#bad lads

[lonelysnowyart]

quick tristamp version of beremy since my boy was missing from the episode with the bad lads 😔

[why-its-kai]

Full resolution detail scans of the production materials printed in the "Monthly Satellite Times" newspaper insert included in the Trigun Stage 4 Laserdisc release. (2/2)

Scanned, stitched together, newsprint paper texture removed by me.

13. Sandsteamer crewmen's heat-resistant clothing 14. Humpback class sandsteamer (front) 15. Humpback class sandsteamer (rear) 16. Humpback class sandsteamer bridge (front) 17. Humpback class sandsteamer suspension 18. Humpback class sandsteamer 19. Humpback class sandsteamer cockpit 20. Kaite (bandaged) 21. Kaite 22. Kaite (heat-resistant clothing) 23. Kaite's father (Richard Trevisick) 24. Milly & Meryl (Bad Lad disguises) 25. Milly & Meryl (pajamas)

[lost-technology]

Bad Lad Yeehawgust Day 9 - Masked Bandit [IMG ID: A man in a black hazmat-like suit and gas-mask decorated with green neon glowing tubes against a black landscape and a night sky. / IMG ID] One of the Bad Lad bandits - Trigun '98 and Trigun Maximum style (because while the Trigun Stampede versions of them were more colorful, they were a little more complicated and I prefer the old school design).

[yapperingtinaa]

Crying in Sylus's arms when things get overwhelmingly bad, his heart aches at the sight of you struggling to stop the tears, your cries muffled against his broad chest.

Sylus's mind raced with anything he could think of to help you feel better - he'd thought of preparing the shooting range to let out all your frustrations or cook your favourite dishes or even coaxing you to go out to get some fresh air together.

But no, you didn't want any of that, with your arms wrapped tightly around his middle as you buried your tear-streaked face into his shoulder, your voice a pained whisper as he listened to your small plea -

"Stay, please." Your voice cracked slightly from all the crying, your body trembling from the intense emotions you were feeling as you slowly lifted your face to look up at him, your expression utterly distraught and exhausted. "I don't want anything else. Just you, please."

You didn't need to tell him twice as Sylus's arms instinctively pulled you closer to him, one hand moved up to cup your cheek as he gently wiped away the tears. "Shh. Its okay."

He pressed a soft kiss on your forehead before holding you firmer in his arms, the warmth of his body and his soothing reassurance made you melt against his hold. "Everything will be okay. I won't ever leave you alone."

A single tear rolled down your cheek as you closed your eyes, letting out a shaky sigh, you rested comfortably against him. His hand caressing your back to soothe you more, his calm voice echoing in your mind before the fatigue finally settled in as you fell asleep in his embrace.

"Rest, my beloved. I'll be here when you wake up."

[dollgxtz]

When Pleasure Calls

Word Count: 1.8k

Summary: In the middle of sex, Sylus gets a business call...only he decides he doesn't want to stop ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

Tags: sylus x fem!reader, penetration, unprotected sex, creampie, teasing, humiliation, use of evol, use of petnames like kitten, oneshot

AN: Okay so this is loosely based on a tweet I saw and it literally wouldn't leave my brain until I wrote it....so here we are. I figured the best way to end my break and start being more active again was to start writing all the fics that won't leave my head. Enjoy!

Sylus was balls deep inside you, each thrust a raw, primal connection that left you both breathless. The room was filled with the sound of skin against skin, your moans mixing with his low groans, creating a rhythm that was all your own. His hands gripped your hips, guiding your movements, keeping you both locked in the moment, lost to everything but each other.

It had been an entire week since you’d spent any real time together—a week that felt more like a year. Sylus didn’t waste a second making up for the lost time. What started as an innocent cuddle on his bed, his arm lazily slung over your waist, quickly shifted into something else entirely. One minute, he was tracing slow circles on your back, murmuring something about how much he’d missed you, and the next, the air between you thickened, charged with unspoken need.

