#cause now one is there to actually help them

[blondeaxolotl-twstocs]

Woah, I guess Silver isn't NRC's only human.. Heartslabyul got one of them too!

Mono creates an TWST oc that for once ISN'T a merfolk??? INSANE!! Anyway, say hi to Alison or "Alis" (She's a twisted of Alice Liddell from Alice: Madness Returns). She's a third year in Heartslabyul, and she's also one of the students that helps keep everything intact for Riddle and calm along with Cater and Trey. I'm working on her UM, but here's ONE important thing you should know about her hehe..

Her and Che'nya are adoptive siblings! With Alis being a year older than Che'nya. Not a lot of people are aware of the fact these two are siblings since Alis rarely brings it up unless she's asked about it, or unless you are there at a unbirthday party and witnessed Alis spotting Che'nya, immediately tackling him to the ground and laugh at him struggle to fight her off. Only now she mentions the fact the screaming catfolk she's sitting on is her younger sibling.

They don't often interact since they're in separate schools, but with the rare times they do. You can tell they have the typical "older sibling bothering the younger sibling because it's funny" dynamic, with Che'nya being the victim of Alis' teasing. Kind of also preventing Che'nya himself from teasing others, because he's too busy running away from the one person who's giving him his own medicine. As far as it's known, Alis has been like this to Che'nya ever since they were kids.

Though, despite constantly picking on her sibling. Alis has a protective nature to her, being the one who helped Che'nya get away from NRC students after they witnessed him at their school and went to beat him up- only for them to be the ones who end up getting their asses kicked by Alis who threatened to "actual" hurt them if they didn't piss off. Alison is sometimes seen standing guard by Riddle as well, could be because Alis already knew Riddle cause him and Che'nya used to play alot as kids, or it could be because Riddle strangely reminds Alis of her pet rabbit at home and therefore she wants to protect him (What a strange, strange girl..).

Alison is alot more relaxed and allowing herself to have fun than the character she's based on, but that's for good reason! Let's just say she has a much easier life now where she can freely be a teenager without constantly keeping her guard up and thinking everyone is out to get her </3 (FYI She didn't have a good childhood, but she's doing okay now). I think that's all I have to say for now, but one last funfact- Alison is transfem and uses only she/her, thank you. <3

[fruitsywriting]

Invincible Variants x Civilian!Reader (Pt.1)

I would love to write for ALL the variants but there’s quite a bit of them where we were unable to figure out their personalities because they were just in the background so I am going to be writing for the ones who actually talked. The reader can be seens as gender neutral, male, or fem. Each variant will have their own warning.

Characters: Sinister, Mohawk, Viltrum, Shiesty, Omni, Full Mask, Maskless, Cowl/Cap, Target/Empire, Prisoner, Lensless, Prime/Mainstream, Retro

Characters in this part: Viltrum and Sinister

It was supposed to be any other normal day. As normal as it can get when you live in a world with heroes and villains, and live in a city. Often, cities are targeted for attacks, that’s why you find yourself living on the outskirts of the city. Close to being out of the targeted zone, but not fully out. You grab your laundry as you put in airpods to listen to some RnB music. You hum along, occasionally swaying your body to the melody, while you put your clothes into the washer. You completely tuned out the world, that is- until you were forced to look reality in the eye.

There’s a slight shake to the apartment building, it has you wondering if it’s an attack or if it’s an Earthquake. You had no time to think over which one is worse when you hear a faint screech. You take out the airpods and realize that the evacuation alarms are ringing in the apartment building. You grab your phone, and a pre-prepared bag full of valued items and you don’t look back as you rush out my front door. Finding yourself in the midst of a frantic crowd running as well, as the alarm loudly yells and flashes to warn you: you need to evacuate.

When you all get to the staircase, the building shakes again. Legs go weak and a few fall down the stairs. The windows shatter as glass flies over the others heads. You can hear a little girl crying, and your heart wants to immediately check to see if she’s okay. However, your brain takes over- telling you she’s with her family and she will be okay. You stumble down the steps, avoiding running over the bodies in the stairwell as you run outside. Instantly, you knew it was a bad idea. Debris is filling your vision- You can’t see where to run. You can hear screaming to your left and you can hear what sounds like a snapping noise to your right. You can’t even turn around to go back into the building. Maybe living alone was a bad idea, right now all you want is your family.

Viltrum Mark:

The debris slowly filters into the air, the cloud is pungent as it clings on to anyone who runs out of the disaster- painting them in grey and white. It sticks to them, making them easy to target. However, that is not necessary. He came here and did what he promised to do. He caused destruction, and he watches as the building groans. It’s about to go down anyways, there’s no point in taking extra lives.

The groaning gets louder and it halts for only a minute before the sound becomes almost deafening as the building collapses on itself- sending a new toxic and deadly wave of debris. Another major city is destroyed, his work here is done. He debates on whether he should leave to destroy another or wait for the heroes to arrive so he can rip them apart- to show them that it’s useless. This is going to be their future anyways when Viltrum shows up to conquer them, he’s just giving them a small sample of what’s to come.

He allows his body to glide backwards, to fully view the damage he has done when he notices something in the corner of his eye. A hero coming to help perhaps?

He launches his body full force to the speck that was moving and lands before them, causing a smaller wave of gravel and debris to kick up. He looks down and he’s almost disappointed. This isn’t a hero, it’s just a civilian that managed to survive.

-

You cough harshly, causing the rawness of it to spread quickly up your throat as small pebbles and debris launch directly in your face. You can barely see through your eyelashes caked in the concrete’s powder. It’s no use to even try and wipe your face, and you continue to blink violently as you look up to see what crash landed in front of you.

Your stomach drops farther than it has in a long time. When you can see an outline of a male in front of you, and by what you can make out- his stance doesn’t scream that he is here to help you. In fact, by the way his body is tense and looking down on you- you can assume that he caused this attack. And so, this is how you die, at least that’s what you told yourself.

“You survived.” He said it in a tone of voice that sounded like a mix of annoyance and being impressed.

“For now,” You rasp out before you cough again. You can’t even make out his face, as the sun glares down from behind him and the fog over your eyes.

“If your body is able to move, I suggest doing so now- your lungs will collapse if you stay here any longer.”

You wanted to bark out something like ‘oh, thanks for the tip, I’ll get up right now!’ but your body and throat were burning. You could only wheeze in response to him.

He harshly grabs onto your arm and yanks you out of the dust and broken concrete, causing you to scream out in pain from just how rough his touch was. He falters for a moment, perhaps he forgot how weak humans are. He gently but firmly swipes his hand over your face, brushing out the debris so you could see better, and so he could make out your features. When you blink away the particles invading your vision, you realize how handsome he is. His plump lips, his thick arched eyebrows, his surprisingly soft eyes.

“Oh. You look different when you’re not caked in debris”

“Uh, thanks?”

He pulls away and begins to hover off the ground, slowly backing up. “Consider this a good deed, don’t go to the major hospital in this city. It will be targeted next and stuffed to the brim with survivors. And leave the city. If you make it, perhaps we will see each other again.”

Was that a threat, or a promise?

-

It was a promise. You had gotten basic treatment at a smaller medical facility before waves of patients were sent there- bombarding the overworked staff. You walked, not knowing where to go now. Shelters were full, your home was gone within the blink of an eye, who knows if your family is alive. Factors on what to do run over your mind over and over again until you see a figure hovering over you, in the moonlit sky.

“You survived. Impressive”

All you could do was stare. You couldn’t yell profanities at him, you valued your life too much but you couldn’t exactly thank him. He did little to actually help you. However, he was expecting a thank you. He lowered himself down to the ground, his movements graceful and elegant.

“A thank you would go a long way.”

“... thank you.”

He takes meticulous strides forward. “I am not here to hurt you.”

“Then why are you here?”

He thinks it over.

“Perhaps I feel responsible-”

You cut him off, without thinking, “Oh really?”

His mouth moves into a thin line, “Don’t make me regret this.”

“Regret what?”

He slowly presses your body next to yours, and you have no time to react. You squeeze your eyes shut, assuming he was going to hit you but no. Soft lips press against yours, and it feels so good. Perhaps you are just seeking comfort, you just want to have a shoulder to lean on after the events of today.

Whatever it truly is, you let yourself kiss him back. It’s sloppy, uncoordinated, and frankly- it’s quite feral. His kisses are rough like he’s never kissed someone before, but it’s raw and desperate. If you are his first kiss, it worries you slightly. What did he see in you that it was enough to kiss you?

You find yourself trying to find a happy medium with his kisses, he at first was just trying to show his dominance in the kiss, but slowly lets you take the lead when he realizes you’re finding a nice pace. Your hands reach behind him, and you give his butt a light squeeze. He pulls away and gasps, looking at you like you’ve offended him- but he doesn’t seem opposed to the move. In fact, he hasn’t moved your hand from his rear.

“You’re quite bold.”

“It’s kept me alive so far.”

He hums in response before slowly letting his body move upwards away from your arms.

“You have been proven to be enticing enough, strong enough to survive day 1, and you're bold enough to cooperate with my kiss. I see you as a worthy mate, and after this is over- I will be taking you to Viltrum.” And just like that, he’s gone. Wait, what the fuck did he just say??

Sinister:

Warning: Graphic depictions of violence

He isn’t interested in civilians at all, unless they get in his way. This destruction is to lure out big heroes, what he deems as worthy opponents. He tunes out the screams from civilians, like they’re just annoying ringing noises of tinnitus. Or perhaps a mosquito making a high pitched hum that isn’t an actual threat. Just annoying.

He lands on the ground when he sees heroes and first responders approaching. Perfect, maybe one of the heroes in this world are more competent than the ones in his world. He steps over the pile of rubble when he hears a wet crunch and a loud strangled scream. underneath he sees a body of a person, and by they wrenching sound they made- they’re still alive and he just broke their leg. Their face contorts in pain as he steps off the large piece of concrete and stands right next to them, slowly tilting his head.

-

You were hoping the worst of it was over. You wouldn’t be discovered by any of the variants- and rescue would eventually find you. But apparently you have a big target on your back of sorts, or maybe a family curse. For him, a variant of Invincible here to fuck up your city, to find you was a garunteed death sentence. You can’t even find the energy to turn your body halfway to see how bad your leg must be mangled now. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to walk again.

“Tsk, tsk. You were in my way.” He hums, like he’s annoyed by your very existence. Honestly, how dare you be in his way, he had important shit to do.

You don’t want to look at him, but you get yourself to. His suit is reminiscent of a bee- no, a wasp. One that can sting multiple times, with a rigid body. You can hear heroes in the distance, but you know it’s no use. Invincible is obviously strong, and this variant is very cocky- and probably has the prowess to back it up.

You try to blink the dust and debris away as he continues to stare at you, not bothering to look behind him as the voices grow near. His gaze is calm, but in a bad way, in a sinister way. You blink, then there’s blood clouding your vision. It sprayed all over your face, it’s warm and drips slowly down your face before you can even process.

A hero tried to attack but within an instant, Invincible ended him. You try to suppress the urge to gag and vomit. You have to close your eyes to avoid the gore in front of you. Invincible quickly kneels before you and gets close to your face- a feeling of him just hovering. Studying.

“What are you willing to sacrifice in order to live? And how much pain are you willing to endure?”

The question caught you off guard. Excuse me? You can barely think as your brain swims with a fog- the concussion was making your head pound and the pain in your leg was distracting to say the least. You try to open your mouth a few times but no words form and spill out.

He doesn’t seem pleased. He grabs you roughly by the ear.

“Hey, dipshit, answer me now.”

“I- I don’t know!” You plead, hoping that maybe there is something in there to appease his humanity- even if it is wishful thinking. Faith is all that can keep you going at this point- or maybe it’s like wishing on a dim, pointless star.

“Not good enough. How about this,” he says steadily, adjusting his squatted position to get more comfortable- not letting go of your ear.

“Are you willing to sacrifice your leg?”

You pitifully squeak out, “yes…”

He smiles, pleased with this answer. Is this a game?

“What about… hm, let’s see…” An idea pops up, “what about the living civilians within a mile radius”

This question catches you off guard, your life doesn’t mean more than everyone around you. But, is it selfish that your life is more meaningful to you? That deep down, maybe you’re scared of what lies for you beyond death. This torment seems to please him enough to not get mad. He doesn’t rush you, he’s just waiting.

“I… I think on a grand scale… my life is not that meaningful. But… to me…”

He listens to your hoarse but hushed voice murmur out this answer, and he grins like a maniac.

“So you’re selfish?”

“I-… maybe”

“Good.”

You look up, confused. “Huh?”

“How else do you think I got here? It’s by being selfish, YOU always come first in your mind.” His words make you realize how much of a piece of shit you sound like. But, apparently you amuse him enough for him to spare you. To let you live for another day, come hell or high water. He lifts the rubble off your leg and tosses it aside like it’s nothing- not caring if it hits someone. He hums and grabs you by your mangled leg.

