#don’t think about the perspective please

[edenfenixblogs]

To OP:

OP, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for this.

As a Jewish person, the most actionable response I have to this post is to PLEASE NEVER BE AFRAID TO SAY YOU ARE NOT JEWISH. PLEASE SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT JEWISH.

This is NOT because you are co-opting our pain if you don’t. Don’t worry! It’s because there are so few Jews in the world and it is alarming to the extreme that most of the acknowledgments and condemnations of what we are experiencing right now are 1) primarily from Jews or 2) dismissed by non-Jews because we are perceived as biased rather than accurate sources about the racism perpetrated against us. Whether or not it SHOULD be necessary is, unfortunately, a non-issue. Because at this time it is necessary. It is necessary both to show Jews that we are not alone at a time where we feel extremely isolated and alienated. It is also necessary to give legitimacy to our perspective to those who refuse to listen to us about our own subjugation, persecution, and oppression.

One tag that I use very often is “life under stochastic threat.” I use it because Jews are very much under attack worldwide right now in ways that are outright violent or that encourage isolation and fear without outright violence. Because there are so few Jews in the world and we are so spread out in diaspora, people don’t often see our suffering in the same way they would if we were all in one place. It is easy to write off one incident of violence in France and a violent mob in Amsterdam and some extremely rough stories from college campuses in Canada and America. Why is it easy? It’s easy because there are people who take things to extremes everywhere. And people can easily say “oh, it was just one synagogue.” “Oh, it was just one coffee shop.” “Oh, it was just one professor.” But the problem is that it’s “just one” SOMETHING in every single Jewish space everywhere in the world. Which means it’s something every Jew can s experiencing right now.

When you identify yourself as non-Jewish, you both signal yourself as safe as well as someone who is willing to combat the stochastic threat in the spaces in which you participate. Even if you don’t know any Jewish people, the people who you know might know Jewish people or even just have opinions on Jewish people. And it’s extremely comforting to know that people like you exist in places we can’t reach, because it means we don’t have to rely only on ourselves to combat antisemitism, which is often how it feels.

As for Jewish contributions to Buddhism: I cannot speak to Buddhism specifically, but I can say that seeking knowledge and understanding are core Jewish values and we deeply care about increasing knowledge and helping others do the same.

I deeply agree with the Buddhist perspective on hatred being a poison. I think that’s a wonderful way to put it.

Your post means a lot to me. Especially because I worry about how much Jew hatred can fester in communities where no Jews are present. Simply because the biases are so deeply engrained into most cultures as a result of Jews being around and despised for so long and in so many places. To know that you and voices like you exist in the world is more comforting than I can ever express.

Thank you for everything you’ve done here. It may not seem like a lot. But it’s so, so much. 🩵

To Other Non-Jews Speaking Out For Us:

I love you. I love you all. Thank you for what you’re doing. I know it’s not easy or comfortable. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude.

Why do you care so much?

I've been asked this question a few times in the past year - why I spend so much time thinking, reading, and reflecting on antisemitism, especially because I am not Jewish myself. There are a few reasons, really. One of them is that I think antisemitism is a hatred that spawns other hatreds, but even if it did not, it would still be worth studying, because the fact that it is a hatred at all is enough. The fact that antisemitism impacts Jewish people is enough of a reason to oppose it.

It's also because it's important to oppose because of the way it damages the thinking habits of people who believe it. I saw somebody say, "Jew-Hate makes you dumb," once. And though I think it was probably an off the cuff statement for them, it stuck with me, and I think they're right. In my religion, we say hatred is one of the three poisons - it can seriously harm your mental well-being in a way that deepens your suffering in all aspects of life. Often, hatred can also be spread like a contagion. It's something that destroys social harmony and causes severe social dysfunction. And right now, I think antisemitism is the most contagious of hatreds - I've seen people in my life fall off the cliff, I've been able to talk some back from it, and I've seen how so many people wander towards it without any idea that that's what they're doing.

