#good luck my soul friends and comrades

[inmyspinnychair]

stopping by to say that i finished my fmab rewatch tonight after not seeing any fma in a while and i gotta tell ya that my 30 year old self sobbed and i almost went to bed sobbing bc i am so full of Emotion....

but i came here instead for some quick giggles and to say that even though a lot of life has happened since i first discovered fma when i was 15, here i still am, loving it, enjoying it, and seeing it through a new perspective. I was also reminded of just how much i held on to fma as a sortof life vest to just keep me afloat whenever things felt overwhelming or when i needed an extra push to simply step out of my comfort zone.

I told my buddy a couple years ago that fma is essentially a part of me bc of all that, and while i don't rely on it as much as i used to, i like to believe that i carry it with me everywhere i go. I might not scream it from the rooftops anymore, but i love fullmetal alchemist so damn much that it's hard to articulate it, and i hope i continue love it for a long long time.

[brittle-doughie]

Imagine steadily sneaking out of Dark Cacao's Palace, a flourbag load of pure unadulterated determination keeping your legs sturdy. Painstakingly heading for Beast-Yeast yourself to personally confront Mystic Flour Cookie, finally face-to-face.

First, your dreams. These crestfallen memories; these should not be yours, but yet they use your crust, copied down to how it crackles and crumbles. They walk with your legs and use your voice, and not meekly. Your little colorful buttons and creme filling. Through the eternal eyes of another wearing your broken face, a heavy shade of grief insisting a strong quake through your hands and feet, reflected in a broken mirror of indestructible forks and magic. None of this has ever happened to you, all your friends were alive and running free at the center of Gingerbrave's Kingdom.

Yet the firm echo at the crack of your mind reclaims; it indeed, had.

Second, that encounter and furiously attempted Soul Jam corruption with Shadow Milk Cookie, the dark jester of silken half-truths and rusty riddles; who's immortal darkness swallowed your common sense, that shadow with countless steep blue moon slits never dulled once under the unmoving gaze of the Sun.

But now, this sudden interest-an unpardoned heart from the literal pristine white embodiment of weightless apathy and sincerity?

These situations were too specific, familiar, and suffocatingly personal for mere coincidence.

The Beasts regurd you with an infectious stench of deep nostalgia, their eyes flash an infernal fire of thought, the kind one feels upon shaking hands with an old friend. The one that crawls like a bug, wiggles like a maggot. Growing the sprout of an itch, at an open chip of dry frosting the back of your head. A push, a pull, an annoying yet strong temptation of confrontation; of an acceptance, remembrances. Like they've known you since the very first crumb fell off the Witches' baking pan.

You spent this baked life depending on the protection and care of your beloved friends, but if that interferes with the truth you seek, you will risk falling apart into flour for finally having the chance to confront one of these gods about who you used to be.

Shadow Milk was serious when he countered you into an edge of existential dread. He was a frantic for the dramatics. Even for the most serious of cataclysmic events, he danced around the subject of your connection, hoping to unveil the mystery into stellar applause. That was the plan it seemed at leaat until Pure Vanilla threw a stake into his encore.

Cut through the answers.

With a mountain of luck and enough certainty, perhaps Mystic Flour Cookie will spare you doubts.

After all, even a being like her will neigh overlook such an opportunity; the chance of finally re-welcoming you, where she and the rest of her comrades know you rightfully belong.

She actually feels compelled to thank the merger weak Cookie's influence upon your new body, their mortal stupidity and curious self-preservation was an endless plague all within its very self, almost enough for her to forgive them for slowly erasing the dear memory of your once-divine mark upon these waning lands and lesser soils.

Almost.

(Sorry I have thoughts and lots of then, I hope I ain't bothering you.)

Nah, it’s all good. This was a pretty interesting read!

From what my brain of mush can put together, Y/N was a former Primordial Cookie before being reincarnated into a regular Cookie at some point, you were having dreams of this past life at first to the lead up to the search for White Lily Cookie.

The Shadow Milk fight would be the first time you started questioning on who you really were, but Pure Vanilla/White Lily Cookie pushed him back before you could get answers.

Your reputation seemed to be revered amongst the Beasts, as such with Mystic Flour Cookie. As stated, she could almost forgive the transgressions of having your memory altered, making you forget how you left your mark in these lands. You needed to remember who your allegiances should really go to, to remember who your real comrades were.

You were getting answers from Mystic Flour, in one way or another.

[elianzis]

Какой у тебя топ 10 самых красивых мужчин в Ведьмаке?

И входит ли в него Ума?

transletion below ->

ok, let's do it this way, it won't be top 10 because I'm not very good at making them... so it's just a list [although maybe try to somehow make a tier-list?]

Regis: Well, let's start with the best vampire bun. Regis. How could anyone not like him? He's kind, he's sweet, he's good with plants and booze. He won't let you get hurt. 10/10 Jaskier: Jaskier. A man with whom you can find adventures on your ass. Kind, loyal, always helpful, a great fucking singer, funny bun, eloquent. On the downside: Adventures can be life-threatening, talks a lot, has to be rescued. Overall, a very comfortable man. 8/10 Zoltan: Oh, and Zoltan, of course! Courageous, friendly, loyal and of course the soul of the company. Always there for his friends. He's a classy guy. 10/10 Borch: Borch three jackdaws is my favorite from the book. He's dragonish, calm, smart, generous, kind, and strong. Cute bun, both as a human and as a dragonfly. His girls will protect you, and in the form of a dragon from all will win. 10/10 Geralt: Well, Gera, where without him? Smart, honest, sarcastic, will get you out of trouble, appreciates friends. Sometimes too rough, loses his memory, has slept with almost every witch he knows.7/10 Roche: Roche, where without him? I like men in uniform. A bun with a hard past, a faithful dog, a patriot, smart. I want to hug him, but I'm afraid he'll stab me, you have to earn his trust. Minuses: hot-tempered, a war criminal, he has many enemies, cruel, lives for work, perhaps not particularly romantic. 8/10 Foltest: Foltest. Well he is the king that people love. Also, of course, he is a handsome and intelligent man. But he's too much of a lover, and some political decisions can be questionable. [his voice is gorgeous] 7/10 Dettlaff: Another vampire, Dettluff. He is handsome, statuesque, introvert, doesn't like lies, sensual, loyal, handyman, caring. But he's too much of an emotional puppet, especially to anger. But I pity him, to be honest. Bad luck, man. 7/10 Olgierd: Uh…Olgerd… Well, he is fair… he knows what honor is, and he also knows art, is quite clever and handsome… He's quite a controversial person, but you can't deny that he went to a lot of trouble for love. I have contradictory feelings about him… 6,5/10 Damien: [ha ha, I think I really have a thing for men in uniform] Damien. A faithful servant of duchess Henrietta. Handsome, strong, brave and, as I said, loyal. He is untrustworthy, but if you earn his trust, you can become comrades with him. Anyway, I think… 8,5/10

roche bonus:

And also the voice in the Russian voice-over is just beautiful. I also really like his Polish voice.

[kirafanxx69420]

hello All i would like to ask where the Hypnosis Microphone people gather because i have had zero luck in finding a good comrade or two or five or ten anywhere (meaning here or discord)

my friends are tired of suspecting i am going insane from the cryptic shit i say when i talk about hypmic bc they arent fans, bless their good souls but i have pitied them enough

i am seeking a way to release them from this fate- meaning acquiring people with similar knowledge (hypmic)

sorry and thank you all for the trouble

speaking from the bottom of my heart, god just direct me to the right places stop fucking hiding!!!!! lets talk!!!!!!

[lavlis-art]

On the Edge

The deafening roar of the waves crashing against the rocks reminded him of the wails of his men drowning, being thrown off the ship by Poseidon's wrath. The sharp wind whistling was the whisper of the departed.

Waiting…

The smell of fish and his hands covered in the blood of sirens, big pleading eyes in a face that shimmered into his wife's as she bled to death. The darkness in the horizon was the lair of Scylla before the torches were lit.

Deep down…

The height of the cliff for an adult man compared to the walls of Troy for an infant. The ledge was steep, a misstep and it was the end.

Just a man…

The kisses and touches of a lover in paradise were scorching, the memory of long dark hair and deep intelligent eyes replaced by the overwhelming sweetness of a goddess. The screaming emptiness longing for the reunion that never came and likely would never come. How could it? 

He became a monster…

Odysseus closed his eyes for a moment and looked down at the endless ocean. Wasn't it wine dark? Why then did it look so much like blood?

Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves. 

Was it really? He turned to ruthlessness and his men turned against him, he embraced Poseidon's lesson and lost the remaining forty three of his men.

“You trade the life of thirty six of your men to never see your wife again.” Eurylochus whispered in his ear.

He stepped closer.

“Odysseus?”

A sweet voice, with the gentlest cadence and an awful load of suffocating love. He never asked for that love, never wanted that. Even more after all the horrors and tragedies done by his very own hand.

“All I hear are screams…”

The Trojans, the soldiers, his comrades, his brother, the sirens, his men.

“Ody, get away from the ledge.” Her voice was nearer, he needed the distance.

A step closer.

The Trojans, the soldiers, his comrades, his brother, the sirens, his men, the infant.

Tears streamed down his face, the only sign his broken soul and body could provide for the turmoil inside.

