#but then he learned foundations. and kept the style

[lacefuneral]

i have never seen a "painting in disco elysium style" that actually. understand the style or intent or artist behind them. frowns

[earlycuntsets]

11/23/2004 gerard's interview from coffee with cojo on artsucks.com

"It's really cool when people you know, and knew from obscurity become famous in a field you would have never guessed that they were even involved in.

Here is some back story. . .My freshman year of college (SVA) I became fast friends with this kid named Gerard Way. It was our "foundation year" where they lump students into "general blocks" of courses, reguardless of major. The people you are grouped with, you are stuck with, because they will be in about seventy percent of your classes your foundation year. Being that Gerard was a cartooning and illustration major with a line-art-cartoonish-comic-book style, and I had been working at Marvel Comics for the past two years; we had a lot in common. He was actually a really good cartoonist (One of the top in our class).

Well, Gerard was best friends with this guy Todd. Todd was a funny guy, but I didn't really hang around with him. I was a DJ for our school's radio station (WSVA) at the time and I was dating this girl Cheryl.

A few months later I broke it off with Cheryl. . .Time passed and somewhere along the line (I can't remember how long exactly) Todd started seeing Cheryl. Of course that's when Todd would want nothing to do with me (being that he was with Cheryl now), and it's also where I lost touch with Gerard (Naturally, he being Todd's best friend and all).

Well, I would run into Gerard in school over the years from time to time, and I remember seeing one of his cartoons printed in "THE BIG BOOK OF THE WEIRD WILD WEST" which was part of one of my favorite graphic novel series' (THE BIG BOOK OF).

Then in 2003 sometime I ran into Gerard walking down Third Avenue right off of St. Marks Place. I hadn't seen him in like seven years and his name slipped my mind, but I was sure it was him.

I followed him, he was going pretty fast "MARK!" I yelled to him, and he turned around. He looked at me with the expression of searching one's memory to place a face.

"Cojo?" He said, then corrected me "It's Gerard by the way, where did you get Mark from?"

"I don't know, maybe St. Marks? I was just drawing a blank on your name, I'm sorry, but I knew it was you and I had to stop you, how ya been man?" I asked.

I rarely run into old classmates so I offered to buy him a cup of coffee. We were right in Cooper's Square so we hit a Starbucks (If you've never been in Cooper's Square, you will be amused to learn that there are three Starbucks Coffee shops within sight of one another. . .it's really freakish).

I paid for his coffee and we shot the shit. He blew my mind telling me that he's the lead singer for a band called "MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE" and that they just got back from touring Europe. What the fuck? A far cry from cartooning.

I told him about all the weird work I've been doing. It's so rare that I actually run into someone from school who is successful and doing something they love. It was really refreshing. I took a few photos of him as we talked. I'm weird with documenting things- as if you haven't noticed.

We left Starbucks and kept shooting the shit. Having nothing to do he decided to join me for the rest of the afternoon. We walked over to the Virgin Megastore on 14th and he pointed out the magazines his band had been spotlighted in and what music he's into and what not.

It was funny cause he's like: "We're in Alternative Press all the time" and I was like, "Hey, I worked for A.P., I did stuff for the Warped Tour a few years back and actually visited their office in Cleveland!" (-author's note: you will read about this Cleveland trip in the past updates after the site hard launches in Feb-). It was cool cause we knew the same peeps.

I showed him the magazines I was in, and turned to the pages to show him the artwork. One neat thing about being in magazines is that you have a mini portfolio of your work at any magazine shop you walk into in the country.

Well, he invited me to see his band perform at THE KNITTING FACTORY the next week. I told him I would try to make it, but I was really slammed with work so I probably wouldn't be able to make this one, but I'd really like to do an interview with him or him and the band sometime where I could record our conversation.

Like just hang out and shoot the shit with them (cause he's just a down to earth Jersey born kid like myself) and pitch it to magazines afterwords, accompanied by a portrait I would do of their members. He was like: "Man, I wish you had a tape recorder on you now, the stuff I've been saying is good shit, totally printable shit!" And he was right, I really was digging at him about what happend that got him to make the transition from art into music and was getting the "real" answers, not the way a rockstar talks to a reporter, but the way an old bud you goofed off with in drawing class and you haven't seen in years talks to you.

I told him I'd look out for his band in the mags and if I saw something or could help em' out I'd spotlight it or give him a buzz. He thanked me for payin' for the Starbucks and then I caught a train uptown.

Well, September Maxim's Blender did a whole page on MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, showcasing them as the next big thing. Then last week I was out with my girl and we walked by a magazine rack, and on the cover of AP (Alternative Press) was Gerard and his band in some serious Rigamortis style dead make-up.

"No SHIT!" I exclaimed, and picked it up. I explained to Tracy (my girlfriend) the story of how I knew this guy. That night I was flipping through the channels and I came upon MTV and what the fuck, there was a MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE video! Same day as I saw the cover! The song was catchy as hell. I couldn't believe it. I was like: "No crap. . . they are gonna be huge!" Just after their song, a yellow card video started. I guess that's their genre. I asked Ink's brother (17 year old semi-pro skateboarder) Mikey if he knew of My Chemical Romance. He told me he's a fan, has their albums. I asked Jain, and she was like, "Um yeah, they are actually a really popular band! They've been out for a while."

So I guess this update is long overdue, and so is a congrats to Gerard. Keep kickin' ass man! Next time you are back in town, give me a buzz.

Just another day in the life of an Art Juggernaut.

-Cojo"

[dana-chan-the-control-brain]

I'm still saying Afton is not the Mimic

Spoilers for the Ruin DLC under the Cut. I wanted to include this in my mega post... but I know that the fandom is flooded with "the Mimic was Afton all along" theories right now actually.

There will be a lot under the cut, explaining some personal theories and the ending of the RUIN DLC so... be warned.

The Mimic, if you read the books, (but you probably haven't so I'll explain it in a few short sentences) is a character from the Tales of the Pizzaplex Books that was built by a Faz Engineer who made a robot to mimic his son to keep him company while he worked long hours while he lived in a factory. The child died in a car accident, and the Mimic kept miming his son's behavior. So in his grief, the engineer beat him to death in rage and grief. This infused rage in the machine.

So now the Mimic mimes behavior of a four year old, but it's corrupted and twisted. It will mime the action of 'scooping icecream' but will be scooping out your brains. It also has an adaptive learning AI so the violent pain it experienced, along with a four year old teaching it, it's a very dangerous thing.

It's also buried into the foundation of the Pizzaplex. And was reprogramed by some dumb lazy tech to clear the debris down there. By disassembling the robots and putting them in a pile. Which it did to all the human construction workers by disassembling them and putting them in a pile.

"This pile" I think is the Blob. Or as the game files refer to it.... "THE TANGLE."

(hard to see but take my word for it. that's him)

(cheating camera angle)

I think "The Tangle" is a infused pile of machinery, robots, and bodies that have all wound up down there.

So, we know that the blob is real. But I really think it's "The pile" that the Mimic has been stacking in the Book Epilogues. And it got out. Gregory/Mimic or Grimmick, says that something tunneled out of the building... And I believe this is 100% true. Because in Base Security Breach, we see this thing in the underground where Afton's room is.

But in RUIN.... This thing is on the top level??? HOw Did he get up here???

Easy..

He tunneled up.

So... the reason why RUIN looks like it does, and HOW it looks how it does...

Is because The Tangle got loose. And has been using the Pizzaplex as it's own series and network of tunnels like a burrowing snake or ant. Causing the entire building to fall in on itself. The Pizzaplex is it's ecosystem now. So that's why everything is falling apart how it is. He's breaking the very foundation and walls of everything.

So we do know the Blob IS real.

And let's assume that he's "the pile" that the Mimic has been building in the Tales of the Pizzaplex Epilouges. Just... sorting all the garbage, bodies, and endos into piles that he can find and stack.

So we know the Blob is real... but is Afton Burntrap real?

Forgive me I don't have the proper collectable screenshots so I'm pulling from the Wiki:

Throughout the game, you collect these real collectable comics that include all of the endings of Security Breach. And Cassie can recognize this as Gregory's art style, and has no idea when he had the time to make these or when he made them. EXCEPT Princess Quest. Which is pretty important I think. Which I think cements that Princess Quest is the definitive three star ending.

It's also worth noting that in Vanny's Room in the RUIN DLC... there is a book of "Fazbear History" by Vanny's Bed. So if Vanessa was freed and got out... we can assume she was talking to Gregory about the Fnaf lore as she knows it.

Also, it makes sense why some of these endings are a little insane now. cause it was just Gregory trying to process everything that happened to him at the Pizzaplex.

Gregory: So, I thought you had a twin sister for the longest time and-

Vanessa: Try again...

But anyway... if None of the previous endings were real.... Is Burntrap even real?

We collect this before we face the Mimic.... of Afton and the Blob. So we know The Blob/Tangle is real.... but was Afton ever real? Was Burntrap ever real? That's what we need to answer...

But if he isn't.... Why is his charging station down here in the furnace room all clouded up? ....As if it never was opened. As if he rotted inside with no more remnant to collect???

Cause here's the thing... I can accept the soft retconning of Afton. And if he was never real to begin with, and this is just Gregory's personal interpretation based on what Vanessa told them about what she was suffering through, I will take that. Or maybe Gregory saw the Mimic and interpreted it as this... I will take that as well.

However....

From what I said earlier... The Mimic... All his motivations in the game don't line up with Afton's.

He is doing exactly what he wants to do.

The Mimic is sealed in the back with Concrete... he's using Helpi and the VANNI Network to get Cassie to let him out. He just wants to get out of the basement and get Free.

Now... if Mimic is Afton the whole time...

and there is a case for it... they have almost the same idle animations as an endo, the Mimic does have Burntrap's claws on one hand. And he does have a similar pawed foot to Burntrap's design and they're practically identical height and pose.

And the Mimic is almost one-for-one linked with Hepi and the VANNI network. And I don't doubt that Vanny the person was using the VANNI network to get around the pizzaplex and become invisible to certain animatronics.

