#depending on when and other circumstances he might even be angry

[bsdtakanenohana]

Popular fandom opinion is wrong! Chuuya does not want kids! But if you were to get pregnant he’d be shocked, worried, and eventually at peace with it! Then as the pregnancy continues he’d realize this was actually something he needed. And he’d be completely devoted to you and baby ❤️

[cinnamonest]

not too sure if you've already put thought into it, but which yanderes would be/wouldn't be willing to break bones? i feel like for most of them it's a hard yes but depending on the circumstances and their mental fragility.

also sadisim. (COUGHCOUGHCHILDECOUGHCOUGH)

ignore this ask if you've already answered/have a question similar to this (or just don't want to answer/! and if your reqs are closed and my tumblrs just tweaking that's okay too!!

I would say Albedo initially, but he's a practical man, if you're not going to be using the limbs anyway might as well just take them off, so… as for some others…

Kazuha does it for practicality, specifically your ankles. It's a useful risk prevention method.

He still feels bad, and he apologizes… but he doesn't hesitate much. After all, he did give you fair warning, but you ran off yet again. This is just to keep you safe, for your own well-being, and for his peace of mind.

He's sweet about it too. He puts your hand against his arm beforehand, and tells you here, you can squeeze down on my arm, okay? After all, it will help with the initial pain.

He's still sweet when you squirm away and whimper, even though the grip with which he pulls you back is harsh.

I know. But I can't let you be a danger to yourself…

He holds you gently for however long it takes you to stop crying. He'll get you water and food and painkillers/alcohol, tends to your every need, waits on you hand and (broken) foot. Notably, once the initial reaction has died down, he stops really acknowledging it in any meaningful way, talks to you as if everything is normal. Even when addressing your leg, he talks about it as if it were some injury you acquired by other means.

You might be spiteful enough to bring it up and remind him that it's his fault, but he's quick to correct you, keeping a soft voice and gentle smile all the while.

You did have every opportunity to choose otherwise, you know. Ah, but I know you're upset… it's okay if you blame me.

He'll be fully patient for you to heal, too. He’s very cheerful once it's fully healed, says he's glad you're better, helps you walk around a bit to get readjusted, keeping his hands firmly supporting you the entire time. Even for a while after it's healed enough to walk, he checks on it from time to time to ensure the final stages of mending are going well.

He tells you you're fully healed, with a soft voice and ever-pleasant smile, not without adding—

Let’s hope it stays that way.

----

Childe has to be in a more angry mood than usual to get to that point. Usually, his form of sadism is the sort that focuses on a sort of pleasure-pain, the sort he can get off to… but this is a bit different.

It's only because you keep being irritating. He's really tolerant, you know? He's been so lenient, he tells you, he's been so nice, he's been so good to you, and what do you do? You keep being mean. It's cute up to a certain point, but you're being like, really really mean.

It's actually kind of nice, on his end, to see your immediate reaction — you can tell just by the strained smile and clenched teeth as he speaks that you've crossed some sort of line. For once, you actually shrink back, clutch your hands up at your chest defensively, start to take some steps back… but you can't get away fast enough before you're drug forward by the hair or neck.

Come on… it's not that hard to be good, is it?

It's a last chance — he's nice enough to give you that, at least, even if you don't deserve it (which you don't, he thinks). Come on. You can be good, you can apologize and submit and he'll forget all the spiteful shit you've done today and then you can have a nice, happy rest of the day. You can do it. It should be easy. He takes one of your hands in his, holding it with a sort of sincere pleading gesture.

But, even though you should know better, you still remain spiteful through your fear, narrow your eyes and tell him no. You try to jerk your hand away, only to find his grip on it is iron-firm.

His smile twitches.

Aw. That's too bad.

And thus, you process the sound and sight before the pain — you see him take your hand and twist it, hear the snap, and only then does the pain shoot up through your wrist, through your arm and to every nerve in your body. It's bad enough that you fall to your knees, squealing, cradling the now-unnaturally-twisted limb.

Yes, he's very very nice, but admittedly, hearing you wail like that is rather pleasing, all things considered. More so when he grabs you by the jaw, jerks your head up to force you to look at him, and sees the tears in your eyes, the way your face contorts with pain.

Maybe you can be good now…?

This time, you squeeze your eyes shut, frantically nodding your head, a pitiful little sound coming out of your throat. He'd be lying if he said it wasn't very satisfying.

---

There's also a notable difference between willing to break bones and likelihood of breaking bones, actively willing or not.

Some non-humans are particularly unaware of their strength — Xiao fits this well. He genuinely doesn't like hurting you, although you would think so, based on how much he does, it's just that he forgets how fragile you are. For someone of his strength, your body might as well be made of glass.

So it just sort of happens… he grabs you by the arm or leg and pulls in the wrong direction a bit too hard, there's a stomach-churning snapping sound and suddenly you're shrieking and crying. It startles him quite a bit — he lets go and shrinks back, all wide-eyed and head darting from side to side as he looks around in confused panic.

But just as with fragility, he's also not very aware of the durability of the human body. He’s not great at gauging severity of injury — normally, he just attacks creatures until they stop moving, because that's his goal when it comes to his responsibilities.

So he has no real reference for how much damage he's done. Bones are all connected, yes? He probably broke something important, or made some internal organ come apart somehow, and it will kill you. The thought sends him into a full-fledged panic, he's bolting off and dragging help back as fast as physically possible, explaining that you have sustained mortal injury and are on the verge of death.

He's at least comforted to learn that that is in fact not the case, and you have merely broken your arm, which, the innkeeper confirms, is in fact not fatal. He's too relieved to notice the blatant frustration in her voice (this marks the fourth time he's insisted you are about to die over something actually far more trivial), and merely nods when she asks to please be more careful.

He doesn't really know how to handle the matter from there. He feels guilty about it. You're obviously in pain, and it's his fault. He'll sit next to you, hunched over and staring with those big yellow eyes as if trying to make you heal faster with sheer willpower. Makes sure you don't get up and move around (despite your insistence that your legs are just fine — still can't take risks, he says), disappears for a while each day and comes back with mountaintop herbs that are supposed to dull pain.

He doesn't outright say sorry, but you can see the remorse on his face and in his actions, and it's actually kind of pitiful… it reminds you of a little kid that broke a vase sheepishly trying to put it back together… all in all, you can't really bring yourself to be harsh about it.

[vaguely-concerned]

BEHOLD! The list of evidence for my bold claim that Pan and Freddie dislike each other ferociously on sight because they are, in some key ways and despite appearances, very similar people: 

- First instinct upon seeing Grace sad is to try to make her laugh to cheer her up. (See: Freddie’s very first lines in the game starting off as she means to go on, and about half the things Pan ever says or does lol. In the last scene with him before The Trial you can even tell him you’re there just because you wanted to talk to him and have something cheer you up.) General sources of levity and fun and play in Grace’s life if you seek them out. 

- They react with similar anxiety to the idea of Grace being really angry with them (Freddie’s surprised/dismayed “Why are you angry at me?!” in the red route of ‘I Can Teach You’, the millenia-old god of the wild hiding behind a tree for ten minutes because he thinks Grace might be about to yell at him lmao <3)

- Both of them seem to have similar interpersonal insecurities in general, judging by the enforced choice between them in ‘I Can Teach You’ (I love you both so much but oh my god. is this a constructive use of time or energy under the circumstances lol), softened and alleviated by the fact that at the end of the day the most important thing to either of them is that Grace is happy. It isn’t possessiveness, but there is an element of underlying ‘Hey. Hey I am your favorite right?? 🥺’ insecurity there that trips them both up to begin with. Once you play the game and go back to look at this scene again knowing everyone’s real motivations, they’re even coming from the same place deep down — genuine fear for Grace’s safety and wanting to help her. (Freddie uncomplicatedly out of love🥹, and Pan at that stage probably more out of a guilty sense of responsibility, though he does seem to take a shine to Grace herself pretty quickly as well. Also he demonstrably isn’t, uh. Completely wrong in saying Freddie’s involvement in this whole mess is likely to end in tears, even if he is being a real dick about it) 

- If you don’t choose either in ‘I Can Teach You’, they both show up within minutes of each other to watch Grace’s back in the Medusa quest anyway. One brain cell ping pong and no one notices because they keep trying to swat each other with the racquets whenever Grace glances away for a second

Sidenote but flirting with both of them one after the other in that quest is fucking hilarious, they’re just taking turns ‘Really? Right in front of my salad?’-ing directly at the camera (...listen I feel that there is a chance that as long as they kept Grace between them the whole time there could be a thing here. I think a possible universe out there where it happens at least once does exist if one cared to go seek it out. That’s all I’m saying.) 

- Seems a bit obvious but what else am I here for: both very drawn to Grace no matter what main trait you choose. Whether this is true vice versa is of course player-dependent, but it is one way you can play the game. 

