#but that's just garden variety arrogance

[tritoch]

i'm such a fake bitch because i'm like "it's okay to like problematic characters (◡‿◡✿) it is also okay to dislike them (..◜ᴗ◝..) your opinions on fictional characters do not reflect anything about you as a person" and then someone will say something mildly critical of venat finalfantasy and it's like hm. i may have been lying earlier.

[bitemevanitas]

Thoughts on Vanitas being called pet names like love and my beloved, mon cheri and mon coeur, by his loved one?

Vanitas & Pet Names from His Loved One

• The first time they called him a pet name, it was in a quiet park tucked away in the heart of Paris.

• It wasn’t meant to be anything grand—a simple date, if one could even call it that.

• A rare moment where Vanitas wasn’t moving at full speed, but rather.. unusually subdued.

• Not unhappy, but contemplative.

• He had been uncharacteristically quiet for a while, watching the last golden leaves tremble in the breeze. And then—

• “Are you tired, mon cœur?”

• The words were spoken so naturally, like they’d always belonged there, like they hadn’t just shaken the very foundations of his world.

• He immediately freezes. He was not expecting that.

• Then his reaction was immediate and visceral—he snapped his gaze to them, blinking rapidly, as if unsure he’d heard correctly.

• His heart? Racing. Beating harder than it has any right to.

• He tells himself it’s just the absurdity of it, that he wasn’t expecting it. It’s not because he actually liked hearing it. Absolutely not.

• “..What did you just call me?” His voice, for once, wasn’t laced with amusement or arrogance. Just pure disbelief.

• He didn’t know how to react. It wasn’t mockery. It wasn’t a joke. They had said it gently. So fondly.

• A hundred different responses fought their way to his lips: a scoff, a teasing remark, a dramatic gasp of horror.

• Then, of course, he laughed. A sharp, teasing chuckle, as if the idea of someone calling him something so endearing was utterly ridiculous.

• Maybe he leaned in close, a wolfish grin playing on his lips, trying to make them flustered instead.

• But his eyes, if only for a fleeting moment, betray him.

• There’s something vulnerable—something that says he’s touched, even if he won’t admit it.

• “Really now?” He finally smirked, tilting his head to the side, but there was a telltale pink dusting his ears. “Didn’t take you for the type to be so sentimental.”

• Vanitas is emotionally crippled, that se are aware of.

• If he didn’t love them, he would make a complete joke out of it—perhaps even mimic their voice in an exaggeratedly dramatic way.

• But if he does love them? The teasing is just a cover-up. A shield to hide how much the name truly affects him.

• Vanitas couldn’t stop thinking about it.

• Even as they continued walking through the garden, even as he tried to distract himself with clever banter, his mind kept circling back to that moment. Mon cœur.

• It wasn’t just that they called him something sweet. It was that they meant it.

• And that terrified him more than he’d ever admit.

• He acted nonchalant. Teased them for it later, of course—how could he not?

• But deep down, something warm settled in his chest.

• A dangerous kind of warmth, the kind that felt almost too precious to hold.

• Vanitas is the kind of man who dwells on things when he’s alone, when no one is watching.

• He replays the moment in his mind, of that first time they called him something so tender.

• He thought about it often. Sometimes, late at night, when sleep refuses to come, he’d hear their voice in his mind, the way it had curled so softly around the words. Mon cœur.

• He tells himself it means nothing, at first.

• But then why does his heart ache every time he remembers it?

• And damn it all, it made him giddy.

• Him—Vanitas! Him, grinning like a fool under his duvet in the dark, over something so simple.

• But it was his, wasn’t it? A moment that belonged to him alone.

• A variety of the names he has been called:

𖦹 Mon chéri My dear

𖦹 Mon cœur My heart

𖦹 Mon amour My love

𖦹 Petit loup Little wolf (he acts like one)

𖦹 Ma moitié My other half (he’d pretend to hate this, but secretly..)

𖦹 Chéri Darling

𖦹 Mon voleur de cœur – Thief of my heart (he’d cringe at this one)

𖦹 Mon étoile My star (he’d roll his eyes but this one gets a pass)

𖦹 Doudou Simply a soft, affectionate term (he’d definitely protest, but if they keep using it, he’ll never admit he doesn’t hate it)

• He has never outright asked them to stop.

• Even when he feigned annoyance, even when he rolled his eyes, he has never once told them to stop.

• Because deep down, some foolish part of him wants to hear it.

• To be loved so openly, so effortlessly—it is terrifying.

• It's dangerous.

• It's the kind of thing that makes him want to run.

• But he never does.

• Instead, the next time they call him mon cœur, he only grins, shaking his head fondly.

• But his hand lingers in theirs just a little longer than necessary.

.

.

.

[hiddenavenues]

hi :)) I saw ur introduction post and I think you're super cool!!1! can you make an Arthur Morgan x transmasc fic where him and the reader meet at that one party mission in Saint Denis <3 if you can't do it or feel umcomfy please feel free to ignore!! hope you have a great day ❤️❤️❤️

An Outlaws Masquerade

a/n: HI ANON THANK YOU FOR WAITING! I loved writing this req and it got a little longer than anticipated. Let me know how you feel about it, hope you enjoy!

Arthur Morgan x TransMasc!Reader

Words: 2.0k

CW: Mention of drinking, reader is an outlaw, mentions of violence, fake drunk, one cigarette mentioned

Your suit clung to your frame like a second skin as you lifted a glass of sparkling champagne to your lips. The fine fabric sculpted your silhouette, a sharp contrast to your usual attire of mud-splattered boots and worn-out denim. Tonight, you played a part, one that felt as foreign as the luxury surrounding you.

The chill from the garden’s cement bench seeped through your trousers as you sought refuge from the suffocating swirl of expensive cologne and clinking glasses. Here, among the well-kept roses and tulips, the scent of earth and flowers soothed your fraying nerves, offering a moment of clarity.

You received the invitation a few days ago, addressed to an alias you’d recently grown accustomed to. The waxy paper and crimson seal alone screamed wealth, with elegant swirls and dots of ink inside mocking your humble home. A party hosted by the mayor, a perfect opportunity to sniff out a lucrative job, albeit of the less-than-legal variety.

For nearly two hours, you had absentmindedly milled through the crowd, joining conversations and hoping to hear anything about a job with money. The jewels adorning the hands of oblivious partygoers sparkled mockingly, unaware of the thief in their midst. You drifted through the crowd like a shadow, listening for whispers of opportunity.

Movement from the balcony caught your eye. Four men in Saint Denis’ finest stood above the rest of the party. You recognized Bronte; his arrogant smirk seemed to ooze venom as he introduced the other men to two newcomers. A man in a black top hat stood beside him, his voice loud enough to carry over the chatter in the garden. The bite in his laugh and sharpness in his gaze felt inhuman, like a wolf surveying prey.

If you hadn’t been paying attention, you wouldn’t have noticed the fifth man lingering in the shadows behind the wolf.

He didn’t fit in with the boisterous men around him; his large frame and sun-kissed cheeks betrayed his attempt at fitting into high-class society. There was something in how he carried himself, a guarded ease, a quiet readiness that struck a chord of familiarity. You’d seen it before, felt it in yourself, that unspoken mark of someone who lived by their own rules outside the bounds of polite society.

You watched as his gaze flicked over the clusters of people, lingering just long enough to assess each group before moving on.

As if sensing your attention, his eyes snapped to yours.

For a moment, neither of you moved. His gaze was steady and calculating, eyes scanning you slowly before returning to yours. You tilted your glass slightly in silent acknowledgment. His expression remained unreadable, though a subtle shift in his posture suggested he’d taken note of your greeting.

Before you could dwell on it further, the wolf let out a bark of laughter and gestured to the garden below, drawing the party's attention. While everyone turned to catch a glance at whatever he thought was interesting, you glanced back to where you last saw the fifth man, only to find an empty balcony.

Your mouth tugged into a grin. Not a shabby distraction.

You stood up slowly, smoothing out the fabric of your suit before slipping through the crowd to the mansion's entrance.

The party’s hum grew distant as you wandered deeper into the mansion. The cool marble floors were a welcome reprieve from the stuffy press of bodies and clinking glasses.

Walking past the open front doors, the empty night beyond whispered your name, begging you to ignore the tether deep in your gut, beckoning you to the mystery man. No matter how appealing your warm bed sounded, you couldn’t shake the feeling that leaving now would mean missing something important, something that could change everything.

Your leather shoes are silent over carpeted stairs; candles mounted to the wall flickering as you pass by. Reaching the top of the stairs, you pause in front of an ornate wooden door. Glancing around the landing, you note that all the doors are open and inviting, nearly begging wanderers to step inside and drool at the priceless books and artifacts. Lights had been strung through the doorways of other rooms as if trying to draw the eye away from this one.

You’d hardly be able to call yourself an outlaw if you didn’t have at least a little peak.

Your fingers twitch for your throwing knives confiscated downstairs as you inch open the door, heart pounding as you glimpse bookshelves lining the walls of a small room. The sound of paper whispering between fingers alerts you to the room's occupancy. Slowly you push the door further, revealing the man from the balcony standing behind a large wood desk.

