#good GOD I can't open that can of worms‚ I still have my own worms to finish!!!

[all-lars-bars]

You listen to Prince Ali ONCE and now you're thinking about a mh Jam AU based on the story of Disney's Aladdin.

[nightingale-prompts]

Batboy is back baby!

First | Previous | Next

(Back to the regularly scheduled idiots)

Life was not quite back to normal. Danny's lack of wings meant he didn't hang from the ceiling anymore. He also started eating less, he wasn't as much of a fiend for fruits anymore. The white fur collar he had started shedding until there was only a thin layer left.

Danny slept most of the day only moving to new spots occasionally. He would choose the most inconvenient spots as well. Like the roof.

One such day Danny was sleeping soundly in the midday sun when a portal opened behind him. A hand grabbed Danny by the ankle back onto the Ghost Zone. He only managed a single yelp before he was face to face with Clockwork.

"What part of come back do you not understand?" He scolded holding the boy in the palm of his hand.

Danny rolled over in the icy blue hand and sighed. He didn't bother looking up at "Kronos" in his titan form. He knew that it meant that his mentor was in a very bad mood.

"Now look at you. You have bearly staved of going into stasis. You are not fully formed yet young man and can't survive in the physical realm without an energy source. What have you been feeding on other than your own energy reserves?!" He lectured before another voice cut in.

"Go easy on him my love. Let me." Nocturne soothed taking Danny into his hands.

Danny was thankful for a moment before realizing that Nocturne's head was that of a ram whick meant he was also mad.

Its very easy to read the emotions of god-level entities. The more imposing and non-humanoid the worse they feel.

"Daniel...what did I tell you to do late time we spoke?" Nocturne's red eyes narrowed, and his horizontal pupils shrank.

Danny knew this was a trap.

"Speak boy." Nocturne ordered.

"To return-"

"To return to the realms!" Nocturne bleated "And yet you stubbornly remained. Now look, you are practically wilting away! You are still a millennia too young to be this reckless. I should ban you from the physical realm. Putting you in a dream bubble for a century would teach you a lesson."

Danny knew that this was a bluff. Nocturne was a huge softie and never went through with a punishment. Clockwork on the other hand never made false promises.

" No, my Lamb. We shouldn't. Not yet at least." Clockwork sighed "For now we should concern ourselves with helping him recover."

Danny sighed with relief as the Titans let him go for now.

He had to leave a note for Dick that he would be at his homeworld for a few days. Clockwork also left a note to assure Dick that Danny was in good hands and is also being grounded.

Recovery by ghost standards was similar to humans.

Ambient ectoplasm could heal with enough time but it's by no means fast. It would take years for Danny to get back to his old self. When Danny first came back after being torn open the recovery was painfully slow without proper care. If Clockwork hadn't stepped in then Danny would still be in that state.

The first step is food. Despite what you'd think ghosts eat. They all have to eat something to survive, but they all just have their favorite foods.

Nocturne was a desire eater.

Clockwork by nature ate everything

Danny himself is a fear eater.

Fear eaters are the most common among ghosts.

But these are abstract foods.

Physical foods also exist. Ghosts cultivate foods of their own.

Danny's favorites are a bowl of Ice Scream with Ambrosia chunks, neck-tarine lemonade, the devil's eggs, and candied meal worms.

It sure beats eating honeyed dates, bread, and cheese with Clockwork and Nocturne. But a growing ghost has to eat alter food to grow in power.

So Danny can only eat offerings until further notice.

Clockwork also sent Danny to do tasks and training.

"You need to steel your mind. Your perception of yourself is too flimsy. The more you believe yourself to be small or a child the more your body becomes so. The more negative emotions you direct at yourself the worst you will appear." Clockwork droned on and on showing Danny complex diagrams about how to properly use his powers.

The time ghost had been firm about not teaching Danny any new abilities until he got this down.

Danny was not enthusiastic. He bearly made it though the first lecture on this.

"Give him a break. How about letting me show him some examples?" Nocturne said entering the room with a tray of tea. "Come with me. We'll go to the menagerie."

For the next few days, Danny was given a crash course on biology and mental conditioning. He practiced changing his form as quickly as possible and accurately copying. Nocturne was strict but fair. Nocturne was actually one of the best when it came to shifting.

On the last day, Danny hugged his mentors goodbye for now. Clockwork made sure to fasten a talisman around Danny's neck that would keep them in contact and help Danny control his power better so he didn't lose too much energy. Nocturne handed Danny a bag of golden Ambrosia for the road.

And like that, Danny was back home. Recharged and ready.

****

Dick tried not to be worried about Danny. He understood that since he wasn't entirely human he had to recover differently. But you can't blame him for feeling anxious.

Going missing once was problem enough.

When he returned to the apartment the first thing to greet him when he opened the door was something fuzzy flying at his face.

That fuzzy thing was a squeaking sliver bat that had somehow go in the house.

Dick peeled it off his face as the bat gleefully chirped at him.

"How did you get in little guy? Did Damian hide you in here?" Dick said as the Bat climbed up his suit.

Suddenly a heavy weight pressed down on him as the albino bat turned into Danny. Dick toppled to the floor.

"Dad!! Look! I finally did it! I flew!" Danny said leaning over Dick and smiling from ear to ear. His blue eyes flashed green.

Dick was stunned silent as he took in the last few seconds.

Did Danny call him dad?

[queer-reader-07]

don't mind me i'm just dropping my review of dune part 2 here because i really really really loved this movie and it changed me on a molecular level and i can't stop thinking about it and everyone should watch it it's so good i'm not joking it's literally one of the best films i've ever watched. ok anyway, review:

I remember very clearly the day I finished Dune. I remember how I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating rice & beans with a spoon in one hand, and holding my dad's battered and loved mass market in the other hand. I remember how I read the final words and closed the book slowly. How I got up to go sit in my dad's home office and stare into space in disbelief at what I'd just read. I remember how I looked at my dad and I said "I can see why it's your favorite. I think it's mine too."

I saw Dune Part 2 on opening night, in IMAX, with my dad. And to say it was a night to remember is an understatement. I can say with full confidence that seeing this film is sure to become a core memory.

The sheer power of this film is something to behold. I don't think there was a single moment in those 166 minutes that I wasn't entirely immersed in the film, my eyes were glued to that screen like never before.

There were moments during the movie where I was genuinely frightened, moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I know how this story goes, I know how it ends, I know who lives and who dies. And yet...

Paul Atreides is a scary man by the end of this story. The transformation he undergoes after drinking the Water of Life is unsettling, and Timothee did a fantastic job of portraying it. Paul's speeches about how he is The One- The Lisan Al-Gaib- are damning. You can see how much he believes now that he must be the messiah and how deeply the Fremen believe in him, but you can also see how dangerous he is. The power in his words is scary because I know how much damage the search for one person to save us all can cause. His final speech instills a sense of breath-stealing deep in the audience. It's frightening and disturbing because I know that this kind of religious zealotry is not being played up for the sake of theatrics; it is very, very real.

Jessica's religious indoctrination is scarily accurate to the indoctrination I've witnessed in my own life. The way she talks of "converting the non believers" reminds me a little too much of how I was taught to share the Word of God with those who didn't believe in Christ or God while I was in catholic school. And while her own indoctrination is terrifying to witness, what is worse is watching how she spreads her propaganda amongst the Fremen. By the end, they believe that Paul will save them; rather than being saved by their own people.

Despite knowing that Stilgar's faith is largely due to Bene Gesserit propaganda that speaks of a messiah, I still find him to be an admirable character. His unwavering and unshakeable faith mimics the faith of many religious people I know in real life. I've always envied that kind of faith, the kind that prevails regardless of hardship or pain or loss. I sometimes wish I could have that kind of faith, I wish I could believe in something that strongly. Stilgar is not shaken by anything Paul or Chani or any other Fremen say. He believes with his whole being that Paul is the Lisan Al-Gain, and that he will save them all.

"I don't care what you believe. I believe!"

And it's just such a well crafted movie. Shai-Hulud looks so good in this film (the sand worm riding scenes were breathtaking). The cinematography, the soundtrack, the acting; everything feels so intentional. I'm so grateful this film exists.

This movie will stick with me for a while, if not forever. It so faithfully portrays not only the story but the themes of Dune. This film was clearly made with love, care, and adoration for the source material. I couldn't be more grateful.

As the film came to a close, as Jessica's final words rang in my ears, as I watched Chani prepare to ride Shai-Hulud, I did not know what to do with myself. As the credits began to roll everyone around me stood up while I stayed seated. As I peeled myself out of my seat to leave, the music that played rang throughout the theater. I was breathing heavy, I turned to my dad, and we concluded that this was a truly wonderful film.

in conclusion, i can die happy knowing my favorite novel of all time has been so perfectly adapted.