- Incredibly similar defensive reactions to being picked on or sniped at (and no hesitation whatsoever in subjecting each other to exactly that immediately anyway haha) 

- A bit dark when you think about it, but they both express the sentiment that it would be better for them to step in and die if it means Grace lives. (Freddie very directly of course ;______; and then in ‘It’s time’, Pan in ‘The Trial’ and the little talk you have with him later in Athena’s office.)  

Matching ‘ride or die’ instincts once awoken, is what I’m getting at. Freddie gets extra points for sheer longevity and constancy, Pan gets extra points for getting there in a week. You’re both unhinged (affectionate) 

- They’re the only ones among the main cast wearing green, right? I think I’ve got that right? Well, Charon does too, I suppose, but he’s a bit more peripheral. (Persephone and Aphrodite wear blue-green, but that seems more associated with death and the underworld and the river of grief everyone keeps using as a metaphor throughout the game.) Somehow I find the idea/metaphor that once you get Pan out from under like three layers of bullshit he’s the same colour as Freddie (who is inarguably The symbol of devotion and steadfastness in this game no matter your choices) quite sweet. 

- Nerds. You know I am right. Slightly different kinds of nerd (Freddie is distinctly geek-flavoured and Pan collects rare books for sport sort of distinction), but still. Oh my god. Freddie should get the whole cast together to play D&D in the Reliquary post-game. It would be absolute carnage. It would be glorious hilarity. *GASP* no wait not the Reliquary, let’s go to the Underworld so Charon gets to play too. For the love of all that is good give this to me now please I need it 

- The only two people who think Freddie losing control of her powers and causing a dance number at a funeral is hilarious

In short this is a recognition of the self through the other (derogatory) situation for both of them and neither of them decides to take that with any dignity or grace (ahaha) in the slightest, I love them very much,  thank you and goodnight 

[swordsandarms]

Saw this post by @queenaryastark and just wanted to add my two cents in spite of the problem always having been that people just want things to be what works better for them and "to make sense" in a simplified way and don't want to hear otherwise-

There are a very few things known about Elia Martell - that the author finds relevant enough to even share with us about a small background character - and yet one of those few things is that she had a good relationship with her arranged husband (political, non-romantic and all, "complex", but he took the time to outline that it was not one of those cases when these things have negative connotations). The only other relationship I can think of that he finds relevant enough to be known the quality of is that with her brothers - because it is a key element to the Dornish plot, no less. And he places her dynamic with Rhaegar beside it!

# No, we do not know that she was best friends with Ashara and depended on her and that she would have done anything out of love and how she was angry because her life was actually awful because of her husband! (she's merely one of a dozen ladies in waiting - a political position meant to benefit one's noble family - who just happens to be the only named one, and that for other plot reasons than Elia)

# No, we do not know that Rhaella loved her dearly and hated her son and thought he was so awful and they both see him as awful and (a silly puerile little fic that made me laugh once) wanted to make her "Crown Princess" ...instead .... somehow! We don't even know if they had a relationship. They didn't live in the same city, and Rhaella's day to day life is heavily monitored and controlled at ths point in her life. It's questionable whether they could even be in any amount in eachother's confidence, hence, even through letters, even if you take out the distance.

ETC.

We don't even know what kind of relationship she had with her own mother. People just want it to be good. They don't want details like putting a daughter with frail health in a very dangerous situation no matter how "responsible" Rhaegar turned out to be for ambition and spite against a political adversary to speak of anything negative. And I'm not saying it is a must for it to have been negative. What I am trying to get to is people are trying to write any other relationships of hers we know nothing about, or might not exist, or might actually have negative correlations from as much as we know as definitely deep and good and rewrite the only other relationship we are given other than her brothers that we are actually told what it was, and make it bad and weak instead. We don't know her dynamic with her own mother to be good, yet we know it is with Rhaegar.

It is a noted fact in the story, and the fact that the author cares little or not at all about others on the other hand but this was noteworthy to write makes it significant, too. And it isn't even a matter of being isolated and lonely and making do because she has no one else to have a pleasant relationship with. She is surrounded by men and women alike, Dornish no less, loyal to her, and they also get along with Rhaegar.

And if we are to take most of Dany's vision of them as real (as there are details like him seeming to talk to her at the end that may be skewy) then they are on good terms until nearly the end. If fanon that claims she hated him/thought herself as slighted and humiliated after the flower crown were true, then this would actually do characterise her as a simpleton/'doormat' instead, which there being an understanding behind his action would not and it doesn't seem to me that the author wants Elia a simpleton.

Yeah, yeah, consequences of his actions ultimately hurt her, though. And so people walk backwards then on the apparent idea that if someone's actions hurt you in any circumstances, then it can only be willful, and someone doing something that ends up hurting someone can only be an 'abuser' and such. All over the place, there are dramatic fanon theories about these two to rewrite what is canon of their dynamic as 'abuser' and 'victim', so that it would simplify the concept of his actions indirectly hurting her.

Canon doesn't support that. Canon gives the fact that he removes his arranged wife from the capital where there is the danger of his father, although that means the removal from the centre of political power, during a very tense political dynamic (literally described as 'like before the Dance'!). Canon says that when Aerys' cruel actions start a Rebellion, and he removes Elia and her children from the relative safety of Dragonstone (with authority no one can undo), Rhaegar comes forth to lead Aerys' armies. And fanon (against previous signs) paints it as him being a one-dimensional evil creature (from the author praised to write things complex) who cares not about fighting Lyanna's family or his lawful spouse and children being in danger near that man... rather than the fact that he is known as looking out for Elia's safety from his father, told to have had his last straw after said father rejects his daughter that he seems to have inspired love and trust in - hence the likelihood of him being caught in between and having no more choice than Dorne. Less, because he also has to go against the family of the girl the author says he's 'lovestruck' about also, because Aerys is dangling Elia and the children, that the author cared to give hints he cares about. Or the fact that he hints of having reached THE breaking point about his father as a follow-up fact at this point through Jaime's memory.

"Are you saying she was complicit in endangering herself? On purpose?"

It is very exhausting to hear such a train of thought from people who supposedly read books, and understand how conflict works, and that being a 'realistic story' with complex characters it means they don't know/understand everything and things are out of their control and happen unexpectedly.

That's how you get ridiculous theories such as "Rhaegar then planned it all to go exactly how it went and knew each thing that would happen and it was for some magical mass sacrifice or whatever!!" Because this is how things work. People make plans and it happens exactly as they expect, bullet points and all. And you'd have millions claiming that's a good writer who does well foreshadowed 'shocks' that the character would not know about and needs to be re-read to fully comprehend and appreciate.

Yeah, it doesn't mean that the plans and goals they may have had would be summarised as 'choosing Rhaegar mistresses from a catalogue' the way I saw it put somewhere. Yeah, that is dumb. But if we don't have the information on characters' train of thoughts from a point in time we don't fully understand, it doesn't mean it is fine to change base facts (the relationship of the two) to make a simple version that explains it away.

"Are you saying she is dumb to think this or that would work certain ways, whatever they thought they were doing/going towards for whatever reasons?"

Again, are we even reading books here? Have we not seen smart characters (sometimes older than these 2) making certain sound sounding choices with certain predictions at the time, and in the end none working out and everything falling apart? Don't we applaud it as good writing? Isn't Varys for example cathegorised as one of the BIG manipulators of history and planner, yet what we hear from people working for Young Griff is the frustration of plans changing all the time because what he predicts/wants/plans doesn't work as intended multiple times?

And since we're on the topic and fanon has mythologised characters like her into ridiculous heights, let's stop for a second to think who Elia Martell would be as a (actually honest) baseline. Young, inexperienced, sheltered by privilege as anyone of her rank and more so for her own health (according to her brother), very optimistic sounding, etc. Yes, most likely intelligent (described as witty), but it doesn't change the implications of the previous qualities. Rhaegar is also most of that (at least idealistic if not optimistic) - though I would say he would at least have the perspective of "harsh realities" due to his family situation, while hers was a loving one as far as we're concerned. So, yes, she could have even made/agreed with "naive plans" as well as him, and they could even have been intelligent about it too, as they both seemed to have been, but it being beyond the point because the world works chaotically and there's no smart enough character that never had plans go wrong ever in ASOIAF.

Another thing that I mentioned but want to emphasise again, though it is hard to believe that a fandom that wouldn't give a break even to characters 16 and younger for 'miscalculations' and not having it all figured out and not doing everything perfectly is... they are both young, too! I don't know what's the overall age demoraphic in this fandom, but it always baffles me that this is not addressed - early 20s is clueless, young, and inexperienced. If one is past it they should know it. There are way too many young characters I guess to conceptualise that (but, again, it is not like this fandom give the VERY young characters a break also so I don't know), but it is very odd when these two are seen as 'very adult' who should have known better (Rhaegar) or knew 100% everything like some 'hit by godly visions' Cassandra (Elia), especially, again, when you account for both being inexperienced and privileged. The 16 and lower characters we know would rank above them both (especially sheltered Elia!) simply by actually being forced into learning experiences.

