#dear god imagine they find the monster posts

[therabbitthatpostthings]

God, if I’m gonna get mentioned in a YouTube compilation let it be one of my tame post and not the 3am wild ones.

[jennifer-jeong]

Guess who😊

As a reference to what you posted earlier, imagine that after the reader dies of old age, Xiao and Scaramouche encounter a reincarnation of themselves? It's your choice to make them mortal or not (I'm under your bed. If you make them mortal I will kick your feet at night.)

Take your time dear <3

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG FJDKSLA;FJDSA; life has been kicking my ASS but fuck it we ball HELLO MY MUTUAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR REQUEST, I’ve honestly been thinking hard because I want to also request some ideas because your writing is so sweet ehehehe OK PLEASE DON’T KICK MY FEET AT NIGHT THAT’S HORRIFYING - I WILL MAKE THE REINCARNATION IMMORTAL

ALSO @iota1111 these are my ideas for that Xiao and Wanderer angst! If you read only to the *** in each fic, that would be where I’d end the story if it wasn’t meant to be a happy ending! (I would suffer!!!!)

Fluff + Angst | Xiao/Wanderer x GN!Reader Reincarnation

CONTENT Angst to fluff, happy ending, reader death, mentions of death, mentions of fighting/them taking their anger out on things

XIAO

When you passed away, Xiao was absolutely heartbroken. He knew it was coming, he prepared for it, he stayed by your side through your deteriorating health in your last few months. But no matter what, he knew it would destroy him, and it did.

No one saw Xiao for weeks after but everyone noticed that Liyue was safer than ever. Xiao engrossed himself in his work. Taking out his emotions onto the monsters in Liyue. He worked himself to exhaustion every single day. Zhongli still came to check up on him but knew Xiao just needed time.

He didn’t know what to do with himself. What was he supposed to do? You were gone. HIs sunshine, his muse, his… everything.

Xiao collapsed after giving himself no rest for who knows how many nights. Laying in the grass, he stared up at the moon. Asking himself what he could’ve done differently and if he could’ve "selfishly" extended your life. If he could’ve made you immortal like him.

He listened to the bugs chirp around him, the breeze drying the tears he didn’t know were falling. For the first time in a long time, he cried. He sobbed and bit back the urge to lash out at everything in the vicinity. He was on his side, clutching his aching heart, crying into the soft grass he used to lay on with you.

He had gone through so much pain in his life: his karmic debt, the abuse from his old master, losing his found family, and all the years of deafening solitude.

But nothing would ever hurt more than losing you.

Xiao cried his heart out and knocked out from the exhaustion and pain. He slept peacefully for the first time since you passed. *** Xiao woke up the next morning with a start. Confused and disoriented not because of where he had fallen asleep, but because he sensed something insane.

He sensed you.

It was your soul, the one he swore himself to. There was no denying it. Was this a sick joke? Was some old evil spirit messing with him?

It had been months since your passing but there was no denying it. It was you.

Unfortunately, years would pass while Xiao searched for you. He was obsessed over it at first but once he could tell that your soul was safe and alive, he relaxed just a little. He still wanted to see you again, hold you, and whisper how much he loved you, but he knew you’d find each other eventually. He made himself a silent promise that he’d find you no matter what. He didn’t really have much else to do for all of eternity anyways.

Xiao confided in Zhongli through these years, the elder god revealing the possibility of reincarnation, revealing that it’s not uncommon. Souls return to the Earth in many forms but he hints to Xiao that he believes what he’s sensing is indeed you in human form.

Eventually, Xiao would be on a typical nightly patrol, sensing your soul nearby as always. But it was a bit different today. It was stronger.

As if right on cue, Xiao entered a clearing and despite it being nighttime, he saw the sun.

His beautiful sun had somehow risen again against all odds. You didn’t know his name but you knew his soul.

He recognized the sigil on your clothing, it belonged to an adeptus master he hadn’t seen in decades. The draconic horns on your head told him you were reborn in a different body, an immortal body. One that had you trained as an adepti for these past years, likely hidden away in a domain. It clicked in his head. It’s why he could always sense you, but never quite find where you were.

You turned around after feeling his approach. He wondered if you could feel his soul the way he felt yours. If you longed for him even in your new existence. He had so much to ask. But you pulled him out of his noisy thoughts.

Your voice brought him serenity he had long forgotten.

His heart pounded as you spoke.

“I missed you, my love.”

Instantly you were in each other's arms.

“I missed you too,” he says as his voice cracks.

WANDERER

He was angry, reverting back to how he was before Nahida, the traveler, and you helped him. He blamed the gods, the world, for his sorrows, for his pain. He sought to destroy it all again for somehow making his suffering worse. He had felt pain similar to this. It was all too familiar for him. The constant cycle of loss, betrayal, and agony. But this time, he was on the brink of insanity.

You, his perfect flower, had finally wilted.

He’s stuck bargaining for months, reverting between stages of grief: anger and bargaining. Never able to move on past that.

He continues on his missions for Nahida because he knows it’s what you've wanted but also because he didn’t know what else to do with himself. Any of his combat missions turned into tortures and near assassinations. He used it as a tool to cool himself off, much to the silent disapproval of Nahida. But she knew he’d never disobey your wishes, your morals. You taught him better than to kill out of emotion.

Wanderer commonly visits the forests where you two used to adventure to find some sort of peace and familiarity. He tends to avoid the Aranara despite the fact that they know about your passing and would probably be able to comfort him about it. He just didn’t think he could handle it.

Seasons pass and on one of his trips into the sunny lush forests, growing again due to the spring season, Aranara bring him your favourite flowers when they bloom again the next year. They loved you dearly too, you treated them and the forest with such gentleness that they could never forget you. They didn’t know how to approach him earlier so they used this opportunity instead.

His heart ached and his anemo vision surged with energy when he saw the flower. He finally reached his breaking point, he fell to his knees on the grass and sobbed, clutching the flower to his chest. Letting go of all the stupid anger and bargaining. Who was he kidding, he just didn’t want to accept that he’d have to keep going without you. *** The Aranara tell him not to worry though, comforting and telling him it will be okay. At first he’s confused as to what they mean but Nahida walks out into the sunlit clearing, the sun about to start setting.

She tells him she knows it hurts but that the Irminsul has a message for him and it says that he should not fret and continue to live on and explore the forest. His tear stained face raised an eyebrow but it slowly turned to determination, he knew Irminsul would not lie.

It would take years but he slowly started to feel you nearby. He’d dream of you. The forest felt like you and he could feel your energy in the flora. He confided in Nahida and their bond only grew stronger, he’d also reach out to the Aranara when he’d adventure out of the city.

Eventually, the Aranara prepared and held a ceremony, sensing the birthing of something new, a nature spirit. Nahida described it using the term “nymph.”

Wanderer was silent as he put the pieces together. He held his breath as he realized it might be you. Your reincarnation.

He always saw you as his flower, but he didn’t think you’d become a nature spirit, he was not complaining about it in the slightest though.

Nahida explained that you would exist in the physical realm but had strong ties to the dream realm, you’d be immortal like Aranara are but you’d still be able to live with him in the physical.

As you manifested and blinked open your eyes, you immediately looked at him.

His hands were shaking, unsure if he was scared, happy, both? Was it really you? Had the world finally decided to grant him happiness instead of sorrow? Was this a gift?

But as you took gentle steps towards him, he realized something important:

It didn’t matter.

You were here again, in front of him. Nothing else mattered.

You reached out to hold his face with your hands. You knew him, you knew your soul belonged to him and his to you.

He drew in closer to you, holding your face and touching your foreheads together, tears threatening to fall.

Your beautiful voice spoke to him again in what felt like an eternity. He had almost forgotten what you sounded like.

“Don’t cry my love, I’m here.”

His eyebrows scrunched as his tears fell. He wraps his arms around you tight, never wanting to let go, scared you’d leave him again.

“I missed you so much,” he whispered shakily, scared that his voice would fail if he tried to speak.

“I missed you too. I’m here to stay.”

|| MASTERLIST ♡ || Thank you for reading! ||

[shiny-jr]

Have you ever thought of the imposter au with the staff of raven College? I could just imagine Crewel being the reason the reader is summoned to twst while not fulling knowing it (Probably coming in at the end to safe then after realize shits going down). That and maybe Crowley and Vargas going full mad dog and just chasing the reader like crazy. Maybe Trein tripping over his cat while chasing and reader/imposter feeling bad about it. Along with Sam using shadow creature to track the imposter down. Just a fun ideas I've been having, feel free to ignore.

I have thought about it before. I believe I even once mentioned that I would make a separate post for it eventually. Recently been thinking about platonic yan staff, so like fatherly type stuff for those of you with daddy issues.

Platonic yan Crowley! Wants to be your father figure so bad. Why won't you let him take you under his wing? You'd be his little fledgling! Ah, he must do his best to protect you! He is the headmaster of a prestigious school with unfortunately many arrogant troublesome students. Often he'll dramatically lament, inquiring why you don't wish to spend time with your dear old father? When you reply with a deadpan, "You're not my dad, Crowley." He'll break out into a melodramatic wail, oh woe is him that his own child does not wish to partake in any activities with him! Ah–– a way home, you ask? Well, during one of his many hours long searches in the library to find you a way home, something he adamantly assures you he's been doing, he had the most profound idea which he shall so graciously share with you! Why not stay in Twisted Wonderland and allow him to formally adopt you? Then you shall be his child and he will be sure to provide you with all the love and care you need! Isn't he a genius with such boundless benevolence?

Platonic yan Divus! Probably believes the whole world is out to get you. You poor little thing, far from home, lost and afraid, with no where else to go. Eventually he'll begin to doubt that Crowley is taking proper care of you, and deem his efforts as inadequate. Look at this wretched place, an old dorm filled with cobwebs and ghosts is supposed to be your home? An old oversized uniform and a handful of cheap worn clothes from the shop are all you have to wear? And your classmates, his own students, oh he knows what they're like. A bunch of ruthless mischief making pups! This is unacceptable! Divus will spoil you like his own. He has a soft spot for you, so when he's improving your conditions and getting rid of the old dirtied items, you hold up that feral monster cat and go, "Can I at least keep Grim? Please?" Ah, the puppy eyes. How could he say no to you? But that cat is getting a bath first. Oh, and he's incredibly wary of all the students. In his eyes, none of them are good enough to be your friends, and he's beginning to suspect all of them of trying to take advantage of you. Listen here, darling, you are not to trust any other men besides himself, are we clear?