Part of the problem is that antisemites consider themselves righteous in a way I think most racists don't. Often, you'll see "I'm not racist but" I almost never see that with antisemitism. They don't add that qualifier. They just say it. Most racists I know will make a tacit acknowledgment of the racist implications of what they're about to say - antisemitic people don't. They often even engage in anti-Jewish racism while invoking anti-racism.

I don't really know any Jewish people in real life, perhaps only two. But I don't need to know them to know that hating them is wrong. I think I also have a debt of gratitude to many people in the Jewish community because of the advances in Buddhist Studies made by Jewish people, which sounds strange - but it's true that many leading voices and researchers, both in academia and within Buddhism itself happen to be Jewish. I'm not sure why this is, but it's absolutely true. The most prolific translator of Pali into English that I can think of is Jewish. The most impactful Vipassana instructor in America I can think of is Jewish. The most impactful voice in Deity Yoga, for Tibetan Buddhism, is Jewish. People who are Jewish, for some reason, contributed probably more than ex-Christian Americans or atheists combined to the proliferation of Buddhism in the United States.

Buddhists and Jewish people are known to have a close relationship. There are a lot of different reasons for this that I would suggest, but none that add up to explain the amazing contributions to Buddhism made by American Jews.

I think another reason I have for being so interested in antisemitism as a non-Jew is the kind of... political disillusionment I've been experiencing? It's been a disturbing few years, and I haven't seen many people elaborate very well on this feeling of abandonment and horror, witnessing people who you thought shared your values become hateful and deeply violent in their beliefs. The only people I've seen consistently speak about it happen to be Jewish.

I think all of this has helped contribute to a feeling of closeness to Jewish people as a group, despite that I don't really know Jewish people in my real life, and only have one or two Jewish friends online. This year has been a horror show of watching people's minds become twisted - it's so scary in a way I can't quite capture with words right now.

I also sometimes have a back and forth with myself about when and if to mention I'm not Jewish when I talk about antisemitism, because I do think it's totally necessary to explain the perspective from which I speak, but to be honest it feels kind of icky to be like "I'm not Jewish, but antisemitism is bad", because antisemitism is bad whether or not the person saying so isn't Jewish, and I think it might be a negative for people to think "not being Jewish" is something which makes it any less valuable to be against antisemitism, and talk about how against it you are. It's very real that people who talk about antisemitism are perceived to be Jewish, and obviously, it's important not to lead people into thinking you're Jewish when you're not, but adding an "I'm not Jewish" qualifier to statements about antisemitism I worry might contribute to the perception that those against antisemitism are Jewish.

Antisemitism is such an insidious ideology. And it's everywhere. I see it daily in so many different spaces. It has the largest impact on Jewish people, but it also impacts non-Jewish people at times. I distinctly remember being mocked throughout school for "looking Jewish." I think about that Greek restaurant which was attacked because they were thought to be Jewish. Or that man in the Amsterdam violence who tried to help and was then accused of being Jewish himself. It's so deluded, violent, and manages to consume people's thoughts like a parasitic worm in their brain.

Anyways, I planned for this post to be more organized. Oops.

[twomoreseconds]

Arcane theory - The first timeline

Now this might be a bit long so please bear with me. I absolutely loved the ending of Arcane (we win jayvik nation) but there are a few aspects of it that I can’t quite wrap my head around. If anybody has a different perspective than me please do tell I’d love to hear it.

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Now for what I don’t quite understand (I’ve never been good with the logic of time travel)

1. What was the first timeline like? How did the story play out the first time round? Ik time doesn’t work like that and ik about the bootstrap paradox but I’m still so curious. And how did Viktor know Jayce would be the one to save him?

2. How did Viktor know that he was giving Jayce a different rune each time? Is there like some history tab in the Arcane??

—————————————————————

I’ll now try to answer these questions but again it’s all purely my speculation:

—————————————————————

1. What was the first timeline like? How did the story play out the first time round? How did Viktor know Jayce would be the one to save him?