.....But...

here's a big But...

If the Mimic's goal is to kill people with his bare hands... and to get out of the concrete sealed basement, and break all the Security Nodes so he can get free???

WHY DOES THE PIZZAPLEX HAVE SO MANY MISSING PEOPLE/CHILDREN?

Why was the Human Staff all killed in the Pizzaplex?

Why are their children missing?

Why is Vanny hunting children and adults alike to kill in the first place?

This is not the Mimic's MO.

Because Vanny WAS working under influence of Glitchtrap and not the Mimic.

Because if the Mimic just wanted to get out... He would have told Vanny/Vanessa... head of Security.... To break all the Security Nodes A WHOLE LOT SOONER. Cause she literally has a VANNI Mask/suit and access to all of that.

The Mimic has no need for remnant or child killing or human killing if they aren't doing it themselves. The Mimic has always been very hands on with their kills.

But If Burntrap Afton is REAL... HE DOES have a reason for gathering this much Remenant.

He is growing in the charging station and trying to regrow his body.

And while the Mimic moves in a similar fashion to Burntrap, I think that's because he witnessed his behavior at one point and is copying it. But he never saw Afton in his prime. So he literally can't mimic the serial killer behaviors Afton is known for. Just likely his walk and how he breathes.

Because He literally can not copy Afton as a copy-cat killer, if there is NO Afton to Copy. There is no way that he could have learned who Afton was from all the way down below into the foundation. Especially with MXES keeping it hidden down there. And by "hidden" I'm sure it's hidden from Glitchtrap to even possess or check out that low.

People have to remember. The Mimic doesn't have access to illusion disc technology from the books. he can't replicate a corpse face. He's just a learning killer AI who has access to crappy mascot costumes. He can't look one-for-one like a person, even if he can sound like one.

So, there is a possibility that Burntrap Afton DID exist... He just rotted into dust once Vanny stopped collecting remnant for him.

Or there's also the possibility he was never real to begin with.

But.... Glitchtrap certainly was at one point. And Vanny was working with Glitchtrap to kill employees and children.

Not the Mimic.

Just their motivations and modus operandi don't add up if they are one in the same.

It wouldn't make sense for the Mimic to just tell Vanny to parade around in a bunny suit, kidnapping children and killing employees.

He would be telling her to disable the Security Nodes.

There is also the possibility that Vanessa sealed the Mimic in concrete after the events of Security Breach. But even then, I really don't think that she knew about it before hand until she went down to the basement to unplug Burntrap from his charging station.

Anyways... The only way I will see "Mimic is Afton" is that if Afton was using it's body. But then, it's not the Mimic anymore, it's just another Afton-clone.

And from everything from how I've seen the behavior of the Mimic in the DLC, it is operating completely divorced from Afton with it's own motivations and morals of it's own accord.

Oh, just to be clear, I'm not mad at this soft-retcon of burntrap. It's fine. Lol I actually prefer if he didn't exist.

And even if Burntrap was never real in the first place....

Then it means that Vanny was purely an agent of Glitchtrap.

Then when the Glitchtrap Virus got destroyed.... the Mimic hijacked the VANNI network and took it's place.

[summermimosas]

The Itoshi Brothers: And My Very Late Take On Them. (Part 1)

look, I've had very strong blue lock brainrot for a long time now. Rambled plenty to my dear partner-in-crime about it.

The reason this post exists is because I read almost all of the analysis posts by @/riririnnnn regarding the Itoshi brothers, and now I need to add my own two cents.

In particular, this was inspired by two posts: Rin and Sae by @/riririnnnn Rin's Ego and Aura by @/boinin

The core of this theory/analysis is: What exactly is the core of Rin's character, why it made Sae react the way he did, and why this entire mess exists in the first place.

If you think about it, from the very beginning Rin has had no basis of ambition or foundation for himself at all. His beginnings were really humble, wherein he just watched Sae play and thought his brother looked amazing as he did it. It was admiration, and the kind of younger sibling energy that makes you want to emulate your older sibling. It isn't just about playing alongside Sae, but it's about being like Sae.

It spurs him to read Sae better because he wants to learn. And eventually, it happens. He's reading a talented player, and he has the same(?) talent within him, so it's no surprise that he shocks just about everyone when he can keep up with Sae.

This? This is why Rin started playing football. To be like Sae, to play with Sae. Sae, sae, sae, sae- It was never of Rin's own volition. And it won't be, for a very long time.

He learns to emulate Sae, be the player Sae wanted on his team. That requires him to be precise, elegant and efficient. Sae hasn't changed fundamentally as a person even after Spain, the core remains the same. He passes to people worth passing to. And in their old team, nobody was worth passing to except Rin. So it worked out, that Rin kept associating his plays, his dreams, his ambitions, with Sae.

I think this is why he never had an "aura" of his own- or any sort of foundation of his own, at all.

And Sae knows this. That is exactly why this is one of the few times we see him genuinely curious (concerned?) about what Rin will do when Sae is gone. When it does have to require him thinking for himself, being his own person.

He's right to be worried.

Because, as expected, instead of Rin becoming his own person, he takes Sae's playstyle and makes it his own. He's very good at it, mind you. Nobody understood Sae quite like he did, all this time. But it's not Itoshi Rin anymore- it really is, just, Itoshi Sae's little brother.

And he doesn't realise it just yet- but that becomes a trend. From here on out, that is what people will see him as. After all, he's made his playstyle to be viewed as such. Those elegant kicks and precise analytics that Isagi observes the first few times he plays with Rin- they're not completely Rins' at all. They're adapted, taken from Sae. It's why the beginning of the U20 Arc feels like looking at a better, more midfielder focused Rin.

It's always been the other way round.

And so, when Sae comes back four years later, he is understandably disappointed. Nor has he ever been once to mince his words. Rin could never understand- of course he couldn't, he doesn't know what's wrong. He's not letting Sae explain. Sae isn't about to explain, either. They SUCK AT COMMUNICATING, THE PAIR OF IDIOTS.

Rin, if there's one thing you shouldn't have taken from Sae, it was his pathetic style of communication.

(Rin notices how tired and unwell Sae looks- that one's more explored in the post I linked as my inspo. Not getting into that- maybe some other day? If people care enough to listen.) Rin, above all, feels betrayal and shock at the change of Sae's ambition. If Sae changed his dream, and Rin has been emulating his older brother all this time, what happens now?! What is he supposed to do!? There's really no point, then, if he can't play with Sae. The way he's been envisioning for years now. It's brutal, and it's also pathetic because neither of them care to listen to the other speak.

Sae will never understand how Rin's ambitions and connections to other people for his own sense of self work. Rin will never understand what Sae went through and why he changed. He will never know why Sae was so upset with Rin constantly, constantly viewing himself from someone else's lens.

And Sae knows.

Oh, he knows.

But even after that- after ALL THAT, Rin will not think of himself as a separate entity. Nonono, now it's just- defeat Sae, instead of be with Sae. Sae, sae, sae, sae-

After Blue Lock, there's more labels that come in. He's Itoshi Sae's little brother, he's the Number 1 Striker in Blue Lock, he's Isagi's shadow, rival, partner, he's Shidou's foil, counter, the center piece for the Blue Lock 11 Team- (I remind you, again, of how his playstyle and moves are described. Beautiful. Elegant. Perfectly thought out. Now take those adjectives and use them for Sae. Don't they fit better?)

But he's never Rin. Heck, he's never ever ITOSHI Rin. Why would anyone see him as Rin alone? Part 2- Explores U20 and further.

[gojos-fr-bae]

Liar pt. 6

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Pairing: Gojo x fem!eader

Warnings: A bit of angst, a bit of fluff, just the perfect concoction. Cussing, just the usual.

Word Count: 1.3K

A/N: Again, I said I would release it two days ago but here we are. oopsies also, omd I haaate this, idk its just not giving me what I wanted it to have gave, uk? but I still hope you guys like it and it is what you have been waiting for.

(Requests open)

Satoru

Gojo was running around his house frantically trying to get himself together. You and he had agreed on going out with Kaito in order to introduce the boy to his father, finally. He had changed outfits about seen times and while trying to style his hair, he put way to much gel which he had to wash out which got his clothes wet meaning he had to switch his fit again and OH MY GOSH HE WAS LOOSING HIS FUCKING MIND.

To say he was nervous would be an understatement and he had kept himself sober since the previous night in order to be his best self for his son but it was just making him freak out even more. The amount of times he reached for a bottle of alcohol before realising what he was doing scared him.

He was in his bathroom standing in front of his mirror nit-picking every little detail about himself from his outfit to his hair and the dark circles that were no longer visible due to the foundation he had caked over them. 

Everything was fine until he looked down at his watch and realised that he was running late. He ran out of the house as fast as he could before jumping into his car and sped out of his compound towards Jujutsu tech, failing to notice the cigarettes on his dashboard. Once he had arrived, he ran through the campus to your dorm room. Once he had reached, he froze with his hand about to make contact with the door, the seriousness of the situation finally dawning on him. He was going to meet his son for the first time ever. Oh no, he was shaking. He was trying his best to calm himself. He was finally going to meet his son. With a wide smile on his face, he gently knocked on the door.

His breath hitched when he finally laid his eyes on you. You looked absolutely breath-taking. You were wearing (Outfit of choice) and you looked stunning.

“Hi, Satoru,”

“H-Hi, y/n. You look…gorgeous.”

“Why thank you, you don’t look too shabby yourself,” You smiled at him as you watched a blush spread across his face.

“Th-Thank you.” he said, the most adorable smile spreading across his face.

“Kaito, someone’s here to see you!”

You watched as your son ran as fast as his stubby little feet could carry him. You had told him that his dad was coming to see him and although it took him a good minute to understand what you were saying, once he did, he was ecstatic. He was jumping up and down on your bed for almost the entire night before you told him Satoru wouldn’t  come if he didn’t go  to sleep. Knocked him right out. But what you were seeing right now was the complete opposite of his behaviour last night.

He was standing behind you, hiding behind your leg and glaring daggers at the man before him.