Platonic yan Vargas! Oh god, not another one. Somehow, he's worse than the other two dads you've acquired. Especially because he thinks your escape attempts are some sort of crazy athletic training regimen. He's come to think of your monthly escape attempts as survival training, so not only is he enjoying himself but he's more than capable of keeping up and capturing you. Then dragging you back to NRC with a proud grin, boasting about how you got so much further than last time! "Let me go! Let go of me!" That's the spirit, he cheers. Seems like you're raring to train again, but now's the time regain your energy for next month! Eagerly tells you stories about his youth, how he was the strongest and most popular! He really wants you to look up to him, and he likes to think he's your favorite dad. Especially when it comes to Crewel, let's say they have differing opinions on how to properly care for you. While his counterpart prefers to pamper you, Vargas believes you need more activity and excitement in your life! Wouldn't you agree with him? Come on, give him a smile now!

Platonic yan Trein! The only real dad on the list. He has two sons that are already full adults now, and he believes you'd get along wonderfully with them. You would be their new younger sibling. "That's kinda... dumb. I'm not their sibling though." You comment, as he responds, it is not foolish to want all three of his children to get along. It's a bit annoying that you can never really get on his nerves, despite him being notoriously strict and a little intimidating with his stoic look. But like most of the dads on this list, he too has a weak spot for you. He still expects you to be a well-behaved though. No matter what you're like, he can handle it. After all, he's been a professor at NRC for so long, that he's seen and taken care of countless students. If you're looking for quiet time, he's probably the best to be with by far. He'll let his feline familiar Lucius sit on your lap as he serves you a platter of cookies with a hot beverage. When you do try to get on his nerves for whatever reason, it never works, so you end up plopping down beside him on the couch in defeat, angrily opening a magazine as he calmly continues to read a book. Now that the opportunity has present itself, he'd like to have a word with you. You should know that you are his pride and joy. That being said, should any of his students be pestering you, inform him immediately and he'll handle it promptly.

Platonic yan Sam! Most likely the best one to be with. It doesn't even feel like he's trying to be your dad, he's more like a cool but still concerning weird uncle. But if you had to classify him as a dad, he'd be the chill one. Although it is scary that he seems to know way more about you than you ever told him about. You suspect it has something to do with his friends on the other side. Whenever you're not with him, you have spied an oddly moving shadow or two... But the upside about that is, he always seems to know what you want. If it's small, he'll offer it for free. If it's a bigger item, he'll let you have it if you work the shop with him for a few hours. What's say you, huh? Sound like a deal? He'll entertain you a trick or two while you're here! Sam likes to call you his little good luck charm, because you tend to bring in more customers and just put him in a good mood. He choses to trust you, more than the other dads, probably because he knows you can't escape because he's always watching you somehow. You go on ahead, just be back by dark, you hear? He wouldn't want to send his friends to force you back home if you stay out late, m'kay?

[cari-canes]

I recently reread Frankenstein after watching the Underverse Series and BOY do I have thoughts. I’m going to separate them into a few posts over a few days because it would actually be an essay if I put it all down in one post.

For now - I’ll leave quotes that I found most impactful from Frankenstein (and other gothic horror/horror) stories with a few of the characters from the Underverse Series.

Also - sorry for the bad grammar. I’m typing this on my phone at like midnight.

Ink: Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. (Frankenstein - Mary Shelley)

Obviously, Ink or Cross would be “the monster”. I think it’s even more fitting that although the “monster” never really has a name in the book, Mary Shelley did reference him as “Adam” in her earlier version. The “first born” creation. I think it’s very fitting, especially as Ink’s role, how his cannon role was formed, and what his new “goal” in the multiverse is.

Cross: I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other. (Frankenstein - Mary Shelley)

OR

I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel. (Frankenstein - Mary Shelley)

For Cross’ quote, I actually had a difficult time choosing which fit him better, so I went with both. Cross being one of XGasters creations who “breaks free” is just amazing. XGaster was so focused on perfection and trying to make his timeline perfect that he completely abandoned his creations in the meantime. This causes Cross to meet Ink, Dream, and eventually Nightmare and start his own reign of terror.

Dust/Killer: The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone. (Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson)

A different book for the two killers felt fitting, especially considering Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - at its core - is about addiction and loss. (It’s also a murder mystery but that’s besides the point). Both kill everyone in order to prevent another Gen*cide, but in doing so, allow themselves to be completely alone. (I’m also obsessed with the religious imagery but that’s another ramble for another day.)

Nightmare: To the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee. (Moby Dick - Herman Melville)

Obviously, Nightmare was going to be Captain Ahab from Moby Dick. He’s chasing a goal that’s frankly, nearly impossible. He let the corruption completely take over him “for hates sake”. (I also think this is something Nightmare would actually say in cannon).

Error: Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm. (Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson)

For Error, I had a very difficult time finding just one quote. He has so many complex layers to his character, especially in his own cannon. But I eventually landed on the Jekyll and Hyde quote, as I felt it resonated more with him. No matter what could or could not happen, he always has the antivoid to return to. The story of Jekyll and Hyde being about addiction and loneliness only made that point clearer for me, especially with the duality of man potentially paralleling the duality of Errors own psyche.

Fresh: Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form. (Moby Dick - Herman Melville)

I think this is pretty self explanatory for Fresh.

Dream: When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness? (Frankenstein - Mary Shelley)

Finally, Dream. He spent so long thinking that he was the one who killed his own brother, that the ‘truth’ was so painful that he couldn’t necessarily come to terms with it. His brother no longer exists and is instead consumed entirely by the corruption.

I think using gothic novels as a starting point, the Underverse - or at least the Undertale Multiverse could become a fascinating story about the connections between creation and creator, dark and light, and the pursuit of an unattainable goal.

[aquagirl1978]

Nightmares and Dreamscapes - Drake x Reader (Ikemen Vampire)

A/N: Whelp. I did it. I wrote about Drake and monster...something. Don't worry, there's no smut - I was not going there so I got creative. Thank @yanderepuck for poisoning my brain to the point that I wrote this, um...let's call it a crack kraken fic which could possibly be the most ridiculous thing I've ever written posted. If I even make one of you out there laugh, I'll be happy. Unlike Drake...

A/N #2: Disclaimer - I have not read any translations for Drake's route or his events. I am certain this will be wildly ooc and this was written as a joke between friends. I am sure Drake's deserves better, and one day I might write him a better. But that day is not today.

Pairing: Drake x Reader

Prompt: Drake has a nightmare. A very scary one. And it might have nvolved a kraken.

Word Count: 781

Tags: no actual smut, but Drake is...well...he's got some kinks.

“Drake?”

It was dark when Drake stirred in his sleep, awakening you from your slumber. He was mumbling incoherently, most likely in the midst of a dream. 

“No… No more…” His arms flailed in the bed, almost as if he was pushing something away. “Begone you vile creature!”

“Drake?” you whispered in his ear, rubbing your palm gently down his arm, hoping if this didn’t wake him, it would at least calm him. “Shhhh… It’s just a dream.”

When that didn’t seem to work, you wrapped your arms around his waist and pressed your body against his. “Drake,” you whispered in his ear, a bit louder this time, “you’re safe in your bed. In your home. Next to me, your lover.”

His body slowly stilled and the incoherent mumbling stopped. He turned in your arms and faced you; his silver hair was a complete mess, but he had the most adorable, embarrassed look on his face.

“Do you want to talk about your dream?” you asked softly as any caring lover would.

“Dream? It was a bloody nightmare! My God, it was horrible. Dreadful….” You listened as Drake described his nightmare – most of which involved a rather angry kraken – in far more detail than you ever cared to know.

“And then the Kraken finally let me go. Oh, it was awful. Please hold me.”

You took him into your arms, your fingertips barely touching him as you rubbed his shoulder. He rested his head in the crook of your neck, making soft whimpering sounds as he settled in.

You pulled back when you heard a different yet familiar sound. Worried he was dreaming again or something, your cause for alarm increased when you felt something wet on your skin.

“Are you….weeping?” Your hand flew to your mouth, preventing the laugh that was bubbling in your throat from escaping. You knew in your heart it was wrong to laugh at Drake right now, he was your lover after all. But instead, your mind kept imagining a giant – and ridiculous looking – kraken.

Drake looked up at you, teardrops glistening in his eyes. “You were not there. You do not know how….horrible…it was. It was truly frightening. Hold me again.” 

You tried your best to be a sympathetic lover. But try as you might, Drake did just remind you that you were not there in his nightmare, and clearly had no idea of how truly horrific his ordeal with the kraken exactly was.

“I know I wasn’t there,” you said, in your most soothing voice, “but…” Drake pressed his body against yours, causing you to pause, a familiar firmness pushing against your thigh.

“Drake?” you asked, truly confused as to how you would broach this touchy subject.

“Yes, my dear?” he replied sweetly in between sobs. 

You grimaced as if you just swallowed some awful tasting medicine. Here goes nothing. “Drake, are you, um…”

He looked up at you with the saddest puppy dog eyes. Maybe if you closed your eyes, you’d find yourself in a nightmare of your own and save you from whatever this was.

“How do I say this delicately…” you pondered aloud, “but are you…I dunno…excited right now?”

Utter confusion washed over his face. “Excited?"

You let out a very heavy sigh, “Really, Drake? You’re gonna make me say this?” He stared at you cutely; was he…batting his eyelashes at you? “Oh, for fuck’s sake…Drake, did the kraken turn you on?”

“What?! No! Absolutely not. That’s disgusting! What kind of animal do you think I am??” he shrieked at you, horrified. He then lowered his voice, his face hovering close to yours. “What would ever make you think that way?”

“Well, um….” Your gaze drifted down towards his hips. 

“Oh…that,” he said in a strangled voice. “Well, that’s rather embarrassing, isn’t it?”

You closed your eyes because maybe if you opened them, you’d wake up from this nightmarish hell. Right about now, the kraken wasn’t sounding too terrible.

“Hey…” 

You opened your eyes to find Drake staring at you. Nope, not a dream. Yet.

“Would you find me any less of a man if I did say that I did find the kraken…”

“Don’t even finish that sentence, Drake.”

“Sometimes…when I’m out at sea…”

“No, Drake…”

“And I have no idea when I will see you again…”

“Go to bed, Drake.”

You rolled over on your side, hoping this would give him a much needed hint.

“Psst…”

“Yes, Drake?”