[lonelyroommp3]

what would be on your enjoltaire 8tracks playlist if you made it today

you know what i didn't realise how effective my recovery from e/r had been until i sat down to make this and actually ended up having to crack open my beloved 2014 iPod That Still Has Flappy Bird On It And All in order to make a decent length playlist bc i just do not listen to enjoltaire songs anymore apparently. all this to say this has about 5 songs that, per your actual prompt, would be on my enjoltaire 8tracks playlist if i made it today and then 15 others that are direct dispatches from the mind of teenage alix. do NOT listen to this for sonic cohesion because trust me you will not be getting any

anyway i set myself one (1) rule for this which was i am not allowed to use any song that i have seen on an enjoltaire fanmix before. this made the entire project even more challenging

and if you're curious to know what the fuck i was thinking here, director's commentary below the cut:

secret diary - autoheart rip enjolras you would have loved listening to this song when you were really pissed off with grantaire

too sweet - hozier loath as i am to include a song that has become this grossly overplayed via tiktok, the very first time i heard this song i thought my god if hozier had released this song 10 years earlier it would have had the enjoltaire 8tracks girlies in a CHOKEHOLD. i can't not include it

i'll come running - brian eno i might be breaking my own rules here because a rando song being on my old ipod from an artist i otherwise barely listen to probably suggests i stole it off an 8tracks fanmix. but whatever it's an enjoltaire fanmix, it's a good song, did anyone else clock it in the background of baby reindeer (i have not finished that show and i am not going to, but anyway, great song)

satanist - boygenius "solomon had a point when he wrote ecclesiastes/if nothing can be known then stupidity is holy" could literally be a line from one of grantaire's drunken rants. welcome back victor hugo

the bird and the worm - owl city this is a teenage alix enjoltaire playlist classic. i won't apologise

stephen - kesha i firmly believe every e/r playlist requires at least one song that doesn't really fit in the details of the lyrics but the vibes are so grantaireish it's got to make it in. do you guys think the ugly girlfriend sneering across the room was epo-*i am shot*

gold rush - taylor swift IT'S THE ONLY TAYLOR SWIFT SONG ON HERE I PROMISE. HEY WHERE ARE YOU GOING. HEY STOP WALKING AWAY AND TELL ME "AT DINNER PARTIES I CALL YOU OUT ON YOUR CONTRARIAN SHIT" ISN'T AN ENJOLTAIRE LYRIC. COME ONNNN

for you and your denial - yellowcard about here is where i just gave up and cracked open the old ipod. i also wanted a clear vibe shift in this playlist and right about here is where i think we move from "mostly lighthearted pining and jabbing at each other's conflicting beliefs" to the "enjolras and grantaire biting each other's heads off" part of the fanmix. anyway i literally bought this entire album in hmv in like 2012 because i stumbled upon this one song on youtube and thought nah mate. this is e/r

make me wanna die - the pretty reckless i honestly have very little to say on this one. just more pissed off vibes

call me when you're sober - evanescence the simple fact of the matter is evanescence defined my teenage years and this will always and forever be an enjoltaire song

for a pessimist, i'm pretty optimistic - paramore i have really vivid memories of being on holiday with my parents in like 2013/14, stuck in rush hour traffic out of rouen, this album blasting in my ears, thinking this song is exactly what enjolras is thinking when grantaire goofs up at the barrière du maine

one big beautiful sound - johnny manchild and the poor bastards it is my near religious belief that every enjoltaire fanmix should have at least one song that sounds like this because i think this is precisely the kind of music that grantaire would actually listen to. actually tbh i think he is also into really really filthy drum and bass but i'm trying to keep this playlist at least slightly sensible

ever - emilie autumn this is such a perfect e/r song that it even talks about painting somebody's portrait. straight out of the fanon playbook, thanks emilie

misty - laufey right around here, or really starting with "ever", we hit the third phase of this playlist, which is "songs to be passed out and suicidal to while all your mates are getting violently killed around you". please note the hand holding foreshadowing. don't ever say i half arse these things

i'm your man - mitski genuinely this one speaks for itself i think. jaw dropped when i heard this one for the first time.

what if - emilie autumn here's where we kind of transition into the fourth portion of the playlist, which is "grantaire wakes the fuck up and goes hey wait no, i think i am going to die for & with this man actually". getting a bit more optimistic and determined but we're still in that wistful acoustic ballad space we've slipped into previously

twin flames - epica this is not from design your universe, epica's previous album, but i just wanted to use this space to say that i would regularly sit on the bus home from school imagining a whole elaborate barricades themed visual album set to design your universe. this bonus track from their next offering was just the icing on the cake. any song with a lyric like "you're all i need/my one belief" was like CRACK to teenage alix i s2g

save yourself, i'll hold them back - my chemical romance 15 year old alix would have figured out time travel to come and kill 27 year old alix in my sleep if i hadn't put a single mcr song on here

bows and arrows - kaiser chiefs i was OBSESSED with this album in 2014 and completely forgot its existence until i resurrected the old ipod. and it's REALLY good. especially this song, which i decided to check the lyrics for on genius bc i vaguely remembered it being an e/r song to me but i also haven't listened to it in like 10 years, and these quotes from ricky wilson absolutely flabbergasted me: "I liked the idea that bows and arrows are pretty useless on their own but when you get them together, they can be quite formidable... What’s wrong with a load of blokes admitting they need each other?"

i, carrion (icarian) - hozier listen, half of the reason i'm including this song is a bit of a joke at the fact that due to my self imposed rules i can't put icarus by bastille on here, but i do kind of like it as a frozen in time slo mo as the bullets hit kind of finale to this whole thing :)

[scribe-of-stories]

Get to Know Your Moots Writeblr Interview

Was poked by the wonderful co-writers of Sunset @sunset-a-story and @touloserlautrec. Go read their posts here and here!

On the Tumblr Writing Community

How long have you had your writing Tumblr/Writeblr? A short eternity (first post is mid 2022)

What led you to create it? Was very bored at work and wanted to share some recent stories. Also I had never tried social media before, it this looked like the most interesting place to try it.

What’s your favorite thing about the Writeblr community? Getting to see other people's imagination unfiltered. I've read plenty of great works before, but it was definitely an entertaining first to see the author later publicly say "this is my favorite little guy, can't wait till the next time he suffers."

What’s one thing you’d like your mutuals to know about you? I constantly feel like I'm bothering people and or feel self conscious when talking about me/my stuff, so bare with me hah.

Is there anything you’d like to see more of on your dash? Just some really unhinged stuff about y'alls stories. I want to open my phone and see someone discussing the seven major heresies dictated by some cabal of priests only to later realize "oh, this is someone's fever dream, not a history lesson".

What tips/advice do you have for someone who made a Writeblr today? Interact more, take up the offer of "open tags" on other people's posts. Also throw your ideas onto the table for other's to look at, we all seem to love just watching someone go off about something they love.

WIP it Good

Which Works-in-Progress (WIPs) or writing projects are you noodling about, lately? Been in a bit of a writing drought. Lexical is always getting worked on, more so the TTRPG stuff than any story right now though. I've had a few projects pop into my mind and leave over the past while. Have a cluster of characters I can't get out of my head, but no narrative or setting to properly put them into. A god of violence and the man that cut her out of himself, a cultish vampire philosopher and his favorite little guy (little guy has a knife). Surely something will come of this, or they'll continue to just exist in one-off stories in my own head. Amber Hill, specifically The Lawman, is still somewhere in here but it's been struggling to come out for a while. Been trying to find Lars' voice as a POV character.

How long have you been working on them? I've been working on something based in Lexical since mid 2022 (huh, exactly around I first posted here); the other guys are new and only a few months old at most.

Do you remember what inspired them/what got you started? Lexical is a can of worms. The short answer is that my irl DnD group wanted to play something more free form and creative leaning than what our 5e campaign was allowing, so I said fuck it and started homebrewing a system based in a world I have vague ideas about. The long answer is that Lexical is a sequel to a Pathfinder campaign titled "Demis", which was about fantasy super heroes. It was heavily inspired by My Hero, Worm, and inescapably Homestuck. So when it came time to make a whole new system for these same players I took some concepts that worked in Demis, applied some occult-adjacent philosophy I was/am into, and ended up with my years long passion project. Atem and Sadaf were born out of my growing need to explore violence as a concept, philosophy, and inescapable existential crisis. The Vampire and his thrall Ish spawned out of a desire to have a toxic romance to think about. And AmberHill was inspired by a desire to create something cozy and occulty. Ended up being SCP adjacent but maintained the idea of a small community that cares about itself.

How much time, in your best estimation, do you spend thinking about them? Lexical- not enough, I'm lucky I have at least some productive thoughts throughout the day. Atem- too much, his tired ass sat down in my head and I've been too polite to ask him to leave.

When someone asks the dreaded, “What do you write about,” question, what do you usually say? "Urban Fantasy with science fiction elements"

What do you want to say (if it’s different from what you do say)? "My dissertation on the semi-real building blocks of both physical and social reality, also wizards punching people."

Let’s Rotate Blorbos

Name any characters you created. We've got the original Lexical boy Samuel Smith, Atem and Sadaf who you've already heard of, Lars DuPont from Amberhill.

Who’s the most unhinged? Sadaf.

Who comes the most naturally for you to write? For whatever reason Samuel's self-loathing PI perspective just comes very natural and is maybe someone I should write more about.

Do you ever cringe at them? Nah

How much control do you feel you have over your characters? Depends, my mind does not wonder so much that I don't feel like I am ever not in control. But who I am able to focus on tends to be a matter of debate.