“‘Come on sweetie, say  hi,” The boy just looked up at you, back at Satoru, and then hid further behind your legs.

“Sorry, he’s shy,”

“No, no, it’s okay, I totally understand. Shall we get going then?”

“Sure, let me just get Kaito’s bag.” you said, rushing into the house and leaving your son at the door.

Kaito stared Satoru down, squinted his eyes, and then did that thing where you point two fingers at your eyes, and then at the person you’re looking at. Satoru was… taken aback to say the least. Little did he know, Shoko had been training the child to attack the man since you arrived at Jujutsu Tech. Well, as much attacking as a two-year-old who just learned how to walk and can barely speak can do.

***

“Kaito, you see that man over there?” she said to the boy she was cradling in her arms while standing behind a tree. He squinted, trying to spot Gojo, and looked back at Shoko, nodding his head. 

“Do you know who he is?” He shook his head no.

“Well you know how you love your mommy?”

“Uh-huh”

“Yeah, well that guy over there loves her too. Actually that’s your dad”

“Weally?! He squealed, eyes sparkling.

“Yes, but you know, he made your mama very, very, sad.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, but know that you're a big man, you have to protect mama yeah?”

“Mhm,” responded, understanding the task that had been bestowed upon him.

***

“Okay, I'm ready to go!” You said, picking up Kaito and closing the dorm door behind you.

“Let me help you with that, he said, taking the bag from you before leading you towards the car.

“Oh, do you have a car seat for Kaito?”

Gojo stopped in his tracks. Shit! How could he forget?! Oh no, he’s already a horrible father and now you hate him and Kaito hates him and he’s a failure and-

“If you don’t then it's alright, he can sit on my lap. It’s no problem.” you said, interrupting his train of thought, and thank God for that because he was spiralling.

“Alright then.” Thank heavens.

He opened the passenger door for you, placed Kaito’s bag in the back and ran to his side of the car.

He was about to say something when he looked at you and saw your eyes fixed on his dashboard. Holy Fuck, he didn't- clean the car. Holy fuck. 

“Oh -my I'm sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so, so so so sorry,” he kept on repeating, doing his best to clean it all up as fast as possible.

“It’s umm… it’s okay.”

He was in for one hell of a day.

*** 

Y/N Once you reached the amusement park, he ran to open your door for you again as you stepped out.

OK so I'm going through writer’s block and I'm so emotionally tired from stuff I have going on so I'm just gonna give highlights of the day, sorry 😘

Your day was…eventful to say the least. Although the tension was extremely high at the beginning of the day, as things progressed, things got more and more relaxed, and dare you say, you even enjoyed the outing. The same can’t be said for your precious little bundle of joy. You still remember when Satoru won a giant stuffed monkey hoping that he would like it since he noticed the one he was clutching between his stubby little fingies. Words cannot explain the amount of distress that rushed through him when the boy looked down at the toy in disgust and turned away. For fucks sake he couldn’t even win his own son a toy properly. He was such a failure. 

You looked up in his eyes and could already tell that he was beating himself up for it. But he just looked at you and gave you a small smile before going on with your day.

All wasn’t lost though. While you were walking through the park, Satoru noticed that Kaito’s shoes were untied, so he knelt down and tied them for him. While getting up, he gently patted the boys head, and he swears to all that is good and just that while he was turning back to continue walking, Kaito had a teeny weeny smile on his face, and that alone sent him to bed smiling.

For the first time in two years, Satoru had a good dream that night. No nightmares, night terrors, no flashback. Nothing but a peaceful dream of his adorable son and lovely wife.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Finally, took me long enough

@porridgesblog , @giannitaa , @c0pkiller , @havens-not-here

© gojos-fr-bae

[lady-severus-snape]

Random headcanon scene bullet points in my mind......

🌠 Severus is your bf, your wizarding bf. It's stupid cheap for him to take a portkey (international or not) to visit you compared to your muggle money cost and absolutely REFUSES to let you spend it on traveling to him. You basically have to conspire with Minerva to pop up as a surprise. Usually when he in school.

🌠 you both met one day when walking down the street in downtown Chicago (the potion guild was being held there that summer) and you both crash into each other when a bicyclist pushed you and your merch boxes from the bar you worked out into him. After a million apologies and hauling him up (he was shocked at your strength). You invited him into the bar for a drink on the house to make up for it.

🌠 after wards he kept coming by, and only when you were on shift. His demeanor drawed you in. Despite the age (45 to your 30) you began to fall for him. He had an air of danger, his prickly snarky comments had you in stitches. He was equally drawn to you. He had never met someone who tongue lashed others almost as well as he did. Your banter was something he enjoyed.

🌠 you give give him your number, though he did sat that he did not own a celly phone (cell phone you corrected gently)

🌠 he breaks down and gets one, because summer was almost over and thinking about not being able to talk to you made him squirrelly. You teach him the basics on how to work the call function, texting, and video chatting.

🌠 When you saw his dark mark by accident (it had been a particularly hot and humid day, even with A/C so he had ditched frock coat and rolled up his sleeves), Severus just about came undone at the seams, his magic flaring and exploding the sound system. You hugged him into submission and softly cooed at him until he had calmed down enough to explain what he could. He kissed you hard and deep after you told him that the choices he made were based on the tools available to him at the time.

🌠 He asks you to be his woman, you accept and little by little insert yourself into his life, improving his quality of self and acceptance without judgment and patience. Besides you adored his goth/victorian/wizard look.

🌠 "Sev, why not tie your hair back? I like your silver streak". He starts stealing your hair ties and wears his hair like a man bun. "Where did you get that waist coat? It looks wonderful on you" wears more styles like it. "Baby, we can always get a cover up of the cult tattoo you have. Or I can show you the best skin foundation that can hide it. It's water proof and can only be removed with the formulated alcohol solution." Suddenly starts asking questions on muggle tattoos and artists as well as the foundation you suggested.

🌠 one day while talking to you via video chat, he hisses and grabs his forearm. He bids you goodbye. Sick with worry you keep your phone on hand and call off from work. He appeared in the middle of your kitchen bruised, bloodied, and battered,.completely messed up. You barely got his dead weight to the bathroom where you cleaned him up and treated his wounds to the best of your ability. You hadn't told him, but you started taking CNA courses incase. Plus work at the bar was getting old and tiresome (you had been attacked by patron who wouldn't take no for an answer or accept you had a man already)

🌠severus recovering and breaks down crying telling you EVERYTHING. You hold his hand and pet his cheek, listening and raging internally at his suffering. Tell him to bring the boys (Potter and Malfoy) there, you will take them in under your wing and hide the two . His love for you grows.

🌠 He begrudgingly accepts being passenger princess because he does not know how to drive a muggle car and you know the streets better than he does. He ends up learning that your job takes you to the seediest parts of the city thus having you teach him because there was no way he was going to allow his woman to drive late at night to get home from your private home care case while he twiddled his thumbs at home.

🌠 he gets adorably flustered when your on the phone with your spanish speaking mother. He knows when you're gushing about him because of how animated you get and the glances you give him. He secretly LOVES how you say his name with a Mexican accent.

🌠 One time he comes to visit you at your bartending gig. He sat in the corner as he watched you turn on your sex appeal to draw customers in but sees how expertly you keep yourself from their touchy Feely hands. He absolutely fucks you stupid after your shift because he realized you were wearing one of button up shirts he was looking for back at hogwarts.

🌠 your mother always grew muicle (mexican honey suckle) so when he met your mother and saw the gold mine of FRESH muicle (its magical properties were the shit in potions dried, nevermind fresh) , Severus just about married you on the spot much to the amusement of your mother. She took to calling him mijo whenever she talked to him in her broken english. When he asked what that meant, his heart melted.

🌠 his favorite pet names from you: amorcito, corazoncito, guero, corazon de melon, flaco, bonbon. His super fav is bebé.

🌠 you and your mother absolutely exploit the fact he is 6ft7in and has gigantic hands to mix the masa for tamales and tortillas. Severus being moody at Hogwarts during the school year because he can't have good rice and beans the way you or your mother make. He calls her ma now. That had been an embarrassing time for him. It had slipped out when he had arrived to your house for winter break and found only her. He is now her mijo and no one was telling her any different.

🌠 He discovered he enjoyed mexican hot chocolate, atole, menudo, pozole. Though his favorite was red mole. Sometimes when he goes back to work, your mother and you prepare some and freeze it and place it in a box that Minerva gave you for Xmas a last year. It will shrink at the tap of your hand and preserves whatever is inside. So when Severus finds it after unpacking in his quarters he whoops for joy and happily eats when he has had a dog shit kind of day.

🌠 Severus snapping at the entire staff because Albus Fucking Dumbledore is telling him to give up his attachment to you. Ends up cussing their asses out in Spanish AND English. He channeled your ghetto side apparently.

🌠 Harry and Draco calling your mother abuelita because it sounds better than gran/gram. Draco struggling to adjust to muggle living, unconditional love and Harry having an actual decent summer free of absuse and neglect. Abuelita's chocolate is the best, out ranks yours (the little shits ♥️)

🌠 Severus watching you beat the absolute dog shit out of Black during one of the few visits to him, because Black called him Snivellus while he ate the empanadas Ma sent with you. Black hides everytime he hears your voice.

[osatokun]

New Orleans chronicle [long post]

Post for the people who comes in my blog and wondering who are the characters I constantly draw (and will go on drawing).