“Did I mention they have tentacles?”

Drake soon found himself unceremoniously removed from the bed. He took his favorite blanket with him as he made a nest on the couch. 

“Well, that didn’t end well, did it? How disappointing.” 

Tagging: @redheadkittys @chaosangel767 @ikehoe @kpop-and-otome @lucyw260 @queengiuliettafirstlady @kisara-16 @lordsisterxotome @umi-adxhira @crypticbibliophile @tele86 @nightfoxqueen @wendolrea @randonauticrap @xbalayage @xenokiryu @nightghoul381 @alydra @ranhanabi777 @silver-dahlia @fang-and-feather @lunaaka @ikesenwritings

[writingforatwistedworld]

So you know in the Halloween event how the magicam monsters keep breaking in to ramshackle how would Malleus, Sebek, and Lilia handle them disrespecting god in the self aware au and invading their privacy and stealing things?

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, religion, blood, death, murder, possessiveness, obsession, stalking

Malleus Draconia/Lilia Vanrouge/Sebek Zigvolt-Visitors breaking into Ramshackle

So they have choosen death. Interesting

We already know how he reacted when someone broke in when it was just Yuu living there but now imagine the whole thing in self-aware….

Mhm the world shall burn

But how did things even come this far

So here you were, for some reason living in a almost collapsing building (Crowley must have had a death wish), and he decides to bring the festival to you

And people finding out that not only ghosts are there but also the Overseer? Have fun guarding your stuff

The first day everything was a mess

People were going into your home and thank goodness that Crowley was kind enough to give you the keys to your room

But there was still stuff outside your room and guess what, that was gone

I mean, who wouldn’t want something so fine like a blanket of the Overseer?

When Malleus found out the first day had already passed

That doesn’t mean that the people on the second day were any safer

The anger he couldn’t release the day before got thrown onto these poor souls

No one was even allowed to come close to Ramshackle and if they did?

Fried chicken my friend. Fried chicken.

But hey! This shows how much they adore you and a few… incidents wont be too bad if it means making sure that you and everything you own is safe, right? Also, you can roast marshmallows on the fire that is consuming the world. Yay!

Now Lilia might not be as powerful as a certain individual whom I totally haven’t mentioned in this post but he has his means

I mean, tose years of making others a head shorter are great practice for what is about to come

Lilia is very religous

In fact, he is so deep into it that he might have done things in his delusions that others of it wouldn’t have done

But here we are, your stuff gone

Lilia, why is that red paint on your clothing? You are not in Pomefiore so… oh… ok

When Lilia prayed to you in those huge churches in the Valley of Thorns he witnessed sometimes how someone would try to nab one of the offerings presented to you

You may let your mind run loose what he did to them

And now someone dares to steal from you

Oh dear, they won’t be seeing their loved ones ever again

The Fae is not afraid to use violence to get what he wants and now he wants them to be miserable

Once he has taken care of the ones who stole from you you will net be able to get rid of him

After all, who can say that you don’t get robbed again?

So even after the celebration he is still standing there, guarding you and your stuff

And when you leave? Silver is taking over the spot and that one bush seems to follow you

They dared to take from you before so how can he know that they won’t try to harm you the next time?

My poor ears

But we had everything until now, the end of the world, your own personal guard in a suspiciously red suit so how much worse can it get?

To our suprise, it really can’t so yay?

Sebek is not powerfull nor violent enoough to cause the damage the other Fae did

That does not mean that those meneances are spared though

So here you are, Sebek holding your hand whilst the ones who dared to take from you are… lying there as proof of his devotion

If this would be an anime they would be pixilated for obvious reasons

But what did we expect? He was raised by one of the bigges religious fanatict in the Valley of Thorns so this shouldn’t be a suprise

There is a way to stop him though

Tell him that you need him to be by your side so that you aren’t too sad

Tell him that his presence is like light in the dark

This may spare a few visitors but you are paying a great price

Have I ever mentioned that Faes can be quite possessive with the ones they adore

The only ones safe from him would be his beloved Waka-sama, Lilia and Silver

You ask what happens to others? Pixilated offerings

But can’t you see? He is only doing this becaise he loves you! Now don’t run away and stay here right beside him

[immoralimmortals]

we hop-skip-jump back with more akatsuki questions! we hope your days have been grand and your songs sweet, tak(?)

if the akatsuki were exposed to the cuisines of our modern, international world, what would each of them gravitate to? would hidan be lured by the cooking of the southern american states, creole, the sausages and cuts and grinds of europe, the whole beasts of the pacific? would itachi look at italian cuisine and feel a deep pang of nostalgia of how sasuke would like this fare? what would these tongues make of our world's bounty?

Hello again! Yes, I'm Tak uvu Some more cusine headcanons for you, dear!:

Honestly I think you nailed Hidan right off the bat. I think he's a connoisseur of meat in specific, if given the time and lack of killing people (so only a world with no Jashin. Probably). I can imagine him, Deidara, and sometimes Kisame having a hot sauce drinking contest. Kakuzu would show up and blow them out of the water once and never participate again. I think Hidan would like beef jerky and pork rinds.

My dad is obsessed with the Red Lobster food chain and now I'm thinking about how Kisame would genuinely enjoy himself while everyone else is only there for cheddar bay biscuits.

My dad just bought at least 100$ worth of Red Lobster gift cards once finding out they're going out of business HE KEEPS ASKING ME OUT TO RED LOBSTER SOMEONE FUCKING HELP M

I've already said in a prior post that Deidara would be OBSESSED with pop rocks. Wouldn't be surprised if he seeks out other kinds of food that give specific sensations, hence the hot sauce bit just now. He'd love carbonated drinks, too. He can bullshit his way into convincing you that yes, Monster Energy Drink *does* require a sophisticated flavor palate! He'd try anything if it had a novelty factor, at least one he can take seriously.

Perhaps obviously I can see Itachi especially enjoying the vast variety of teas that one can acquire in the modern world. My personal favorites tend to be rooibos blends, so I'd like to give him a cup. God, he'd be a great cafe owner. Literal coffee shop AU type of man. I want him to tell me about the floral notes in this morning blend of green tea from the Himalayas. I wanna own a combination tea shop and bakery with him, that'd be the dream.

Kakuzu strikes me as a hardy, heavy food kind of guy. Stews and meats and breads. He'd probably like corned beef and cabbage and potatoes. ...Sorry my Irish in me is coming out. Gravitates to comfort food that keeps you full and warm.

Nagato and Konan are...interesting ones to consider, because whenever I think about them and food I just can't stop thinking about how formative starvation must have been for them. I think they can get overwhelmed by seasonings really fast, anything especially salty or sugary or what have you is in small portions. I don't think they'd deal well with the fact that the most available foods in some societies are saturated with flavor that's overcompensating for shitty processed food. I think if you gave Nagato a bottle of Sunny D it might actually kill him.

Sasori can't taste shit, I think, but if he did he's one of those assholes with PIN POINT PRECISION. Wine connoisseur. Chocolate connoisseur. Will intellectually wreck your shit if you tell him you're making spaghetti and serve him angel hair.

I think Obito would get really disappointed if you told him you were going to get mochi and you came back with the kind you get from the grocery store.

Zetsu still eats people, I can only presume. He might be interested in foods related to "stranger" body parts, brain cheese and haggis, that sort of thing.

Side note: several years ago when I first entered my never-ending Akatsuki phase, I read a really, really cute self insert or reader insert fic where the Akatsuki came to the "real world" and they watched Spongebob and Kisame made what the story described as an adorable face as he was shown how a soda can works. I've been looking for it and my heart yearns to reread. If you happen to find it, please let me know!

[hamunnyii]

Please I'm weak after finding a post about Bowser being a hopeless romantic for Luigi, talking about him like he talked about Peach in the movie (@hisy-fit thanks for the idea).

Imagine Bowser saying sugary sweet things like "I love how involuntary expressive he is even if he tries to hide it" and "The way he widely smiles and his mustache smile, too together with him, especially around the people he loves the most" "He's kind hearted, genuine, ready to fight anyone that dares to lay a finger on his loved ones getting courage from them... It just makes me want to be his"

And dear God. What if one day Luigi hears about all of this.

Imagine Bowser and Luigi have been getting to know each other for a while now. Bowser gave up on Peach but still wants to rule the World, so he still attacks her Kingdom. One day he decides to kidnap Luigi as he thinks he could use him against Mario. But unexpectedly, they start talking gradually; at the start it's only small talk, but as Bowser keeps kidnapping him, they get closer by the minute.

After months of this going on, Bowser realizes he has a crush on Luigi. At the start he ignores it wanting (because deep down he knows it's a big crush) to think it's small, but as it goes on and his love for him grows, without realizing he starts thinking it could end just like with Peach or that Luigi thinks, too he's a monster, so after realizing he was thinking in circles about Luigi and him having romantic feelings for one another, after a lot of time he accepts he does have a crush.

But. He starts to worry whether it's a good idea to really pursue these feelings, as in his point of view Luigi doesn't seem slightly interested in him romantically. With time he only falls harder blushing every time Luigi smiles and involuntarily but-not-so-involuntarily he notices Luigi more. He pays more attention to him, both verbally and physically (with time getting more and more physical), cares more about him feeling okay anywhere anytime, gives him compliments, etc. .

During this time it's Luigi starting to feel different for Bowser. He starts feeling safe with him because as they've got to know each other he got to know Bowser would not hurt him, gets butterflies and blushes when Bowser enters the same room he's in, gets giddy and moves wobbly when hearing him talk or having him near, fidgets when around him, and everything else. But he still doesn't want to believe he has a crush on Bowser.

One day, Kamek and the kids (who know everything because holy moly they're obvious), ask Bowser what does he like about Luigi. Bowser is left like "How did you know I have feelings for him???"

And Kamek is like "Sire, I'm sorry but it's obvious."

"DOES HE KNOW?"

"No, I don't think so."

And as Bowser starts talking about Luigi he gets more and more giddy, wobbly, and sweet, saying sugary sweet things all over.

But my dear fate wants Luigi to be searching for Bowser as he hasn't seen him or the kids for some time, and right when he hears him talk, he starts going towards that direction. As he gets closer, he gets quieter for some reason, because he subconsciously wants to know who he's talking so happily about, still not hearing any romantic phrase said by Bowser. Then finally, one of the kids or Kamek asks something with Luigi's name being on it, and Bowser starts talking about explicitly romantic thoughts he has about him.