We learn that each time Viktor ends up destroying the world he goes back in time in an attempt to stop himself. He says to Jayce “In all timelines, in all possibilities, only you can show me this (this being the fault of his ideology).” This means he is certain that Jayce is the key to stopping him.

Now as to how he knows it’s Jayce and only Jayce that can free him from his false ideas. I have two theories.

A) He’s literally gone trough ALL other possibilities.

He’s nudged all people in and around Zaun and Piltover in the direction of developing hextech and through trial and error he finds that Jayce is the one. - This has many faults and is more of an idea than a theory

B) In the first timeline that started their loop he had already met Jayce.

If he had already in some capacity come into contact with Jayce and seen his desire to prove himself, his drive and kindness. He would know that that’s the person who’s to be his conquests undoing. - This theory sounds more plausible to me and thus is what I’ll be going with

With this established we can move on to what the first time line was like.

Since Viktor wasn’t there to save his mother, Jayce grows up to be an orphan (I can’t remember anyone ever mentioning his dad). I believe he would still gravitate to becoming an inventor/ scientist, but with no funding he would probably be someone’s assistant or some such.

Viktor wouldn’t have met Jayce so early so he would still be Heimerdingers assistant. Eventually though his illness would start showing and in my mind, Viktor wouldn’t want to die without his life meaning something, without helping the people of Zaun.

I believe he would go see Singed just like he did in our timeline. Singed wouldn’t have the support from Silco like he does in our timeline since there would be no explosion in Piltover, thus no arrest of Vander, thus no death of Vander, thus no Silco leader (presumably).

This would mean that Singed would seek more drastic measures for example hextech. I believe he would have given Viktor some hextech crystals and shimmer, maybe as a part of a deal maybe out of the goodness of his own heart.

I think Viktor would start researching hextech which would perhaps catch the attention of Jayce, leading to them working together on hextech in secret.

As his illness would progress Viktor would again corrupt the core and enhance his leg. This time though since there is no funding for their illegal study there would be no Sky, meaning there would be no accident (don’t even dare to tell me it would kill Jayce I don’t want to even think about that).

If there is no accident then maybe Viktor would use the core on himself sooner. Become the machine herald as he would have no guilt (Sky) making him hold on to his humanity.

If he becomes the machine herald so soon Jayce wouldn’t have much time to talk him out of everything. Not only would there not be enough time to talk, since they met so late their connection wouldn’t quite be what it becomes in our time line.

Jayce would get pretty close though since after Viktor achieves his salvation of the human race and realizes its faults, it’s Jayce who he trusts to save everyone.

Now he would come up with the plan to inspire Jayce sooner, so he develops hextech sooner, so they meet sooner, so Jayce has more time to stop him.

This only eventually works when Ekko buys him more time, otherwise he still wouldn’t have enough time to convince Viktor. (Ekko is the goat fr)

—————————————————————

Now for with the one that makes the least amount of sense to me.

2. How did Viktor know he was giving Jayce a different rune each time?

In episode 9 we are explicitly shown and told that Viktor went and tried all kinds of different runes in hopes that one will give Jayce enough time to save him.

Let’s say he starts with rune A, it doesn’t work so when he’s in the “world rid of humanity’s imperfections” he decides to give him rune B.

Now if it doesn’t work, the Viktor in the past who meets Jayce with rune B becomes the Viktor in the present.

Only problem is new Viktor is here for the first time. He presumably doesn’t have the memories of old Viktor, so how could he know that the rune he decides to try this time isn’t one he’s already tried for example rune A.

How does he know that he’s not already in an endless cycle of going between A and B. Never even trying C.

I believe the only explanation would be that the Arcane is somehow giving him access to all his “past” memories from his past timelines.

Although time doesn’t really work like that. Time is a loop a cycle it doesn’t have an end or a beginning who’s to say that it wouldn’t give him memories of the acceleration rune working.

But I digress since I can’t think of a better solution.

—————————————————————

If anyone actually read it to the end thank you and sorry that it lowkey read more like fanfiction than a theory.

