#but i feel like there has to be something kindred in them from the beginning even though ava couldn't trust him less

[beastsovrevelation]

Ava and Adriel are NOT cooperating. I'm writing Ch 2 of And the Sea became Blood. It's meant to be Enemies to Lovers (aka Villain annoys Heroine until she falls in love with him), so they're supposed to lock horns, but they're being civil. For fuck's sake, they're at some party, discussing how neither knew their dad. What is happening here.

Also, I'm not sure what's more scandalous - the fact that Archangel Michael will fall in love with the Antichrist, or the fact that she's bordering on functional alcoholism... She's having a hard time, let her be.

[weclassygirl]

bewitched

⋆˙⟡ sauron x fem!elf!reader (witch) ⟡˙⋆

summary: years of hidden yearning and need and a night to remember

warnings: smut (fingering, semi public) light choking, slight voyeurism kink, exhibitionism

word count: 2,2k

author’s note: had to add it in before a real work begins (my first smut so...). they needed it for sure or they would have done it in front of Celebrimbor once they couldn't take the tension anymore. enjoy! (previous part -> scheme)

It was rare to see him like that, in his element, focused only on his work. You found yourself captivated how he moves around the workshop, how Celebrimbor valued his work. The forge worked day and night, trying to work with mithril, each smith has made their suggestion, offered every metal known to the peoples of Middle-Earth and yet none of them wished to connect with the stone.

They work for weeks, an attempt is made at stretching out mithril but with no desired result. A crown for the High King became a task kindred to that of creation of the Silmarils. You’ve worked nearly without rest, aiding in empowering the precious metal, Celebrimbor notices your vigor and the way Halbrand moved with ease around you, like two flames lit up to reach the same purpose. He would propose any idea his mind came up with to Celebrimbor and then to you, always to you. 

The Lord of Eregion found it unusual how quickly the two of you made connection, after all these years you’ve opened up to someone and he wasn’t even an Elf. He did not interfere in this, you seemed to work better because of Halbrand, even if it was possible. 

He came to you each night, overseeing your progress in your craft closely, being in a physical form made the contact easier. You couldn’t be by his side all the time, people would have noticed, he found moments he could talk with you, not about his plans or your craft. A simple conversation shared by two people with the same ambitions.

You’ve known him for years and yet he came up with ways to surprise you. You were glad he was in Eregion, not the shadow in your mind, you felt yourself drawn to him and he to you. Like, call to like.

His enthusiasm for work showed, a bit too much for your liking sometimes. You’ve seen Galadriel sneaking around Eregion, conversing with the librarians, which made you uneasy. 

Something was wrong.

You saw him by the pond, a long day of work visible in his eyes, the way his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. Only a dim light illuminated him but you could still see his brow adorned by dust and shards of metal and you wondered how long he would look like this. A mortal man, handsome in his own right, who wouldn’t fall for his charm? 

The feeling in your gut lingered, his identity was bound to be discovered. He knew you worried and assured you that he had a plan.

“And what if it fails?” you ask as you come down the steps. Many would have stopped being his collaborator, but not you, not when you’ve been by his side for so many years, whether at first you hated the very thought.

“Do you truly think so little of me?” he counters.

You huff, this man… “I think that it is a risk, staying here longer than you need to. This…” you gesture toward his appearance “will not fool everyone. They will notice.”

He steps closer and places his fingers under your chin, he likes to see you try and tear your sight away from his. He knows that you’re not the one to walk away from a challenge.

“With time, they will see and believe whatever I want them to.” he pulls away but the feeling of his fingers lingers.

“How long do you plan to retain this form?” you ask. He tilts his head and looks down at his clothes and hands.

“Is it not to your liking?” 

“I didn’t say that.” you tease. You look over the trees to the towers. “Eregion is the realm of the Elven smiths not men. You're a King, they’d expect you to be with your people.” he takes your hand, the illusion from it lifted in the comfort of his presence. He traces the scar absentmindedly.

“And would my queen join me?”

Queen… He never called you that before. “We’re not bound.” you remind him.

“And yet the idea entices you, after all these years.” he lets go of your hand and places his on your shoulder. “Shame to let it go to waste.” 

“Why not have it all for yourself?” you ask genuinely. He could have it all, Middle-Earth, all of the races under his rule. His hand snakes up to your cheek, making you look up at him again.

“I’ll burden myself with the crown and let you cherish in the light of it. No one to command or put you through suffering again.” 

“On my deathbed.” you whisper as he leans closer, his breath on your neck making you shiver. 

“I’d prefer little death slipping from your mouth.” 

Despite your defiance, you lean into his touch as his lips place kisses on your neck and for a moment you believe it to be an illusion, another vision conjured up by him, far away from your reach. He reminds you of the realness of this moment when his hand cups your jaw and closes the distance between you. 

You’d make a fool of yourself if you pushed him away, especially when he’s been on your mind for so many years. He would have reveled if he knew the many sleepless nights you’ve spent trying to get rid of the revenant feeling of his touch. How with every disappearance from your chambers you longed for nothing more than to ask him, beg him to stay. Perhaps he knew with how he looked at you right now, eyes dark with desire, his lips slightly swollen from the kiss. 

You push him back onto the stone bench, his hands wander to pick up as much fabric as they can when you straddle him. He grabs the back of your neck to crash your lips onto his, you bite at his lips, wanting more and accidentally draw blood. He pulls away and swipes his thumb over the cut, black blood spreading over his lip. He looks up at you and brings the thumb to your lips, he brushes against them once until you open your mouth and lick away the blood from his finger. The sight would have sent him to the Undying Lands that very moment, but he couldn’t part just yet until he had his fill of you. 

His hands slither under your dress, his touch like fire lingering on your skin. Carved by Morgoth and worshipped at Sauron’s hands. He takes your hand in his and kisses each darkened finger, his lips linger on the scarred one. 

“I take it it’s to your liking then.” he teases and you grab his jaw, his stubble softly digging into your skin.

“Your shadowed form was quite pleasing as well.” you retort and kiss him once more. You’d let him swallow you whole, let him corrupt you even further just to have him near you. 

He hand slips between you two and dips into you, the intrusion welcomed as you draw a breath between your lips. The bundle of nerves that ached for him, falls apart at the simplest touch. Your head tilts back as he withdraws his fingers only to push them back in, his rhythm increasing slowly, he would not have you out of his grip yet. 

Your cunt clenches around him when he adds another finger and Sauron grabs at your throat, putting the smallest pressure that could bring you to the edge. He chuckles as he watches you, his lips kiss up your throat.

“So willing.” he taunts and you return from your bliss state at his words. Your hand sneaks under his robe to return the favor, he groans as you grab his cock, your hand moving in time with his fingers deep in your cunt. 

There’s a wicked smile tugging at your lips and he wishes nothing more to let you have your way with him. He knows he’s done for as he takes your appearance, breathless and wanton. 

A witch that bewitched his body and soul. 

You gasp when he pushes away the fabric covering your breasts, his mouth dives to devour. Black Speech slips from your mouth when he pulls at your nipple and oh, how cherishes the sound. He taught you it, even if you picked it up from the Orcs guarding your cell in Forodwaith. 

“Fuck.” you breathe out as his hand picks up its pace and another tugs at your nipples. You moan against his neck when your hand on his cock begins to falter, to blissed out to form a coherent sentence. You kiss up his neck and move to brush your lips against his. 

The night settles over Eregion and he wishes to stay in this moment, create an illusion of the two of you to roam and work in Eregion while he fucks you endlessly in your chambers. Your mind drifts again but is snapped to reality when the two of you hear people approaching. You pull away but his fingers stay inside you, his pace dying down but not fully.

“Mairon.” you warn him and a corner of his lips lifts up. 

You never called him Sauron, the Abhorred, and he was grateful.

The chatter grows and you feel a soft wind around you, Sauron’s hand continues its ministrations. You realize he’s cast an illusion over the two of you. To anyone looking it would appear as if the two of you were having a simple conversation on the bench. Any wiser would see a scandalous scene and you wish you could see their reaction. 

You recognize them, the smiths you worked closely over the years, they call out your name. “Still awake?”

You nearly curse Sauron when he adds another finger. You try your best to respond under the illusion. “Yes.” 

“Discussing new ideas.” he adds and flicks over your bud with his thumb. You nearly smack him but the pleasure is too great for you to care. 

You’re too far gone to continue the meaningless conversation, Sauron takes over your voice until the smiths leave. Your hand squeezes him ever slightly, moving faster with each stroke and he grabs your hair. 

“Careful, witch.” his threat is interrupted by the moan that follows. You smile mischievously, oh how you could just stop the time to feel him bring you to your pleasure over and over again. 

“Would you let them see?” you question against his lips. You on display as he laps at your folds and sets a relentless pace with his cock buried deep inside you. Doing whatever he pleases with you, whatever you wish to do with him.

His pace quickens and you spiral close to your release. His breathing becomes labored with each pump of your hand. 

“I would make them wish they were you.” his words set you ablaze as you spill around his fingers. You moan into his mouth, body shuddering with release and he does not let go until your body completely gives out. Your head falls into the crook of his neck when his fingers leave you and immediately miss the feeling. 

He brings up his fingers to your mouth and lets you taste yourself from them. You lick them clean like a starved woman and the sight arouses him even more, his cock straining against his robes again. He licks up your hand, swallowing every last drop, truly worthy of each other.

He lifts you up from him and kneels before you, you arch your eyebrow when he lifts your dress once more. His tongue darts out to clean every drop that has not coated his fingers, the heat pools inside you as he slowly laps at your folds. You arch your back, in too fucked state to form a coherent sentence. His hands travel back to your breasts and you whimper in pleasure.

You feel your second orgasm coming in waves and he lets you ride it out on his face, gladly cleaning you up again. His moans reverberate against you, Black Speech on his tongue as he praises you. You look down at him as he comes up, your need for him still growing but you hold yourself back, you’ll have him completely another day. 

There’s no turning back now.

He kisses your neck, jaw, cheek and finally lips. Your tongue makes its way into his mouth, his passion burning brighter with each touch. Years you’ve longed for this and won’t feel satisfied until you have him all.

“Bind yourself to me.” he whispers against your lips and you consider this time. He brushes away strands of your hair and you melt into his touch when it lands on your cheek. 

“Not yet.” you respond, the words he so often spoke to you when the matter was brought up. You knew that if you did and he was no longer within your reach you would have gone mad. He would have loved to see the havoc you would wreak in his name.

You lean closer to him as he kneels before you. Your hand cups his jaw before pulling it to you. Your words a threat and a promise.

“Make sure your path to glory doesn’t lead to a grave and I will.”

He smiles. 

You were perfect.

next part --> wonders

[etherfabric]

How the Universe provides for you + Songs

Choose a pile by which picture you resonate with the most.

If your mind is too busy to clearly decide, take a few deep breaths, and use the finger of your non-dominant hand to hover over the images. One will give off the most subtle yet prominent signals, like tingles, a magnetic pull, or temperature. This is your pile. Multiples are also possible.