Luigi goes crazy for a moment and realizes something, he's not sure of what, but he will know. From there he notices by the day the all the attention Bowser gives him, how he treats him differently from other people.

He falls harder. He gets wobblier and blushes harder and harder, and becomes more obvious by the minute. At some point Bowser notices it and starts thinking just maybe, he could try to pursue his feelings and win his heart. But Luigi already fell in love with him, so what he does is make Luigi more blushy, which as a result makes Bowser blushier. It continues on an infinite loop until one day where Luigi decides to speak up about what he heard.

For fate, Bowser that same day decided to be a bit more obvious with his feelings, expressing them more. Luigi takes courage not wanting to hide things from Bowser, and tells him what he heard. Bowser is shocked but so is Luigi after Bowser confirms what he said is true, and that he fell in love with him. They confess their love to each other in the sweetest way possible, blushing HARD and having their heartbeat so fast both of them could hear each other's hearts even more as the got closer than ever and kissed.

I need help. Freaking out.

[dyns33]

The God of Nightmares

A little Dark Morpheus x Reader. Not proud of this one, but still posting it. 

Her parents had never been very clear about why Y/N couldn't go out.

Yes, they had told her about the "monster", the God of dreams, with whom they had had a "problem", and who wanted to kill them all and take her, but it wasn't really very clear at the end.

When she was a child, she hadn't asked questions.

Y/N had seen the tall, dark figure through the windows, she had heard the whispers in the dark, she had had strange dreams, and it had all scared her.

There had been the time when she had been sleepwalking, approaching the front door, and it was her father who had grabbed her before she opened it. Since that incident, they locked her in her bedroom when she was going to sleep.

It wasn't easy for her, being locked in the house all day, and in her bedroom at night.

But it was for her own good, the good of the family, the good of the whole world.

When she was ten years old, her mother had taken her hands and tried to be a little clearer about their situation. Especially because Y/N kept having a lot of questions, not understanding why she was the only one who wasn't allowed to go outside.

           "A long time ago, your grandfather's grandfather made a mistake. He met the master of nightmares who ordered him to give him the first daughter born in the family, otherwise the whole universe would fall in a eternal sleep. Frightened, the man accepted, but only had boys, who in turn only had boys, and that until you were born. But it had been centuries, and we didn't want to lose you, so we asked a powerful witch for help. The house is protected, and he can't come in without permission. As you can imagine, it didn't please the King of Dreams, who swore to kill us all as soon as he gets you. Then you mustn't go out, ever."

           "... But he could hurt you too when you go outside."

           "No, he's not allowed to. He needs to have you first."

           "I don't understand anything. And I thought I had no right to imagine things."

           "Indeed, why do you say… Oh, yes, I told you to imagine. Forgive me dear, you're right."

           "He and I are not allowed to do many things. But why did he ask my grandfather's grandfather for his daughter ?"

           "It's late, you should go to sleep. Dreamless sleep, promise me."

Y/N didn't answer, just going to her room, followed by her parents who locked the door as soon as she was inside.

It was all really unclear, and the few dreams she had weren't helping. Because even if the figure in the street was frightening, surrounded by ravens and his shining eyes staring at the house, there was nothing terrifying in hers dreams.

This rarely happened, no doubt because of the protection of the witch, and the prohibition of her parents to develop her imagination, but it happened that Y/N heard stories, stole a book, hid behind the sofa to listen the television, and then she couldn't help dreaming of another life, outside, where she would be free and happy.

This was what she continued to dream of during the night, finding herself near a lake, or in a garden, near a huge palace, where several creatures greeted her with a friendly smile, saying that they were glad to meet her.

Y/N did not see the King of Dreams for several years however, not until she became an adult. He had left her with calm and peaceful nights, only showing up at the door of her house. But he seemed to be losing patience after all this time.

           "My love, why do you let them treat you like this ?" he asked her one night, meeting her in a wonderful forest.

           "You. Don't come any closer !"

           "You can run but it would be useless, we are in my kingdom and I will find you everywhere. I am not trying to scare you though. I just want to talk to you."

           "You want to take me and kill my parents."

           "Oh, I certainly don't have any affection for your family after what they did to me, but if you ask me, I won't kill them."

           "... Really ?"

           "Really, my love. They have a debt to pay, and the rules are the rules. I can't leave until this story is over, and it won't be over until you let me in."

           "Why are you calling me that ?"

The Master of nightmares didn't answer her, just smiling at her, a sweet and sincere smile.

The next day, Y/N dared to ask her parents if there was a way to convince the terrible God to spare them. Maybe he would listen and be lenient. He could probably understand that people who hadn't asked for anything didn't want to abandon their daughter.

The question enraged them, her mother asking her if she had lost her mind, while her father grabbed her to shake her, yelling at her not to think such things, before ordering her to go to her room, where she was locked up all day.

Her only companion was a little raven who stayed at the window as she cried, but unable to get in, since she couldn't open it either.

There was another dream, during which the king asked her again why she let her family treat her so cruelly.

           "They cut you off from the dream world, my love, but they also cut you off from the waking world. It's not healthy, it's not normal. I see how unhappy you are. I regret having you put in such a situation. My brother had sworn to me that if I asked a companion to the man who offered me a pact, I would be happy, but he seems to have been wrong, for the first time."

           "The man who offered you a pact ?"

           "Don't you know, my love ? Of course not. They lied about that too, so you would distrust me. I can imagine what they told you. One of your ancestors found me when I was in a delicate situation, and he offered to help me. In exchange for his help, I offered him good luck. But he asked for more, he wanted the certainty that he and his descendants would lack for nothing, so in exchange for my favours and my protection, I asked for the hand of the first daughter of his family. When I had my betrothed, my benefits would no longer be assured, although they would continue to be lucky. He agreed on the terms, but the day you were born, your parents thought they didn't want to lose everything, so they locked you away from me. I now want to take you, make you my queen, but also to punish them, for not having respected our pact, but especially for all that they did to you."

Not knowing if she could believe him, Y/N asked him to leave her alone, which he did, bowing to her.

For several nights, she had no dreams, until she called him. Then the king of dreams ran to her, smiling enchantingly, and answering all her questions without the slightest embarrassment.

No, the world had nothing to fear from him. No, they wouldn't kill her parents if that was her wish. No, he wouldn't force her to stay with him if she preferred to leave, he just wanted her to be free, and to be able to see her sing, dance and smile in the middle of a meadow, lit by the sun.

And he was not a God. He was an Endless, Dream of the Endless. Morpheus.

Again, there remained the possibility that he was a liar. Her parents had always told her that he was a liar, that he was dangerous, and that he would do anything to get her out or let him in.

But from the beginning he had been the only one to treat her with respect and kindness. To worry about her happiness, to ask her what she wanted, to say that this situation was not normal.

The only one who apologized.

Y/N therefore found the courage to talk to her family again, in order to find a suitable solution.

           "I think it would be really possible to talk to him, and in exchange he won't hurt anyone."

           "You still say stupid things." growled her father.

           "No. Morpheus may not be as monstrous as you think, he'll let you go, he'll even let me go, this can all have a good ending, we can all..."

           "How... How did you call him ?" her mother asked in a shaky voice. "You talked to him. You listened to him. You let him hex you, and now you want to kill us all ! Do you think he'll leave us ?! Either you're crazy or you're stupid !"

           "We won't let you ruin everything ! You won't come out, you hear ?! You won't come out, even if we have to force you to."

Frightened by her parents' fury, Y/N took refuge in the cellar, in a dark corner where no one could find her. There, she had some time to think.

There had been something in her father's and mother's eyes, something dangerous, dark, and she had understood that they weren't necessarily talking about locking her in her room again to prevent her from going out.

If she died, they wouldn't have a problem.

A part of her refused to believe that they could commit such a crime, and yet they had lied to her since birth, only to keep the blessings Morpheus had granted them. Even though he had agreed to give them a little luck, which would be enough to have a good life.

She had to get out of this house, quickly.

Making as little noise as possible, she went back into the kitchen, hearing her parents who were still looking for her upstairs, and she slipped to the front door. The key had been left on a piece of furniture, no one imagining that she would think to open it, and no one fearing that the Master of dreams could enter, thanks to the magical protection.

As soon as the door was opened, Y/N found herself face to face with Morpheus, who seemed to know perfectly well what had happened.

           "Will you let me in to punish them ? Or do you still wish to spare them, just to come with me ?"

           "I... I don't know."

           "Matthew saw everything. He heard them, plotting against you, talking about hiding your body. Let me in, my love. Even if I don't kill them, I have to punish them for what they did."

           "Who is Matthew ?"

           "My raven. He always stayed close, to tell me if you were safe."

           "I don't care what you do, but I would love a hug."

Morpheus only had to take a step and open his cloak that contained the universe to take her in his arms. It was the first time someone had hugged her, and Y/N closed her eyes, hugging him back, as her parents arrived, screaming in terror at the sight of the scene.

They screamed again, as Morpheus waved a hand in their direction, but Y/N paid no attention, feeling at last where she belonged, surrounded by love and warmth. A kiss placed on her forehead, she then found herself in front of a castle, where several creatures greeted her as their queen.

           "I'm dreaming ?" she asked shyly.

           "Yes and no, my love. You are in my kingdom. Our kingdom. Come."

           "I thought I could go and be free if I asked to ?"

           "Come." he repeated simply taking her hand, leading her to the throne.

And then Y/N wondered if she was dreaming, or if she was having a nightmare.

[paramountpetrichor]

Omg omg omg omg omg now that I finally found other sams proshippers IMMA RANT ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE SUN X ALL HIS FAMILY MEMBERS!!!!! Old moon x sun? God tier cause of the power dynamics, moon's possessiveness, how closw they were and toxic their dynamic is it makes me so feral and crazy!!! EARTH X SUN IS EEEEEE I've been shipping them ever since earth was announced!! They are the best brosis ship!! Lunar x Sun is fucking cuuuuuttttteeeee!!! I love their interactions and how hes basically sun's baby brother and I'm so happy I found the proship side cause this entire fandom is ruled by antis🥺

YESYESYES RANT RANT RANT!!!!!!