If anybody has literally any other ideas please comment I wanna hear them so bad you don’t even know.

In conclusion going by my theory Jayvik are truly meant to meet in every timeline and Viktor is the direct downfall of Vander and Vanders Zaun. (What a silly guy am I right or am I right)

[cristaq]

do you ever think about how Price and Soap have the same first name?. because i do.

about when they here someone call out “John” they look for the other.

about them calling each other “Johnny” when all alone.

about Price not being able to stand to hear his own name after Soaps death…

I read this just after waking up and damn you anon for making me feel stuff that early in the day! So I will give you all my name related thoughts and please do add if there’s anything missing.

I do think a lot about it, from a writer’s perspective, since I can’t write things like <“Let’s go!” John said.> because which John are we talking about?? 

Jokes aside, their names are foreshadowing Soap becoming Price. They are two sides of the same coin. Besides that, I imagine them calling each other John in their most solemn and serious moments. Otherwise, they usually resort to Price and Soap most of the time, even when in private. Since they can’t display public affection, I think that they unconsciously ended up charging these names with incredible emotion. People hear Soap, but Price actually says “Come here, love.”. People hear Price, but Soap actually says “I missed you.” These names carry a secret endearment that lets them interact as lovers even in public. So it just naturally carried over to their private life as a reminder of who they are, under what circumstances they’ve met and what they are fighting for. They don’t have to invent nauseating pet names. They are Price and Soap, but also Price (with a soft gaze) and Soap (with a sly smile). 

Exceptions are made for “old man” and “muppet”, which started as innocent teasing, but ended up as so much more. They are used to poke light fun at each other, but also as a form of endearment.

But!! In their darkest hour, when sincerity is crucial, John slips out. “John, I’m not going anywhere!” “I swear we'll make it, John!” “Wait for me, John!” It’s their way of signing a contract with blood, the firmest handshake in the world. When they hear the name out in the world, it’s very funny to see both of them turn around like two prairie dogs, one of them with half a slice of bread in his mouth. How could their fates be even more intertwined??

The death part hits hard. When Price hears John he expects someone else to turn around with him. But there is no one now. He stops answering to John. And people soon stop calling him that. I like to imagine that when Price kills Makarov, besides the “This is for Soap!” he says “This is for John!” because it is for both of them. 

[omgwhatchloe]

Is Sean MacGuire Illiterate?

I’m positive everyone in the Red Dead Redemption 2 community is aware Lenny and Sean had reading lessons together, but it seems to be a common assumption because of this that Sean is utterly illiterate? I’m going to share my views and opinions on this! Of course, nothing is completely confirmed so again, just my opinion.

Firstly, Sean has been to school - Some fans may or may not know this, but Sean was sent to a reform school throughout some of his teenage years. The education system was definitely poor, with the focus of the teachers being on punishment and order, rather than the actual education. I am definitely not saying they put any effort in to make him Shakespeare, but it’s highly likely he will have picked up the basics as they taught him and the other boys English. It just doesn’t seem likely to me at all that he will have sat in school for however long with absolutely no ability to read, while being faced with words every single day.

Secondly, the reading lesson misunderstanding - This is where the assumption from many fans came from. Lenny was attempting to teach Sean to read, right? However, looking closer and really reading the dialogue, we can find something else that’s implied. Lenny is attempting to get Sean to read books. Isn’t that just teaching him to read? Well, not entirely. It doesn’t imply Sean is illiterate from my perspective, but does imply Sean will not read books, he doesn’t value it, he finds it silly and just doesn’t want too. Lenny, as his best friend and a book reader, has these lessons to change his views. He is not teaching Sean how to spell “c-a-t” and “t-h-e”, he is actually reading him books and attempting to get him to do the same.

Lenny: When we doing some reading?

Sean: Not now, Lenny, please. I’ve almost got it, anyhow!

Lenny: I told you I’d have you reading.

I can definitely see where the implications that Sean is illiterate is coming from, but can you also see where the implications that Lenny wants to get Sean into books and teach him literature is coming from?