Do you enjoy people asking questions about your characters? Yes absolutely. Characters, worlds, magic systems; I'll rant about any of them given the chance.

On Writeblr Engagement

What makes you want to follow another Writeblr account? A combination of preferred genre (urban fantasy), shared interest (books/games/table top). Also if they have Scribe as part of their name it's just an auto follow.

Do your mutuals’ characters occupy space in your noodle? There's a few. The telepaths from Sunset and their many ways of being terrifying are the first that come to mind. Since I already mentioned the scribes I'll go ahead and tag @scribe-cas , @covenscribe and leave the rest of the tag open. Here is an empty template

[yakool-foolio]

Okay, now on the other end of things

Morality wise, what about the NDA? Like they're the "good guys" in the story but who's the morally best and worst in your opinion? Also Kurumi as well if you want, because she kind of counts as am honorary NDA member ig?

Ooooooooh man this is a whole other can of worms, isn't it? Ranking the peacekeepers on their morality is much more cut n dry, but there's a whole lot more to think about when discussing the much more nuanced ethics each detective has. So to not devolve into too much chaos, I'll once again only be basing my ranking off of what is seen in canon in the game, so no talk of Number One Yuma (though that is definitely its own decisive topic, which will become evident soon). And as usual the list will go from best to worst, so we'll ease ourselves in before really diving into the nuance.

To start us off is the lovely Fubuki! Oh, you sweet summer child. The most morally sound out of all the detectives. Not a single bad bone in her body. She may be uneducated about many things in the world, but that doesn't stop her from being inherently kind and sweet, even with her unconventional compliments.

Next in line is Halara! I was honestly a little conflicted on whether they would be placed above or below Desuhiko, but I after some thinking, I believe Halara has the moral high ground. Obviously their stinginess and greed lowers their score, but the road is paved with good intentions. The reason they ask for so much money is so they can put it toward a program to help save cats! Even though they have trust issues with people, they care deeply about animals. And once they do gain some trust in human allies like Fubuki and Desuhiko, they say that their companionship is considered enough payment for the time being when partaking in casual investigations.

Climbing down to the next rung is Desuhiko. He's definitely got some issues with his ethics regarding his flirtatiousness. He is not afraid to flirt with any woman he meets and that is not good. Thankfully, he doesn't necessarily force any interaction and does back off when scolded or ignored enough, but that doesn't make his words any less uncomfortable. He needs to learn some self control or else he's gonna get a boot to the head.

Now here's where things get really interesting. Vivia takes third place in moral deviance. This is without going into the possible meanings of the teardrop tattoo, god forbid I bring up the idea of him murdering someone or being part of a gang; things would get much worse if I did. Even then, Vivia's overreaction to Yuma's determination to expose the truth definitely sits him firmly on the lower end of the ranking. He threatened to kill Yuma just so they could go back to living in blissful ignorance of Yakou's involvement in the case. He only resigned from his murderous intentions after hearing Yakou's spirit, calming him down and making him realize that he can't turn away from the truth and has to believe in his heart (kinda gay ngl). Vivia as a whole is harder to exactly pin down with his moral grayness regarding honesty, but ya can't really ignore the intention to slit someone's throat open, can ya?

And now we reach the actual murderer: heyo Yakou. Despite all the manipulation pulled by Yomi and Makoto, Yakou didn't have to kill Huesca. He did it for vengeance and atonement, leading all his detectives into the lion's den in order to execute his plan. Despite taking advantage of his allies, he undoubtedly had good intentions and is a very good soul overall. He wanted to bring justice to his wife who died because of an absolutely awful man and make up for not being able to save her. But murder is still murder, regardless of motive (I would say to put a pin in this, but I don't need to when the topic is coming up again right around the corner).

And here's the actual mass-murderer: Yuma! Now I know this may come as a shocker (or not depending on how much this game has been rotating in your brain like it has with mine), but Yuma is far from innocent, as much as we love to call him 'baby.' With the help of Shinigami, Yuma has killed many culprits. It can be argued that the very first reaping of Hitman Zilch doesn't fall under the same umbrella of awareness of his crime, but he still killed him! And afterward, Yuma made the decision to enter the labyrinth knowing that the culprits would die. He didn't have to use the labyrinths. It's especially egregious in chapter 3 when help was already on the way and would've put a stop to Dominic smashing Yuma to bits since they had the culprit with them! A death could've been avoided, but hindsight is not Yuma's Forte. And like I said, this isn't even talking about the corrupt fuckery of the WDO and what Yuma might've done as Number One.

[lucky-berry]

No, you cannot just fucking say you represent everyone of a certain group. Especially with a multi-decades long religion with branches upon branches of belief.

No, a religious state has no place in the modern world. Religion and state should stay seperate lest we want another pope war situation.

No, hurting people for the simple fact of not wanting their livelihoods to go poof is bad. You wouldn't want that either now would you?

No, I do not care for the ones that are neutral. Their opinions don't matter to me as I will stay firm even if they try to convince me otherwise.

No, how are you so dumb to think carpet bombing is a good idea?

Yes, it is rather similar to the blitzkrieg isn't it?

No, I do not want Judaism to die, I want your hate to die and for you to realize your faults.

Yes, I hate politics with a burning passion because I have learned no one in the current political power could care any fucking less about the people that helped them gain the power that they have.

No, again, I do not want a religious state. It is a stupid idea. Like how is that bs gonna work in this current society?

For fucks sake, is it that hard to not want to hurt people that are different from you?

No it doesn't matter what happened in the past when you are currently doing something as bad and even, dare I say, worse than what happened.

I think Hitler would be jealous of how more effective you guys are at killing the opposition. That is not a good thing to those of you who didn't get it.

No, you cannot condemn someone for their perceived sins. You are not God. You are a human with a God complex.

No, I will not change my opinion.

Yes, it is an inevitable tragedy when people die in a battle regardless of which side, but that doesn't mean I can't grieve for the lives lost and be angered about it.

Yes, I do believe that war is a stupid dumb dick measuring contest by greedy people.

No, I do not understand why people insist on sending defense armies out to fight a threat that's not in their own homeland. That is aggression, not defense.

Yes, the world is fucked.

No, I will not give up on it.

Yes, I want to give a chance to Israeli people. Continuing the hateful cycle will only repeat this whole boffunery all over again.

No, I don't want to. They are hateful.

Yes, I still will try. For the sake of a better world I want to give love a try.

If that does not reach them, then may the devil find your company more pleasant then I have.

Yes, pirating is good in this economy. Give it a shot.

Yes, I think celebs should not say their political opinion. They've opened a can of worms and are surprised that it is a can of worms.

Yes, the world will be a better place if grudges are handled by world leaders duking it with fists boxing style. No need for sending people into battle and no need for civilian casualties.

Yes, I hate war.

Yes, I hate guns that go kill this fucker.

Yes, I love history about war.

No, I would not like a repeat of war.

It is only February but many people of the world has given us a reason to believe God truly has abandoned us.

[dark-elf-writes]

ROUND TWO! It is still technically tomorrow so yeah.... 😁

-(Remus. Safety. A port in the storm while everything shattered around him.)

Oh honey, hugs all of the hugs. This whole passage is fucking beautiful. The moment of Harry realizing Shouta is testing him and appreciating it. Recognizing where the adults in his life failed him and seeing that the man in front of him won't fail his students in the ways Harry was failed. AAAHHHH

-(Dark eyes looked him up and down. “Take ten. No need to traumatize them by throwing a zombie at their feet.” 

Harry scoffed, edging around Shouta to open the door he hadn’t bothered locking (anyone who could break into UA and get past all of the staff to a top floor flat and could get around Bill’s wards deserved to steal his shit honestly) and shooting the man a rather unimpressed look even as he nodded for him to follow. “I know damn well you own a mirror being married to Yamada so the only other options are you’re blind and just a very good actor or you’re so deep in denial you truly believe you don’t look worse than I do and I’ve literally died four times.”)

AAHAHAHAHUENJDSAKGNR CALL HIM OUT! but for real I love this. We see sassy Harry and Shouta, sir, pot kettle. ahahaha

-(Twenty teenagers looked back at him, eyes bright with suspicion as they shifted their stances to cover the little girl in their midst. The little girl who had no problem popping her head around a massive shoulder to beam at Harry and Shouta as they approached. 

“Hi, Harry-san!” The white haired girl waved. “Did you bring more cookies?”)

Leave it to the tiny human to relieve the tension of the room. And sassing Bakugou to boot. Love it.

-(With a shriek of laughter Eri launched herself from the green haired kid’s back and wormed her way between the protective gathering of teenagers to collide with Harry’s leg, going up on her toes to check the container. “Where’s Teddy?”

“With Weasley-Sensei. If your dad is okay with it you can come over for dinner tonight to see them.” 

She didn’t so much as look at Shouta. “Dad says yes.”)

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 THIS SWEET HILARIOUS CHILD! I CAN'T SHE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS! The only thing that would have made this better is if Hizashi had been present to witness it.

