer near his age that was quickly becoming one of the greatest of all time of course Link remembered that name too😌

Anyway it's funny to imagine if when Revali and Link first met Revali already held a grudge because of the sword while Link was completely starstruck, left speechless, didn't know whether to ask for an autograph.. well that was my headcanon. Can you revalink-ify it🙂

anon this ask is so cute thank you, i will revalinkify it to the best of my ability 🫡

i never actually thought about how much emphasis there is on bows in botw's hyrule and when you mentioned hateno having a strong archery culture, i was like What are you talking about... but then i remembered the abandoned equestrian course just in front of the village and ur so true about the horseback archery range. maybe link's mother was a horseback archer and ran the equestrian course back in the day, so link inherited that skill from her? thinking about teeny baby link feeding his mother's horse for the first time, the horse gently taking the apple from his hand, and link's eyes widening in awe at the tenderness of such a gentle beast. thinking about him riding a horse for the first time, learning to shoot with his mother and getting a bullseye on his first try. baby archer link 🥺

i can totally imagine link really wanting to go to rito village and live among the best archers of hyrule, knowing the names of all the legendary rito archers and begging his parents to take a trip there, or begging his father to work his magic as a knight of hyrule and somehow get him a swallow bow, or even a falcon bow!

a traveling merchant once came through hateno with a book on the history and legends of the rito, and link used his entire allowance to buy it... thinking about link memorizing every rito legend by heart, and infodumping to everyone he knows like his mom takes him and his sister to the market and the shopkeeper is like Hey link how are you doing? and link is just like Did you know the legendary Rito Warrior Dronoc, for which Dronoc's Pass is named after, was rumored to have the longest wingspan of any Rito who's ever lived? or going to school to cut off the teacher being like Actually Teacher, Kilsie of the Rito is regarded as one of the pioneers of the art of archery, and— 🤓 the teacher tells link to go sit outside, to which he just shrugs and takes his little book of rito legends with him to read for the rest of the class.

when link gets a hold of his first swallow bow, he cries. he almost refuses to shoot with it because it's so pretty and he doesn't want it to break. he eventually does use it, because his dad is like What was the point of me getting you a bow from literally across the country if you're not gonna use it. it's link's favorite bow and he maintains and polishes it very frequently, he's almost never seen without it.

just link being a little fanboy for rito legends 😭 i just know he was pissed as fuck when the master sword chose him and he had to use it all the time. the master sword comes out easy in his grip and while everyone else there is oohing and aahing and clapping, link is there like >:[ yelling ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!! with it echoing in throughout the korok forest like yeah he's good at using literally any weapon, but bows really are his first love <3

now link being a fanboy for revali...... mmmm what a refreshing concept. it takes a whole different spin on the revali's flap memory

i think they would find out about each other around the same time, when they're both about 14-15. of course, revali would know about link, the person who pulled the legendary sword that seals the darkness at the tender age of 13, the person who's prophesied to save hyrule from the oncoming evil. revali scoffs and dismisses the news when it reaches rito village; he's a sword-wielder who probably knows nothing of archery and has no appreciation for it. and most importantly, he's one of those flightless, fleshy hylians. ugh. (spoiler alert revali, you fall in love with that flightless fleshy hylian) he goes back to his training and endless victories in archery competitions, and does his best to forget link even exists. he knows he can prove himself to be better than a stupid hylian prophecy.

meanwhile, link is now living in hyrule castle town with his father after he pulls the master sword and he's pretty miserable. he's far away from home with classist city kids in a strange place, and he misses the brisk air of his home, he misses his mother and sister and the horses and the archery range at home; he doesn't like it in castle town very much. at least there's an archery range here, both static and horseback, and he's brought his favorite swallow bow with him. it's actually easier to keep updated with news from rito village here though, since castle town is the center of the country and all news comes through here, especially when link hears about the seven-time winner of rito village's archery competitions, the rito child who's broken nearly all of the rito's legendary archery records.

link's interest is piqued and he grabs for every paper about it and talks to every journalist who's covered the story and every rito who visits the castle. alexa play OMG by new jeans because link just keeps on asking "who is he?" (he's the one that's living in your system, baby 😩🎶)

he finally finds out the name of this rito child prodigy after a week of endless searching and asking around. his name is revali, they tell him. he's just about your age. and link just stares with wide glimmering eyes. revali. it's a pretty cool name for a rising legend. he says it again, over and over to himself, liking the way forms in his mouth. (and if link blushes thinking about revali being the same age as him and wondering if the rito is as pretty as his name, he did not shut up aryll i didn't say that NO give me that article back)

some time passes. revali is now a 15-time winner of rito village's seasonal archery competitions and is now in the ranks of participating in the national competitions, where all races across hyrule can show off their skills and compete. it's the first time that link gets to see revali in action.