Somehow, without either of you meaning to, that easy closeness morphed into a full-blown, heated mess of tangled limbs and stolen breaths. His lips found yours, first soft and teasing, then hungry and demanding, as if he needed to make up for every second you’d been apart. Before long, the room was filled with the sound of muffled laughter, whispered names, and the quiet creak of the mattress as you lost yourselves in each other.

His hands roamed over you with a possessive tenderness, fingers tracing the curves of your body, memorizing the lines anew with every pass. The weight of him above you was a comforting pressure, a grounding force as you surrendered to the tide of sensation, every thrust a wave that built the pleasure higher and higher, threatening to crash over you.

"Nghn, right there! Don't stop, please..." you pleaded, your voice hoarse with desire, your fingers digging into his muscular frame as if your life depended on it. Sylus, attuned to your every need, knew he had found that sweet spot within you, that spongy, pleasure-laden tissue that sent sparks of delight through your body.

Just as he increased the pace, his thrusts becoming faster and harder, driving you closer to the edge of ecstasy, the sharp ring of his phone cut through the air like a knife, slicing through the intimate atmosphere. You froze, your eyes widening as you glanced at the illuminated screen, the unfamiliar contact name confirming your suspicion—one of Sylus's business associates.

Sylus sighed, his brow furrowing as he eyed the screen with a mix of annoyance and detachment. "I can call them back later. I’m busy right now."

That’s when it hit you—the mission. The Hunters Association’s urgent directive to recover the stolen protocore, traded away through shady backchannels. You had completely forgotten about it until now. The urgency surged through you like a jolt of electricity. Without thinking, you grabbed his arm. "Didn’t you say you were expecting a call about the protocore? This could be it. I need that lead for the Association. Answer it," you urged, your voice firm despite the sharp look Sylus threw your way.

He blinked, then smirked, the kind that was equal parts amused and incredulous. "I don’t think I’ll ever get used to my kitten barking orders at me," he said, his tone dripping with lazy charm. But to your relief, he reached for the phone anyway. "Alright, boss. Consider it a favor."

He pressed the screen and lifted it to his ear. His voice dropped into that cool, no-nonsense register you’d heard a dozen times before.

"Speak."

The man on the other end began to speak and you realized Sylus was still halfway inside you. Thinking the fun was over for now, you started to move out from under him, ready to let the moment pass. But Sylus wasn't done. His hand pressed you back down against the bed, and before you knew it, he was thrusting into you again, impossibly deeper this time, his cock filling you completely.

You struggled, caught between surprise and arousal, your body pinned beneath his, his cock completely filling you with each powerful thrust. You tried to silently plead for him to stop, embarrassed by the situation, but your words were lost in the quiet moans that escaped your lips as he pounded into you, his pace relentless. You quickly covered your mouth with your hands, trying to will yourself to quiet down.

"I'll only meet tomorrow. That's firm" he said into the phone, his voice steady despite fiercely pounding and stretching your pussy. As if this took zero amount of effort from him. You tried to keep quiet, biting your lip and keeping your hands pressed to your mouth to stop the sounds from escaping, but it was hard. Each thrust sent ripples of pleasure through you, making it nearly impossible to maintain your composure.

You attempted to scoot back against the bed, seeking respite from the pleasure Sylus was delivering, but your efforts were in vain. With a swift and possessive motion, he wrapped his powerful Evol around your waist, pulling you back onto his cock, sealing your body to his, ensuring you couldn't escape the sensations he was about to unleash.

"Ah...ah..." you panted, your breath coming in short gasps as he thrust deeper, his cock seeking out that sensitive spot within you once more, very determined to bring you right to the edge.

Sylus kept talking, his voice smooth and calm, even as he moved inside you with a fierce rhythm. The phone call was just background noise to you, but you caught snippets of his conversation, the professional tone at odds with what was happening.

"Yes, I understand," he murmured between thrusts, his voice a soothing contrast to the pounding of his cock against your sensitive walls. "No tricks, or foul play. You should know how this goes by now."

You were struggling, trying to focus on anything but the way he was driving you closer to the edge. Each thrust felt like it was pushing you further into a world where nothing else mattered but the heat and friction between you.