Sean: Look, what’s the point of reading anyhow? Just puts silly ideas in me head.

Lenny: Exactly…that’s the point of reading.

So, I emphase again my point that Lenny is attempting to get Sean to read and enjoy books with him as his best friend. I realise assumption that Sean cannot read could be because it has been dubbed a “Reading Lesson” by the fans, and been accepted as that. However, there is a chance that it is not a reading lesson, and Lenny is just trying to get Sean to read books with him after discovering he doesn’t like them. I mean, Sean carries around a newspaper clipping about his father which has been described as sad since many people say and think he cannot read, but I want to look at this realistically and say he carries this around because, while he is no literacy genius, he can read. He has to be able to read to know the newspaper clipping is about his father.

What contrasts what I have said is:

Sean: God gave me the ability not to read.

This implies Sean does not have the ability to read. Is Sean implying he cannot read at all, or he does not have the ability to read and understand books and literature like Lenny?

Again, this is all just my opinion and perspective. I’m not Rockstar and I don’t actually know!

So, what do you think?

[rnadett]

I think everyone forgets about the prison sex scene that the location itself is only shocking and uncomfortable for us, the viewers.

She spent 7 years in a cell; to her, that place isn’t “dirty/unhygienic" It’s true she carries a lot of trauma, but the thing about confinement is that, over time, even if you don’t like it, the walls become a part of your everyday life. Even if it drives you crazy, you get used to their presence.

The fact that Caitlyn didn’t care that they were in a grimy place and just wanted to be with Vi meant more than anything. It showed that Caitlyn’s character truly wouldn’t care if they were making love in a cold swamp—as long as she’s with Vi, it doesn’t matter where or when.

When you're locked up, the problem isn't with the actual walls but with the fact that you can't leave whenever you want.

From Vi’s perspective, those walls no longer solely represent loneliness and confinement.

This scene symbolizes that this place no longer controls her mentally or any way.

This scene will always be misunderstood by most people, and maybe that's for the best. It was specifically not created to please every viewer, but to give respect to the characters. Some people will even claim the opposite, talking down about this ship, just because they don’t understand.

Just finding beauty in each other in the harsh reality.

[isbergillustration]

Hey, are you guys open yet?

[ariartcor]

Do you think he dreams of him sometimes?

[imonfire1985]

“the smoke in nyc is so bad right now” yeah and tons of people in canada are losing their homes and livelihoods because they’re literally being burnt down. so

[goldensunset]

third file of stardew valley and i actually went and died like some sort of noob… i only lost one item but it was my sword!! ik i can recover it easy but like can you believe it. still i feel like i got off pretty easy there

[foxgloveinspace]

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot is that a lot of Sleep Token songs are about Vessel, and like I have a list, but I want to drop the concept that I have a thought that sometimes Vessel is the ‘she’ in the songs.

[likeadevils]

people are mad at taylor for her own actions. she is choosing to hang out with a man who assaulted a women and a women who defended it. both terrible people. taylor swift fans are mad that taylor is doing this. no one is at all blaming her for their actions, just voicing distaste for her own. brittany herself told the people to shut up. she dismissed the assault as him 'trying to find his way'. taylor herself made so many s.a victims feel safe to then turn around and high five the man and celebrate with him. fans have every right to be disappointment in taylor and who she is choosing to surround herself with. taylor is not a victim in this situation and swifties need to learn shes a grown adult responsible for her own actions. what you said about 'making a mans s.a. about 2 women' (no ones doing that btw? its blatantly obvious that its two separate thoughts) and 'holding women accountable for the crimes of men' (again... no ones doing that) is incredibly ignorant, dismissive and simplistic way to view a very serious situation and i hope you realize that eventually.