You are the ultimate authority over your life. I merely provide my perspective. Sometimes the Universe lines you up with something that doesn't resonate with your truth, so you have contrast to find out what does. Never give away your power.

Pile 1

Strength, 3 of Pentacles

You have loyal allies in your challenges. A lot of unforeseen inconveniences you can't seem to avoid are in your energy, but this time, you feel the support - be it physical incarnations of kindred spirits, or those from the other realm connected to you. Yes, your heart is pounding and your knees are shaking, and these instances definitely aren't what you would've put on your wish list in a million years - but you surprise yourself with your bravery amidst it all. You thrive in collaboration with likeminded people, even in the face of your antagonists. The Universe is sending you storms so you can see how well you build your structure, and feel like the badass boundary expert your past self dreamed they could be.

This was a test, and you passed with flying colors. All your hard inner work is tangibly paying off, and you feel elated and proud - rightfully so.

Pile 2

Queen of Pentacles, The Fool

You finally stopped caring so much. You figured out where (or with whom) you lose the energy you so desperately missed all this time, and despite the struggles of letting go, you are now light as a feather. But in contrast to the past, where you were simply too scared to attach fully, so what else is there to do but float... you can now fall back on and draw from the deep roots you grew in fertile ground. Nourishment tailored to your needs is in constant supply, and plenty of opportunities to extend that generosity onto are emerging on the horizon. But this time, you know what to look for to have it reciprocated.

There might be people you still deem generally lovable you had to leave behind, and trust that hearing their criticism or seeing the effect of your absence on them will never truly stop hurting - but you know your worth and needs better than ever, and are determined to ultimately look ahead to the promising future. The Universe provides for all, and not just through you.

Pile 3

7 of Wands, 7 of Pentacles

The Universe is fueling your fierce protector side. You respect your own time more than ever, and see the value of patience with yourself. Your vulnerability is no longer a source of shame, it has become your most precious inspiration. Outside disturbances can't faze you out of your serenity with your true self. You worked hard for where you are, and you are not letting anyone counterproductive get close to it. Take the various toxic coping mechanisms projected onto you as the compliments that they are - you trusted in your balance, followed what felt right, and are reaping the rewards, while others still cling to the very same mindset that starts itching once you are around.

You understand the delicate relationship between healthy aggression and egotistical overkill, and are a role model for those wanting to follow you. The blessings you have already received are shining brighter than ever, and it's only the beginning. Isn't it so worth it being seen as the bad guy? Your people love you for what you are doing for them. No one can take this away from you, because you know how to keep it - becoming more authentic every chance you get.

Pile 4

2 of Swords, The Hermit

I can imagine you clicking on this particular reading with a kind of scoff. "Oh yeah? Providing for me? I see fuck all." Dare I recommend to expand your understanding in which ways one can receive...? I see you clinging onto promises you kind of already know aren't very, well, promising. But for some reason you only want it that way, almost to try to prove a point no one even challenged you on. Your idea of what you need and what you want have no space for differences inbetween. This might not sound pretty or comforting - I feel awfully confrontational saying this to you actually, and my Cancer Mars is shaking like a leaf - but I see the Universe providing you with an ultimatum.

Drop the rope if you truly want happiness (and not just validation for how great all of your ideas are), or be stuck in the frustration eating away at you. Look at what you already have. Yes, it's not the ultimate dream, but you have to first step inside of you to be able to receive. Because inside of you is where you will feel the love that's on its way to you - not craning your neck out as far as you can, desperate for a crumb to roll by.

[estellan0vella]

Every King Needs His Queen ❀ Sukuna (REQUESTED)

Masterlist

Shibuya has been transformed into a chaotic battlefield, where curses and sorcerers clash amidst crumbling buildings and terrified civilians.

Amidst this turmoil, Sukuna's malevolent laughter echoes through the streets as he fully takes over Yuji's body. The vessel’s power thrums with the intoxicating mix of youthful strength and cursed energy, and Sukuna relishes the sensation.

His eyes, now with those signature four pupils, scan the destruction around him with a predatory glint. The chaos, the screams, the destruction—all of it feels like home.

But something, or rather someone, is missing. A sense of familiarity tugs at the back of his mind, and a cruel smile curls on his lips.

"Soon," he murmurs, his voice a deep growl that resonates through the air.

As he strides through the wreckage, curses and sorcerers alike fall before him, either fleeing in terror or meeting swift, brutal ends. The ground trembles beneath his feet, not just from his power, but from the anticipation of a long-awaited reunion.

His mind drifts to her—his queen, the only one who has ever matched his malevolence and power. The queen of curses. His wife. He knows she is near. He can feel her presence, a familiar darkness that has always complemented his own.

She is here, amidst the chaos, drawn perhaps by the same forces that had lured him into this city-wide massacre.

Then, amidst the dust and the ruins, he sees her.

She stands tall, regal even in the midst of destruction, her eyes blazing with a mixture of power and fury. Her presence commands respect, a dark aura surrounding her that makes even the most twisted curses shrink away. She is as breathtaking as ever, a vision of lethal beauty.

"Ryo,"

"My queen," he replies, his tone dripping with a twisted affection. He strides toward her, every step purposeful, until they are mere inches apart.

For a moment, they simply stand there, the world around them fading into insignificance. The connection between them crackles in the air, a potent mixture of power and passion that has endured for centuries.

Then, without warning, Sukuna pulls her into a fierce, claiming kiss. It’s a clash of teeth and tongues, a battle of dominance that neither wants to lose. She responds in kind, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulls him closer. The kiss is both violent and tender, a reunion of two kindred spirits.

Around them, the battle continues, but they are lost in each other, oblivious to everything but the sensation of being together again.

When they finally break apart, both are breathing heavily, eyes locked onto each other with a fiery intensity. Sukuna’s grin widens, his hand caressing her cheek with a surprisingly gentle touch.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs, and there is an unspoken promise in his eyes—a promise of chaos, destruction, and an eternity spent together.

“And I, you,” she replies, her voice softer now, but no less fierce. Her hand moves to rest over his chest, where Yuji’s soul still struggles against the overwhelming force of Sukuna’s possession.

Sukuna’s gaze darkens as he senses the resistance. Yuji’s soul, though weakened, still fights, still clings to hope. It is an irritation, a distraction from the moment of their reunion. But she is here now, and together, there is nothing they cannot achieve.

“Shall we?” she asks, her voice a seductive whisper.

With a nod, Sukuna places his hand over hers, their combined cursed energy flaring with a deadly intent. She closes her eyes, focusing on the task at hand.

Yuji’s soul, already battered by Sukuna’s presence, begins to crumble under the combined assault. There is no mercy in their actions, only a ruthless efficiency borne of countless battles fought side by side.

Yuji’s soul screams in silent agony, a final, desperate cry that fades into nothingness. The vessel is now completely theirs, unchallenged and absolute.

“It’s done,” she says, her eyes opening to meet his once more. There is a sense of satisfaction in her gaze, a dark triumph that matches his own.

Sukuna’s grin is feral as he leans in to capture her lips in another searing kiss. This time, there is no urgency, only the promise of what’s to come. The city may burn, the world may crumble, but they are together again, and that is all that matters.

As they pull apart, she rests her head against his chest, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart. His arms wrap around her, a rare moment of tenderness amidst the chaos.

“Together, we will reign supreme,” Sukuna murmurs, his voice a dark promise.

“Always,” she replies, her voice filled with unwavering conviction.

They stand there, savoring their reunion amidst the destruction. The cacophony of battle seems distant, a mere background to their intimate moment. However, a familiar presence makes itself known, the air around them growing colder, charged with a different but equally potent energy.

Uraume steps out from the shadows, their loyal servant and confidant, a figure whose loyalty to Sukuna is as ancient as their bond. Uraume’s expression is a blend of reverence and relief, their eyes fixed on Sukuna with unwavering devotion.

“My Lord,” Uraume says, bowing deeply before turning their gaze to her. “My Lady.”

She smiles, a rare, genuine expression of warmth. “Uraume. It’s good to see you.”

Uraume straightens, their eyes flicking between the two. “I’ve awaited this moment for so long. The world will tremble before your combined might.”

Sukuna’s laughter rumbles through the air, a dark, mirthful sound. “Indeed, Uraume. The world has grown complacent in our absence. It’s time to remind them of true power.”

With a nod, Uraume steps closer, their presence adding another layer of strength to the trio. “What are your orders, my Lord?”

“For now, we enjoy this moment,” Sukuna replies, his arm tightening around his wife. “But soon, we will lay waste to those who dare oppose us. We will carve our legacy into the very bones of this world.”

His queen’s eyes gleam with anticipation. “Together, we will reshape this world in our image. Nothing and no one will stand in our way.”

Uraume nods, their expression resolute. “As you command.”

The three of them stand amidst the ruins, a formidable trinity of power and malevolence. Around them, the battle continues, but they are an island of calm amidst the storm. The reunion is not just a personal victory; it is the herald of a new era of terror and domination.

As the night deepens and the fires of Shibuya burn bright, Sukuna and his queen walk side by side, Uraume following closely behind. The city is their playground, the world their canvas. With every step, they leave behind a trail of devastation, a reminder of the unstoppable force they have become.

[salemrph]

Breaking down "Where Drakeshadows Fall"

We are far from done, breaking down Sylus Myth. Grab pens and paper. This feels like connecting dots on a crime scene.

I came across this comment under a video on TikTok, the creator explains everything so well. Here is the video: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGd6j4Eb2/

@Gem: sylus mentions that one of those weapons in the cave was used 108 times or something, and I thought "maybe the 109th time it will actually work with MC" and then I thought "109....109??? 109!!"

I will try to connect every moment we have seen on the current timeline to reference the Myth. (If I'm forgetting something, leave it in the comments)

We start at the very beginning. Sit back this may be long.

Our first encounter.

Violent, just like the first time they met in the Abyss.

MC attacks Sylus with her knife, cutting under his eye.

He strangles her. In the Myth, she is the one—

The voice in her head urging her to claim the power inside Sylus’s eye.

"After all, you and I are the same. True kindred spirits." This hit different too. Now that we know that they're bond by their soul.

And again, the second attempt. He hands her the gun and pulls the trigger himself. MC doesn’t truly want him to die, so she presses against the wound, and Sylus heals.

"Save that for the day you actually succeed in killing me."

Main Story: Cap. 1-8

MC and Stylus are at Philip's Lab (I think that was the name of the Shopkeeper). So, Sylus is desperate to resonate. And Philip is just like "she is either rejecting you, scared of you or disgusting by you..."

Um… yeah, that must’ve hurt. A lot.

There she is—his beloved, weak, without her memories, and outright rejecting him. Maybe he’s angry at her, but maybe he’s also furious about whatever happened to bring them to this point.

We know he isn't a patient man.

Main Story: Chapter 2-1

Little Girl "... He's a monster with huge wings that never dies. And he has horns!"

Midnight Stealth

MC sneaking in the cave, where Sylus was laying on the a pile of treasures. Obviously he caught her because her footsteps were too noise. Well, we have the same with the brooch.