and whew, when link sees revali for the first time at the hyrule national archery competition, a sleek-feathered rito boy standing tall and proud, the sun reflecting off his gorgeous navy blue plumage, tossing his braids over his shoulder... he blushes so hard that aryll asks him if he's getting sunburned. "no!" link nearly yells, covering his face with his hands. his face really is burning, oh goddesses this is embarrassing.

aryll follows his line of sight then rolls her eyes. "of course it's the bird boy that's got you redder than batch of sunshrooms." link tells her to shut up, albeit still through his hands, and she rolls her eyes again and complies.

the competition starts with another division, but link can't bring himself to care, keeping his eyes only on revali, who's off to the side with the rest of the rito village team. he is as pretty as his name.

link is on the edge of his seat when it's revali's turn to shoot and he is not disappointed. revali hits over 30 bullseyes in the span of a few seconds, completely destroying the targets and even splintering through the arrows that had been previously shot, all without breaking a sweat. revali must have aimed an arrow of love at link through all of that somehow, because link is deeply, completely, absolutely in love in with the rito now ❤️ revali tosses his braids over his shoulders again to look up at the audience and link swears they made eye contact, his breath catching at the emeralds revali has for eyes glinting proudly in the sunlight.

at the end of the competition, link rushes down the stands, hoping for a chance to see the rito, get his autograph, talk to him even, but alas it's not meant to be. the rito gets swarmed by many others from the audience and the entire rito village team moves away from the field to retire to their rooms. it doesn't bring link's spirits down, though. he'll meet revali again, he knows it, he can feel it in his heart.

can you guess when the next they meet again is? :)

more time passes, and link is now a champion and zelda's personal knight and is going through his self-imposed silence era. his love for archery remains strong and alive, but he's forced to use the master sword more often these days and he hasn't had a chance to take his favorite swallow bow to the bower and have it maintained. he doesn't want to risk breaking it on the field, so he keeps it at home hung on the wall by his bed. he still thinks about revali, the rito boy who's completely captured his heart at every archery competition, with his dark glossy feathers and piercing green eyes. if link was like the other city girls, he'd be sighing and daydreaming about revali all day (he totally does and he gets whacked in the head during training for slacking off. aryll laughs her ass off at him for it). he wonders when they'll meet again, hopefully soon.

so when zelda mentions that they're going to rito village to check on the rito champion's progress with the divine beast and do diplomacy with the elder, link perks up. he still hasn't been able to visit the village he's desperately wanted to see as a child, the village where the legends of archery were born. maybe he can bring his swallow bow and have it fixed by a rito bower there! even though zelda fucking hates his guts, it can't bring his spirit down. link feels like a child again :) though, link wonders who the rito champion is. zelda didn't mention them by name, only by title, and they're the only champion link hasn't met yet. he wonders...

when they reach rito village, zelda sends him off so she can go talk with the elder and tells him that she doesn't need his protection because she'll be in the hands of the rito guards, so scram. he rolls his eyes when she turns away but does as she says and wanders. rito village is more beautiful than he imagined. the cold air and the breathtaking view of the hebra mountains in the background reminds him of home at hateno which was close to the ever-snowing mount lanayru. the rito people are kind and welcoming and greet him as champion, offering him all sorts of things. he denies, of course, because it's not necessary but indicates that he's very grateful for their hospitality. they smile and seem to have no problem with his silence. he likes it here a lot. he could see himself living here, after the calamity is defeated...

as he wanders, link ends up on a rather large platform with a rito insignia on it, but compared to the other symbols of the rito in the village, this one has wings on it. when he looks up to the sky, the grand divine beast vah medoh is soaring above him in all its ancient stone glory. of the divine beasts he's seen, link thinks this one is the most beautiful. maybe the insignia is representative of medoh?

but as he stands in the center of the platform, staring at the beast of sky, a strong gust of wind begins to swirl at his feet, stronger and stronger until a twister forms in front of him just off the lip of the platform where a dark blue figure shoots up and—

surprise! it's none other than his one and only years-long infatuation, the master archer revali of the rito. as revali lands on the railing of the platform, he crosses his arms and stares down at link with narrowed eyes. link thinks he's going to faint; the rito is so much more beautiful up close. he wills himself not to blush or pass out as revali begins to speak to him (oh god even his voice is nice—)

anyways revali goes through his whole spiel as he does in the revali's flap memory, and link just stares with wide eyes trying not to drool or blush or make a fool of himself because oh my god it's him it's revali he's the rito champion oh my god are we going to be working together ohhhh my god why didn't zelda tell me this i'm going to throw up (positive)

at some point in the memory, revali hops off the railing to circle link, goading him and basically being like I'm Better Than Just Being Your Sidekick Just Because You Have Some Special Little Sword and challenging link to settle the score or whatever, but here link is not paying attention to any of that and is just staring with stars in his eyes because revali is really close to him and he can see just how glossy and shiny revali's feathers are, he can count just how many of his cheek feathers are red—