Sun and Old Moon make me CLIMB WALLSSS. istfg you could make a list of how many times those two hit on each other and were all up in eachothers faces!!! the tension they had (and still have tbh) is INSANE. Sun was Old Moon's entire world and he'd protect him at all costs, even if Sun's heart was collateral in the process and that's so fucking UAFAIFAIGA GRR RAH RAH BARK SNARL!!! that one episode where Sun reassured O.M that he wasn't a monster??? i can't say the things that i think they DID TOGETHER after that episode without having to mark this post as mature afskagahaa. and oh my god whenever Sun was on his 'villain arc' right before O.M died, you know they had angry makeout sessions. you know they did. literally impossible for them to keep their hands off eachother even when they're fighting.

SUN AND EARTH ARE SO FUCKING CUTE AGSKQGAJSV they LITERALLY had a canon meet-cute where Earth SAVED SUN FROM SPIRALING DURING THE WORST MOMENT OF HIS LIFE. in ANY other media that'd be the start of the best fucking romance you've EVER seen. and not to mention how often they hang out together??? and how much earth makes sure to reassure sun that he's a good brother????? dear god they so have mutual crushes/feelings and are too nervous to say anything. (or they're already dating and just bad at hiding it lol. whenever they trade daycare shifts they also trade Kisses <3)

REPEATEDLY SLAMMING A CREDIT CARD DOWN AGAINST A TABLE. SUN AND LUNAR ARE SO AJAFAH TOO. i imagine they started bonding a long time ago- back during the og lunar design days. they found solace in the fact that they were both """the dumb one""" and quickly became close over that. not to mention the flirting- i mean "sibling bickering" they do all the time that is so URGHHH /VPOS 🤌🤌🤌 i bet they started being romantic one day whenever they were just gaming together n then lunar offhandedly asked "what if we made out lol. ...for like practice ofc ahahahah." and then after sun spent 5 minutes recovering from that he was like ".....sure...?". cue them repeatedly finding excuses to keep making out everyday until they just Accepted they were brothers who kissed ;3c

and also you didn't mention him but hes Technically a part of the family so may i pitch: sun and solar are so good tooooo. there sm ANGST POTENTIAL over solar (at first lol) not knowing if he sees sun as his own person or just a shadow of his own sun, but then solar starts opening up to sun a bit more n' he catches feelings and he catches feelings hard. hypnotized by the thought of solar just losing control one day and kissing sun w/o asking, and hes about to start rapidly apologizing but then sun kisses him back. aaand now they're making out in the daycare. and the only reason they stop is because someone (earth prolly lol) politely asked them if they wanted a room digisgoaga

UNFORTUNATELY your last statement is right, this fandom is primarily run by antis, but ykw, im gonna do everything in my power to carve out a lil safe proship haven for us """freaks"""! we deserve to have a place where we can make them all kiss, dammit!!!

[titleknown]

Dear Master,

I would like to start this letter by apologizing. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them. I'm sorry I couldn't be her.

I'm not sure how to describe what it is, to exist without a purpose when you've failed at all the others you've been given. You never had that problem. That's probably why I could never measure up. But I had to try. That's what you made me to do. I don't think I could do anything else.

I send you this because I have found a way. Your masterwork, taken by those who would spite you, has something at it's center. I found it in my search for you, or something left of you. I'm going there to find it. I will take my vengance on those who took your life. 

For if I cannot be your love, I cannot be your soldier, I can be your revenge. I can be your gun.

It is time I head inward. I know it seems strange to send a letter to a dead man. But, as you told me yourself, if you went away, who else could love me but a dead man? 

I will make sure that you love me. Wherever you are.

Dearly Beloved,

MARcELlA

-----------------------

HAPPY PUBLIC DOMAIN DAY, HERE'S A NEW PD CHARACTER! AND YES IT IS FOR THAT CHALLENGE!

To give some context on her backstory, long story short, she was made by this megalomaniac creator (think Walt Disney but more 80s) to replace his dead wife, only to be rejected by him when he realized she could never be a replacement. 

He's long dead now, and the scenario I'm thinking of has her delving deep into said creator's abandoned monster-overrun mega mall, which has sort of a "Synthwave-Soulsborne" vibe with a heavy emphasis on the fantasy side of science-fantasy. 

She's more a homunculus or; well; a living doll than a robot, and her goal is to find some big mystery at the center to become "a real girl," the one he wanted her to be, tho it would become clear that's basically impossible. 

Whether or not you get the good ending actually determines whether she learns to realize that she deserves to live as herself, as what she is. 

As a game I'm imagining a mix of soulsborne and character action game dynamics, but with the big twist of there being big setpiece dungeons that're lightgun rail shooter segments, super elaborate ones too, shaped by the stuff that you do in the exploratory-y side of the game, where she literally turns into a disembodied self-operating gun to do the sort of cool spectacle-y setpieces that'd normally be QTEs in other games. 

The idea was actually from trying to come up with a bunch of concepts derived from trying to design a character based on one of the core design ideas of The Guardian Legend's protag, and picking the one that felt the most thematically solid. 

The idea being, a protagonist who's a pretty lady with the power to change forms for the sake of switching between two very different styles of gameplay. In this case Soulsborne/Character-Action-Game and House Of The Dead-type rail shooter. Most of the ideas followed from there! 

Everything in this post is 100% public domain under the CC0 Public Domain Dedication license, free to do with as you wish.

And god, she kinda sparked my interest in doing more with this setting, because god "Synthwave Soulsborne" is a deeply evocative concept, given the air of melancholy around 80s nostalgia in this shitshow of a time period...

[bleachbleachbleach]

hi!! I’ve been binge reading ur fics and I’m so glad that it led me to your blog!! Hinamori and Hitsugaya are also my blorbos and I love your take on their characters and dynamic which is that they’re different flavors of what it’s like to be young and screwed over by the system you’ve been nothing but dutiful towards. In Hinamori’s case, she earnestly did believe in the ideals of the Gotei 13 (like seriously, one of her first character defining moments is rushing towards someone who needs help regardless of orders to do otherwise like with renji being injured and hisagi being attacked) but was constantly screwed over by the someone who she thought was the personification of those ideals and was just expected to immediately bounce back from that . Meanwhile Hitsugaya, who was already more reluctant from the get go, not only had to watch all that happen to her in real time, but keeps getting thrust into every shit show from the fuck factory because he unfortunately possesses the skills to do so. In some of your fics, Momo frets over how much being a Shinigami takes so much from him without giving him much back for his efforts and I wonder if he hasn’t thought the same about her?

And yet…at the heart of it…both of them just want to do good!! They just want to do right by people even if it’s in the world that constantly tries to chew them up and spit them out. Hinamori would still fret over and try to rush towards someone she thinks needs help and Hitsugaya will still go into a shit job sighing but hell still do it by the virtue of being one of the few ppl that can. I’m sorry if this ended up turning into a ramble but you just get it!!! God, they need another cathartic non traumatic field trip post TYBW. We rlly deserved a scene after all the battles where they make a long walk towards each other, stumble into each other’s arms or even just sit next to each other and go “holy shit you’re still here. We’re still here” and not get disturbed for 20 mins before they help each other up and do their jobs again.

This is from over a month ago now, dear anon, I am SO sorry. I was feeling really good about being on top of recent asks and then remembered that we have several months of messages we have failed to respond to. It is not for lack of appreciation, truly! Just lack of being on this page. I remember reading this message when you sent it and being, at the time, EXTREMELY hormonal and it was so kind and so needed and it means a lot that you came here to say it. <333333333333

Something I hear a lot is “the institution will not love you back”—the warning being not to fall into the trap of loving it, or giving too much to it, because it will only take. I think that’s true, but I also think that there are many professions that make the actual practice of this impossible, because they require you not to love, per se, but to really care, and really give—if only because if you don’t, then the thing becomes a monster. It is alive, it is not a thing that withers and desiccates if you do not care for it. It becomes a worse thing and harm is done, if you don’t care, no matter how much you’ll never get back when doing so.

I imagine the Gotei being a lot like that, and while I don’t imagine Hinamori or Hitsugaya loving the Gotei (Hinamori might have been, during various periods of her life, closer to that word than Hitsugaya will ever be; and I think at points may have even thought so, or entertained the slippage being loving the Gotei and loving other things; but even then, even then—) they definitely care a lot. It’s a troubled care, and something I find really interesting about both of them is their ongoing negotiation of how to believe in some version of the Gotei but not believe in it but adhere but not adhere but fuck all but not fuck all.

You asked, “In some of your fics, Momo frets over how much being a Shinigami takes so much from him without giving him much back for his efforts and I wonder if he hasn’t thought the same about her?”

I think he does, but in a different way than Hinamori does for him. In my version of their story, Hinamori has a certainty about how the math works out, and it’s not really in Hitsugaya’s favor, and she mourns that. Regardless of how she understands Hitsugaya to have internalized it, she is going to mourn that. It’s not that she doesn’t care about the first part, it’s just part of some other math.

Thinking about Hinamori, Hitsugaya has also done the math, but it’s not really the straight math he’s focused on. He’s more interested in how Hinamori is carrying it, if that makes sense. He wants to know her thought process, and what he sees there is going to impact how he feels about it. Like, the math’s bad, it will always be bad, but is it hurting her? Does her attitude toward it feel like delusion masking pain, or is it the clarity of acceptance coupled with conviction? She carries it differently than he does, he knows, and as long as he can be certain that it’s not that first thing, he can accept her acceptance. He admires her for it, that particular kind of resolute clarity. His version of it is not the same (and to him feels like a worse version). It’s not naivete; it’s not delusion, or desperation. It is Hinamori.

[tugoslovenka]

Warding Bond - Chapter 1

Hope

The Feast of Heroes was meant to celebrate the efforts of common and special champions who took up arms against the threats that dared target the city of Baldur’s Gate. It would always include mention of some spectacular individuals that gave life and limb for their home. However, the legendary six were always at the forefront of these tributes, led by none other than the self-proclaimed leader of the group, pivotal in taking down the mind flayer threat.

Lord Astarion Ancunín.

Owner of the Ancunín Estate. Member of the Council of Four. All-powerful vampire ascendant.

And the target of Althea’s emancipation pact.

A/N:

Also posting on AO3!

I would like to preface this that this is a rather heavy fic with explicit mentions of SA, dealing with trauma, trauma bonding, PTSD, dissociation etc. The dark tag is there for a reason, so please proceed with caution going forward.

I am the biggest D&D nerd imaginable, so I’m absolutely including a metric fuckton of lore and mentions from the universe. It’s not going to be heavy, but those that appreciate it, I see you.

Finally, be careful in how you deal with the devil, lovelies. As in, don’t.

110 years had passed since the siege on Baldur’s Gate.