A screech shreds through your throat as he begins to hover himself off the ground, higher and higher. You jerk your body upwards to at least catch a glimpse. Your leg is so broken, mangled even, that it looks like it could rip apart like a wet paper towel.

“Say, is this pain unbearable? Or do you think you can endure it for another 20 minutes if it means you get to live?”

You cry, wrenching out raw and wet sobs. You plead, “please, don’t.”

“Don’t what? Kill you? It’s either I drop you from here- letting you squish below, or I carry you like this to a safe spot. Might take a while though”

You scream and cry out, hoping that some miracle would come and help you from this mess. But nothing does- so you have to choose.

“I want to live! Pl-please.” A wet strangled noise comes from the bottom of your throat when he raises you higher to throw you over his shoulder. The pain doesn’t stop, your leg is still mangled, but at least the blood stopped rushing to your head and he isn’t gripping your leg anymore. He rubs your back roughly, the weird gesture making it obvious he has never comforted someone before. He kisses your earlobe he assaulted earlier and says in a smooth and cruel voice.

“I’ll take good care of you. We’re similar after all..”

[heartsforjh]

I'm back!! and requesting "(making an attempt at) braiding their hair" with jack 😁 (him getting his hair braided)

not me acting like we literally weren't just talking about this

- cait🌻

you know i am ALWAYS down to think, yap, and write about jack !!

main masterlist | 100 follower celly masterlist

“Babe, you serious?” Jack asks, his mouth tugging up into a smirk. “I’m not doing that.” 

You scoff and your shoulders slump, looking at him with your best puppy dog face. “Please, J. Please? It’ll be so good, I promise.” 

Jack watches your expression turn into a sad one, and of course, he feels bad. He’s convinced. He’ll do it. He’s just not exactly sure how. 

“I don’t think I even have enough hair for a braid,” he says, trying his last excuse. 

You sigh again, not wanting to push him if he’s actually just really not into the idea. “I could make it work, but just… let me know if you change your mind.” 

You get up to go put your brush back into the bathroom because you won’t be needing it anymore, but Jack puts a hand on your waist, stopping you. 

You look down at him as he sits on the bed, causing you to raise your eyebrows. “No, no. It’s okay. You can do it. Come braid my hair.” 

“Are you sure? It’s fine, babe, really not that serious,” you say with laugh. 

Jack just shrugs in return. “Yeah, so, not a big deal. Come do it. I just didn’t understand how you were gonna do it.” 

“It’s easy! It’ll just have to be a tiny braid,” you explain with a giggle as you sit back down, and motion for him to turn away from you. 

He shifts his body to be facing away, so that you could get to his hair easier. “A tiny braid? Don’t have me looking crazy, baby.” 

“It’ll be fine! Lots of girls pull off the small braids,” you say while fluffing out his hair a bit, sitting up on your knees for a better view of what you’re doing. 

Jack can’t help but smile at your logic. “Oh, lots of girls?” 

“Mhm!” you confirm simply, starting to brush through his hair. 

The first brush through gets stuck, and he hisses, instantly pulling away to look at you. “Hey!” 

“Hey, what?!” you ask, looking back at him just as confused. 

His brows furrow slightly when you don’t understand what his problem is. “Why did you do that?!” 

“Do what exactly? Try to tame this mess?” you argue. 

Jack scoffs. “Excuse you! It’s not a mess! It just… needs a little help sometimes!” 

“Okay, so shush and let me help it,” you tell him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips to shut him up, then gently turning his head back around. 

You immediately get back to work, brushing through his hair. Of course, you can’t get through it without his dramatic little whines or telling you you’re hurting him when you’ve barely done anything yet. He’s honestly glad you can’t see his expressions, knowing you’d probably find them way too funny for his liking. 

You finally finish, running you fingers through his hair proudly. “Your mane is finally tangle-free.” 

“Mane? Really? Was that called for?” he asks, but in reality he’s holding back a laugh at your random quips. 

You just shake your head and go on to part his hair. As you pull it together, it starts to look somewhat like a braid, but it needs to be tighter! And once again, Jack’s got a lot to say about that. 

“Babe! You’re killing me!” he winces, pulling away… again. 

You desperately hang onto the progress you’ve made as he jerks away. “Jack! Sit still, dude! You’re gonna mess it up!” 

“Dude?!” he repeats. “So you don’t love me? I’m just a dude now?” 

You shoot him a glare, completely unamused. “J… I do love you. Now please, turn back around. I’m almost done, okay?” 

“Fine. I’ll let you continue to torture me,” he says with a huff as he turns back around and crosses his arms. 

You’d be shocked at the pure sass of this man if it was anyone other than Jack. But, it is Jack, so the pouting and smart comments are on brand. Your boyfriend is a drama queen and you’ve learned to accept and love that by now. 

“Beauty is pain, honey. Relax,” you tell him, finally getting to the point where you’re wrapping things up. 

Unsurprisingly, Jack is getting bored of just sitting there so he starts questioning you. “Baby, do I have enough hair?” 

“Yup. I told you I could do it.” 

“Have you tied it up at the bottom yet?” he asks, extra curious about what you’ve got going on. 

“No, I’ve got a few more pieces to do, then I’m gonna tie it up.” 

Jack exhales, wanting to be done with this. He fidgets with everything he can reach while you get those few pieces done and begin to tie it so it doesn’t fall apart. “It’s done, Jacky!” 

“Does it look good?” 

His question makes you take a step back from your zone and really look at it. It definitely resembles a braid, but his hair is so short that it’s sticking out. You cannot help but burst into laughter at the sight of it on your boyfriend. 

“What?! What? What is it? Does it look stupid?” he asks embarrassed, frantically trying to grasp at the braid to feel it. 

You try your best to compose your laughter, not wanting him to feel like he’s being made fun of. “No! No! It’s not stupid. You look so cute!” 

“Babe,” Jack looks at you with a straight face. “Be honest. I look dumb, don’t I?” 

“The whole point was that it was gonna look a little silly on you, Jack! That’s why I wanted to do it. But, you pull it off! You look adorable!” you encourage, kissing his cheek. 

He sits there staring at you for a moment before sighing. “Adorable because I look like a joke, or just adorable?” 

“Just adorable, J,” you smile.

(jack is a baby polar bear to me. yes, i will elaborate with my album full of comparisons if need be.)

tags: @beenucks @nic0-hischier @puckmedude @joesnumerouno @alex-wotton @r0wdymaize86 @macklin-celebrini-71 @quillycrow @rainyvalentines @alwaysclassyeagle @ruinix @dancerbailey3

join the taglist here! :)

[cheshiresartblog]

Spire of Obscurity AU - Shadow Milk and Truthless Recluse refs

Catch me experimenting with the animal features i see some folks add to their cookies for this au in particular. I had fun with them both. I gave Shadow Milk a fallen angel vibe this time and PV's a mix of sheep and fox because of that fox spirit costume he has that's a China only release ;; w ;; I thought it would be a fun spin on the usual animal features people five PV.

The Spire of Obscurity AU is the au that won in my poll earlier.

Info dump below the cut

The AU starts out similarly to Vanilla Recluse in the sense that PV was baked back in the time when the Beasts were the Virtues, but I imagine in this au he actually had a closer relationship with all the beasts, not just Shadow Milk, having maybe traveled with them for a time. He even married Shadow Milk back when he was Blueberry Milk, in what I'm just gonna say in the au is an old Cookie-Yeast tradition of exchanging a small amount of life powder in lockets.

But then the beasts get sealed still after corrupting one by one. Btw, those scars on Shadow Milk are from the fork that sealed him. I can be a lil more gruesome if I want.

Either way, PV gets chosen by the Truth Souljam and reluctantly embraces it, moving forward and trying to just get by knowing there is literally nothing he can do. He's a healer. A master healer, yes, but he can't undo the silver tree. He can't undo witch's magic (He can weaken it subtly, though, he found.) He can't undo corruption or even understand why it occurred. So, he just moves forward, trying to help other cookies as he does with his too long life. Eventually he meets White Lily Cookie one his occasional visit to the Blueberry Yogurt Academy while she is visiting herself, and ends up joining her and the other Ancients.

Despite forming bonds with them all and considering them friends he still keeps up this wall. He keeps his past to himself, his true age to himself, etc, etc. It's painful to revisit, even now. One way or another, after White Lily became Dark Enchantress, it came out while tensions are high in the midst of the Dark Flour Wars, causing a rift between Pure Vanilla and the others. Feeling homesick and alone, and wanting to use what he knows to help stop Dark Enchantress, PV makes the trek back to Cookie-Yeast...well, Beast-Yeast now, to seek out the Spire of All Knowledge for research, unaware of it's now time warping properties. What was supposed to be a month trip was 10 years.

The Vanilla Kingdom is gone and while the other Ancients were able to seal away Dark Enchantress in Moonstone themselves, PV is now known as the cowardly king who abandoned his people and friends to die.

And that was the final push he needed to embrace not the truth, not deceit, but obscurity.

[oddballwriter]

Hey there, i love how you write Ena! If you’re still doing BBQ Ena requests, could you one of a reader thats kinda of doting on Ena when they’re together? Not in like a super clingy sense but it’d be super cute to see a fic where reader kinda reminds Ena that although work is important, burning herself out isnt good for her and that it’s okay to ask for help. Like maybe Ena’s been on edge bc of a particularly difficult job that has an extremely naggy and judgmental client and it’s kinda getting to Ena but shes trying to suppress it and the reader notices and comforts her. Some hugs and cuddles maybe while Ena tries to be more comfortable with being vulnerable as she’s most likely not used to it bc of how other entities tend to be hostile towards Ena(s). Fem or Nuetral reader is good!

Doting

BBQ ENA x doting!reader

Summary: ENA can work herself to the point of collapsing, literally, and sometimes you need to help her calm down and take a minute for herself so that she doesn’t make herself worse.

Warnings: ENA being a people pleaser and not being able to say no to people and exhausting herself. Gender and pronouns of reader is never specified or mentioned. Reader doting on ENA. But of angst that turns into some super sweet fluff.

Author’s Snip: This was actually so nice to write. I hope I did your request justice anon! 🤍♥️

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy! And don’t be afraid to request.

Word Count: 1.5k

You swear, people give ENA stupid and hard jobs on purpose. There was this southern-sounding lady made completely of knit yarn complaining about how her sheep got loose and she can’t catch them. That wasn’t too bad. If anything you felt for her a bit. But it was when ENA came up to her to ask questions about the new task she was given that the lady seems to completely turn around and be extremely rude.

“Oh, ENA? Ha! What are you doing ‘round here, huh? Causing no good, I bet. Why don’t you go botherin’ someone else? Can’t you sees I’m doin’ somethin’ important?” she spat.

“My apologies, Miss.” her salesperson side said, “But I fear me and my partner here are at a bit of a short end conundrum. We require assistance to get back in the right track-” she said before her meanie side butted in, “SO TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW SO I CAN GET OUT OF THIS DUMP!”.

“Ha! Yelling like a little child again, are we? Tuff tarts, spitfire. I have rampant sheep to attend to and I can’t waste it on a two-colored-hussy like you.” she said before a thought seemed to cross her mind. “On second thought… you look like you can run just fine. What do you say about being the one to catch all my sheep for me and I tell you what you wanna hear?” she suggests. You immediately try and demand that she just tell you and that her sheep will most likely come back on their own, but the worst happens.

“This seems like a great exchange if you truly mean your offer of currency.” you hear ENA say.

You cringe, knowing that she already has a million other tasks that she’s taken from millions of other people who wanted to take advantage of her salesperson’s need to please ‘customers’. You know for a fact that all the other things on her plate are stressing her out.

The paper crane who wants a good fortune.

The merchant who complains about how someone stole the fabric that covers his stand.

The geisha doll who stole the fabric from the stand to cover herself from the sun and refuses to give it back unless ENA finds her parasol that got blown away in the wind.

The lady hiding in the cave who’s just her upper torso, saying that someone put salt on her lower half while she was flying around last night, and wants ENA to find it walking around somewhere.

The sentient wad of chewed gum that’s covered in a bunch of trash and wants it all off.

The monochromatic mermaid swimming in the fountain with the shrill voice who demands something shiny or else she’ll keep splashing the people who pass by. You’re still a bit wet by the way.

Oh! And there’s even a little boy who just gave ENA the grocery list that his mom sent him out to do, which just says salt, because he didn’t want to do it.

And a ton more.

With that, the lady of yarn hands ENA an old lasso and tells her to get to work and that she’s got six sheep and a lamb to collect, “And they’re the running type.” she says. And the running type they were.

That’s why ENA is running around all over the place as she chases the first sheep, with you trying to help by attempting to flaunt them. But they knew how to avoid the both of you and your tricks.

You can tell that ENA is getting flustered and frustrated at this job. You could hear it in her meanie side yelling and shouting as she lost the sheep again, and again, and again.