“You don't know what I've gone through. You don't know what I've sacrificed. Every comrade I long knew, every friend, I saw them die.” He cried. “And all I hear are screams…”

“It will be fine, dear. Come back inside, dear. Love of my life, come back to paradise.” She stammered.

Paradise? Odysseus had memories of the true paradise. It was another island, with a woman who couldn't sing in tune but had a warmer embrace. The sound of an infant demanding to be picked up intensified by the barking of a puppy. A full table, good food, wine and the love of an old couple who was proud of the man their son had become.

Would they still be proud of him?

“Let me close my eyes…”

“I know your life's been hard. I'll stay inside your heart.”

“All I hear are screams.”

“I love you, my dear. I love our time here.” She trembled. “Life would be so much worse if you had died.”

Down at the waves, surrounded by roaring wind.

“Just let me close my eyes.” He begged.

Seven years he was stranded there, seven years and she never listened, seven years of crushing obsession disguised as love.

“Please stay away from harm, stay in my”

“All I hear are-”

“open arms.”

Silence, the ghost of Polites appeared before him. Odysseus lifted his hand trying to hold his friend’s clothes.

“This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms.”

Behind him, Eurylochus sneered.

“How much longer till your luck runs out?”

Anticlea sat by the edge staring at the horizon, chanting as she had been for the past decade.

“Waiting, waiting, waiting…”

His friend put a hand on his shoulder and placed his fist over his chest. “Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart.”

His right hand man judged him with heavy eyes. “How much longer till the show goes south?”

Oh. It went so long ago. So long. He could barely remember when it wasn’t. His feet moved closer.

Polites’ face was in front of him, a shining smile and worried eyes. “No matter the place, we can light up the world. Here's how to start.”

His intangible hands pushed his shoulders away from the edge, there was no touch and yet. Odysseus tumbled backwards when he meant to go forward. It all was too much to bear, the little grasp his mind had in his body gave up. He found himself on his knees. His brother frowned, staring at the few steps between him and the fall.

“How much longer till we all fall down?”

For what seemed to be the first time, his mother really looked at him, sorrowful eyes as her arms wrapped around his body, soon joined by his best friend’s.

“Waiting, waiting, waiting…”

“Greet the world with open arms, greet the world with open arms…”

Odysseus broke down, bawling as he crumbled into himself. Sobs wrecked his body as Polites and Anticlea sang to him. He was too old. Too frail. Too scared. He needed help and there was only one Olympian he'd reach out for. His voice broke as he wailed.

“Athena!”

I need an Odysseus who is legit Haunted by everyone. Like, actually ghosts, that follow him around and talk to him. Odysseus startled on Calypsos island because he must being going insane, he can see Polites and Eurylochus and his mom. Turns out his close brush with death made him able to see them. After the ghosts realize Odysseus can see them they go crazy. At first Eurylochus refuses to talk to Odysseus. Odysseus is pretty sure he is actually insane. Calypso is so confused why this man keeps talking to the air. Anticlea attempts to hug her son and everyone sobs.

[pesterloglog]

Jane Crocker, Calliope, Jade Harley

Act 6, page 7355-7358

JANE: I knew that I was her only hope for resurrection.

JANE: Perhaps my cybernetic intelligence was not as flawless as I believed.

JANE: In my haste to revive her, I neglected to let them know I was the only chance she had.

JANE: If they understood the nature of my powers, they may have tempered their aggression.

JANE: And if I wasn't so hurried to use those powers, I may not have let my guard down.

JANE: Alas, I did let my guard down, and with it, my queen.

JANE: But more importantly, my friend, who surely stayed dead.

JANE: Poor Roxy.

CALLIOPE: do yoU sUppose we shoUld be expecting her ghost to join Us too?

CALLIOPE: thoUgh i admit, part of me feels gUilty hoping she will join Us in death. u_u

JANE: I do not know.

JANE: But guilt notwithstanding, I truly hope to see her again.

JANE: Killing a dear friend while in a compromised state of mind... it's frightening to imagine having to "live" with that for eternity.

JANE: I'd be miserable if I never had the opportunity to make amends.

JADE: its sad she died, but then, isnt it kinda sad we all died?

JADE: personally im really hoping she shows up!

JADE: jane why dont you prepare a trollsona for her as a gesture of reconciliation?

JADE: its the least you can do :B

JANE: Why, yes.

JANE: I do believe I can make that sacrifice for the good of our friendship.

CALLIOPE: HUZZAH!!!!!!!!!!!

JADE: so getting back to the story

JADE: i take it from what you said about letting your guard down...

JADE: you believe this was how you died?

JANE: I'm almost certain of it.

JANE: I can remember nothing beyond that moment.

JANE: And if one of your friends managed to get the better of me, I have no doubt my death would have been just, considering the trouble I caused.

JADE: yeah...

JADE: likewise :\

CALLIOPE: do yoU remember who it was that killed yoU?

CALLIOPE: not to hoUnd yoU for details, bUt trivia like this tends to be historically important.

CALLIOPE: plUs, i woUld like to draw this scene. :u

JANE: I'm sorry. My memory of the incident overall is quite vague.

JANE: But it wouldn't surprise me if the one who dealt my fatal blow was the leader of the raid.

JANE: This was the unanticipated factor.

JANE: Their leader was someone who was not expected to show up with them at all.

JANE: The presence of this lone interloper was enough to discombobulate a scheme millions of years in the making.

JANE: This hero occupied a blind spot as much to the Condesce as to my present recollection, but of this much I am sure.

JANE: The hero was bold, wily; the sort of firebrand personality they needed to take such a stand.

JANE: An intrepid soul who was not about to take the verdict of paradox space lying down.

JANE: You see, Callie, your historical documents make no mention of the leader of the raid, because originally, the curtains closed early on this plucky customer.

JANE: But the hero was written back into our story by some inscrutable gambit of circumstance which we may never fully understand.

JANE: And with that flourish of revisionism, the tide of luck turned on a shiny new dime. All bets were off!

JANE: The tilt between the friendly and felonious was a true horse race again. A real barn burner in the brewing.

JANE: Yes, there'd still be hell to pay after Jade and I made our exit, sure as sugar cubes.

JANE: There'd be ashes to sift, wounds to mend, fallen to mourn. Not being privy to the aftermath, I can only surmise as well as the next gumshoe.

JANE: But with respect to the fate of our comrades, of this much I am convinced.

JANE: When the curtains finally closed, this time, their leader would make sure everyone was standing on the right side of them.

JANE: That is to say, the side any interested onlooker would be able to witness.

JADE: ...

JADE: jeez!

JANE: Hm?

JADE: youre really good at telling stories jane!

CALLIOPE: yes, i'd no idea yoU had sUch a talent. how sneaky of yoU to hide sUch a gift from me all this time!

JADE: hear hear! 5 stars, would listen again! :)

JANE: Aw, shucks, you guys. :B

[lrissa]

You’re Easier To Kick When You’re Kneeling.

summary: you and eren were both titan shifters, getting your ass beat in the court room by humanity’s strongest

warnings: violence, swearing,

✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

“Good luck!”

Where the last words Hanji spoke before shoving you and Eren into the court room. Tension penetrated the air as the Survey Corps gave hard glares to the Military Police.

Spinning around you saw everyone looking to you and Eren. Embarrassment and fear crawled through your nerves, gazing to Eren as he looked just as afraid.

“I’m scared..” You whispered to the brunette, he turned to look down at your lightly shaking physique.

“We’ll be fine.” He gave you a small smile, his eyes creased softly, he wished he could reach out and pat you on the shoulder.

Straining yours eyes forwards you bit down your tongue readying yourself mentally. You noticed two long metal pillars beside eachother, gulping.

“Step forward.” An office spoke as he shoved the barrel of a gun into Erens back. Urging him forwards forcefully, quickly you walked to catch up with him.

Two officers pushed you and Eren apart. Snapping your head to the brunette, he nodded his head to you calmly, his eyes gave you comfort as the man shoved you to your knees infront of the pole.

Together the men picked up the metal and ordered you to place your hands stretched behind you, doing so they let the pole fall back into place. Having you directly connected to the pole and squatted down.

You hung your head low as the hair on your shoulders fell forwards to conceal your face. Your eyes had dilated and your body shook. Fear. Worry. Anxiety.

A door opened followed by footsteps and a chair scraping across the stone as someone seated themselves. The judge.

“Well then, let us begin. Eren Jaeger and Y/N L/N, yes?” He’d adjust his glasses and stare at the small paper in his fingers before continuing. “You are soldiers, sworn to sacrifice your life for the public good. Is that correct?”

“Yes, sir.” Eren answered as he stared bug-eyed at the judge, “Yes, sir.” You repeated after Eren and tilted your head up.

“This is an exceptional situation. The tribunal will be held under military, not civilian, law. The final decision rests entirely in my hands.” The white haired man looked from the paper to us, “Your fate will be decided here. Do you have any objections.”

Looking to the floor you squeezed your eyes shut momentarily, opening them wide again. “No, sir.” You and Eren spoke simultaneously.

“I appreciate your perception. I will be direct. As anticipated, concealing your existence has proved impossible. We must make your existing public in some form, or a threat to humanity other than titans will arise. What I will decide today is which force will have custody of you.”