-(This time, Harry did smile, letting every shattered piece of himself show in the lopsided lift of his lips. Let them see the boy he was: fifteen and so fucking angry at the unfairness of everything, sixteen and terrified of the monsters that lurked around every corner, seventeen and tired down to his very bones. Let them see the reflection looking back at them. 

One child soldier to twenty. )

god fucking damn the absolute beauty in the writing here. dsjabcim I'm speechless. 10000000000/10

-(“You look like a fucking fetus.” Bakugou hissed. “How the hell can you be a Top Ten?” )

Cackling at this. Just the phrasing. Hit me right in the funny bone for some reason🤣����

-(“Dormant.” At the kid’s surprised blink, Harry shrugged. “I have a no slur policy when it comes to my students. That includes against themselves.” Which had been developed the exact moment Aoyama hissed the word. Not that Harry was going to tell them that. )

Yup good policy, timing don't matter. Nope not at all.

-(they are in my top five most terrifying sisters)

Who's number one? Ginny or Hermione because I feel like that could go either way lmfao

-THE ENTIRE END NOTE OF CHAPTER SEVEN HAD ME LAUGHING TO TEARS

-(“Welcome to the world, cub,” Harry breathed, pulling back to press a kiss to Teddy’s temple. “You hungry?” 

Teddy let out a jaw cracking yawn, rubbing at their eyes with the back of their hands, and blinked at him uncomprehendingly. After a second, they nodded. )

AAAAWWEWW The mental picture of sleepy little Teddy is just javirughdxkwiaiurytlh;iwo I CAN'T

-(Harry shrugged. “Bragging rights, mostly. I’m in a new country at a new job with very little of my reputation carrying over and only to a select few people who already knew about me anyway. All of you are the next generation of heroes and will more than likely make up a second chunk of the Top Fifty in the next few years. I need something to prove to my kid that I’m still cool when they inevitably decide one of you is their second favorite hero.” 

Disbelieving eyes came from all around the room. Well, except for Asui and Sero. As the two with the most experience with young children, there was not so much as a flicker of doubt in their eyes that street cred with a seven year old was Harry primary motivation. Harry smiled back  at all of them, unrepentant. )

Believe him guys. Believe him. 🤣🤣🤣And he's not wrong, room full of the future? He doesn't stand a chance at being his kid's favorite if he doesn't work for it🤣🤣🤣🤣

-(“If your ghosts try to convince you that dying is fun, just know that they are liars and it absolutely is not.” 

______

From the moment they had first met their new sensei, Izuku had been pretty sure that he was, on some level, completely fucking insane. )

THE PLACEMENT OF THESE SENTENCES IS FUCKING PERFECT👩‍🍳💋 🤣🤣🤣

-(One singularity recognizing another. )

I'm going to keep sounding like a god damn broken record but this entire passage is fucking poetry. Like fucking hell, 'it was more than their shared green eyes. more than the bruised eyes and too thin cheeks. more than the massive scar that took up half of the man's face that seem to glow with an eerie green light." jdfaiuhganfvjfdkalghr Fucking master of words you are.

-(“ Excuse me? ” First hissed, materializing at Izukums shoulder with the same pissed off cat expression he had given Second after he broke Izuku’s laptop during movie night. 

“You’re excused.” Potter-sensei shrugged. Shrugged. Like dealing with angry ghosts was normal for him. )

ahshasjiafownejwlafnuju SASSY HARRY!!!!!

-Okay death calling Harry a disaster twink in the end note completes my entire existence.

-(There was a snort and Harry lifted his head enough to see an unmasked Snipe grinning at the two of them. “Ah yes, the first day ‘how did my teachers ever put up with me’ guilt. Bright side, you didn’t have a single broken bone in your class and there was no Nezu level threat against humanity as a whole so y’all did a damn good job.” 

“The bar is so low,” Hermione whispered in horror, setting Harry off in half hysterical giggles.)

Nezu level threat is the most terrifying thing to happen on a teacher's first day, bar none. nothing else. nope.

-(Harry blinked. “Since when are you on a first name basis with Aoyama?”

“Like two minutes ago, dad, keep up. They’re Aunt Fleur’s cousin and that makes us cousins so Yuuga is family and last names with family is weird unless it’s for a joke.” He didn’t have to look to know there was a duh expression on Teddy’s face,

“Did you ask Aoyama if you can use their first name, or did you assume?” Teddy’s silence was the only answer Harry needed. “Teddy—.”

point two seconds later

“Can I call you Yuuga because we’re cousins?” 

Teddy turned back to Harry, still wearing Aoyama’s face, and pointed at the teen over their shoulder. “See. Cousin.”)

KIDS ARE A GODDAMN MENACE AND I'M FUCKING LIVING FOR IT

-(A familiar snort had them turning to see a grinning Hizashi leaning over the back of the couch where Shouta was attempting to appear asleep. It would have been more convincing if the man wasn’t grinning into his sleeping bag. “That’s just parenting. If it helps, they can keep up with Eri so I highly doubt Teddy is going to cause too much damage.” 

They were probably right, but…

“Doesn’t one of those kids have shark teeth?”

“ Fuck.” )

Crying laughing oh my fucking god yes this is perfect

-There is something so special about how this moment between Nemuri and Hermione is written. True connection, not unnatural, just two women who have fought to protect their families and came out scarred and hurting relating and commiserating, stunning writing.

-(“If you stretched more, you could do it too.” Harry pointed out, slowly rising out of the stretch before bending backwards, more to annoy his brother than out of any real need for the stretch. His palms hit the mat behind him as he held the back bend without too much effort. 

Ron shuddered. “That’s horrifying to watch have I ever told you that?”

Harry took a few too-quick shuffle-crawl steps towards him, just to make Ron lurch back with a shriek. The shorter man hit the mat a second later, laughing too hard to keep himself up. )

NOT THE HORROR MOVIE IMPRESSION ahahahahahahahhahahahah

-(In the ring, Hermione missed the leg sweep sent from Hizashi and hit the mats hard. It didn’t seem to stop her as she turned to gape at him. 

“Harry James Potter are you telling me you saw Tom Riddles’ penis?” 

“No I’m telling Ron, Shouta, and Kayama. You just happened to be eavesdropping.” )

CACKLING!!!!!!!!!

-(Honestly, there were worse ways to go rather than being murdered by a beautiful woman. )

Glory, Glory, what a helluva way to die!

-Shouta totally handed Ron his own ass, repeatedly and with glee

This is seven through nine! I'll be doing more tomorrow! I totally love this and want to keep going. I'm also interested in doing this with some of your other fics and maybe some tagged aus on here? if you're okay with it?

I’m loving this so much it’s such a delight to see all the parts you enjoy if you want to do it with other fics/aus as well I’m totally down just be aware that I will probably tell you that I love you platonically more than once.

[psychewritesbs]

different anon here but i came across your evil post when i was perusing the tag — i loved seeing your thoughts as someone in the psychology field! i think you only watched the first season (based on the comment of watching 13 eps in 3 days), but if you were to continue watching seasons two and three (and four this summer!) i think you would find that the framing of the catholic church does get a little less "good guys"-y. this is probably in part due to the shift from being a cbs air-on-tv show with season 1, to a paramount+ online streaming show in seasons 2+. it's not a massive difference, to be fair, but they def start discussing some discriminatory aspects of the church, esp in regards to race & a bit in relation to sexuality and views on other religions. there is actually a very interesting plotline in season 3 regarding the catholic church that i would love to see your thoughts on, should you keep watching!

HOLA different anon. THANKS FOR THE ASK!!!! I love nerding out with others about psych. It's my thang.

Ok so, I just finished season 2 and these are my thoughts under el cut'o:

First I want to get this out of the way.

The Leland storyline... you know, where he gets to worm his way into everything that is convenient for the plot? I'm so over him.

I just want to punch him. Mrs. O'Brien and Thomas from Downton Abbey are far better at being cliché villains.

I love cliché machiuvelically tacky evil villains, but I have high standards because of Mexican novelas.

No one can ever trump Soraya Montenegro at being fabulously tacky evil.

Anyways, your comment totally reminded me about how in s1 they address the issue with children in the church and its stance on homophobia. So I love that they continue the theme with the exploration of how the church is racist, and my least favorite--sexist.

I have yet to see beyond the first couple of episodes in season 3, but I can appreciate that the church is framed as not such a good guy after all.

It's just that even if Evil is framing the church in not such a positive light, Evil still frames the Catholic God as "good", and the Catholic Devil as "evil".

At least from what I've seen... perhaps there's more surprises in s3 regarding that idea--the opening has been awfully similar to Westworld's opening since s1 so I get the sense the producers/writers are interested in delivering a similar feast for brainiac types like myself.

Um... ok so... everything comes back to Jujutsu Kaisen 😂.

Feel free to skip this section for more thoughts about the show.

Good vs. Evil

When I said that I preferred morally gray stories, I was specifically thinking about a liveblog post I had written about one of the chapters in the manga Jujutsu Kaisen. I'm not sure if the anon who recommended I watch Evil was thinking along the same lines, or if anon has read my jjk nerderies, but jjk puts a nice twist on the good vs. evil trope that Evil explores.