You’ve tried asking the lady for some more advice or suggestions on how to catch them, but she’s still being snarky and rude. Saying that ENA was a sore and lousy cowgirl and couldn’t catch a snail even if it was heading towards her.

Apparently, she’s got a horse that she usually uses to catch the sheep when they get loose, but it’s “got a sniffle and needs rest”.

You seriously think she just finds ENA running around chasing the sheep funny.

As you head back from trying to beg for a crumb of advice, you see ENA in a pile on the ground. Her limbs are all disconnected from her body and you see her pale side is active while her red side is just gone and covered in black. She groans and mumbles things to herself, some of which you can only decipher as cuss words. She’s exhausted. But when she sees you standing over her she tries to hide her face by turning it.

“Don’t look at me like that.” she demands weakly, her detached arms slinking toward her head to shield her face from your gaze. “I just… need to...”, her pieces shake like she’s trying to pull herself back together, but she can’t do it even with all her might. She gives up and groans in defeat. “I’m so pathetic. I can’t even wrangle stupid sheep.” she grumbles.

You sigh and sit down on the ground just above where her head and upper torso lay. Gently leaning the torso against your chest and then picking up ENA’s head to place it on her torso.

“Put me down!” she barks. “I can do it myself!” she says. “I - just - need - to -”, she tries pulling herself back together again but she just ends up exhausting herself even more.

“Damnit!” she shouts. Her hands clenched into fists, grabbing and ripping out some of the grass as she slams her fists onto the ground in frustration.

You gently shush her, petting her hair and telling her it’s alright.

“We’ve been running around a lot today. I’m pretty tired. Aren’t you?” you ask her. She wants to say no, but she can’t argue this time since her current condition proves otherwise. “Why don’t we take a minute, hm?I’m sure the sheep are fine. I don’t see anything here that would eat them. They can run free a little longer.” you suggest as you continue to pet her hair. You look around and eventually find your gaze looking up towards the sky, which is just a generic sky blue color with drawn clouds images that drift by above you. “The weather is nice here. I wonder if it ever rains.” you comment.

You feel ENA’s head tilt up, following yours. She doesn’t speak, but you feel her let go a bit.

“Maybe, if we decide this job with the boss isn’t suiting us anymore, we can build a farm here somewhere and enjoy the easy life.” you say, semi-jokingly. “We could herd hourglass dogs and let them roam freely on a big plot.” you suggest. “Or walking trees and we can see what birds come and perch on them.” you add.

“Or am I thinking about a ranch? I always get the two mixed up.” you question before shrugging and saying “We can have both. Live off the land and be away from all these weirdos and no one can bother us. Just you, me, our little human board, and whatever we decide to have on our ranch.”.

You let a few beats pass by and feel like your jabbering about a nice calm life is helping ENA relax and take her mind off all these tasks she needs to complete. So you continue.

“Or maybe, if we save up enough chocolates on both our retirement funds, we can buy a big fancy house by the blood ocean and watch the legs swim around and migrate when it’s hatching season. Or a cottage. I don’t like big houses. Too much space and it’ll really only be us walking around it.” you ration out.

“Maybe we can travel.” you suggest. “Why stay in one place when there’s a whole lot of digital space out there? Am I right?” you pitch.

“I hear the pop-up-ad meadows bloom so pretty this time of year.” you mention.

“You’d really like to do that?” you hear ENA ask. You look down and see her staring up at the sky longingly, seemingly envisioning everything you were saying. “Yeah!” you answer. “Though, we might have to plan to go next year instead. I hear pop-up-ads come all at once and wilt within a week or three.” you add.

“I’d like that.” she says, no more, not less. But you can tell that she’s fond of the idea of maybe getting one break to see something nice with you.

You both sit in a nice silence, with ENA’s lower torso, legs, and arm slowly making their way back together and joining her upper half, and her salesperson half regains its signature red color.

You both get up, but ENA stumbles a bit since she only seems to have her red arm when she tried using both to help her get back up. Confused, you look around only to find that the sheep had, at some point, come near and picked it in an attempt to eat the clump of grass that was still clutched in its hand.

“That’s all we had to do?!” you hear ENA shout, “Lure it with some stupid grass?!”.

It feels so nice to hear her back to her usual self.

[spiteful-opossum]

What if we add English teacher Jason to this and make it dead on main. I think we should do that.

The bats decide that since Jason already works at the school he should be the one who watches out for Mr. Nightingale. Jason starts helping out and being nice to Danny. Danny just sees it as Mr. Todd just being nice to him cause he’s new. They both eventually realize they like each other but think the other is just being nice.

The students knew they liked each other from the beginning and have placed bets on how long it will take for them to start dating. Damian knows about this but hasn’t said a word to Jason because he’s the ringleader of the betting pool.

Eventually they realize and actually start dating but have decided to keep it between them for now. Everything gets revealed when one day a student catches Danny kissing Jason on the cheek when they don’t realize the student is nearby.

Retired Phantom

DP x DC Prompt

There is a new teacher at Gotham Academy. Mr. Nightingale is someone who has a mostly clean record. The only stains on his record is being the son to two villains who have been put behind bars and being under a witness protection program to one Vlad Masters.

He was hired because Gotham Academy is in need of not only a Chemistry Teacher and an Engineering Teacher as well, so he will be paid double the amount of money because of him filling two roles.

The students of Gotham Academy are waiting to see if Mr. Nightingale will become a Rogue of Gotham or move on to following his parents' footsteps elsewhere with becoming a Villain to a different Hero.

What the students of Gotham Academy weren't expecting of Mr. Nightingale is that he's a pretty good guy. He's understanding of the students, doesn't give a lot of extra homework to do, and is always bringing snacks for hungry students, including vegan snacks for one Damian Wayne and other vegan students. The only anomaly to Mr. Nightingale is that he is constantly taking eyedrops every hour.

Danny is living pretty okay right now. His friends have moved out of Amity before him to pursue their dreams. They do keep in contact, but collage life keeps them busy. His parents were arrested by the Justice League, and the GIW was disbanded by the Justice League as well. Vlad couldn't get custody of Danny because of both Jazz and the Justice League listening to him about not wanting to be with Vlad. So he's living with his sister until he's old enough to live on his own.

Of course, Vlad wouldn't give up. He kept trying as Plasmius to get him to join the Fruitloop. As soon as Danny got his teaching license, something he wanted other than becoming an astronaut, he and Vlad had engaged in a battle that led to the Fruitloops Castle. The battle lasted a long time, both Halfa's badly hurt, but Danny most of all, as he may be the Prince of the Infinite Realms, but he doesn't have the Crown of Flames or the Ring of Rage to help him. His Ghost Half sustained a lot of damage, with the only injury that transferred to his human half was the burns to his eyes. This is how the Justice League found Danny in Vlad's Castle (as a human and not Phantom), Jazz had called the Justice League because Danny wasn't back yet. Now, he's got to take special eyedrops provided by Frostbite to help his human eyes heal and to help his Ghost Hlaf eyes heal as well.

He was put under witness protection for his safety, and considering that he's living in Gotham, he's got Montoya, some other trusted GCPD officers, and a Bat constantly with him. He's given up on being a hero, as becoming the Prince to the Infinite Realms has overwritten his Ghostly obsession to become the King when he's of age. The only downside is that the Bats and the Justice League are asking around for Phantom. He doesn't want to involve himself in anymore Hero matters, but that will change as he gets more involved with the Wayne family.

[dreadpiratesilas]

I think there's something to be said about this line and Danse's worldview during his tenure in the Brotherhood.

He's someone who was promoted to Paladin under Elder Lyons. Paladins are held to a much higher standard than Knights regarding ethics and conduct. Elder Lyons shifted the East Coast Brotherhood away from preserving technology and more towards actually helping the people of the Capital Wasteland. Danse has shown that he does, in fact, care very much about humanity, and this was probably what made him stand out and be promoted under Lyons. The Brotherhood may not have been perfect, but their cause under Lyons was noble.

There's no reason to think Danse joined the Outcasts who split due to ideological differences with Elder Lyons. He was on his own mission as a Paladin elsewhere when the assault on Adams Air Force Base happened and Kreig (his mentor) was killed. Danse most likely genuinely believed in the Brotherhood's mission under Lyons.

Once Maxson became Elder, the priorities of the East Coast Brotherhood shifted more in line with the West Coast's BoS in preserving (hoarding) technology. This is what helped Maxson broker a peace with the Outcasts. Because of this, the Brotherhood took a much harder stance not just on technology but also on civilians. They're not a charitable organization anymore.

This was probably a difficult transition for Danse. He probably still very much wanted to believe in the Brotherhood's mission, but he still needed to be convinced. Maxson and those aligned with him justified their stance by amping up the strong man rhetoric while doubling down on getting technology out of the hands of the people. Danse reluctantly took to it. What else could he do? Maxson was the Elder now. For him it was the same Brotherhood as before. He wanted to believe in the Brotherhood so he chose to believe in Maxson.

Danse still clings to an outdated version of the Brotherhood. He knows the BoS is capable of immense good because he's seen it. He's one of the old guard who remembers what it was like under Lyons. The problem is it's not the same Brotherhood anymore.

The thing about Danse is, as much as he tries, he's not a true believer. He'd probably never admit it, but he's not loyal to Maxson. He's loyal to the Brotherhood. Unfortunately, with Maxson's cult of personality, Maxson IS the Brotherhood of Steel. Some of the indoctrination did slip through and took hold of Danse, make no mistake. But every once in a while, that little bit of doubt creeps up.

The first instance is when he tells the Sole Survivor about Cutler. If you tell him he did the right thing putting Cutler down, Danse says it's what he was taught. He doesn't know if it was right. If you walk through the Prydwen with Danse as a companion, he expresses his discomfort with having children aboard an active war vessel but concedes, saying Maxson thinks it's important to train them under fire. (Siding with the Institute or the Railroad more or less proves him right for being concerned.)

Make no mistake, Danse bought into the rhetoric because he wanted to. His biggest character flaw is that while he has a very strong personal code of ethics and strives to be an honorable person, he still chooses to go along with the Brotherhood even when he doesn't agree with it or knows it's wrong. While I think he'd still hold the same prejudices towards synths and ghouls outside of the Brotherhood, it probably wouldn't be any more than any other (presumably) human wastelander would have. It certainly became more pronounced because of the Brotherhood. (This isn't to excuse it, but more to illustrate the effect that indoctrination has had on him)

By remaining loyal to the Brotherhood above all else, he's betrayed his own ethics. He's become a hypocrite. Danse is a very good example of the phrase “you are the company you keep”. You can have your principles, but when it's attached to an organization that does bad things, it ultimately reflects back on you.

There's probably a part of Danse is very jaded under Elder Maxson. There have probably been several instances over the years where his personal morals were at odds with Maxson's orders and he chose to follow orders every time. During Blind Betrayal Danse says “After all I've done for the Brotherhood... all the blood I've spilled in our name, how can you say that about me?” I can't help but wonder if Danse has regrets.

So when he mentions the lion being a noble and majestic creature, it's a shame they're extinct, I almost wonder if that's Danse expressing his own disillusionment. Seeing a lion reminds him of the previous Elder and a time when the Brotherhood was a force for good. Too bad that doesn't exist anymore.

[allastoredeer]

Do you have any favorite themes or tropes that you've noticed from Alastor-centric fanworks?

Oh! For sure!

I love it when the other characters find out more about Alastor's past and are kind of just...caught off guard. Like the sudden realization that for however powerful or scary Alastor is, he was a human once. He had a life. A mother he loved. A job. Friends. He wasn't always this terrifying Overlord with razor sharp teeth and and claws. That startling moment when he's humanized and not just seen as some kind of eldritch being.

Alastor and accidental moments of vulnerability. For example, the other characters finding out about his wound, or they come across him mid-panic attack. Alastor would never go to them for help, but the universe decides he's going to get it anyway.

The Hazbin crew realizing just how much Alastor does for the hotel, i.e being the facilities manager. Like, he's not just there lurking in shadows or shamelessly watching them fail, he's actually doing things that keep the hotel functioning, and a lot of it goes unnoticed because it's things people don't really think about. Like Charlie, for example. She grew up rich, likely had a dozen servants, and probably never had to go out and buy groceries for herself or other people. She's never had to worry about paying for electricity, or water, or making sure pipes aren't getting clogged, the roof wasn't leaking, and the bar getting stocked. I can't imagine those are things Vaggie had to worry about either, as (Exorcists or not) she stilled lived in Heaven for most of her life, where I imagine problems like that don't exist, and Charlie found her almost immediately after she was cast out, so she's been living on Charlie's dime. Keeping the pantry stocked and the plumbing going is something they easily forget about, especially when Alastor takes on those tasks, and they don't realize just how much he's doing for the hotel until they suddenly don't have it anymore and the hotel devolves into chaos. It's one of my favorite tropes and I wish there were more fics that had it (me included, I do intend on writing my own).

Almost any kind of Alastor whump. I love watching my man suffer than get care and love afterward.