"hey! are you even listening to a word i say?!" revali snaps and it breaks link's fanboyish haze. he stares at the rito who stands in front of him now, glaring at link with those piercing emerald eyes. he's so beautiful. "you're not even listening to me, are you? well, you—"

"can i get your autograph?" link blurts suddenly. oop. he was not supposed to break his silence. his face immediately flushes pink and his hands fly to cover his mouth, eyes wide.

revali blinks. "...what?" he says, caught off guard, his stance faltering.

"um. your autograph," link repeats, his voice considerably meeker. god this is so embarrassing he's embarrassing himself, revali probably thinks he's a freak. "um, uh i was... i've been a big fan. i watched you at your first hyrule national archery competition. you were amazing."

"you... you did?" revali says, still stunned. his eyes have widened, staring incredulously at link. "you thought i was...?"

"yeah," link whispers. he's practically hiding behind his hands now, feeling the hot flush of embarrassment through his skin. "yeah, of course you were! you completely destroyed the competition, you're basically a legend yourself! you hit more bullseyes in a few seconds then i've ever been able to do in few minutes..." link trails off, hands falling to his sides then hiding behind his back. he looks away shyly, still feeling the burn of embarrassment on his cheeks.

"i've always been more of a bow guy," link mumbles, "and read all about legendary rito archers as a kid. my dad even got me a swallow bow, um... being able to visit rito village was always something i wanted to do as a kid and after i saw you at the competition, i... um... well, i, err—"

"what about the sword?" revali interrupts. link looks up at him and revali's face has an imperceptible expression on it, one that link can't place. revali tilts his chin at the master sword on link's back. "i'd have thought you were more of a sword-wielder than an archer."

link looks away again and scratches the back of his head, sighing. "i mean, it's fine? i have some sort of prodigal skill with all kinds of weapons, and swords are probably one of my stronger suits. but i've loved archery since i was a kid, so..." link looks in a different direction; he can't bear to make eye contact with revali, he might melt. "i'm not gonna call myself a master of it in front of an actual master like yourself, but... i'm not too bad at it."

link kicks at the wooden floor of the landing. "this particular sword has too much responsibility weighing it down anyway," he mumbles.

when he does decide to look back at the rito, revali is staring at him, watching link's every movement and studying his face. "you mean to tell me that the hylian champion actually prefers bows and that you're a fan of mine?" he says. there's no bite or scorn in his voice; it's a genuine question.

link nods. "if it was up to me, there should be a master bow, or something. i'd rather wield that than a sword."

revali stares at him for a couple moments, before snorting and tilting his beak up, tossing his braids over his shoulder. "well," revali mutters, "if you were actually interested in such, i'm working on creating exactly that."

link's eyes widen and suddenly the embarrassment dissipates out of him. "really?" he says, breathlessly, excitedly.

revali glances at him and his prideful expression melts a little. "yes," he says carefully. "it's better than a swallow bow or a falcon bow, or both of them combined. it's going to be the strongest bow in the entirety of hyrule."

"can i see it?" link says excitedly. but then he remembers— revali doesn't seem to like him very much because of the master sword :( so his face falls and he takes a step back. "or— never mind, it's okay if you don't want to. i'm overstepping, you're the master revali, i should—"

"i didn't say no," revali says abruptly. he seems to regret speaking so harsh, and his voice softens a margin. "i didn't say no," revali repeats, more gently. "i wouldn't be averse to... showing you my precious craft. after all, it seems you have some semblance of intellect to appreciate the art of archery, after all." revali looks away, crossing his arms.

"really? you'll show me?" link whispers, eyes impossibly wider. revali looks back at him and they maintain each other's gaze for a moment before the rito gives one slight nod. link could cry from happiness right now. "oh. oh, thank you master revali, i'm really grateful—"

"just 'revali' is fine," the rito says, voice significantly softer than before. "we'll be working together as champions... it's better we establish some rapport and familiarity with each other now." somehow, revali's eyes seem to be less piercing as he keeps link's gaze. link can't pinpoint what it is, but he thinks he likes it a little more.

"okay," link says, quiet and breathless and still starstruck. "okay. thank you then, revali. i look forward to working with you, and getting to see your master bow."

revali hums and bows his head slightly in response. "and i you," he replies. and they're quiet, staring at each other for a couple more moments until revali speaks again.