Sylus recreating the scenario with MC, playing that game to get the brooch. Which I think never was important. He would have helped us, anyways, right?

Oh, and the drawing of Sylus with horn and tail.

The Auction: Chapter 2-10

Of course we have the flashback to the Myth before MC is finally able to resonate with Sylus.

"That life you own me—now is not the time to repay me."

When they return to the base, the MC brings up her vision, asking if it was real. His response:

"If I say yes, will you give me a sincere apology?"

I suppose the apology would be related to the curse—like, "Hey, you killed me, and then you brought me back. So…"

Nightplumes

"Do you know what you look right now?"

We hear in both the same sentences. I just love Nightplumes.

Midnight Warmth

"I want to leave a mark too"

Even if he isn't a vampire, the need to leave a mark on MC. Argh... Just beautiful.

Continuous Symphony.

The song and the conversation.

*A wounded person might never wake up again if they fall asleep"

We have the dream and the song. I don't need to explain but...

MC asked him why he stopped playing the song and him replying "There is no “after”". Which is not the whole true. She refused to continue because it’s a requiem for the departed. Since he was injured because of her, she didn’t want to be the last thing Sylus heard.

"Sincere feelings are hard to forget"

Grassland romance

Both talking about where Home is...

"I can adapt to any location and call it home as long as I'm willing. But... now I have one condition. If you're not there then I am not interested"

I would relate this to their conversation and this dream-like memory we have in black Chapel. Being their home.

This happens in the Event of Grassland. When Sylus gives MC the self-made crown, maybe he is just responding to the flower MC put him in hair at the Chapel.

Melodic Weave

"Unfortunately... the string of fate connecting us can't be cut that easily."

Immobilized

The Snake analogy about their evol linkage, made me remind what MC said in the Myth: "...Sylus, did you already know that we would instinctively want to devour each other?"

This also a reference the curse they share.

"When two snakes are devouring each other, one will inevitably be crowned the victory"

I'm 90% sure that Sylus must know why the evol linkage appears.

"Does this mean, that one day, even without the linkage, you'll choose to stand by my side?"

Destiny Café

The Hand interaction: Sylus bites our / MC hand. Like she did before.

Heartbeat cheeking: "If our heart rates sync up, then maybe we can resonate" After bonding their soul, they were like one. More coordinated then begin just one. This made me think about Luke and Kieran. (That's another topic).

Outfit "Soft Distance": The Golden Crow's Feather of Eternity was something from the cave—can’t remember if it was a weapon or not. Either way, there’s a little nod to it in his outfit: a golden feather on his shirt that ties back to the artifact.

Maybe there is more, but I'm just Lvl 76 with Sylus.

Anecdotes

MC and Sylus are the two faces of the same coin. Is insane.

Searing Touch & Call: Remote Support

I'm mentioning the call because, with Searing Touch, we learn or in another way, he admits once more that MC is his biggest weakness.

"Who could ever do anything to me except you?" (Call)

After the Myth, we have the absolute and devastating confirmation: She is life and death for him. In the broadest sense.

MC asked him about why he was at that place. Half joking if it was because of her. Well...

"Yeah, you're right. I went there for you."

"I'd rather risk exposing my weaknesses when I protect you then see you injured."

Again, he would rather sacrifice himself...

Gem Hunting: Charon

No need to say much, the N109 Zone is basically Taurus City. No need for over-explaining.

If destiny continues their way, maybe MC will leave the Hunter Association. Maybe she’ll end up branded as a traitor. But like Sylus said, if she really wants to understand his world, she has to step beyond light and shadow.

Back to the event. I love their interaction and the style.

By the end, after finding the gem split in two, MC comes up with a great idea. She decides to use the gem and add it to the two bracelets she bought.

MC doesn’t care about the bad omen—in fact, she actually prefers it this way. Once again, she gives Sylus the curse of being tied to her forever.

"Living and dying by your side doesn't sound like a bad curse"

So that all, for now. Maybe I update this when I find more connecting points.

[artsymeeshee]

It isn't much of an ask, as more of a thank you.

Your heavier toned sea grunk comic with Stan discussing his thoughts of suicide has always held a place in my heart.

I started into the fandom around January 2022, and was pretty introverted getting into it. At that time, I was around 13 years into my undiagnosed depression, and failed one attempt to end it in that span. My introverted nature and being so warped kept me from wanting to engage with others from the fandom. I figured I was an outsider with more issues than what could be handled, and no one would be there for me(and I wouldn't blame them).

I didn't think that around July 2022, people would begin reaching out to me, understanding me, and accepting me. I found kindred spirits and my family. And in September, my best friend found me. She is the Ford to my Stan. She has stuck by me and loved me when I have been unlovable and it wasn't required. And we bonded over our favorite guys of course. She got me into Tumblr, and this was one of the first comics that I saw, and it made me bawl. It felt like talking to my best friend face to face, even 500 miles apart.

Then, shifting into December 17, 2023, I tried again to go, standing in the freezing night on the edge of the local bridge, seeing the dark, and waiting to embrace it. And everything that I loved flooded me in that darkness: My best friend, all my friends I had made, my family, and this comic. Stan felt that way, but he held on, because he got Ford back. It was part of why I stepped down, and just sat for awhile, and took the time to finally get help. Those feelings are now distant and rare when I reached out for proper help.

Even now, I'm struggling, but not wanting to be in that place again. Just feeling like I'm inadequate as a spouse, but we are both working through it. It has been difficult the last few weeks, and this comic emerges again today, and flooded me all over again with the reminder that Stan chose to live, even if it was hell for a long time, and I can do it too.

So, if you haven't fallen asleep on me yet, I just wanted to thank you for making this comic. And for all of them. It resonates with me deeply, and frequently more than you'll ever know, and at points, has kept me here.

Thank you 👉👈

🥺🥺 Oh wow. I don't know what to really say but thank you for opening up and telling your story. I know it can be really hard to open up like that. It makes me happy to hear that things have gotten a lot better, even if it's not 100%.

That comic was a spur of the moment kind of thing because I was originally going to make just a vent post of myself but then something about wanting to get out particular thoughts I've had through Stan seemed like a better approach. Perhaps this could come as a bit of surprise to some but as much art of Ford I've done, Stan is actually the favorite of the two.

I kind of thought that comic was going to be my last at the time. My mind spiraled pretty bad during that time last year and figured that it wasn't worth trying to say how I've been and just leave because I genuinely believed I was better off no longer being part of the Fandom. I still think I do on some days but seeing messages like these or even small encouraging ones is enough to think I am still worthy enough to stay.

❤️

[bl0rbohandbag]

– some vampire the masquerade x changeling the lost concepts that will not leave me alone.

"but vtm and ctl are from different settings–" shhhhhh :)

— part 2.

before i begin: i have been dabbling in vampire the masquerade and changeling the lost content for a while, i am not a fan of changeling the dreaming and vampire the requiem is unfamiliar to me. anyway! buckle up, enjoy the ride, this is kind of long.

trigger warning for abuse/unhealthy parental relationships because vamps i guess.

first of all: i recently read vtm: bloodstained love. while it focus on the more romantic and sexual aspects of kindred relationships with a lot of references to obsessive/posessive behavior and grotesque acts of love, it also made me wonder how those would translate to platonic or familial relationships. add some changeling shenanigans to that and we have some interesting concepts to play with! and with that being said...

– you're a changeling. kidnapped into arcadia and trapped there for who knows how long. in your durance, you dream of going back home, of reuniting with your friends and family, escaping your keeper to finally, finally enjoy freedom in the world you were born in.

– and one day, you do escape. back into your world, never feeling completely safe with your keeper looking to get you back and huntsmen being a very real threat, but you're ready to rebuild your life and enjoy your newfound freedom.

– there are various mentions throughout the ctl books on how unsuspecting or heedless changelings might have their freedom stolen again, this time by kindred. so, as it turns out, you'll have to deal with creatures other than the true fae who are more than willing to keep you caged!

the angst potential in a changeling reuniting with ther parent(s) only to find out they've become something inhuman, and not all that different from their keeper is unmatched.

maybe you watch them from a distance first. maybe you excitedly seek them out. maybe you just randomly bump into your parent by complete chance, after presuming them dead or deciding to abandon your old life. maybe they find you.

but the point is: they're kindred. so different from when you last saw them, as a teenager, as a child, before you were taken. as if having huntsmen and your keeper after you wasn't trying enough, a vampire parent comes (back) into your life to make it even more complicated.

a ventrue dad will make his ghouls your bodyguards, following you day and night. it makes you insanely uncomfortable, as you liken them to changelings serving true fae back in arcadia. he says it's because of his own dangerous kindred affairs that might affect you, but after an unplesant encounter with the huntsmen he might just decide you shouldn't be out and about at all.

your parent is either a neonate or an ancilla by the time your return from arcadia. your fetch is dead for whatever reason, expired, after living a life in your stead, automatically making the vampire believe their child is dead– now imagine their surprise and confusion when they see you– real you, living and breathing. and maybe you're distraught, too, seeing that they haven't aged a day or should, depeding on how long you've been gone, be most definetly dead.

(this is absolutely NOT going to send the vampire parent into a mental breakdown and spiral into obsession upon discovering the child they have lost and buried was literally a soulless copy of their real child who got kidnapped by faeries. a clone made out of twigs and a cat's eyes that stole their child's place and they never noticed. everything is just fine. it does not them affect them mentally at all :3)

(bonus points if the fetch was killed by the vampire parent's enemies after being entagled in their mess. they feel like they are getting a second chance and will absolutely not screw it up! cue you, poor changeling, being locked away or put under heavy surveillance.)

on the other hand, a kindred parent who currently has a living fetch of their child just being EXTREMELY distraught when they keep spotting someone who looks exactly like their kid at random places they definetly shouldn't be at is very funny and kind of unsettling!

(a vampire mom just feeding on mortals at the club, socializing with other kindred, perhaps dealing with some unresolved issues with her sire, etc. Then she spots you, her real kid, unbeknownst to her, just chilling, among all those dangerous vampires, when you're supposed to be in your dorm room at least a thousand miles from there. she calls the fetch's phone, expecting you to pick up and start explaining yourself. your fetch answers the phone, talks to her, sleep-drunk and confused as to why she's calling so late, but the person she's looking at has made no motion at all. they're not talking. they have not picked up the phone. but that's her kid's face, she's sure. what the fuck?)

for low-humanity ancillae/elder kindred, having their child back might bring about long-forgotten mortal feelings of genuine parental love, although they might express in the very unorthodox way kindred would. they simply do not understand why their child does not want to be around them. they just want to bond with you and keep you safe where kindred and fae can't get to you, make up for lost time. what do you mean they're "just like your keeeper"?

i think a lot of kindred parents will leave you be, mostly brujah or gangrel, knowing you'll be safer if they keep you away from their world. provided there was no fetch to replace you, they think it's amazing enough you were found alive and well after years of being a missing person. you don't like talking about what happened in your... "durance"... fine, they'll keep the investigators off your back, too. they might not even know you're no longer human. but they are going to check on you once in a while, or keep tabs on you, or even have some of their people watch you from a distance. just to make sure.