With his back to you, the man is unaware of your intrusion, his eyes scan a paper in front of him, mouthing each word as his finger ghosts over the lines of text. With the intention of catching a glimpse at the paper, you open the door wider, only for the sound of squealing hinges to cut through the stillness.

Your heart stills in your chest as the man’s eyes snap to yours, his hand darting to an empty holster. A snarl curls his lip, eyes zipping from yours to the door behind you.

For a second, you’re reminded of a cornered animal torn between fight or flight.

“You move, and I’ll make sure no one hears you scream.” He growls, voice just over a whisper.

Your brows raise as you slowly lift your hands, palms toward him. “Easy tiger, I’m no rat.”

A muscle in the man's jaw feathered as his eyes narrowed. “What a man of money doing snooping around where he shouldn’t?”

“Same thing you are, I suppose,” You take a step further into the room, softly shutting the door behind you. “A place like this is brimming with opportunity.”

“That so?” His brows knitted together as he looked you over, taking in the suit and fine leather shoes. “Don’t exactly look the part of an outlaw.”

“And you do?” You question, gesturing with your raised hands to his matching black suit and slick-backed hair.

The man purses his lips, trying to hide a reluctant smile. You breathe a sigh of relief as he relaxes his shoulders, eyes glancing back to the desk he had been searching before returning to yours. “You here for something in particular or just distracting me?”

You lowered your arms slowly, daring a glance at the scattered papers on the desk. In the pale light, bold red ink stamped across the top of the first sheet caught your eye: TOP SECRET: EXTREMELY CONFIDENTIAL.

“Let’s just say we’re after the same thing. Maybe we can help each other out.”

The man tilted his head, studying you for a long moment before seemingly arriving at a conclusion.

“Fine, but any funny business, and I’m putting a bullet in your head.” He mumbles, grabbing the paper. You didn’t bother pointing out how neither of you currently had your weapons.

"Arthur," he said, extending a hand toward you.

You grasped it, your calloused palms brushing against his as you replied with your name.

“Saw ya’ from the balcony, didn’t I?” Arthur asks.

“That ya’ did,” You grin, stepping to stand beside Arthur. “I amend your attempt at fitting in, but I hate to admit you stick out like a sore thumb up there.” You laugh quietly at the look of bemused annoyance on Arthur’s face.

“Ain't my usual crowd, that's for sure. You seem more at ease than most with that fancy suit, but I reckon it ain't your usual attire either." He says sheepishly.

You chuckle softly, "You caught me. This whole setup is more costume than anything else. I'm here on business."

Arthur's eyes flicked back to the papers in his hand, then to you. "Well, if we’re gonna work together, best not waste time. What exactly are you after?"

Time seemed to slow as you and Arthur discussed a plan, taking turns offering ideas on the job. You were surprised to learn Arthur ran with the Van Der Linde gang, the same boys who stirred up Black Water months back.

Arthur stashed the papers inside his jacket before glancing at the door. “We best get moving before we push our luck in here.” He sighs, stepping around you to press an ear to the door.

Following suit, both of you listen intently for signs of anyone outside. Arthur meets your eyes after a few seconds, providing a curt nod before pulling the door open.

To both of your relief, the hallway is empty.

The distant chatter from the party outside drowns out the soft click as Arthur closes the door behind you. Glancing back at him, he puts a finger to his lips before pointing towards the staircase you’d climbed minutes ago. Seeing as the balcony was now empty of Bronte and his goons, you were still in restricted territory.

Luck was not on your side as the sound of approaching voices freezes you both in place.

Arthur’s hand gently wraps around your bicep in warning, a look of alarm plastered across his face.

“We got company,” Arthur mutters, breath warm against the shell of your ear. “Best figure something out before ole’ bronte has both us swingin’ from the gallows.”

Your mind reels as you think of all the acts that have gotten you out of predicaments worse than this. An idea sparks as you look Arthur over.

Your voice is firmer than you thought it’d be as you tangle his hair in your fingers, pulling strands out of place with haste. “Follow my lead,” You whisper, musing your own hair before stumbling towards the staircase, a bubbly laugh on your tongue.

You let your body sway as you stumble into the wall, a drunk smile tugging your lips. You hear a muttered curse from behind you before Arthurs's faltering steps follow yours, adopting a similar stagger as the voices round the corner.

Two sharply dressed men stop dead at the sight of you, brows furrowing in bewilderment. “What the hell are you doing up here?” One demands, tone sharp with anger. The glint of metal from the man's hip has your stomach lurching. Seems like not everyone's guns were confiscated.

Arthur bumps into you, bracing himself with a shoulder against the wall. “We got lost! Some party, huh?” He slurs, a ridiculous grin splitting his cheeks.

“We thought this was... Was the way to the bathroom, but nooooo…!” You add, lightly shoving Arthur’s shoulder, nearly tumbling him to the carpet. “This guy’s got us all turned ‘round!” You laugh as Arthur grabs at your arm to stabilize himself.

The men exchange looks of disgust, clearly unimpressed, but suspicion no longer lining their brows. “The bathroom is downstairs,” One growls, pointing down the stairs behind them.

“Thank you! You’re a lifesaver,” Arthur mumbles, swaying as both of you lean into each other for support down the stairs, muttering slurred apologies and biting back laughter.

Grabbing back both your weapons from the front door, neither of you drops the rouse as you sway across the front lawn. You trip over your own shoes as concrete turns into the muddy streets of Saint-Denis.

As the mansion lights flicker a few houses down, you both let out stifled laughs that quickly have both of you doubling over, hands on your knees as tears prick the corner of your eyes.

Arthur straightens, letting out a breathy sigh, “Well, that was somethin’,” he chuckles, gaze drifting to the stretch of street you’d just stumbled down before landing on you. “Didn’t think I’d be playing a drunk fool just to get outta’ a place like that.”

You smirk, tucking your hair back into place with daft fingers. “Could’ve fooled me. Ya’ were a natural.”

Arthur snorts, lighting a cigarette from his jacket pocket. “Maybe, but I don’t plan on makin’ it a habit. You come up with this stuff on the fly, or is actin’ like a fool just somethin’ you’re good at?”

You scoff at the lighthearted insult. “Guess you’ll just have to stick around to find out.” You tease, nudging his shoulder with your own.

Arthur studies you as he takes a drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke into the night air. “Reckon I just might.” 

[gorogues]

Spoilers for Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum #1!

You can see some preview pages here.

Digger actually doesn't appear much in the issue -- these two pages, plus the one-panel cameo from the preview are the extent of it -- but he still manages to be memorable. The issue mostly sets up the backstory and premise of the new video game, establishing very clearly how cruel Arkham Asylum is and the cold arrogance of Amanda Waller, along with the desperation of the inmates. It's not at all surprising that they'd be willing to do her bidding to get out of that place, even at the potential cost of their own lives. Presumably the worldwide chaos mentioned at the end is part of the game, the reason why the Squad is sent to kill the Justice League. (I haven't played it.)

So there's not a whole lot to talk about in terms of Digger here, but he'll probably get more attention in future issues as the Squad moves into action. This one was more about set-up. I thought it was pretty good at what it intended to do, as it tells us a lot about the situation the inmates find themselves in and thus ultimately about their motivations. Plus, they're not wrong about Digger just being a garden-variety asshole! It's good that he's not being lumped in with the psychos, he's just a big jerk.

[eco-lite]

Time for notes from my reread of JR volume 2! You can find thoughts from my first read here.

“The Cat’s Eye of Insight”

* I was going to say that a liter of milk is a lot for a week, but it’s only like 4 cups. That doesn’t seem crazy for Richard, Seigi, and clients to drink that much. Maybe Japan isn’t big on milk drinking in general?

* I love when Seigi says “hey, unrelated to what we were just talking about” and then proceeds to say something that’s absolutely related to what they were just talking about.

* Yes, we love not wasting food! Sustainable king!

* Sad to say Richard’s wealthy upbringing means he doesn’t care at all about wasting food. 😒 Pretty funny that he’s impressed by Seigi’s three ingredient leftovers recipe because Richard can’t cook for shit.

* “I’d prefer pudding 🥺” RICHARD.

* “Working at this shop had made me realize that intimate relationships came in a variety of shapes and forms” (12). Woohoo! The thesis of the series!

* Anddd the child is here. 😒 No matter how many times I read this story, I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy this kid. I sympathize with him, but what a little brat!

* “‘You sound just like one of those shady men in the street safety videos we watch at school’” (17). 😵😵😵

* Seigi is a saint for trying to make friends with this child. Could not be me.

* I really like this teamwork dynamic here. Seigi gets the client to open up about their problems, and Richard swoops in with the solution.

* Richard being kind to this child is very important to me. Maybe he sees a reflection of himself as a kid.

* God, the stress this kid is under is unreal.

* Why is Hajime’s first idea to take his little brother to a restaurant if he’s hungry? Do no wealthy people cook in this world?!

* Glad it was a relief-filled reunion for Hajime’s family. It was pretty ironic when his mom asked when he got so arrogant lol.