All of them - PC and NPCS from the Vampire the Masquerade games I play. Most of them from the longest game I had with friends, with its ups and downs the game lasted almost 2 years. here is the main player crew:

Charles Arthur Drinkwater (real name Benjamin Thomas Fox) -242 years old Scottish Malkavian, personal little mew mew of the local Harpy, surgeon since he was 20, and consultant in the weirdest occult questions. I played him, he was my first serious male character and it was very interesting experience. Dakota Salmon (real name Numpai) - 200 something something (230? 240?) years old Gangrel. She was primogen of the local Gangrels until the entire clan was exiled from the city. Highly respected by the clan, strong woman with cold logic and warm heart. She came back to the New Orleans in hopes to return gangrels their place in the city. She was played by @fj0rge Veronica Sugar (real name Veronica ) - a 100 something something years old Toreador, part of the coterie Charlie is in. A singer and vampire with the most high rating of humanity in the city. Crazy enough to get into Charlie's adventures and support him. She was played by @maria-ruta

Some of the names were taken form the New Orleans by Night book, but the characters are totally different. Plus our DM added just about every splat in the game. The game was set in 2022. From the foundation of the New Orleans it was ruled by Etienne Doran, Ventrue who always dreamed of making New Orleans the new Carthage. He drove the mages away from the city, united with local werewolves and in generally kept piece New Orleans (most of the time). However he was murdered in 1997 by unknown Gangrel, the entire clan was exiled, but no one ever found the assassin. Some of the names were taken form the New Orleans by Night book, but the characters are totally different. The game was set in 2022. From the foundation of the New Orleans it was ruled by Etienne Doran, Ventrue who always dreamed of making New Orleans the new Carthage. He drove the mages away from the city, united with local werewolves and in generally kept piece New Orleans (most of the time). However he was murdered in 1997 by unknown Gangrel, the entire clan was exiled, but no one ever found the assassin.

(here is Etienne and his sheriff and Brujah primogen Simon)

Since then New Orleans was ruled by princess Marceline, supported by local harpy, adopted Etienne's childe, Rene. Rene is also one of the reason Charlie traveled to the New Orleans. They did their best, but no one had the charm of Etienne, who could stop the war with a single smile

Now, to the main plot of the game (oh I'll try to be short) The main conflict is set around the prophecies of the future where masquerade will fall and the vampires (and werewolves) become part of the human society. Think True Blood style. Technocratic union mages,led by Eureka Jones returns in the city. As we learned much later,her department is trying to bring the project of integrating vampires into society to life. If her project fails, the future of vampires going to be..very sad. Charlie knew about this possible future from the very start which scared him a ton, but he could not ignore how much technocrats made to the people. And Rene, a true son of his sire, collaborated with mages for the future that he(and Etienne) always wanted. Eureka is magnificent but I have to finish her still..

In the same time, the Sabbat pack lead by Sascha Vykos, comes to the New Orleans. He knows about the future of vampires, but wants to play the main role himself. To ruin Technocrats he aims to find Traitor, the mysterious figure who collaborate with mages in their experiments. Dakota returns to the city to help fight with Sabbat (and possibly return Gangrels their place in the city) AND (like Sabbat war is not enough) the mysterious Gangrel courier named Mohammed arrives to the city, carrying a small suitcase. With the ancient vampire head in it. Living head. As we learned later, the head is imprisoned by the angel Gangrel named Enkidu, the angel constantly chops Gangrel's head somewhere in umbra, not letting him to heal. Both Enkidu and Angel leads courier to the unknown destination, when one courier dies, the other is chosen to continue his journey. The existence of the head was kept in secret until the end of the game (not surprising Charlie knew this secret tho..),but Sascha knew about it and wanted to get the head to help him find the Traitor.(and, well, diablerise later as a treat) Mohammed and Dakota (he quickly grew on her and they kept their loving relationships even after the game ended)

Long story short-the Traitor was Ada, Gangrel who killed and diablerised Etienne. Their souls willingly united and the developed a plan to bring new future to the vampires. In the end, Vykos pack was slain by Dakota, Ada, werewolf leader(poor lad died), Gangrels and one particularly charming Nosferatu. Gangrels was allowed to get back in the city, however Dakota and Mohammed (and Yaropolk) left to Russia, as they were sick of Camarilia and mages. However no one can deny that Gangrels led by Dakota played the biggest part in saving the city. What's Charlie's role you might ask? And where is his charming wife? Well, from the very beginning DM hooked me with a dream. Charlie saw a changeling in his nightmares, who asked him for help. And so, his personal storyline began. Of course he assisted other characters when he could, but his mine line is based around saving changeling. No one cares about them. They have no place in Technocrat's future, but now they are his family. He tried to find and then heal the changeling from his dream, who turned out to be young Balor princess, Monica. Her soul was stolen by the Settite leader(one of the two),mysterious Imhotep, who rumored to be Giovanni. Later Charlie learned that he's an actual mummy, which didn't stop him to awkwardly mess with the ancient creature. And poor Monica was in coma for the last 3 years, but thanks to her ability to travel through dreams she could try to seek help

While looking for changelings to find the one who called him, he met Glinda, the cursed Balor ex queen, imprisoned by other changeling house, Beaumayn in 1999th. Her changeling self fell asleep and she was guarded by a chimerical Dragon (who could take human form ),who acted like her abusive husband. While trying to learn who Glinda is, Charlie looked into her soul and immediately fell in love for the rest of his life. During the game they even ended up getting True Love merit Q_Q

A little backstory: as a teenage changeling queen Glinda saw the prophetic dreams about the end of the changelings. When she looked for the way to save her people, he was talked by Pentex and Nephandi into bringing a little apocalypse. Using the energy of the Red Star they'd bring a strong old spirit into the world, put it into Glinda's body and let her give birth to a new changeling-spirit creature, that will destroy the half of human population. Since Changelings get their powers from the dreams and fantasy, they will become stronger, because people will start dreaming more, hoping more, believing in magic and stuff. In fact a naive teen was talked into rape. The other house, Beumayn, freed Glinda's chimera, the Dragon, and burnt her in the chimerical flame, trying to kill her changeling soul and the spirit inside her. However, the spirit escaped to the Umbra and the connection with him helped Glinda survive. He forgot who she was, and the Dragon became her jailer, acting like her over controlling husband. However, the spirit creature lived and gained power with time, wanting to fulfill it's purpose and destroy the world.

During the game, Charlie found Monica, traveled into Umbra to the gates of Arcadia to get the healing for changelings and another Imhotep's victim. Healed them all, fought the Dragon on the Changeling court and freed a demon named Folly. With the help of the demon he turned Dragon into a simple human and won, freeing Glinda. The demon escaped in Europe and was out of the scene most of the time, but kept reminding Charlie about himself in many ways. Charlie learned that Monica's father was killed by her own mother, Imhotep's cultist, and adopted young Changeling. He also introduced her to a werewolf of the same age, Joshua, wanting her to have day-walking loyal friends wo she won't be alone. Later on they started dating, and in return Monica tried her best to represent Charlie to Gilnda in the best way possible. Glinda, Charlie and Monica quickly started to live together, Charlie tried to keep peaceful relationships between changelings and vampires/mages (or better say not making it worse).In the end, mages, vampires and Glinda united to destroy the old spirit without harming changeling. And Charlie, Glinda and their newly created chimera Jeff (who they consider to be their son) located Imhotep. Stole his power jars (I'm too tired to phrase it not in a silly way, but think of Baldur's Gate 3 quest with a mummy), destroyed most of them and watched Imhotep's army of ghosts destroying his body. Charlie offered the fame for killing Imhotep to another Settite leader, Manon, and in return she joined the ritual of the spirit's killing. Charlie knew that mummies are immortal, sooner or later he will come back, so he and Glinda dedicated their lives to the searching of the way to permanently trap Imhotep's soul and prevent him from stealing lives again. They lived +/- 6 more years in New Orleans (but traveled a lot), and then left to Egypt. Glinda stopped aging, gaining a lot of energy from their constant adventures and, possibly, connection with her true love. Monica, however, lived normal human life, forgetting she was a changeling once. She married Joshua and became a writer under the nickname Little Spider. Charlie made sure to collect savings for her, got her home, and the old Monica's home became a freehold for the new Balors. Ofcourse A LOT things happened in the game. And Charlie's story goes beyond one game, he have a lot of adventures in my imagination. But I hope that's enough..for the start! Some of the characters I managed to draw. I was so charmed by Glinda I just draw her most of the time haha

Dragon (Gregory Dequir) and Imhotep

Jeffrey

More finished arts for this game -> here Gangrel line up by @fj0rge -> here Nosferatu line up by @fj0rge -> here Veronica's references by @maria-ruta -> here and here and more Veronica here

More characters drawing by Ruta -> Jake(brujah) Jack(Gangrel) (Veronica has a J boyfriend collection) and silly guys Sad Charlie and Veronica comics by Ruta -> here

Thank you for reading!

[lambsouvlaki]

The Crime Lord - 2

Characters: Jason Todd x fem!oc

Rating and warnings: T, non-explicit smut.

Word Count: 1,560

Summary: Jason never stopped his crime lord ways, but he did find someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They both have to live with what the things he's done.

Masterlist

At a little past six in the evening, she looked up from the organised chaos of her desk in her run down little office building and saw Jason sitting on the corner of her desk, watching her. 

She yelped, and jumped. 

He laughed. Despite her optimism back in the early days of their relationship, it never stopped startling her, and he never stopped enjoying it. 

“Oh, you asshat,” she said, putting a hand over her heart. “How long have you been there?”

“Just arrived.” He was in civilian clothes, with the stubble of several days at his chin. “You’re working hard, I wasn’t even trying this time.” 

She closed her eyes and rubbed them. She’d sent everyone else home an hour ago. Running a non-profit was so much harder than it looked. “This project, I swear. I’m going to pull my hair out.” 

“Don’t do that, you have beautiful hair.” 

“Hmm.” She cracked an eye open. “What are you doing here?”

“Had the evening free, figured I’d save you the bus trip home.”

“You sweetheart.” She eyed her paperwork, then looked at him again. “How’s your Cantonese?”

“Worse than yours. My Filipino is pretty good.”

She perked up. “Is it? You know it’s dangerous to go telling me things like that. I’ll put you to work.” 

“Good. You’ll want to keep me around then,” said her partner of six years and the man who funded the entire organisation. 

She grinned. “You have your uses, I suppose.” 

“You ready to go?” 

“Yeah. I just need to lock up.” 

She never sat down and decided to become a cornerstone of Gotham’s charity scene, she just gently slid into it. While the Red Hood and his crew held the worst of Gotham by the throat, she looked around the supposedly regular parts of the city and was dissatisfied.