(just don't let them catch wind of all the changeling shenanigans or huntsmen attacks on your person. that might just change their mind...)

kindred parents might believe you're safer away from their world, yes, but they can just as easily bring you into the mess of kindred society without a second thought.

not very fun being a fairest when your toreador mother insists you show your mien to impress her fellow clan mates and other kindred with your overwhelming beauty. she's always been a pageant mom, so this shouldn't surprise you. there's several layers of wrongness to this, from having your changeling identity exposed to multiple vampires to further your mother's social status to this very situation bringing back so many unpleasant memories from your durance, and it's bound to end badly.

(the toreador pageant mom could very easily be a nosferatu pageant mom, a cleopatra now living vicariously through your fae-given beauty.)

(she will realize how terrible a mistake that was when vampires start really paying attention to you. or not. who knows.)

(gifts that could easily have come from a true fae lord start pouring in. letters written in excessive passion, bouquets of bloody roses, dresses made out of human skin, all delivered by equally dazed-looking ghouls. perhaps your mother will know, then, she fucked up severely. or maybe she'll just tell you to be grateful for those wonderful gifts.)

on another hand, a nosferatu parent taking one look at their fairest child's mien and deciding "oh. no kindred can see you like. ever. stay away from toreador specifically". you don't know what a toreador is, but you'll try to heed the advice.

your ancilla mother meets your motley and proceeds to show them baby pictures of you, taken in the 1870s shortly before your abduction to Faerie. they are very well preserved and you look most proper in your little sailor outfit.

you have a beast/ogre seeming and your gangrel parent thinks you're pretty rad :) you go hunting together.

your tzimisce dad has living furniture made out of human skin, but it's nothing you haven't seen in arcadia before. he's a little disappointed by your lack of enthusiasm, and very offended when you tell him your keeper had better taste in couches. trying to evade a tzimisce dad after he's been made aware of your existence is a difficult task, and you will get caught and held captive at one point (for your safety, of course!). if there is a fetch currently living your life, they will be immediately killed or horribly tortured (read: vicissitude) for the crime of decieving the tzimisce and impersonating you, regardless of you already having decided to leave said fetch alone.

(tzimisce dad thinks you should be thankful. he dealt with the imposter. shouldn't you be happy?)

(if he’s got cash and has some land within his domain to spare, he might let you build a little home not too far from his own to give you a semblance of independence to try and settle you down. might.)

(on the other hand, you have the chance to become a really good escape artist. take your time in captivity with your tzimisce dad to practice your escaping and running away skills, after all, every good changeling needs it! you also get the bonus of reliving your childhood/teenagehood with all the sneaking out.)

(quick intermission: all of these concepts might result in low-clarity for the changeling?? i'm not too sure how clarity damage works yet.

update: it absolutely might!)

your malkavian mother thinks she's plagued with visions of her missing child, glimpses of what they might look nowadays, wherever they are. this is actually you, visiting her in her dreams through oneiromancy.

(everyone thought, back then, that it was just a scare. you wandered into the forest and for ten hours people searched for you, only to find you safe and sound, without a scratch in your body or a speck of dirt in your shoes hours later. but she knew better. she knew that wasn't really you. it haunted her for the rest of her life, and it haunts her unlife even now. she never made it to the hedge.)

you can't take your tremere parent ANYWHERE. you give in after endless nagging and take them to a goblin market, but their arrogance will get them roped into terrible deals if you don't keep your eyes on them full time. you do take this as an opportunity to show off your changeling capabilities. you're in your element.

(you also drop life-altering bits of Faerie lore at random or inappropriate times. it sends them spiraling. you just hope they won't share it with anyone...)

darkling changeling just chilling with their nosferatu dad in the sewers, sharing rats.

and that's all for today, folks.

[thatfeelinwhenyou]

KINDRED — 35

It’s your final year of highschool, and your only goal is to graduate top of your cohort, as usual. Except as student council president, your advisor can’t seem to leave you alone. What happens when you take Decelis Academy’s top student, their star athlete and put them in front of a camera?

smau + written (2.1k words)

❥･• episode 35 — live my life on my terms

With the persistent urging from your concerned friends, who've been expressing their worry about your well-being, you decide to head home to freshen up and grab a few personal items before returning to the hospital, hopefully before Jungwon wakes up. The anticipation is filled with more dread than fear because you're well aware of what awaits you. As you leisurely stroll along the familiar sidewalk, you begin to mentally prepare yourself, rehearsing your comeback to the lines you expect your mother to say upon seeing you.

"This is not like you, what happened to my once-behaved daughter."

"Look at what that violent boy did to you."

"Your future is more important than some high school fling, Y/N."

In some ways, your mother has a point. You have indeed changed, but whether for the better or worse isn't something she should unilaterally decide. It's a pretty subjective matter if you think about it. True, you're no longer the academic prowess that effortlessly intimidated your peers.

In that process, however, you've gained the ability to express emotions, to breathe, and to savour the intricacies of life that are exclusive to your youth. It’s not fair and unjust for your mother to try and take those experiences away from you.

Arriving home, the familiar scent of the place wraps around you like a comforting embrace compared to the smell of bleach and cheap air fresheners. The house echoes with memories of a time when things were simpler, and you were the dutiful student everyone expected you to be. But now, as you unlock the door with the spare key hidden beneath the mat, you feel the weight of recent events pressing on your shoulders as you step through the threshold.

The once-familiar haven now feels like a foreign space—from the walls adorned with academic achievements to the shelves of neatly arranged trophies, you witness a past that no longer wholly defines you.

Your call for your mother echoes through the living room, where an eerie atmosphere hangs in the air. She’s not home.

Before heading back to the hospital, you take a moment to freshen up. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, you gather a few essentials into a bag, hoping to slip away without encountering your mother's potential reproach.

Not wanting to keep Jungwon waiting, you swiftly descend the stairs to gather the remainder of your items. You’re not even certain if Jungwon is even awake, yet an inexplicable desire relentlessly pulls you back to his side. The amusing twist is, he hasn't even formally asked you out, leaving you in suspense about how you'd respond if he did. Your relationship with Jungwon lacks clear labels, perhaps defined vaguely as "friends who kissed," but nothing more.

Rounding the corner into the living room, you're taken aback to find your mother seated stoically on the couch. The room seems to hold its breath, charged with the unspoken tension between you and her. Her eyes, weighed down by heavy bags, lock onto yours, unveiling a profound depth of concern and emotion.

As you stand at this unexpected crossroad, you know there is nothing you can do to avoid having this conversation with her. So, you decide to stand firm as you greet her.

“Didn’t think you’d be coming home so soon. Why? Did you finally realise what I meant? Did he leave you?” There she goes again with her assumptions.

You sigh as you bring your belongings up to your chest and say, “Actually, I came back to grab some stuff before going back to the hospital.”

“Hospital? Why would you go there?”

“Jungwon. He’s hurt.” With a smirk playing on her lips, your mother scoffs. “Well, that’s where you’d expect a kid who fights every day to end up, don’t you agree?”

“He got hurt because of me. Don’t speak on situations you don’t know about, Mother.”

Your mother's eyes narrow, and a snide remark escapes her lips, “Hurt because of you? Sounds like a troublemaker. You always did have a penchant for attracting problems.”

You take a deep breath, your patience tested. “He's not a troublemaker. He's someone I care about deeply, and he's going through a tough time right now. I don't need your judgment.”

The atmosphere in the room grows heavier, but you stand your ground, refusing to let her negativity seep into your convictions. Your mother, sensing your defiance, continues with her disparaging comments about Jungwon, questioning your choices and the people you associate with. Yet, with each hurtful word, you find the strength to assert your boundaries.

“I won't let you belittle him or undermine my decisions. Jungwon is important to me, and I won't allow anyone, even you, to tarnish that.”

Your mother, surprised by your assertiveness, falls silent for a moment. Your brazen defiance is a scene she hadn't expected to happen, ever. As she comes face-to-face with this newfound persona in you, an epiphany strikes her—you've grown up. Much like your father before, it dawns on her that you, too, are preparing to leave, not just physically but emotionally, for someone else.

“All I ever wanted was the best for you. Why can’t you see that, Y/N?” Her voice carries a mix of desperation and frustration, as if grappling with the reality that her daughter is becoming her own person, separate from the mould she had envisioned.

You meet her gaze with a level of maturity she didn't anticipate. “I appreciate that, Mom, but I need you to understand that what's best for me may not align with your expectations. Jungwon is going through a difficult time, and I want to be there for him.”

Your mother's eyes soften briefly, but the resistance is still there. “You're throwing away your future for someone who might not even be there for you in the long run. Your father did the same, and look where it got him.”

Your resolve remains unshaken. “I'm not Dad, and neither is Jungwon. I can't let fear dictate my choices. 'Don’t let anyone step on you'—isn’t that what you always reiterate?”

She sighs, a mixture of exasperation and resignation. “I just worry about you, Y/N. It's a tough world out there, and you're making it even harder for yourself.”

You take a moment, choosing your words carefully. “I appreciate your concern, Mom, but I need to live my life on my terms. I hope you can find a way to support that.”

As you utter those words, a poignant silence hangs in the air, carrying the weight of unspoken expectations and the subtle shift in the dynamics of your relationship. The room feels charged with the acknowledgment that you are no longer the girl she once shaped to fit her ideals.

The faint sound of a clock ticking highlights the passage of time, and in that moment, you’re reminded of Jungwon laying on the hospital bed, possibly waiting for you. You cast one last look at your mother, her eyes reflecting a blend of worry, bittersweet nostalgia, and a mother's unconditional love, before turning to walk out the door.

As you are about to leave, you catch sight of your phone, untouched and nestled atop the shelf for your taking. Your mother remains silent, watching as you pocket the device, likely lost in her own thoughts. The door closes behind you, marking a departure not only from the house but also from the expectations that have bound you for so long. The next chapter of your life is unfolding, and you’re determined to face it with courage and authenticity, even if it means challenging the expectations of those closest to you.

You can't help but ponder how things might be different the next time you step foot in this house, or if there will be any change at all. Perhaps, despite your earnest expressions, the essence of the house will persist, unaffected by the sentiments you shared today.

Yet, you consciously push these musings aside, acknowledging that worrying about potential outcomes serves no purpose at this moment. Instead, your attention pivots to the immediate present—your journey back to the hospital, where Jungwon patiently awaits your return

It's late morning when you stroll back into the hospital. Jungwon is already out of bed, looking way more refreshed than he did the night before, but your heart aches when you see the brusies covering his otherwise perfect features. As he catches sight of you, his eyes light up, as if the whole world suddenly brightened with your presence.

The vibe between you and Jungwon is undeniable, and it doesn't go unnoticed by the others in the room who voluntarily exits to give you two space. Well, everyone except Jay, who has to be pulled out of the ward by Sunoo, giving you a cheeky wink before closing the door.