* Richard would also be concerned about my grasp on discussions of finances. It’s all “too abstract” for me too. 😅 Luckily I’m not studying economics, unlike a certain someone who should probably understand how assets work for his classes…

* “‘I just hope, for your sake, that you have no good-looking friends who might one day approach you for your help robbing a bank’” (59). What a wild statement, Richard. Seigi isn’t swayed by all beauty, just you. He wants to make milk jelly because it will make you happy.

* “Richard turned his head away with a “hmph!’ When it came to the topic of sweets, his reactions got three times more childish than usual. Honestly, I secretly kinda liked it” (59). Hehehe. I’ve been loving their banter in this chapter.

* “…if I ever got my own house and was with someone who also loved animals, I wonder what I’d name our pet? Maybe I’d give it a child’s name?” (60-61). Foreshadowing! We love Jiro!

“The Fighting Garnet”

* “‘One thing human beauty and gemological beauty share in common is that neither is bound by a strict set of standards. I believe that one of the myriad ways to appreciate gems is in communing with stones, thus allowing us to imagine a world in which beauty is not defined by stereotypes’” (73). Richard has a really nice outlook on beauty considering all the trouble his own beauty has caused him. He’s clearly though about this a lot.

* Richard is making me want to read Sherlock Holmes again lol.

* “‘Perhaps you could say it’s the perfume of life itself’” (75). Okay, Richard, very poetic. Honest question: do we think Richard enjoys being outside? Like would he go for a hike somewhere? I’d tend to doubt it, but I think he would appreciate a stroll in the park or the sophisticated beauty of an English garden.

* “‘…chapped skin on the hands around this time of year tends to be indicative of someone who works with water’” (76). Boy, can I attest to this! Working in an estuary is very rough on the hands.

* It’s so fascinating to me that Richard emphasizes so heavily to Seigi not to intrude into their clients’ personal lives, and to not make assumptions about them, yet he’s over here intuiting everything about them with just a glance. Hmmmmm. It would certainly be great for sales to be able to know more about his clients without even asking, but it’s a bit hypocritical to tell Seigi off for doing the same thing in a more open way.

* Was the girl Yamamoto’s partner left her for a high schooler?!?! 🤮🤮🤮

* “‘I don’t think I’m going to have another chance in my lifetime for someone to give me a ring, so I decided to take matters into my own hands’” (78). Oh, honey. I really hate this mentality that once a woman passes a certain age, she’ll never be attractive enough to find love again. I’ve certainly felt this way before. But we have to remember that this is an insidious part of the heteropatriarchy that allows men to manipulate women into settling for any romantic relationship they can get. Also, 27 isn’t old at all! And why is a romantic relationship worth so much to people when they have great relationships with their friends and family, like it sounds like Yamamoto does? Maybe it’s my perspective as someone on the ace spectrum, but romance isn’t everything! There are so many other wonderful kinds of relationships to enrich your life with. Don’t worry about just one kind.

* “‘Whatever path you decide to walk, I believe making the decision for yourself is most commendable’” (78). Richard speaking from personal experience.

* It always suddenly hits me that Richard’s life must have been terribly lonely until he decided to run away from England.

* Richard acting aloof and sarcastic when Seigi says looking at Richard’s face brings him happiness, but then implying that he and Seigi are soul mates two seconds later?? Make up your mind, man!

* Richard unbotheredly sipping his water as he listens to this asshole get broken up with. Iconic behavior.

* Societal dating standards are a bitch, what can I say?

* “I did realize one thing, though—while words like ‘pretty’ and ‘beautiful’ are words of praise, they’re also words of judgement… One careless remark, one wrong step, and you’re approaching verbal abuse. I never thought about any of that before and just kept calling Richard beautiful” (102). Yes, Seigi, you’re learning! It is really heartbreaking every time Richard responds to a situation like this with “I’m used to it.” He shouldn’t have to be. And of course Seigi doesn’t mean any harm by it, but unintentional harm is still harm.

* I’m proud of Yamamoto-san for sticking to her values and fighting for herself. She’s a warrior indeed. And I love that the pomegranate tree she sent to Richard and Seigi will continue to be a reminder of the lessons Seigi learned in this story.

* Yes, Richard has been through so much. But he’s a warrior too. To live is to fight. I’m kind of surprised Richard kept his composure so well throughout this story, considering beauty is such a touchy subject for him. But I also think he’s spent so much time thinking about this and coming to terms with people’s interactions with him that he could confidently tell Yamamoto that there’s so much more to beauty than good looks.

“The Dance of the Emeralds”

* What a crazy first page lol.

* I always find it interesting that Seigi never protests that he’s not dating Richard because he’s a man or because he wouldn’t be interested. It’s because he is interested in dating Tanimoto. He just has a very one-track mind focused on his intended partner, I guess. You could say his focus shifts to Richard once he and Tanimoto officially decide to just be friends.

* “Going out to eat together’s a big step” (111). Seigi, you did that with Richard first. :P

* Not Aki seeing right through Seigi’s intentions immediately lmao. Most people can read a room like that, but not Seigi and Tanimoto. They’re special.

* “What a calculating man” (118) 😂😂😂

* Omg Homura strikes again!

* “She had the vibe of someone who’d just come running from a construction site” (134). As in, because she was being harassed there?? I still don’t get it.

* I love Shinkai not even being phased when she first meets Richard and just starts talking his ear off in (presumably) French.

* “‘He’s like Shouko? You mean he can eat more food if he has a side of gemstones?’ ‘Huh? D-do I wanna even know what that means?’ ‘As long as I have a trapiche emerald by my side, I can eat three whole servings’” (135). 😂😂😂 I love this little exchange.

* Shinkai having given Minako the malachite pendant to ward off sickness and then saying “‘I guess it doesn’t really work though, huh’” (139). Ouchie ouchie ouchie!

* “‘Are you unfamiliar with the concept of a search engine?’” (143). Richard, give him a break for once! 😂

* And then it continues: “‘Please! I’m not good at reading western script. I’ll pay for your drink!’ ‘Remind me again who was incredibly smug about having memorized all of my names?’ ‘That’s not western script—that’s your name! I’m capable of remembering the names of important people in my life.’ Richard aggressively averted his eyes, grabbed his cup, and began drinking his water. He must’ve been really thirsty because he downed the whole thing” (143). Yes, Richard, you are important to people! Accept it!!

* Richard starting a reluctant story with “long ago in a place far away” is so funny to me.

* “Maybe his family situation is really complicated” (145). Yeah you could say that…

* Tanimoto is a really incredible person, but her streak of thinking Seigi has a crush on everyone but her is crazy lol. Typical aroace behavior. And Shinkai telling Seigi “You should probably try a little harder” (158). 😂😂😂 And after Seigi thought he really set a good mood, too…

* This dynamic of Richard being like “This case might get dangerous. You coming?” And Seigi being like “Of course I am” is so Holmes and Watson. I love how much Tsujimura is playing into the Sherlock Holmes comparisons in this case.

* So I googled “old scholar making a deal with the devil” and got to learn about the Faustian bargain… Pretty funny analogy.

* It still gets me that Richard so casually ate the caramel out of Seigi’s hand! And Seigi describing it as “this massive, beautiful fish ate it right out of my hand” (168) is hilarious.

* Oh yeah, I’m sure those incriminating documents just happened to be laying on the desk… I’m loving this Watsonian unreliable narration.

* Richard demanding the caramels in exchange for continuing the story. 😂

* “‘I know I’m just being crazy, but you’re not like an undercover agent or something…are you?’ ‘Caramel’” (179). 😂😂😂

* Richard fishing for compliments from Seigi and then getting embarrassed by Seigi’s response will never not be funny to me. He’s truly fighting for his life with his own desires.

* Don’t say he’s just a last minute replacement!! 🤬 I do want to see the scene of Seigi asking Richard to go with him though. What kind of expression would Richard make in that moment?

* “‘What you saw in that performance was not the world of the choreographer’s intent but the inner workings of your own heart’” (187). Wow. Yeah.

* Hhhh this ending is so bittersweet. I really wish Richard had gone to the after party. Then he and Tanimoto could have interacted sooner, and it would have probably been a pretty sweet/funny dynamic between the three of them. I guess Richard saw Tanimoto running towards Seigi and assumed this was the woman Seigi has been talking about this whole time. He thought it was time for him to step out. But at the end of the day, Richard is the one Seigi wanted to spend time with after the performance. He was part of the inner workings of Seigi’s heart at that moment. But Richard still doesn’t feel worthy of Seigi’s affection, or anyone else’s for that matter, and he’s still got a lot of walls up against getting hurt. I think fishing for that compliment from Seigi earlier was Richard opening up just a tiny bit, but he still has a long way to go until he can openly accept Seigi’s affection. Or even understand Seigi’s affection for him. And the foreshadowing of Richard suddenly walking out of Seigi’s life… ouchie.

“The Opal of Reunion”

* Oh god, this is the one about the karate classmate… I forgot this was only in volume 2!

* I find the idea of Seigi and Richard just sitting around chatting in between customers really sweet. Doesn’t Richard have paperwork or whaterever to do though? This is a business, remember?

* “‘…I think I find watching you talk at such length more interesting than the subject matter,’ Richard said in a completely flat tone before taking another sip of the tea” (191). Richard, your tone isn’t matching the implications of your words.