"you said your archery skills were sufficient," the rito says. "i wish to see what such sufficiency looks like from the wielder of the master sword and someone who claims to have prodigal talent over every weapon."

link tilts his head to the side. "you... want to watch me shoot?"

revali nods once. "most rito train at the flight range, but that place isn't meant for your flightless kind. fortunately, we have plenty of space for grounded archery as well." revali looks away. "only if you wish to."

"i'd love to," link whispers, with stars in his eyes again. "when do we...?"

"now, if you'd like," revali replies. he pauses, looking like he wants to say something else. "i'll... take you there."

"okay," link says. "i'd like that. i'm fine with that."

"okay," revali responds and they're staring at each other again in silence. as much as he doesn't want to, link can feel the pink flush of shyness return to his cheeks, as much as he wills them away. something changes in revali's expression, something link can't name.

but he's met his idol, the master archer revali, who's also the champion of the rito who he'll be working alongside to save hyrule. they'll be around each other a lot, hopefully, and perhaps they could even become friends... or even closer... anyway, this is the best day of link's life!

i imagine they start spending a lot of time together and getting to know each other, revali asking questions about how link came to love archery and discussing rito vs hateno archery, what make up the best qualities for bows and arrows, talking about their favorite rito legends, revali recommending his favorite bower to mend link's swallow bow, revali giving link tips on his form and how to shoot more accurately... revali showing link the flight range even though he can't train there really and link wistfully wishing he could (and the idea of the paraglider is beginning to formulate in revali's mind teehee). when link has to leave to the next place with zelda, they don't really want to part ways but they do and both link and revali are somewhat low-spirited after they do.

link who starts writing letters to revali from wherever he is in hyrule and telling revali not to write back because he doesn't stay in the same place for too long, but that he hopes he can visit again soon. they still both have that odd one-sided rivals to friends tension happening, especially with revali who does a lot of analytical staring before he allows himself to relax and interact with link, and link, who now has to come to terms with his huge crush on revali and trying desperately trying to hide it. they're both fawking freak weirdos lawl but they're cute weirdos trying to get to know each other better and maybe be friends :) maybe be more :))

[starlightshadowsworld]

Au Jason as son of Pluton, Thalia is still daughter of Zeus

Intresting.

If Jason is still apart of the seven, the storm is Percy rather than him.

Pluto having Lupa take Jason because he knows the second Zeus/Jupiter finds out, he'll kill him.

He never quite forgave Hades for what happened to Thalia.

And to stop Beryl from ever trying to use Jason for riches the way Maria Levesque did with Hazel.

Jason's not held to the same standards at Camp Jupiter as he is in canon.

Most people in Camp Jupiter treat him like an ill omen. But whether that's due to his parentage, him being in the 5th cohort, or both... Who knows.

Jason's usually the one who gets stuck dealing with the fallen. Making sure the proper funeral arrangements are completed.

He still becomes Praetor because like it or not, he's good at his job and gets shit done.

He's a great diplomat, fair and honest. And fights for others to be treated fairly and goes against tradition.

And at this point most people haven't seen Jason mad... And their afraid of the day they ever will.

Jason's also lot more crafty and clever than people realise it, but he hides it well.

Everything Jason does is out of survival, he was trained by wolves as a baby and than lived his life as soilder.

And he knows when it comes down to it, he's on his own. It's a fact of his life he's accepted even if it hurts him so. Because all Jason's wants is a family and to be loved.

Jason still defeats Krios singlehandedly.

Jason's abilities include manipulating shadows, control over the earth.

And he's able to sense precious metals and stones in the ground. Though he doesn't have Hazel's curse.

Nico goes undercover at Camp Jupiter after finding out he has a brother and a sister.

Jason and Hazel being siblings could also be used as an explanation as to why Hazel didn't forget Jason.

Them meeting 2 months before he goes missing too...Just missed him.

Jason is intresting because he looks like his mother. And his upbeat attitude makes people forget his true parentage.

Basically they expect Jason to be gloomy and awful but he isn't and that suprises them.

Camp Half Blood is very... Divisive about getting another son Hades. Some are okay with Jason and some just hate him on site and think he's not to be trusted.

Jason has his own cabin and learns what he can about his brother. He's never had family before, though he has to be subtle about it.

It's bizzare to learn he has a sister who's a child of Zeus but surprising everyone, Jason and Thalia get along very well.

He also has his families trait of holding grudges. Jason never forgives the Gods for their inaction during the titan war.

He had to bury... So many and for nothing. So much death could've been avoided if they'd stepped in and he can't let go or that anger.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers CHAOS LINEAGE ー Laito [07]

ー The scene starts in the forest

Laito: Haah, haah...Bitch-chan, are you alright?