“The Military Police,”

“Or the Survey Corps?”

“Then, I ask the Military Police for their proposal.”

Your head shifted to the Military Police, watching as a man readied himself before speaking vibrantly.

“Yes, sir, I am Commander of the Military Police, Nile Dawk, I will present my proposal. After a thorough investigation of Eren and Y/N’s body, we believe they should be eliminated immediately.”

Your eyes expanded as he said this. This man hardly knew either of you, not a single fucking thing. Your eyebrows furrowed into a scowl while your hands contoured into fists.

“It’s certainly true that their titan power overcame our pervious peril. However, now their existence threatens to spark a civil war. So we ask them to die for humanity’s sake, leaving behind all information they can.” He finished

Your stomach churned as he spoke, did everyone seriously wish you dead?

“There is no need for that! They are an invasive pest! They have deceived the walls that embody Gods wisdom! They must be killed at once!” A preist yelled at the top of his lungs as he pointed to us with crazed eyes. Freak.

“Preist Nick. Order, please.” The judge calmly stated before shifting his attention to the right side.

“We’ll hear the Survey Corps’s proposal next.”

“Yes, sir. I, 13th Commander of the Survey Corps, Erwin Smith, will present my proposal. We would welcome Eren and Y/N as an official member of our forces, and use their power to retake Wall Maria... That is all.”

You stared at the Commander, that’s all. That’s all? Yours and Erens life were on the line and he couldn’t conjure up another defense statement.

“That’s all?” The judge questioned suspiciously.

“Yes, sir. With their power, we can retake Wall Maria. We believe it is clear what our priorities should be.”

“I see. And where do you plan to begin this mission”The judge stated, “Pixis, the Trost wall has been completely sealed, correct?” He added.

“Yes, it can never be opened again.” A bald man retorted.

“We would like to set out from Karanes, in the east. From there, we will proceed to Zhiganshina. We will determine the route as we go.” Erwin confidently spoke as he stared to the judge.

“Wait a minute!” shouted a man, whipping your head over, “Shouldn’t we seal all the wall gates once and for all? The Colossal Titan can only destroy the gates. If we can strengthen them, we needn’t endure further attacks!” His planned seemed smart but there where missing pieces and it would most likely be difficult to achieve.

“Shut up, merchant dog!”

“With those titan powers we can return to Wall Maria!”

“We can no longer indulge your delusions of grandeur!”

Argued two men as they yelled at one another from across the room, ‘So annoying’ you thought.

“You talk a lot, pig.” A dark voice rung throughout the court, turning your head up you spotted Levi. Behind his tough physique he was actually a bit funny.

“Where is your proof?” Levi continued, “that the titans will wait while we seal the gates? The ‘we’ you speak of are only those you wish to protect, your ‘friends’ who help line your pockets. The people who starve because there isn’t enough land to sow don’t even figure into the thoughts of you pig.” Levi finished as you stared at him with wide eyes, was he seriously protecting you from the Military Police?

“We just thought that we could survive by sealing the wall gates—“ The merchant began, “Silence!” Yelled the priest beside him as he slammed his hand on the railing, nearing the mans eyes. “Impious traitor! Mere humans altering Wall Rose, walls that were a gift from God? Can you truly see those walls? Gods work far beyond human capabilities, and not understand?”

The rest of his words drowned out as your mind took hold, thoughts of the future plundered your head as you squeezed your eyes shut.

The judges taps of his desk brought you back to reality and you snapped your head up, “Silence. You may discuss your personal philosophies and opinions elsewhere.”

“Jaeger, L/N. Can you continue to serve as a soldier, using your titan powers to benefit humanity?”

“Yes, I can!” Eren spoke clearly, the judges cold gaze shifting to you, “Yes, sir.”

“But the report on Trost’s defense says this... ‘Immediately after turning into a titan, Eren swung his fist at Mikasa Ackerman.’” You sucked in a breath and looked to Eren, his eyes extended as he looked to Mikasa. Of course, he doesn’t remember.

“Is Mikasa Ackerman present?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“You are Ackerman? Is it true that, as a titan, Jaeger attacked you?” The old man questioned her.

You sighed softly, ‘As if he can control it yet’ you thought angrily in your mind.

“Yes, its true.”

Gasps of terror rung throughout the court, all eyes falling on Eren in a deathly glare.

“I knew it... He’s just another titan.”

“What about the girl!” Another protested as your head whipped to them, sending a glare to them.

“But, on two previous occasions, Eren saved my life in his titan form. The first time, mere seconds before a titan would have had me in its grasp, he stood between us, protecting me. The second time, he saved Armin and me from an HE shell. I would like these facts to be considered aswell.”

“I object,”

“I believe these comments are greatly colored by her personal feelings. At an early age, Mikasa Ackerman lost her parents and was taken in by the Jaeger household.” Well haven’t you done your homework, you pondered with a small frown.

“Our investigation had also revealed a surprising fact about the underlying events. At age nine, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman killed three robbers who tried to kidnap her.”

More gasps could be heard as the news entered their ears, you shook your head. ‘What stupid fucking evidence to have, like they had a choice’ you considered furiously in your mind.

“Even if it was self defense, I must question their fundamental humanity. Is it right to entrust humanity’s fate, resources, and lives to him?”

Whispering and arguing broke out between the different sides, turning their heads to their fellow comrades to spew hatred. What a loss. Losing to this mans ugly mouth. You hung your head and sighed quietly.

“So is she. Do we know if we can trust her!” Referring to you as he pointed. “That’s right! Just to be safe we should dissect her too!” He looked to Mikasa next.

“Wait!” Yelled Eren and looked up to the man, “I may be a monster, but they have nothing to do with it! Nothing at all!” Eren defended as you watched, his spit flying from his mouth as he spoke from his soul. Your heart clenching in pitifulness as you frowned sadly.

“We can’t trust that!”

“It’s true!”

“If you’re covering for them, it means they’re one of you!”

“No!” He screamed and slammed his handcuffs against the metal pole, looking down in defeat, “I mean, you are wrong. But you’re simply coming up with theories that fit, whatever it suits you to fit.”

“Eren..” You said softly as you stared at him, your eyes in pain for him. He was so much braver than you and it gave you courage to see him so persistent.

Looking up you began to speak, “Besides, all of you people. You’ve never seen a titan! What are you so afraid of? What is your point if you do not have the power to fight? If you’re afraid to fight for humanity’s survival then, help us!” Your voice getting increasingly louder as you glared at the pathetic people who called themselves the Military Police.

“Just shut up and trust us!” You yelled your last statement and looked up to the judge, your chest panting heavily as you meant every word.

“Weapons ready!” The Commander of the Military Police shouted while his cadet set his gun on the railing and pointed it to you.

Until your face snapped to the right and pain shot through your nerves, your vision blurred instantly. Metal was all you tasted. A tooth had even managed to fall from your mouth and rolled onto the ground. You blinked to dimish the haziness and looked to your striker.

Levi Ackerman

“Huh?—“

His steel pointed boot slammed across your face again. Your back slamming against the pole behind you. Blood trickled down your nose and down to your chin, dropping onto the floor. Your blood had even splattered small droplets along the stone flooring.

Levi grabbed your collar and shoved you forwards to him. The handcuffs clanging against the pole as Levi stared down at you, his frigid glare locking eyes with your beaten ones before slamming his knee into the side of your head, sending it flying.

Pain. So much pain. It was burning you alive from the inside as all you could do was endure it. Tch, this guy’s a dick.

“Y/N!” Eren screamed from the opposite end. Hatred and worry evident in his tone as he struggled against his own cuffs, “Stop it!” Eren attempted again as all he could do was watch his friend get beaten to the brink of death.

Levi continued to sock you with his boot, giving you zero remorse as he beat the girl below him. Mikasa glared and got ready to jump the railing before Armin held her back.

Blood streamed down your face, a large puddle had began to form under you. You gasped for air before Levi lifted his leg high and stomped down on your head into the puddle of your demise. Grimacing at the filth and pain, all you did was lay there. If someone wasn’t looking hard enough, they’d assume you were already dead.

Croaks of pain left your body as his boot remained on your head, struggling to breath as blood trickled down your nose and into your mouth, unintentionally swallowing.

“This is a personal opinion. But I believe pain to be the best way to train someone. What you need is to be trained like a dog, not a man.”

Your rigid breathes left your mouth as you stared straight at Eren, his eyes meeting yours as he seemed to become visibly furious. Bruised and cuts tracked your once pretty, soft skin. Blood now coating all the crevices in your face.

“It’s easier to kick you while you’re kneeling, too.”

Levi lifted his boot and slammed it into the side of your head once again, giving you no time to breathe he stomped it back onto the cold ground again. Repeating his tourtue when he kicked your head all over again.

Strangled breaths was all you could muster, along with the rattling of the handcuffs as you were thrown around like trash, filling the silence of the fearful court room.

Kick. Kick, Kick.

All anyone could do was watch your doom, “Wait, Levi...”

Your head was pushed against the pole with his boot flat on your face as he turned his head to the one speaking, “What is it?”

His boot fell from your face as you hunched forwards, croaking as you gasped for air, blood trickling down the sides of your mouth.

“That’s dangerous... What if she gets angry and turns into a titan?”