* Richard, don’t think I don’t see you dodging questions about your childhood…

* “‘Or do you mean like, he’s already got a wife and kids and stuff so our relationship might not be anything more than a nice memory to him?” (196). Seigi, this is truly a wild thing to say about a friend you weren’t romantically involved with. Richard is so taken aback lol.

* “‘…am I correct in my understanding of what your said earlier as a hypothetical example of a reunion with someone you were close to in the past that had sudden and drastic life change, making you grieve for your past friendship?’ ‘What else would I have meant?’ ‘…Absolutely nothing. Tea’” (197). Both of them are hopeless. 😅

* “Admittedly, his misread wasn’t totally off the mark. I do remember that back in my first year of junior high, I was pretty convinced that if I had to marry someone, he probably wouldn’t have been a bad choice. Maybe he would have actually kept in contact with me if I had jokingly tried to sell him on the idea with my cooking skills” (197-198). I remember being floored by this paragraph on my first read and I kind of still am now. It’s so interesting that Seigi can acknowledge he had these thoughts of wanting to marry a boy when he was younger, yet not even begin to contemplate his queer thoughts towards Richard at this point in his life.

* Oh, so he had striking facial features, huh?

* Leaving Richard out of the story when telling Hase about his grandmother’s ring is so revealing.

* Seigi, don’t use Richard’s line about the universe bringing people together on Hase! It feels like a betrayal, and I’m still mad about it.

* And not suggesting Étranger as a jewelry store recommendation… This is rough, man.

* Seigi continuing to use this line about the universe bringing him and Hase together is pissing me off! And Richard immediately warning Seigi to be careful. Of opening his heart too quickly, I guess. Taken from personal experience…

* Oh, honey… 😔

* Looking up Hachiko made me cry.

* Seigi is an actual saint for trying to stick by Hase in this situation. I would have dropped him in an instant, even though him trying to sell a stone that was given to him isn’t a huge crime by any means. It’s the lying to a friend’s face for me though… And Hase saying he never wants to see Seigi again because it hurts too much for him?? Fuck you, dude! I wish Seigi would have shouted all his feelings at Hase to make him understand how much this situation hurt him. I think they could have fixed their relationship, but maybe this is for the best…

* The thought of Richard singing along to Finnish death metal whenever he’s sad or angry is really doing things to my heart. I bet he’s done this a lot… But it’s very sweet of him to share this habit of his with Seigi. I think Richard not only wants to help Seigi through this sad moment, but show Seigi that he understands and relates to this kind of sadness. The image of them both yelling at each other over the death metal is pretty funny though. 😅

* “‘I…I’m no superhero! I’m just scared of being called cold-hearted! I’m scared of being a disappointment to the people I love when I can’t do anything to help them! It “hurts too much”? That’s my line, you big stupid asshole! I don’t do everything right!’” (239). Yes Seigi, let it all out!

* “‘People who try to do the right thing are often lonely. It’s not a path just anyone can walk, and sometimes such people shine so brightly, others have trouble tolerating it. People talk behind your back, calling you a hopeless idealist. But you’re not wrong. The core of your idea of what’s right isn’t some stubborn adherence to continuing on your own path but the noble desire to be kind to others even in the depths of darkness. And I think that is a most commendable way to live your life. I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. To the point that I find myself feeling envious at times’” (239). Seigi is so seen by Richard. I think Richard can recognize this kind of loneliness because it’s the same thing he has to endure everyday when people dehumanize him for his beauty. Both he and Seigi have to fight through the loneliness to continue down their own paths.

* Not the chef saying he’s never seen Richard bring anyone here before!

* Okay, so now we’re comparing Hase to Tanimoto too, huh? Very interesting…

* “‘When someone invites you out to spend time with them, it’s very rude to start getting depressed thinking about someone else’” (243). Richard, you can’t talk! Didn’t you just do this at the end of the last story?

* I think this was the story that created the formula seen in a lot of the later novels, where Richard doesn’t feature much for most of the story, but has a huge impact at the end. “Comfort mode” Richard is someone special indeed.

“The Serendipity of Euclase”

* It’s so funny when Richard calls Seigi “Part-Timer-san.”

* “‘You can make this sort of thing, too, can’t you?’ Richard finally looked at me, his blue eyes wide. ‘…What gave you that impression?’” (251). Richard “can’t cook for his life” Ranasinghe de Vulpian strikes again! I would love to see a short story about Richard’s failed cooking attempts.

* Richard ignoring the questions about his failed pudding and being so embarrassed is really cute. Honey, we all have things we’re not good at, don’t worry. Seigi will happily make desserts for you for the rest of your life.

* Yes Seigi, tell him to praise you more!

* “There was just something about this man who seemed like he’d conquered every sweet treat in the world having a surprising fondness for something so basic and simple” (254). I’ll let you in on a little secret, Seigi. It’s because you made it just for him. 😌

* Seigi making a cake for Valentine’s Day instead of White Day is certainly a detail… I summon bad karma on the homophobic children who shunned him. At least his grandma was always supportive of him.

* I think it’s really sweet that Richard wanted to show and tell Seigi about a rare stone in exchange for the homemade pudding. An equal exchange of what they’re each good at.

* “‘I was just thinking, for a second there, we were kinda like a cute married couple, huh?’ In that moment, I felt the temperature in the shop plummet. I had definitely stepped on a land mine. ‘I’m docking your pay’” (260). The way I can picture Richard’s content face just immediately dropping. 😭 The 1-2 punch is pretty funny though.

* Ahhhh I love this little story. 😌😌😌 It really showcases how comfortable Richard Seigi are with each other now. We love a good banter sesh.

[jackfrostsisterssisterinlaw]

Satoru Gojo x Y/N

A/N - I had to do something to heal my soul after jjk season 2. Heal with me. Go back to season 1 or the beginning of season 2 when it was all fun and games.

word count : 556

warnings : none

Satoru Gojo

Has a large wardrobe featuring several similar outfits of the same  dark shade of blue. He lets you borrow his clothes sometimes but becomes super grumpy if you accidentally tear a hole or get it dirty. He has a rack for an assortment of sunglasses and blindfolds which is off limits for you, only because he knows you’ll make him a lot less cool if you took to wearing sunglasses too.

Has a big ego. He’ll become the insecure partner constantly seeking validation saying stuff like “here’s a reminder that I’m the best.” And expect you to agree with him. It’s not really his insecurity but more his attempts at flirting so it’s a good thing you bear with the arrogance because he’s really trying to make you melt using his charisma rather than his abilities. (If he wanted to he could make you melt quite literally.)

Will forget your birthday. I’m sorry it’s not that he doesn’t love you, it’s just that he’s so chaotic and impulsive that it’s more likely for him to remember on the day and make a plan rather than plan a week before. He’ll have something amazing planned undoubtedly, you mean the world to him, but don’t ask him when he planned it. He has to constantly keep saving the world in mind, you can’t expect him to remember your birthday all the time.

Will make other people jealous of you. If you’re dating him trust me, the looks you’re going to be getting will be unpleasant. You’re going to feel like a dirty sock by the way they turn their noses down at you with distaste. They are just jealous because you did what no one else could. And that was to win Gojo’s heart. Roll your eyes and then kiss him. Help them understand the message.

Might have you yourself second guessing your worth. He’s gorgeous after all you’ll wonder why he isn’t with someone in his league. But you’re putting yourself down, he loves you for your personality and because of the butterflies you brought to life within his stomach so don’t let insecurities get in the way. There’s only room for one insecure partner and he’s already taken that role.

Has to impress you every day. You’ll wake up every morning to him experimenting with his abilities and trying something new. It’s entertaining as long as he doesn’t wake you up too early or make a lot of noise.

Loves pouting and getting his way. You fold like a foldable garden chair when he scrunches his nose and eyes, in order to get what he wants.

Brings you random things from his mission. He’s very spontaneous though so expect a wide variety of gifts ranging from a luxury cruise to a cursed finger.

Is extremely good with kids. You find yourself watching him bring himself down to be able to relate to children and make them feel safe. It’s one of the many reasons that made you fall for him.

Is powerful and will therefore protect you. It may seem he’s not looking out for you because he has to look out for the entire world, but trust me if he could only save one person, that one person would be you.