Yui: Y-Yeah...I’m more worried about you, actually...

Laito: I can handle this much just fine...

We have to get as far as we can while Azusa-kun is buying us time..Ugh...

Yui: Laito-kun!

Laito: ...Kuh...

Yui: ( He’s quite shaky in his step. We’ve been running non-stop ever since we left the manor after all... )

Let’s hide in the bushes for now.

It doesn’t seem like Ayato-kun and Kanato-kun have closed on us just yet, so it should be fine.

Laito: But...Uu...

Yui: Look, again...! I believe it’d be better to recover some of your stamina instead of pushing yourself to keep going. 

I can’t run for very long either since I just had my blood sucked...

( My head’s been spinning the whole time. But I’m even more concerned about Laito-kun... )

Laito: ...Good point...I guess we should rest up here...

*Rustle* 

Laito: ...Haah...

Yui: The dizziness won’t go away?

Laito: Exactly...If anything, I feel as if it’s getting worse and worse...

Yui: ( I’m pretty sure they’re related to his altered memories. )

( He’s trying to remember, yet he can’t...Which is why the inside of his head has become a mess... )

Laito-kun, would you like to rest your head on my shoulder? I believe it’ll help you feel a little better.

Laito: Fufu...Even though you were screaming for me to stop earlier...

Yui: Now’s not the time for that.

Laito: Right...I’ll take you up on your offer, I suppose.

*Rustle*

Yui: ( Seems like he’s not as irritated as he was before... )

( Or perhaps his dizzy spells are just so bad, he doesn’t even have the time to think about being upset... )

Laito: I didn’t think Ayato-kun and Kanato-kun would choose that exact moment to attack...

Yui: Yeah. It didn’t seem like Ruki-kun or any others were with them, so I guess they came alone?

Laito: I guess so? They probably couldn’t get the taste of your blood out of their heads.

Yui: ( Right...They did say that they weren’t satisfied yet when they drank my blood before... )

Laito: I brought this situation upon us...I guess Carla will actually put my head on the chopping block if they manage to successfully take you away.

Selection

→ I won’t be taken away (♡)

Yui: I won’t be taken away. I don’t want to go with anyone else after all.

Laito: Such passionate words. But...Right now, they feel comforting, I suppose.

Right now, I definitely don’t want to hand you over to some other guy...

Yui: ( Eh? ...Does that mean...? )

( Is he slowly changing because his memories are on the verge of returning...? )

→ I won’t let you get killed (🖤)

Yui: I won’t let you get killed. I’ll jump in between again to stop him.

Laito: Please don’t...It gives me a near-heart attack watching you do that. I don’t get a kick out of that sort of thing.

Yui: B-But I definitely don’t want you to die.

Laito: There you go saying that sorta stuff again...

Laito: Say, I understand if you hold a grudge against me...I threw you under the bus so we could escape. 

I got a kick out of watching other guys suck your blood...and look at where that got us.

Yui: I don’t hold that against you. Besides, don’t talk as if it’s game over. We just have to get out of this situation.

Laito: You’re too kind for this world...I guess I wasn’t that wrong to call you a Saint...

Aah, I guess that’s not true. A holy woman would never make such lewd expressions while she’s being defiled...

Yui: Excuse me...!? Now’s not the time for that, is it?

...Hey, Laito-kun?

Laito: ...

*Thud* 

Yui: Laito-kun!? Laito-kun...!

( He’s unconscious...W-What nowーー )

ー She hears footsteps in the distance

Yui: ( ...Footsteps!? )

Kanato: So this is where you’re hiding. We’ve been looking for you.

Ayato: Hehe...No point in trying to run, you see?

Yui: ( They caught up to us...Now, out of all times... )

( Since they both made it here, I wonder if Azusa-kun is okay...? )

Kanato: ...? Is that Laito collapsed on the ground over there?

Ayato: Haah? He kicked the bucket already? I was so ready to fight him as well. Talk about a let-down!

Kanato: Oh well, this is fine. I only have business with Eve after all.

Ayato: So do I! Come on, this way.

Yui: Kyaah!

*Thud*

Yui: S-Stop...Put me down!

Ayato: Stop screeching in my ear! Shut up!

Yui: Laito-kun...Laito-kun...!!

( I’ll be taken away at this rate. Laito-kun...! )

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to an open area in the forest

Ayato: There you go!

Yui: Kyaah!

*Thud* 

Yui: ( He didn’t have to throw me on the ground... )

Ayato: I guess we should be in the clear after making it this far.

Kanato: Exactly. Well then, I shall be taking Eve now.