“Hey there, I was looking for you.”

“I know.” You slide into the seat beside him on the tiny hospital bed, a space Jungwon graciously made for you. Stretching your legs out, you playfully nudge his feet with yours. You feel his gaze on you, intense and longing, as if he senses something weighing on your mind and is patiently waiting for you to open up.

“I had a chat with my mom earlier today.” He stays silent, listening attentively as you continue, “It was a much-needed conversation, but now I'm worried that I might have said some things that hurt her. I just can’t shake it off my mind.”

You look to him, seeking advice. Jungwon's eyes soften, and he reaches out to gently hold your hand. “You did what you had to do, Y/N. Your feelings matter too.”

He squeezes your hand reassuringly, offering a small, understanding smile. “If there's anything I've learned from all this, it's that you can't control how others react. You can only be true to yourself and hope they understand eventually.”

Leaning against the side of the bed, you let out a sigh. “I hope she does, Jungwon. I don't want to hurt her, but I also can't keep suppressing my own feelings.”

Jungwon nods in compassion, his thumb tracing soothing circles on the back of your hand. “Give it time, Y/N. Emotions take a while to settle. In the meantime, I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I’ve got you.” His support warms your heart, and with a grateful smile, you rest your head on his shoulder, taking comfort in his presence.

Jungwon’s words resonate as you recognise the profound truth in the realisation that changing someone's entire mindset is no quick fix—it's a gradual process that takes time and unconditional efforts.

As you contemplate these thoughts, you come to accept that, even with all the time in this world, certain aspects may remain unaltered. It's a reality that demands compromise, a delicate balance of understanding and being understood. You acknowledge the concept of mutual comprehension without the imposition of force, hoping that, in time, your mother will come to understand that too.

As your mind grapples with a flurry of thoughts, Jungwon is also caught in a whirlwind of emotions, his attention laser-focused on the spot where your head rests on his shoulder. It’s evident you’re not the only one pondering the line between you two, and contemplating the boundaries you have crossed as 'friends'.

In this quiet moment shared in the hospital room, Jungwon turns to you, and his eyes reveal a warmth that speaks volumes. The air around you changes, and he takes a deep breath, as though summoning the courage to express what's on his mind.

"Y/N," he begins, his voice soft yet resolute, "there's something I've been wanting to ask." You can already sense the direction this conversation is going, yet you decide not to hold him to any expectations just in case it doesn’t.

"I've been thinking a lot about us, about what we are," he continues, the sincerity in his voice echoing in the room. “And if what happened yesterday didn’t already make it clear to me, it is now. I like you, a lot.”

“Y/N, will you let me be your boyfriend?”

The vulnerability in his question, the openness in his eyes, tugs at something deep within you. A mixture of emotions swirls in your chest and you take a moment to savour the weight of his words and the unspoken connection that has brought you to this juncture.

The hospital room, with its muted sounds and sterile surroundings is a stark contrast to the little bubble that the two of you are in. Your heartbeat syncs with the soft hum of machinery, creating an anticipative symphony that accompanies the unfolding scene. Finally, a soft smile plays on your lips as you reply,

"And will you let me be your girlfriend, Jungwon?”

The soft kiss that ensued undoubtedly sealed the deal.

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♡。·˚˚· ·˚˚·。♡

authors note: i have nothing to say but sorry… 😔 also this chapter is dedicated to user beomsbeanie, not sure if you’ll see this but if you do, tysm! you have blessed my life too 🫶 side note: KINDRED IS ALMOST COMING TO AN END!

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taglist open! @uuzhanggggggg @jayhoonvroom @missingemobeomgyu @jiawji @ocyeanicc @s7noo @asterizee @nwjws @noascats @yunwonie @saturnmooonxx @enhaz1 @jiaant11 @clairecottenheart @i2lain @miumiuoi @zhounauts @hoey2k @neocockthotology @nanuer @yenqa @ahnneyong @chanhee-hee @yanqiiuver @yujmelon @beomsbeanie @sloobydooburmomjungwon @keiisu @jaeyunniesimp @jiamini @jihanniee @lilriswife4life @en-flirt @i-yeseo @aloloveswonie @plutoslostagain

[haru-dipthong]

THE JURI EPISODE (My utena fansub ep 7)

This is my favourite episode of the whole show. My phone background has been the shot of the falling sword ever since I first saw it. I love everything about it, so I really wanted to be sure I did it justice in the translation!

ただもし彼女が本当に世界を革命する力があるというなら私がこの手で奪ってやるさ。

But if Utena truly possesses the Power to Revolutionise the World, I’ll steal it from them.

BIG MOMENT! This is the first time one of the student council uses they/them for Utena. You may notice that the Japanese is 彼女, often translated as “she”. So why am I translating it as “they”?

In the fountain scene, Juri draws a parallel between Utena and Shiori. She begins to frame all of Utena’s behaviour through a lens of heterosexual lust/love, which makes her completely flip out as it makes her feel more alone than ever because (I believe) she saw a kindred spirit in Utena’s gender non-conformity, and sees that cameraderie dry up because of the phantasm of heterosexuality.

After the duel, Juri has rediscovered hope in herself and in the world. I believe part of this is because she realises she was wrong about Utena. Their duel is essentially over whether Utena is deserving of the ring, which, to Juri, is a question of whether Utena is really driven by heterosexual love. Through her loss she is forced to admit that she was wrong, that Utena is not motivated by heterosexual love for the prince, and there was and still is a cameraderie there. Using “they” is an admission that she was wrong, and an indication that she understands Utena a little more. It’s in direct contrast to the fountain scene when she calls Utena “a little girl”.

That’s my interpretation anyway. Anya’s interpretation is that Juri is distancing herself from Utena in this scene; that Juri has realised that “miracles are real, just not for me”. In this interpretation, “they” also makes sense — by gendering Utena as nonbinary, Juri reaffirms her position as the only girl in the duel system. She is attempting to process the idea that Utena is special by distancing them from womanhood (and therefore she, a woman, is doomed to live without miracles).

“Sure sure, there’s lots of narrative justification for it,” I hear you say, “but it’s simply not in the original japanese script!”

Well, actually, there’s justification for this too. 1. Utena’s use of 僕 (boku) is untranslatable — we lose that gendered meaning in translation. It needs to be added back in somewhere, and this is the place. It’s not a perfect compensation (boku is self-identifying while “they” is an external identification) but based on the narrative elements I’ve mentioned above, I think it’s acceptable. 2. Japanese rarely uses third person pronouns, and doesn’t have a gender neutral one. I think Juri uses it here because she doesn’t want to say Utena’s name (still a bit sore from the loss?) so I don’t see the gendering here as being important to keep in the translation.

-----

奇跡の力で勝てると自惚れてるがいい。

If you beat me with the power of miracles, you're entitled to your conceit. (from ohtori.nu)

If by some miracle you beat me, you can keep your shallow dreams. (my translation)

Like I said above, for Juri, this duel is about whether or not Utena is driven by heterosexual love. 自惚れる is usually translated as “to be conceited” but here, Juri is saying that she’ll allow Utena to keep pining for her lost prince with the alternative being that she will shatter Utena’s dreams. With that in mind I thought it better to phrase it in a way that extends and makes clear Juri’s resentment of Utena.

-----

奇跡を信じて。思いは届くと。

This was the hardest line in the whole episode. I went through several iterations:

Believe in a miracle, and your feelings will be returned.

If you believe in a miracle, he’ll love you back.

Just believe in miracles, and your love will be returned.

Miracles can happen. Your true love will love you back.

The phrase 思いは届く literally means “your thoughts will reach their destination”. In practice it means something like “your feelings will be understood and reciprocated”, and it was hard to find an English phrase that had a similar meaning while still sounding good as a repeatable quote. Anya’s keen eye for natural and polished dialogue really helped here, as they were able to pick the best sounding combination of first- and second-halves of the line. We ended up with

Believe in miracles, and your love will be returned.

-----

@dontbe-lasanya outdid themself again with this edit. It wouldn't be nearly as good without their help!

Be sure to follow for updates! You can find previous episodes here:

[miss0atae]

Random Thoughts about ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat (EP 1 – 4) : Music as backdrop theme to bring people together.

I'm going to be honest, I wanted to wait until the all Mars members were back together to start this post. However, I feel like waiting would make me lose the opportunity to write another post about the dynamic of their found family. So in a way, it's better to start now writing about this topic before the band is united again.

The series is about Po, a budding director who finds a job at a big entertainment company to make a documentary about a famous boys band before its disband and their main leader goes to South Korea to start a solo career. Po found in Thame, the leader, a kindred soul who understand him better than he thought. He quickly realizes that behind the facade, Thame is hurting a lot. This is something they have in common: they've been hurt, despite this, they remain gentle people. Po is set on helping Thame reforming the band and along the way they will fall in love.

Obviously when you're making a story about a boys band, you'll have to tackle on different topics regarding the state of the entertainment industry, the bias against idols, the constant pressure of showing a perfect image when you're public figure, the loneliness of stardom, how attention/engagement is sometimes more important than talent and the misguidance you can experience when being surrounded by people who doesn't always want the best for you. The series is showing all of these at one point or another, as most of the band's misunderstanding comes from one of these issues. The villain of the story is easy to spot: it's the manipulative CEO and the incompetent manager. Their harm may be different, but they both hurt the band in one way or another. However, I don't really want to concentrate this post about this issues. I believe they may come back again later in the series and it'll be interesting to talk about later. Right now, I want to focus on music. We're talking about boys band and of course it's linked to music. Nowadays, boy bands have been expected to write or at least contribute in songs they are performing and there are higher expectations on them. So as you can see and without getting too deep into it, music plays a part in this series because most characters' job are linked to it.

Music in general is important for movies/series. It helps create an emotional connection and set the tone. That's why when you hear a music from the original soundtrack of a very famous movies/series you can associate them with a scenes that made you feel a deep emotion. Here, the main problem may be that BL series in general don't have enough budget to have an original soundtrack. You can find a great post by @troubled-mind (and other contributors) about how most of the production companies recycled the same music over and over. Thailand definitely has great compositors, but we know that the budget for Bls isn't exactly high so you have to get used to them using the same music. It's a shame to not have an original soundtrack when the series is centered around “music”, but even if the soundtrack are not that original, the songs are specifically made for this story and sang by the actors/singers featured in the series. It's them that serves the music identity of the story. So the series is using the members of the T-Pop group LYKN and they gave them another persona and another boy band's image to interpret the members of Mars, the fictional trendy band of ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat. I don't know how many songs they created for this series yet because we are still at the beginning, but they already presented some of them in the first four episodes. As for me, I hope that's not all of them because I believe the series is missing a love song ballad from William (Thame) to be played during his love moments with East's character Po. It would also be a great idea to sell an album as a merch for this series, just saying.