[latenlghtdevil]

so since I can't stop thinking about head chef!Sukuna, let me ramble on about some head cannons I have about him

head chef!sukuna...

mainlines a monster before every single shift, and can be seen paying megumi to run to the corner convenience store to buy another during busy nights

he's on aux, and since the ancient speaker system is ran out of the managers office, his phone is locked in their almost the entire shift and no one else has the chance to change it

beside the two managers, satoru and utahime, but they dont care enough ab it honestly

he literally has no clue how many hours he actually spends doing some sort of work for the restaurant

ex: the many hours he spends up at night working on new menu items, the earlier mornings he spends wandering through local markets and farms, the days off filled with paperwork or recipes or meetings let's not talk ab it he's gonna geta headache again

speaking of headaches- he definitely talked Gojo into letting his little brothers work there as soon as they were able to

but they weren't allowed to work in the kitchen, he didn't wanna have to make them put up with his attitude

his kitchen consists of quite a few chefs, with a lot of lower cooks switching in and out with their intern spots

don't worry, they are paid interns

his main cooks consisted of suguru, toji, aoi, and uraume

he'd worked at quite a lot of fine dining restaurants, having earned a michaeline star for the fifth restaurant he'd worked at by the age of 24

before he took in his younger brothers and settled back into their childhood home, he'd spent about five years working in any fine dining place he could

he'd been cooking since as long as he could remember, quickly figuring that if that was what he was good at and enjoyed, he would dedicate his life to it maybe sukuna lied on a resume or two, but he was gonna get to the top one way or another

somehow his arrogance seemed to work until it didn't; it'd get his foot in the door places, and then it'd turn around and get him fired a few months later

once his grandfather passed, he found himself finding his way back to Tokyo even if he didn't want to

luckily for him, his former classmate Satoru Gojo was managing a failing restaurant with an incapable cook named Mahito

Gojo was more than happy to deal with Sukuna's shit again if it meant keeping his place afloat

they're kinda friends, but it's weird because they're always mad at each other

that's how everyone's relationships with him are, though, and Sukuna's always irritating someone tbh

he has a cat- he found the little dark grey kitten asa stray feeding off scraps she found in the dumpster, so he couldn't help but scoop her up

she seemed sweet enough, but as soon as he fell asleep she nearly clawed the couch to shreds, thus earning herself the name akumu which means nightmare

she was horribly affectionate and vocal, constantly meowing for attention, but only towards sukuna and the brats, she shot dirty looks and would actively hiss at anyone else stepping foot into their house

she's his baby, but that secrets behind closed doors

she sleeps in his bed, she has a plethora of toys and collars, and don't you dare open the treat cabinet— he's not ashamed

his other secret is his back garden it wasnt like a huge secret, but it wasn't something he wanted to share with everyone either

sukuna thought he was going crazy the first time he made a dinner almost entirely from his home grown ingredients because it tasted fucking insane

he liked stroking his own ego but something about his ingredients actually made it better, Choso and Yuji couldn't even argue

it wasn't anything vast, and the variety wasn't huge but it was enough to make each meal just a bit better and it was something he held near to himself, only sharing it with his brats

[thebramblewood]

KELLAN MCDANIEL for @sims4thehoes' Caliente Whores Ranch

"If you ask my family, I'm a miserable failure when it comes to ranchin'. But whorin'? Now, there's my area of expertise."

The McDaniels have been mainstays in Chestnut Ridge for so long they're practically rancher royalty. But just as Kellan was poised to take the reins of the family business, he got in trouble with the law one too many times for his grandparents' comfort (vandalism, aggravated assault, driving under the influence, resisting arrest... you know, your garden variety drunk white boy crimes) and they kicked him out and gave the ranch to his little sister instead.

Now, he lives in a rundown trailer park on the edge of town, a disgraced but misunderstood (so he claims) rebel. He's known to down a beer or three at all meals, smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, and haggardly wander the streets in pursuit of a fight or a fuck. Despite his status as an alcoholic womanizer, his apparent hatred of showering, and the fact that he often forgets to wear a shirt, his natural charisma saves him from being a total outcast. He can be the life of the saloon or the dance hall, so long as he's not punching holes in the walls or threatening to do the same to the head of the first person who looks at him funny.

All CC included (full credit to creators). He has outfits in every category.

I used several packs, but Horse Ranch is the most necessary.

Defaults not included: Tinsel skin, Dynastid eyes, default brows, EA eyelashes remover. Hopefully, he's still sexy without them.

I use the More Traits in CAS mod, and I gave him a custom trait by Kuttoe (arrogant). If you don't have these mods, it should be fine. He'll just be missing a couple.

DOWNLOAD: SIMFILESHARE

[landograndprix]

I know there have been anons that view Lando and girlie’s relationship so far as just sexual, and I will agree that their txt are normally of a spicy variety but I would like to remind those anons that Lando so far in this relationship has been all about showing up. When girlie was sick, it was Lando that dropped what he was doing to make sure that both her and Z were taken care of. If you’re just interested in sleeping with someone (especially when you’re a f1 driver who could have any girl in a Monaco club) you don’t go through that trouble. When girlie was kicked out, Lando was the one that insisted on her staying at his place. He was out of town, no chance of anything happening. He who’s a high earning young good looking bachelor was more than happy to have his living room turned into a kids playground. He even insisted on it. He’s been the 1st to make sure that girlie is okay with all the flirty/spicy txt (love a consent king) that they’ve been sending and is quick to reassure her that he’s not just with her for the sex, he’s happy to just watch her work. I don’t think people are giving him enough credit, he knows that girlie was done wrong in her past relationship. He’s not expecting her to have no baggage, he’s working within what makes her comfortable and showing that unlike Charles he’s willing to show up for her. This seems very much as an actions speak louder than words moment. Charles was good about saying the right things, and he was even around in the short term; but I think Lando is trying to show both girlie, Z and the rest of the world that he’s around for the good, the bad and the ugly. Right now it seems that girlie is skittish, trying to protect her heart after Charles broke it, maybe even in denial about already being partially in love with Lando. I know Millie made the comment about “does Lando know this isn’t a relationship?” But I’d like to counter that with does girlie know this is a relationship, and that Lando is just letting her believe otherwise. I think that when she finally goes to him, and is willing to admit how she’s feel, there’s going to be this moment of “😐babe, ik 😊” from Lando. Not in an arrogant way, but in a babe you’ve been living in denial for a little bit; but that’s fine I knew for the both of us. Can also see him having a room set up for Z at his apartment, the whole place baby proofed and ready for their visits (and their move in). Absolutely love Millie, I know she jokes about girlie being her mom, but I really think she’ll do girlie a lot of good. To have a friend that really is a ride or die, completely willing to support you, even if they don’t necessarily agree with your choices is so freeing. Bonus points if she ends up with a driver. Would love to see her with Logan. The boy has alway struck me as an introvert, and his last year on the grid I didn’t see him really interact with anyone other than Alex. I would love to get to see Lando take Oscar under his wing, and then Logan b/c of girlie. I would love to see girlie put some of those maternal instincts into Oscar and Logan. Cause can you imagine poor Logan is being pestered into a relationship with Millie and then bullied (lovingly) on international tv by girlie? Forcing him to come to McLaren family dinners. Even when he insists that’s he’s not family. Oh damn this got away from me! Sorry, just love the fic and wanted someone to geek out with. 🧡🧡🧡

🪩

Oh I love the idea of lando just going with the flow and doing things in y/n her pace because he knows life is crazy enough for her and Z already and because he just really wants to be with both of them 🥺

I love the room set up by lando on his apartment for when they come over and now I can't stop thinking about little Z meeting lando his nieces 😭

I think Logan and Millie will be a perfect match! Logan and Oscar go way back too so it's one big family in the end, just imagining them around a big table in their massive french countryside garden having a bbq on a hot summer night 😭

And God, don't apologise, I love it when you guys talk about the fic 😭

[altocat]

What’s something cute that would make AGSZC completely melt away into goo either internally or externally?

Zack: Aerith doing pretty much anything. Zack is complete putty in her hands. She could be doing the most mundane task ever and yet somehow he's still melting over her. He likes the little songs she makes up to remember things, how she talks to the flowers when she waters them. He really is just kind of pathetic for her, though he hides it under a lot of soldier bravado.

Sephiroth: There's really not that much that actually makes Sephiroth melt. The best you could hope for is a thaw, and it only ever applies to Genesis, Angeal, and Zack. However, he has been rather uncharacteristically friendly and soft towards one of the secretaries downstairs. Genesis jokes that maybe it's a crush but Angeal points out that she's married and is heavily pregnant with a kid on the way. Weird...

Cloud: Baby animals. Mostly of any variety. Cloud may be awkward and at times rough around the edges when he's trying to act tough, but he has a soft spot for animals. And if it's tiny and newborn and helpless, that's it. The gloves are off. In between turning into goo he will fight to the death to keep it alive.

Angeal: Puppies. Both of the furry variety and the Zack variety. That's a no-brainer. But it also applies to the cadets as well. And, bizarrely, his garden. The man cries over new buds coming in like he just witnessed the birth of his child.

Genesis: He spends 99.9% of his day bantering with Sephiroth taking shots at each other. But when Sephiroth actually gives him an actual COMPLIMENT? Mush. Disgusting, sludgy, helpless mush. And enough to throw him off his game if they're sparring. Genesis thinks Sephiroth does it on purpose. Gen also has a weak spot for kids. You'd never believe it, but Gen actually really likes kids and is pretty good with them, in his own arrogant way of course!

[notnun]

The Fallen Merman (人鱼陷落) | Lin Qian (麟潜)

Links: Novelupdates | Sirens Team (Chrysanthemum Garden)

Tags: ABO, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-fi, Supernatural, Yaoi

Chapters: 277

Read on: 12/24/2024 to 01/12/2025

The first review of 2025! I've danced around reading this novel for a while: one, because its a sequel to a novel I don't want to read and two, I didn't care for how the NU summary made it seem like it was going to be a slice of life. I am very glad I made it over these hurdles and decided to read The Fallen Merman- the original summary doesn't do it much justice. (And while characters from the prequel novel make an extended appearance, I did not have any difficulties reading this novel without having read it myself.)