Ayato: Aah? The fuck are you sayin’!? Who do you think carried her the whole way here!?

Kanato: Oh come on, get off your high horse when all you did was carry her.

Yui: ( They’re arguing...? I guess they took me here to have my blood after all. )

( But perhaps I can quietly sneak away while they’re quarreling... )

Ayato: ...Oi, you. Don’t be tryin’ to escape.

Yui: Kyah!?

Kanato: Do you truly believe you could get away from us? That’s quite the assumption to make.

Yui: I-I wasn’t trying to run or anything...

( It doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to escape after all...! )

Ayato: Anyway, she just doesn’t look that special to me, no matter how many times I see her.

Kanato: I don’t mind that. Her blood being exceptional is what matters to me. I could care less about everything else.

Ayato: Well, I guess nothing else matters as long as her blood’s delicious.

*Rustle* 

Yui: Stop...Don’t come any closer...

( If they manage to catch me, they’ll gang up on me again like last timeーー )

( ...My body’s shaking just from remembering it... )

Ayato: ...Hm? The scent of her blood changed?

Kanato: You’re right. It smells even richer than before. I suppose it’s because she’s frightened?

Fufu, I just had a great idea! I shall take care of all the ‘prep work’. All to make her blood taste even more delicious. 

Yui: ( Make my blood more delicious...? What does he plan to do...? )

Kanato: This branch should do the trick.

*Crack* 

Ayato: Why did you snap it off? You’re not gonna stab her with it, are you?

Kanato: I’m not you, I’d never do that.

I happen to have a box of matches on me which I brought from home. I’ll set this branch on fire...

ー Kanato lights the branch on fire

Kanato: Fufu...I’m pretty sure her blood will become even more rich if we give her a scare.

Ayato: I get it now.

ー They approach

Yui: No way...S-Stop...

Kanato: Come on, give me your arm? I’ll press this against it.

*Woosh* 

Yui: No!!

( It’s hot...The flame brushed against my arm...! )

Kanato: Just as thought, the scent of your blood keeps on growing richer.

I’m pretty sure it’ll become even more delicious if we use this fire to scorch her.

Yui: N-No way...I’m begging you, cut it out, both of you...!

Ayato: You should know your place, prey! In fact, you should be grateful that we’re willing to drink your blood!

Kanato: Exactly, you should be thankful! We’re taking our time to ‘season’ you to perfection after all. 

Yui: Hot...! No...Stop...!

Kanato: Fufu...Your teeth are clattering. Are you that terrified? 

Of course you are. One wrong move and you could get badly burnt. 

However, I won’t let you go. Please offer your high-quality blood to me.

Yui: ( The flame is approaching...If he were to press it against my skinーー )

No...Somebody...

Laito-kun!!

???: Cut it out...

Yui: Eh...?

Laito: Move that hand away...

Yui: Laito-kun...

( He came to my rescue...! )

Ayato: Che, you followed us? You should have just stayed out cold. 

Laito: ...Both of you...Don’t take it any further...

Ayato: Aah? And why do we have to listen to you, huh?

You’re stumblin’ ‘bout like a newborn fawn. You want to try and take me on like that?

Laito: I do...Kuh...

*Thud*

Yui: Laito-kun!

Kanato: How pathetic. Why don’t you just stay there on your knees and watch? What happens to this girl, that is.

Yui: Kyaah!

Kanato: Don’t make such a fuss. What if I accidentally set you on fire!?

Laito: ...! Set on fire...? 

ー Laito gets flashbacks again

Laito: ...Right, it happenedーー on the balcony...

Ayato: Ah? Whatcha mumblin’ ‘bout? 

Yui: Laito-kun...?

Laito: Ayato-kun was the one...who started it all...

Ayato: Hah? Me...?

Laito: Afterwards, I delivered the next blow. Then last was...Kanato-kun.

Kanato: Why are you mentioning me? What are you talking about?

Laito: I don’t know...But I’m positive that in the end, that woman was burnt to ashes...

Right, she went up into flames...That woman...And the one who has her heart is...

*Woosh*

Laito: Uu...Aah...Aaaaaah!!

Yui: Laito-kun!

Kanato: He went absolutely bonkers. Talk about being a nuisance to those around you.

Ayato: But somethin’ seems off, no?

Yui: Laito-kun! Laito-kun!! Please, get a grip!

Laito: Uu...Kuuh...

Yui: Laito-kun!!

( He suddenly started screaming, is he alright...? )

Laito: Haah, haah...Please don’t look so worried. I’m...fine, okay...?

I’m just fine...Yui-chan.

Yui: ( Eh? What did he say just now...? )

Laito: You two...You’re trying to burn the wrong girl...

In the past...We ended that woman’s life...