So as you can see, except for episode 3, we can have a variety of songs played in. I really like the fact they are changing the ending song since episode 3. I hope they will keep doing it! It was also very welcomed to hear a cover by William. I'm now expecting to hear more covers or new songs because it would sad if they didn't fully use their actors who are also real singers. Episode 4 was especially interesting as they use different genre of music. It was a way of giving a glimpse of the characters profiles and their connections. Rap freestyle was used because its linked to Dylan designated position within the group, but also frustration over his situation. The soothing and sweet ballad of Tui was used to show greater times from the past where the members were closer and how this feeling is missed by them. Finally, the cover song was used in two ways: firstly, it shows the dedication and work Thame is putting as a singer, and secondly the meaning of the song has romantic undertone (“You make the journey along the way more beautiful”) as Thame and Po's relationship is growing fonder. Music is the language of emotions and all our characters have a wide range of them. It also serves as a way of improving relationship and group cohesion. All Mars members have suffered from misunderstandings and music could be the way of tightening again their bond, the same way as it's helping Po and Thame becoming closer too. Songs stick in the mind better than basic narrative so for a series that focus on a boy bands, I hope they will stay true to this idea until the end of the story.

[spaceorphan18]

The Lady Whistledown Papers: 1x04 - An Affair of Honor (Part 2)

Welcome back, Gentle Readers, to The Lady Whistledown Papers, where I’m taking an in-depth look at Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s character arcs and romance within the show Bridgerton!

For previous issues, follow tag : The Lady Whistledown Papers

Picking up where we left off, where Penelope spent her evening watching Marina dance around with Colin. Fun times, I'm sure.

Sisters

You know, I do not know how, at the minimum, Penelope's feelings weren't ever found out. She's trying to stay very calm and held in while Marina lists attributes about Colin that she's very well aware of already. He is kind and funny - that is why Penelope loves him. She does know he can dance well, she's been dancing with him, too, when she's not watching from the sidelines. And, while I have no idea - really - when Marina would have seen him with Gregory and Hyacinth, Penelope most definitely has. And she knows. She definitely knows.

As upset as she is, she's also a bit irritated. Because up until then, Colin has almost been her little secret. Sure, there have been flirtations before, but nothing ever serious. And the startling thing is now Marina sees him for the wonderful option that he is. And that stings. And is annoying at the same time.

The thing about this is that Marina is over the moon overjoyed to have found Colin. But there's a difference between Pen and Marina's feelings. I don't actually doubt that Marina is fond of Colin in this moment. That she thinks he's a pretty cool person. That he's a person she doesn't mind spending time with and maybe someday she could grow into loving him. But that isn't what matters to her in this moment. It's the fact that he's the perfect match for her situation that has excited.

And Penelope knows that, which does make it extra hard for her. Yes - there is a bit of selfishness in the fact that she is deeply in love with Colin, and she doesn't want him taken away. But she also really does care for Colin as a person, and does not want him tied to Marina under false pretenses. And thus she begins to push back.

It was important to set up Marina and Penelope as allies at first -- to show that they each found a kindred spirit in each other. Because it shows the complexity of this no-win situation. Penelope does care about Marina -- because she does care about Marina, she doesn't go to her easiest tool first -- Lady Whistledown. But it is a pivot in their relationship. And Marina doesn't seem to notice it.

Pen pushes that Colin's too young (and I think Colin is around 20 at this point?). But Marina says something really key -- that despite him being young, Colin is set on making a connection and settling down. He isn't like the rest of the guys his age who are spending their time flirting and screwing around with many girls, many of them hating the idea of marriage and being tied down. Colin is an idealistic romantic -- he wants marriage and a family and once he's got that idea in his head, he'll stick with it no matter what. Marina gets that about him.

So does Penelope, honestly, but she had always wished and hoped that maybe he'd figure it out over her. Which again, makes all of this feel like a knife to the heart.

Marina also understands his hero complex. She states outright -- did you see the way he rescued me tonight? And it'll tie in later when he admits to her -- had she come to him in the first place about the situation, he would have helped her anyway. From this point forward, Marina is going to begin to manipulate the situation in her own favor. She understands Colin well, and his own youth, naivete, and romanticism is going to be used against him.

And this is where Marina is so lost in her own fantasies of saving herself from a terrible marriage to Rutledge or some other old man or being thrown out onto the street. Her plans of having a good life are coming together and she wants Penelope to be with her on this.

Penelope feigns tiredness and climbs into bed, wanting to get away from the situation. Marina has got to know something deeper with Penelope is going on -- though how Pen's actions don't completely clue her in here, because Pen can't keep her emotions in check, is kind of funny. But Marina continues to try -- attempting to placate Pen with the idea that she and her, along with Eloise, would be sisters. It's an idea that makes the reality of Colin slipping away to her all the more real -- and all the more painful. Getting Eloise as a sister through Marina's marriage would be gut wrenching when she would be near Colin all the time and never truly be able to have him. It's a mockery of something she would like -- Eloise as a sister.

Penelope winces when she says 'imagine that' to Marina's insistence of being sisters. It's truly the worst outcome imaginable.

The minute Marina leaves, Pen straight up has a panic attack. She gets out of bed and paces around, torn between having a full on crying breakdown, while mulling it over what things she could possibly do. It's an a heart wrenching moment, for sure.

Of course, she isn't going to have that much time to process (which is key) because Eloise is throwing rocks at the window, wanting her to come down.

I have to wonder -- how many times did Pen or Eloise sneak out of their houses to go visit the other one? I feel like as children it is something they would do -- maybe meet in secret after dark. There is such a comfort and ease between the two of them, when I would think -- it'd be a bit scandalous for anyone to be meeting in the middle of the night.

Anyway... Eloise is excited that her detective work on Lady Whistledown seems to be working, and she's got new leads. Pen has humored her about the LW business up to this point, and even starts out this scene humoring her here, but while when there weren't other things weighing her down, she could take a little satisfaction of Eloise's fruitless hunt, she isn't in the mood.

As Eloise goes on about LW, Penelope grows impatient. Not helping is how Eloise describes LW -- as a woman of means, as an elderly widow who is able to do what she wants in society unincumbered. How LW has freedom and yet is able to stay invisible to society. And this pushes Pen to lash out.

Eloise is taken aback, because Eloise is the type of person to ramble on and sometimes gets so self involved she doesn't always notice what's going on with those around her. She has no clue what's going on with Pen, and was under the impression that she'd be with her on this discovery, so it's shocking -- not only that her often doormat of a friend is speaking out and cutting her off, but invalidating her interests.

Penelope throws it out that some 'silly' writer's identity isn't important. Part of it is self protection. Part of it is the fact that playing detective and playing such games does feel childish. We're reminded that Pen was pushed out into society and is being forced into that world -- a world that Eloise is not yet in nor ever desires to be. And this is really the rift that keeps coming between them.

The crux of this scene is that Pen's being forced to grow up -- forced to reconcile the reality of her life and all her dreams and fantasies with what the real world actually has in store for her. Eloise does call her out on her claims of maturity. No, Pen isn't being the most mature -- when she can't keep her emotions in check, can't keep herself from a venting tantrum or holding her back from hurling hurtful insults.

But Pen is coming to terms with adulthood.

The last bit of this argument is difficult to watch, because it's Penelope at her lowest and most scathing. Something Eloise probably doesn't see very often -- if ever.

Pen has probably held on to a lot of these deep rooted feelings for a long time. Eloise can go on and on about not wanting or needing marriage, but Penelope seeks it. For a multitude of complex reasons. Yes, a big part of it is her romantic nature -- that she loves love and love stories and marriage seems like romantic happily ever after she's always desired. But also, marriage is a form of validation -- that someone wants her. And Penelope has spent a lot of time being ignored and when she isn't, she's being ridiculed. The idea that there'd be someone to actually push against that thought, against her own inner demons of self worth, has always been a foundation of her fantasies.

The line Pen throws at Eloise about how not everyone can be a pretty Bridgerton is said out of jealousy. Something she thinks Eloise takes for granted -- even though it's a thing Eloise has pushed back against, wanting to be taken more seriously than what she looks like. In a way, it's a perfect dig at Eloise, and Pen knows it. It's a line thrown out in anger and frustration of her own situation -- if she was prettier maybe she wouldn't be in this situation, maybe she would receive love, and it's not really about Eloise at all. Of course she instantly regrets it as Eloise runs off.

And I'm glad they let Pen have these moments of ugliness. It makes her character more complex, more human, more identifiable. We all lash out, we all say things we don't fully mean, we all end up hurting people we care about. Pen and Eloise always bounce back, but there are differences between them that sometimes test their friendship.

This whole sequence is a really wonderfully done part of Pen's arc.

The Duel

This might be one of my favorite Season 1 Colin moments... The show does a pretty good job of layering in some humor even when the show is going to push in heavy with the drama.

I love that Colin is helping his mother return home safely. I'm amused that Violet is kind of trashed in the first place, tbh. But Colin is the one who will make sure everyone will get home safely. And I love the teasing nature of it -- and that Violet knows her son well enough that she can call him out on it.

But, the best part of this scene is really Anthony and Benedict hiding away in the other room. They're discussing duels and honor and Benedict taking over and it's all very serious stuff. But the minute they see Colin, it's like they're all children again as Anthony and Benedict rope Colin in. Colin's line :

Good god, did someone die?

Always has me laughing. But it's also so telling of the nature of the ABC brothers. You know that this isn't the first time that Anthony and Benedict have been up to something and have pulled in Colin, most likely, against his will. Colin's had a nice evening with a girl he likes and now his brothers are being dramatic, as they always are. I love it. And I love that Colin is always the one to bring humor to the situation.

Just as an aside, I kind of like this little, cozy study area. This is Anthony's study, I believe? And it's different than the one in Season 3. How many rooms does this place have, exactly?

Anyway, Colin and Daphne don't really get screen time together -- being in two different plot lines and all, but it's a shame they didn't explore this dynamic a little more (something you can't do when you only have 8 episodes in your TV season), especially when they're close in age, and probably did a lot of their growing up together.

So, it's fascinating that Colin is attempting to be the voice of logic and reason. He so often does not care to adhere to any of society's rules -- just that night, he danced around the room with Marina in a fanciful way that was uncontained and not following the rules of dance that society has laid out, but honor and respectability are important to him.

To Colin - Simon has dishonored Daphne, and to make it right, he'll come to his senses and marry her. That is the proper thing to do. And when Daphne pushes back against that idea (because she does know better) Colin claims that they'll both do the "gentlemanly" thing and fire wide. Because that's how you're supposed to deal with these things. With logic and not emotion.

And again, I find it such a fascinating take take that Colin believes that this is how everything will play out -- that his brother and Simon will just go through the motions of this drama and not be pushed by emotion. That their honor will win out.

Of course, Daphne does know better. She understands that emotion wins over logic -- and it's something Colin will someday understand, too. But in this moment, interestingly, it's honor and logic that gets Colin to fold. Daphne mentions that Cressida did see Daphne in the garden, and if Cressida says anything, their whole family will be ruined.

And Colin can't have that.

So he helps Daphne -- as a way to save her, save his idiot brother, save Simon, and save all of them. Colin will always try to do what he thinks the right thing is -- whether it work or not, he'll always try.