Bai Chunian, originally begging his boss for a vacation, changes his mind when the person his new rescue mission involves is a familiar face. The person of interest was the manta ray omega, Rimbaud, whose gland characteristics manifest themselves as a fish tail. A merman.

The merman who was with him as he grew up, stuck in the same cage as him. The one he protected so fiercely, only to be betrayed and almost killed at the last moment.

Of course he'd go save him. And the ones in the dark who turned them both into Experimental Subjects? They would pay for daring to go against a God.

Hehehe I really liked this novel. The worldbuilding is really unique and interesting, but it also creates an interesting framework for what this novel really is: an action, military-adjacent sci-fi. Everything from the classification of the gland abilities (J1, M2 etc) to the numbering scheme for experimental subjects is super fun and gives interesting shortcuts to tell the reader exactly what kind of power levels are clashing at the same time. Add in Envoys and their controllers, and the wide variety of abilities the experimental subjects have to offer, and you really don't know how each fight is going to go until you're reading it.

Bai Chunian issss a really cool character. He's a submissive alpha (towards Rimbaud) which is really rare, and once they clear up the initial misunderstandings he's got a really good relationship with him. Bai Chunian's "Divine Envoy" name teased throughout the entire novel finally coming into full turn in the ninth arc Gave Me Chills as I read it. His entire character arc of trust and mistrust and stubborness vs his deterioration vs his uncompromising views is just. Chef kiss. I love seeing his regret and agony but also the things that lift him up, that makes him equal to a god. He's a good cat. He's incredibly sensitive. He's constantly doubting himself and judging himself for being "dirty". I love him.

Rimbaud is very interesting, because his actual personality is vastly different from the view we get of him from Bai Chunian initially. Rimbaud is still 'maturing' as an experimental subject and has limited cognition for the first few arcs of the novel: he acts more on instinct and doesn't understand the common language very well. This doesn't mean he's stupid, in fact he's very sharp and sensitive to everything around Bai Chunian.

Once he reaches the maturity stage of an experimental subject he quickly shows his unique take on life as the King who ruled over the ocean for over 200 years. He's arrogant, unyielding to most, and demands loyalty from his worshippers. He purifies those around him and commands the denizens of the sea. Its like he's a different type of lifeform than land dwellers completely- he only tolerates humans because of the dependence Bai Chunian shows for them. He loves Bai Chunian's liveliness and stubborn faith, he is constantly teaching Bai Chunian to stop fearing himself. Rimbaud is also incredibly lewd and carefree and I respect that 🫡

It feels like its been a while since I ran into a couple like this where I wholeheartedly adore both of them. I also enjoy all of the students at the base and how Bai Chunian (and later Rimbaud) interact with them. Han-ge, Xiao Xun, Lu Yan as normal people and Eris, Xiaochong, Wenchi, etc as experimental subjects had a lot of variety and I really loved seeing them show up. For the most part the story has a good balance between action and downtime, I never felt like things were going too slow. Towards the end of the novel it felt very fast paced, but then its capped off with the recuperation arc and ending. I am very satisfied with this novel, honestly.

How was the translation? Almost perfect! Some minor typos, and two lines were left in the original Chinese but also translated. The Sirens team did very good!

Would I recommend this novel? Yes! As long as you're ok with the trigger list and the minor relationship caveat I describe below.

Would I reread this novel? Yes! It inspired me to create an entirely new OC, and inspired me on some of my own worldbuilding..

Trigger Warnings: Human trafficking, Human experimentation*, Breeding 'humans/experimental subjects' forcibly for experimentation**, Torture, Gore, Eye horror, Rape threats, Body horror, Human cloning, Discrimination against experimental subjects, Infant death, Child death, "Voodoo" doll***, Sexual harrassment, Suicide, Forced abortion, Child abuse, Violent mysoginy, Cannibalism, Child molestation (mentioned in extras), Corporal punishment (mentioned in extras)

*As the major plot point of this novel, human experimentation is literally everywhere and Bai Chunian remembers and mentions countless inhumane treatments he and the other subjects have gone through because of the 109 Research Institute.

**This is mentioned a few times and framed a few different ways for Bai Chunian and Rimbaud, as the breeding program was what brought them together in the first place. Rimbaud and Bai Chunian (despite initial misunderstandings) have only had sex with each other and Rimbaud didn't accept anyone other than Bai Chunian. This is also kind of a weird subject because I can't be sure just how old Bai Chunian was when this happened? The timelines surrounding their stay at the Institute is confusing, but it was at least three years ago, and Bai Chunian at one point claims to be 19. I don't actually think he's that age because the Institute itself is not that old and experimental subjects mature very quickly.... And Bai Chunian was a lion cub in the first place? But its never confirmed.

Both of them were not in the experimental subject 'maturity' stage and were more like animals driven by instinct... Its messy, but it was as consensual as they could get at the time? Because otherwise Rimbaud would have just killed Bai Chunian. In contrast though Bai Chunian doesn't touch Rimbaud again (and doesn't want to) until wayyy after he hits maturity stage and gains all his cognition back (and even then he has to be coaxed by Rimbaud to even initiate it) so there's that? Because of this weird relationship they had in the institute Rimbaud basically raised Bai Chunian as well. Its *shrugs*, human experimentation at its worst.

***Eris's original body is said to be a "voodoo" doll but its not really focused on other than that he's Cursemaker because of it.

Arc names and detailed triggers under the cut, along with some non-spoilery reactions from me as I read:

1) Top Secret File: Breathing Snake Den

Human trafficking, Human experimentation, Torture (mention), Breeding humans forcibly for experimentation (past, mentions), Gore, Eye horror

2) Master of the Rails House: Man in the Mirror

Rape threats (brief), Human experimentation, Gore

3) Hospital for the Sick: Just a Clown

Gore, Body horror

Bai Chunian is only 19... wadda hell. (later insight) well Bai Chunian may not even be 7 actual years old so. yay for experimental subjects aging weird and already are preloaded with a bunch of information anyways. how to judge maturity on these guys....

4) Deep Sea Throne: Phantom Shorelight

Gore, Human experimentation, Human cloning, Discrimination against experimental subjects

5) Fetters in the Wind: Doublethinking Silk

Torture (mention), Infant death, Human experimentation, Child death, Voodoo doll, Gore, Sexual harassment (towards Bai Chunian)

Ambiguous situation between Xiao Xun and Han Xingqian, but they're already adults, close in age (Xiao Xun is 19-20, Han Xingqian is younger than 25), and I don't care too much. Its funny to think Xiao Xun is the same age as Bai Chunian. The gap between normal people and experimental subjects 👍

Eris's original form is called a 'voodoo doll', but isn't elaborated on.

5) Thread and Winder: Cursemaker

Gore, Suicide (mention), Body horror

Odd Bones is also translated as Strange Bones.

6) Causal Reincarnation: A Night in Hell

Forced abortion, Child abuse (past), Gore

7) Decaying Paradise: House of Desire

Violent mysoginy, Gore

8) Ordained by God: Divine Envoy

Child death, Human experimentation, Sexual harrassment (towards Odd Bones), Gore, Infant death

These two are so kinky... Oh god, Aixing...... Feng Yue is funny.

9) A Death-like City: Pinnacle of the Soul

Gore, Cannibalism (sort of), Human experimentation, Suicide

10) I Have Not Gone Far: The Divine Envoy is Reborn

Gore, Torture (mention)

Rimbaud why are you so kinky. Wadda hell.

11) New Game+: Side Endings

Eris Extra: Cannibalism (mention), Child abuse (mention), Child molestation (past, mention)

He Suowei Extra: Cannibalism (mention), Corporal punishment

Eris is still the funniest little guy. But also pats him a lot. He Suowei is on my shit list now and I agree with the comment that I would have rathered seeing the two little wolves get collars...

Just assume Human Experimentation in every arc on account of their background. I'll add the label if there's significant updates to it I guess? But its basically every arc.

Thank you for reading my review!! I hope to make this year just as productive as the last 💜

[thehonorablejudgewhitey]

Plain stupidity is bad, sure, but hubris...hubris is what truly dooms any change for the better. Thinking you're smart beats just being a plain, garden-variety fucking moron every time. The people so enamored with their own belly buttons, never looking up, unable to even fathom that other people's lives are on the line right now. The absolute stench of privilege oozing from these creatures smugly sitting on their high horse, blissfully unaffected by the consequences of their dumbness is revolting. Gobbling up and regurgitating obvious propaganda, too blind, too arrogant to realize how easily they're puppeteered by the strings of their own ego. These thickheaded narcissists, these pathetic toddlers believing themselves to be special little boys and girls who'll only accept what they think is perfection while everyone else is just trying to survive to fight another day. These are the gaping assholes who'll end up serving us to fascism on a silver platter. What will truly get us won't be the inbreds with the swastika tattoos or even the thirsty money whores, but rather the people too stupid to realize that they are indeed painfully stupid, the ones confidently smearing shit all over themselves and on everything they touch while thinking themselves morally superior.