Alastor accidentally caring about people. He went into this not giving a shit, but goddammit now he actually cares about all these buffoons and he's not happy about this unforeseen turn of events.

Alastor and his relationship with Charlie actually being incredibly sweet and wholesome. Charlie knows Alastor doesn't believe in her cause, and Alastor doesn't try to sugar-coat things and actually treats her like an adult, and they have a very good dynamic that no one else understands. It doesn't have to be fatherly or parental, but Alastor does hold a special place in Charlie's heart, and Alastor has a soft spot for her.

Any fic that explores Alastor's trauma and how it effects the way he interacts with other people.

Those are all the ones I can think of right now, though I'm sure there are more. If anyone knows any fic recs that has these tropes or themes, pls drop a link! (Exclusively bottom!Alastor for anything smut or kink related please).

[gingaseiun]

I haven't really shared this with anyone except my close friends, but I used to dream of having my own TV show. I would write scripts and brainstorm countless ideas for what my perfect show could be. When I got to college, I focused on one particular show concept that had been with me since high school. I wrote a really rough script, created a show bible, and even drafted a letter to send out to production teams....but I never had the courage to actually send it. I was too scared, honestly, haha. The characters and the shows still pop into my head from time to time, and I keep reimagining and redesigning them. At one point, I even commissioned artists to bring them to life. I got hyperfixated on it all. The one thing that held me back was the fear that nobody would like the show. I feel like there's still time to make it happen, but, nervously, I keep wondering, "What's the point?" So here I am, just rambling about it on my blog.

Soooooooo below will be me rambling about the show and characters

The show itself was called Heart Failure, and it revolved around cupids doing their jobs Sometimes successfully, sometimes....not!

(Logo made by Discord: aikozu)

One of the main characters, Sorbet Clairmont, was a serious, no-nonsense cupid who had dedicated millennia to her work in Aetheria, though in Earth time, it had only been about ten years. The show played with that contrast a lot, making jokes about her "ancient" experience compared to how young she would seem to humans.

Born in the Realm of Aetheria, Sorbet was a prodigy from a young age, deeply attuned to the emotions around her. As a child, she had witnessed love in all its messy, beautiful forms joyful reunions, painful goodbyes, and everything in between. Those experiences convinced her she was destined to help others find connections. Over time, she became one of the best, known for crafting love arrows that perfectly captured the emotions she aimed to inspire.

But her success came with a cost. The more skilled she became, the more isolated she felt. Her sharp tongue and brusque demeanor kept most people at a distance, and though many admired her work, very few actually wanted to get close. She told herself that was fine—less emotional entanglement meant fewer distractions. Still, even in the rough first draft of my script, her loneliness seeped through in her sarcastic remarks, like: "Fingers crossed they last longer than a houseplant," and "This better not be another annoying mission... Last time, they sent me to sort out romance at a retirement home. I’ve barely heard the end of it from the other divisions."

(Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

The story really started to pick up when Sorbet was assigned a trainee, Lyris Arrowheart. To her, it felt like a punishment rather than an opportunity, one more thing to slow her down. But Lyris’s earnestness and clumsy enthusiasm stirred something in her, something she had buried a long time ago: the simple, genuine desire to connect.

Now, the other main character is my little failure, Lyris. I love Lyris.

Lyris Arrowheart grew up in a prestigious family of Cupids, where success was expected, and anything less felt like failure. His parents often boasted about their achievements. How they effortlessly paired soulmates and ignited love stories that became legendary in Aetheria. From a young age, Lyris felt the crushing pressure to live up to that legacy.

But school was a different story. While his classmates excelled at crafting love arrows and navigating emotional auras, Lyris struggled just to keep up. His daydreaming often got the better of him, causing him to miss critical lessons. No matter how hard he tried, he always seemed a step behind, more of a spectator in a world that demanded precision and excellence.

When he finally graduated, it was less a moment of triumph and more a quiet sigh of relief, overshadowed by lingering doubts. Though he technically passed, the weight of his family’s expectations stayed with him.

One of my favorite little moments for Lyris comes from his introduction in the first script I wrote:

He awkwardly waves at Sorbet, his hands trembling so badly that he nearly drops his bow. He fumbles it, juggling it between both hands before finally managing to hold it steady and wave again, bowing slightly. In the middle of it all, his glasses slip off and shatter loudly on the floor. Frozen in mortification, Lyris immediately covers his face, his cheeks flushing a deep red.

(Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

Both of them were always meant to be contrasts to each other, and honestly, I love that about them. Sorbet is sharp, serious, and guarded, while Lyris is clumsy, warm, and endlessly earnest. The idea was for them to become close, just not romantically. I’m sure if the show ever actually existed, some people would end up shipping them anyway (it's inevitable, haha), but there’s a reason they were never meant to be love interests. Their bond was always supposed to show that deep, meaningful connections don't have to be romantic to be important.

There are other characters in the show too, like Elysia.

Elysia is Sorbet’s advisor (and the advisor for a few other characters I’ll bring up later). In Heart Failure, an advisor is a Cupid who assigns other Cupids their missions, called "Moments," on Earth. They are the ones who organize and oversee the work behind the scenes.

Elysia is an advisor cupid and one of the senior chair Cupids of the Embassy of Love, specifically within the Branch of Love. She plays a pivotal role in guiding and mentoring younger Cupids, including Sorbet. With her sharp insight into the complexities of love, Elysia carefully selects each Cupid’s assignments, choosing missions that challenge and help them grow.

Known for her direct, no-nonsense attitude, Elysia takes her responsibilities seriously, making sure every mission is approached with care and precision. Beneath her stern, professional exterior, there is a surprising warmth, kind of like a piece of dark chocolate: a little bitter at first, but sweet once you get past the surface. Her "tough love" approach sometimes frustrates those she mentors, but in the end, she is exactly the kind of guide they need, even if they do not realize it right away.

(Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

Another character you would see in the show is Noelle Glaciamour.

Noelle is best known for melting people's cold hearts, the ones that are guarded, frozen over, and untrusting of love. She represents the emotional state of those who have closed themselves off from love or are hesitant to embrace it because of past pain, betrayal, or fear of vulnerability. Her role as a Cupid revolves around rekindling warmth and breaking through the icy walls that surround these hearts.

Now, Noelle’s backstory is touched on in the show, and I won't get too deep into it right now, but there’s one thing that really sets her apart. Unlike most of the Cupids in Heart Failure, she doesn’t really have wings anymore. Instead, she has little torn-off nubs on her back. Something that hints at the struggles she's faced without needing many words.

(Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

Now, you can't talk about love without talking about heartbreak. And unfortunately, that means we have to talk about him.

Valen Amour. The bane of Sorbet's existence. The so-called "Emissary of Love," though if you ask Sorbet, he’s more like the embodiment of everything wrong with the system. He’s smug, insufferable, and somehow still manages to be good at his job. The worst kind of person, honestly.

Valen started working as a Cupid around the same time Sorbet did, but unlike her, he made a career out of meddling. Early on, he would intentionally disrupt the pairs Sorbet painstakingly matched, reassigning them with a smug smile and claiming he had found "better matches." His reckless (and, to Sorbet's eternal frustration, often effective) methods got him fast-tracked to elite Cupid status way faster than anyone expected, or deserved.

Growing up, Valen never really had to struggle for anything. Success just sort of fell into his lap. Naturally, that carried into his work. When he was effortlessly placed in the Heartbreak Branch of the Embassy of Love, it only reinforced his belief that he knew better than everyone else. In his mind, instinct always beats strategy, and if he had to step on a few toes to prove it, so be it.

Even his wings set him apart. While most Cupids bear pure white wings, Valen’s are a smoky dark gray, fitting for someone who thrives not in creating new love but in pulling apart the old.

(Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

Now, I want to finish off my yapping session with world building. Even though theres tons(not really) of side characters I could yap endeless about. Here’s a more concise breakdown of Aetheria and its rulers. The Cupids live in a hidden realm called Aetheria, beyond the sight of mortals. As the narrator in my poorly written pilot script says:

"Beyond the sight of mortals, hidden from the world of Earth, lies the Realm of Aetheria. The sacred home of the Cupids. Born from the will of the god of love, this world is one where emotion shapes reality itself. Here, Cupids glide through skies of golden threads, each movement carrying whispers of everlasting devotion. It is a place where love is born and nurtured. Where every letter to a secret crush, every fleeting desire, is delivered by the hands of the Cupids, guiding hearts toward their destined connections."

Aetheria was once ruled by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, who created the Cupid lineage before retiring and passing control to her son, Eros, the primordial god of love. Eros reshaped Aetheria, but Aphrodite didn’t leave him to run things alone. She established the Erotes, a group of gods and goddesses to assist him. These include Anteros, the God of Requited Love, Hedylogos, the God of Sweet-Talk and Flattery, Himeros, the God of Desire, Hymenaeus, the God of Weddings, Hermaphroditos, the God of Effeminate Men and Androgyny, Pothos, the God of Yearning and Longing, and Phthonus, the God of Jealousy. Finally, Psyche, once a mortal, became the Goddess of the Soul after marrying Eros and joining the ranks of the Erotes.

Together, the Cupids and the Erotes run the Embassy of Love, an organization that governs different branches responsible for various aspects of love and human emotion: Camaraderie, Desire, Heartbreak, and Love. In this realm, the Cupids are tasked with nurturing and guiding love, shaping the world’s emotional fabric in ways both subtle and profound.

(Eros, Art below is made by Discord: jijicomms)

I hoped you enjoyed my yapp session!!

[rafes-honey]

Thinking of… ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Crybaby!Reader & Rafe during sex

Tags: NSFW, overstimulation, soft dom/rough dom mix, emotional clinginess, crybaby!reader, begging, praise/degradation mix, unprotected, pet names, possessive Rafe, aftercare mention.

You were already a fucking mess before he touched you.

Tear-stained cheeks, voice trembling from some earlier argument you barely remembered — something about Rafe being distant, you being dramatic. You’d cried so hard your lip gloss was long gone and your thighs were stuck to the silk sheets under you. Every breath came out in a hiccup, chest rising and falling like a frightened bunny.

And Rafe?

He was calm.

Dangerously calm.

“Don’t even remember what you were crying about, do you?” he murmured, brushing his fingers down your thigh, “Just needed attention that bad, huh?”

You whimpered, nodding, your hands gripping the sheets like they were the only thing tethering you to earth.

“Rafe, I— I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Shh.” His palm came down hard on your inner thigh, not a full slap — just enough to make you freeze.

“I know, baby. I know you didn’t mean anything. You never do.” He leaned over you, his breath warm against your jaw. “Just feel too much, cry too fast, say dumb little things ‘cause your head’s all soft.”

His fingers slid down between your legs, finding you already wet — soaked, actually — from crying, from being touched, from the way he looked at you when you were falling apart.

“God, look at you,” he growled, lips brushing the shell of your ear. “You’re dripping. You like this. You like being ruined, don’t you?”

You nodded, tearfully, biting down on your fist. “I c-can’t help it, Rafe, I swear—”

He cut you off by sliding two fingers into you without warning, burying them deep.

You choked on your breath, head falling back with a sharp whine.

“R-Rafe—”

“I’m gonna make you feel everything, baby,” he promised, curling his fingers just right, “You wanted attention so bad? Gonna give you all of it. Not stopping ‘til you can’t cry anymore.”

And he didn’t.

He kissed you while he fingered you through your first orgasm — soft tongue, rough hands, calling you sweet girl, needy thing, my little mess. And when you were still shaking, still begging him to slow down, he didn’t.

He pulled your legs over his shoulders, pressed his chest to yours, and sank into you like he’d earned it.

You gasped — voice breaking, nails clawing at his back — and he moaned, low and deep and possessive.

“So fucking tight,” he breathed. “Like your body knows it’s mine.”

You were crying again — real tears now, your voice high and desperate as he rutted into you, deeper and rougher with every thrust.

“Too much— Rafe, I— I can’t, I c-can’t take it, please—”

He grabbed your wrists and pinned them above your head.

“You can. You will.” His eyes were dark, sharp, but soft around the edges. “You’re gonna take all of it ‘cause you love being my crybaby, don’t you?”

You nodded, sobbing, body arching up into him helplessly.

“Y-Yes— yes, I love it, I love you, I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

And when you came again, this time on his cock, your whole body went still — like your brain shut off completely — lips parted, eyes rolled back, legs twitching as he kept fucking you through it.

“There she is,” he whispered against your neck. “Pretty when you’re wrecked. Quiet when you’re full.”

And only when you were completely limp beneath him — tears still drying on your cheeks, lips swollen from crying and kissing — did he slow down. One last thrust. A groan in your ear. Then warmth spilling into you as he kissed your shoulder.

You were too far gone to even speak. Just tiny whimpers. A broken “Rafe…” barely audible.

He pulled out slowly, carefully, one hand stroking your hip.