Those lucky enough to escape the illithids had mostly perished to disease, madness or the natural order of death. Elves, dwarves and gnomes were a minority amongst the population that had witnessed the horrors of the Grand Design and survived to tell the tale. Even those who were willing and able to carry on with their livelihoods after the assault took their businesses elsewhere—save for the few who cherished the attention each winter brought them during the Feast of Heroes.

Varra— Althea, as she now answered to—was not present during the mind flayer invasion. She was not aware of the plot that nearly brought upon the collapse of Faerûn, nor did she care. There had been enough heroes sprouting like lilies across every alleway in the city. Most of them met a fate worse than death before they could infiltrate the famed Cult of the Absolute.

Instead, back then, Varra was deep in the forgotten lands of Cania, treading through icy waters and monster-infested lands. It was irony from the Gods, sacrificing her to the whims of a petty lord, for her to endure years of torture and a hunger that could never be satiated, only to find false freedom in a cambion devil whose arrogance trapped her within the last bastion of Nessus. Some time had passed since she first visited the Eighth Circle of Hell.

Only now was she able to enjoy the bustling streets of the city she once called home. With one leg hanging off each side of the stone wall that overlooked the Lower City, she took a deep breath. It was almost time for the firework display. She hoped it wouldn’t be as loud as the tavern patrons promised.

Though, hope was a dangerous thing. 

“Just one nod, my dear, and I shall grant you freedom,” he mused, curiously inspecting the cage that Lord Cazador had designed in the likeness of the very devils he so admired. The vampire wasn’t aware of these nightly visits, of course, which gave her ample time to understand the true powers of the son of Mephistopheles.  

Raphael was his name. A handsome devil, true both in expression and physique. His presence was the only reason she could think clearly for the first time in, as she learned, ages.

He informed her that 75 years had passed since her imprisonment. Brief moments of the life she once had were now but a memory, occasionally flickering like candlelight in darkness. Varra would sometimes recall the crackle of flames underneath a starry sky. Often, she could smell a sweetness; honey, with a hint of woodiness that followed the sensation of a thick liquid coating her throat. People who she no longer recognized—men, women and children—rallied themselves in turns, revealed in memories that did not belong to her. 

And yet, the ache in her heart upon seeing them told a different story.  

With the years, the strangers she had been seeing in her dreams faded. Bit by bit, they were plucked from her mind as she stood, watching the locations and noise disappear faster than she could comprehend. Yet one person remained perfectly still. 

An elf. Unimposing and charming, draped in fine leathers and specks of gold, who always ensured his cuffs remained white. He stood at attention, one hand rested behind his back while the other held hers. A toothy grin revealed two sharp canines. Though he never spoke, Varra’s body seemed to instantly respond to his touch. Even in the blurred haze of her obliviousness, a spark of rage usually sprung her awake to her mindless existence. 

It took Raphael less than a breath to fill in the empty contours of her mind. 

“Astarion...” he answered her thoughts. “One of his spawn. One of his favorite spawn.”  

Astarion.  

With a flick of the wrist, the devil began painting in the details. An opulent ball, exuding grandeur and extravagance that befitted the highest socialites of Baldur’s Gate. A gown, glittering with color and fashioned from silk that inspired the finest tailors of the Court. A dance, lively and passionate that displayed more intimacy than the most intertwined of souls in the Material Plane. 

She laid against darkwood, coated in her own pleasure and listening to the lapping sounds of the partner kneeling between her legs. The tops of his curls glistened under the chandelier as she felt her knees buckling under increasing pressure. 

“That’s it, darling. Let go,” he cooed, his voice coated with deceit, and she could not remember why she trusted it still. His tongue was talented, that she would not deny. At no point had the elf made any efforts in prioritizing his needs. Instead, she vaguely remembered a gentle kiss that led to her sprawled on a table like a common whore. Astarion appeared to savor every touch. His hands were equally as talented, burying themselves inside her hair while his mouth explored the details on her skin. 

“Divine...” he mused as he took in the scent of her. 

Varra had scarcely ever been indulged in similar fashion. Not even the most romantic of novels could compare to the perfection—the practiced flawlessness—of his movements. She was no stranger to pleasures of the flesh, but while even the most charitable of men opted to service themselves, this stranger seemed to enjoy devouring her like a starved animal would food. Every reaction of hers was met with an equally methodical action—a second finger, a thumb circling her most sensitive nub, a purring of praise. 

Until he stopped. 

The main event, as he reminded, was still to come. It would only take a short walk to the main quarters. And so, with a lust-filled gaze and no sense of self-preservation, Varra followed the stranger through the halls of the estate. She hadn’t commented on the quiet walkways that led to a circular chamber. She didn’t raise an alarm when he left her to her lonesome for a minute too long. It was not until she was met with the glowing eyes of the master of the house, Lord Cazador, that she realized the seriousness of this ruse. 

This experience marked the eve she turned into one of his many spawns. 

Blinking back into the sore reality of her predicament, she met the eyes of the devil who so sheepishly looked at her. Reason had long abandoned her, but the undead that occupied the dark halls of these dungeons told her that eternity would involve torture unforeseen even by the Gods should she continue this path. 

Not even the Hells would be this cruel. She would hope.

With a nod, Varra simply said, “I accept.” 

“Wonderful.” 

Raphael clasped his hands in delight before disappearing from the very spot he apparated at. Soon enough, she felt a powerful force pull her through the marble until she found herself sitting on a lush chair, bathed in the glow from the torches that surrounded the dining room. The smell of ash overwhelmed her, though it was comforting when compared to the rotting flesh of Cazador’s estate. 

Her skin was no longer icy to the touch. The hunger that clawed at her insides was gone. The smell of blood was not etched into the deepest parts of her brain.  

“It is rather peaceful in my House of Hope, is it not?” 

The devil had sprouted wings. Horns decorated the top of his head, and his skin grew redder with each passing moment. The glow in his eyes was as bright as the spawns’ who shared her prison, though it was that of ambers and not rubies. He confidently walked to the other side of the dining table. Only then did she notice her mouth watering at the delicacies that decorated it. 

In the dungeons, food was a rarity afforded only on special occasions. It was a wonder seeing thirty souls fight tooth and nail to reward themselves with the scarce remains of a filthy rat. Varra was too weak to engage in the arguments that preceded the pecking order before a meal. She was not a fighter like some of the captives, which is why she opted to lick away the dried remains of the crimson vigor that splattered the walls while the other spawn satiated themselves. 

Her stomach growled at the offerings in front of her eyes. 

“Do spoil yourself my dear, far be it from me to deny a tortured soul a chance at reprisal.” Raphael raised a fine glass from the other end of the table. 

Dealing with devils was dangerous. Those who knew the perils of the Nine Hells were wise enough not to trust the words of imps, let alone the offspring of archdevils. It wasn’t until 135 years passed that Varra realized the twisted perversion of Raphael’s vow. The House of Hope was another trickery of the tongue, a life of servitude engulfed in oaths of freedom that would allegedly come one day. 

And so, spoil, she did. For what seemed like another harrowing eternity. 

A devil’s torment was unlike the indifference of a vampire lord. Instead of empty nihility that rotted away at her personhood, she was now overwhelmed with the promise of hope that could break the chains of her slavehood. Raphael was no mere executioner. Sometimes he would reward her obedience with trips to his boudoir where she would indulge in passions so fiery, it rivaled the hottest corners of Nessus. Very rarely, she would catch a glimpse of the Archive, which held the countless scrolls of souls that signed their life away to him. Never would she be allowed to touch the feast in the House of Hope. 

Varra had the misfortune of meeting countless other victims that had been courted by Raphael’s sharp tongue. She learned to remove her feelings from the interactions. 

She observed him for many of those years. The physical satiation of her most basic needs allowed her mind to sharpen—to piece together her broken past. Though she could never be certain if they were mirages or reality, some parts of the life she led before her enslavements, like missing puzzle pieces of her history, began putting themselves together. 

Varra. 

Baldurian. 

Gur. 

“Come now. Why play hard to get when you’re in deep over your tadpoled head?” 

Another set of guests had arrived at the House of Hope. Hurriedly, she made her way to the halls that led to the forbidden feast. A curious set of adventurers stood in awe as they examined the unknown surroundings. It had been too long since visitors required the protective charms that barricaded the servants quarters from the dining area. A one-way mirror to witnessing a master at work, Raphael had remarked. They must have been special. Hopeful. 

A one-horned Tiefling, whose beating heart seemed to be made of iron, looked particularly uncomfortable in this setting. They were an interesting bunch, no doubt—soon-to-be illithids carrying secrets sure to be plucked from them by the very same devil who charmed them. She caught their names; Karlach. Wyll. Shadowheart. Lae’zel. Gale. Astari— 

Astarion. 

Her cries of agony were deafened by the magical barrier. Still, Varra slammed against the translucent obstacle that separated her from the man who began her suffering all those years ago. Only when her hands began searing from the flames did she regain her senses. 

Disobedience never went unnoticed in his home. 

If he was gracious enough, he would offer her a lashing. Physical punishment was preferable to the alternative—a dark, quiet room, filled with nothing but her own thoughts. Once, he tricked her into believing her bravery would be rewarded with freedom. She awoke in Baldur’s Gate, no longer a spawn, capable of exploring the markets and taverns for days on end, meeting people, enjoying life. Companions she learned to call friends invited her to various adventures where she grew stronger, more experienced. Soon enough, she found a lover. 

All was well, until it wasn’t. 

In a tenday, she lost every person she learned to care for. Her friends each met a different gruesome end—drowning, burning, starving, madness. The lover she had taken soon found another, but not before taking every last coin earned in their years of labor.  

Varra hanged herself near Wyrm’s Crossing that same night. She swung there, watching another series of memories fling past her, as the gust of wind that grazed her face turned into the warmth of a crackling fire. Her neck was no longer swollen as she, once again, found herself perched on a lush chair in the House of Hope. 

The devil’s wicked smile was all she needed to understand the message. Her fate was that of eternal suffering. 

And so, Varra shut her eyes as Raphael circled her like a wolf would deer. Servants would often be compelled to share their thoughts during his interrogations, which is why she was praying to every God in the known realms that he would show mercy in his judgment. 

He snapped his fingers, which commanded her eyes open.  

“My, my. I must say, your impulse continues to impress me!” he said, stopping in front of her, his hands behind his back. “One could say a century would dull you into nothingness. Yet you truly risked my wrath for a moment of fury. Why is that?” 