The mangaka, Gege Akutami, introduced a little symbol that I traced back to William Blake who had taken inspiration from Milton's "Paradise Lost" in his own understanding of the question of good vs. evil.

I haven't looked too deeply into either of their work, so read this with a grain of salt since I also can't confirm the accuracy of what I've read about them online, but I understand they both considered themselves to be Christian men who did not necessarily agree with the traditional interpretation to the problem of good vs. evil.

Regardless of the differences between Christianity and Catholicism, my understanding is that Blake saw "evil" as instinct free from reason, and "good" as reason (instinct may or may not be the right word).

Along the same lines, you have Jung's definition of libido.

Again, it's been years since I've read Jung's collected works, but if I remember correctly, the way Jung spoke of libido was as if it were psychic energy. In other words, unlike Freud, Jung did not necessarily see libido strictly as sexual desire, but rather our aliveness, our will, our desires, our instincts, etc.

Our neuroses, Jung thought, were often the cause of conflicts in the flow of said energy, like say, curbing your desires with reason.

From this perspective "evil" is not necessarily, you know... stereotypical selfish villain who is evil for the sake of evil evil...

... but rather the expression of libido unchecked by reason for self-serving purposes.

This all relates to jjk because jjk explores the idea that the stronger the ego sense of self, the stronger the character, which inevitably means that the character in question is selfish af and has no regard for others.

This is where it gets complicated because... how to say... is it truly evil for Kristen to have killed that serial killer dude when she was doing it to protect herself and her family?

I don't have the answer to it. All I can say is that Kristen had an impulse and acted on it without applying much reason outside of "I am doing it to protect my daughters and I will be careful not to incriminate his wife".

The show, however, explains this away as demonic possession (?) which doesn't sit right with me because it reduces her impulse to something "dark" and "undesirable" that only God (reason) can heal.

But like... reason devoid of instinct is basically artificial intelligence. In the end, you need them both. That is why people like Jung and Blake and even Buddhism advocate for a marriage of opposites, or walking a middle path.

It's really complicated and I feel like I am oversimplifying the whole thing lol. It's like Kant's trolley problem.

Maybe you have some insight about it or some nuance I may be missing that you'd like to share.

Anyways... it is the IRS episode that most felt like what good vs evil is from this Depth Psych perspective. And it kind of sucks because it only got such a brief mention with the Satanist t-shirt guy saying that he likes to do what pleases him as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

So my over-thinking brain can't get over the fact that Evil still frames the "devil" and "evil" as inherently bad. It reduces the concepts to black and white terminology when there is a lot of nuance to be had.

Evil

That out of the way... I was honestly getting bored with s2, ESPECIALLY with Leland, but the way it ended was so powerful. It's like they were saving the best for last.

Between Kristen's emotional confession and how s3 begins, I think I'm going to keep watching, just probably won't be as invested.

By the way, I LOVE Nun Andrea. What a fun and relatable character.

Ok, that's that. Thanks for reaching out! Looking forward to hearing from you again.

[necrostar]

@ancientgoldboundspirit asked:

🔮

See into my muses past! Send 🔮 and I will write a drabble of a memory that your muse gets to see into.

Everyone had gone and left. The apartment was silent, now. Yuugi and his friends had claimed victory against him in his own domain. The blood soaked spire on the castle had almost dried. The blood on his own hand had dried, but yet he couldn't stop staring. It... it felt bad. It felt so bad. This... thing radiated at the center of his palm and shot up his arm. Blue eyes were fixated on this nearly perfect hole, eyes beginning to brim with tears. After a long period of silence, a soft voice broke the silence.

"...I thought you said this would work." His voice was shaking. Why was it doing that? "What am I feeling? I don't like it, make it stop." The way his host's body was reacting was enough to inform him that it was bad, but he didn't understand how. It wasn't like they were much help. Speaking of...

"That is the sensation called 'pain.'" Ah, finally, an answer from Zorc. How rare that always was.

"'Pain?' Like his chest when we dug inside?"

"Yes." There was a period of silence. "A much deserved one, considering you let that get in our way. You let one little sacrifice get in the way of victory. Unsurprising, considering the filth you are stuck with."

"Hey!" A third voice finally chimed in. "I thought it was practically foolproof! No use in a hand that we can't control! He was gonna ruin everything! You know, like you did!"

"Me?! I'm doing what you said! You said--"

"Don't you dare talk back to me, worm!"

Bakura lowered his head, silent. He was right. It was his fault. He wasn't good enough for the job; never was. He needed to get rid of the pharaoh and take his item, and couldn't even do that. It was an easy job, and he failed. Finally, after thinking it over, he spoke back up.

"I'll get him next time. They'll be ave--"

"They should've gotten their justice the FIRST time!" Of course the Thief King would explode at the slightest provocation. He should've known better than to open his mouth. "You are GODS-DAMNED lucky you get the privilege of hosting me! You're a fucking disgrace to my legacy and to my people! What the fuck are you, hm?! Worthless. You shouldn't even be here. You're a waste of a soul."

"Do not give it hope that it even has one, King of Thieves." Zorc chided. "Remember what it is. Be grateful it came with basic comprehension skills. It still has a use to us. And when the plan is complete, we can dispose of it and move on with our lives."

"I hope to the gods you're right about this. Having to acknowledge it disgusts me."

Bakura heard every word of the exchange. But to acknowledge it only meant more vitriol. It might get him directly attacked instead. It was always best to keep a head down and pretend not to listen. But it stung. It hurt. Why didn't they want him? What was it about him? He bent over backwards to try and earn their approval, but they just didn't care. Maybe, one day, it'll be him in charge. He'll have control. Him and nobody else. He'll get to experience life just as they had. Just as his host did. One day. One day he'll be in control. 

And nobody will take that from him.

[casspurrjoybell-22]

Dream Eater - Chapter 15 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

In our home, I see reminders of Dante everywhere... their favorite Carnâki liquor... gifts from their numerous 'admirers' and unfinished paintings.

Even the mess they left in the kitchen makes me expect to see them step around a corner at any moment.

When they don't, the twin worms of guilt and worry burrow a little deeper into my heart.

When I'm clean and dressed in my own clothes, Damien forces me to eat and drink.

Anxiety has stolen my appetite but he insists.

"You're no good to Dante if you've got no strength. Eat," he demands, pushing a plate of stew my way.

Somehow, I manage to finish it.

Then he pours me a large splash of Dante's treasured liquor and one for himself.

"To Dante," he says and throws it back.

"May we be reunited soon."

"To Dante," I echo faintly and drain my glass.

It burns all the way down.

Then Damien takes me to bed.

I let him undress me, then lie back as he sheds his own clothes.

He kneels over me and runs his hands over my body as though searching for some mark or sign.

"Did Azael touch you?" he asks in a breathless growl.

"No," I shake my head.

"I think he meant to, soon enough. But he'd only made me see his dreams so far. Did you know he had a daughter with Astoreth?"

Damien's hands still in surprise.

"No," he says.

"I knew they'd been lovers but I had no idea a child had come of it."

"She was a Key," I say thoughtfully.

"Astoreth used her to open the Door to the Throne."

"That's awful. No wonder he hates her."

"You have no idea how much," I say, remembering the intensity of that hate.

Damien leans over me and kisses my mouth.

He tastes like the strange, spicy liquor.

"Don't think of that right now," he says.

"In fact, don't think at all."

He starts to make love to me with gentle care, the way he might handle a precious and fragile treasure.

I feel his love in every kiss and caress, in every stroke of his hand.

But that's not what I need to feel right now.

"Damien," I gasp against his lips when he lets me come up for air.

"Fuck me. Make me know I'm yours."

He searches my eyes, brushing his fingers over my face.

"Is that what you want? You're sure?"

"Yes... don't make me beg."

He nods and then flips me over, dragging me up by my hips.

He prepares me quickly, then readies himself.

He pauses and I feel him pressed against me.

I'm shivering with anticipation and can barely hold myself up on my elbows.

"Damien... please," I breathe.

In one smooth motion, he pushes inside, seating himself firmly to the root.

I gasp and push back against him, reveling in the familiar burn and stretch, the feeling of almost unbearable fullness.

When he pulls back and thrusts again, a cry escapes my lips and he stops, hands stroking over my back.

"Alex? Are you alright?" he asks.

I can barely get my tongue to form words but manage to gasp out a few.

"God, yes. Don't stop, Damien... please don't stop."

He starts to rock back and forth and pretty soon the only sounds coming out of my mouth are incoherent moans and sobs.

Just when I can't bear it anymore, he takes my aching length in his hand and just about kills me with the pleasure that seizes me in its blinding white grip.

No wonder the French call it 'la petite mort' the small death.

At the same time, I feel him stiffen and gasp as he spills himself inside me.

We collapse together in a breathless heap and I'm barely conscious when, after a moment, he rises and returns with a soft, damp cloth and gently cleans my skin. 

He crawls back beside me and draws the covers over us both, taking me in his arms and pulling me close.

He kisses my forehead with a gentle press of his lips.

"Is that what you needed?" he asks.

I nod sleepily and sigh.

"Just the thing."

"Then I'm glad I could help," he smiles.