All in all, whatever the details are or how things can be explained from that point on, people have to accept the fact that the writing makes it more understandable that they would have been 'in cahoots' rather than a cartoonish evil being and a young woman without agency whatsover that is cutie pieing with the man who she is also angry at for doing some great misdeed against her.

Would she think otherwise by the end, when all fell apart? Would there be targeted hate and blame? We can theorise either way, but I am thinking how Lyanna is theorised as such in spite of the author writing roses in her hand when she dies in the same wavelength as writing her brother's hand holding hers - just like we only know of noteworthy positive relationships in Elia's life being a brother and Rhaegar, to the writer.

Sorry, but we're reading a story, and if you don't like what the author writes and implies it's fine. But at the same time you are wrong by default in 'predictions' as to what he would write next instead.

"You are victim blaming if Elia thought or did anything ever than being a silent perfect victim who just had things happening to her while having the foresight of a God and the wisdom of a 100 years old and if it were up to this sheltered inexperienced early 20s woman she would have REAISTICALLY Mary Sued her way through it and everyone would agree and kiss her feet. REALISTICALLY!!!"

No, you are. This fandom is famous for victim blaming (young) female characters most of all who have no control over circumstances around them, not being able to predict the future, not having experience, or just mean well and think better of the world, as long as they are anything but 'perfect victims' whose whole act is expcted to be being pitiful stoned mummies that things happen to, and are held up to unfair standards by the heavy in expectations pedestal that's supposed to be a compliment.

[minluce]

Hello, I really liked your analysis of Wolf Keum, especially the parallels between Wolf and Gray. Do you think if circumstances were different, say if they went to the same school or if they had met before, they could have become friends? Maybe similar or to the same extent as Gray and Stephen were close? Sorry for my bad english, its not my first language :p

Hi Anon, sorry for not responding to this sooner! I've been super busy with irl and stuff. But tysm for sending me an ask, I love to ramble about my interests. Here's my thoughts:

Okay so. Honestly? I think it could depend on how you headcanon middle school Wolf. Based on the tiny snippets we see of him in canon, we kind of get this mixed image where he's still unhinged enough to be getting into fights and allegedly tormenting Grape, but as many have pointed out, he's also weirdly not on anyone's radar up until High school. He's introduced as a "Dark Horse"— someone who rose up the ranks quickly and unexpectedly.

Another thing worth pointing out is his appearance: but specifically how it reads to other characters in-universe. Phillip Kim (iirc) refers to him as a "Four-eyed normie" in the chapter where he's having a flashback to first meeting Wolf, so basically with his short purple hair and glasses he absolutely looked like a huge dork and probably attracted opportunistic bullies all the time. Which contributes to the idea that middle school Wolf was more of a "loser" than a "king".

He also gets very sensitive about people stealing and messing with his belongings (see: the whole Union Thief debacle) and if you go back to reread his whole monologue while he's beating up Rowan and Eugene, it sounds like something he's used to experiencing in the past. Getting his stuff stolen or messed with, and then the culprit lying about it and pretending to be innocent.

This made me think about Eugene's own experience with bullies: getting his math textbook stolen, his glasses smeared, etc. by that Eunjang student who wanted to buddy up with Gray. When Eugene tried to confront the guy about it, he just shrugged it off, or even just straight-up pretended he didn't do anything at all. You could clearly see how being on the receiving end of this kind of harassment could quickly become something of a pet peeve; combined with Wolf's unexpected rise to power, it ended up translating to spinning a misunderstanding completely out of proportion.

So this is all to say that I think "loser"-era Wolf could absolutely be friends with Gray, albeit I still get the impression that Wolf would have been the type to get angry and be prideful even before he had the strength to do anything about it. And I think both Wolf and Gray aren't the type to be outwardly social, so their friendship would probably start off with some kind of altercation, before smoothing out once they find somewhere to meet in the middle.

However, I think their relationship would be of a different nature than what Stephan was to Gray, because Wolf and Stephan are fundamentally different types of people. Stephan volunteers at the local soup kitchen after school, Wolf is chain smoking cigarettes under the bleachers. And I think Stephan's optimism and compassion was something that really resonated with Gray— who might have been the type to just stay in his little studying bubble if it weren't for Stephan inspiring him to stand up before injustices.

In contrast to that, I think Wolf would have brought out Gray's "mamba" side much earlier, had they met in middle school. They would have become "beating up bullies in the parking lot" kind of buddies. This may even result in a completely different High School era Gray— still studying-obsessed, but far less concerned with the ethics of beating other people up. But, I think as much as Wolf might draw out Gray's dormant "mamba", I think exposure to Gray might encourage Wolf to use his head more often— there's no way Gray could successfully turn Wolf Fucking Keum into a good student, but I do think there would be gentle nagging to "do your homework, Wolf, or I won't help you next time you start a fight with Sam Lee in public".

In conclusion: Wolf would make Gray slightly worse, and Gray would make Wolf slightly better, and they'd meet in the middle somewhere and become the most terrifying friendship in Yeongdeungpo.

[stuffyflowers]

idk if this is a fic someone's written already but

ceroba time travel au..... thoughts ? whether it's to the start of the game's timeline or all the way to before chujin and kanako's deaths.

if it's the latter, she is not going to let her husband experiment on himself (though he might just do it anyway)... and when clover falls, she will at least be there to reason with chujin (not an easy task)

Ooooh…… I feel like most ppl who follow me know im not the biggest fan of “all the ketsukanes live/get un-amalgamated” au stuff but this is a really interesting way to go about it. The before the loss of her family route is the most intriguing option that I wanna rant abt, im thinking during game but before pacifist ending -> after integrity but before experiments as the timeline here

On the surface, it does feel like the solution to all her problems, her family is back! But like. I feel she’d get very self destructive with it. She’d go abt it in a real siffrin isat way: initially seeing it as a miracle before it slowly destroys her in an entirely new way, and not telling anyone abt it bc it’s her mess to clean up.

Like ok. Knowing that your husband kept an entire second life hidden from you, exaggerated his abilities to encourage you to finish the job, put his experiments before his own family… she should berate him, she should be angry! But,,, I don’t think she would, at least outwardly. She knows how miserable it was to lose him so she’d rather not address the cracks in the foundation of their relationship and risk losing him again. She has to pretend she discovers his secrets “on accident” or some shit to be as non confrontational as possible. Either way, their relationship is falling apart. How can she know he’s not gonna do it all again anyway while she’s not looking? Her trust and devotion can only be spread so thin…

With Kanako, I think she’d start having a lot of doubt her parenting abilities given what she allowed to happen. She ends up becoming more and more distant, which is awful for kanako if we’re assuming this takes place after integrity when she needs more comfort than ever before. Can she even look her in the eye knowing what she did to her before? Just for some stupid experiment????? And god. Do you think when she goes to tuck her in every night, the routine “love you lots” exchange just. Reminds her even further.

And man. Clover. She’d definitely be more hesitant to go along with any plan to kill them. That decision was heavily influenced by her whole sunk cost situation: if she doesn’t do it, chujin and kanakos sacrifices were for nothing. Outside of that, her views are a little different to chujins. We know she still values the idea of monsterkinds freedom greatly (“tomorrow means the surface… when do you think tomorrow will come? because it’s been today my whole life” or whatever that line was) but she sees humans a little more similarly to martlet, actually, with chujin planting that seed of doubt in both of them that they only act upon in certain circumstances (the “Chujin was right” line in her vengeance fight. She def has doubts in the whole humans are ruthless narrative outside of this route). If she met clover before the time travel she’d feel even more conflicted given they are. Just a little guy.

I could honestly see her going either way with the clover situation, depending on a whole lot of other factors and how they’d play out. Does she end up helping in chujins plan anyway, just convincing herself she just needs to do it “right” this time by not involving kanako? Does she realise that this was never right, that an innocent kid shouldn’t have to die just for an experiment with no guarantee to succeed? Does she do a secret third thing that rips her apart in an entirely different way? Godddddd the possibilities

[aylish91]

Hello!! I love your works sm!!

Thought I would ask, how would nightmare act if another mer tried to attack reader? (i have no idea if there are even other mer colonies or anything, but it might be an interesting idea nonetheless 🤷🏾‍♀️)

Thank you so much, Anon!!!

Oooooh~ Let's see.

That completely depends on the circumstances. Are they currently attacking or did they get away? Is it strictly malicious, or are/were there miscommunications?

Did one of the boys get to them first?

He is territorial and possessive of what is his, everything and anyone else is inconsequential. It's doubly so for reader since they were created by Nightmare himself. His patience only goes so far outside of the shiver...