“I… I do not know.” 

“Ah, ah, ah,” he tutted. “You know better than to lie to me, little lamb.” 

“It’s—that man. Astarion...” she murmured, keeping her gaze fixed on her master as she was taught to do. 

Raphael cocked his head, “The spawn?” 

Varra fell to her knees from the sudden intrusion into her mind. She wept and screamed as he combed through 200 years of her life. Empty cots under the waning moon, a woman with dusky skin similar to hers, roaring flames and loud singing, blades expertly slicing into flesh, firm handshakes with unknown faces, the tugging of rope at her waist, a belly full of wine, an invitation to a grand ball. Astarion. 

A smile was never a good sign in the House of Hope. 

“Well, my dear, you may have just proven yourself more useful than even my associates.” 

Varra—Althea’s—attention was momentarily brought back to the cold stone she sat on. The colorful explosions that bathed the sky in blues and purples were a sign of the celebration to come. The Feast of Heroes. An annual remembrance of the siege that was stopped by a group of brave heroes whose names were forever etched into the history of Baldur’s Gate.

The booming barrage prompted her to clench her fists. True to tale, it was as spectacularly loud as the residents had promised. What followed were thunderous cheers and applause, an anxiety-inducing concoction that reverberated through Althea’s body. Loudness was never appreciated in the House of Hope. Quiet was warranted in the depths of Cania. Silence was necessary in the Szarr Palace.

Yet, noise was a vital element when saluting the bravest in the realms. She swore even the local animals roared in choir.

“Gods bless the Heroes of Baldur’s Gate!”

Tales of their courage were permanently inscribed in books of fable and fact. Their names were sung in songs that reached the very edges of the Sword Coast. Never again would this world forget the sacrifice the special few made for the many in Faerûn.

Wyll Ravenguard, the Blade of Frontiers.

Karlach Cliffgate, the Fury of Avernus.

Gale Dekarios, the Prodigy of Waterdeep.

Lae’zel, the Champion of Vlaakith.

Shadowheart, the Dark Justiciar.

Astarion Ancunín, the Decadent.  

All assumed their titles, though none remained in Baldur’s Gate. Rumors spread that the Chosen of the Blade of Frontiers abandoned his duties to help the one-horned tiefling wreck havoc in the Nine Hells. Gale of Waterdeep assumed various positions at the many magical academies across Faerûn, though he too soon disappeared after a particularly disastrous affair involving the Netherese destruction orb inside his chest. Lae’zel’s destiny was one of servitude to her Queen following the triumph over the Netherbrain. She was the first to leave the Material Plane to travel among the stars, chasing away the illithid menace that threatened the Astral Plane instead. Not much was known of Shadowhart’s fate, though given her status as a divine servant of Shar, most wished her story would continue in silence. 

Most of these heroes, if not all, were dead by now.

Still, Baldur’s Gate was not without trouble. In just a few years, the city had suffered another attack from a new group of cultists. A few more decades passed, and another reality-threatening scourge would appear. Legions of heroes banded together to fight against whatever evil was queueing at the city gates. Through it all, one legendary figure remained steadfast in his attempt to preserve the city’s rich history. Most had by now been made aware of his particular condition —an affliction which councils in neighboring cities chose to ignore for the service he provided the realms during times of need.

The Feast of Heroes was a three-day holiday, meant to celebrate the efforts of common and special champions who took up arms against the threats that dared target the city of Baldur’s Gate. It would always include mention of some spectacular individuals that gave life and limb for their home. However, the legendary six were always at the forefront of these tributes, led by none other than the self-proclaimed leader of the group, pivotal in taking down the mind flayer threat.

Lord Astarion Ancunín. 

Owner of the Ancunín Estate. Member of the Council of Four. All-powerful vampire ascendant.

And the target of Althea’s emancipation pact.

[emilynightshade89]

Tagged by @eclecticwildflowers to post my current WIP! 

Tagging (no pressure loves!) @emotionalcadaver @areyenotfondofmelobster @theboarsbride and anyone else who wants to participate! 

----

OG WIP: The Innsmouth Bride

   Early draft of a scene in which we see how far Emmett’s relationship has fallen with his mother after some time into his marriage to half-human, half-Deep One Nerida who he eventually has found genuine happiness with. 

"Are you not at least the slightest bit happy for me? Do you not feel comforted or fulfilled that your last child has found happiness in his life?" Her heart fills with pity for him. Never bothered to hide her condescending tone, Josephina looks upon her son's eagerly hopeful face and gently reaches out to stroke his cheek as her head shakes softly with a sigh. Immediately crushing Emmett internally.

 "Happiness? My delusional child, what happiness could God have ever wanted you to find in such hellish conditions your father has you shackled to? The only happiness you'll find in that abominable union you call a marriage is when you finally end that revolting creature as it lies in your bed. If I had my say in this house, I would never have handed you over to that devil bargaining family. They have no idea how much they've adulterated themselves, lying in Satan's bed with such befouling creatures. That thing you naively call a wife? It's just waiting for the moment you defile yourself with It and It has what It’s taken from you and soon enough you will find yourself strung into a ring of madness as It toys and twists Its Godforsaken claws into your skin for mere entertainment. Soon enough, you will find that only the deliverance of death could grant you peace… but by then, God will have no place for you in his heaven and you will be lost for eternity.” 

She provokes every word as if it’s the truth, spurring on a sickened, nauseating feeling in the pit of Emmett’s stomach as she continues, “Do you think I wanted this for you, my son? You would have been better off having died years ago when you were ill than where you observe yourself now, I think. Instead of holding on to such deceitful childish imaginings as the likes of happiness in such a binding. The world is a cruel joke, and I would have rather seen you lying cold and pale in a coffin than to see what you've done to yourself with that gruesome monster now." A thick silence befalls them as she reclaims breath in her body. Her son's gaze defeatedly casts itself downward to hide the shining of unspilled tears in his pale blue eyes, heart sinking in his chest and the air deflates from his lungs like a failed balloon. He pushes her hand away from his face, feeling the loss of warmth on his skin by her words that linger painfully as if she had struck him. 

"Why must you say such things, mother?" He whispers, voice small and pleading. Josephina only chuckles softly without humor. "Because my dear stupid boy, what you have is the greatest offense to mankind. To God. You are bound to hear it at some point so If not myself, then sooner or later someone else." Emmett brings his gaze up to meet hers. Unwavering in her posture, her son stands bitterly to his feet from the chair and reaches into his waistcoat to pull out an enclosed letter. Looking her once more in the eye, he blatantly hands it to her without a word. She cocks a brow of curiosity at him before reaching out to take the envelope, turning it over in her hands she sees it’s addressed in her name. Scrawled in gentle albeit messy cursive, as if the writer had mere moments to learn before their supposed deadline yet had wanted to put great care into a legible penmanship. She doesn't recognize the handwriting to belong to her estranged husband or son. Emmett watches her face pale in realization before her hands cautiously set the letter down and unopened upon the table beside her. Emmett sighs as he moves to grab his coat. "Goodbye mother."

 He's delivered what he came to her for, and he gives himself a moment to realize how unsurprised he should have been to hear his mother's remarks. "I pray that you eventually find your own way towards happiness. Wherever that may bring you." He turns and walks out of the large oak doors he came through, already making his peace at never seeing her again as her emotionless gaze lingers on him as he disappears down the hallway before turning to the letter.

All she can do is stare at it.

[l8rhader]

Spooky job studying.

Very light on IPs this year, but they're all IPs I'm not super familiar with so that's something.

I've seen a little bit of A Quiet place, but not the whole thing or the second one. i hadn't wanted to spend any money to watch it because i pay enough for streaming services but like... we're so close to the event now that i don't... really... have an excuse. so i have to watch all the quiet places and rewatch the insidious...es? which are among my least favorite of the The Dad Did It but like... sure... let's call it a demon lol trope. Ghostbusters... I've seen them all. I like the newer ones. I think that McKenna Grace's character is cool and finn's in it so that's cool. Plus, we love an 80's theme 'round these parts. Plus, I've been doing this for years now, so I know my Monsters, but there's not much to research re: dracula's daughters and van helsing's daughter.

meanwhile. In the study booth. john krasinski with a beard in stressed dad mode.

i hope this doesn't awaken something in me.

meanwhile, note to self: and whatevre you do, don't scream... even if you've got john krasinski and emily blunt both in bed with you is... not... a work appropriate joke.

i get it emily i do i really do... but...

but why you out here trying to repopulate the planet when there's a monster drawn to sound. like... childbirth and infants are 2 of the loudent things in the entire world.

and what's with the oxygen tank and the baby breathing mask.

jesus. fire was intense. How are we going to make this a house. I'm gonna have to buy a box of like 1000 foam ear plugs?

i feel like i'm intruding on this little neil young slow dance party.

Ooh, wear patterns/paint steps. there's something there.

i remember reading that emily blunt read the script for this on a plane and she was like "hey. i know an actress who would be really good at playing your wife in this. Yeah. Me. Your real wife and mother of your kids. You can't let anyone else play this role or i will riot."

aw, he's trying with the cochlear implants. that's so sweet.

and he's trying to teach the scared little boy to be stronger.

kids at this age are rough. they're what 10 and 13 or so?

god this world must suck.

there we go girlie. If the cochlear implant works he might be able to help you figureout how to navigate the world. maybe.

what do you have? WHAT DID YOU JUST PUT IN THERE?

WHAT'S IN THE BAG GIRL CHILD.

...Do these characters not have names? I just realized how am I gonna talk about them and this world if I don't know their names.

Him, Her, Little him, Little her?

Oh God that nail. Oh No oh god. I hate that.

THE ROCKET. THE SCENE BY THE WATERFALL OH MY GOD.

"Have you ever stepped on a nail? A piece of glass? No. How about a lego? There we go. Now imagine you can't react. You can't yell. You can't curse. Anything louder than a hiss and you're in for something way way worse. Like the hunting and decimation of your whole family. Now, ladies, imagine giving birth, but you have to do it completely silent. Imagine your child, in the middle of this terrifying, wasteland world, finds one of noisy toys, like the ones your in-laws give your kids just to drive you crazy? Yeah, that's a universal experience. I'm the aunt with the electric guitar toys. Sorry about it. . Suddenly, these creatures are there and everything in your life that you're using to try and maintain some semblance of normalcy is gone. What do you do when that one primal instinct- to scream out- in fear; in pain- is stripped away from you? *John krasinski shush finger face* We are n ow entering the world of A Quiet Place."

oh no there's a creature.

do they have tetanus shots in a post apocalyptic world

IF THEY PLANT CORN AT MY WORK I'M GONNA SCREAM.