"Now get some sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough and then we'll figure out how to get Dante back."

"I'll save them, Damien," I mumble.

"If it's the last thing I do."

"I know you will, Alex," he whispers, arms tightening around me.

"That's why I love you. And what makes me most afraid."

********

That night, I share Damien's dreams once more.

I'm alone in a darkness deeper than any night but I'm on my way towards something more and my heart burns with a strange emotion.

After a moment I recognize it... Hope.

There have been whispers... rumors spread in the dark... for a long time now.

They say that someone... a Celestial, of all things... wants to abolish the age-old laws that keep the Fallen below and forbid us from wandering the Earthly Realms or entering the Heavens.

Some of us have joined him already and I've decided to throw my lot in as well.

I crawl and climb my way up from the unknown depths and then take flight, winging my way upward through the dark.

At long last, I arrive and I am afraid... terrified... that the person I seek will look at me and see a monster and send me back.

I approach and he turns and I feel like I've taken a spear through the heart.

I've never seen a Celestial before, though I'd heard they are beautiful.

This person is more than beautiful.

They are beauty personified.

He's almost as tall as I am and seems to be male.

His figure is almost human, except for his impossible height and perfection of form and the fact that his skin is like gold.

From his back sprout great wings but they are nothing like my own leathery appendages.

They are feathered and a lovely mottled grey like those of an owl.

He looks at me and his unearthly green eyes go wide.

"Who... are you?" he asks, coming towards me.

"I am Dantalian," I say, looking down at my hoof-like feet.

"I am Fallen."

He stops in front of me and I flinch as he raises a hand.

"Dantalian," he touches my face gently.

"I am Sakariel and we are the same."

In that moment, I fall in love and to my surprise, it hurts more than anything I've experienced so far.

Sakariel takes my hands and I watch as he gradually begins to shift and change and a moment later he's been replaced by another person entirely.

The only thing that stays the same is his eyes.

It's a weird sensation but I see myself as Damien sees me and the pain is even worse when he falls in love again.

[iguessitsjustme]

Hi! I'm back. Sorry your week was full of horrors, although it looks like there were a lot of upsides, so it couldn't have been that bad. (I'm not a look on the bright side person, but I'm trying) And it's friday so there's that. I don't know if this will make your week better but I'm hoping it will. So I gather you're a Stray Kids fan. I only know a couple of songs. Can you tell me 5 of your favorite skz songs for me to listen to and see if I like it? Thanks 💛

Hello my dear anon!

I don't even know what this week was but it wasn't...good. But I survived it. Wish the lord would stop testing me though I am strong enough goodness (jokes). Weirdly I am very much a look on the bright side kind of person if only for spite. The world has dealt me some shit hands throughout my life and I refuse to let that turn me into someone I don't want to be. I am going to be happy and enjoy life to spite all the shit.

I've been a fan of Stray Kids since around last March when I saw one music video of theirs and I've been in that rabbit hole ever since. I'd be happy to tell you my 5 favorite songs, but I have not listened to their entire discography because it is so fucking huge and I'm still slowly making my way through it. Also my top 5 songs change day to day cause I love so many of their songs. So today my favorite songs are:

God's Menu - always at the top of my list regardless of what day it is

Back Door - this song grows on me each time I listen to it. It's got me in a weird stranglehold

Maniac - my beloved. First song of Stray Kids I heard that opened this whole can of worms. The music video is so much fun.

Super Bowl - I also can't explain this one. I just love it. Though I love and adore every song on the 5 Star album (the music video for s-class might be the most insane thing I've ever seen)

Maknae on Top - again this song is just fun for me to listen to. the skz replay album is also underrated

Honorary Mention to their newly released album. It's got some good ones, but it's not my favorite album I'm not gonna lie. I don't dislike any of the songs, but I personally prefer 5 Star over Rock Star and that's just a matter of my own taste. I recognize how good the newest album is.

This did make my week better. I always enjoy talking about music, not necessarily just Stray Kids though they are my favorite band. Thanks anon. I'm gonna go watch a million shows now while eating my dinner.

[full-of-mercy]

Vash settles in, holds fast, and there is something compelling about just entangling like this, arms wrapped, thighs over thighs, torso to torso, regardless of sensual friction between them. It is warm, solid, reassuring in a way Wolfwood can't quite put his finger on.

Or rather he can, even if he is perhaps not ready to make the logical leap or the admission. Or maybe he is ready, squashing down the shivery anxiety that comes with something so new, that comes with asking something of someone, offering something to someone. Particularly someone so important.

Now that the doors are open, now that they have breached that boundary hand in hand (and lip to lip and more, so very much more), he has come to crave it. Touch. He wants. Like a person. Like a base, cursed, writhing thing, he wants.

The warmth and steadiness of heartbeats and proximity serve as a stark contrast to the bizarre squamous cold curdling in the pit of his stomach as he listens to what Vash actually has to say spaced out between the words he speaks. The blond can feel it, the way tension stacks in Wolfwood's torso, but for once - for damn once - he refrains from barking. Something about the tenor of it, something about the tone, stills his tongue, striking at something, resonating in his brain like the toll of a bell.

Like the ache of bullet wounds that simply won't close.

Breathe.

They've already discussed forgiveness.

Vash knew. Even standing in the gullet of a grand worm, he knew. Eyes of a good guy, yeah right, but… someone who could be swayed. Someone who wanted to be swayed, who wanted to know, who wanted to see for certain. And sure, sure, Wolfwood had his suspicions from jump, but it became clear that Vash was nothing like his brother before he ever saw any of the similarities. And most of those revolve around stubbornness.

Vash - in all his unbroken resolve - forgave him. He hasn't forgiven himself, but God does he want to try and see whatever the hell it is that Vash sees, even if he fundamentally disagrees with his absurd pacifist gunman philosophy. He disagrees but he commits. He tries. Has been trying. He defended himself without killing anyone today.

"You better take your own damn advice. I'll hold you to it," he rasps, surprised at how thick his voice is pressed to the top of Vash's shoulder, at how much easier it is to speak on things he has kept locked behind his teeth. Vash has already said he'd stick around. Not run. Maybe it is a promise he can keep, maybe not. But they are in motion again. In motion, languid and honey-sweet, and their lips cling, warranting softness in so many aspects. In most aspects, even if one reawakens beneath the pressure of slow, slow rocking. "…I left you once. Spent two years hopin'. Not doin' that again, I can't—"

I'm not sure my heart can take it.

He hears. He comprehends. He understands. He wants and wants and wants and it is clear that Vash wants too and there is only one way they can be closer as afternoon swelters outside beyond the cool stone walls. Please punches him in the gut, prompting a stuttered murmur, hands unbuckling belts and peeling fabric with tactile urgency, and all without pulling away. It won't be possible, of course, but they are magnetized. Apart, together. Closer. Breathless. Pitch-shift, vulnerability for vulnerability, they crack open their ribcages and bare themselves as they quest for skin. For contact.

"God, please."

There's a chirp not unlike an upwards glissando as Vash's eyes twinkle with unshed tears. He blinks with dewy eyelashes, then holds his eyes shut as he butts his face against Wolfwood's. He kisses, then kisses again.

"Hmm, was that eight? I think I lost count, better start again," he teases, knowing exactly what he's doing. Vash's lips are already sore from all the kissing, but he can't help but want more. He's still greedy, he's still selfish—most of all, he's happy to be alive and here.

He does notice Wolfwood's persuasive hands guiding him onto his lap, legs spread. The kisses naturally provide a bit of friction as they push and pull like the sway of the moons, but Vash hadn't put much thought into the position he's in until now.

"I'm not usually one for sticking around, you know? Don't really have the luxury..." The blond nestles his face into the side of Wolfwood's neck, still holding him tightly around his abdomen, "It's different with you. Doesn't feel right if I go anywhere without you there. I tried to do it a couple of nights after we got my arm fixed up and everything... but I couldn't."

...Wolfwood probably knew that already.

Sighing, he continues, "You know me, I... I can leave people, places, when I gotta. Even if someone would hate me for it, if it saves them then..."

He pauses. Hopefully, sharing this doesn't come across the wrong way.

"I can't leave you. I don't want to leave you. There's nothing out there that could make me willingly leave your side. It's like a... it's like a voice telling me to stay and warning me by telling me that if I left then you'd be in danger."

With a chuckle, he digs deeper into the embrace. His coat creaks as his arms bend around Wolfwood's back, "All that is to say that you're stuck with me too. If you run, I'll follow. I have to. If I don't then..."

If he doesn't, then he might not find him in time.

(You never find him in time.)

"...You don't need to do everything on your own. Not anymore. I don't care if you don't think it's any of my business—I go with you. I won't run away from you either, okay? None of this selfless solo-battle kind of mentality... we're a team. We work better together."

Finished with his thought, getting all of the worries out of his system, Vash returns nose-to-nose with the priest—face slightly soggier than it was moments ago. Again, he manages to make eye contact as he slowly presses their lips together again. Vash is the type of man who can snap quickly from one thing to the next—the type of man who enjoys speed, whether it's from one emotion to the next, or physically.

This is slow. Languid.