Minutes ticked by as this humiliation continued. How much longer could you hold on? How much longer would he torture you like this? The question echoed in your mind, a desperate plea for relief as your body teetered on the brink of finishing.

Sylus's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and desire as he looked down at you, fully aware of the power he held over your pleasure. He knew exactly how close you were, how your body trembled on the precipice of release, and he relished the control he had, maintaining a casual conversation while pushing you to the brink.

A knowing smirk played on his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the game he was playing—testing your limits, seeing how far he could take you while keeping up the pretense of a casual chat. His eyes held a challenge, daring you to surrender, to let go of your control, even as he kept his voice calm and composed, a stark contrast to the raw passion he was eliciting from your body.

He continued his steady thrusts, his movements purposeful, each one designed to drive you further into a world of pleasure, where resistance was futile, and surrender was the only option. Sylus took pleasure in watching you struggle, your body betraying your attempts to hold on, even as he maintained his casual conversation, a master of this sensual game.

"Yes, that will do," Sylus confirmed, his voice steady, his pace merciless as he continued to thrust into you. "I'll have my men prepare the meeting."

Your response was a muffled moan, your body arching against his, unable to form words as the pleasure overwhelmed you. "Mghn... Ah!" you cried out into your hand, your voice a mixture of surrender and ecstasy, your body trembling on the edge of release, the sensations too powerful to hold back.

Sylus, his body slightly glistening with sweat, paused for a moment, his thrusts slowing as he looked down at you with an intense gaze. His eyes, red and smoldering, held a silent command, a silent invitation for you to surrender completely. A slight smirk played on his lips as he watched you, his expression conveying a clear message:

"Go ahead, cum for me."

The tension inside you coiled tighter, every nerve screaming for release as he begun to pick up the pace once more. You bit down on your hand, trying to keep the sounds from escaping, but it was a losing battle. Sylus's thrusts were unrelenting, each one bringing you closer, until finally, with one last, deep push, he let go, pumping his hot and sticky seed deep into your belly just as he wrapped up his call.

The sensation was too much, too intense to resist. Your body tensed around him, shaking with the force of your orgasm, your muffled moans filling the room as you rode the waves of pleasure crashing through you.

"Alright. See you then," Sylus said, finally hanging up the call. He pulled out slowly, leaving you both breathless and spent, the hum of the conversation now just a memory drowned out by the echo of your shared climax.

You lay there, catching your breath, the remnants of your climax still thrumming through your veins. But as the haze of pleasure began to clear, irritation started to bubble up inside you. You propped yourself up on your elbows, shooting Sylus a look that could melt steel.

"Seriously?!"

He caught your gaze and simply chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that only fueled your annoyance. "Oh, don't act like you didn't like it," he said with a grin, clearly amused by your reaction. "How could I ignore a needy kitten in heat for a phone call instead?"

Your glare could have sliced through stone, but he just shrugged, unfazed by your anger. "Besides," he continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he chuckled, "I'm great at multitasking. I just secured you that protocore and made you cum while doing so. Shouldn't you be overjoyed right now?"

Despite your best efforts to hold onto your anger, the corners of your mouth betrayed you, tugging upwards into a reluctant smile. The heat rising to your cheeks was undeniable, a flush that had nothing to do with anger. His laughter was infectious, and before you knew it, you were chuckling too, shaking your head at the absurdity of it all.

"Alright, alright," you conceded with a playful roll of your eyes. "I'll forgive you this one time, but don't think this is going to be a regular thing."

Sylus grinned, clearly pleased with your surrender. "Deal," he said, his tone warm and teasing. He moved with that easy confidence of his, leaning down to scoop you up effortlessly, cradling you against his chest.

"Let's get you cleaned up," he murmured, carrying you towards the bathroom with a tenderness that were a stark contrast to the intensity of moments before. His touch was gentle now, a soothing balm to the fire that had raged between you, and you found yourself relaxing into his hold, the last remnants of your irritation melting away as you settled into the comfort of his embrace.