Don’t you dareーー make that same mistake again with her.

Ayato: Wha...?

Kanato: ...

Yui: ( Is he mad, maybe...? Laito-kun is... )

Monologue

Laito-kun was burning with rage within,

despite staying silent.

I could tell that even Ayato-kun and Kanato-kun,

held their breath at the impact of this.

Amidst still trying understand

everything that was going on,

I thought back to the words which I most definitely heard.

Laito-kun,

he called my nameーー

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

[kagoutiss]

Actually I'm not done talking about your Ganondorf yet, he's so blorbo/pos, this man wants power but has to put up with so much shit that he makes everyone else put up with his shit too. 10/10 also I would like to kiss him please

FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU AGAIN AAA, SECOND OF ALL you’re so right about this that i ended up…writing many paragraphs of character analysis about him in this regard because this activated something in my brain. like about him inflicting shit on other people because of the shit that’s inflicted on him, and how much i’ve thought about that. i have so many feelings about his shitty personality, i think a fundamental part of why i love him is that he is…literally an asshole and he’s kind of impulsive and often terrible to people for no reason and he’s probably genuinely unbearable to be around even if you are close to him, but i think he is that way by virtue of the COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE REALITY that he lives in?? like.

ok so. i feel like OoT ganondorf is AS unpredictable & unreasonable & unpleasant as the circumstances that he lives with. we’re talking about someone who was not only born into the role of king of a nation that’s been generationally abused by Hyrule since the start of a centuries-long war predating OoT, but he’s also become accustomed to fighting against the Sheikah of that time period, who notably still had an immense technological advantage, and apparently inherit divine knowledge from the gods, and are capable of making evidence of their crimes against humanity just sort of…DISAPPEAR from the sight of most average people??? and also they. fucking invented time travel apparently

one of my favorite bits of really underrated OoT lore is how the Composer Brothers (who you can speak to as ghosts in the Kakariko Graveyard) were hired at some point by the royal family to study the powers of the royal bloodline, and they invented the Sun’s Song, which accelerates time, turns night to day, etc. a form of time travel, in essence. and. canonically. the Composer Brothers committed suicide when they found out ganondorf was going to try to steal their completed research. maybe to prevent him from torturing the the information out of them even if they destroyed it? which is a completely fucking batshit piece of lore that i still cannot believe exists

but imo it also gives a bit more context as to how desperate ganondorf probably was at the heel end of the civil war, or whenever this happened. he was literally having to contend with people who can fucking time travel, and to some extent, alter reality at will, superficially or otherwise. i’m not at all surprised that he has a tendency to 1) hold grudges forever and remember everything that’s ever been done to him, and 2) obsess over stealing the full Triforce, the one chance that any regular mortal has at changing their reality in a fundamental way. i think it’s probably difficult to make real personal connections when you’ve always been constantly at risk of losing anything & everything that you care about, in a way that may or may not affect whether those things had ever existed in the first place

i also feel like he PREFERS to be demonized/label himself really hyperbolic things like the King of All Evil and stuff because it’s…the opposite of what Hyrule does. Hyrule makes itself out to be this Supremely Benevolent Institution That Is Chosen By The Gods And Can Do No Wrong, while simultaneously disappearing its naysayers underground and torturing them and killing them and committing genocide against any territories that refuse to be absorbed under the Hyrulean banner. i don’t think Ganondorf cares whether his actions are necessarily good or evil, but i think that to him, the most abhorrent thing in existence is a thing that claims to be good when it isn’t.

so. he presumably spent his entire early life having to fend off the ever-looming bootheel of Hyrule’s royal family, while their army and their secret police were actively destroying the Gerudo and then gaslighting them all about it on an Existential Level. like. yeah no i think him having immense issues and…projecting the lack of control that he feels onto people around him, and being fully defined by his ambitions to take the triforce, and wanting people to despise him/see him as fundamentally evil, and him being sort of incapable of forming genuine connections with people, is…kinda par for the course with that agdkahkfjagajfhs

[winterlogysblog]

Dynamics of the Four Knights of the Apocalypse (so far)

Note: I'll be talking about the three main pairs we have seen in the story as for now.

Tristan and Lancelot

I'll start with this cause I have a pretty unpopular opinion about this. THEY'RE NOT BEST FRIENDS. I know it's hard, it's hard to hear, it's hard to accept but ... Hear me out. Lancelot and Tristan just doesn't give me that best friends vibes and I suppose it's just the fandom's expectations because Meliodas and Ban are best friends so their kids also to be right? Well, no cause let me tell you about a little movie called Grudge of Edinburgh part 1 and 2. Lancelot is an ass in that movie lemme tell ya. Boy! Lancelot is over here trashing Tristan cause he doesn't go all out on his powers cause he doesn't wanna hurt people in which he has a valid reason to be scared. I mean seriously Tristan is the reason Lancelot got that scar on his forehead because he lost control of his demon side. Lancelot you saw that, you were there, you should understand buddy. I know you got so much more powerful since then but come on try to understand Tristan's situation in this. Also, another thing, Lancelot just seems so done with Tristan like he doesn't even want him to be there, like he's a nuisance slowing him down.