You slowly tilted your head up to Levi, hair falling away from your face and resting on your shoulders. The raven head stared at you for a moment, then shoved his boot back onto your face and slamming it against the pole.

“What are you saying?” Levi dropped his leg again and gripped a fistful your hair, violently pulling you to his face as your eyes struggled to remain open from extreme bruising.

“Aren’t you going to dissect her?” He dropped your hair and stood straight, peering down to your defeated and beaten figure.

“When she turned into a titan last time, she killed twenty other titans before collapsing. If she is an enemy, her intelligence makes her a more formidable foe. Still no match for me, of course.”

Levi gazed to the Military Police, “But what will you do? Anyone persecuting her should also consider that fact. Do you really think you can kill her?” Levi spoke cooly as he stood infront of you, staring you down.

From afar you heard others speak, but your heartbeat clogged your ears as it deafened any other noise. Staring at Levi’s boots infront of you, you noted your blood coating the bottom before gently shutting your eyelids.

You could only hear Levi as he spoke from ahead of you, “I’m certain I can kill her. The only problem is I doubt I can do any less.” Levi proposed.

Hearing the pound of the desk above you, the judge made his decision. But you’d never make out what he proposed.

Footsteps stepped back from ahead of you as new ones came from behind you, uncuffing you and lifting the pole.

You tumbled forwards onto the unwelcoming ground, cautiously opening your eyes to the glaring sunlight that entered through the windows.

Eren ran to you, crouching down infront of you as you saw him shout words at you. He picked your head up in his hands and cradled you in his lap, checking for your pulse.

Your eyes began to shut again, your head lulling to the side to spot the raven head. Levi stared at you from afar, his arms crossed over his chest. The last thing you saw was the ravens dark gaze before your eyes rolled and all you saw was darkness.

be real, we all wish we were the ones being kicked

[legendackerman]

As long as we share the same moon, you’ll never be far away from me

ft. levi ackerman

genre: angst

cw: death, mention of death, grief, spoilers of no regrets (levi’s backstory summarised)

now playing: take me to church

a/n: hi, i hope you all are doing fine! after a long time i finally made it to post something again. have fun <3

A missing piece in his life took it all to ruin him completely. How long was he able to bear that? How long could he bear that?

Four months, seven days.

At some point of life, it would always come to an end. There was no escape, no cheating, just the pure truth. Facing hell was never easy, not in this life. It was hard, almost unbearable. How much can a heart take until it breaks under the heavy weight of distress? How long does it take to lose strength and to finally capitulate? When every breath feels hard to take, when fear controls the mind. How long are you able to keep living?

He came out of hell and continued on the surface. Growing up in a dirty little room - a kid watching his mother losing the grip to life, trying to wake her up when it was already too late. Being saved by his uncle before he died of hunger, growing up with him until he was left alone again, at least knowing how to defend himself. Making two friends, living with them, learning how to survive in the underground. Getting a chance to join the Survey Corps, seeing for the first time in life the day light, feeling the fresh air and the warm sun on his skin. Going on the first battle, facing titans; kill, watching comrades die, finding his two dead friends, have been betrayed - hell continued. He was alone again. His life has never been easy. He stopped questioning himself what was the reason that he was even alive. Maybe there was no reason. Maybe it was his fate to be damned. But life continued, it doesn’t take any consideration. He continued watching his comrades die, he continued killing titans, he continued with shutting his emotions down. The longer it went, the harder it got. He never thought about happiness, he wouldn’t dare. Maybe it just should be like this and that’s what he had to accept, until this one day, that started to change his life completely.

You. A person, who was completely different than the others, walking through the hallway so confidently, giving a genuinely smile to everyone who crosses your way. A person, so beautiful in all ways, that it wasn’t even possible for a human being. And this was the moment, when everything felt different.

He never allowed himself to feel, he never allowed himself to love, to let his emotions free. But you showed him how it was possible to feel, how to perceive the different waves of emotions. With the one moment life suddenly felt as light as a feather. You let him see what life could actually be, what it could also feel like, bringing him the peace and comfort he ever needed.

It was dangerous, everyone of you had sat death right in front of you, but this didn’t seem important anymore. He knew this was wrong, he knew he shouldn’t be able to experience this luck and peace, but there was no way back anymore. You made his life better, you were the person who made him smile, you were the person who was there with him when his heavy emotions started to overflow him, when he completely broke down. He let you see him like this, he trusted you, he cared for you, his feelings for you started to grow more and more, with every second you both share together. You were his safe haven.

“Hey”, you whispered quietly, enjoying the feeling of being held by the person you love. “When this is all over..”. His eyes looked down, meeting yours and waiting for you to finish your sentence. “...I want a family with you”. You could see how his pupils started to grow wide, his mouth slowly opened, what made you smile. “I want to live with you for the rest of my life”. The words felt unreal, he never thought about life after the war, but with you it had to be the best life he could ever imagine. To look in your brightened eyes, knowing that the soft smile on your lips is just for him made his heart skip a beat. “I couldn’t imagine something better”. Maybe this time life was really fair. Maybe it was a mistake to believe in the good, but he wanted nothing more to be with you forever.

You both shared every second with each other and for the first time in his life he felt truly happy. Holding you in his arms, placing kisses all over your skin, worship your body, enjoying the time with you and feeling your warmth presence. But he knew it was just a matter of time, he knew that life wasn’t grateful to him, it never was. The realisation came fast.

His head hung down, carefully placing the flowers in front of the gravestone. “Here lies our beloved Y/N L/N”. He didn’t know how many times he read your name over and over again, but he did know that on some day it had come to this moment, because this is how life works. He wasn’t allowed to love, he wasn’t allowed to feel, he never was and he never will be. It was a mistake to think he had a chance of happiness. It was his fault, everything.

Your death was now four months ago and no day passed where he didn’t blame himself for everything. It was his fault that you died, because of him. Because he allowed himself to feel, because he loved and cared for you. That’s why you had to die. Because of him. It was everything because of him. And there he stands now, in front of your grave, staring at the bottom and let the silence overcome his thoughts, never forgetting the moment when he found you, holding your dead body in his arms and screaming your name to wake you up. Why did you have to die? You, his only hope, the only one who could light up his dark world. Everyone he cared, he loved was gone. Why was he so naive? He had to know better.

“I love you, Levi”. It was the last thing you said to him, before you both got separated. It was the last moment, when you glanced at him, with a confident smile. He couldn’t protect you. He failed, again. With you, he lost everything in his life. He was alone, again, as always.

A stoic gaze on his face, a heavy heart and a broken soul was all that was left. “I love you too”.

.

[yandere-sins]

The Exception

My friend let me try playing Hades on her switch and well... I kinda liked it. Namely, I liked all the characters, so my brain went like “what if they were yandere” and I had an idea for this story that I threw together this morning before working on the Fox Wedding (: The latter isn’t done yet, but this sure is, so who knows, mayhaps some of you will enjoy it! Just tried to answer the question how we could get Thanatos to whisk us away.

Characters: Yandere!Thanatos x Reader Warnings: Yandere, Blood, War, Wounds/Impaling, Major Character Death (???) or well dying, I read into greek history for almost an hour but if I gotten something wrong then so be it

Thanatos had seen enough of the world to know that he didn't want to stay on the surface forever. 

The current battle spreading before him was a mere reason to sigh deeply as he watched bodies fall left and right, their souls soon leaving to a better, or perhaps worse, place. It was mandatory he stayed, but Thanatos was well aware of which side was winning and which was losing. It was his duty and his work to know these things, even though it didn't make the fighting any less futile in his eyes.

Letting his gaze wander over the battlefield, he watched the red splatters on the ground, heard the crushing sounds of iron against iron and the cacophony of fearful and devastating screams. He still couldn't believe Zagreus would want to come to such a place. A place where there was futile fighting and too much light, but perhaps, it was a world that fit the Prince of the Underworld, as he was the same, even if Thanatos only recognized this fact bitterly. 

Finally, the battle was closing in on its end, just like the hundreds of people that found their death because of it. The ones who weren't dead yet slowly but surely started to hesitate and retreat. Even as the personification of death, Thanatos reckoned that a pointless death was scary, even though so many humans chose it over desertion. Their death was inevitable, preordained by Thanatos sisters. Still, he had seen many hold on to the last sparks of hope that they could escape Thanatos' grasp. 

And then, on the other side of the coin, were those that practically would have offered their life to Hades and fought to the end.

You weren't an exception. Yes, your quest and pride were your downfall, and by the gleam in your eyes Thanatos could tell you knew. You knew and recognized that you'd die. However, as if you were spiting him personally, you still continued to fight ahead of everyone else, gaining questioning glances from your comrades and contempt from your enemies, which you pulled to the ground one after another and sending them to hell. 

Many before you had this overzealous compulsion to make that best out of their inevitable demise. Thanatos would admit that yes, most had a good reason for it, like saving their family or fighting for their own life. Others simply lucked out on the gift of pride and ignorance, forcing themselves and occasionally many more lives with them into the deep, dark pits of death. 

What was your reason? Thanatos wondered. 

He still had time before he needed to take action, he could allow himself a short - minuscule, really - different thought than his upcoming work, and you presented yourself so nicely to him as the incarnation of death waited for the end of today's battle. It wasn't often that he had the leisure to let his thoughts wander, so Thanatos intended to use these few seconds, which would fall under the radar, to still his curiosity.