The whole duel sequence is really well done - the suspense building as Daphne and Colin ride their horses to intervene. It's visually captivating and the tension is brought so high.

The drama of it all!

But I think, watching this back from a post-Season 3 perspective (and as someone who prefers Colin to Simon) there's such an interesting contrast here.

And it's been hard to put into words - I've been thinking on it for a good twenty minutes now, and not quite coming up with the best way to put it.

Honor is a key thing to this time period and this society, and Simon understands that as well as Colin does. But when it comes to matters of the heart, they deviate considerably. Simon would rather die protecting the honor of his word to his father, than to admit he has feelings for Daphne. Colin, meanwhile, would die if he was unable to express the feelings of his heart. There's more honor in being true to oneself.

Simon is the expectation of society. He is stoic and distant and guarded. He plays the roles society expects him to play. And is protective of his affections in a way that's deemed acceptable. Eventually -- Colin's bleeding heart will get stomped on and he'll try to be a Simon, only to realize that he isn't that kind of person, and never will be.

Alright then -- half way through Season 1! :)

[mephiestophyl]

sylus really has me wondering if he even has a heart in his chest at all? I mean, with his current form, there is some dialogue that suggests that there is something beating in there — maybe it's some sort of fake heart that was put there (this may be a stretch)?

my doubts about him having a real heart stems from two things — 1) the knowledge that his current form isn't his real form and 2) the fact that he didn't die from being shot in the heart and can regenerate from his injuries when it is night time and has made multiple allusions to not being able to die. the dialogue above suggests that maybe he does have a heart in there, but then there are also these lines that he says??

he's just so ominous 😭 (third pic is from where you touch directly where his heart is/should be)

the first two lines he says here could be interpreted as him meaning that he's never been scared or excited before, but I can't find myself agreeing with it due to his tone of voice. I think he wouldve came off as more arrogant like a "heh, I wonder what THAT feels like 😼" with cockiness in his tone, instead of the "I wonder what that feels like... 😮‍��" with a visible longing in his voice

his heart being a fake/imitation would also explain why his heartbeats are so irregular and high, as it would not function how a real heart normally does, as well as the fact that he still breathes perfectly fine after being shot directly in the heart (which then begs the question of how he even breathes, or if he even needs oxygen to begin with)

and then there's this line?? I'm probably over thinking it, but this line could either mean 1) a more likely conclusion of the plants being unable to produce oxygen due to the environmental conditons of the N109 zone (which it is true that plants arent able to thrive in the N109 zone as told in sylus' myth), or 2) they are unable to produce oxygen around him due to sylus not being able to produce any carbon dioxide when he exhales, as that is something produced by humans and animals which would ultimately exclude him

some could argue that sylus does have a real heart inside him and that in this scene he just regenerated his heart wound, but I just can't agree because his regeneration speed would have to be LIGHTNING fast to recover from being shot in the heart, and from what we've seen from this scene and when his cheek was nicked by MC with the knife, there's a visible delay between how long the injury lingers and the recovery + he also purposefully lowers the gun from where MC intended to shoot him in the head to where his heart is, which THEN makes me wonder if he can die from being shot in the head and through his brain.. and then it also makes me wonder what would happen if he was shot in the heart while under the sun?? would he die instantly or would he just recover extremely slowly?? sigh, this man is just so complicated

this isn't even including the amount of times that sylus just straight up says that he's heartless man,,

I also think that sylus longs to have a real heart, as it is hinted at in the 2nd image that I show here, as well as the fact that he probably doesn't view himself as someone capable of human emotion since he does not qualify as a human, and wants to feel in the way that humans do, plus he most likely views himself as a heartless monster (excluding but as well as in a literal sense) and therefore he believes that he is lacking something to be sensitive, even tho he is already a sensitive person and does not realise it 🥺

this bit is also a stretch, but what if his "real heart" lies in MC? we know that sylus has referred to us and him as "being the same", and that we are "two kindred spirits", and that they both have aether cores implanted in them

sylus also suggests that we have some sort of debt that we have to pay him and that we owe him our life, which could mean that we owe him our own/his heart?

but if our heart does belong to him, how did we even end up with it to begin with? and does this mean we have to die for him eventually? or if he has to take MC's life like how MC took his (though I dont actually know if he died during that scene as he is still capable of grabbing MC's hand in his as theyre holding the sword in his chest, but he either couldve died shortly after and was possibly reborn or he was temporarily subdued by the sword)? maybe the reason sylus is unable to die is beacuse we have his heart?

I didn't really think that last part through all that much, but hopefully there will be some more clues/hints down the line that suggest to something similar to what I'm trying to say

in conclusion I have no idea what's going on with this man dude

[hannahlikeso741]

One Song to my Desires (HL Boys reactions towards their desire for Female MC.)

Well I had a dry spell of writing, so I'm going to fix that. Going through my playlist and I decided to write some drabbles for the HL boys based on each song, surrounding the theme of desire towards Female MC. Borrowing @hogwartslegacyreactions format again.

Sebastian Sallow :

He isn't the subtle type, Sebastian knows what he wants. Her.

She had him from the beginning they locked eyes at Professor Hecat's class, which set off a chain reaction of adventures together. She is just in sync with him, knowing his next moves be it in dueling or his thinking process. Everyone may know her as the hero of Hogwarts or the new 5th year, but not to Sebastian.

No one knows her like he does.

He knows the little things about her, he has been paying attention when she isn't looking. She has little tells that Sebastian predicts her response almost accurately, then it slowly grows into him having tunnel focus on her alone. He will admit he is greedy, he wants more from her. No not want, need.

He needs to taste her skin and lips, he needs his hands to explore her body, for his whole being comes alive with her mere presence. It makes him growl in jealousy that other suitors would even dare come for her. He needed to be her one and only.

Afterall, that hunger inside him for her is getting insatiable.

Ominis Gaunt:

They didn't have the best first impressions towards each other, but Ominis slowly grew fond of her presence. She didn't shun him away, and since the events of their 5th year he could use the friendship.

Something Ominis had started to notice was how his heart raced at her voice saying a mere hello to him. It was a sudden rush that he felt in his veins, that never happened before. Slowly, he noticed his body responding to everything about her. Her scent, her voice, her touch... Oh how her touch haunted him so. He just only wanted to carry on in this world in his own terms, but why is it he find himself wanting to simply be by her side? His own body betrays him with a yearning for her to hold him, to be tangled into her arms, to let his tongue taste the heat of her skin, to hear her voice saying she was his.

Deny it all he wants. But his body speaks and listens to her.

Garreth Weasley:

She is playful, up to no good. The whole package. Garreth was surprised to find someone that understands and supports his love of mischief. It was almost likened to a kindred spirit that he doesn't find in his other friends.

Garreth finds himself spending an awful lot of time with her, laughing at her jokes, giving big ideas that she willingly contributes and humours him about. They are sync, but he wants more from her. More than friends.

He just merely wants to be by her side, giving his all to her. It is killing him to wonder if she will reciprocate his feelings. Garreth finds himself thinking of her even in class or a study session, his mind worries for her. Could she not see how much he wants to woo her, putting all his love for her? Every little touch she gives makes him want to tell her that he wants them to be real and every smile she gave him would make him want to claim her lips for his own to take.

It would be his idea of a heaven with her, proving how much of a lover he could be.

Amit Thakkar:

He isn't the type to confront, but Amit knows he came dangerously close with her.

Sure she had to protect him plenty of times when he gets too frightened or be it her reassuring him that things are fine even when it wasn't. But he was more than just a Gobbledegook speaker, astrologer wannabe or a scared duelist. He wanted to prove that to her, for he was so tired of her having to continuously protect him.

It was frustrating, he wanted to show to her that he is more than what she thinks of him to be. Give him a chance, and Amit will show her who really was in charge. All he just asks for in return was respect, for she had captivated him so. She had a wild, untamed beauty that ignited a flame in him. He respected her for the qualities she had that he doesn't, but all he asks is for her to look at things his way. To understand him, for Amit understands she will never be tamed and he frankly, likes that about her.

Just give him a reason to stay, and Amit knows he will.

Leander Prewett:

There is no one quite like her. She is the whole package that Leander knows is out of his league. She wouldn't look his way. Why would she? The hero of Hogwarts, beating him in everything Leander thought he was good at the minute she landed. Leander can't catch up to her. Maybe that is how she captivated him. How much she was in tune and control with that power she wielded. As if she knew how to be a leader. Something Leander wishes he could be, but he admired that sort of qualities in others. It was so wicked of her to creep into his dreams at night, to have his heart wrenched in her hand and she had no clue on the power she had over him. He didn't want to admit he was falling for her, it was just a game his feelings playing on him as he imagined himself wanting to be at her side, to worship her and adore her. Pride be damned, he would bare his soul wide open as an offering for her. It is a beautifully wicked game his heart was playing, and he let himself get caught in it's web.

Everett Clopton:

When did she captivated him? Could it be that glint in her eye as she raced him alongside that broom course? Or was it that wink she gave when she said the sights of their detour was worth it? Everett can't name a moment when, but since then she crept into his mind. Everett begins to notice little things at first but it graduates slowly towards her spirit. How she captivates him so when she gets reckless, throwing caution to the wind quite literately. A daredevil that has nothing to lose, . He begins to wonder if she behaves like that toward her lover. Would she enjoy experimenting with the possibility of being caught? He let those thoughts haunt him in his dreams as he begins to be aware of the rising heat inside him that he needs to quieten with the image of her, her voice reaching unholy notes that would make an angel blush. Everett wanted... more. He wants her to make him go further, to take him to his limit until he begs for mercy. She is the only one that could make him submit to his lust fully, satisfy that hunger deep within like an adrenaline rush of a broom race. For now, dreams will do to satisfy his burning desire.

[sloanesallow]

True or False

Written for the Pride event in the HL Discord server. Sebastian x Ominis SWF though these two got real flirty real fast | just under 1k words [read on Ao3] | [read on wattpad] | [tumblr masterpost]

It’s quiet—too quiet.

Silence is usually what Ominis prefers, especially when he is trying to sleep. But tonight he is restless, tossing and turning beneath the silken sheets until he throws them off his body in frustration. He rolls onto his back, hands resting on his chest as he resigns to counting blob-shaped objects in his mind.

One.

Two.

Th—

Ominis clenches his jaw in annoyance as the dormitory door creaks open. He knows it’s Sebastian immediately, recognizing the shuffle of his feet and murmuring curses when he bumps into the edge of a desk.

“Oh,” Sebastian laughs, realizing his attempts to be sneaky are in vain. “You’re awake.”

“No thanks to you,” Ominis grumbles. Against his better judgment, he asks, “Where were  you?”

“Around.”

Sebastian’s tone hints at something devious, but then again, when is he not up to something illicit? This is hardly the first time he’s returned to the dungeons well after curfew, but recently there’s a curious levity to his mood. The rumors Ominis overhears indicate Sebastian has been spending a lot of time with the new fifth-year, doing Merlin-knows-what.

“Feldcroft,” Sebastian adds after a moment. “Anne says hello.”