“You’re okay,” he murmured. “You did so good for me, baby. So, so good.”

And when you curled into his chest, still trembling — still needy — he wrapped his arms around you and whispered, “You’re mine. Always. Even when you’re crying.”

[noxitsnox]

rivals in rhythm - ch. iii

jake sim x m!reader

summary: jake and y/n make up after their fight

tags: hurt/comfort, 8th member reader, jakes needs and deserves a hug, rivals to lovers, really really slow burn, use or y/n, heeseung became the group therapist, f/idol used cause I didn't wanna bring any girl into this

a/n: this took way too long, sorry :((( april was such a horrible month let's not talk about it.

anywaysss my requests are open so yk send them in!

m.list prev next

you were so cool about this whole situation. really, confronting jake and moving forward didn't bother you at all. the fact that you didn't even have the courage to look the poor guy in the face was completely unrelated.

for once, you realized your actions had consequences and this was the direct consequence to years of- not so- silent resentment. the moment jake started disliking you too, something you wished for ages, you realized you actually wanted to befriend him.

for years jake has eaten crumbs of your affection from the palms of your hands and you have ignored him, even hated him, but now that he has found a better plate to eat from you realized you wanted to offer him a whole banquet.

it's true that he who has bread has no teeth.

for the whole day you went close to him, opened your mouth to talk and then walked away without saying anything. you could feel heeseung's disappointed eyes on you every single time.

who decided that apologizing had to be so difficult?

“jake, can we talk after we're done with practice? after everyone else leaves, i mean.”

“uh… sure, yeah."

and you were one step closer to your goal.

now you just had to think about what you had to say.

your first instinct was to get mad, accuse him of being selfish and lazy, that he didn't belong in the band and that he never even tried to. why? there wasn't really a reason why, it was the easiest way to deal with your emotions. jake had always had a weird effect on you, you couldn't think rationally when he was near. whether it was hate or something else entirely, he made your heart burn like no one else ever has; even your past partners couldn't compete. they said love and hate were similar, that they made you feel the same way… but to you, hate had a much stronger grip than love. so much that when the object of your hate wasn't paying it any mind anymore you felt lost and empty.

but thankfully practice was hours long and you had time to think about it and change your mind, practice a more normal and less accusatory speech in your head.

your dancing was off because of all this thinking and jake offered to help you with the choreo. humiliating. really, why him of all people? eight members, seven without you, and he had to make that comment.

---

“jake, i think we've come too far… things have gotten weird between us-” “things were always weird.”

he was tired. he talked to heeseung to try and understand you. heeseung to just ignore your behavior, that it would make you stop even acknowledging his presence… which yeah, it was good, but he really wanted to be friends, or at least someone you know. you lived and worked together, what was the point in ignoring each other? that's not how he wanted to live.

maybe it was better off this way.

no matter how much he tried to befriend you, he'd always fucked up in some way on another. you hated him, obviously, and he just had to match your vibe. after all, why would you want to be nice to someone who is not nice to you? shouldn't he have some self respect?

the more he thought about it the more reasons he had to hate you.

and he was convinced that he would never change his mind about you… but then you went and asked him to talk and his heart simply melted. he was too kind, but he didn't want to show you were already forgiven so he decided to act mad for a little while. it wasn't difficult, he thought, he'd just have to act a bit colder, distant.

he was wrong, it was so unnatural. to be mad and to act mad were two very different things.

“y/n, why do you do this? it's like you already hated me before even knowing me, i never had a chance with you.”

silence.

you looked down at the floor, suddenly so interested in the parquet. that was the whole point, jake- you thought. you don't have a reason.

“that's just the way i feel, there's no reason why…” a whisper, barely audible as if you almost wished he wouldn't hear you. “but, i wanna change that. i really do.”

jake looked at you, unconvinced and unbothered. it was so uncharacteristic of him, a shiver ran down your spine. "yeah, let's see about that."

and if you had doubts before, you definetely didn't have them now. seeing jake so down is always bad, enough to ruin your day. It's like leaving your house expecting sunshine and finding rain...

---

the next few days were a bit awkward but not too bad. you barely interacted with jake, but when you did you tried to refrain from teasing him. good way to move on. slowly the two of you became closer, you even managed a few hang outs without fighting.

jake was back to being his old sun kissed self and you, well you for some reason never stopped feeling like you hated him. it wasn't really about what you actually felt like towards him, it's just that your heart never stopped beating so fast when he was near, and that feeling of lunch moving in your stomach was still there every time he talked to you. it was exhausting, even now that you were trying to like him your body was forcing you to do the opposite.

heeseung once tried telling you that maybe those things weren't caused by the hate. you didn't understand what he meant until today.

you were scrolling on twitter before going to bed, someone complained about uni, others about life in general and everything was normal until you saw that one post:

enhypen jake spotted on a date with f/idol.

when you saw those pictures you felt a part of you sink down in thw ocean. it was wrong, you knew how the media worked by now. every single interaction with a idol of the different sex was enough to start a ship and you knew so well that this was exactly what happened. but for some reason, even the distant idea that maybe jake was in a relationship with anyone caused you a huge sense of discomfort. you felt empty, your heart was heavy in your chest.

finally you understood heeseung's words. it wasn't hate, but the complete opposite. maybe, just maybe you had a crush on jake.

that would be the first time in so lon- with a schedule so packed you didn't have time to have crushes. how were you even supposed to deal with it?

@exactlyinfp @rairaiblog @nootnootpinguuu @gnusihcom @scary-thingz @naelvze

[bikananjarrus]

i'm just going to dive right into it, but i am so deeply upset and mad about cinta's death. not necessarily that it happened, but because i thought it was written so carelessly, and it just feels so deeply unfair to the character, to varada, to vel and faye, to the fans, who waited over 2 years to see cinta's arc only for it to be reduced to that.

of course i'm upset that cinta is dead, and i would like more than anything for her to be alive. i wasn't necessarily surprised by her death (the distinct lack of footage in the trailers was a clue, and then the very obvious foreshadowing dialogue in 2x06 sealed the deal). but i would be a lot less angry about her death if it had been given the proper time and consideration to fully play out and actually meant something for her character.

which, the way it was done - a stray friendly fire blaster bolt - is such a pointless death that that is the point. it was a meaningless death; it didn't have to happen that way. but because the ghorman rebel didn't listen to her and vel, because he thought he knew better than them, his carelessness got her killed. i completely understand what they were going for, and i don't necessarily hate the way she died. especially as this show has continually put emphasis this season on how hard it is to build a rebellion, and the rebel alliance we know.

so i get what they were going for; but to give her 30 seconds of footage where she didn't even speak in the first arc, and then only bring her back for ONE episode in the second arc, just to kill her off in the same one??? it's so disrespectful and unfair and just sloppy writing.

cinta's entire arc over the last two years now has been off-screen. we know nothing about how she hurt vel that caused them to split up in the first place; we know nothing about why luthen was so intent on keeping them apart, aside from personal feelings, even though they clearly work really well together?? (luthen also lets bix and cassian stay together; no shade to bix and cass themselves, but the writing choice to keep the straight couple together and the lesbian couple apart is hm. feels bad.) cinta tells us that she had a terrible injury that kept her down for a "long time," but we get no details other than that, and now we never will. (don't even get me started on the "i'll tell you about it someday" dialogue. anyone who's watched any bit of television knows that that's a dead giveaway for something bad is going to happen. and in a show that historically does subtlety very well, this was not that. it just felt a bit lazy.)

i, personally, am struggling a bit with the pacing this season (namely with the huge time jumps), and i don't think it did cinta (and velcinta) any favors at all. bringing her back, giving her some lovely heartfelt scenes, finally starting to break down her walls a bit and have her reunite with vel, only to kill her off right away just felt so sloppy and lazy. if it was always going to end with her death, it should've been spread out over the ghorman arc. she should've been in more than one episode, she and vel should've gotten the chance to start to really grow back together. and as much as i understand the friendly fire angle, a pointless death has been done before (especially when it comes to queer women). i felt like i've watched this very plot play out a million times before, which makes me so fucking irritated because i know andor writing is better than this! i've seen it!

vel's speech at the end was absolutely beautiful (faye and varada did an absolutely incredible job this episode), but i can't help but wish that a rebellion hero like cinta got more of a heroic death. a more meaningful death. if it had to be done, it should've been done with more respect and weight and not like it was just shoved on at the end to make some point about "rebellion requires sacrifice." both cinta and vel already know the rebellion requires sacrifice! cinta's whole family was murdered. and if this was supposed to be some lesson for vel about how she has to lose people to become a leader, 1) she's already a leader! and 2) she HAS lost people. she lost almost the whole aldhani crew! and you could already tell in this episode that her leadership skills had grown stronger; she was confident and taking no bullshit from the ghormans when talking to them. she didn't need the "lesson" of cinta dying to make her a better rebel. she's already a rebel.

and cinta, who said that she didn't really know herself, deserved the chance to get to find out who she was. what kind of rebel she really was. and preferably, if she'd gotten to live, find out who she was without a rebellion.

[soo-won]

About the shoulder wound parallel I have so many thoughts about it but to reach the suwon/zeno part of it I first need to make it about Suwon and Hak I swear it makes sense stay with me. I've been obsessing over Suwon's shoulder wound ever since ch249 and I think it can be symbolically connected to the wound Hak caused in chapter 2, which is the Suwon I drew here. Like, the thing is, Kusanagi gave Suwon a wound in chapter 249 on the same shoulder as at the start of the story, a few chapters before giving Zeno another wound on the opposite shoulder and said wound became plot relevant in a chapter that makes direct parallel between Suwon and Zeno in ch256... So much to unpack here, right? Maybe it's all coincidence, but even if so it's fun to think about it so here I am!!

So first, Suwon's shoulder and the development of his relationship with Hak. It's always hard to tell if Kusanagi completely forgot about Hak slashing Suwon's right shoulder in chapter 2 since it's never mentioned again and we never know if Suwon even has any scar left of it, but, Suwon's right shoulder comes into play a few times later in the story sooo...it could be... In chapter 259 when Zeno fights against Hak and Yona, Hak tells him that he would never use his weapon against him. In a set up that is very similar to the night of the coup (with this time Yona protecting Hak against the Betrayer(tm)), to me it resonates strongly with Hak's actions that night. Unlike back then with Suwon, Hak refuses to use his weapon against a friend, even if said friend betrayed him, is threatening them and hurt people he cares for. Hak refuses to treat Zeno as his enemy like he did with Suwon then. (The circumstances are a bit different of course, but this scene makes me think Kusanagi does remember well how things happened that night, and Hak hurting Suwon.) This obviously surprises and moves Zeno.

I don't really want to interpret Hak's thoughts and feelings here. It could be interpreted as him regretting doing things this way with Suwon before, or it could not... But the thing is, he is doing things differently. To be fair in chapter 2 Hak could only do what he could in an high risk and unexpected situation to avoid Yona being killed and then to escape together. But when facing a similar situation again he now has the conviction he wants to do things differently and that's the meaningful part that feels important to me here.

And that new conviction was already already seen with Suwon before.

Hak giving Suwon the senjusou in chapter 224 is already a parallel to many other Suwon/Hak scenes before, and I want to argue it's also a parallel to chapter 2. On the same shoulder Hak afflicted a wound in the past, he now rests and falls asleep in his act of trying to save Suwon and heal him. Like with Zeno, he's not treating Suwon as an enemy here, but like an old friend he wants to help. Suwon, the one person Hak has always be in extreme alert around since the coup, becomes a person Hak lets himself be vulnerable with and finally rests on. Actually, the parallel with chapter 2 hits even more when you realize that chapter 224 is the very first time Suwon and Hak have a physical contact ever since...chapter 2 and their swordfight.

On top of that, we know that Suwon remembers the very feeling of Hak on his shoulder so much he gets lost in thoughts about it before Minsu bursts his bubble in ch225. As Suwon also thinks to himself, "at that moment, I forgot the pain". A feeling so intense he feels no pain at all for a second, in contrast to an act that physically hurt him in chapter 2...I could go on like that for hours. In a way, Hak becomes a bandage on Suwon's symbolic scar. Suwon still carries the pain of discarding Yona and Hak for his goal, convinced he doesn't need nor deserve their help and support, yet longing for their presence by his side, and then here is Hak and he can feel his warmth. Also making a parallel between his freezing hands a few chapter earlier and the comforting warmth he feels from Hak. It's healing, as much if not more than the senjusou itself.

Suwon until now was in a way indulging in the pain of Hak hating him and trying to kill him, of Yona killing him one of these days. It's easy, it's to be expected, it's what he thinks he deserves, it's fate in a way. It hurts but he will accept it and endure, like his illness. Yet Yona and Hak actually both resisted against this fate and went against the tides.