By the looks of it, you weren't an inexperienced fighter. Or perhaps, you were just a farmer judging by your muscles. Surely, you seemed enthusiastic about your task, so were you fighting for something more significant than the glory of your country? Family? A loved one? Thanatos couldn't help but be curious about what your drive was, as he had seen so many reasons, yet they were all the same. Perhaps, yours was new?

Even so, you were graceful as you swung your sword around. What did he know about footwork, but at least, yours seemed to pay off as you weren't dead yet. When one of your foes managed to smack off your helmet, Thanatos believed that was it, but alas, you regained your strength, charging at the very same attacker. 

In a way, fighting was like an elaborate play. The only difference was that neither of the parties knew the other one's move. The person reacting better was the winner. He couldn't find joy in watching wars, but even Thanatos had to admit that it was a joy watching you. Even if you lacked the enthusiasm as the heroic shades that lingered below, like Theseus, had, you fought a fight worth mentioning in the books as well. 

Every move you made, Thanatos could see the calculations in your eyes, that keen shine reflecting in them. The sun seemed to break through the clouds just to reach out to you, making your armor sparkle in its rays. Yes, you were a formidable human, and Thanatos caught himself thinking that it was a shame you were fighting even if you looked so beautifully while doing it. 

Taking another deep breath, he could see the swirls in the air left by it. While the winter wasn't affecting him, no matter how little clothes he wore, Thanatos felt a second of pitiful understanding for everyone who had to fight in those conditions. Undoubtedly, the cold armors, freezing hands and weapons, and frozen ground were another nemesis for every soldier out here. Even if their bodies stayed warm from adrenaline and running, it certainly was another reason many of your human bodies gave out quicker, merely submitting to their fate. It was fair enough for Thanatos. It meant his work was over faster, and judging by you being circled and the other soldiers at your side beginning to see the end coming towards them with long spears and sharp swords, it was all over soon. 

You had fought bravely, that much he could give you. Perhaps you had impressed him enough to put in an unusual good word for you with Hypnos, who'd pass it on to Hades himself, granting you a shot on being put into Elysium. But your fate had long been decided, and as you fell to the ground, the battlefield erupted in victorious screams, announcing your time of death. 

And also, his start of work. 

As the winners retreated one after one, happy whenever they found a friend that survived too, Thanatos passed by them and onto the battlefield instead. Unseen by the human eye, he began his duty of reaping, one soul after the other, as mangled and frustrated over their death as they were, following his orders as he shushed them away. Usually, some pleaded and bargained with him for another shot of life, but even if Thanatos had wanted, there was no way for him to help them. But that day, everyone seemed awfully aware that there was no negotiating nor mercy waiting for them as they looked at his figure, frightened and frustrated. A pointless battle, with meaningless deaths, brought forth the self-pity in them, but this wasn't the first battle Thanatos tended to, so he felt nothing akin to that. It also wasn't his duty to take care of the souls gathered here, as it was Hermes' job to lead to them. 

He had something very different on his agenda. You. 

It was unfortunate for both of you, but when he reached you, you had yet to breathe your last breath. One eye slowly and in pain, opened, the other one damaged from the blow to the head you had received. However, as you looked at him, serene clarity laid in your gaze, and you recognized him, mayhaps by the giant scythe he carried around. Your stare was clear and less afraid than he expected you to be when acknowledging him, but you closed your eyes as a cough overcame you, hot, red blood dripping down your lips. 

"Guess that's it," you croaked, and Thanatos could only stare. Conversing… wasn't his strong suit, and there wasn't exactly a reason to talk to you.

"Are you going to kill me?" you continued, undeterred by his silence, and Thanatos weighed his actions. "No, of course not," he eventually spoke, shaking his head slowly, the hood on his head shifting along to his movement. 

"Ouch, that's cruel. You'll just wait until I die like this?" 

Your words were nothing he hadn't heard before, and he didn't feel offended by them. However, he didn't expect your lips to briefly curl into a smile, adding a jesting notion to what you said. Even that wasn't new, but… it struck a chord inside the usual stoic bringer of death. "I can't end your suffering," Thanatos explained, hoping you'd simply know about the unspoken rule that he couldn't harm you. 

"I think, I get it," you heaved, feeling worse by the minute. "You are just making sure I know I am supposed to die here."

That assumption wasn't wrong, even though there had been more playing into his service than just that. Too many kept trying to escape their fate, and sort of, Thanatos was just checking and cleaning up what would be left. You still had some time before your organs would fail and finally take you to the grave, different from the other souls that were already leaving for their new home. 

"No, you will die here," he retorted firmly. 

"I could," you chuckled, followed by another painful cough. 

"Don't test me, Mortal."

In between deep breaths, you allowed yourself a short laugh. Just like him, you were probably aware that there was nothing worse that could happen to your situation, so his threat was just a way he hoped to shut you up with. In silence, he watched over you, until eventually, your eye opened up again. This time your gaze was searching for him - or something really - but your sight had already begun to cloud. No matter how proud and achieved you are in life, in the face of death, everyone looked the same.

 "I think I did a good job. You know, fighting. Thought that if I already had to do it, I might as well give it my damn best."

More coughing. Thanatos watched the puddle of blood around you grow by the second. The spear inside your body must have been stirring up your insides the more you talked. Thanatos had expected something like this, you, young as you still were, had been led by the belief that doing your best could make up for the fact that you'd die. "But in the end, it was worth nothing, right? We lost after all."

Thanatos could only stare as he wondered what you expected him to say. He came here, knowing your life would end here, so really, the hope you had put into yourself didn't have the same disappointment to him now as it did to you. And yet, as he listened to you, seeing your body battered up with cuts and bruises, for the first time in centuries, he felt something akin to pity for you, and you specifically.

"Why did you fight then?" he asked, perhaps against your expectations. 

"Why? Because they told us too. The King ordered us to fight this battle, and only he could have known how many soldiers our opponent would bring."

"You could have run." Thanatos tried to stay as detached from you as possible, though it didn't quite work, your words taking their influence on him. "Can you?" you retorted before letting out a long sigh. Death was near, literally as well as figuratively. 

"Can you run from your duties? You don't have to do this either, do you?" 

"I do--"

"Really?"

There was no immediate response this time, your question justified, despite your little mortal soul undoubtedly never understanding the burdens on the shoulders of Gods. The world would stop if they all decided to not continue their work and fulfill their duties and expectations. If Thanatos stopped, no one would die anymore, and but the suffering of everything would never disappear too. 

"Dying sucks," you whispered, turning your head away. 

"I reckon," he muttered indifferently. Not like he could talk about it from experience. It must be painful, dreadful, and, depending on the circumstances, frustrating too. Right now, though he couldn't imagine the extent, you must have felt so hopeless and so, so scared. There wasn't much other reason for your banter.

"Thanatos… I always thought it was a pretty name, even if everyone feared it." Regaining his attention after finding himself momentarily lost in thoughts, he looked down at you again, watching as your eyelid closed slowly. "Say what you want, but you can't blame them for fearing death, and alas, me."

"Perhaps if they talked to you, they wouldn't be so afraid."

"Meaning you don't feel so afraid anymore?"

A smile danced over your lips once more, a truly unusual sight for a soul so close to their end, and especially after talking to him. Hypnos often teased Thanatos with being too formal and dutiful to be amusing, and Hades beware, comforting. Though he didn't care for his twin's words, yours did make him feel... happy. 

"Let's go then," you whispered, and Thanatos kneeled down, his hand falling to your wrist, listening to your pulse. Even with the feeling of your heart still desperately pumping blood through your body, only to lose it through your wounds, you didn't utter another word afterwards. You undoubtedly were dying, but perhaps, for now, you were merely unconscious as your lungs didn't stop reaching for air, and your heart used all your strength to function. 

Once more, the sun broke through the clouds, shining down right at you two, bringing Thanatos into the predicament of being blinded as it reflected off your armor. Perhaps he understood it now. Understood how unfair it was that someone like you, innocent and kind, was doomed to die out here. How awful his job on this day was, forcing him to take you to Tartarus and put you before the judgment of the god residing there. 

So what if... he didn't. 

He couldn't heal your wounds, nor make you feel better. But what he could do is battle the fate, earn the scorn of many, but at least, even if he took out the spear from your bloody body, you'd live. You'd live to tell your tale, and who knew, even he could apply some bandages, so maybe you'd recover some. 

It was a risk, and one Thanatos did not like taking, nor found pleasure in executing. But you couldn't refuse to come to this battle, whereas he, perhaps, after all these years, could refuse to do his job once. For your sake, and unbeknownst to him at that time, for his own even more.

His scythe disappeared in favor of Thanatos grabbing for the dreadful spear. Never before had he experience the kind of sound a wound could make from so close, and by the gods, he hoped he never would again. It was just your luck that you were unconscious, or the pain would have perhaps killed you faster than your wounds.

Leaning down, he scooped you up, his hand sullied with your blood and the dirt on the ground. The snow wasn't cold when he touched it, but your body was warm in his arms and still alive. Your threat of fade wasn't cut yet, and he wouldn't do it. With you in his arms, he stepped back, looking into your sleeping face before he retreated from the battlefield with a quiet, "Let's go."