i’m not trying to dismiss what brittany said— it was disgusting. i’m also not trying to paint taylor as a victim, she’s a grown woman who can make her own choices. what i am saying is the vast majority of the ire i’ve seen is about taylor and britney, which is part of a wider societal trend of raking women over the coals while ignoring men who have done far more harm. brittnay’s words (again, reprehensible) pale in comparison to jackson’s actions, and yet the majority of criticism i’ve seen is directed at her. i don’t want to minimize the harm brittany has done with her words, but i am trying to add an additional layer of nuance and perspective, and that’s how women often take the brunt of societal ire, when the men in their lives are the ones doing the most violence

[creativitwin]

i don’t know if anything will beat the feeling i had during april 2020. i was heavily hyperfixated on tss and especially the creativitwins, and then thomas dropped the roman playlist. to this day 3 years later i still think about it

second song on that playlist was wonderboy by tenacious d and i was immediately like ‘haha that sounds like that’s about remus. cool how they team up in the end’ but oh well, i didn’t think that much about it in that moment. the song can easily be about virgil too

i’m vibing to the rest of the songs and then humility by gorillaz comes on and. did the song straight up say twin??? bro that fucking song is about remus. that song is about remus there is no way around it.

i’m not smart enough to directly analyze the songs (plenty of people have already done so. here’s my favorite one) but all i can say is holy fuck yippie doodle this shit still makes me ballistic.

i mean in the series all roman seems to show is hate for remus!! looking at remus is like looking into a funhouse mirror, he’s literally his biggest insecurity, his biggest fear. and yet, (correct me if i’m wrong) i don’t even think there’s a song on there that even implies his hatred of remus. the playlist is all about how he wants to be free of his morality restrictions..

idek man. if the day comes in 2050 when the creativitwins reconcile i will be there in the first row.

oh and also. fun fact about the wonderboy song (and also the entire roman playlist)? thomas and joan purposefully made roman’s playlist into 5 sections: i want songs, character establishment, rising action, climax, and falling action. they didn’t specify how exactly these sections were split up* but that doesn’t even matter. wonderboy is the SECOND song in the playlist, meaning it’s definitely an I Want song. do with this information what you will

*ok if you want my opinion, theres 20 songs, and 5 sections. the math would show that each section would consist of 4 songs, and i think this definitely holds up with the vibes of the songs, too.

conclusion: ieirjrwndijekwfowhhdeh idk. roman and remus are the twins ever and the only main reason i still care about sanders sides after all this time.

[titsthedamnseason]

now listen this might be wrong to say as a fan but i need taylor swift to get less popular before the next era. we need to find a way to weed out these trend followers

[formulapisces]

shamelessly vagueing here and this sounds harsh but jesus some people really need to start realising not everything is about them.

not in a stuck up, the world revolves around me, arrogant way. but in a they’re not laughing about you, they’re not gossiping about you, you’re just insecure, reading into every little thing, hurt and need help type of way.

[shego1142]

This is honestly a good example of how autistic people use their special interests to relate to the world around them and how non-autistic people have trouble understanding that/not being mean to them for “always” making something about that special interest

if you told vin diesel fast and the furious you were gay he'd be like "Some people like driving stick…some people like driving automatic…what matters is you cross the finish line.." and then he'd rev up a dodge challenger and drive through a building and kill 16 people

[screampied]

can you do soft sukuna after an argument vegas for fluff pretty please i think we deserve it after all you've done to us

໒꒱ ₊˚ ‘ MAYBE I’M THE PROBLEM﹒⺡ SUKUNA RYŌMEN. ’

sum. gn! reader, angst with c-comfort, he’s a softie at heart, fluff, petnames, ty lucy for beta'ing <3

“what’s with you today?” sukuna furrows his eyebrows, and he lightly grabs your wrist. you face him only to briefly look away with a stubborn scowl. “you didn’t have to do that. i can take care of myself.”

he was referring to earlier…how careless you were, at least from his perspective. throwing yourself in danger just for sukuna. perhaps it was stupid, but at that particular moment—you didn’t have a thought that crossed your mind.

“well, i did,” you mumble, and sukuna bites his tongue from the inside of his cheek. his nostrils flare before he grabs your shoulders.