So the events of this arc were totally unexpected for Suwon. It started to make him rely on them more, but it sadly didn't change Suwon's convinction that this is "not even", that he still deserves a punishment and to be in pain. Chapter 249 in many ways is when everything the characters tried to maintain until now breaks apart. Shinah losing against his powers, the ropes to tie him down tearing apart, the alliance between yona and suwon's sides seeming to break apart too... They couldn't hold it together against fate and the gods, even after getting over everything together as humans until now.

But as Suwon says himself in chapter 262 about his wound, it wasn't so much Shinah or the gods then but him. He offered himself up to Shinah. As if to erase the comfort of Hak on his shoulder, it's now replaced by a new wound on that very same shoulder. It's his punishment. He believes he doesn't deserve the former. He has to pay a price for Yona and Hak helping him despite betraying them, and using them for his goals even now, and he ends up finding that solace in the Heavens' intervention. They validate Suwon's most self destructive thoughts. These ideologies go hand in hand.

That Hak in chapter 262 questions Suwon about his wound, that Suwon tries to brush it off and endure the pain like he always does, and that Hak insists and makes him ask for help himself is extremely moving because of all of this of course. Suwon was the receiver until now. He received his wound by Hak, then he received the senjusou by Hak too, and Hak's warmth and protection. Then he received Shinah's attack, and he received Minsu and Yun's treatment etc... Suwon stays passive and in the expectation when it comes to his own body. Suwon doesn't hurt himself directly, he lets others do it for him. His own self guilt is a reality in many people around him. He's the object of most people's gaze, we see him a lot of time through how others view him and what they think of him. To Suwon, Shinah's furious gaze at him in the castle and then in ch249 are the symbol of this. So when he couldn't find and get this retribution from Hak or Yona directly anymore, here was Shinah in his monstrous dragon form. (Suwon not moving in ch249 is very similar to Suwon not moving in front of Hak in ch91 too).

This is where I finally arrive to Zeno. Zeno in opposition to Suwon very much hurts himself directly, he's the main perpretator of his own injuries. That's exactly why the idea that to be killed he has to be the receiver and have Yona do it for him is torture, I think. To me, this is the horror of his realization when he looks at his shoulder wound in chapter 256.

Even after coming to the realization that only Yona can kill him, he still says nothing to her and tries to make her kill him by his own hands. The cruel thing in the situation with Zeno is him realizing how little agency he has, even less than the little he thought he could possibly get. The way he interpreted the prophecy, made a plan on his own without telling his friends and causing the end of the dragons himself...it's all part of Zeno trying to have any sort of agency. But he doesn't. It's all the gods and Yona in this case.

Again it's ironic. Zeno who wants to die more than anyone else has to force it again and again for it to happen, whereas Suwon has it coming for him from every direction. Yet, neither are dying in the end. All they have is that open scar on their shoulder.

To be honest, I'm still not sure what it could symbolize for Zeno as Yona inflicted it to him on accident. But just like Suwon, it's an open wound. And just like Suwon, Zeno lives with the idea of "even" exchange. After all, his power activates only if he gets hurt. Unlike Yona who learns to protect others together while protecting and defending herself too, Zeno keeps hurting himself to protect others without hesitation. He and Yona share the same desperation over their powerlessness to protect the people suffering around them, but act on it differently. Zeno's power encourages him to do so, it ingrained in him that he should and has to suffer to use a power that shouldn't exist in the human world. Unlike Suwon who first acts in a certain way and then wait for the payback(retribution), Zeno gets hurt first then waits for the payback(sacrifice). I think that's why Zeno's shoulder wound actually come before his real betrayal to Yona, it works in a different logic than Suwon's. Being hurt by Yona isn't a consequence of betraying her, it's a condition.

And it fits very well with how Zeno did things to try to die: He made a sacrifice with the dragon warriors and then waited for the Gods to pay him back after he completed their supposed requirements. He naturally did things just like when he wants to use his power. First hurt yourself, sacrifice something, and then the Gods should give you what you want.

From experience he thought he had control here. He's used to it after all. But he soon had had to realize that he actually has no agency over this system at all and is not in a so much different position than the other dragon warriors. Neither in relation to his power nor the conditions for him to die.

Zeno ended up thinking that he deserved to be hurt as condition for his powers, just like the dragons can only get short lifespan for theirs, erasing in a way how none of them ever decided for things to function this way. He rationalized it when the truth is there is nothing rational about the God's rules and how they make decisions. The fact he gets so frustrated when the DDHHB stops him from hurting himself shows this well. He normalized it. The truth is the dragon warriors were always only exploited. He didn't actually want to hurt the dragons or to ask Yona to kill him, but he accepted and normalized that it was the only way for him to achieve his goal, even though it's this whole system that needs to change. Against this cruel reality, Zeno can only make himself numb to the pain and convince himself he's okay with all of this. That it's all logical and set in stones. That it's fate. Ah- just like Suwon.

I went a bit on a tangent and we're not talking much about the shoulder wounds themselves anymore, but as for everything with Suwon and Zeno, their differences are always two sides of the same coin that join together, if that makes sense. In the end, I see these mirroring wounds as the symbol of how they're objectified by the Heavens and how it's ingrained in them, literally on their body. Their bodies receive the mark of trying to get something themselves inside this system ruled by the Gods and the Heavens, this determination also symbolized by Yuhon and Hiryuu's swords.

For Suwon, it's the belief that if he makes the decision to judge others and hurt them for his goals, it's only logical and fair he will be judged in return, and that it's fine this way. If that's how things work and that's the system, he won't change it, he will just pragmatically exploit it to the best of its capacities and then accept the consequences too. Once he takes a place in it and holds the reins as a King, he believes that's just how things should be. He can't conceive there is value in fighting against it and trying to change it. And he loses all reason to do so once he kills Il and discards Yona and Hak. It's too late after all, he accepted to corrupt himself in this machine to get what he wishes for. That's his illusion of control. Suwon is responsible for his own choices, beliefs and actions, and he's extremely self aware of the consequences of his own choices: he will be judged, hated, attacked and killed someday in return gods or not.

But even if he chooses this path full aware, is that really empowering? Is accepting and letting it happen really give him control when deep down what he wants is to live and to not discard the people that he hurts? Suwon thinks that's just how it is, but who truly decided that and why can't it be changed? Is it really himself, or was it heavely influenced by his environment and the people around him?

I don't mean to say that Suwon is not responsible for anything because We Live In A Society(tm), though. That'd be even more disempowering than it is. Suwon's choices were undeniably influenced by his environment and the people around him but that's how it is for everyone, and I wouldn't want Suwon to regret what he did. That's his life, and he still accomplished and experienced many good things and they're all meaningful and his too. That's why I find this very good that he says he doesn't regret killing Il because that's something he chooses. It's not so black and white. What is harmful though, is the resignation in repeating this pattern despite how it hurts him, the idea that things are fine like this if he's hurt and punished in the end. That he's never allowed to be healed and loved and happy and refusing it when he gets anything good. How that doesn't leave any room for reparation, change and hope.

And painfully, both Suwon and Zeno were progressively forced to accept how little agency and choice they truly have and to adapt, submit, to the system of the Heavens despite taking a strong stance against them. In a way, in their very declaration of rebellion against the Heavens, they were already influenced by them, as it still exists, and they position themselves in relation to them. By trying to take back control and agency from the gods (which is more than fair like, they deserve this agency!) they still mold themselves in the gears of this system, they don't truly change it, they negociate with it. Suwon by leaving it alone in the hopes of it leaving him alone too, and Zeno by walking alongside it.

Whether it's Suwon carrying on Yuhon's sword and his legacy and striking down others for his goals even if he will never be allowed to live happily in consequence, or whether it's Zeno taking Hiryuu's sword to kill himself after bringing an end to the other dragons too, it's the same. It's still taking and being taken from. Giving and being given back. It dooms them, it's self-fulfilling prophecies.

That's why even after Suwon was forced to acknowledge that the Gods have more influence than he thought and he was saved by the dragon warriors and Yona, it still very compatible with his way of thinking and the path he always followed. Even if Yona and Hak won't punish him directly anymore, ch249 with Shinah attacking him shows that the Gods will. Even without it, Suwon was still resolved to return to war and die for it. Whether it's from Yuhon, from Il, or from the Gods it's not so different in the end. Like this, the Gods validates and reaffirms the very ideology personified by Yuhon that Yona and Hak were resisting against when they tried to help and save Suwon.

For Suwon and Zeno, resisting against the Gods is still equal with accepting using a weapon that gives them a similar form of power attached to a legacy. And even if they're different, they're bound by their laws and ideologies the same.

Zeno's case is still a bit unique because he started from a very different place. His journey started with him accepting the yellow dragon's blood and powers. Even if he was later ready to go against the Gods to have his wish realized, he was still very aware of the reality of their existence and power, and how they bind him and every dragon warrior. Because of this, Zeno always tried to still get some agency. His whole quest to find a way to die is a quest to cling to humanity and free will, to be more than an empty husk living forever, not caring about anyone or anything. Yet little by little, without him realizing, they still made him compromise more and more. When he tried to assemble the dragon warriors before Hiryuu was reborn, he had to face the truth that it cannot happen without Hiryuu. He had to wait for Yona. As Zeno says in chapter 208, even with eternal time it doesn't mean it makes things happen like he thinks at all, but by accepting passively all of it and going with the tides, he waits for the one chance he can finally act and end it all for good. But even then, when he made a whole plan around it to end things himself, without Hiryuu/Yona again, it failed. Because it has to be Yona. She is the one with the authority needed.

In a way, at the point Suwon and Zeno accept/try to die, it was maybe also them trying to bring an end themselves to these cycles of taking and giving and how it burdened Yona. After all, if Suwon dies not by Yona's hand, then there's nothing Yona will have to take from him directly and she will be innocent, there is no revenge anymore, Suwon will die from an "unrelated" cause and things will be "even". Suwon seems to feel guilt over "pushing" Yona to her limits and hurting her by her being forced to support him. Whether this is also influenced by the time Il told him he's unpleasant and Suwon fearing this might be true for Yona too, in the south kai arc this was definitely his vision of it. So when Yona is conflicted between her promise to Suwon and saving her friends in ch242, Suwon "frees" her from it and gives her the chance to leave and to never return again. He pushes her away, not burdening her with his own situation anymore. If she doesn't plan to return he will even give up on making her his successor. Again, he unconsciously repeats the same pattern of not involving Yona at all, separating her from the rest.

Zeno always felt like the dragon warriors were a burden to Hiryuu, a symbol of the Gods' overwhelming love to him, giving Hiryuu too much and pushing him to give back. If he dies, this will put an end to this as well. They saw their death as the ultimate solution, their life having become an uneedeed burden and source of potential conflict. But by trying to do so they both stripped Yona of what she really wants. I would say the conflict between them and her in this arc is exactly this tension between first trying to get Yona uninvolved and ending things themselves in their latest and most tragic attempt to have one crumb of agency against the Heavens and their obsessive love for Hiryuu, and then how this has repercussions on the human Yona in how that strips /her/ of her agency. Again, Yona is fatally a victim of the consequences of a battle that shouldn't involve her, yet very much does.

Despite this attempt and all their resistance against it, Suwon and Zeno are both made to depend on Yona/Hiryuu for their most important wish. These things were also due to their very human and personal relationships with Yona, and them feeling like they can trust and rely on her more should be a positive thing to be happy about, but it tragically aligns with the Heavens' agenda, so something about it feels fundamentally wrong. After all, Suwon is made to rely on Yona this way because of how the Crimson illness weakens him, and Zeno because that's his only hope to die. This is the tragedy of Yona's fate: everything was moving forward because of her growth and positive accomplishments as Yona and her efforts to gain her own agency, but her position and the authority she always owned as Hiryuu validated even more so all the Heavens' harmful ideology. Her will and actions can't be dissociated from the higher narrative with the prophecy and the Heavens. This against shows how the conflict between her identity as Yona and Hiryuu is the source of all the tensions in this arc and the core of the entire story.

Yona always wanted more power and agency, but here it disgusts her. She doesn't want to have to kill Zeno. She doesn't want Suwon to die and to have all his responsibilities as ruler be pushed on her. She doesn't want to stain her hands herself with those maybe, but I think it upsets her also because it is against the very things she was trying to achieve for both of them so far. Her promise to Suwon was to support him until the end of the war and then they would both go back to their separate life; her goal was to get all the four dragons back and then they'll be forever together, not this either. Suwon was the one person she wanted to regain a sense of agency with, yet in consequence it's stripped away from her again because his upcoming death doesn't leave him a better choice but to make her his successor; Zeno is the person Yona wants to help regain agency and justice on his own fate, yet is made to have the authority over Zeno's entire existence however she likes. Her and Hak were trying to break these cycles of even exchange but it is maintained with a firm grip by the Heavens, and it's then all placed on Yona.

But Yona never asked for all these irrational things. These developments are what progressively made her face that there is something insidious, deeper, that needs to be changed, triggering her decision to enter the chalice and face the Gods in chapter 261. Chapter 258 also suggests that Yona wants Suwon to still be there and she makes sure Hyoori is still here for this sake. I don't know what she thinks about the Suwon situation since the illness matter is not a thing for now, but at least it makes her stance clear : she is against this fate with both of them gone and against them leaving her behind without letting her have a say in any of this.