There were too many people in the poorer districts who didn’t speak much English and relied on their community, only to be left behind when disaster struck. She had always been something of a polyglot and after her literature degree wrapped up she did some work with charities in the Alley, a little here and a little there, and got to know the movers and shakers in various communities. 

She tentatively started her initiative because nobody else was doing it, and Jason encouraged her. She pushed for it much harder when emergency sirens in English warned a largely Vietnamese neighbourhood that fear gas had been seeded in their waterways and they shouldn’t use their taps for the next twelve hours. The fallout was catastrophic.

She put some people in contact with other people, who then asked her opinion on who they should speak to afterwards. She kept at it, and within a shockingly small time frame she was arranging cross community relief work across half of Gotham and was busy learning her sixth language. 

The whole thing was a money pit of course. Red Hood funded it through several shell companies, and it could be thought of as money laundering, in the style of a washing machine that always eats your socks. He went out at night and beat money out of Gotham’s organised crime, and in the morning she put it back into the city.

She was no great figurehead in the local community, but people trusted her, and that was all she needed to get on with it. Her little office wasn’t a destination but a crossroads, infrastructure that nobody stopped to look at but everyone relied on. 

Information from so many people crossed her desk, from officials in the judicial system, to the head of the Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation, to handwritten letters from little old ladies who wanted to know just who she was to tell them not to eat produce grown in their own backyard, a little Gotham soil put meat on your bones.

When one of Red Hood’s lieutenant's planned to overthrow him, she knew about it before Jason did. 

He walked her out the back entrance, then opened the driver’s door of his car for her. 

That told her everything she needed to know.

She hopped in and didn’t even bother glancing at the backseat for the rifles that would definitely be within easy reach under a tarp. Automatically she checked the roof opposite her office, and there he was, one of Hood’s men, blending in among the air conditioning units. She had learned to be good at spotting them. She’d gotten good at all sorts of things in the last six years. 

“Where are we going?” she asked, turning the keys in the ignition.

Jason gave her an address, and she drove. 

It wasn’t their home address, or at least it hadn’t been yesterday. That was how this worked. One of the disadvantages of not being a billionaire who only dipped his toes into the Gotham crime scene: there was no retreat for them, just sidestepping.

Jason kept a hand on a gun just below the window the entire drive. He watched the roads carefully, while she planned and adjusted their route to make sure she wasn’t ever boxed in or at a standstill. 

Despite the caution, they arrived without incident. Jason tapped his ear, and said they were in the clear. 

Their home for the night was one of his old safe houses by the docks, a loft apartment she hadn’t seen in years. 

“This takes me back,” she said, as they went in. He slung an arm over her shoulder. “I had a front row seat to watch you throw Tim off of that roof over there.”

He grinned and kissed her hair. “Hopefully no such theatrics tonight. I missed you too many nights this week.”

They went up and settled in. He made her dinner and told her to put her feet up. It had been too many late nights for both of them. 

She lounged back on the couch and watched him cook for her. She smiled wistfully. 

These moments were still so precious. Jason’s relaxed side, his playful side, his sweet and needy side. They didn’t get to come out very often and she hoarded those moments greedily. They were never going to be the norm. She knew that. 

The Red Hood was not an newcomer upsetting the board anymore, and this wasn’t a holding pattern. It was the destination. 

These were not the people they were becoming, but the people they already were. 

Some days she felt the guilt of it all. He had her tacit approval, and she was complicit by every standard. 

Those among Hood's men trusted to know about her had nicknamed her Evita. She found it deeply irritating, and Jason thought it was hilarious. She would contest the comparison, she wasn’t glamorous, and they were hardly living it up. But she knew how this looked, what they were doing. 

“Al Capone was loved by his community too,” Nightwing had told her once, sourly. 

No matter how much good she did, her passion project was funded by drug money. On the days when Jason felt the weight of his chosen work too heavily, funding hers justified it to himself. Maybe it was all motivated by guilt in the end and they were kidding themselves.  

But she recalled the Gotham she grew up in. The terror, the helplessness, the filth. 

It wasn’t like that anymore. It had changed, and Jason could tally that in his soul's favour. 

Black mask had been overthrown by his own second in command a couple years ago, after getting his shit kicked in one too many times. That particular criminal empire had crumbled without strong leadership, and Red Hood swallowed and chewed up what survived. 

The Penguin had lost so much ground that in the end GCPD scooped him up and he couldn’t even blackmail his way back out. 

The Joker died in Arkham. Reports were inconclusive. Nobody was fooled.

Hell, things had changed so much that Red Hood had installed safe injection sites across the Narrows, decimating his own drug trade, and dealing the biggest blow to hospitalisation numbers in Gotham’s history, ever. 

City authorities widely condemned the move as explicit distribution, but Jason held such a grip over his own districts that there was nothing they could do to stop him. 

The two of them ate and relaxed together as evening stretched on. He pulled her onto his lap, languid and easy with years of familiarity. His body knew hers so well, as she did his.

Perhaps they were damned for what they did. 

She wasn’t a fool, Gotham’s newfound peace was bought and paid for in blood night after night. They cleaned up the city without the city’s consent. 

As she rocked in his lap, he gazed at her with such devotion. In her he saw absolution. The soothing rain after his scorching fire, the recovery only possible after the infection was burned away. 

She enabled him.

The hands of a murderer held her hips steady. They caressed her body, then cupped her jaw. The lips of a man so drenched in blood she imagined they were both slippery with it, drank from her mouth. There were no vows, no rings, but he was hers. And she was his.

His head fell forwards, and she cradled him to her chest. She wondered if he saw the blood staining their hands just as vividly as she did.

He mouthed at her neck, and whispered her name. 

She didn’t regret a damn thing. 

Next>>

[iron-embers]

The Iron Hashira

Name: Isane KuraTetsu

Age: 20

Height: 5’7

Sword style Hyoho niten Ichi- Ryu, a form of kenjutsu associated with battle techniques used by samurai during combat in feudal Japan. It focuses on the use of two blades

Translated as the school of strategy of two heavens as one

Family

Mother: Suzume Kuratetsu (Igarashi)

Age: 42

Father: Ryujin Kuratetsu

Age: 46

Twin brothers: Jin and Raiho Kuratetsu

Age: 14

Second Cousin: Saigo Mazashi

@bloodbladesanddemons

Relationships

Gyomei- Mentor/Friend/Looks up to him

Sanemi- Tentative acquaintances

Obanai- Respectful acquaintances

Giyuu- Distant acquaintances

Tengen- Friendly

Mitsuri- Friend

Muichiro- Cloud watching buddies

Shinobu- Friend

Kyojuro- Close friend(Romantic)

Kagaya- Respects him like the others. He was the first to fully have faith in her besides her parents about her voluntary choice to become a demon slayer

Main Weapon

Hybrid Ko Katana

Secondary

Wakizashi

Personality traits

. Stubborn/Hard headed

. Determined

. Quick witted

. Honest

. Observant

. Attentive

. Decisive

. Adaptive

. Strong willed

. Compassionate

Fun facts

. While not freakishly overpowered in the sheer strength department, she has a strong pair of legs. Meaning any defensive stance she takes doesn’t falter as she trained with Gyomei to build up her core foundation. Also to be on the receiving end of one of her kicks can prove fatal, as she has trained them to the point of shattering bones and an opponents defense.

. Loves spicy or rich food. Has been related to having an iron stomach, and she doesn’t get queasy easily

. Her style is made to defend and combat multiple attacks at once.

. Has a hard time wearing traditional kimonos, her thighs and wider hips feel restricted and hates the lack of motion. Long baggy sleeves make her uncomfortable as it gets in the way.

. Will find creative ways to solve disputes or situations. Some would say unconventional

. Is down to meet any challenge as she has a desire to better herself

. Creeped out by snakes more than demons

. She became a hashira by killing 50+ demons as a kinoe. She has been one for a full 2 years now

. Despite being the iron hashira, she is very open to hearing new ideas and perspectives, in a way to challenge hers so it can temper her mind and comprehension of the world.

. Her Father Ryu was the one to teach her the dual sword style

. Before her current nichirin blade set, she had another pair gifted by her father, but it broke after a great deal of wear and tear. She had one more simpler pair that broke when she was rank Kinoe, but Her mother made her the new one right before she became a Hashira.

Statistics

Openness

75-79 or 80

Strength

Below Giyuu, she is not freakishly strong where she can lift extremely heavy things, but you give her something to carry, she will carry it for a long time. Her stamina and durability outlast many of her peers when it comes to taking hits and holding her stance for freakishly long periods of time.

Speed

Below Kyojuro when it comes to running, but her reflexes are quick considering she wields two swords.

Breathing style and forms

Iron breathing style

Subsect of mainly stone breath, She mainly learned under Gyomei as his tsuguko, but when she realizes that defense for her frame cannot be kept forever despite her above average strength. And so she finds another style to help compensate with more dexterity. Flame breathing showed promise, and she learned the techniques and building stamina since she and Kyojuro were close friends/frequent sparring partners. Later she realized while flame breathing techniques compensate for the immovable defense of stone breathing, with her dual style it did not feel complete. Now that defense and dexterity was covered, she felt like it could be improved upon with more fluid movements. Isane trained to have the strength to take the hit, but if something stronger hit her, she could not only defend herself, but use their power against them. She didn’t want to constantly use up her stamina and energy, she studied water breathing with Urokodaki so she would have the ability to transfer energy back to the opponent without expense to her physical capability. Basically kind of made up her own subsect using some aspects of two style while based mainly on the defensive stone breathing. In all essence a three way hybrid

Iron breathing has 8 forms she developed

First form(Stone)-Full defense (Unyielding Will)

Second form(Flame)-Dexterous offensive (Piercing Temperance)

Third form(Stone+flame)- Defense and offense dexterity counter (Honed Double edge)

Fourth form(Water)- Full dodge with swirling dual blades to deflect and gain better ground (Steel Maelstrom)

Fifth form(Stone+water)- Mix of powerful grounded attacks with upward and downward slashes (Corrosive force)

Sixth form(Water+flame)- Agile offense with fluid redirection, bunch of flips and avoiding while flowing to find an opening, simultaneously redirecting their attacks to use up their stamina (Metallic Blitz)

Seventh form(True Iron)- A move set where she swings both blades in synch with another for devastating offensive attacks, like a large singular blade (Behemoth blades)

Eighth form- (True iron)- (Valiant Iron Guardian)

Overall Outlook

Because she did not experience an inordinate amount of trauma like many of her other hashira, similar to Mitsuri she brings a new perspective to them as to what it means to not let their actions be dictated by this extreme of loss and weakness. If things get heated and words exchanged, she brings up advice and perspectives to challenge their somewhat jaded views. They often say. “It is easy for you to say.” But Isane is more than willing to help them see how they can achieve it in their own way so to help them heal and be more understanding. In all essence, she knows the toll of demon slaying, that it is training your body and mental state to exceed human boundaries so to better protect others from demons, but what good will that be if it self sacrificing and you can’t be human when it matters most. She reminds them of the importance of their humanity and compassion. Though in some aspects, she is a little naive.