“what are you not getting? and if you died trying to protect me, then what?” and for a brief moment, it was dead silence. you stared at sukuna, and you can’t remember a time he looked like this. sukuna was … scared. the more you looked into his dark eyes, once full of arrogance and wit — instead, his pupils dilated and widened. his thumbs gently pressed into your skin, and then he continues to speak. “how can you even be calm about something like that?”

“i wouldn’t have to do things like that if you’d just be more careful,” you chastise, a sudden wave of gloom spraying over you. sukuna kept pausing every few seconds, as if he was carefully thinking of what to reply with.

sukuna’s almost got a glare before he sighs. “i told you. i can take care of myse—”

“no, you can’t sukuna. you know how many times you’ve almost died? the countless days where i’d be worried sick about you. if anyone’s reckless, it’s you. and you wonder why i act like this, it’s because i’m in love with you, you idiot.”

you don’t even register your words, it’s as if you’ve been yearning to get that out for ages.

sukuna grows mute, trying to figure if he actually heard what he’d just heard. you…you were in love with someone like him?

the awkward silence was deafening, a single tear strolls down your cheek before sukuna’s face suddenly softens.

he brings a thumb up to your cheek, swiping the tear aside before muttering in a raspy, “you love me?”

“i thought it was pretty obvious,” you grumble, avoiding his eye contact. your heart ached, never in your life have you felt this vulnerable. saying it out loud only made you flustered immensely quick. a soft smile goes against his lips — you didn’t answer his question, but he knew the answer. you loved sukuna. “but whatever.”

“oi. don’t ‘whatever’ me,” sukuna mutters, cupping both sides of your face. he has you stare right into his eyes, the eyes where most see a cruel villainous person, you see the softest eyes imaginable. reserved only for you. “look at me,” and you finally meet his gaze, a smug grin slowly tugs against the corners of his mouth. “you’re in love with me.”

a weird tingly feeling crept up inside your stomach, and you give sukuna a glare. “you know,” he keeps speaking, a soft finger stroking your cheek. “instead of almost dying for me, you could have been normal and just said, ‘i love you’.”

“…shut up,” you grouse, entirely abashed. he found it cute seeing you like this. in the midst of your mini tantrum - sukuna hums to himself, leaning down to kiss your forehead.

“hmpf. well, i suppose i love you too, brat,” he utters, watching your face briefly light up at his words. sukuna saying it back couldn’t have made your heart swoon even more, but it did. “and i’m sorry for being so careless.”

you felt butterflies collide inside your tummy before you blink, ears perking at his first initial words and you pout. “you suppose?”

sukuna looks down at you before he awkwardly pats your head. “i … love you,” his voice was a mere soft rasp. studying his stare, sukuna started to grow a tad bit embarrassed. even more than you. as his fingers softly roam through your hair, he leans up close to your face and scoffs. “happy now?”

“i love you more,” you smile, feeling more relieved. he’s taken aback once you hug him. sukuna’s always been so stiff at something as simple as a hug. your frame held his waist tightly, and he’d never admit it but it was adorable.

sukuna scowls. “…. you’re squishing me.”

“shut up and hug me back.” you sigh, only taking this as an opportunity to squeeze him tighter. he was so warm.

usually…sukuna wouldn’t let anyone get this close, yet alone do this. a simple affectionate hug.

he groans, slowly wrapping his arms around you. “you’re so annoying,” and as your head rests against his chest — you look up at him, a soft smile goes against your lips. “pain in my damn ass.”

“talking about your ass isn’t romantic, ‘kuna.” you raise your brows . . . obviously kidding, but he groans.

with an eye roll, sukuna does the unexpected and pulls you up close towards his face. with a perplexed grin, you watch as he grabs you into a chaste kiss. it takes you by surprise, your hands remain flat and still before you wrap your arms around him. sukuna’s soft with you, you made him soft—and he hated it, but a tiny part of him secretly loved it too.

abruptly, he pulls the kiss away before glaring at you. “i love you.”

“i love you too, kuku.”

“…..call me that again and see what happens.”