[jellogram]

It's insane what people online have done with narcissistic personality disorder. It's a condition based in fear. It's what happens when someone was so neglected/abused and becomes so insecure that they need everything to be about them, to constantly have everyone build them up, because that's the only way they can feel even a tenth of the security that other people feel. This causes them to be assholes a lot of the time, but it's not coming from a place of genuine arrogance. They feel like they need that attention and adoration to survive.

I don't know how you can think your mom or your ex or whomever has NPD and not immediately feel sympathy for them. It's not a fun disorder to have. You don't label people that way in order to dismiss them as inherently evil succubi. If you think someone is actually a narcissist, the proper response is pity. Maybe some effort to help them.

But the internet decided that it makes someone barely even human. You're not a normal person, you're a narcissist. I need to protect myself from you. When in reality, the person in question is probably either a narcissist who's miserable and suffering, or they're just a general garden variety asshole.

[jellochihuahua]

In Defense of Empathy

There's a natural impulse right now to be angry at the voters (and non-voters) who are ultimately responsible for another Trump presidency. I've already seen posts of people jumping feet first in schadenfreude, ready to watch the imminent Face Feast of the Leopards unfold on the foolish and hateful people who decided the price of breakfast was more important than the rights of other human beings. Immigrants who voted to put in office a man who will try to revoke their citizenship because they didn't think a woman could run this country. Millions of people who were taken in by a carnival barker running for the most powerful position in the world. Right now it's very hard not to harbor the utmost vitriol towards these ignorant, naive, and foolish people because it seems very clear what the consequences will be for the rest of us. The time is very likely coming soon that all of these people will be forced to reckon with the consequences of their choice.

When that moment comes, there will be an overwhelming desire to pull out the screenshot of Arthur Fleck and retort that people should get what they deserve. It would be so satisfying to see the despair in their eyes and tell them "this is what you wanted right, why are you mad that you got it?!" And while it would be so satisfying to rub people's noses in the consequences of their actions, it is entirely the wrong thing to do. When people get knocked down, you should try to pick them up. It will be challenging, but I at least will try my best to treat my fellow people with understanding and love. Even as they harm me and my loved ones, I have to hold onto the belief that as our fellow humans they are deserving of the same understanding and concern that all people deserve, regardless of their beliefs. And my hope is that this will be how we turn them into true comrades. If, in that moment when they are laid low, we treat them with disdain and contempt then we will lose them for another generation.

Within leftist and liberal circles there is an open disdain for the uneducated, ignorant and below-average intelligence (of the normal garden variety unintelligence). It's very similar to the conservative contempt towards anyone who is outside their range of "normal" and it is just as toxic. People who below-average in intelligence deserve the same love and basic human respect as people who are below-average in looks, or outside the range of what society has deemed "acceptable" parameters.

I say this not just as an indictment of the "the left" writ large but also as an indictment of my own thoughts. "These idiots have no idea what they've done" I think to myself as my Trump-supporting coworkers gleefully whisper about the good times ahead. I feel contempt for their naivety, I feel hatred for their stupidity. I want to force the knowledge and understanding I have into their minds. I want them to SEE.

But that's arrogance. That's expecting everyone else too see what I see and understand it in the same way. I saw an argument online yesterday where someone compared it to teachers. "Why is the pressure always on the teacher to motivate the students? Why is it always on teachers to convince people to learn, it should be on the students to want to learn." Why don't the kids just fend for themselves? Why don't ignorant people just educate themselves? Why don't the homeless just buy a house? This is the mindset of the privileged failing to understand those who don't share their privilege. And intelligence is largely a privilege, it is something you're born into. It is easy to be informed when staying informed is easy for you. It's easy to see how things interconnect in the world when learning the systems seems obvious. It is easy to stay off the streets when you have a trust.

That's not to say anyone who voted for Trump or decided not to vote is stupid, or ignorant. Some of them are hateful. Some of them are just afraid, or gullible, or apathetic, or frustrated with the status quo. And those things are all things that I think anyone can relate to. They are human failings, and to dehumanize a whole bunch a vast swathe will only turn them back towards MAGA.

If we are to bring normal, working, struggling people into our camp we have to meet them where they are. The reason good teachers take responsibility for motivating students is because they care about them. They love them and they know that the world will be a better place if they are convinced to learn. If they are taught to care, and grow and be curious they will make the world a better place. Think to your favorite teacher (if you had one) and consider why they did a hard job for (in the US at least) not very much money. It's always love. It's always hope. It's always belief that they can make a difference, no matter small in scheme of things. Small differences can add up, they can be everything.

To break the perception that to be a leftist is to be an elitist we must take a page out of MAGAs favorite book that it doesn't read. We must turn the other cheek. Which is always so easy to say, and SO hard to do. Out of all the things in the bible that you're told to do, this is the one that Christians fail at the most. Because it requires so much inner strength, so much self-control. To meet hate with love is a huge ask, but it's what we have to do if we want the world to be better. If we fight hate with more hate, we'll just end up with a more hateful world. We have to strive to see the humanity and pain of those who have enabled our oppressors. We have to see it in our oppressors too.

We can't, of course, roll over and just die. Resistance will be needed. Action will be needed. Hard times and hard work and fear and suffering are coming. But, if we can, we should try to meet the moment with hearts full of love and a desire to understand. If can't embrace those who've been conned by MAGA, where will they turn? If we can't get past our resentments, we will never build a movement to try and turn humanity away from the cliff of our own extinction. We must try to love even those that hate us. In the end, love is the only thing that ever stops hate. And I'm so tired of living in such a hateful world, so I'm going to try again and again to let love and hope be my north star. Maybe that's also naive, but in my dreams there is a world where things are better than they are now, where people are better than they are now. And that world can only exist if it's built on love.

[inkweaver22-blr]

So! I failed in finishing a chapter in time for my birthday! But I did make some progress and might have cleared some of the cobwebs from not writing in so long. So instead of a full chapter, here's what I have written so far for Chapter 2 of Tangerine Fur and Fraying Trust! (You can read Chapter 1 here.) Enjoy!

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Normally, the flower would have hardly seemed strange and would receive nothing more than a passing glance. The disc shaped bloom with its layers of long, thin petals that curved slightly upwards were rather typical for its species. Even its bright orange shade was nothing unique. Just one of the many colors and varieties that had been cultivated over the centuries. Walking through any garden or park or forest would result in passing by hundreds of examples of this type of flower. Truly, it was a rather common sight that usually drew no further attention beyond a fond look over its simplistic beauty.

Which made this specific specimen stand out all the more with how it had sprouted from the rather inhospitable desert earth.

Macaque scowled down at the flower and resisted the urge to kick sand at it. Along with the ruined RV they had been driving, the plant was the only sign of Wukong’s little band of heroes ever being there. Swallowed by a tunnel that no longer seemed to exist. That was certainly not how he had expected things to go.

There was actually quite a bit that didn’t go as planned. He had been surprised at catching up with the group as quickly as he had. Perhaps he should have put in a bit more effort into being ‘delayed’ by The Dragon of the East. Still, he been given a task and he would do his best to make it look like he was going all out to complete it.

He had expected Wukong to face him after destroying their only mode of transportation. His recent injuries along with Macaque’s own boost of power from his captor would have put them on nearly equal footing. Certainly enough for him to put on a good show before they managed to pull something off and escape. The frustration he felt when he saw the arrogant monkey simply sitting there in a meditative trance was almost enough to make him actually try. Almost.

He knew Wukong’s successor was out the fight for the foreseeable future due to have his powers drained. Without anyone to put up a decent resistance, he’d been unsure if he’d be able to convincingly allow them to get away this time. Luckily for Macaque, the dragon girl provided another avenue of approach. She was strong, he’d give her that. But she was unrefined. The potential for a fierce warrior was there, but she relied on brute force with no skill to back it up.

It was childishly easy to toy with her. His own recently increased power combined with his experience would allow him to outlast her. He would let her exhaust herself in an effort to ‘demoralize’ the group so they wouldn’t put up much of a fight when he captured them. In truth, he knew Wukong’s successor tended to pull victories out of nowhere when backed against a wall. Especially when those he cared about were in danger. All he had to do was mess the dragon girl long enough for the kid to pull himself together and blindside Macaque with something unpredictable.

At least Macaque could honestly say that he would have never had predicted what happened next.

The flower pulsed faintly as the magic that summoned it slowly began to fade. While it seemed unaffected by the harsh sun beating down on them, once the magic was gone it would certainly begin to wilt. Although with how densely saturated with Life the magic felt, Macaque would not be surprised if this spot would become a vibrant oasis in a few years time.

Macaque checked the compass Lady Bone Demon had enchanted once more. It was meant to always point towards what she desired. In this instance, Wukong and his successor. Just like the last time he checked a few minutes ago, the needle spun wildly, unable to pinpoint them. Wherever that tunnel had taken them, it was heavily protected. The wards required to hide a location from such a ruthless tracking spell as this were old and powerful.