[aomiiine]

caleb + fem!reader warning(s) -> nsfw MDNI, not proofread, breeding, doggy style, shooting blanks, cumflation/cum bulge, implied marathon sex

small thought but it seems to me in my mind that caleb would fuck you doggy style on his bed, cum multiple times inside you until the last load, he leans down the arch of your back to nuzzle up by your ear for a teasing comment. But then the cherry on top would be his arm scooping under your body, lifting you off the bed just enough to give room for his hand to rub your lower belly where he pumped you full to the brim, long slender fingers tracing his name over the bulge he made from his semen, along with some pussy drunk hearts.

Then he pushes your face back onto his pillow once he decides your little chest heaving break is done to force his cock back and forth into your cum filled pussy even though he knows he has nothing left to shoot inside you. He keeps going just to see you break beneath him, until you’d feel ghosts of his hot cum making you twitch and sob feeling as if he’s filling you again even though he came dry

[mihanisms]

yan!caleb thoughts

— porn with no plot. written before caleb release and very self-infulgent; may not stay true to his character after release. I just want a domineering yandere man who wants to give me backshots and lock me up please infold please.

— mean caleb, overstimulation, slight breeding kink, dumbification / themes of mindbreaking, very very lightly sprinkled angst. implied passing out due to sex? dark undertones, but caleb will never forget to give you good aftercare....after he fucks the everloving shit out of your system.

y'all have heard this a thousand times but caleb definitely likes to use his evol to hold you down as he fucks you. if you ever give him attitude, his evol will come out and you'll find yourself kneeling on the ground, his voice light yet carrying that underlying hint of strict desire as he tilts your head up with two fingers.

"it seems like a certain princess here has forgotten how to behave...again. do i need to remind you that you are the one being covered for by me, pipsqueak?" his gaze grows darker and darker as he speaks, his thumb brushing over your lips as you stutter out a response, giving him a pleading look to try and plead for mercy - but it wouldn't work on him. not anymore.

so when you find yourself being bent over the bed, his hips harshly thrusting into your g-spot, you could no longer muster any words besides broken apologies for mercy, hands gripping at the sheets as he repeatedly ruts against you, his voice rough and far, far from the sweet childhood boy you once knew as he growls into your ear.

"come on, princess, where did all your words go?" his hand pushes down on the arch of your back as his teeth find the nape of your neck, sinking into your skin and marking you as his. the only thing that escapes you is a weak cry, any response you try to muster up immediately interrupted by a well-timed thrust to your gummy spots or a harsh flick against your clit. you had lost count of the amount of orgasms caleb pulled from your body - hell, you weren't even aware you could cum this much from a single session. but you were left fucked dumb, the only thing on your mind being his cock sliding in and out of your gushing cunt as you fade in and out of consciousness. meanwhile, caleb's thrusts never once faltered, his cock splurting seemingly endless amounts of cum into your already-filled pussy. in the back of his mind, he wondered if your stomach would swell with his cum - or maybe, his child?

his eyes were wild with possessive lust as various ways he could keep you chained to his side emotionally, physically, or however else he could ran through his mind. maybe he could get you so dependent on his cock you couldn't live without it, although that seemed to already be the case with the way your hands were weakly gripping the sheets and your entire body was quivering under his touch, any protests silenced and replaced with soft mewls and pretty moans.

and when he finally, finally found himself satiated, he found his hands clinging to the curves of your body as he cleaned you up, your awareness long gone as he curled up next to you on the bed. his thumbs run over the apple of your cheek and his lips find the edge of your hairline as he leaves gentle kisses on your face. "you're finally home," he whispers in your ear, hands pressing your body against his. "and i'll never leave you alone again, princess."

[honestlyitsjustsam]

not stopping for 9 hours straight...WHAT was in that brandy?!

+ Hans cuz i like bothering him

[moopsoup]

zayne who is quite literally addicted to you. there isn’t a single place in your apartment or his house that hasn’t felt the heat of his obsession. the kitchen counter where he bent you over while dinner got cold. the bathroom sink where he made you watch yourself cum on his cock. the couch where he had you spread open, hands gripping your thighs, fucking into you slow, deep, making you take every inch until you were trembling.

he’s insatiable. it doesn’t matter if you just got home from work all sweaty. he’ll drink your sweat to get the point across—he needs you. his hands are already on you, already tugging at your clothes, already pressing you into the nearest surface like it’s instinct, like he physically can’t go without feeling you wrapped around him.