Do the best you can to help the people affected is her mentality

She can make an impact in the world by helping people come out of their ignorance. Change is inevitable, iron used to be for swords, and now it is for Trains and cars. Isane is the embodiment experiencing and embracing change, and so her journey is basically learning to become more malleable while also tempering her understanding and acceptance of cahnge

Finally finished the reference sheet for my first Demon slayer Oc, Isane KuraTetsu. I have a lot more info that will be posted later, but if you guys have any questions or interactions you wanna see feel free to ask! Hope ya like and stay tuned

[whatyourusherthinks]

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

HELL YEAH MORE SUPERMAN. And this is a documentary about the guy who played Superman in the original movies? Awesome. I've never seen those movies, but I don't have to know they are infinitely better than those fucking Zack Snyder ones. Anyway, as soon as I heard about it I was incredibly excited. I wasn't sure if I was gonna review this movie, since I don't think people engage with documentaries the same way they engage with structured narratives, so I didn't know if my review style would work. But I want to tell people about this movie so I'll muddle through.

By the way Tumblr, and I'm speaking to the users and not the website this time, thank you SO MUCH for having EVERY SINGLE top post under the Superman tag be about FUCKING BATMAN. GOD FORBID I TRY TO ENJOY SOMETHING DC RELATED AND NOT GET REMINDED OF THE GOTH FURRY.

What's The Movie About.

Christopher Reeve and his role as Superman, his accident and subsequent adjustment to life, and the founding of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

What I Like.

The whole movie, pretty much. I like the way they present the information, I like the glimpse into Christopher Reeve's life. They were incredibly respectful of the man while still acknowledging his flaws. They showed a lot of footage of home videos his wife took and I liked seeing hi trying to spend time with his kids after his accident. I didn't know Christopher Reeve directed movies either, that's pretty cool. I actually didn't know a lot about him, so this movie was fascinating. Probably the coolest thing was learning that he was best friends with Robin Williams, although it seems obvious in hindsight. Like of course the man who's still who I want to be when I grow up is best friends with Superman! The biggest thing I like about this movie was the message of never giving up. Christopher (and his wife, who I learned died of cancer only two years after he died) was faced with an impossible situation, and he never gave up. There were moments of weakness, sure. But he persevered. He kept fighting. I'm absolutely not ashamed to admit this movie made me cry like four or five times, and all of them were in relation to Chris overcoming or succumbing to the more tragic parts of his life. (Or when Glenn Close said Robin would probably still be alive if Chris was like WOMAN YOU CAN'T DO ME LIKE THAT.) There's a really cool visual of a stature of Superman/Christopher floating through spaces that get's green crystals when they talk about Chris's injuries and the movie opens with an awesome shot of the statue right in front of nebula that looks like a cape. It's so cool that I completely disregard that the movie should have ended on that shot instead of opened on it. Either way, this movie is really quite excellent.

What I Didn't Like.

It's just a shame YOU CAN'T WATCH THIS ANYWHERE. WHY THE FUCK IS THIS A LIMITED RELEASE?! I get it's a documentary and maybe that doesn't have as much appeal as a regular comic book movie, but our theater is showing this movie for only TWO DAYS. I HAD TO PAY TO WATCH IT. Yes, I was happy to, it was a worthwhile experience. But why limit the opportunity for people to watch it? Seriously. This is baffling.

Final Summation.

This is a movie about Superman and hope of course I like this movie. I guess watch it on Max in like a month. I guess I was kind right about not being able to review documentaries as easily, but honestly the half-assed nature of this piece might be just because this movie is pretty damn good. I don't have much to say beyond that.

[aldrawsstuf]

Zodiac Signs as Deities (Part 2)

Libra the Just is the seventh Lord of the Zodiac and the goddess of Unity, Justice and the Sky. She is a goddess known for her fairness and wisdom.

Her ardent followers learn from her to pursue equality and justice in everything. All beings, whether they be heavenly or mortal, are required to follow the laws that she established. The gods and goddesses alike gather to the court of the sky to seek the advice of the goddess of justice. Her judgment is definitive and her insight unparalleled. She is a sympathetic and compassionate goddess who is always ready to hear the cries of people who have been wronged, despite her harsh and unbiased exterior.

She is the guardian of the oppressed and the pursuit of justice. Libra extends her power over the world of mortals since she recognizes that justice is not always administered equitably in this domain. The goddess will not stand with those who try to exploit the laws to control and oppress others.

Scorpio the Oathkeeper is the eighth Lord of the Zodiac and the goddess of Blood, Oaths, Secrets, and Death. A God who values in loyalty and faithfulness.

She imparts to others the idea that life and death are but two sides of the same coin. Scorpio also holds the view that all actions have repercussions, whether positive or negative, and that one should be ready to deal with these effects head-on. Her domain is the realm of the Dead, which is connected to the land of the living by rivers that meandered over the world. Rivers of life and souls flowed into and out of her realm, nourishing the spirits of the dead and leading the spirits of the living to their eternal resting place, respectively.

Though she has a terrifying reputation among mortals, she is actually a reasonable goddess who, provided they have lived honestly and kept their promise, grants people who have passed away a pleasant afterlife. And yet, as a warning to the living, those who have sinned greatly or betrayed others are punished for all eternity in her domain.

Sagittarius the Keen-eyed is the ninth Lord of the Zodiac and the god of Wildlife, Hunting, Exploration and Prophecy. A god who constantly seeks adventure.

His philosophy encourages his disciples to live fearlessly and wild lives. His sphere of influence transcends the wilderness and reaches into the hearts of individuals who are willing to go in search of adventure and the truth. Small conversation and idle banter are not Sagittarius the Keen-eyed's style. Instead, his brief but impactful words guide his devoted like lights in the night sky. His wisdom comes from innumerable experiences, both happy and sad, so when he talks, people pay attention.

He rewards people who follow his teachings with a keen eye and a quick wit, gifting them the ability to navigate even the most treacherous of terrains. He, however, will punish those who desecrate the wildlands or disrespect the creatures that dwell within them.

Capricorn the Steadfast is the tenth Lord of the Zodiac and the god of the Land, Time and Order. He believes that order is the foundation of society and prosperity.

He teaches his followers that regularity and toil are necessary for gain. He is often called the Father of Time by his worshippers, for it is he who tames the wild forces of time and space, bringing order to the chaos. He gave mortals the ability to carve out a life from the endless cycles of nature, creating cities, roads, and fields.

He blesses people who work hard and live honest lives, granting them health, wealth, and prosperity. However, he also demands that they respect the natural order of things and use their gifts wisely. Those who disrupt the balance, whether through greed, laziness, or hubris, soon find themselves the target of his wrath.

Aquarius the Shrewd is the eleventh Lord of the Zodiac and the god of Knowledge, Illusions and Magic. A god who loves knowledge above all else.

He instills in his people the value of using, studying, and comprehending the environment they live in. He established the laws of magic and is the patron deity of magicians. He taught mortals how to wield magic and granted them the capacity to do so. His dominion is large and complex; it is a magical and illusionary world where the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred.

He rewards those who share their knowledge with others, who strive to push the boundaries of what is known and unknown. He also punishes erudition when it is used for selfish or malevolent purposes, as he believes that knowledge should be shared and used for the greater good.

Pisces the Dreamer is the twelfth and final Lord of the Zodiac and the goddess of the Ocean, Dreams and Love. A goddess who is known for her whimsical nature.

Love, she tells her followers, is as erratic as the deep ocean's waves. Invoked frequently when pleading for divine intervention for matters of the heart, she is revered as the patroness of lovers. The domain of dreams and nightmares is likewise under her authority. She shares the jurisdiction of the seas with Cancer, but her domain lies in the deep, uncharted waters, where the most potent dreams and nightmares dwell.

She cautions against being too attached to any one person or object, but she also honors those who seek love with ardor and determination. Pisces understands that love can bring both exhilarating highs and crushing lows, and that it is in the nature of the sea to ebb and flow.

[hypnotisedfireflies]

A Social Pariah

@poetic-justicesong sent me some wonderful Joel & Sarah prompts.  I dipped my toe into an early snapshot of their life in Mermaids and it’s a bit of a challenge for me, but it’s fun to push myself so I really want to dig into these.  I’m keeping them as separate posts rather than posting the ask itself, otherwise I might lose track without it floating in my inbox. :)

This is compliant for both DD and SQ.

1/? : The first time Joel has to be strict with his discipline with Sarah, where she usually has him wrapped around her finger.

The sound of Sarah wailing permeated the very foundations of the house.  It broke through her sealed bedroom door, bounced down every step and circled round and round Joel’s head like gathering rain clouds.  He ran the dishcloth under the faucet and squeezed it out, bouncing his fist up and down in midair as the little droplets escaped through his fingers.  He took his time cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, alone.  That chore was usually shared between Joel and his daughter but there weren’t no way she was gettin’ her little ass downstairs to help tonight.  No, that was a bridge too far. 