Old. Powerful. Two words that just a few hours ago he would have never associated with the unassuming and somewhat annoying scholar. Yet he himself knew how appearances could be deceiving. Even while distracted with the dragon girl, Macaque had felt it when the scholar had dropped his human guise. The burst of dense magic had been so surprising he failed to dodge out of the way of the stone that had been summoned to trap his mech. He could have easily broken free, had it not been for the magical sealing chains immediately placed upon the stone.

Macaque shuddered at the abilities the scholar utilized with relative ease. You could tell a lot about your opponent by the way they fought. Physical combatants relied on weapons or their bodies to fight, with many having a few magical tricks up their sleeve. Casters flung spells to alter the battleground around them to their advantage and support their allies from a distance. Elementalists manipulated a single element, with those who truly master the style becoming forces of nature unto themselves.

Mastering any one of these styles took a lifetime of dedicated practice and experience. Mastering multiple was not possible for most normal mortals. Macaque himself was a shadow elementalist first and a physical combatant second. Casting was something he only recently added to his fighting skill set in the last couple centuries or so, and even then he wouldn’t say he had mastered it yet. Before his boost in magic at the cost of his freedom, he simply was not powerful enough to use it to its full potential.

The scholar had shown no such difficulty when sealing him in place. It wouldn’t surprise Macaque if he was also a master physical combatant on top of his apparent elemental and casting prowess. Yes, only the old and powerful could boast such a range of ability and skill.

Macaque stuffed the compass back into his robe and turned away from the flower. He frowned as he made his way back towards his air bike. He wasn’t sure what to do now. He couldn’t track down his targets and would have to wait until they left whatever sanctuary they had literally fallen into. He refused to simply stand in this blasted desert and get heat stroke while doing so. Yet he had nowhere to go. Going back to the city empty handed was not an option.

There was also the problem of what to do about the scholar once the group finally resurfaced. Macaque liked to be kept abreast of important events and beings throughout the magical community, both locally and abroad. Had to make sure that the places he traveled to were safe or should be avoided after all. He had learned many things and met many beings that he still kept in contact with so they could pass on any useful bits of information.

So what could he piece together about the scholar? He wasn’t human. He was actually some sort of rabbit-like being. It was impossible to tell if he was a demon or a celestial or a spirit from their short interaction. He was a master elementalist and spell caster. The way the earth leapt to his command and the swiftness and strength of the sealing chains he cast implied a fairly large amount of power. He was almost certainly quite old. One did not become so skilled in less than several millennia worth of practice. He could summon tunnels in the earth that were not there before and that would vanish without a trace the moment they closed. Teleporting was a rather common skill, but this was something Macaque could hardly imagine being possible. The only sign of his passing was single flower which had sprouted where the tunnel closed despite the infertile desert sand. It was also saturated with Life energy which wold likely seep into the surrounding area.

Macaque had traveled the world and learned about many different beings. Gods. Demons. Spirits. In all his wanderings, he had never heard of anyone who could do what the scholar had. No one normal, that is. There were exactly two beings on the entire Earth that matched the scholar’s physical description and were rumored to have similar abilities. If the scholar was one of those beings, then things had just become much, much more complicated.

He could handle Wukong, the kid, and even the dragon girl with ease due to his boost. In a pinch he might even be able to fend off all three at the same time. But if the scholar was indeed who he was thinking of, he and his famous allies would overwhelm Macaque easily. He would not stand a chance against their combined power alone. Lady Bone Demon would not give him the choice, however. So he would be forced to at least attempt to fight them.

At least he would no longer have to pretend to be going all out.

On the other hand, if they were to become involved, his chances of breaking free had increased significantly. Heroes like them tended to have bleeding hearts that could easily be manipulated. He could probably even get away with just telling them the truth and they would jump at the chance to ‘rescue’ him. With their combined knowledge and resources being much larger than his own, there would be no doubt they could find a way to break the icy grip on him.

He would then, of course, slip away and let them deal with Lady Bone Demon. He was not a hero, thank you very much, and had no desire to go against her. Things had gotten too eventful, even for him. Perhaps a trip to Europe would be in order once he was free.

He would have to play his cards very carefully in order to not draw any suspicion from her until then. Any opportunity that presented itself would have to be seized if this was to work. Thankfully he was a brilliant improv actor. Macaque was confident he would be able to play any situation that arose by ear and come away from it on top.

Pausing next to his air bike, Macaque took in a deep breath to focus his thoughts. He knew what he was up against now. His chances at breaking free were much better. He just needed to keep Lady Bone Demon from catching on. He could do this.

Macaque let out his breath, and blinked in surprise when came out in a visible puff of vapor. A shiver went down his spine as he realized the temperature had plummeted, feeling more like a chilly Winter night than the middle of a Summer day. He spun around, his heart pounding when he discovered that he was surrounded by a thick, white fog that obscured everything around him. Faint whispers could be heard muttering just outside his range of hearing, which given how exceptional that range was, only heightened his anxiety.

There was currently only one person he knew who could be responsible for the sudden drastic change in environment, and Macaque couldn’t help the pit of fear that formed. He could only hope she was here for some other reason than having caught on to his ruse.

“It seems you are having trouble following orders,” Lady Bone Demon’s voice emanated from all around. “I do believe I instructed you to capture them, not play with them.”

Shit.

[hydraschaos]

— BASICS

Name: Narcisse Le Blanc Age / D.O.B.: 37; March 17th Gender, Pronouns & Sexuality: Cis woman, she/her, & pansexual Hometown: Champagne, France Affiliation: The Table Job position: Art Dealer/Assassin Relationship status: Taken Children: None Positive traits: ambitious, charming, intelligent, perceptive, observant Negative traits: cynical, manipulative, vindictive, arrogant

Narcisse was born in a modest family, not overflowing of luxuries but never something missing from their table, nor for their daughter. The Le Blanc family focused on work, but with a growing ambition that kept pushing them forward, looking to give the best to their little princess. She was the light of her father's eyes, and the joy of her mother's life. A lively child, spoiled in most everything she wanted.

They lived and worked in a small vineyard, producing wine in no big enough quantity to reach further than the little town it resided in, but good enough to keep the people content and consuming. The family that owned it, an old couple that had bared no children often treating them like family. But it wasn't enough for Baptiste, who wished to make the vineyard grow, take their riches to higher grounds. Who wished to fulfill his daughter's every wish.

The gardens just off the side of the main house was large, a variety of roses, his daughter enjoyed to play in when her mother was tending to it. And full of unique flowers that they studied with dedication and care. It had been easy for Léonie to carve her way into the couple's heart, and Narcisse had been just as charming. A gift of a granddaughter they never got to have. An heir to pass down their lands when they were to leave this earth. After that, it had been a matter of patience, one that was easily reached after months of tending to the delicacy of the grape for a well done wine. For the effects of the poisons carefully mixed by Léonie, sweetly delivered by Narcisse in cups of teas and fresh juice, to take effect on the lovely couple.

The bodies were found and the ambulances were called but for a small town it had been but the natural course of life and the exhaustion of old age that came from years of hard work. The vineyard legally theirs and an open sea of opportunities had Baptiste thriving with what could be. And through her parents, Narcisse easily discovered the power behind charm and carefully picked words, compliments were a weapon almost as efficient as the poisons flowers could make.

Narcisse was witness as her parents's dream materialized before their eyes. And the small vineyard was soon joined by another, and another. Buying lands to expand the plantation, focusing on the grape that'd help produce the one their land had grown to be known for and building Wineries to increase the production. Getting rid swiftly and subtly of everyone that might pose an obstacle in their way. She was taught from a young age to go after what she wanted, get what she thought should be hers with firm hands, and a charming smile. Never to settle, never to let anyone get in her way.

Developing a taste for art through all of this, her parents agreed to let their daughter move to Paris, pursue a career she adored without having to worry about nothing but pleasing herself. And for a moment, she had all but forgotten about her parents doings, and the blood that never reached their fingers but still dripped from their hands. But a life of teachings was hard to forget, and the ambition was in her as much as the need to get rid of anyone who might stand in her way.

She was nineteen when she first killed on her own. Following the example her mother had set, subtlety was key and by the next week, the body of the professor who had dared disrespect her had been found in his apartment with anything but a few petals of the flowers he had inside. It had been as easy as breathing, she found. And as the years passed, it just got easier. Often changing the flowers and carefully mixed concoctions for sharpened knives she started to get a delight in.

It was only after she graduated at twenty-two, that Narcisse heard of The Table. And the control it exercised over most of the underworld. A carefully organized chaos that she found herself drawn to. It had been easy choice to start working under it. Almost as easy as her first kill. Narcisse found herself living a life she was most comfortable in, wholly dedicating herself to her art most of the day, and delighting herself in the contracts she received every other night. A world of creativity opened before her.

She was twenty-five when this perfect balance was shattered and her world changed in a way Narcisse had never expected. Meeting the woman that would steal her heart and later break it. Hurt and Angry, Narcisse had returned to Champagne, to her parents, where she stayed for close to two years, taking comfort in their loving embrace and enjoying the riches of the bubbly drink her parents produced. From there, she traveled to other countries, diving into her art and the contracts she'd get.

She had been living back in her old apartment in Paris for two years, when the news of Fracasso reached her ears. And even if the death meant no more to her than the next one, it worked as enough of an excuse to finally go to London.