He breathes into Wolfwood, plush lips touching just barely at the dark red surfaces—an open Cupid's bow resting against Atlas. Vash rocks slowly—molasses slow, sweet—into the lap he rests on. He craves intimacy, craves the intensity of heat to heat, heart to heart... Especially after exposing such a large piece of himself. He feels vulnerable, and part of him finds it thrilling, but he's terrified. It's scary and it's like falling into a bottomless well, and he wants to hate it.

But he doesn't. He wants it, even.

"Wolfwood," Vash whispers into his lips as the seam of his jeans sits atop the threads that hold the undertaker together, "Want you closer. Please."

[willowedwisteria]

⁂~Just some snuggling~⁂

Summary -> Cuddles with the cultists!

Note -> Sorry if my writing seems different than usual, I've probably become quite rusty.

Featuring -> Xiao, Baal, Gorou, Beidou

Genre -> Fluff

Beidou

"Cheers!" The captain shouts across the ship, clanking her 6th drink against Kazuha's cup of sake.

With that, the both of them chugs down their shots in a single moment, getting even drunker than they already have.

You watch them from a distance, chuckling at their recklessness. You decided to give them a few expensive drinks as a reward for defeating another sea monster.

You certainly didn't expect things to get so out of hand...

You make your way over to Kazuha and Beidou, bonking them on their heads once each before chiding them.

"Don't finish all of the drinks tonight! I at least expected you to save and store them somewhere."

However, your scolding is futile. Kazuha is already dead asleep, resting his head on the table, and Beidou... she's dragging her words and randomly mumbling. She's way too drunk to even hold a conversation with you.

You sigh, shaking your head in regret. You shouldn't have given the high-quality wine from Dawn Winery that you've been preserving for a month to those two.

You turn away in defeat, planning to return to your teapot and let Beidou and Kazuha drink the night away. I mean, could you really stop them at this point? They did defeat quite a beast and deserve some form of prize.

Before you could step away, Beidou stands and hugs you from your back, her arms around your waist as she sloppily rests her head on your shoulder.

The drunk captain buries her own face into the crevice of your neck, dropping down to the ground suddenly after stumbling and pulling your right down with her.

You can't worm your way out of her arms, she's still super strong despite being insanely drunk. So, you're left on the ground, being hugged by Beidou as she murmurs little compliments to you.

You can't tell whether you should be trying to wake her up or appreciating her compliments.

Gorou

Your hands lightly brush against the soft fur of Gorou's tail as he's soundly sleeping. His head rests on your lap, softly snoring occasionally and murmuring as your hands bask in the comfort of his hair.

You tuck his strands of hair behind his ears, softly petting that area as you watch him unconsciously smile and mutter in his sleep.

"You would be caught dead like this in front of Yae." You chuckle, the image of Gorou being relentlessly teased by Miko forming in your head.

Thanks to your laughter, Gorou was awakened from his slumber, slowly opening his eyes to see your wholesome smile and hear your giggles ringing in his ears.

"You're awake? I'm quite sure I was quiet enough so as to not disturb you." You look down at his face, playing with his brown hair.

"Please don't underestimate my ears, your grace," Gorou mentions, his ears dropping a bit. Your eyes catch that little detail of course.

"Are you perhaps disheartened whenever I underestimate you?" You poke fun at the general, lightly patting his ears, "Your ears tell me everything."

Gorou looks at you, his cheeks flushed with a rosy shade, insatiably objecting to any idea of that. You might even be starting to remind him of Yae's so-called 'bullying'.

"And, how are the products Yae recommended for your tail and hair? From when I was touching your tail and ears just now, the products seem to be working."

Gorou pulls his head away from your thigh, maintaining a good distance away, his face still red.

"Your grace, with all due respect, please never team up with Lady Guuji."

You definitely can understand why Yae loves to tease the general.

Baal

Baal wraps her arm around your waist as you sit down in front of her. She awkwardly pats your head, her fingers running through your hair and tangling around them.

The feeling of isolation has always been normal for her, so to feel and touch another being, to be able to hug her god, the one she oh so adores.

Baal doesn't even know where to start, she doesn't know if she should move, she isn't sure if she can. Should she continue playing with your hair?

You lean back, resting your body on her's, the silence humming in the air remains.

"You hungry?" You ask, not expecting any reply, dragging the plate of Dango on the floor closer to you and offering her one.

She grabs the stick by her fingers, still baffled by your easy-going nature. Despite her feelings, she can still recognize the same sensation of devotion running through her veins.

"Here!" You offer her what was supposed to be your share of the Dango.

Baal looks at you, her feeling of confusion implied by her features. "Your grace, are you not hungry?"

"I've had enough desserts for the day." You jest, your eyes glancing at the plates of desserts Baal offered you during your visit. "Go ahead! Just bite it off."

With your words and orders, she does so, biting the Dango from your stick and softly chewing right after.

"Is it good?"

She nods, a smile appearing on her face as the pinkish color on her cheeks follows right after. For some unknown reason, the Dango seems to taste sweeter than usual.

Xiao

Your figure plummets to the floor out of exhaustion, sighing before you signal for the Adeptus to sit with you.

Xiao takes a seat next to you, keeping his distance out of respect. He'd rather admire you from afar than disturb you in any form or manner.

You lay down on your back, gazing at the ocean of night sky, sprinkled with a bunch of stars twinkling and shining.

Bit by bit, you feel the sensation of joy bloom in you, stargazing has always been such a simple yet calming activity. You wonder why you don't partake in it much.

Your eyes shift to Xiao, gazing at you with admiration, similar to how you eyed the starry night.

"Come on." You comment, patting the empty spot next to you for him to shift closer to you. And of course, he does as you asked, laying down next to you.

Xiao never understood what was so interesting or great about such activities, he was never intrigued in any way by them. Despite this belief or opinion of his, he could still appreciate the beauty of every constellation in the galaxy if it meant he was with you.

It was as if the world seemed better, prettier, healthier when you were around.

No words are exchanged between the two of you, but you could still understand each other without the use of them, whether it was the light brush of his hand against yours or you hugging him during this moment of silence.

"We... should do this more." You comment.

Xiao remains silent, moving his hand around your waist, pulling you closer.

Tags: @under-a-starry-night, @yourfaveisblack, @bardisipatos, @callmemeelah, @ellethesmolbutnotreally, @The-Psychotic-Blueberry, @kithewanderingme, @darling-rikafu, @white-like-dis, @bamboowritess, @uchihaeirin, @irethepotato, @karmawonders, @lunavixia, @Hydrxngex, @Anfre109

Special tags: @is-very-sad, @chocoenvy, @raidengaile, @nicebonescomrade, @saigomo, @gunterdon, @chocogi, @qixingflowers, @emilemovhi, @i-put-the-yan-in-polyandry

[goatpaste]

Please ramble on about Hot Pants

oh ohhh my friend i hope you understand the can of worms that is inside me your trying to open because

bOY BOY HOWDY DO I HAVE THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS AND SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT HOT PANTS IT DRIVES ME CRAZY

I will tell you all the things I think about with Hot Pants if you will also allow me to bring diego along into this. I PROMISE im still focused on Hot Pants but he's important to my thinking I promise.

BUT REALLY HOT PANTS IS SUCH a good character in SBR. and maybe I'm wrong by I'm pretty sure she appears more than Diego does in total by the end of SBR. Hot Pants plays a pretty active role in the story usually being left to supporting and being a bridge from one part of the plot to the other.

Then they kill HP off in the most lamest, cheapest way possible that you can barely tell she died or have time to have remorse. An attack that happens to both Gyro and Johnny, kills HP instantly.

We watch Hot Pants reach a breaking point right before her death where the weight of her guilt for the sins she's held in a vice grip to her heart. She is willing to DIE to try and make up for her past mistakes, she has to, its all she known and held onto. After everything, this must be the answer to her problems, and if it isn't? god help her.

But then it just falls flat and feels like nothing. she just dies...

Hot Pants was under utilized as a character SO much. I think she could have played a WAY bigger role in many many ways.

I really wish SBR had a bigger narratives of finding connections to people after isolation through ones self or outside forces. a collection of people who have lost all their connections and seek a magic cure to fix the things that trouble and ails them and are blinded by the idea of some end goal glory that they will tear each other apart for it without thinking of the lose that can come with that. To have a narrative where they must rely on EACH OTHER and the people around them is what they need. Johnny and Gyro needed each other and others around them. they needed people to grow and shape them.

AND THIS TRULY GOES FOR HOT PANTS SO MUCH. Hot Pants has so much guilt in her heart that she has declared as a great sin that she must harbor alone. What happened with her brother was horrible and a tragedy, this was a horrible circumstance that a YOUNG HP had gone through that lead her to make a rash and DRASTIC choice. She, like all the other main guys are selfish. Weather the choice was understandable or not, in the end she chose her own safety. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I am NOT bashing HP for this and her "selfishness" is NO where near the scale the rest of them are on, but in the act of choosing her safety over her brothers, that was an act of selfishness. And that will haunt her forever.