No, the surface wasn't a place Thanatos liked to linger. It was too loud, too wrong, and too bright. But to see your smile, lively and happy, one more time, he didn't need to stay above ground. Where you were going, it was dark and, at times, lonely if you weren't a being born there. But you'd also be safe and alive for as long as you wished to.

And Thanatos would be with you, even if everyone would turn against him and his decision, for all eternity if he must.

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: 9.3

Childe elected to ignore your groan of pain when he yanked you to your feet.  "No hard feelings, comrade."

"I-I'm gonna kill you," you breathed.  "I'll kill you and that damned witch if it's the last thing I do."  A cold hand pressed to your side while the harbinger threw your other arm over his shoulder to escort you inside.

"I suppose I'll have to train you then if that's your goal."

He wasn't joking; the two of you would remain at a stalemate until your strength grew.  He taught you--what you assumed was--almost everything he knew, though for you to reap the full benefits of his knowledge would take years of training.  Despite this he pushed you over and over again, every day, after the wound he gave you closed.  He didn't give you the courtesy of healing completely before initiating fights with you.  He didn't go easy on you either--but it's not like you would've wanted him to in the first place.  At least your sparring sessions gave you an outlet to take out your frustrations on.

You didn't count the days that passed.  You didn't call for Xiao.  You didn't rely on him to save you when all is said and done.  It was time to rescue yourself; if you overran the palace on your own, then other nations wouldn't need to get involved on your behalf.  If the palace fell, no one except you would be held responsible.  You were okay with that.  If it meant Xiao, Aether and Zhongli would be excluded from the wrath of the cryo archon, then your struggles were more than worth it.

Yet with every passing day, more and more Fatui agents were injected with the serums that contained your blood--and survived.  The only thing that made their successful adaptation possible was the sealing of your and Xiao's bond.  With that thought in mind, you were growing increasingly impatient.  You were the one that insisted upon training for most of the day, not Childe.  You were the one looking for a fight.

"Why're you doing this?"  You asked one day while your hand absently trailed down to the fresh scar on your side where he had impaled you.

"Doing what?"

"Training me.  Isn't it a stupid move to train someone how to fight when they're intent on killing you?  If I was you, I would've just let me bleed out in the snow back then."

"If I didn't train you, I would be missing out on one of the best fights of my life."

"Is that supposed to flatter me?"

"It's the truth.  Where else am I supposed to find a worthy opponent?  At my current power level, I'd have more luck with creating one."  Childe conjured his bow and twirled it in his hand, seemingly debating something that was on his mind.  "With your improved skills, I think we'd be able to take the other harbingers."

You froze.  "What?  Why would you say that?  Whatever happened to your undying loyalty?"

"My loyalty for the Tsaritsa and my respect for my coworkers are two entirely different matters.  What I really care about is fighting.  It's been so long since I've had an exhilarating battle, even after Aether showed up.  I would give anything to feel that thrilled again.  And that, dear ojou-chan, is where you come in."

"I'm not fighting you for the thrills.  I will kill you, I'll make sure of it."  It's insulting that he'd even look at your anger as a type of entertainment!  The nerve of this guy--

"Well until then I think we could stir up quite the trouble, you and I, don't you think?"  His eyes finally left his weapon and locked onto you.

"...What exactly are you implying, Tartaglia?"  Narrowed suspicious pupils returned his mischievous ones.

He didn't answer, instead leaving you with an ominous smirk and returning to the palace walls.  Why should you trust a word that fell from his mouth after the Lantern Rite stunt he pulled?  Maybe a small part of you wanted to believe he had some inkling of good in him, but you forced that wishful thinking down into the depths of your soul.  Childe betrayed you so many times; it was in his nature to do so.  He would never be done deceiving you either.  You were sure of it despite the doubts that weighed on your mind.

.........................

"Bow before Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa."  La Signora crossed her arms over her chest when you just glared at the dark throne that sat beneath the shadows.

"I think not."

The clicking of the harbinger's heels echoed in the silent room as everyone held their breaths.  No one dared stand up to the cryo archon; it was unthinkable, even considered treason to question her actions.  This would be the first meeting with the god since you formed a contract with her.  And yet despite your quivering knees, you didn't remove your disrespectful glare from the throne.

"I wasn't asking."  Fingers gripped your chin and forced you to look Signora in the face at an uncomfortably close distance.  "You know the drill.  Bow."

A beat of silence hung heavily in the air and then an awkward cough came from one of the Fatui advisors to your far right.  You didn't blink.  "Did I stutter?"

Signora's lips curled into a half-amused smirk before her fingers let go of your chin and were replaced by a palm slapping you instead.  Her nails broke skin, but your expression never changed even when the stinging pain rang through your ear.  "Have you forgotten who you serve?"

"She's not my god."

"Maybe not the one you worship, but I am the one you serve," the Tsaritsa leaned forward from her place on the throne and gestured for the Fair Lady to return to her side.  "Tell me, why did you request to see me?"

A quick glance was sent Childe's away as if to check yourself.  You had decided it best to at least try the peaceful way out before throwing yourself into a suicide mission.  If worse came to worse, at least you'd be able to put your new knowledge to the test.  "I'm no longer working for you."  The archon's silence urged you to continue.  "You don't need me here anymore.  You got what you wanted.  I'm going to return to Liyue."

"Is that so?"

"I will leave regardless of your answer."

"And you think I'd just let you walk out of here after all I've done for you?"  The temperature dropped, but it displayed an emotion that you couldn't put your finger on.  "I gifted you your vision, spared your life and that of your friends, and you insult me in return?"

What is this feeling of dread in my stomach?  Your fists tightened and you took a deep breath to steady your nerves.  "The trials are over now that Dottore's injections work.  That was our deal, was it not?  You want to break our contract?  I thought you were more credible than that," you tested.

"I know what you've been thinking," the archon's thin lips formed a sinister grin.  "I know you're plotting to cause an uproar, and I am telling you now that you will fail.  Heed my words, Mezzetin, you are and always will be under my control."

"Wh-What did you just say...?"  Your heartbeat drummed loudly in your ears and you knees felt like they would give out beneath you.  This...This happened before.  When did she say that?  Where did I hear these words from?  Cold, desolate eyes watched you carefully as the room spun beneath your feet.  "Stay...away..."

"You work for me, not the other way around.  If you leave now, I'll give the order to kill those friends of yours.  You're not done until I say you're done."

"You wouldn't--!"  Bile burned the back of your throat, and a shaky hand covered your mouth in case you suddenly couldn't hold it in.  "You...you..."  An unsettling realization came to light.

"Do you understand the position you're in, Mezzetin?"

"It was...You gave me those nightmares!  Those were all you?"

"You don't think I'm oblivious to your desires, do you? You will always be under my control."

"If you dare touch him I'll--!"  Hundreds of shards manifested behind you and simultaneously shot at the throne.  The more that shattered against the seat and back wall, the more that manifested and replaced them.  

The ones that barreled nearest to the Tsaritsa diverted their path and shattered against the back wall like they had a mind of their own.  Signora used her catalyst to redirect the remaining shards to you.  Luckily none of them landed a strike on your skin, but a charged arrow of Childe's landed before your feet and you slipped on the forming ice.  His hydro blade was immediately at your throat, along with Signora hovering over you with an annoyed look on her face.  The three of you were surrounded by Fatui officers in an instant; despite their capabilities, they were slower than the harbingers.

"If she makes a move, kill her," the archon calmly ordered, completely unbothered by the commotion.

Signora had her men drag you away to the all-too familiar exit that led to the cells beneath the palace.  They forced your head forward so you didn't see the Tsaritsa recline back in her seat and into the shadows.

The archon swiped her finger across her pale cheekbone and warily inspected the fresh blood that had run down the side of her face.  I missed one?  One of your shards did manage to hit her.  Such a measly attack shouldn't have injured me, she thought as she stared at her fingers in awe and concern.  While your power had grown to a certain extent thanks to Childe's training, it was by no means anywhere near equivalent to his--much less equivalent to a god's.  Your strikes, while powerful, shouldn't have been able to hurt the cryo archon.  Yet here she was, staring at the blood you drew from her.

She recalled the wild look in your eyes when you decided to attack her.  Such a beautiful, pitiful sight that held an immeasurable lack of sanity and rational thought.  Your rage was feral, but just like a wild animal, so was your fear of being caged.  She could see it in your stance;  you were all bark and little bite.  The soft interior within her hardened heart actually admired your bravery...only a little, though.  If she were to achieve her goals, that flame of admiration would quickly be extinguished since it had no place in such a cruel world.

Her thumb smoothed over her bloodied fingers while she thought quietly to herself.  It shouldn't have been possible to harm her.  Not on your own, not even with your vision.  It was then that it dawned on her the true meaning of your bond with Morax's sole-surviving warrior adeptus.

So this is the power of the Vigilant Yaksha.

[magicalgirlagency]

If you don't mind, could you talk more about this Daybreak Illusion anime, and why it was bad?

With pleasure.

I might struggle with remembering some bits and pieces about Daybreak Illusion, because despite being born out of Madoka Magica's success, this anime is very very very obscure and easily forgotten.