The water would have a very sudden drop in temperature as the pressure increased. It would become heavy and tense beyond that of the struggle. If it was day, it would become as dark as a moonless night. An angry snarling vibration would be the only warning before tentacles snatched and curled around the threat. If boys were around when Nightmare sensed the attack, he would summon them to appear next. Circling, attacking, driving the stragglers back towards their fate should it have been a group effort. Reader would be his first priority through all of this, either being passed off to Dream for healing or retrieved from whoever is attacking. Primary offenders come next. Any others may or may not be left as a warning, although, most likely not unscathed. If not by Nightmare, his shiver. Tentacles squeeze, large hands crush and tare, teeth rend and devour... Very few would find any mercy unless Dream directly interferes.

[the-moon-lullaby]

The boys comforting you about your family issues in highschool headcanons

The HSL Boys comforting you about family issues

N/A: Family issues are such a hard thing to deal with, especially since they can take some many different forms. I hope you doing well anon !) ! Disclaimer : if you feel like you need help, please don't be afraid to ask for it because you don't have to face this alone <3

𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚕 :

He has do deal with some family issues as well (he’s literally on his own 99% of the time) so he kinda understand (it might be different from your situation but at the end of the day you both get ✨trauma✨ sooo)

If you need to blow off some steam or rant about it, he’s your man 

Let’s say you want to avoid staying at home for as much as you can, he’ll follow you around if you want him to  

Would propose you to say at his place for a little while if you need to

If things are really messed up (if we’re talking about abuse here), he encourage you to take actions (just like he did with Nathaniel)

And ofc, he’ll stay by your side the whole time

𝙻𝚢𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 :

He’ll be very concerned 

Your well-being is one of his main priorities so knowing that this isn’t going well for you at home worries him a lot 

He’ll be constantly checking up on you to make sure things don’t escalate 

If you need to get away from home for time to time, you’re welcome at his place

He’ll be constantly asking Leigh if you can come over but he wouldn’t really tell him why because he doesn’t know if you would be okay with him knowing about your situation 

(And if Leigh says no for some reason he’d be like « huh did you really think it was an actual question brother ??? Read the room »)

Would try to cheer you up and distract as best as he can 

Whether it is by writing you some poems or songs, or by spending some quality time together, my boy is invested 

Just like Castiel, if things are taking a turn for the worst, he’ll be very direct about how this situation can’t keep going on (likely he’ll be tempted to confront the problematic family member)

𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚕 :

So you would think that Nathaniel is the most likely to understand how you feel in this situation

And you’d be right, he does understand it perfectly and a little too well

He might feel overwhelmed because of this (the abuse he suffered from is still very fresh in his mind)

Nonetheless, he wants to be there for you and will often let you know that you can count on him no matter what 

After all, you were the one that came to his rescue when he was the one with family issues

He wants to help you just like you did but he’s not sure how to do so

Like Castiel, now that he lives alone, he’ll propose you to stay at his place if you need to (or he’ll tell you that you can come anytime you want)

Might even, give you a spare key 

He tries to be always available for you because he’s concerned about what’s going on at your place

I feel like you would have some endless conversation about this, at night while you’re at his place (you guys are ✨trauma-bonding✨)

𝙰𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗 :

He lives in a household where everyone love each other and where they’re all supportive no matter what happens so he struggles to comprehend how some parents could be so hard on their kids (you know that friend that has a supporting and loving family and every time you come over you’re like « so that’s what a functional family looks like, damn » haha, that’s actually not funny, we all want this)

He’ll get angry, not at you but at your family (depending on what are the circumstances, if we’re talking about family issues because one of your relatives is diseased then ofc he won’t be angry)

Would try to comfort you the best he can 

He would offer you food or ask you if you want to play some games (is that his solution to every problem ? Maybee)

He’d even accept to go take a walk if that’s what you want to do (and you know how much he hates going outside)

He’d tell his mom about it (I feel like Armin and his mom have a good relationship where he feel safe telling her what’s going on in his life so he’d go to her for advices)

She’ll tell him that you more than welcome at their place whenever you feel like it (and if one of your family member isn’t treating you well, she’d want to go kick their ass)

Stan Armin and Alexy’s mom guys 

𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗 :

Unlike the other boys, he can’t tell you to come over if you need to stay away from home (his dad is a bit of a bitch in my opinion)

So you guys would just hang out in town for hours (and he’ll bring Cookie because dogs are the most comforting beings in time of crisis)

He’ll buy you some sweet things to eat while you’re both out 

And then he’ll listen to you, constantly praying for the situation to not get worse 

He’s very worried about you, you really important to him

He’ll randomly hug when he thinks about the situation too much or when you’re getting upset (Kentin the empath, the comeback)

If things are really getting out of hand, you might be surprise to see him at your front door, ready to deal with this shit (he doesn’t know where he found the courage to do that but the truth is that he really loves you and can’t stand the idea of you being hurt in any way)

That's such a hard topic to write about (but unfortunately it is a very common issue that's why I think the world would be a better place if parents agreed to go to therapy)

Hope it satisfy you and wish you all the best ! <3

[tonydaddingham]

I am going to hazard a guess and predict that most queer viewers are going to side with Crowley in the divorce? The subtext here is usually that Crowley is a queer person who is comfortable in their identity while Aziraphale still doesn't let go of the church and internalized homophobia. And then asking Crowley to try to conform in a way that Crowley has never been comfortable with, implying that in order for this relationship to work you need to be something that you're not (especially potent bc Crowley in particular is explicitly nonbinary/ gender fluid)... its almost violating. That should clearly be asking too much of him and it only hurts worse to realize that Aziraphale doesn't realize that and doesn't truly accept Crowley as he is. Which is a fundamentally Queer Experience Thing.

okay again full disclosure i am not queer, so im only going to answer this to the best of my ability besties, if i don't write things right or deliberately misunderstand a nuance in this, please know im doing my best and anything that is upsetting or offensive please tell me, i am so not qualified to answer this... but nonnie has asked so i shall give it a go!!!✨💓 (cut bc length)

genuine question here: wouldn't, arguably, in this whole choosing sides thing, crowley vs aziraphale, be exactly what divides the queer community? those that could sympathise with aziraphale and his allegory vs those that could sympathise with crowley? this is a genuine question bc i would have thought depending on your (general you) guys' (nb) variety of experiences, good and bad, there are those that could see either side or both?

as for trying to make crowley conform - i'm not going to argue this per se, bc i realise that this must be a very painful concept or experience to go through, and i Will Not invalidate that. but on the other side of the argument, whilst i see and agree that this is how aziraphale could be interpreted generally in this argument, i didn't see it this way at all. not when taking into account aziraphale's whole demeanour in s2.

my understanding is that, as far as the canon has showed us, aziraphale knows very little about the true circumstances of crowley's fall (only that aziraphale warned him against asking questions), and even less about crowley's inner feelings on the matter. whenever aziraphale mentions it, or crowley having been an angel, crowley understandably responds aggressively and angry and obviously that it's still painful.

i don't think it's too far beyond reason for aziraphale to think that crowley - a good demon - might want to take a chance to have the wrong righted (as he sees it), to receive what aziraphale would consider a boon, an apology. whilst he's not in hell's clutches, crowley would have the chance to be free of hell completely. furthermore, it's a chance for them to be together, as friends or otherwise (obvs the metatron conversation is before crowley's confession), and to build the world they want - fair and honest and kind - together. because it's not as if crowley doesn't want that, but he just won't go anywhere near being an angel in order to do it - borne of fear yes but also resentment and bitterness... possibly even arrogance.

aziraphale does lord his angelic status over crowley especially in s1, and does hold a very black and white view over angels = good, demons = bad, but for the most part i think he has started to explore the possibility of grey more in s2. he starts to ease back on crowley and concentrate on making him feel wanted and loved (however that might look on Their Side), but still leaving him agency.

ive talked about aziraphale putting him on a pedestal and that is true, but the person on that pedestal, I don't think, is angel crowley - i don't think it's that simple. i think it's good demon crowley. and that good demon crowley would want to change the world, right?? well, he's got to be an angel to do it - even better!!!

so i didn't necessarily see it as aziraphale wanting to change crowley at all, but instead him thinking that based on what crowley has told him, of course crowley would want this!!! he deserves to be forgiven and restored, he's earnt it and he's a good person!!! but aziraphale unfortunately reneges on his emerging attempts to give crowley that agency, and instead decides for him. i don't think it was necessarily out of wanting to change crowley, but instead him not knowing the full story and therefore choosing a resolution for crowley out of love and respect... but one that crowley doesn't want.

these boys REFUSE to communicate and 👏 it 👏 shows👏✨

[sugurushimura]

Either I made this up or this definitely was a thing but I remember reading one of your posts about what higuchi's childhood was like and the economic situations of the time. at the end of the post you suggested you might expand on it in the future so I was wondering if you had any fresh thoughts on the topic?