I deviated a bit from the wounds and swords topic again, but they're all things connected to Yona too after all. They exist in relation to Yona/Hiryuu. Suwon was hurt for being an "enemy" who hurt Yona first and Zeno can only be killed by her. After all this, Yona, Hak, Suwon and Zeno all had to let go of their weapons. Yona threw Hiryuu's sword away when the Gods imposed it to her to kill Zeno in chapter 264, Hak refuses to use a weapon on Zeno like he did on Suwon when he caused his shoulder wound in chapter 2, Suwon leaves Yuhon's sword in chapter 262 as a symbol of him leaving this legacy behind to try another, different path for the very first time. But what of Hiryuu's sword now?

I wrote 90% of this before chapter 269, so the truth is now I have even more things to add because of it, except this post is already so long I'm embarassed. Maybe someday I'll add a part with developments of chapter 269. That being said what I mean with all that (that I'm afraid makes no sense and it's totally disorganized), is that their wounds and stories are connected in how whether they're related to Yona personally or her as Hiryuu, it's intertwined and the result of the same harmful ideology based on punishment and sacrifice. However, there is hope. Because Yona and Hak learned and then kept resisting against those things. They're still all struggling against the authority of the Heavens right now and there are still the issues surrounding Yona/Hiryuu's identity, but with their efforts they at least prevented these wounds from being a symbol of Suwon and Zeno's capital punishment and now they're still living to face the Gods another way. Suwon is still ill and Zeno is still immortal, but they're going beyond already, they're not submitting to legacies harming them anymore. All these parallels have an infinity of layers to them and they add so much to the story right now, but I think were truly all for what is happening now, and far more than simply being cool parallels for the sake of it. They have meaning.

Also I'm not sure if writing this under my own fanart is a good move, I feel a bit selfconscious so just to make it clear I very honestly didn't think about all that at all when I drew it. I went with the vibes and it's only afterwards that I started to try to organize my thoughts so hmm...please keep enjoying the fanart as it is :)

The price for our ambitions

[huntingrays]

there’s so many revival jason ideas that i love so much, but the one i’m most obsessed with is where jason “comes back” because his life is now connected to leo’s

basically the “life force” or whatever you want to call that’s weaker gets connected to the one that’s stronger. the usual idea i have for this is that leo gets some item that can do this and after a little oopsie, jason is back

and because jason is still technically dead, he can’t die. he get get tired and fatigued if he doesn’t eat or looses blood, but he can’t die. someone could rip out his heart and he’d still be alive, or rather “alive”. he can only die if leo dies

for the most part, it’s an acceptable situation for the both of them. however, there is one issue

jason doesn’t see any problem with it. he already protects leo with his life. now, he can do it and actually be protecting his life. but now things are different. he can’t die. he can throw himself into dangerous situations and come out alive. he can do risky moves that he’d normally never think of doing. he’s not risking anything. he can come out alive. he’s now even more of a weapon than he was before

for the most part, leo also has no problem with it. he finally has jason back. he knows that he’ll never be without him again. also, he has more respect for his life, knowing that it’s not just his own, but also jason’s. it’s a little nerve wracking when in fights with monsters, but he knows he has people around to help him out. but… then there’s jason’s new recklessness. jason already had little regard for his own life. now, he has even less regard for his safety. it causes leo great distress. sure, jason can’t die, but he can still get hurt. he can still be in pain. what if something happened to him? what if he was hurt so badly that he can’t call for help? what if he’s laying there feeling that pain for hours? he loves jason so much. it hurts him to see the man he loves have so little regard for his well being. it hurts him to see him get hurt time and time again

[perseephoneee]

you always did like clint eastwood [kol mikaelson x f!reader]

↳ masterlist  ↳ ship exchange information ↳ taglist

synopsis: you and kol get stuck in 1800's western america

cw: era typical violence, surface level wild west research

authors note: this fic is for my friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) as a delayed birthday gift hehe. love you darling.

Understanding Kol Mikaelson was like a rainbow; sometimes it happened, but rarely ever. And when you really saw him, you found a sort of beauty people would never see. Today was not a rainbow day. Today was actually a really, really bad day. 

You're tired of being the Mikaelson's go-to witch. All it does is ruin your day and cause you too many bumps and bruises. And then there's Kol…Kol, who enjoys teasing you but will never let you get close enough to see what's going on beneath. It makes it hard to trust him. But you really need to trust him, especially right now. Because the latest spell in Klaus' hair-brained schemes has caused both you and Kol to end up in 1800s western America. Right in cowboy country. 

You really could kill him. 

If he hadn't distracted you, this portal spell wouldn't have sent you here. Instead, it would've brought something useful to you. But now you're stuck in an era where they really hate women, and they really hate witches. 

"I'm going to kill you," you hiss out. You're blinking back at the sun shining high above you. You're standing under the entrance of 'Willowbrooks'– a western town from Kol's understanding. The dust swirls around your feet and gets in your throat, not helping your sour mood. It didn't help that the name sounded familiar; you were trying to think about why.

"It could be worse," Kol laughed. He put a hand over his eyes as he observed a vulture flying overhead. "I never had the chance to be a proper cowboy."

"Probably for the best. You'd be a nightmare."

"I take offense to that," Kol smirked. "C'mon."

"To where?"

"This sign might be here, but that town is still a while away. We should get there before nightfall," Kol started walking without you, and you groaned as you ran to keep up. He would occasionally whistle, which would only aggravate your mood. Sometimes, he shared a joke that would make you wish for a quick death from wherever you were heading. Your walk took the rest of the day into the evening until you eventually entered an old western town. You both stuck out like sore thumbs. Kol, ever the lover of breaking the rules, immediately went toward a clothesline at the back of a building. He tossed you some articles of clothing haphazardly, with you barely catching them. 

"What are you doing?" you whisper, afraid to raise your voice. Kol starts undressing before you, and you quickly avert your gaze. 

"Blending in," he replies. You catch a glance at his body, abdomen toned in a way that wasn't entirely fair. Your cheeks burn as you look away. Standing around waiting for him to be done seemed foolish, so you find another place to hide as you quickly dress. The clothes didn't exactly fit, but you made it work. It was just a simple blue blouse with a long tiered skirt. You kept your combat boots, hoping that no one would notice. You didn't want to worry about locating your shoe size as well. By the time you went back to Kol, he was also clothed. Between the dark blue tunic and the black vest, he looked like the kinda devilish character that you'd want to avoid in one of these old Western movies. But to you, he was the safest thing around. 

"If anyone asks, darling," he gives you a look. "You're my wife, and we're visiting on our way to see family."

"If I'm your wife, don't expect me to be too nice about it," you smile. He just grins, fangs flashing. 

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Going to a saloon seemed stupid and cliche, but the only inn in Willowbrooks happened to be a saloon. You followed behind Kol, and despite his cavalier attitude about your adventure, he kept close to you and seemed to be observing everything that moved. He didn't feel safe here either. 

Unlike the movies, the saloon didn't come to a grinding halt when you both entered. A few stares were thrown your way, but fortunately, it wasn't as dramatic. You forgot that Kol lived in this time, which you guess was helpful because you probably would've gotten yourself killed if you were alone. He sidled up to the bar with no problem and requested a room, slipping into a western drawl that you didn't realize he had in him. You tried to observe your surroundings without being suspicious. Above the bar, a piece of paper advertised the special as a drink called "coffin varnish," which sounded as appetizing as one could imagine. The smell of the establishment left a lot to be desired and made you miss the glory of modern plumbing. But the thing that caught your eye was the glittering sheriff badge on a man sitting at the other end of the counter. He was in hushed conversation with another, maybe a deputy or just a friend, but you still managed to overhear some of it. 

"That damn Foley coven is getting on my nerves," the sheriff sighed, taking a swig of dark liquid. "Especially Elizabeth. It's bad for business."

"Lincoln already freed the damn slaves; what else do they want from us?" the other man shook his head, looking at his cup. 

"Easy. They want our heads," the sheriff chuckled, but it was an empty laugh of a tired man. 

"Whatcha going to do?"

"What I always do," the sheriff finished off his drink. "Take care of it."

You jolted as Kol wrapped an arm around your waist, distracting you from your eavesdropping. He raised a brow but didn't say anything, and you gave him a look that you'd tell him later. He took the hint and nodded towards the stairs that led to the rooms, with you following behind. The floor creaked beneath your feet as you ascended to your room, a tiny thing at the end of the hall with a washroom across from it. You sighed as you saw the one bed, but didn't have the mental capacity to deal with it. 

"This must be like one of your romance novels," Kol snorts as he takes in your tiny room. You sat down at the edge, undoing your shoes and ignoring him. "What, no witty comeback?"

"What if we're here for a reason?" you question, the thought circling your brain since leaving the bar. 

"What reason, this was a spell gone wrong," Kol leaned against the wall, looking at you inquisitively. 

"The sheriff down there wants to take out a coven of witches in the area, the Foley coven," you sat forward, hands on your knees. "I thought the name of this town sounded familiar, and now I remember why. The Foleys wanted to free the rest of the slaves on the western frontier, in addition to giving women more opportunities to work. But the town of Willowbrooks didn't want that. They ended up burning the head of the coven and set the two parties into a civil war. No one knew what happened to the Foley witches, and even today, if you visit the town, it's a ghost town. Literally."

"And this concerns us…?" 

"What if we're here to stop the fight from happening, to save a witch?" you looked at him, hope and fury in your eyes. "What if that's how we get home? By righting a past wrong?"

"You read too many stories," Kol sighed, running a hand over his face. 

"I don't know if we can save the witch that burns, maybe we aren't meant to. But I can't shake the feeling that we're here for a reason, and my witch's sense hasn't led me wrong yet." Kol continues to look at you with hesitation and tiredness. As you know, it wasn't in his nature to help. You were going to make him do it anyway. "Please?"

The internal battle waging war in Kol's mind made his eyes cloudy as he thought about what you said. He swore under his breath and ran a hand through his hair. 

"We can…talk to the witches tomorrow," Kol said. "But we might not be able to change anything. Okay, darling?"

"Okay," you smiled, without malice for once since landing in this shitty town. "And Kol?" He looked at you. "Don't get handsy in the bed, or I'll cut them off." 

He grinned. 

~

Kol didn't touch you during the night, although he snored, which was fairly annoying. You woke up to the sight of him curled into a tight ball on the other side as if he was stopping himself from intruding on your personal space. It was the most respectful thing you've ever seen him do. 

By the time he woke, you had gotten dressed in some clothes you had stolen from another room (sorry, unsuspecting patron) and used the wash basin across the hall. You still felt dirty, and the heat from outside wasn't helpful, but it was better than nothing. You wish you could have a toothbrush, though. You also ventured downstairs to the main saloon. You tried to be inconspicuous when asking where the closest food place was. Fortunately, they had a kitchen right in the establishment, and you were able to eat some eggs, beef, and beans. You even had coffee, even if it tasted like dirt water. You debated saving something for Kol but remembered he wouldn't want any. 

You came back up the stairs to him, still lounging in bed, staring up at the ceiling. 

"Planning to stay here all day?" you inquired, leaning against the doorframe. He smiled at you, not as flirtatious as usual. "What's wrong?" you narrowed your eyes. Kol wasn't usually this silent. 

"It's…strange," he shrugged as best he could while lying down. 

"Strange?"

"Being in the past," Kol sat up a little bit. He had taken the vest off before bed, and the blue shirt underneath was crumpled with sleep. "I've forgotten so much of it."

You take pause at that statement. "Do you remember much of your life?"

"Bits and pieces, like anyone looking back on childhood, I suppose," Kol played with the bedsheets between his fingers. "I… don't think I was very nice during this era."

He sounds so sad about it, and the feeling leaves an uncomfortable ache in your chest. Was it regret in his voice? Or just commentary about who he was. Sometimes, you couldn't understand whether Kol was warning you away from him or explaining his actions. His statement also came with the startling realization that of the Mikaelsons, he was the one you feared the least. Strange considering his reputation, but it was knowledge you tucked deep inside for later. 

"I think you're nice," you shrugged. Kol looked at you with barely veiled surprise. "I mean, you kept to yourself while we were sleeping. That was pretty nice."

Kol grinned at that, and it made you smile. There was the devilish vampire you remember. 

You departed quickly after that, making your way to the outskirts of town. Relying on your own sixth sense, you allowed yourself to be drawn to the magic farther past the confines of Willowbrooks. Kol made up for his somber morning mood by singing 'Cotton-Eyed Joe.' It was the first time on the trip you wished for a white oak stake so you could stab him. 

You stopped atop a hill and narrowed your eyes at a dilapidated building below. 

"That's where the witches are," you pointed. Kol put his hands on his hips. 