However, to my luck, a magical girl blogger by the name of @mew-cake (a.k.a.: CakeoftheMews on YouTube) has made a video summarizing and explaining the anime, so y'all can get up to speed on things! She's honestly a lifesaver, 'cause I ain't watching that anime myself for shit!

The video is titled Daybreak Illusion Tripped On Its Face, if anyone's curious.

But, I'll give you my version of the facts...

So, here's the plot's summary:

A young 12yo girl by the name of Taiyou Akari discovers that she has tarot-based powers (she's The Sun card) after her mother's passing. She's later scouted by an organization called Sefiro Fiore, with a team of tarot-based heroes specialized in exterminating wicked beasts by the name of Daemonia.

The thing about Daemonia is that they are innocent civilians who were infected/corrupted/possessed/whatever-the-fuck-happens-to-them-because-the-anime-never-bothered-to-explain-in-rich-detail by evil demons, but they cannot be saved and return back to normal, so the girls have no other choice but to murder these innocents and put them out of their misery.

Akari, our protagonist, is the only girl who can hear the Daemonia's thoughts, listening to their cries of help; which at first it sounds like a solid idea and a catalyst for a huge change in the series... except that this was never brought up again, and every civilian still died anyways.

Y'know, back in the days, we used to throw a Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss on them bastards.

One shot of those, and these corrupted victims were as good as new.

And I don't know much about the ending, but it seems that it ended with everyone dead like the Ugly Barnacle tale, because why not? Why not make everyone's lives even more miserable? As if they weren't content with sexualizing 12yos non-stop.

Yes, it was one of THOSE animes.

The girls' designs look like they came out of a l*licon hentai doujin that you could easily find on those shady websites, one of them is corrupted and transformed into a she-wolf monster going around with their tits and pussy all out in the open (and she was in one-sided/unrequited love with the MC, so I can't help but feel this was yet another demonization of sapphic folk...), and the villain wants to impregnate the 12yo MC and won't fucking shut up about it every single time he's on-screen (oh, and did I mention that the aformentioned villain was heavily implied to be the MC's FATHER?! Hopefully, I don't need to explain to you all why this is gross and totally not legal?!)

So, yeah; this is Daybreak Illusion. A huge waste of time, with fap material for l*licon otakus to relish on, and heavy on the shock value. It's not just bad, it's pure SCUM.

If it serves as any consolation, Magia Record (the game, NOT the anime because we do not talk about it) has a tarot-based magical girl on their ever-growing roster, named Meru Anna, who was a former comrade to Nanami Yachiyo at the Mikazuki Villa.

Unfortunately, she's canonically deceased, as she sacrificed herself in battle to save her friends when her Soul Gem was grimy, and became the Disclosure Witch Etteilla.

Despite the fact that she's dead, her Magical Girl Story reveals that she has become a guardian angel of sorts to Yachiyo, alongside Yukino Kanae, another colleague who perished (mind you, due to Madoka existing as a mortal in MagiReco, the Law Of Cycles is not a thing, so there's not an afterlife for Puella Magi like in the original series).

And, if you're craving something classic, there's CardCaptor Sakura, I guess. I mean, don't get me wrong, this one's the most tame out of the bunch; but there are the gross implications that Sakura and Tomoyo are second cousins, and several references to pedophilia (with Sakura's parents, and an actual teacher/student relationship).

I used to like it as a child, but now that I am more critical of anime, I think it's meh.

Though Tomoyo's fashion sense is still legendary; that's an universally accepted opinion.

[mobtism]

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Accessible version below:

Icon ID: Official art of Reki from Sk8 the Infinity with facepaint similar to Shadow's. He's sticking his tongue out in a silly "rocker" way, and he has one of his hands up in the "rock on" gesture. End ID.

Hi I'm Nick! I'm 19 years old. I talk a lot and post my thoughts often. Music is my special interest.

My current interests are: Mob Psycho 100, Sk8 the Infinity, Fire Force, Soul Eater, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Ace Attorney, and Pokémon.

My favorite things are wizards, pirates, snow & winter, the colors red, yellow, and light neon blue, dogs, bug type Pokémon, and bright colors and lights (as long as they aren't flashing!). I also really love my friends!

I aim to find careers in pyrotechnics, voice acting, and music!

ID: Screenshots of @skylightz pronoun page.

Profile picture is a round icon of Tashiro Gonzaborou, an anime character with dyed yellow hair which has grown out to show his brown roots, green eyes, and wearing a green jacket. He's smiling, and pointing up towards him. The background behind him is a light yellow, and there's a little red star next to his finger.

The description says, "if you refer to me by my neos im kissing you on the mouth. if you dont? well... good luck charlie [starts beating u up]" Age 19.

Flags shown are: Autigender, Nonbinary, Transgender, Bisexual, Ace-Spec, and Gender Avoidant.

The flag for Ace-Spec was added in by the user, and instead shows a png of a box of Dean's Country Fresh Christmas Trees ice cream. The Gender Avoidant flag was also added in, and shows two cartoonish human-shaped silhouettes, lined white on a black background. The one on the left is fully scribbled in white, and is labeled "gender 100%". The figure on the right is not filled in, but has "0% gender" and "Me!" labeled on it in red.

Names column:

Favorite: Nick, Holly, and Any Nicknames!!

Close friends only: Nicholas

Likes: Hollis or Apollo

Pronouns column:

Favorite: vi/vis and star/stars

Likes: he/him and they/them

Dislikes: she/her

The next screenshot shows four lists of words that shows skylightz comfortability with each word.

First list shows:

Favorite: Myst., Mr., sir, and [no honorific]

Likes: Mx. and comrade

Joke use only: Madam, Ma'am, Ms.

Dislikes: sai, mir, shazam, zam

Second list:

Favorite: Guy, man, dude, bestie, buddy, pal, bro, king

Likes: Person

Dislikes: sib, boy, woman, lady, girl, sis, queen

Third list:

Favorite: Pretty, handsome, hot, queer

Likes: Cute, fruit/fruity, gayass

Close friends only: F slur

Joke only: sexy

Fourth list:

Favorite: Partner, boyfriend, husband, beloved

Likes: Joyfriend, friend

Close friends only: Darling

Dislikes: Wife, kissmate, girlfriend, boo. End ID.

[potassium-pilot]

Prompt 24: Illustrious

“Is it done, Alphinaud?” Dia pestered excitedly.

“No, it is not.”

She waited for approximately five seconds before asking again, “How about now?”

“Do you really want me to rush through this?”

“You’re the Artist Alphinaud, I am your assistant; what else can I do if not make sure you finish?”

“Will you ever let go of that?”

“Never.”

Alphinaud sighed defeatedly and continued his drawing. He was commissioned to create a current portrait of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to hang in the Solar. To their relief, he had everyone’s figures wrote to memory and therefore, did not require them to pose. That in mind, Dia couldn’t help but be a shadow to the boy, watching his artistry at work. The Warrior of Light was many things; an artist, she was not. It seemed the act of using a paintbrush did not come with the same ease as using a sewing needle, or a cooking utensil.

In the middle stood what he believed looked like himself holding a carbuncle while Alisaie stood on his right side at roughly the same height with her rapier held out in front of her. Dia towered behind him carrying Tataru on her shoulders (at her behest) with Thancred on her left with his arms crossed, Y’shtola on her right with a cane being wielded, Urianger on Thancred’s left with a book in hand, G’raha between Alphinaud and Alisaie with a big grin on his face, and Krile in front of Y’shtola to the left of Alphinaud leaning up against him.

“All right, I’m not done, but what do you think so far, Dia?” She scrambled from the Solar door to the desk to look it over with enthusiasm. “Ahh, I love it so far! Why’d you make yourself so short though?”

“What do you mean?”

“Alphinaud, you’re not that small. You almost made yourself into a lalafell compared to me.”

“It feels accurate to me…after all, ‘tis no secret I’m of a smaller stature in comparison to many of you.”

“Smaller stature, sure, but you’re not miniature. Give yourself more credit.” He shook his head before she inquired, “And where’s Estinien?”

“Oh…”

“What?”

“He…told me not to draw him…”

If her eyes could turn red in fury like Nidhogg, they would have in that very moment. “Give me but a moment, Alphinaud…” she told him quietly. She turned away from the smaller elezen and exited out the door in a seemingly calm manner, concealing her fury.

*********

Estinien, Thancred, and Urianger enjoyed a cup of coffee in the lobby.

“So you sort of just…wait for an assignment?” Estinien confirmed. The other two nodded. “Frankly, it’s been a bit more trouble to have the patience recently, particularly since our last assignment wasn’t exactly taken by choice”, Thancred stated.

“Indeed. Though we only aged some few moons in the Source, our souls hath lived on for years in the First, and kept us all plenty occupied, particularly when our friend finally arrived”, Urianger affirmed. Estinien made a hum. “What did you do while waiting before?”

“Oh”, Thancred began nervously, “Nothing too unusual. We just took our rest, did something leisurely, enjoyed ourselves whilst we waited.”

“Is that what thou calleth courting several maidens at once?”

Thancred scowled at Urianger while Estinien made a slight smile at the remark. Suddenly, Thancred and Urianger made horrified faces and scattered from their positions, abandoning Estinien to his fate: a furious Warrior of Light, wearing a look she wore when she killed gods.