Hot Pants then dedicates every OUNCE of her being to repenting. So many years spent dedicated to some divine idea, but it doesn't fix anything. She can never find peace this way, to her she has done something UNFORGIVABLE. Her drive to get the corpse hoping it will be what finally take away the weight and pain of her mistakes away. HP is blinded by the idea of this magic holy corpse, just like Johnny and Diego. Yes killing her brother was horrible, it was a horrible situation, but there are far worse crimes committed by far worse people who have cared a lot less than her. Yet she still feels like she HAS to look up to the stars and gaze to a holy golden light to guide her. She HAS to get that corpse because to her there is NO other way to be forgiven. Hot Pants has let herself be blinded by the holy lights of heaven that carry the idea she can repent and feel better and make up for what she did, she's so blinded she can't even begin to look down from the stars and watch where she's walking among others grounded to earth who need her and that she needs in turn.

Her, Johnny and Diego, and even Gyro are all running in circles all hoping to obtain some goal and letting it blind them.

And this is kinda where I need to bring Diego in.

The way people talked about Diego and Hot Pants, I REALLY assumed these two were partners and hanging out together for most of SBR. but it really is just that last clump of chapters.

NONE THE LESS, their VERY good chapters and their dynamic immediately is vERY FUN and VERY interesting

and it was these two specific pages sat side by side of each other that really set me off. This is when I truly felt in my heart, that Diego and Hot Pants NEEDED each other, just like Gyro and Johnny needed one another on a narrative molecular level... That I wished SO HARD that Diego and Hot Pants HAD met sooner and traveled together if at least on and off...

its the narrative parallels that can be pulled from these pages that sent me spiraling about HP and Diego.

With Hot Pants who tried so fucking hard to reach for heavenly repent since the day with the bear. Hiding her truth and in turn forced to face people she cares about always seeing them as good and innocent, never knowing what they had done wrong in her brothers death, and feeling like she needs to bury herself in guilt and sin vs dio who was born into the bottom of the pit of society, already judged at birth and having to fucking crawl and climb his way to the top for a semblance of glory and to not let the world make him feel like less than dirt...

the way these pages are laid out, Hot Pants main big panel on the top, her whole page being in yellow/golden hues, bathed fully in a divine light that she can't even acknowledge because it will never be what will heal her. No matter what she really thinks, at this point I think she believe the only path to ever stop feeling this way is death.

Then Diego on the bottom panel, blue desaturated panels with him being in shadows. A man who never had anything good given to him in a kind hand beside from his own mother... the only kind hands he's known... and without her he has nothing, nothing but a goal to fight back on the narrative society would try to force him into. He WILL get that corpse and it will be his ticket to finally be above everything else, he will never be looked down on and he will finally have the life he and his mother deserved.

HP is the one who can only feel she had done wrong and will carry that forever, while everyone around her only shows her kindness she feels she never deserved.

While Diego is the opposite to this, he's done no wrong, nothing but be born. By the way of his birth society would already judge him and his mother, his very existence and status in society would be his downfall, and all he did was be born. A young boy who had only been shown scorn, he and his mother didn't deserve it and he will never accept it again. He will not let that corpse go, its his ticket to stand above all. A man with the biggest ego, who can no longer be conventionally good or else the world might take advantage of that again.

How much of their characters circle around their family between Hot Pants feeling she betrayed her own family, their trust and safety and no longer feeling she was deserving to be near them or cared for by them. To bury herself in holy duties hoping to one day be someone who can be forgiven by god himself. Be forgiven or by buried. Not able to see part of the healing was to forgive herself.

Then Diego who only truly had his mother to lean on and trust to be cared for in a world that only saw them as dirt, disposable tools. Then having his own mother riped away from him with no choice in the matter because the world was cruel. Now he can only have himself, the world has never shown him a reason to trust it, only to stand above it and never make him dirt again. Diego can't trust others or not be in control.

And with that I think they needed each other for these exact reasons and parallels.

They woulda been PERFECT foils for one another. HP would bust Diego's ego down a notch by not even give him the time of day to even care to let him know she's disliking him. HP could not be more indifferent to Diego. He is just some guy and he needs someone who would put him in his place. With trust in a person who neither see's him as this grand persona he's put together or as some lowly penniless boy.. shit maybe he doesnt have to stand alone, maybe he can be ok with someone else making choices. maybe with Hot Pants he doesnt have to worry their looking at him through specific leans that will predetermine how Diego will be treated and seen by others.

and HP in turn maybe just need a bit of a crazy guy to get her to do wild thing and deserve to be happy. You've worked hard and shown the world your worth something grand, take what you have earned and never let it go. Ask for more! You are alive, you got to live so dont let yourself waste away a life because your feel a lil sad. Your alive and you have so much to prove and your going to make sure the world doesn't forget it!

I think they really REALLY could have been really good pushes of character for BOTH of them. LIKE in the easiest sense to put it.. Hot Pants could make diego better and Diego could make Hot Pants worse, but in the best way for one another. Diego needs someone to realize he's just some guy and his egos only gonna get him so far. and Hot Pants needs someone to get him to stand up and be a lil selfish and do something because it makes them happy in that moment and not focused on always wondering if what their doing will settle their divine debt of sin.

OK AND MOVING AWAY FROM MY WHOLE SPECIFIC THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ABOUT HP AND DIEGO

I think we could have had VERY solid Plot with Lucy and HP

I think the tubular bells arc coulda been done WAY better with it was about Lucy and HP working together. One, to stop forcing lucy to do all this shit the adults should be doing. Two, using Lucy as a way to open up HP to the past she is haunted by in the form of her brother. Seeing her late brother in Lucy in these subtle ways and HP not knowing how to deal with these feelings. she CANT let herself get attached or connected, she lot her brother, she MURDERED her brother, she isnt allowed to replace him and be happy.

but.. she can't let it happen again. She can't let Lucy throw herself into danger... oh god she can't watch Lucy walk into the mouth of the beast, Hot Pants can't let it happen again.

Its exactly what she needs. Connections and things that ground her and make her realize killing herself to get some holy corpse is never going to be what makes her feel better...

HP and Lucy infiltration also woulda been narratively way better with like, HP seducing the presidents wife and it being funny and awkward because like.. its Hot Pants lol. im mostly just saying this because it woulda been funny.

and Lucy getting corned in by tubular bells while getting to Valentine while Hot Pants keeps up distractions. HP ultimately failing at getting all the corpse part back and mission failure because she choses to save Lucy instead of recover the holy corpse...

PLAYING IN PARALLEL TO JOHNNY AND GYRO AT THE END OF THE SUGAR MOUNTAIN ARC ALSO ALSO

I WISH MORE PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY AND TREATING LUCY LIKE A LIL SISTER/DAUGHTER AND NOT GROSS

Lucy and HP as siblings would have meant the WORLD to me...

ANYWAYS this ended up very long, but I actually expected that to happen. I warned you lol

but YEAH im on 2 hours of sleep in the last 24hrs or whatever so this is a bit rambly and messy thoughts from me, but the general idea is there lol

LITRALLY TO if any of my beloved mutuals want to chime in I want to hear and share your thoughts on the matter,, i know some people brought up great Hp Points/HP and Diego Points in the server and I just love feeling like this talking about HP

[roach-works]

im aware im about to bust open a can of very intense worms but i passed a church the other day and the sign said "praying for the dead is an act of supreme charity" and i'm jewish and this has been baffling me for days. like. i can't get my head around it. the words involved must mean something else and i want to know what the fuck.

like, to me, charity is something you do to help people. it meets their needs and improves their circumstances. i'm aware the christian concept of charity is more about voluntarily earning enough Good Person Points to go to heaven, while the jewish concept is a non-negotiable responsibility god laid on you to address injustice. so the whole christian concept of charity seems a little iffy and haphazard and sanctimonious to me.

that being said, what is the point of praying for the dead at all. what's that do. if someone dies, doesn't god handle whether they go to heaven or not? isn't that on their actions in life? isn't it already sorted out at the time of death, except maybe for cases of ghosts and saints? are you just praying to make sure they don't get lost on the way to judgement?

if someone is stuck in hell or purgatory, because they weren't themselves a good person, is there really an exemption for if they get enough Go To Heaven Anyway prayers? can i just put in my will that i want a thousand christians to pray for me and they'll just veto me getting sent to hell? do i get to not believe in jesus my whole life and just tag along to heaven anyway because apparently divine judgement has this Phone A Friend option? or is it like, dead people hear your prayers for them whether they're in heaven or hell, and it's just sort of like getting a nice email? like hey, so a demon is flattening your dick with an enormous flaming scorpion, but sarah h. greene of denver colorado sincerely hopes that isn't happening! thanks!

and if none of the above is how it works, if prayers don't actually change the fate of the dead, then what's the point? how is it charity, let alone supreme charity? if praying for the dead only makes you, the person doing it, a better person, then isn't that just acting in your own self-interest and therefore not charity at all? if charity doesn't help anyone but you it's like giving yourself a dollar and calling it a donation. can you really just do morally good things that don't actually take any effort or help anyone and still have them improve your soul situation because you meant well? how is heaven not chock-full of lazy douchebags if this is the case.

i'm baffled and i want answers. if you're christian please weigh in on this. also please be nice to each other in the comments or i'll see you in hell.