He'd thought that by the time he washed, dried and put away every dish that Sarah would be through with her tears.  But they just kept comin’ and they were giving Joel a stomach ache.  His unspoken mandate of raising a little girl who’d never want for anything or have reason to cry was at war with the fact that she had to learn the hard lessons, too. 

All grown up at eight, Sarah had been counting down the days to Poppy’s birthday party.  They were going to the roller rink, the one styled somewhere between the 50s and a John Hughes movie.  That rockabilly nostalgia of the 1980s which had given boys cheap leather jackets to sweat through in summer and poorly-styled DA hairdos.  Tommy had gotten pretty good at sculpting his own hair like that back in the day.

But then Sarah had broken the carnival glass lamp.

Look, the lamp didn’t mean much to Joel.  It was kind of ugly, bright red puckered with little golden orbs in two ornate little tiers.  It was only in the house because it had belonged to his mother, but Joel didn’t pour his attachment into such things.  People and memory were what mattered, not stuff, and certainly not stuff that looked like that.  He didn’t remember his mother having any particular feelings about it either – or his father – which was probably how Joel had ended up with it in the first place.  Luis had just brought it around one day while he was cleaning out his place and left it behind.  In most of the intervening years since, it had lived in the closet.  Joel had only taken it out recently because … well, they needed a lamp in the lounge.

So breaking the lamp wasn’t the problem.

Once the backsplash was wiped clean, Joel’s soft heart could no longer be overruled and he trudged upstairs to give Sarah one, final chance.  She wanted to go to the roller rink party so much.  It was tomorrow, Dad.  She had made her choice but she was … well, she was bringin’ the house down and making him feel like the worst father alive, so he decided to try just one more time with her.

Joel knocked on her door.

“Go away!”  Sarah sobbed dramatically on the other side.

“I’m comin’ in,” Joel told her and counted to ten, just in case. 

When he opened the door she was sitting on the side of her bed with Hoppy, her wallaby plushie, in her lap.  He was very wet.  Sarah’s face was streaked with tears and she looked so goddamn morose.  The world had ended.  She would be a social pariah. She wouldn’t know any of the stories the other girls told at school on Monday.

He sat beside her with a big, sympathetic smile.  He poked Hoppy.  “He’s getting’ a shower.”

“He says you’re the worst,” Sarah sniffled.  “Meanest dad ever.  You don’t even like that stupid lamp!”

“No, I don’t,” Joel agreed.

“You’re so mean!”

“But you know what I like even less than the lamp, huh?”

“I’m not lying! I didn’t break it!  I didn’t break your stupid lamp!”

He nodded slowly.  There was no sense arguing with her:  the lamp had been intact when Sarah started dancing along with MTV and when Joel came back from the garage five minutes later, it was in pieces. I didn’t do it!

“Last chance, babygirl.  Come on.”

All she had to do was tell the truth.

“I didn’t do it!”  She wailed. 

She’d dug herself in way too deep to give up now.  Being caught in the lie and maybe getting a stay of execution was preferable to admitting it.  She had just come too far.

Joel tapped Hoppy’s nose and came to his feet.  “Guess you’re stayin’ home with me tomorrow.”

“I hate you!”

“And next weekend, too.”

“I hate you!”

He closed the door on her and this time, as he went downstairs, he felt decidedly less guilty.  A real hardass wouldn’t have given her so many chances.

Sarah tried again in the morning.  She’d slept on it and reckoned with her predicament differently.

“I’m sorry I broke the lamp,” she said solemnly, standing before him as he drank his coffee.

He was glad to hear it, but he also wasn’t as dumb as she probably thought he was.

“Okay.  Thank you for tellin’ me the truth.”

“… can I go to the party, now?”

“The deal was on the table yesterday, baby.”

“What?!”

“When I ask you something, you tell me the truth.  Not the next day.  Not in your own time.  When I ask you.”

She gaped at him.  “Dad!”

“So next time – ”

“You don’t even like that stupid ugly lamp!”

“Nope, but I don’t much like you lyin’.  Ugly habit, Sarah.  Thought you and me were a team?”

“I hate you!”

She burst into fresh tears and dramatically flung herself up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door shut.

Joel slurped his coffee and turned the newspaper to the sports section.  “Sure, you do.”

[dandylovesturtles]

❤️📗👑

❤️ What is your favorite line that you’ve written in a fic?

oh lord idk. uhhhh let's go with stuff I've written recently:

Blue sniffled again. Hiccupped one last time. His tears were drying up, and his little voice said, "S'okay, Daddy."

That's three sentences but whatever my writing style is short and choppy so I'm counting it.

📗 Do you want to write something outside of fanfiction? If so, what about?

I've had ideas. Not sure if I'll ever follow through though haha. I like fanfiction because you're a lot more free in what you can do (which sounds funny because you're working within the constraints of an existing story, but having that foundation already existing means you can go all kinds of places while skipping the setup).

A lot of the original fiction ideas in my head deal in false religions and false gods, and also gay stuff. "bisexual atheist project less challenge, difficulty: impossible"

like a woman who is an attendant to the oracle of the harvest goddess, who becomes quite startled when one night her lady comes to her in a fit and tells her that her visions from the harvest goddess have been a ruse all along and it's true for all the oracles but this time she did get a real vision from a god that isn't even supposed to exist, and suddenly she has to decide what she believes in the midst of a new paradigm where she and her lady are wanted for blasphemy

of the boy who commits a crime in his highly religious underground cult, sheltered in a bunker for 200 years following the nuclear holocaust on the surface above, who is sentenced to take care of the blasphemers who are kept in cells below the colony, where he commits the worst crime of all (talking to the blasphemers) and learns that one of them is locked up for asking dangerous questions like "we didn't harvest enough potatoes from our greenhouse to feed everyone in the colony but if everything is supposed to be dead on the surface than where did the extra potatoes come from"

wow definitely a lot of themes of blasphemy happening here lol

👑 Do you like writing short fics or long fics?

I'm a one-shot writer cursed with long fic ideas ;;

Thanks for the ask!

[unholyloaf]

Connor Kent NSFW Alphabet (Minors DO NOT interact)

A = AFTERCARE (WHAT THEY’RE LIKE AFTER SEX) He would definitely need some cuddles as well as quality time with you after y'all do the do. He doesn't have a good foundation on what love is supposed to be like and how he is supposed to be treated when he's with a partner so aftercare is a big part for him.

B = BODY PART (THEIR FAVOURITE BODY PART OF THEIRS AND ALSO THEIR PARTNER’S)

His favorite body part on you is definitely either your ass or your chest. He can't explain why but he has an absolute obsession with holding both of those parts. His favorite part of himself would be his hands. 1. he can bring you pleasure with his hands and 2. he can bring down villains with just his hands.

C = CUM (ANYTHING TO DO WITH CUM BASICALLY… I’M A DISGUSTING PERSON)

He absolutely loves cumming on your chest. He doesn't like cummin on your face because it feels disrespectful, but cumming on your chest turns him on an unbelievable amount.

D = DIRTY SECRET (PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY, A DIRTY SECRET OF THEIRS)

You both live in the cave together and your room is across his. The walls in the cave are pretty thick, but the walls can't stop Kryptonian hearing. It was late at night and Connor was wide awake. So he walked over to your room about to knock on the door when he heard you moan. Poor dude stopped in his tracks and got the biggest boner of his life. Needless to say, he went back to his room and jacked off to hearing your moans. He feels guilty about it, but it's a secret he'll take to the grave.

E = EXPERIENCE (HOW EXPERIENCED ARE THEY? DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING?)

Connor has no clue what he's doing. You're going to have to teach him everything. He may be a walking textbook, but Kadmus didn't see the use in teaching him how to have sex. He knows what it is and how it works, but he is clueless.

F = FAVOURITE POSITION (THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING. WILL PROBABLY INCLUDE A VISUAL)

His favorite position is either doggy style or missionary. He likes doggy style because he can hold your hips to thrust faster/deeper also he has a perfect view of your ass. Then he also likes missionary because he can kiss you and it feels more intimate for him.

G = GOOFY (ARE THEY MORE SERIOUS IN THE MOMENT, OR ARE THEY HUMOROUS, ETC)

I feel like this widely depends on how many times y'all have done it. At first, he'd be very serious because he was trying to give you pleasure and he was learning, but the more y'all fuck the more comfortable he gets and so he loosens up more.

H = HAIR (HOW WELL GROOMED ARE THEY, DOES THE CARPET MATCH THE DRAPES, ETC.)

He does have pubic hair but it is very well-kept. It would look like he had shaved maybe 1-2 weeks ago.

I = INTIMACY (HOW ARE THEY DURING THE MOMENT, ROMANTIC ASPECT…)

Again it depends. If he wanted to make love to you like after a date or on an anniversary he would absolutely be romantic and he would want sex with you to be loving and sweet. Normally though he is sweet and caring, he just wants to fuck your brains out.

J = JACK OFF (MASTURBATION HEADCANON)

He'd never masturbated before he met you. He didn't really see a point in it. but after he met you 0.0 this man blew the cork. He would masturbate at least four times a week. During y'alls relationship and you were on a mission he would masturbate to the thought of you or a picture of you almost every day.

K = KINK (ONE OR MORE OF THEIR KINKS)

This man loves hickies. He loves giving them to you and receiving them it turns him on to see his ownership of you on your skin. He also has a choking kink. He loves to choke you once you reassure him that he won't hurt you accidentally.

L = LOCATION (FAVOURITE PLACES TO DO THE DO)

He would only do it in the cave in one of y'alls bedrooms. He is not adventurous in this sense, the poor guy won't even kiss you in public because he's too embarrassed.

M = MOTIVATION (WHAT TURNS THEM ON, GETS THEM GOING)

Hickies, your moans, your chest/ass, his cum on your chest, seeing you fresh out of the shower, you pulling his hair, trying to dominate him.