“you know I can’t help it….” he murmurs, breath hot against your neck, his fingers already prying your thighs apart. his voice is smooth, calm, but his body betrays him. his breath hitching when you press against him, the pink dusting his cheeks, that hazy look in his eyes, the way his grip tightens like he’s starving for you. “just one more time. right here.” and he’s already sliding your panties down. this was the third time you’ve fucked today and you were sure it wouldn’t be the last.

[amriedrws]

a silly little comic about living in peak caleb delusion… honestly, i’m here for it 🍎 (read L->R)

[why-its-kai]

Full resolution detail scans of the production materials printed in the "Monthly Satellite Times" newspaper insert included in the Trigun Stage 4 Laserdisc release. (1/2)

Scanned, stitched together, newsprint paper texture removed by me.

Bad Lad

Assault rifle used by the Bad Lads

Neon's 45 Magnam B•D Special gun

Brilliant Dynamites Neon (1)

Brilliant Dynamites Neon (2)

Character height chart for episodes 7 & 8

Neon's armored car (1)

Neon's armored car (2)

Neon's armored car (3)

Sandsteamer captain

Tour conductor

Sandsteamer crewmen

[buckiverse]

☆ warnings: mdni, this is literally just a description of how caleb, zayne, and sylus jerk off and if they watch porn

☆ a/n: I have officially decided all the boys are virgins, so i feel it's only right to write about them yearning for you but also being overcome with guilt <3

☆ Caleb

Caleb has spent so long secretly admiring you, adoring you. All he wants is for you to like him the same—but Caleb is patient. Caleb understands long-suffering and is willing to wait for you. He won’t force you to come to him. You have to want it—this, as he does. With this being said, for a long time, he will not watch porn. He’ll feel bad like he’s betraying you—like you’ll know he lusted after another person. 

When you both go to college, he’d spend more time away from you for the first time, and he wouldn’t even dare to think about letting another woman touch him. He’d even have you act as a liaison, discouraging others from approaching him romantically. That didn’t mean that he hadn’t heard stories of what his friends were doing in bed, the fantasies they were living out—now he was curious. 

He’s not a boy anymore, and this is different—it’s educational, he’d tell himself. When the video loaded, a woman, blindfolded, a vibrator pressed between her folds. Teasing her clit gently. The blush spread on his face furiously as he felt himself getting hard. He watched as she writhed against the toy, but not daring to close her legs as her partner commanded. He could feel the heat spreading across his neck—taking mental notes. He would love to do this to you.

Though he had no experience, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t make love to you so good you’d never want to leave. He’d read books and look at fanart, especially of things you like. If you tell him about the latest manhwa you’re reading, best believe he's going to study that shit like no other. You read romance? Well, now he does, too. 

He might even have a whole notepad. Seeing what works, what he likes, what he thinks you might like. He knows you well enough to guess, though he’d definitely ask you directly. 

But when Caleb touches himself, he’d do it with a stolen pair of panties. Sometimes, the washer would eat your socks, underwear, and towels, which was nothing new.

Now, speaking of guilt, he knows this is horrible for him, but he doesn’t know what else to do with himself. But when Caleb saw the pair, unwashed and forgotten in the washer, he couldn’t help but pick them up and stuff them in his pocket. Now he closes his eyes, stroking himself slowly, the underwear in his mouth to muffle the noises from his lips, hoping you wouldn’t hear him. He decided this would do. Using little pieces of you to get himself off. 

He would think of the times before college when he could hear your muffled moans and breaths coming from your room late at night and secretly press his head against your shared wall, trying to listen to you better. He couldn’t wait to use his newfound knowledge on you. He’s just eagerly waiting. 

☆ Zayne

Zayne wants to be romantically involved with you. He desires—yearns for it. But he knows that's not the current state of your relationship and will respect the pace at which you want to take things. His busy life keeps him occupied. He almost relies on it to monopolize his attention since he can’t give it all to you. But it doesn’t stop the guilt he feels—watching porn. 