yes, i mentioned this briefly in my higuchi analysis! @mikami also talked about this topic before here, and i recommend giving that post a read since it's a large part of what got me thinking about the circumstances of higuchi's youth in the first place.

i'm not a huge expert on the japanese economy, especially from before i was born, but i do have a few more thoughts on this. higuchi was born in 1972, at the very tail end of the japanese economic miracle. the 1973 oil crisis marks the end of it, but the japanese economy withstood the impact and remained strong (from my limited understanding) until the asset price bubble burst in 1992, which just so happens to be the year higuchi turned 20.

so higuchi grew up during a very strong time for the japanese economy. since he's from a wealthy family, i imagine he would have lived well even if the economy had been worse; what's more important imo is that times were good and the higuchi family was optimistic. since the japanese economic miracle started in 1955, depending on his parents' ages, it's possible that they didn't even remember a time before the miracle. (personally i think his father is older than that, but ymmv.)

higuchi grew up in a financially optimistic environment and had the idea that his bright future was not just a possibility, but a certainty. as he went through his schooling, i think he always had the idea that it was all stupid and not worth putting effort into since he was going to get a cushy corporate job when he grew up anyway. he was a mediocre student; he had enough resources to ensure that his work was passable, but was only rarely motivated enough to do particularly well. higuchi jiro, in my mind, was always a strict and cold man, and while higuchi never exactly fell behind his peers, he certainly fell short in his father's eyes.

more than academic success, i think higuchi focused a lot on his social standing and what his peers thought of him. unfortunately, he struggled to find somewhere he fit in. despite being a rich kid, the idea of rebellion was always cool to higuchi, and deep down he longed to be special and rebellious in a way that you can never fully be when you're trying (however halfheartedly) to live up to higuchi jiro's expectations. the other rich kids who he hung out with only tolerated him; every counterculture movement he brushed shoulders with rejected him. his luck with women was never very good, either; the few relationships he had in school were mostly shallow and ended unceremoniously. by the time he graduated, higuchi had grown into a somewhat lonely person thirsting for approval and belonging.

eventually he graduates and goes to university for the customary degree before setting out for an office job. i really don't think there was any significance in picking political science except that it's generally employable and seemed more interesting to study as an 18 year old than business or a similar degree did.

i've grown fond of the idea that at some point between high school and yotsuba, higuchi decided to quit college and flee to the states before very quickly being robbed of his illusions and returning to japan. i've tossed it back and forth, and i think what happens is this: the economy crashes in the middle of higuchi's college years, and he realizes abruptly that getting a job might be harder than he thought, and that the job itself will almost certainly be more difficult to maintain. he grows angry at the world for seemingly fucking him over right before he could've benefited from the economy as a working adult, and it occurs to him that maybe all this work won't be worth it in the end. in a moment of anger and desperation, he books a plane ticket to america, embarking on what was supposed to be some sort of glamorous soul-finding journey. this doesn't go as well as he'd hoped, and ultimately he returns to japan with a man his father hired to find him. this unpleasant, embarrassing experience resigns higuchi to the corporate life he'd planned on previously.

so ends his life as a child and begins his life as a childish adult, and so cements a strong "i deserve better than this and everyone/the world is out to undermine me" complex. i guess that's what happens when you don't get the future you feel you were promised.

[moonstruckloverwritings]

Yandere! Five Hargreeves x Reader (general)

Authors note: character is aged up. He may be mentally older but he’s still in a child’s body. So I’m more talking about an au where he didn’t get lost in time and is 18+ at least. Also, basic TW: Yandere themes, kidnapping, obsessive behavior, toxic relationship.

This is definitely one of my more unhinged ones.

Has SCRICT rules. There is no leniency. There is no wiggle room for circumstances. You follow them or bad things happen. That’s it.

Is also in charge of everything. Everything you can think of.

He does the shores, he cooks, he lays out your clothes for in the morning, he brushes your hair, bathes you. Virtually every freedom you have has been taken away.

For example, if you’re at the stage where he can trust you enough that he can take you to town, he’s gonna put you in the passenger seat, adjust the seat to your comfort, and buckle your seat belt for you.

He’s in charge. And you should trust him with that. You should know that he knows everything about you and knows what’s best for you.

All the clothes, soaps, decor, colors etc is all in styles he knows you like. So when he picks out your clothes and helps you into them, they are clothes that you like.

Would not hesitate to off anyone if they were deemed even the slightest bit of a threat to you.

If they were too handsy, flirtations, rude, aggressive, etc. Hell, he’d probably off someone if they looked at you for too long while you’re in town. (Hence the song)

He might even off one of his siblings depending on who it was and how far it went. He’s more lenient with some siblings more than others.

He does love you but, even without the trauma of getting lost in time, we can see from scenes earlier than that, that he probably wouldn’t have been the kind of person that opened up easily.

Understanding and saying his feelings is his hardest challenge.

For example if one of his siblings was getting too close to you, he could physically feel the negative reactions he was dealing with as a result king before he could identify them.

“Am I angry? No there’s a bit of fear in there too.” “It happened when Diego was talking to them.. so that means..”

He’d grab your arm and in a huff pulls you back home immediately as he finds out that it was jealousy.

At times he gets aggravated that he feels those feelings. Even more aggravated when he can’t control them. Not being in control of everything scares him.

So while he loves you, he feels he has to control you and scenarios involving you. If he doesn’t know what will happen then it leaves room for bad things to happen. And he can’t risk that.

So he has a lot of traps outside. Many locks in the door. Lots of plans and back ups plans for if things go sideways.

On top of that, he’s planned out your entire day because he has to be prepared for everything.

And lastly, onto punishments.

I don’t see five being the kind of guy that’s going to put his hands on you in any hurtful way. Though he is violent, he never wanted to be. No matter what version of five there is, either his dad made him be that way or the commission. He’s never been able to escape that as far as we know right now. But even so, he doesn’t like hurting people. He’s never wanted to be that way. I think now though it is more of a defense mechanism than him being in the offensive side. Even if he doesn’t like it, he will still be violent if he needs to. He will still have those guards up and especially when it comes to you.

But as for punishments, he would take away things you enjoyed or lock you in a room and leave you until you’re begging for food or human contact and will let him have control again.

He need you to understand he does these things for you. You need to understand that he knows best.

Tiny bonus scenario! ⬇️

S/O: “Please let me out!”

Five: *continues humming while chopping vegetables up for dinner* They’ll come around to it in a couple days.. just give them some time.

[chadillacboseman]

Does Jesse feel love? Like is he capable of it?

This is an interesting question that requires a complex answer, so I apologize for the rambling.

Jesse suffered from severe head trauma as a teenager when he was in a car accident. This accident gave him a traumatic brain injury and resulted in a trigger of borderline personality disorder and damage to his anterior insular cortex when blood buildup put pressure on the area. Part of Jesse's skull is artificial due to this accident. Add in long tours overseas while in the Marines that gave him PTSD and, well, you've got a lot going on.

Jesse struggles with empathizing with others, but I would not say he's entirely devoid of empathy. He does not care about most people he meets, not because he sees them as 'pawns' or targets for manipulation, but rather he just...does not see them at all. Sometimes he sees himself as an outsider and is jealous of those who have support systems or loved ones. Losing his brother, his one steadfast tether to normalcy and structure, was a big trigger for him. Jesse now stands as the last of the Geller line, and he is painfully aware of his own mortality. Hence the Malleus exoskeleton, the constant upgrades to his forces, and the hunger for money. He will do anything to prolong his mortal life and his seat at the top of the food chain.

I wouldn't even call him a narcissist, because he certainly is not. He isn't surprised when he experiences consequences (just angry, usually), and while he can be charming, he hates doing it and, again, can struggle finding the will to empathize with the target of it.

Now, as for the love question-

Jesse loved his brother and his parents, certainly, but his love looks a little different than one might expect. He feels very strong waves of emotion that oscillate wildly to different ends of the spectrum. Anger is his most common and easily triggered- he is prone to blackout periods during which he cannot remember his whereabouts or his actions for extended periods of time. The rigid structure of the military and his brother's command of RCMG gave him outside control that helped keep him in check; that coupled with a medication regimen that Jason heavily enforced, gave him some regulation of his emotions and behavior. Jason's death made him lose all of that, and now he's been thrust into command of a massive private military operation and he is the control, which is ...not working out.

Jesse's love might look like an obsessive devotion, a willingness to kill for someone, but a constant fear of being left alone that just might piss him off or cause him to become paranoid and accusatory. It might look like an all-consuming fixation that eats at him until it is unbearable. Or, he might just love someone 'normally' (whatever that means lol) depending on the circumstances surrounding his life at the time.

All of this is to say: his injuries and disorders do not excuse his fucked up behavior. He is very aware of the fact that what he's doing is wrong, though his victim complex is still quite strong. He knows he should take his medication. He knows he should try to enforce structure in his life and get his shit together.

He does not want to.