N = NO (SOMETHING THEY WOULDN’T DO, TURN-OFFS)

No sex outside, would not cum on your face (in your mouth is a different story), would not hit you, and no threesomes. He does not want to share you.

O = ORAL (PREFERENCE IN GIVING OR RECEIVING, SKILL, ETC)

He loves giving you head. He absolutely adores hearing you moan and feeling you squirm because of him. He does also like receiving specifically cumming in your mouth or on your chest. 65% giving, 45% receiving.

P = PACE (ARE THEY FAST AND ROUGH? SLOW AND SENSUAL? ETC)

He is a mix of slow and rough. Long deep and hard strokes are his forte, but if you ask for it he will fuck you hard and fast.

Q = QUICKIE (THEIR OPINIONS ON QUICKIES RATHER THAN PROPER SEX, HOW OFTEN, ETC)

He does not like quickies. He wants to have sex with you properly and he wants to please you to the best of your abilities and quickies don't allow him to do this.

R = RISK (ARE THEY GAME TO EXPERIMENT, DO THEY TAKE RISKS, ETC)

Connor is down to try anything at least once. He loves to experiment and to take risks but if it came down to hurting you then he would not do it.

S = STAMINA (HOW MANY ROUNDS CAN THEY GO FOR, HOW LONG DO THEY LAST…)

When y'all first had sex he lasted about a minute or two, but he immediately started to fuck you again. Now he can last around 15 minutes and is good for 3-4 rounds. With a five-minute break in between, he is either giving you head or he's fingering/pumping you.

T = TOY (DO THEY OWN TOYS? DO THEY USE THEM? ON A PARTNER OR THEMSELVES?)

Connor owns a fleshlight purely for when you are away on missions also he just wanted to try it. He won't bring up sex toys unless you do, but if you want to experiment with sex toys he will be down.

U = UNFAIR (HOW MUCH THEY LIKE TO TEASE)

He's not much of a tease, but occasionally he will slide his hand up your thigh if you're at dinner either with the team or by yourselves. as well as whispering dirty things in your ear.

V = VOLUME (HOW LOUD THEY ARE, WHAT SOUNDS THEY MAKE)

He's not loud, but he's not quiet either. If you're giving him head he will beg/whine a little bit as well as grip your hair. If he's fucking you he would moan/talk dirty to you in your ear.

W = WILD CARD (GET A RANDOM HEADCANON FOR THE CHARACTER OF YOUR CHOICE)

He plays the clarinet. I don't know he just seems like a clarinet player.

X = X-RAY (LET’S SEE WHAT’S GOING ON IN THOSE PANTS, PICTURE OR WORDS)

Connor has a good 6-7 inches of length on him but the GIRTH. This man is girthy and overall has a really good penis.

Y = YEARNING (HOW HIGH IS THEIR SEX DRIVE?)

His sex drive isn't that high he's only really horny about twice a week but if you're in the mood he will gladly satisfy you.

Z = ZZZ (… HOW QUICKLY THEY FALL ASLEEP AFTERWARDS)

He falls asleep a good 10-15 minutes afterward. After he talks to you and cuddles with you a little bit.

[that-green-haired-swordsman]

Here have my quickly written contribution to the ZoTash prompt week 3 on our Discord. It's not the best thing you'll read today, I'd rather consider it a writing practice from being rusty...

My wielder is known for his strength and fierceness. He has proven time and again what a strong fighter he his, that he’s dependable, ambitious, and brave. His strength comes from years of hard training, from his strong will to be the best and strongest swordsman in the world.

Quite a journey lies behind him. Before he joined this pirate crew, he was widely known as the demon of the east blue, back then he was still a bounty hunter. He managed to build himself quite a reputation, willingly or not. He doesn’t exactly wield me with grace. He relies on sheer force, on his bodily strength, and he uses techniques one can’t learn in a dojo, techniques he invented himself, and he keeps improving them as he conquers the world, while creating his own style of fighting, and he gets better every day – that’s how good he is.

My wielder uses three swords at a time if he finds himself battling a strong opponent. That’s my time to shine. He usually keeps me sheathed, only needs my help when he has to overcome a particularly strong opponent who is difficult to defeat. Not because he doesn’t trust me, or because he doesn’t like to have me by his side – he wants to protect me. I’m the link to his dream, I’m the partner he wants to carry with him until the end, the reminder that he can’t allow himself to give up, that he can’t allow himself to be weak, and he cares a lot about us, about me and my friends, he takes care of us, and he doesn’t like it when anyone touches us. Nobody is allowed to touch us except for him. Maybe he’s jealous. Maybe he’s overprotective, either for us or for the person he wants to avoid getting hurt for not knowing how to handle us properly. We’re deadly weapons, after all.

Sometimes, I am worried about him. My wielder keeps throwing himself into battle after battle, without caution, but with a willpower in his mind, a thrill for a good fight, that has him charging forward no matter what. He never backs down. He never escapes. He keeps fighting until he can’t fight anymore, until his body gives in and forces him to rest. I have seen him sacrificing himself for his crew without even thinking about it. I have seen him bedridden, covered in bandages, laying in unconsciousness, and I have been waiting by his side, patiently. I have heard him screaming for his nakama, screaming for us, when he thought he would lose anyone of us. I have seen him paying respect to the dead, and I have seen him grow, and he keeps growing. I have rarely seen him really losing his composure. He has a bad temper at times, but he chose to be the solid rock, the foundation of this crew, unwavering, supporting them, helping them back up when they’re down. He never demands that for himself. He keeps giving without ever taking much, to show his love for his friends who he loves almost unconditionally. I am proud to be by his side.

My wielder is resilient and stoic, and almost never scared. He has a good perception and is hard to throw off tracks. That’s why his encounters with a certain person are all the more interesting. I am not sure why exactly that is. I’m only a sword. I don’t know much about these things. But I noticed that this woman, this female swordfighter causes some distress within my wielder. He kept justifying his behavior towards her by saying that the marine woman looks like the girl I once belonged to, and it’s true – he refused to let go of his grief for a long time. He chose to bottle up his feelings, and the marine woman unfortunately was the tip of the iceberg for him, and he lashed out on her, and the aura I sensed that surrounded him was so different. And when he fought against her, I noticed something different again: the way he wielded us, his swords, the way he never swung us down as hard as he does with any other opponent, the different way of his stance, the way his grip around me isn’t as hard and tight, it’s softer, and he made sure to not hurt her seriously. I kept thinking about this. And I can tell that he did, too. And when he were on Mihawk Dulacre’s island together, and when my wielder worked on himself to eliminate his weaknesses, he had to face his past, to overcome his fear of fighting her, and during his years of training and improving himself, he cried, once. It was the second time I have ever seen him crying, and during both times, he held me firmly in his hand.

My wielder is not scared of fighting the marine woman anymore, but a part of his fear stayed. He changed, grew, became stronger. He learned much about himself and about his understanding of different things. He learned to accept her existence and he respects her for who she is – a strong swordswoman who is unafraid to wield her blade towards any opponent she comes across. She is like him, in a way, in many ways even, maybe. And maybe that was what he could not stand when they met. Maybe he saw his own weakness in her, the weakness he never knew how to overcome. And she grew a lot, too, and he sees it as well. I noticed that his perception and opinion of her changed. I like her. She does know a lot about us swords, and when he listens, he can learn a lot about us from her, the same way I learned so many things about him. She can hear our voices, hears our thoughts, reads our souls, and I know he could hear us, too, if he listened.

When he carried her over his shoulder, I noticed that her perception of him changed, too, but in a different way. Again, I do not know much about it. I’m only a sword. But I know about fate, and that fate has the habit of not revealing its plans right from the beginning, and I can sense that fate is what will bring them together time and again, and I hope that, one day, they will connect with each other the same way they connect with us, their swords, and that they will hear each other’s voice, read each other’s souls, and gather strength from each other.

[antaxzantax]

Umbrella Pharmaceuticals - Chapter 46

Summary: Albert Wesker and William Birkin receive the news that the Antarctic base has been destroyed.

January 12th, 1983

At two o'clock that night I received an urgent circular: the Umbrella base in Antarctica had been destroyed by an explosion. The president and the chief researcher had survived. No further details were given.

I ran to William's bedroom. I knocked on the door and he opened it. I knew from his contorted gesticulation that he had also received and read the circular.

He reacted with disbelief at first. He didn't believe it. I assured him that yes, it was true. Then he mumbled about whether the investigation there hadn't blown up. I shrugged; I didn't know. Confused, he sat up in bed. How were we supposed to interpret this event? I told him not to rush into it, to wait for further clarification of the facts or to see what the consequences of the event would be.

I warned William to return to his old style of work as soon as possible. The imagined rivalry he had had with Alexia had poisoned his will and slowed our performance since 1981. I reminded him that Alexia, even if she had lost her project, was still the daughter of Umbrella's president and still twelve years old. By contrast, we were poor twenty-somethings who depended on a favorable evaluation to survive.

He seemed to take it well, despite everything. The other researchers spoke of Alexia as a kind of eminence. I learned that those who talked the most had been Edward Ashford alumni at the university or Ashford fellows through their private foundations. A truism, however, that heightened William's illusory competitiveness. For the sake of his badly bruised pride, he began to double the hours worked for nothing, refusing to admit his hatred for a 10-year-old he would ever meet and against whom he measured himself to prove his worth.

So many years of being the class favorite and receiving accolades had not prepared him to face the certainty of being outclassed by a gifted, multi-millionaire little girl. It wasn't worth it, but William didn't give up the battle. He clung to the Hunter project as a sign of his greatness and vowed to achieve the unassuming 100% efficiency demanded by Spencer. He increased the number of guinea pigs and, consequently, the money. Arklay's director called us in and put us both in a room: either we cut back, or we'd be out on our asses. William moderated his eagerness to preserve the remnants of his dignity but kept up his unattainable pace.

Finally, with the circular in hand, William's hell could have come to an end. I sensed it when he gave himself a nervous smile. Maybe this was the jolt his mind needed to come to. Maybe it wasn't. I don't know. In any case, I left his room worried about the future.

Albert Wesker