It takes a lot for him actually to touch himself. He won’t do it often. Yet. It would be an actual internal conflict for him. When he finally decided he was going to watch porn, he would make it quick. The cold metal of his phone in his hand, the dark screen reflecting at him, would almost snap Zayne out of it—but he’s currently wrapped up in his lust. Even so, he still feels like he’s being unfaithful to you—the idea of you more accurately. 

He’ll decide only to watch one while allowing the video to load. He’s just desperate to get off at the moment. It’s almost painful, the way his cock is straining against his slacks. Lately, waiting or sleeping it off hasn’t been working. He’d been so pent up that Zayne stayed hard the whole drive home, and now he gave in. 

It's a short video, but fuck it was hot. The woman squirmed underneath her partner. And Zayne’s pupils blew wide when he saw him suck on her clit, and he could hear the *pop* of his lips detaching from her folds. The groan that fell from her lips when he pushed his tongue inside her—how his arms kept her legs pinned down, though her hips bucked upwards. 

He wanted to do that to you badly. So bad that he closed his eyes, his head thrown back, his lips parted as he leaned back in the chair, jerking himself fast. He had to have you—he couldn’t take it anymore. And he came so fucking hard, and when he finally opened his eyes, he saw the come all over his slacks.

But the guilt was quickly spreading through his chest. It almost feels like he has desires towards the people in the video, but honestly, all he wants is you. He’s never even touched another woman—but still, he felt mortified at the idea that you’d look at him and know what he was doing late at night, imagining it was you there.  

He would never touch another woman. You are all he has wanted since he was a child. Even back then, he only wanted to be connected to you, keeping other girls at a distance even into his adulthood. But maybe now that was catching up to him.

☆ Sylus

Sylus is patient—but only with you. He’d been frustrated for a while. Between your apparent hatred of him and the chaos in the N109 zone, it was slowly eating away at him. Still, no matter how adamant you were about holding your grudge, he’d never be angry with you. Disappointed? Maybe. But never angry.

He loved the game you were playing but wanted—needed—more of you. You were bonded to him, whether you realized it or not. Fated. And the longer you pretended to hate him, the more amused he became. Sylus knew your walls were crumbling, piece by piece.

Like the patient man he is, he waited. Even as you kept those walls standing, even as you unknowingly softened him in ways he never expected—he never sought out distractions. He wouldn’t watch porn. He didn’t need to. First of all, he was busy. Running a city, being a crime boss. You know, important stuff.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t come home late at night, exhausted, missing you. That he didn’t lie in bed on his stomach, the ache of longing settling deep. He might even pull a pillow beneath him, letting it fill the empty space—imagining it was you.

He’d press his weight into it, wishing it were your body beneath him instead. His breath would hitch, a flush burning its way across his cheeks as he rutted against it, slow at first, then more desperate. His fingers would twist into the sheets, knuckles white, your name slipping past his lips like a prayer.

He just felt so desperate. The need for you—your touch, your claim—clawed at his chest, leaving him raw. And when he finally came, hips stuttering in one last, shaky grind, a tear would slip from the corner of his eye.

Sylus doesn’t cry often—if at all. But the thought of you never choosing him? That breaks him.

[cvntroach5000]

LaDS men vs Orange Peel Theory

Xavier

• "Xavier, can you peel this orange for me?"

• "Of course!"

• No hesitation, all enthusiasm to do something for his babygirl. Very good boy.

Zayne

• You don't need to say anything, just place an orange next to him, nudge it in his direction and his muscle memory will take over and he'll peel it without even realising he's doing it.

• Reliable, locked in, responds without verbal prompt. Green flag king.

Sylus

• "Sylus, can you peel this orange for me?"

• "Sure. Do you need anything else? Are you hungry? I can call the chef or if you ask nicely, I'll make something myself."

• Not very good at the actual orange peeling part, compensates by going above and beyond. Attentive, happy to serve. Husband material.