I hope the daughter's safe.

I know Emily lives so like, there's a slightly reduced sense of urgency here but.......

That timer was a brilliant move. dear god.

Babes, you need something to bite on.

OHa real rocket.

those fireworks?! 10/10

It's your sister kiddo.

Oh, maybe not.

If they plant real corn i'm gonna riot.

Oh no girlie pop. This is why he...

Oh, the feedback is a thought.

Yeah. Where are the kids. A Good thought. Thank you for catching up there.

I can't imagine a married couple who has kids doing this scene. I can't imagine a woman with kids giving this monologue.

Yes.

BIG BROTHER SISTER HUG. THAT WAS A GOOD HUG. BIG HUG.

What's leaking? What's flooding? Why flood? Why Flood??? No flood. House no good if flood. Girly. Get baby. Get out.

That're we doing with the silo? How am I getting trapped in a silo 55 nights in a row?

Death Angels kinda look exactly like demogorgons lol

Note to self. ILM made the monsters.

John, no.

I too am highly affected by high pitch and loud noises. Did we ever stop to think that maybe the monsters are just overstimulated and if you leave them alone and give them a weighted blanket, a drink, and their comfort media, they'll chill?

Or maybe loops?

It usually works for me.

[fireemblems24]

Verdant Wind - Final

Finally! Here's my last chapter of Verdant Wind. This route has really grown on me. So now 2/4 of the 4 route playthrough are over. CF and AM coming next.

Alright, so here I go picking my lover. As promised, time to pick Claude. I really want to see the lord trios' S-Supports.

PRE BATTLE

Alright, guys, just deployed for the final mission of VW.

Wait, why didn't we meet Nemesis halfway? Isn't he rampaging and stuff? Poor civilians.

Claude - What's our plan. Byleth - We defeat Nemesis. (Masterpiece of a strategy there)

LAMO Hilda calling it like she sees it and saying Lorenz's dad is a big coward.

You know, Silver Snow didn't really get a moment where everyone sat around and said why they were going to fight. It's a shame, because to date Lukas has the most badass reason ever: A battle between god and mortal? Sounds exhilarating to me. (He's like, oh, fighting god, good exercise).

Raphael talks about . . . food. He's really kinda one-note.

Still pissed we can't play as Judith.

This really feels like a chapter in a shonen battle manga before some big fight lamo.

BATTLE

Nemesis looks fucking annoying to fight. Rhea was basically a demonic beast on steroids, but nothing new, this guy looks irritating.

It also seems like there's wayyyyy more enemies this battle.

Oh, that's cool! I just noticed some of the enemies have the relics and are the OG users.

Is it bad that I REALLY don't want to kill the Blaiddyd, Gautier, or Fraldarius or Daphnel because that's Ingrid's weapon. Guys, I think I may be a bit to attached to the Faerghus friendship group.

Is it also bad that I wish they had Blaiddyd and Fraldarius standing next to each other. It would've been a good bit of lore at least :(

Or I'm just a problematic shipper, though they didn't put Gautier next to Fraldarius either. Very Felix of him though.

It's not Felix. It's not Ingrid. It's not Sylvain. It's not Dimitri.

I feel this one's going to be so much harder than SS with all those subbosses.

Aaaaand the water is poisonous. Because of course it is.

Claude's like that massive body of water that takes up most of the map, avoid it during the fight. Thanks, Claude, thanks.

This song is pretty epic though. The SS one was really good too though.

This level feels artificially dragged out with the poison water and million sub bosses. None of them were all that hard to deal with. I imagine this is much harder in maddening though.

Nemesis is legitimately annoying to deal with though.

This or CF had my least impressive units though.

I feel kinda bad for Claude that his final boss is some mindless zombie dude he has no connection too. SS got berserk Rhea, AM will probably get monster Edelgard, CF will likely get some super version of the TWSITD leader, and Claude gets . . . Mr. Zombie. Poor dude.

It's funny that I only had to kill him once. After Rhea, that wasn't so bad to be honest. Definitely easier than the SS final chapter.

Only 22 turns, not too bad.

POST BATTLE

Cut scene time!

Claude was MVP. He deserved it. He pulled his weight big time this chapter. He never dominated like Edelgard did early game or Dimitri has for a while now, but he really started performing in those final chapters.

LAMO Claude spouting lines like a shonen lead. This really feels liks the shonen route to me. Which isn't a bad thing. I love shonen. I think VW has turned out to be my 2nd favorite. Never would've guessed that half-way through the game.

Oh, dear God, the final lines are literally power of friendship. 100% shonen vibes.

That was a badass fight though.

Byleth smiling though. And the handshake. They feel more like friends than lovers, tbh. Especially compared to Dimitri and Edelgard. Claude really doesn't give major romance vibes in general.

DO U SEE MARIANNE AND JUDITH IN THE ENDING MURAL???? My girl Marianne! Yes.

Where's Byleth though?

Claude really focused on peace between nations. I really hope in Three Hopes, if the lords get supports, he and Dimitri find common ground over that and Dimitri's beliefs about Duscur.

S-SUPPORT

Time to marry Claude. I wonder if they'll make him as sappy as Rhea was lol.

I dislike how all these endings are a "united Fodlan" like it's a good thing. With what's going on in the world right now, it feels icky to celebrate the forced merging of countries. Even if in SS and VW it only happened because they all got destroyed, this positioning of their destruction as positive is what I don't like.

Mannnn it's going to feel SOOO awkward when I get to CF in the next day or so. I know real life and fiction are different, but ugh not good timing to get to "Imperialism wins and it's a good thing" the route.

Wait, what??? Claude won't be at my coronation??? What kind of BS is that???

Wait???? I thought I was marrying Claude??? Why is he leaving me for Almarya??? That's . . . not romantic.

OMG. Claude is choosing his dream of bettering the world over marrying me?

OMG this is hilarious. If I was really into the romance part of this game, I'd be so disappointed, but my respect for him has gone up by ignoring the self-insert and going off to do better things.

I also like how Claude is acknowledging that people need support and something to cling too sometimes. Exactly what Dimitri was saying. The opposite of what Edelgard believes.

Now I need a part 2 about Claude's fight for Almyara, but it's post AM so Byleth and Dimitri can come and help him out when he needs it in some epic cut scene.

It would also maybe finally give Claude the character development he deserved.

Aww, he had a ring too. But also the gall of that guy. He's like, I'm leaving you to rule another country, but uh marry me too I guess. It feels kinda tacked on.

He and Rhea both came clean about wanting to use Byleth for something. Dimitri doesn't have to. Wonder if Edelgard will?

OMG he's really like, I'm leaving, let's marry for when I eventually come back.

His picture's not bad. It's cute, Byleth grabbing his jacket.

But this was soooo much less romantic than Rhea's support.

That has to rank up there with Mr. Darcy among the worst proposals ever.

And wow, I don't think Byleth ever showed him her ring. What a bummer.

DATA

The MVPs this time are so much more spread out than they were for SS. Basically every character I used got it at least a few times except for Cyril.

Byleth and Hilda a bit more than the others, with Claude not showing up much at all until the end.

Paired endings time -

Anna got the same solo one. But she can't support anyone if I remember right. Catherine, Alois, Manuela, Haneman, and Flayn got the same as SS.

Ah! Annette solo becomes a teacher. Good for her! I like that ending.

Dorothea got married and had a good career. Deserved.

YESSSS, Marianne married Raphael. If she can't marry Dimitri, then I like him. And so cute, they run an inn together

Oh, Sylvain and Felix, haha. Guess they wanna do gay crimes together.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ENDING?? IS FELIX DEAD???

Dude, that's fucking brutal. They only meant once since after the war and it's only so Sylvain can hire mercenary Felix and then Felix's sword comes back, but not Felix??

Shit, that's tragic. I wonder if their paired ending being all hurt and no comfort is part of why they're so popular as a pairing?

OMG why are my Faerghus childhood babies are suffering. Dimitri dead in a pointless way. Dedue surviving alone and miserable. Felix dead later on. No mention of Sylvain being happy or married or anything. I REALLY hope Ingrid at least got a happy ending.

Why did Petra pair with Cyril?? Ok, I can accept this actually. Petra is doing her boss queen thing, and then older Cyril shows up to improve diplomatic relations and it's then where their romance starts. That's actually kind of cute. And I like the idea that all we saw was the groundwork. So much better than that last one, my GOD.

Ok, so Ingrid and Ignatz. Never in a million years would I have picked that pairing, but let's see.

Oof, so the people hated her at first, but between Ignatz and her being good at her job, they turned around and eventually the two married. At least she did better than the others.

Hilda and Seteth! OMG, talk about opposites lol.

That's actually pretty sweet and very random. They published childrens' books together. No mention of marriage, which is actually kinda nice. a M/F ending with no marriage between two completly incompatible people.

Leonie got Shamir! Haha, I liked the mini story and shoutout to the spider. So they formed a mercenary company together. That's 100% better than Leonie's solo ending.

Oh, shit, does this mean Lysithea gets Lorenz again? Like, no offense to Lorenz, but that's a shit ending. Even worse than Felix/Sylvain because at least that's got an air of tragedy that suits them and is a good story for angst and heartbreak, not Lysithea did all the work and got none of the credit.

Ugh, yes, Lysithea and Lorenz. Why? Poor Lysithea. I think I have her in CF, so she still has a chance for a decent ending.

Wow, like no one paired with a unit I was actually using. They all paired up with someone with 0 battles except for Lysithea and Lorenz and Byleth and Claude.

Byletha and Claude time, the asshole. What the fuck is that ending?? So the final battle wasn't the real final battle? We fought the Empire + TWSITD for the nth time? Why didn't we get to fight that? Feels kind of empty compared to Rhea and Byleth. Didn't say much about romance or about political changes, just there was another battle, Claude saved the day, Fodland and Almyra made friends.

Well, overall I liked VW by the end, but I gotta say, the Claude and Byleth ending stuff sucks compared to the stuff with Rhea. But I'm sure Claude has much better possible endings with someone else.

2 down, 2 to go.

CF is next. I need a Dimitri happy and alive for my final one, plus, it's not like the Russia and Ukraine stuff is going to go away anytime soon to make CF feels less eh . . . awkward.