Jesse does also have a sadistic streak, which you can glimpse in a few of my works of him. People who he perceives as having wronged him in some way are often on the receiving end of whatever pain he can cause them. He likes to wield fear as a weapon, and nothing instills fear in your enemies and your own men quite like murder. Remorse doesn't often come to him for these acts, because, in his mind, he was wronged first. It's his right to take his pound of flesh (or litre of blood).

Thank you for listening to my rambling.

[lilyfoxonfire]

A little bit of a rant, but. And this is a Very Personal Take, so watch out for that.

The thing I wish more writers at DC got is that Jason's tragedy runs deeper than the Joker — but it also doesn't run deep enough that it ruined him from the start (which happens to be a particularly terrible train of thought in general.)

Jason Todd, as Robin, was a sweet kid. Jason Todd, as Robin, was angry, traumatized, sometimes vicious. Jason Todd, as Robin, loved school. Jason Todd, as Robin, hated criminals. He loved his father, and loved being Robin, and didn't quite respect Batman's mission, and had issues with his family. These things can coexist. They *should* coexist — because this coexistence is what makes the character interesting, when you look at him for more than five seconds.

It's all too easy to act as if Jason's leading tragedy — the key moment that defines his path — is the moment he dies to the Joker. This isn't *inaccurate*, per se; the events of his resurrection were indeed mostly influenced by the events leading to, and surrounding, his death. But dying to the Joker does not *constitute all that Jason is.* That's a thing writers keep falling into; this idea that everything about Jason Todd eventually and inevitably goes back to the Joker, and his murder. Both "Kill the Joker" and "Three Jokers" (ironic) approached the character from this angle, and I think that's a damn shame.

Then you'll see people who look deeper, and define the character by his background. Criminal abusive father, cocaine addict mother who eventually dies, a miserable half-life in the streets and slums of Gotham City, depending on petty crime not to starve to death. It's a terrible existence, and the scars it left on Jason's psyche are clear, but that alone does not constitute all that he is. I've heard the following take a few dozen times; "There was never any hope for Jason Todd." Even Batman himself, in some comics, says something to this effect.

There's two camps on this hill, of course. The first, more aggressive, is of the idea that Jason was "rotten from the start"; this isn't at all an uncommon take, both within fandoms and in real life when talking about certain polemic figures. We, as people, find some sick comfort in pointing to people who do things we dislike, fictional and otherwise, and declaring that their perceived evil is innate, like there's something off within their heads. We see this phenomena a lot more often with Superboy Prime, for example — but it's not quite uncommon with Jason Todd, in some circles.

I don't think I need to elaborate on why this is toxic, of course. Reducing these characters — and people irl, when applied in such cases — to circumstances of some innate evil self, a rotten soul or undiagnosed antisocial disorder or whatever, is to close your eyes to any context that might have led to what happened to them. You don't have to forgive someone for doing something, especially when that something is awful, but there is still room to seek to understand why what happened happened, so that one might attempt to stop it from happening again, or ruminate on its consequences.

Coming back to our given example, by saying Jason was "always rotten", these people choose to completely ignore every important (and trust me, they were incredibly important) factor in his life that led to his behaviour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these are the people most likely to portray Robin!Jason as an arrogant asshole and nothing else.

The other camp is a bit more reasonable. "Jason Todd never had the chance to be more than what he was" is the prevalent thought they hold — from the streets as an orphan to the streets as a fighter, surrounded by violence at every turn. How could he ever have grown past the blood if new blood kept being spilled? It's a very humane take on the character, comparatively speaking, but I feel like it's also diminutive. Because this passive acceptance of an outcome is, in and of itself, a sentence to it. Which is to say — this, and the condemnation preferred by the first camp, are different only in the tone of their voices and the amount of empathy displayed. There's still an acceptance of the fact that this was 'always how things would play out', one way or the other. Like this was Fate.

This perception of the larger tragedy at hand as some sort of Destiny resulting from Jason's background and the tragedy he suffered is most notable in the recent interactive film "Death in the Family". Notice the similarities the many paths have to one another — of course, we know on a metaphysical level that this is in part due to budget limitations. But within the context of the movie, the narrative is that of the following; that those events, those horrors, would be Jason's inevitable destiny in every path his life could take where it crossed both Joker and The Batman.

And that, to me, is such a tragic misreading of what makes his tragedy *special*. Because any reading of Jason's tenures as Robin show a boy who does, indeed, have hope. We see this child be, well, a child — love and live and have issues a kid would have. We see him have problems with his family, sure, but also enjoy their presence, and get close to them. We've seen, recently, how he loved his father. How he and his brother patched things up. We've seen how he admired Barbara. To say that Jason's life would always end one way is to ignore the one true innate thing about him, and that was the arc of moving past one's trauma.

At his core, Jason was a heroic kid who had a lot of baggage. What made him different from Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne was the nature of this baggage — he had no sole event to blame for it, no single tragedy before the Joker. Jason Todd's personal Vendetta was against Gotham City, in all the ways it was rotten. See how he lashed out when confronted with Felipe Garzonas and Gloria; *that* was Jason's target of rage and trauma, not any single event. Ironically, the thing Robin Jason and Red Hood Jason share is this; a rage against an immutable status quo, against the seemingly inherent futility in endlessly fighting to stop crime in the moment, never taking it further, always holding back. Rage against inevitability.

This is a child who could, and was close to, and was *expected to*, one day grow beyond himself. Perhaps it would always be outside of Batman's specific code. Perhaps not. But it was not Jason Todd's background that consigned him to a life of violence. Even at that point in time, at his lowest and within the worst interpretation of it, had it not been for the Joker, Jason would almost inevitably have moved beyond himself like Bruce eventually did, like Dick eventually did. Eventually, people change. That was a 15-year old boy lashing out, and given time, and support, every last piece of his story tells us he'd have healed.

Instead, he died a violent murder, betrayed by his mother, and was condemned to a cycle of violence that was almost custom-built to perpetuate every last worst part of himself. To make every last flaw of his shine. To stoke the flames of his rage and nothing else. And it happened because he died, and metaphysically because the author wanted something to try (and fail) to question Batman's methods once again.

That's the tragedy of Jason Todd — forever doomed to push boulders uphill. This is a character built for a world that can either change or be questioned — but his is a world that does neither, so he will only ever fall further down, further down indeed. And as he does, he'll keep pushing boulders, struggling, trying to go up. And he will fail. He can't ever recover because we, the world, won't let him.

Or we can just make him a magic ninja lol

(I actually like the All Caste stuff, ironically. Could've been done way better, but. Hey. Ducra questioned that boy's ideals without being a moralist jackass. I will take that.)

[royalarms]

➤ HEADCANON : RELATIONSHIPS .

i've been meaning to write up this headcanon for some time now ! i really wanted to dig into noctis's relationships , how i view each one individually , and how he views the people closest to him in his life . for the sake of general interaction outside of ship partners or biases , there will be no mention of romantic attraction here ( perhaps with the exception of lunafreya because they have an arranged marriage in canon , but i'll keep it limited ) .

starting off , i want to say that noctis is a very dynamic character and how he interacts with people strongly depends on how they interact with him ( which i think is true for most people , haha ) . however , i think noctis is very feeling and often acts in accordance with his emotions , or lack thereof , depending on the circumstance . all this to say , some things listed may seem contradictory , but let's remember that noctis is Just A Guy , feelings are fluid , and everything is dependent on everything else . i'm going to organize this in a list - like manner to keep things more simple . i'm also not going to include EVERY single character ( even tho i strongly wish to .. i might do a part 2 with some of the more side characters down the line ) .

note : some interactions may shift depending on a rp partners portrayal / canon divergencies / general opinions . this material is crafting from my own headcanons and opinions , but i am willing to plot in different directions .

tw : parental death !!! long post incoming !