Rafayel

• Uh... So here's the thing; if you catch him in the right mood and ask in the right way... Yeah, he'll do it!

• However, this man would debone a fish for you anytime. Which is exponentially harder??

• All in all, it's a win. He's just built different. Ocean diva exclusive.

Caleb

• LMAOOOOOO

• He literally cheated death for you, of course he'll peel your fucking orange.

• . . .

• The orange might have drugs in it though, so be careful.

• Least you could ask for, really, he'd do much, much worse bigger things for you. Easy peasy. 11/10.

[scarletardor]

“sylus is the most dangerous man in the n109 zone and the most wanted criminal in the galaxy”

the dangerous man in question:

[strialternatives]

bonus:

:inhales and slams hands on the desk: akechi. palace. pitch.

disclaimer: the setting for this is all about vibes and aesthetics, it kinda got away from me when i started hashing out the plot around it two months ago so now we're here. in hell. (i'll probably have to make a secondary post i made wayyy too many concepts,)

yes i made an ost for this idea, here is a youtube playlist of chill european jazz

AU details under the cut-

Akechi Goro's palace is "Ampitheatrum Doloris”.

KEYWORDS: Akechi Goro, Tokyo Highcourt, Amphitheater

Akechi's psyche is a massive collection of locked doors, puzzles, and contradictions. He wants to be seen but not understood—heard but never known, ect. This makes his palace infiltration a waking nightmare (affectionate).

His palace is made up of five main layers. They each mirror a stage of grief:

1) There is the outer layer of with the appearance of a Venice-esque water canal maze, there is a door that must be opened to reach the entrance to infiltrate the second layer underneath the amphitheater. The puzzle's actually pretty sentimental and revolves around Akechi's interest in literature.

(This layer is depression, Goro mourns what he lost and the fact that the choices he made for the sake of revenge ultimately led to nowhere. This is reflected in how desolate/meandering the outer layer feels, it is the largest and most time consuming part of the palace for this reason. It takes weeks to finish. AKA, Akira and Morgana have a terrible, no good, very bad month of May.) 

2) The Labyrinth under the amphitheater; it is full of shadows for the arena champion to use as fodder for the enjoyment of the masses. ‘Loki’ resides here—this layer’s theme loosely plays on the Minotaur myth. 

The only way to escape is through a pulley/elevator mechanism which leads to the surface after shattering the Champion’s chains by force. Loki taunts in Old Norse, but gives Akira (and the party by extension) genuine hints on how to escape.

(This layer is anger, Goro is always angry, about the hand he’s been dealt, the futility of his own actions, and the fact that his life has always been a dead end, written in the stars.)

3) The Audience Stands; full of human cognitions and Akechi’s former clients and fans, despite everything, like Sae, he sees them as ‘people’ and is disgusted by them. Their compliments are shallow and empty, surface level like Goro’s facade. Cognition Sae is delegated to a middle manager-type role, and leads Akira and Co. through puzzles.

Different cognitions from Akechi’s shitshow of a childhood throw riddles based around philosophy and the nature of justice at the party, if the answer is ‘wrong’, there’s a mini-boss fight. Answering everything correctly yields a prize—a key, this process is made difficult by all of Robin’s ‘hints’ (which the Thieves can directly ask for) being lies.

(Bargaining. Goro always thought he could still salvage his revenge despite his enemy being essentially invincible, even now deep down he thinks he can salvage all the effort and sacrifices he put in.)

4) The Stage; Robin Hood appears proper instead of in cameo appearances, this is the lead actor's stage. To earn the right to stand with him, Akira has to have to prove his worth in one-on-one combat while showing the crowd a rousing show. The goal is to use the key obtained in the bargaining layer to unlock the Performer's cuffs.

(Denial, Goro doesn’t believe he needs or deserves saving or a life outside of his revenge, he believes there is no other way forward.)

Hereward and the 'treasure' are in the Imperial box area, which I'll save for part 2 of this I think! The second half of this'll have less focus on the environments and more on general plot and character design.

EDIT: here's part two

[ryllen]

Older Sylus as actual dad 😭👌✨