Fast forward to Four Knights! I suppose their relationship got better... I guess. I mean, they have definitely formed this bond of trust between them. Awesome, that's good. They know a whole lotta stuff about each other as all good friends should, that's great. Narratively, they knew each other the longest. But really, that's the end of it.

I honestly view them to have a rivalry type situation where they both seek to be better than the other. Like that one panel where Tristan is focused on his training while he remembers Meliodas cheering and hyping up Lancelot so it kinda is a motivation for him to just be stronger, be better than Lancelot so he can have that validation from his father. Lancelot again is over here being the greatest he can ever be because he too seeks that validation from his papa and he knows Tristan's capabilities so he wants to push himself to be greater than what Tristan could become. They're frienemies.

If I could compare their dynamic to any of the Sins. I'd say it's giving, Ban and King but less violent and more friendly. Does that make sense?

Lancelot and Percival

Now this is where I can agree with the community. Lancelot is definitely Percival's big brother and in my personal opinion in a way Percival, Anne, Donny and Nasiens softens Lancelot's character and it's in progression too cause in the earlier parts of the narrative Lancelot didn't seem to care as much about them than he does today. He's there because that's his mission point blank period but as he spends time with them and saw them improve and grow as people he started to care for them as well and now he's like a proud big bro looking over at how far they have come.

Gawain and Tristan

Gawain and Tristan actually complement each other's personality really well. Their team up against the Testament Best is proof of that. Gawain is so much more at ease with Tristan and because of her personality I can definitely see her continuing to be this person to help Tristan get back on his feet whenever he's down and doubting himself and Tristan could be this person to help Gawain become much more comfortable and closer to the rest of the squad.

[nyerus]

Hello, I saw your blog as a place to know about TGCF. Do you mind if I ask something as a new of TGCG? So if Lan Ying is Jun Wu in disguise does it mean from the start of the story, it's Jun Wu all along? Also, if He Xuan already fulfill his retribution to Shi Wu Du, how come he is still on earth and not moving on? Sorry for my silly ask, @nyerus ....

Hi there! I don't mind answering at all! Welcome to the fandom!

Lang Ying was not Jun Wu in disguise! Jun Wu used him to recuperate his "clone" of Bai Wuxiang (it's not very clear as to what's going on there). But the child Lang Ying who stayed with Xie Lian in Puqi for a short while was originally the nephew of the King Lang Ying -- the man who Xie Lian helped in Book 2 (not volume 2, but the actual arc), but who then betrayed him and ended up becoming the King of Yong'An. The nephew at some point contracted Human Face Disease and ran away before he was killed by the others, only to apparently succumb anyway. (It's implied he also saw Xie Lian in the throne room in Book/Arc 4 when Xie Lian confronted King Lang Ying.) We aren't ever told what happened between the boy and Jun Wu, but by some method, Jun Wu convinced him to agree to harbor Bai Wuxiang on his person to leech from.

The question about Shi Wudu and He Xuan is a bit complicated and leaves room for a little bit of interpretation. But to keep it short and give you the jist of it: it's because He Xuan's retribution was unsatisfying. He killed Shi Wudu, but Shi Wudu basically went out the victor in the scenario. He died laughing that he and his brother lived lavishly at the expense of He Xuan for centuries, while He Xuan toiled away instead. Shi Wudu was not remorseful in the slightest, did not beg for mercy or forgiveness, nothing. What meaning does He Xuan's revenge have, then? Basically nothing. And though Shi Qingxuan too benefitted from He Xuan's fate, he was unknowing of it, and though he chose his brother in the end, it is difficult to blame him for that. Though, He Xuan very much thought of Shi Qingxuan failing the impossible test he set out for him. It's hypocritical because He Xuan took the fate/life of an innocent person (real Ming Yi, though He Xuan is not the one who killed the man -- just you know, imprisoned and impersonated him for ages) just as Shi Wudu had, for the sake of his own family. There were no victors in that situation: only losers! Naturally, He Xuan would feel his grudge to be rather unfulfilled. But eventually, he'd probably just fade away without much of anything to keep tying him to the mortal plane as the years go by.

I hope these answered helped shed some clarity! They're definitely two of the most confusing aspects of the novel haha!