REGIS LUCIS CAELUM : noctis has always admired his father , looking up to him for as long as he can remember . he remembers yearning for his attention , but ultimately feeling as though he came second to his father's kingly duties . despite it , he always loved him . regis would read or tell noctis bed time stories ( along with aulea , until her passing when he was eight years old ) until he was thirteen years old , when noctis waved him off in an effort to "grow up" , but secretly missed the time they'd spent together before bed each night . this is also when his insomnia first started to become apparent . i think regis desperately tried to make time for noctis , and is the one who taught noctis to fish in the pond behind the citadel . taught him to drive in the car manufactured specifically for him , taught him that truly living is the most important prospect in life , to take care of business , but also to take care of himself ( some lessons of which he certainly casted aside ) . still , regis let him get away with things and do things he normally would not due to his knowledge of his son's inevitable demise . he desperately wanted noctis to be able to live his life in a way that was meaningful and full of joy . noctis's dealings with expectation , societal pressure , and depression had other plans . noctis loved him , before and after his passing , and always will . despite this , there is always a shallow bit of resentment he holds for his father : that they did not spend enough time together , that he did not learn the lessons he needed to survive as king , that he felt scared and alone so often in the citadel with a father nowhere to be found . his childhood beneath regis was not perfect , and he often felt discarded despite regis's best efforts . perhaps it comes with the territory , noctis understands after accepting his duty as king , but it does not negate his feelings on the matter . he is also angry in general , that his father was taken from him before he could learn all that it is he wished to learn ( though , truthfully , he thinks to himself that there's nothing that could have prepared him for the way of the world and bahamut's plans ) . i also believe that during noctis's teenage years , he began to reject his father for his priorities and viewed regis letting noctis get away with certain things as a lack of care , as he is not aware that regis is aware of the prophecy . he interprets it as an unwillingness to be his parent and puts a wall between the two of them , and becomes cruelly independent from him , relying more so on his friends than his father . it's part of the reason he also rejects his duty as prince/king , because he does not 'want to end up as his father . ' of course , this whole viewpoint shifts as he grows and matures more into himself , but there was a time when they hardly spoke . regis , letting noctis grow into adulthood and allowing him the space he craved , and noctis , craving his affection and attention , but distancing himself further from him despite it . they had their ups and downs for sure . (maybe i should have made the regis section its own post ummm)

AULEA LUCIS CAELUM : my headcanon for aulea is canon divergent , as in canon , she dies when noctis is an infant , and they were never able to spend much time together . in my portrayal , aulea lives until noctis is eight years old , and dies in the same daemon attack that injured his back and sent him into a comatose state . i think she was a very dedicated woman , to her role as queen , to her work , and to her family . noctis relied on her often for emotional support , and she did her damn best to be there for him when regis could not , though , noctis still spent a decent amount of time being cared for by the maids and hired caretakers he did not know very well , and did not like . despite that , they cherished each other greatly , and aulea taught him many things herself . many of the things he learned from her were things like empathy , understanding , nurturing ( even as bad as he is at it currently . i think he was really good at putting those things into practice before the daemon incident and her demise ) . she is the reason he has such a soft heart beneath his wishy washy exterior . she is the reason he loves so strongly and wholeheartedly . he also always admired the relationship between herself and regis , even if he , at times , felt excluded from them . he decided he wanted to experience a relationship like theirs , were the time to ever come .

LUNAFREYA NOX FLEURET : lunafreya starts off as a good friend to noctis during his healing stay in tenebrae . after he awakens from his coma , she meets him and they become close . sharing stories , books , secrets , and adventures through his healing journey . i think having luna there beside him was the only thing that made his rehabilitation manageable . he was often miserable and hurting , but he looked forward to her visits every day , and thought of her every night . she gave him a familiar comfort , an understanding , and an ear that listened to him after his mom's passing . that event reshaped the entire way that noctis approached life and himself , and she was the first person to get to know him after the fact , with no pre-conceived notions or expectations of who he is or how he should act . he felt at home with her , until niflheim had ripped them asunder . as he has been aware , tenebrae does not have technology in the way that lucis or , more specifically , insomnia , does . they could not communicate but through letters , but his way with words eludes him most often . this lead to their maintaining contact through their shared notebook , noctis's sticker collecting habit ( as he learned luna enjoys stickers ) , and his short sentences scribbled beneath a cute sticker he thought she might enjoy . big life events were written about vaguely ( with the knowledge that the book could be found and read by the empire ) , but for the most part , he kept things between them simple . he has always valued her presence in his life . into adulthood , i think they both continuously grew in different directions , despite always cherishing the other and maintaining what little contact they were able . when the treaty is announced and noctis hears of his arranged marriage to lunafreya , i know it throws him for a loop . he has always cared for her , but to not speak to someone for a decade and then be thrown into a world in which you must marry is daunting . he's thankful it's to her and not a stranger or someone else , but i think he really gets confused about his romantic feelings for her , and as they develop , has a hard time deciphering if they exist because he is forcing them to , or if he has genuine feelings for her . i think it all hits the moment he sees her giving her speech in altissia , and i think he can truly imagine a life with her , but the expectations and pressures of it all are so overwhelmingly unmanageable . he has had to re-evaluate the love he has for her time and time again , and while eventually he does realize the extent of his romantic feelings for her , it did not come without chaos and confusion .

GLADIOLUS AMICITIA : so , gladio and noctis have not always has the best relationship , as depicted in the animated mini series : ffxv brotherhood . gladio taught noctis to fight , and had training sessions with him several days a week , though it was not anything he'd considered more than his duty as future shield . this was a job and nothing more . gladio did not like noctis , his childlike attitude , or his willingness to give up . noctis knew gladio did not like him and often dreaded their training sessions , knowing he'd be bested no matter how hard he tried , in turn , viewing the training as a waste of his time . after the iris incident ( when noctis lied to protect her , taking the brunt of the blame for something she did ) and gladio found out , their dynamic shifted . gladio started to develop a respect for him he did not have prior and noctis felt it too . because of this , noctis started taking gladio and their training more seriously and the two were able to bond through physical battle and practice . they started sharing more conversations , but i think gladio has always had a way with giving noctis advice and "lectures" that noctis often considered a bit condescending ( albeit , at times , welcome ) . their relationship at this point goes so deep and i think they understand each other in that way that needs no words . they know each others movements , the fluctuations in their voices , and their body language . they're both similarly stubborn and manage to butt heads a lot , but carry immense respect for the other , and they both have a special place in their heart for each other . they have a closeness and a trust where they aren't afraid to lash out at each other . they know the other can and will take it , and that they'll remain at each other's sides despite it .

IGNIS SCIENTIA : ignis and noctis share a bond that goes beyond ordinary friendship , and they trust each other with their lives . ignis was deemed noctis's advisor at age six , making noctis three years old at the time . their fate and friendship was decided for them , and ignis has been dedicated to him for as long as they've known each other . noctis has known ignis for as long as he can remember , and he values him with great intensity . i think ignis's devotion to noctis goes beyond noctis's understanding , despite him being aware that it exists . at times , it troubles him , knowing how much ignis would do for him , knowing that the way ignis loves is through his actions , through his sacrifices , and noctis has never doubted his devotion to his job . i'm sure he's been through some phases where he convinces himself that the reason ignis takes his wellbeing so seriously is because it's part of his job , and not solely because he cares about noctis as a friend . though , when he's of a more rational mind , he does not doubt their friendship through such lenses . he knows and trusts ignis wholeheartedly . as a teenager , he often argued against ignis , as the advisor just wanted what was best for noctis , but noctis wanted to do things his way regardless of their benefit or consequence . as they grow older , noctis appreciates him more earnestly and through his twenties , while he can still have a gripe or two here and there , he cherishes his dear friend . it's into his thirties , though , (or after the time skip , depending on the verse) that he really really values all of ignis's hardship , care , and self - sacrifice . he begins to understand ignis's love and devotion , he accepts it , and wishes to stand beside him . to take care of himself , so that ignis does not have to , but he will never forget all of the things he has done for him . in a verse where they both live through the ending , i think noctis's display of appreciation for ignis and his general interactions with him change drastically ( mostly for the better , depending on your view ) .

PROMPTO ARGENTUM : prompto means so much to noctis because he is his friend because he wants to be . he has no obligation tying him to noctis or his princehood , he simply ... decided he wanted to be his friend . and noctis appreciated that more than anything in the world . prompto and noctis are the same age and went through schooling together and have a lot of cherished memories , and noctis values his fun - loving and dramatic attitude , but also values their more serious moments of vulnerability and care . prompto is someone he can just simply be himself around . he does not have to worry about prying eyes , different opinions , complicated expectations . prompto just feels like home to him , and he brings noctis genuine joy when they spend time together . he feels value at his side , not as royalty , not as noctis lucis caelum , but as noct . he trusts him with his vulnerable side , though he may not show it much . he can escape the pressure of the world with him , laugh , and goof off . his mere friendship is a relief for him , and he loves to spend time at his side . i think they had a lot of small moments together when they'd hang out in their secondary school days , and his presence brought so much joy and addition to noctis's life that he wanted him to join on the roadtrip , and through that , they bonded so much more . he knows prompto from primary school , but assumed he was uninterested in befriending him . after all , it wasn't as if he didn't attract unwanted attention . and prompto didn't seem the type to want a lot of that sort of attention , so he left it alone . he hadn't a clue that prompto took it upon himself to 'prove himself' and would have loved to his friend despite his looks or personality . a person who wanted to be friends with noctis for noctis , he'd appreciate no matter what . being around prompto truly brings him back to himself when all of life seems to be pulling him in separate directions .

[shootinwebs]

Some of my aspec headcanons about Alastor:

( CN: NSFW text, fictional cannibalism )

-He doesn't consider any specific label for it himself, but is fine with other people referring to him as ace, as long as they don't take their assumptions any deeper than that.

-But if someone defined everything for him and he had to choose: sex-positive graysexual and aromantic.