Ominis sighs, not bothering to point out the obvious lie. He settles against the pillow again and shuts his eyes, hoping that Sebastian is exhausted enough from his gallivanting to sleep, for once. But then the mattress dips as Sebastian plops himself down, invading the space and all of Ominis’ senses.

“You know what we haven’t played in a while?” he muses, mirthful as ever. “True or False.”

Ominis pinches the bridge of his nose as he feels the beginnings of a headache take form. “We aren’t children anymore, Sebastian.”

His pout is nearly audible. “Come on, Ominis. Indulge me!”

“I always indulge you.”

Sebastian huffs a laugh, sidling himself closer so their socked feet are touching. “We both know that’s not true.”

Ominis is tempted to shove his so-called friend from the bed, too tired to deal with Sebastian’s brand of humor. The proposed game never made any sense anyway, feeling more like an interrogation than actual fun. It was better to placate though, than risk putting Sebastian into a dour mood with rejection.

“Fine,” Ominis relents.

“Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist,” Sebastian says before humming in thought. “True or false: you’ve been paying Weasley to help you with your potions assignments!”

“I thought that was obvious,” Ominis replies, not bothering to act ashamed of the arrangement with the Gryffindor. “That was too easy, Sebastian.”  

“Well, if I asked something more tantalizing, you’d yell at me!”

“I do not yell at you.”

“You do,” Sebastian snickered, nudging Ominis with his elbow. “Not to fret, I happen to enjoy it. Though I’m hurt you wouldn’t come to me for help.”

Ominis clears his throat, not having a reasonable explanation for his actions. Sebastian is his best friend but is also incredibly busy with his own courses, all while caring for Anne. Not to mention whatever bond is fast-forming between him and the new girl.

“True or false,” Ominis starts, attempting to catch Sebastian off guard. “You weren’t actually in Feldcroft tonight, you were with whatsername.”

Sebastian nervously laughs. “How’d you know?”

“I always know,” Ominis replies. He thinks about the few brief encounters he’s had with Hufflepuff’s latest. “You reek of mallowsweet.”

“I do?” Sebastian unceremoniously sniffs himself. “You say it like it’s a bad thing. Don’t tell me you’re jealous.” 

Ominis cannot hide the heat that floods his cheeks. “Absolutely not.”

Sebastian chuckles.

There’s always been something unspoken between them, a boundary that has never been breached, but Sebastian loves to toe the line. Anne says the two are kindred spirits that squabble like an old married couple. Ominis tries not to think about their dynamic too often, fearful of giving it any more credence than it deserves. He isn’t jealous, or possessive, he just misses his only friend.

“True or false,” Sebastian begins. “Do you still like Anne?”

“Not in the way you think,” Ominis frowns. He admits there was some boyhood infatuation when they first met, but her wild personality makes Sebastian look like a saint. Out of the Sallow twins, Ominis has his preference. “I’d rather you not play matchmaker, Sebastian.”

“Who says I’m playing matchmaker?”

“True or false,” Ominis says, hopeful Sebastian is growing bored with the back and forth. “You once had a dream in which you snogged Professor Hecat, and it was so vivid you couldn’t attend Defense Against the Dark Arts for weeks!”

“Did not!” Sebastian scoffs, jostling Ominis as he flops onto his back in exasperation. “You’ve had your fair share of naughty dreams, too, and don’t try to deny it. I’ve heard you in the middle of the night, murmuring in your sleep. I wonder who you’ve been fantasizing about.”

“That’s none of your business,” Ominis responds, flustered.

Sebastian rolls onto his side, crowding Ominis again. “Isn’t it?”

Ominis tenses and sucks in a breath. He is used to Sebastian’s proclivity for physical touch, except in moments like these where it threatens to turn intimate.

“True or false,” the timbre of Sebastian’s voice only adds to the tension. “You’ve been dreaming about me.”

Ominis slowly exhales and decides he won’t be swept away so easily. “True or false? When you’re with her, you’re wishing it was me.”

“I knew you were jealous,” Sebastian laughs, his breath fanning across Ominis’ face, closer than he’s ever dared to be before. But he doesn’t answer either. “True or false?” Their lips graze as Sebastian speaks and Ominis has already decided how the rest of the evening will unravel. “You want me to kiss you.”

“Truth.” 

[butterflywannabefree]

Moodboards for @lmkobsessedmoth

Bro, where did my motivation go for me to be posting moodboards during the LAST MONTH OF 2024 ?! I don’t know but I am and still am ashamed. But hey, I’m here now. No time to procrastinate again when creativity means doing things for fun. And I admit, this was pretty fun. As the title suggests, these moodboards are dedicated to @lmkobsessedmoth who, I’m going to be honest, is one of the more nuanced artists in the LMK community. And one of the more underrated, I would say. They are the creator of the Death AU, an AU in which MK dies and is helped by their OC Yu Ling…At first. I don’t think it’s called the Death AU anymore and has a whole new plotline that involves spirits and monsters alike.

Which is understandable. Creators are able to change whatever they want about their AU and the characters within it. Lord knows how much I go back and forth on my own creations- Loyd, you’re my kindred spirit in that sense- But enough about that. I wanted to make moodboards, I made moodboard and you will now see the moodboards ! I’m back for now, baby, so let’s get the train moving !

Side note, I only made two moodboards for @lmkobsessedmoth ‘s main OC’s (Yu Ling and Diedie). I might be interested in making some for the others if we receive more about them. But for now, this is what I got.

First up is the main girl herself, Yu Ling. Or the Daughter of Death, as her title says. From what I know, Yu Ling is a being whose fate was reset by the gods, Erland and Guanyin. I believe her powers have something to do with souls and spirits. And in order to get that power, there was a deal made with the ten Yama Kings and she has been their student ever since, gaining many injuries from the accident which didn’t affect her. Though her origins were very different as in the beginning of the Death AU, she was originally meant to be a guide for MK when he died and helped him on his adventures.

Concept wise, that is a strong one. I’ve studied stories and writing before and I’ve always been one to enjoy anything relating to things like spirits and souls. So I really enjoyed learning about the AU. Even though things have changed, seeing Yu Ling change through it was also fun. Her design is both, dare I say, simplistic yet fancy. Loyd has managed the art of being able to replicate the artstyle of LMK almost seamlessly and Yu Ling looks like she could pass to be one of the characters. Simple but with just enough to make her stand out. Not to mention her character is pretty neat. When I was asking permission from her creator to make this, I asked them what represented her and I was answered souls, jade and stars. I think I leaned more into angsty territory by adding those quotes though. I dunno. I felt like they matched well enough. So I’ll give myself a pass. It goes with the picture I chose of Yu Ling well enough, I feel like.

Next is Diedie or Dandelion Child ! I’m gonna be honest and probably get hated for it but I think she’s more of my favorite than Yu Ling. Don’t get me wrong, both are great but I always did have an affinity for child characters. Especially…Ugh, tragic child characters. Loyd, who gave you the right to create one of the cutest little beans and put her through so much ? Is that even legal ? I doubt it. But it is what it is. From my research, Diedie is a child from 1920’s China. She became the guardian of an ancient artifact called the Lotus Reliquary after stopping a demon from destroying it. Diedie is also nonverbal and is seen as, and I quote, an INFECTION, by the villagers because of this and the way she acts.

Which…Bro, that makes me SO mad. If I had a choice, I’d burn that village down myself. But hey, fire is already a thing in Diedie’s story so I can’t do that. That’s all I can put in here. If you want to know more about her, please go check out @lmkobsessedmoth ‘s profile and check out their stuff. Pls, they are underrated and deserve attention. POSITIVE attention. Loyd, I hope I didn’t disappoint (as I usually do haha-) you with these moodboards. They were pretty fun to make and I’d be happy to do the rest of your characters when I have the chance. For now, I’m Vee and I’ll be back whenever with more moodboards if I can.

[midnightsun-if]

So we've seen what our lovely older siblings think of our ROs, but I was curious about Persephone? Maybe even Blake too, though they might be the "no one is good enough for my bestie" type of person

Honestly, Persephone is the type of person who looks at the relationships and goes; if they chose you, and you chose them, and it’s actual love, then I don’t really have any other opinions about it— as long as you’re happy. There are two ROs she doesn’t particularly like/is wary of, but I don’t want to spoil anything… So, I’ll just leave it at that.

Blake on the other hand?

Koda: He’s a fun guy to hangout with, someone that wouldn’t a fly and would probably cry if he did. Honestly, Blake doesn’t know how they could dislike Koda— he doesn’t do anything to deserve such a harsh emotion. Plus free piggyback rides on a Kodiak Bear can never get old.

Scarlett: She scares them… Ever since The Incident, Blake has done their best to try and stay off her radar unless they’re near sufficient cover and can get away with teasing her. Now that their best friend is dating her? And they have the ultimate get out of a jail free card? It’s open season. (On a serious note, Blake admires Scarlett and has a kindred bond with her in some ways due to events that I can’t spoil.)

Cyrus/Cyra: Aiming high aren’t you? They’d be completely amused/amazed that you found love with the Crown Heir… In fact, they may even give you a high five. Blake likes C, even though they think they get in their head too much, but they can clearly see how much the Phoenix cares for you. Plus, the bird jokes write themselves which is another bonus for Blake.

Quinn: They had their initial misgivings towards the Grant Heir— as Blake knows a bit more about the Grant Pack than you do— but after meeting them? Blake could clearly tell that they’re nothing like the family in which they hail from, and Blake might actually feel bad for assuming that they would be. Blake, as it seems to be a pattern when it comes to shifters, would want to have a shoulder ride when Quinn is shifted… Then they’re completely cleared in your best friends book.

Caden: Blake knows absolutely nothing about Caden… You know that one meme— I think it’s from The Office with Dwight and Angela, where she just appears?— that’s them in a nutshell. Blake isn’t necessarily unsettled by Caden, but they do find it a little creepy the way they’re able to just vanish. And, yes, they know it’s a Phantom thing, but still! They’d probably gift Caden with a bell or something… All in all, Blake would see how Caden centered you and you brought them out of their shell— it’s a win win.

Sloane: They’re very up in the air about Sloane. On one hand, they have a badass wardrobe and overall aesthetic, and they just sort of look cool all around. On the other hand? They’re sort of a dick. But! The longer Blake is exposed to Sloane, and the level of care they show you, plus when Sloane actually gets comfortable around Blake, then Blake will understand that they had nothing to worry about to begin with. (They’d totally ask if a saddle could fit on Sloane’s lupine form for them to ride.)

Blake: 0/10, would not recommend.

Reginald/Regina: Blake finds their overall cluelessness about the supernatural world incredibly endearing— especially since they’re actively trying to learn more. The only time Blake would worry about the relationship is when the long term effects are discussed, and the potential courses that could be taken (and the results that could come about). They patiently answer all of R’s questions, while subtly getting them to agree to be on their trivia team for game night, and just generally enjoys their time with R.

Truly, as long as you’re happy then Blake is happy. That’s all that matters in the end.