"Well, darling," he sighed. "Let's meet your brethren."

You walked up to the building, the sun beating against you. You felt sweat beading on your forehead, rolling down your cheeks and not helping your already disgusting appearance. When you approached the door, you did what any sensible person would do– you knocked. 

"Very polite," Kol murmured. 

"Shut up."

The door opened, but no one stood behind it. You cautiously entered, taking in the darkness. You gasped as all at once, hundreds of candles flickered to life. A small group of women huddled in the corner, their faces illuminated by the flames. The one closest to the door, an older woman with braided long white hair and eyes the color of storms, stepped forward

"We've been expecting you," she smiled. 

~

The woman was revealed to be Elizabeth Foley, the one the sheriff (who you learned to be named Sheriff Dunn) had complained about the day before. Apparently, one of the witches foretold the two of you showing up that day. You should really be less surprised. 

"There has to be a way to stop this before too many innocent lives are lost," you said, sitting at a wooden table with Elizabeth. She ground a mix of herbs with a mortar and pestle. 

"Innocent lives will always be lost as long as men are involved," Elizabeth said, glancing at Kol. He stood by the wall, watching the other witches work around him. He seemed uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry for bringing a vampire into your home," you apologized. Elizabeth grabbed your hand, squeezing lightly. 

"I do not fear him, neither should you."

You didn't know how to respond to that. 

"I will go into the town tomorrow and talk with the Sheriff," Elizabeth returned to grinding her herbs. 

"He'll kill you."

"Perhaps," Elizabeth shrugged. You found her to be rather calm despite the circumstances. "But this town isn't lost yet. Perhaps it will take someone like you and your friend to convince them of that."

You went back to the inn by nightfall, finding yourself staring up at the ceiling instead of Kol this time. Maybe you both had issues with dissociating. Kol flopped on the bed next to you a second later. 

"What do you think she meant by 'convincing the town?'" you turned to look at him. His hands were tucked behind his head, causing his shirt to slide up a bit. You ignored the sight. 

"Get them to stop the sheriff? Who knows" Kol quirked a brow. 

"But it might not stop a witch from dying."

Kol had nothing to say to that, and you didn't expect him to. You chewed your lip in thought. Eventually, you turned on your side to face him. 

"Thank you," you murmured. He glanced at you.

"For what?"

"For helping me."

"I just want to get home," Kol snorted.

"I don't believe that," you replied, shaking your head. Kol looked at you, warmth in his otherwise dark gaze. 

"You always see the best in people, don't you?"

"I have to," you glanced away. "Otherwise, no one else will."

Kol turned to face you, brows furrowed in thought. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen across your face, tucking it delicately behind your ear. The warmth from his fingers made you close your eyes. His hand went to your neck, grazing the collarbone before dancing over your shoulder. You tried to keep your breathing even as he lightly touched you.

"Do you see any good in me?" he whispered as if afraid to ask the question. You opened your eyes, looking at the furrow of his brow to heavy lashes as he refused to make eye contact. 

"I do," you hummed. "When you let me."

That seemed to settle something within Kol, who leaned in and pressed his lips against yours. It was barely anything, but you leaned into it, and that was enough to let him get rid of his reservations. His hand cupped your face, disrupting the hair he had been so gentle to tuck away. Your hand went to his waist, feeling the skin you had pretended not to eye earlier. You let out a gasp as his teeth nipped your lower lip, deepening what was already becoming something you knew you wouldn't want to run away from. Kissing Kol felt like a slow fire burning within you, growing in size until the only thing you could feel was his touch and his tongue on your body. His lips traveled along your jaw, kissing the delicate skin of your neck. Your mouth parted as blunt fangs dragged along the skin, nipping at your collarbone. You wished he would leave a mark. 

Kol couldn't stay away from your lips for long and returned to them with a fervor that insinuated that he'd been waiting to do this for some time. You let yourself be pulled on top of him as he rolled onto his back, his lips never leaving yours. You parted to breathe, nose nudging his and safety flooding your body as his arms wrapped securely around you. 

"Kol," you whispered. He hummed thoughtfully. Your hands brushed through his hair. "I've always seen you."

He grinned, kissing your cheek. "I know, darling. I know."

~

Unlike the night before, you let Kol hold you that night. You woke in warmth and a sense of belonging you'd been hoping for for a while. You didn't know what to expect today about the town of Willowbrooks, but you knew you wouldn't be alone through its trials. 

When you stepped outside, the town was already waiting with bated breath. Elizabeth stood facing down Sheriff Dunn, her skirt billowing around her ankles and her gaze steely. Sheriff Dunn glared. 

"Let this go, William," Elizabeth said. She seemed unhurried in her approach. "This town has suffered enough."

"Suffered because of creatures like you."

"No," she smiled, a faint thing. "Because of people like you."

The town shuffled uncomfortably on their feet, unsure what to do. You and Kol circled closer. 

"Elizabeth Foley, I charge you with crimes of disrupting the peace, and punishment must be served," Dunn announced, reverberating across the desert. Elizabeth didn't look shocked by this at all. You watched as Dunn removed his belt, wrapping it around his hands. Elizabeth got down on her knees, and you started forward. Kol grabbed your arm, yanking you back. 

"What are you doing?" you hissed, his grip a vice.

"You can't stop this, not by running forward."

"She's going to be tortured."

"It'll be worse if you intervene," Kol looked around at the people around you. You looked as well and took in the faces of horror and fear flickering across everyone's expressions. A half-baked idea started to form in your head just as the first whip sounded. Elizabeth didn't scream, even as the blood started to show on her shirt. Not even as Sheriff Dunn hit a second and third time. You watched the townspeople flinch, people of different backgrounds and colors watching with a tension that only came with disagreement. You wrenched your arm out of Kol's grip and approached the citizens. 

"Are you really going to stand by and watch as this man continues to hold your freedom hostage?" you exclaimed, voice loud. People looked at you in shock, Kol included. "When this woman is fighting for all men and women, regardless of circumstance, to have the same rights as the white man?"

"She is ready to take the belt if it means protecting people like you, people who never protected her," Kol yelled, joining you in your protest. He sent you a wink as he faced the other side of the town. 

"You have the power to do something! You have the power to put your foot down!" You walked closer, making a point to look at each person individually. You saw a few nods, and you let your voice get louder. Each exclamation between you and Kol drowned out the held-in whimpers of Elizabeth and the sound of the cracking skin. You watched the light ignite within more and more people and, for once, started feeling actual hope. 

It wasn't until Elizabeth was a heap on the ground, barely holding herself up, that the sound of a rifle being cocked reverberated throughout the courtyard. One of the men was aiming at the sheriff, who looked at him in shock. 

"That's enough, William. Let her go."

"Let us go," another man said, his own belt off and wrapped in his hands. More people kept joining in, saying similar sentiments. Sheriff Dunn hissed, stepping away from the approaching mob. He reached for his own gun, but the sound of several others being pointed his way was enough to set him running instead. As dozens of townspeople chased after him, you watched in satisfaction as metaphorical pitchforks arose. You spent only a second in that feeling before rushing towards Elizabeth. You slumped on the ground, pulling her into your arms. 

"Elizabeth," you gasped, your hands covered in the blood seeping through her clothes. She looked up at you with dazed eyes, her hand coming up to cup your cheek. 

"You did it, sweet girl."

"I-I didn't do anything," you stammered. 

"You brought hope," she coughed. "The most precious gift of them all."

Kol ran up next to you, biting into his wrist as he skidded to a stop next to Elizabeth.

"Drink," he demanded. "Let us help you."

"I don't need your blood, Mikaelson," she chuckled. You don't remember telling her his name. "My coven can heal me just fine. It's time for you two to go."

"Go? How?" you inquired, looking at Kol. He shrugged. 

"Take care of her," Elizabeth said to Kol, nodding. 

You couldn't get another word in as you felt your body dissipate into sparkling atoms. By the time you re-materialized, you were back in the Mikaelson compound. Rebekah startled from her place on the couch, glancing at the two of you, hand-in-hand on the ground. She took in both of your outfits and snorted. 

"Well, Kol," she drawled. "You always did like Clint Eastwood."

[curiostars]

can i interest you in mob psycho roleswap au. (close-ups and notes under the cut)

Reigen is not a conman in this au, but a real deal esper. Not that he knew for most of his life. He actually did start Spirits & Such under the impression he'd be running a scam business

A few months into the endeavour, he's visited by Touichirou, who proves to Reigen that a) real psychics exist, and b) Reigen is one. Reigen has actually been subconciously using his own powers without realizing- plain table salt actually can work in an exorcism, if one uses it to channel their own psychic power!

Reigen's abilities speficially have to use objects as a conduit, and while he doesn't have an overly large amount of power to draw from, the way he uses it is extremely energy-efficient. It's how he could use them without even noticing, it took so little effort he couldn't feel that he was doing something

Reigen joined Claw because he saw it as his way to finally become someone, but slowly he realizes that the organization is terrible. He can't see a way out and has nothing left if he leaves, having sold the office and packed up his life to join, so instead he doubles down and tries to convince himself he's okay with it all

Serizawa doesn't have psychic powers, so he also didn't spend most of his life locked in his room. Just a regular, sorta-awkward, very nice guy

He got dragged into the whole fake-psychic bit because he helped his neighbour out with a problem that they thought was a ghost but turned out to just be a minor electrical issue. His neighbour is convinced he exorcised a ghost and doesn't hear out Serizawa trying to explain that it wasn't

That neighbour recommends his help to a friend of theirs who also thinks they have a ghost problem. It's not really a ghost again, but she was so scared of ghosts and so happy to be safe that Serizawa didn't have the heart to tell her that he didn't exorcize any. Just a harmless white lie, right?

This spitballs by word of mouth and becomes a whole side gig for him. He gathers a reputation without even trying to. He is just too damn nice to turn people down when they ask for his help and has given up trying to convince people that he's not psychic, when what they want is help from a psychic

One day he helps someone who happens to be a real estate agent and extremely enthusiastic about helping him make a whole business. He is offered an office at an extremely discounted rental rate in one of the buildings they manage, and encouraged to take his business pro so that people can find him for help easier. It's a great idea! Serizawa doesn't agree so much as fails to refuse. Looks like he has an office now!

The office was formerly Reigen's, not that Serizawa knows it. It still has the sign up for Spirits & Such, so Serizawa keeps that name because he has no idea what he's doing but that sounds professional and legitimate, right?

As a small child, Teru was very difficult, and more importantly he was an esper. His parents mistook him floating objects during tantrums for possession, and brought him to an exorcist recommended by a friend of a friend

Serizawa, who can't exorcise a kid who isn't possessed in the first place (and couldn't anyways, not psychic as he is), ended up striking a deal with Teru to teach him control his powers. To the parents, he fakes dispelling a demon and claims it left Teru with "residual" power that Serizawa can help him learn to manage. Serizawa takes a fake-it-until-you make it appraoch with Teru's "apprenticeship", but it works

Teru, about a year into this arrangement, realizes Serizawa isn't even a little bit psychic. Teru is good and attached to him now anyways, and throws himself into helping Serizawa maintain the charade. Quite often this ends up causing more problems than it solves

Teru has a solid sense of morality thanks to Serizawa's mentorship, but he's extremely stuck up about it. Very holier-than-thou attitude. Would he truly be Teru without that self-centeredness?

Mob is the Shadow Leader of the Salt Middle School delinquents

Without Reigen's guidance (or Ritsu's presence as a role model, see below), he has much less of a moral compass, and is instead motivated by the small circle of friends he does have

He's not any less compassionate than canon, but only to a select circle of individuals. He doesn't care about anyone else, so long as it doesn't affect him and his friends

His characterization is closer to what he's like in Mogamiland, right before he remembers the real world. If the people around him made him who he was, who would he have become without most of those people?

The Telepathy Club are among the delinquents of Salt MS, having failed to keep their club room and turning to more drastic measures to find time to goof off and do what they want, and they're Mob's closest friends, hiding in his social shadow because no one wants to mess with him

If you threaten their freedom? So help you, Mob will not have mercy

Ritsu was kidnapped by Claw at about 8 years old, and forcibly awakened by them. He turned out to be an incredibly strong esper, powerful enough to catch the attention of Touichirou directly

He's scared out of running away by the threat of Claw finding his family, especially he's worried about them realizing Shigeo is also an esper

Like canon Shou, he's plotting to go against Claw, and biding his time for the right moment to start open rebellion

He's not quite Touichirou's son, but he's his "heir" so to speak. The secondmost authority in Claw

Shou didn't awaken any psychic powers as a little kid, and was more or less replaced as soon as Ritsu showed up

He was sent to live with his mother, and grew up more or less normally

Being abandoned by his father, understandably, gave him some harsh self-esteem issues

He's an over-achiever, a straight-A student and the student council vice president. He's compensating for his greatest failure: his lack of psychic power, which he wants more than anything

A part of him still hopes that one day his dad will want him back if he does ever get powers