-He has fun challenging people to seduce him, if he's in the right mood and with someone he really trusts enough to let his mask fall: using his normal voice and not feeling like he has to have an enormous smile plastered on his face every second.

-He thinks a lot of people who try to get in his pants rely too much on assuming they're so attractive that they don't have to try very hard. Alastor has to remind them that he's not attracted to anyone by physical appearance alone, and that they're going to have to do better than that.

-A lot of the time he enjoys telling potential bedmates "you're bad at this" more than he would actually enjoy having sex with them. Same with telling them "that was forgettable" afterwards if they actually get into it.

-He definitely doesn't give the same people a lot of chances to coax him. Sometimes he'll even pretend it's working and fake the whole thing just so he can kill them and eat them afterwards, if the person annoys him enough.

-It can really just depend on the day whether certain things will work on him or not. But he's usually turned off by people being blunt or vulgar in their advances (i.e. Angel Dust). It tends to work more if they take their time. But in very rare cases, it can melt him if someone straight up whispers something nasty in his ear.

-Zestial is the only person he's slept with more times than he can keep track of. Zestial might not understand Alastor that well in ordinary circumstances, but he knows what he likes in bed. And that fact alone makes Alastor wobbly in the knees.

-He's much more inclined to have sex with men than with people of other genders.

-Alastor hates sweat, bodily fluids (except blood lol -- and maybe a modest amount of saliva), and unclean beds and clothes, no matter what mood he's in. It would take someone who really knows how to enamor Alastor for him to tolerate messy/heavy sex.

-Porn does nothing for him, in any medium.

-He prefers to keep as much of his clothes on as possible.

-He has a habit of singing/humming to himself afterwards if someone does a good job. Buuut the last thing he'd do is brag or even talk about it with anyone else. He doesn't really understand it when other people talk about their sex lives, because it's such a personal thing to him.

-He has accidentally killed people during sex, which makes him all the more glad he doesn't feel like doing it often (or does it). Just like when he laughs or is very angry, he can emit involuntary radio noise when someone makes him, y'know, "go over the rainbow" hard enough (like eyes-rolling-up-into-head levels) to cause an exceedingly loud and high-pitched feedback/interference screech that instantly kills the person. (cue everyone else in the building or neighborhood going "what the fuck was that" and Alastor going "oh fuck... whoops... better get the cayenne seasoning, i guess")

[the-s1lly-corner]

Fluff alphabet w/ knubbler (remake)

Remaking this because skimming through the old version some of my hcs have changed + I wanna get back into writing for mtl while the rot is here... maybe I'll do some other characters (winks)

No queue we die like men (I'm inpatient and wanna post mtl NOW!!!!(.. quickly realizing why I dont do long posts like this on mobile anymore. Not proof read we die like dethklok fans

Bonus prompt ♡ is PDA

Notes: reader is GN though this is mostly focused on general knubbler hcs

CWs: edit

Attraction

I would say hes a bit shallow but I'm a dickface shipper/j, serious note I think depending on circumstance he can overlook surface level stuff if you're charming enough! I mention in the original post that I think he enjoys feistier folk; outspoken and ready to dish it back if its tossed at them. It keeps things interesting even if it can get frustrating at times. Needs someone with humor, though

Bonding

He tries to make time for you when hes not working, he usually takes you out somewhere. Usually dinner or to the mall- hes bit materialistic and he doesn't mind spoiling you. Music fanatic, listens to everything and looooves listening to some of the stuff you're into, most definitely dissecting it too thanks to his career

Cuddling

Average older person body type, a bit on the cooler side temperature wise. VERY handsy when cuddling most of the time. Prefers to be big spoon but would not object if you turn the tables

Dates

As mentioned he spoils you, so going somewhere nice (and a bit pricy) is a common date experience. Flirting and innuendos aside, dates also double as a catch up thing for you. Again due to him working hard a lot of the time to keep up with his career

Emotion

Hes pretty level headed, though seeing him getting frustrated or annoyed isnt an uncommon occurrence. He has a pretty normal threshold when it comes to bullshit in the day to day- does get a little more emotional if hes under the influence, its just hard to guess which emotion it'll be until hes drunk

Family

Hes not interested in having children, for the most part. Hes had those fleeting "what if" thoughts, but anything more than that? No. That being said I do personally headcanon that he has siblings, who might have children of their own. Rich aunt knubbler supremacy/j

Gift giving

Again, he spoils you. A lot. He can afford it thanks to working with dethklok, and that's assuming hes not also producing for others. Even if hes not giving you something significant, hes sending you roses to remind you you're his

Harsh

He can get short when hes angry but he does try his best to reel himself in and try to find a solution, and depending on the context willing to compromise so both sides are satisfied. Naturally hes easier to work up if hes stressing out. Prefers to go to the side to cool off if things get too intense

Injury

Very similar to the old post, he reacts accordingly based on the nature of your injury. He can be a little insensitive to it, though, but like.. in. a "oh we have different pain thresholds and I kind of forget that" kind of way

Jealousy

Oh this man gets jealousy with a capital J. Want a quick way to get him worked up? Make him jealous. I mean don't becahse that's kind of shitty but. You know. Depending on the context and how the relationship as a whole is going hes either going to toss you to the side or play your game- has the "I didnt lose you you lost me" mentality, kind of gets nasty with it if you really fuck things up

Kiss

Lots of kisses- quick and light, or deep any passionate. Any kiss is a good kiss- tends to favor your mouth of course! Loves being kisses on the cheek

Love language

Guys I don't think I said this yet but he likes buying stuff for you/j

No serious notes, he listens to you. You're someone he can just talk to, no having to worry about your job or your reputation. Just talking. Hes a good listener, actually. Physical touch is another way he shows his love. Not even just sexually; reassuring and innocent hands on the shoulder or a hand steadying you on your back when you're faltering. Things like that

Marriage

Similar to having children hes never really thought about it. He doesnt strike me as the type to settle and commit to something long term, even just having you long term as a non-spouse is a change for him. He might warm up to it one day, he might not

No

A quick dealbreaker is if you put his career in jeopardy. Hes worked way too hard for this and hes not going to let it get wiped just like that. Not even necessarily getting him fired, just interfering in any negative way can put in a lot of tension

Oddity

Goofy ass laugh. Laughs at his own jokes, most of which being bad or corny. That's not even touching on his sexual innuendos. Horrid. Tomato tomato tomato

Petnames

Naturally he calls you babe and baby. Hon and honey are thrown in there every now and then. Oh he would definitely use dumber names in passing, partly because he unironically thinks they're cute and because he likes seeing your reaction

Quiet time

Well I guess it defeats the purpose of this segment being called "quiet" time but that idea earlier of the two of you just sitting and enjoying music together and analyzing it sounds nice. Outside of that the two of you can sit in silence doing something on your own. Life can get hectic, especially when one or even both of you work for dethklok

Risk

He takes risks, calculated ones though. He thinks about the pros and cons of everything before acting, and if it would be better to do it than do nothing if the outcome doesnt look too good. But that's in the context of himself and his work. But with you? Unless you're dying or in danger he tends to play it safe even if he can still come off as a douche every once in a while

Shh

He has his healthy share of secrets. Nothing wrong with that, privacy is important. If he needs to tell you something that he thinks you should know, he will tell you when its appropriate

Tunes

Maybe its because I'm going insane over these songs, and I hope you can forgive me for not linking them but:

Modern day cane and mx sinister

Both by IDKHBTFM. Less of a "you guys listen to these together/it reminds me of knubbler x reader stuff " but because the songs kind of remind me of him in general/I feel hed listen to these

Upset

He tries to work through things when hes upset, but he does separate himself from the situation if it gets too much- whether it be to keep him from saying or doing something hes really going to regret later or because he just can't deal with it in that moment

He offers to listen to you when you're upset, he tends to be unbiased so he can offer a good solution if that's what you need. He does try to spare your feelings but get ready to sometimes hear what you dont want

Wedding

Valentine

Roses, candies, and a reservation to some fancy place- something higher quality than the usual. Definitely the type to try to initiate intimacy on Valentine's

If it DOES happen, hes going all out. Maybe it's the fact hes rich and famous and he can overindulge a bit, but an expensive wedding is likely. It may not be huge, in terms of attendants though. Just friends and family

Xray

Hes gotten very good at reading people over the years so good luck trying to act normal around him if something is going on. If you seem avoidant about talking, he does try to drop hints that you can talk to him

Yearn

Oh this man yearns, both innocently and not so. He copes well enough between the times you are apart or see each other less

Zzz

Snores in his sleep. Has a long routine. Sleeps like a sickly Victorian person; on his back, head tilted backwards, arms sprawled across his torso. Primarily sleeps on his back, though, maybe you can cuddle into his side

Bonus prompt ♡

Looooves PDA, always holding you in some way. If the setting is professional he will keep his hands to himself. Does not mind showing you off, either