“Do you want to explain your thought process here?” Dia confronted him.

“You’re under the assumption that I care to explain anything.”

“Look, I get you that you like to work alone; frankly, it’s understandable in a way. Twelve knows half the work I do needs to be done alone, lest anyone without the Echo be tempered, but I have news for you: you are not alone anymore!”

He growled, “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” She placed her face in her palm, then explained annoyedly, “The portrait, Estinien.”

“By the Fury, you’re angry with me about that?”

“Yes, yes I am.”

“It’s a bleeding portrait. What does it matter?”

“It matters, Estinien! It matters a lot to me, to Alphinaud, to quite a few of us.”

His face betrayed his befuddlement. Not having been a Scion for very long, her irritation seemed misplaced.

“That portrait’s not my place”, he attempted to explain, “And quite frankly, I don’t understand why you all so desperately want this portrait in the first place.”

“We want to commemorate our little family.”

“This isn’t my family. It never was.”

“Never?” she repeated incredulously.

He raised an eyebrow at her tone.

“Estinien, Alphinaud fought for you after your possession by Nidhogg. I fought for you. When everyone seemed intent on killing you, even yourself, we did everything we could to keep you alive. We even entreated Hraesvelgr to help us save you when Aymeric seemed content with just stopping Nidhogg at any cost. Then you go and follow us through Gyr Abania, to the point where you even pushed back an Ascian in the body of Zenos yae Galvus, and pulled my comatose body out of a battlefield and back to the front. And on top of that, you helped take out Black Rose facilities for us while the rest of us were off in another world. You mean to tell me that meant nothing?!”

Estinien blinked.

“Guess what, dragon boy? You were a Scion before you even offered your lance!”

He looked away to the floor, pondering her words, irritated by the nickname.

“Don’t call me ‘dragon boy’…” he snapped.

“That’s what you’re taking from this?”

He remained silent, still thinking through. What in hells had he done? What did he get himself into? He let out a frustrated breath and walked away. She watched him get away from her in disbelief, and followed him as he aimed for the Solar.

Estinien opened the door and called, “Alphinaud?”

The young elezen looked up and away from his efforts. “Yes, Estinien?” The dragoon hesitated, then begrudgingly ordered, “…put me in your damn portrait.”

Dia flashed a huge grin, and Alphinaud’s eyes lit up in excitement. “I’ll do just that! Thankfully, I was still sketching, so I can find a way to add you.”

“Hm…good, I guess.” He closed the door behind him and glared at Dia, still chipper from his agreement. “You’re a pain in my side, Dia Sito.”

“You have to be to do what I do. Thank you, Estinien. He’s a great artist; he’ll do you justice.” He shook his head and stomped off while Dia hurried back inside the Solar.

*********

A bell had passed since Estinien agreed to be in the portrait. Making sure he wasn’t followed, he quietly slipped into the Solar where Alphinaud continued his work unabated. He sat down in front of the young artist and bade him, “How goes the portrait?”

“Quite well, all things considered. I did have to remake the idea a bit, but overall, I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.”

“I see.” The dragoon shuffled in his chair for a moment, unsure how to phrase his next question. “Alphinaud…you are doing this of your own free will, correct?” He brought his attention from his work to the question brought before him. “Of course I am”, he answered incredulously.

“You’re sure, Alphinaud?”

“I am. Why do you ask?”

“I want to make sure this is something that you truly wish to do. Dia has a tendency to be a bit dramatic as I’ve recently learned.”

“Fear not, Estinien. I’m under no influence but mine own.”

Estinien let out a long breath and asked, “I know her reasons, but what of yours? What does obsessing over a painting get you?”

Alphinaud smiled at him. “I get a chance to relax.”

“Really?”

“I do. The past few times I’ve drawn, ‘twas out of necessity in order to locate our missing comrades or to gain entry into forbidden cities. This isn’t like that at all. Despite our friend’s being a bit more enthusiastic than I’m used to, I feel no pressure.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself at the very least, Alphinaud. But is that the only reason why?”

Alphinaud brought his gaze back to the portrait. In particular, he focused on the outlines of two people; Dia and Estinien.

“When I lost command of the Crystal Braves…when I heard that everyone I knew had been lost to that bloody banquet, all I felt was hopelessness. I felt stuck in a dark abyss, where nothing could see me nor pull me from it’s shackles. That’s what I earned for dehumanizing those who would help me, for seeing them all as pawns in my game to unite Eorzea.

Then Dia pulled me out of it. So did Tataru and Haurchefant.

Despite everything I ever thought of her, despite the way I would send her out as though she were my trusty god-slayer from my toolbelt, she stood with me, and helped me find a new home. Had she not saved Haurchefant’s friend from the Inquisition, and slayed Shiva, and the dragon that threatened the gates of Ishgard, we would not have found refuge within it’s walls.

After everything that came of our tenure in Ishgard, the Scions became something different. Especially now that my blood family has forsaken me, the bonds I’ve formed with my comrades became a great source of comfort to me. Everyone has their reasons for why the Scions are their home. If we wish to commemorate that with a painting, I see no reason not to oblige.”

Estinien didn’t usually pry into this sort of business; that was Aymeric’s domain. Yet, he did find himself in a better understanding of Alphinaud after that. He met the boy when he was still so immature, inexperienced in many things that were obvious to him growing up with Ser Alberic. It was interesting to hear how he changed, and what he missed.

“So this truly is more than just Dia’s will being imposed on others, then.”

“Dia’s not wont to impose her will onto others. She merely expressed a wish that the rest of the Scions shared, myself included.” Alphinaud raised an eyebrow. “Now that I think of it…I’m not entirely sure what her will is on a normal day. What does she want?”

“I have no idea. Perhaps it’s best for that to remain her business, hm?”

“When this is all over, and the Final Days are halted, I mean to express my sincere gratitude to her in any way I can.”

“Heh. Good luck with that”, Estinien commented as he rose from his chair. “Well, I won’t pry from your work any longer. Keep at it, Alphinaud.”

“I will, Estinien, thank you.”

The dragoon turned away and left through the door to the Solar. Alphinaud returned his full focus to the portrait.

******

The days passed while Alphinaud took his time to focus on the painting. The Solar was nearly forbidden territory, with the exception of Dia, who nobody would dare try to stop. After nearly a week’s worth of effort, Dia finally opened the door, and approached her fellow Scions.

“If any of you would like to view the portrait and help us decide where to place it, that would be most welcome”, Dia announced to the group as they sat in the lobby. All but Estinien rose from their chairs and walked towards the Solar.

“That means you too, Estinien.”

“Your suggestion is noted.”

“Get in here, or I’m telling Alphinaud to put it on your bed.”

He stood up reluctantly and followed her into the Solar, where they beheld the group fawning over the portrait. Estinien and Dia looked to each other, Dia wearing a smile on her face, Estinien his usual stoic look. He slowly walked towards the portrait to join the group.

For the most part, the positions of everyone stayed the same with one notable exception; Estinien stood between Dia and Thancred with a smirk and with his hand placed on Alphinaud’s head.

“I’m glad he took my suggestion and made himself taller”, Dia mused. Estinien tore his eyes away from the painting and looked to Dia. “Didn’t he do a good job with you, Estinien?” He nodded, “Aye, he did.” He brought his attention back to his portrait self.

Is that how he sees me, he thought.

“All right, now the question remains: where do we place it?” Alphinaud asked the group.

Everyone took a moment to think. “What about up there?” Estinien suggested, pointing to a spot above the desk…the spot that once held Tupsimati. Most of the group shifted uncomfortably with the exception of G’raha and Dia.

“Well…” Alphinaud started.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Dia defended. The group made faces of disbelief towards her. “Look, I will never forget Louisoix, nor will I forget Moenbryda’s sacrifice. But that spot is perfect. Anytime we walk in, we’ll see us hanging there proudly. After all, Tupsimati’s not hung there in how many moons now. Why don’t we use that spot to honor a new legacy?”

The Scions considered her words. “Did I touch upon something sensitive?” Estinien whispered to Dia. “‘Tis a long story. You did nothing wrong”, she whispered back to him.

“All right. Perhaps it would be better for us all to let our own story be told. After all, we saved not just one world, but two. That should be worth a nice spot, don’t you think?” Thancred reasoned. The group nodded.

“Allow me”, offered G’raha. He took out his staff and levitated the portrait from it’s spot. Y’shtola took out her cane and prepared a nail for the painting to hang upon. The two combined their efforts, and in a matter of minutes, the portrait hanged proudly in the very same spot Louisoix’s legacy once stood, the legacy that Dia had unfortunately sacrificed along with Moenbryda in her attempt to destroy Nabriales.

“There. I like it there quite a bit”, Dia complimented. “Thank you, G’raha, Y’shtola.”

“Of course. Now would you care to explain to me why that spot seemed to cause discomfort?” G’raha questioned.

Dia smiled. “I owe you two an explanation, it would seem.”

[mangolover]

Hello! May I request prompt 6 with Bennett from genshin impact? Gender neutral reader. Thank you!

Hello!

Thank you for your request!

I really just wanted to do some “angsty fluff” for Benny since I love him too much and want to meet his dads.

Enjoy! 💖

50 Followers Drabble Event, prompt #6 with Bennett

If you wish to check out the offical “50 Followers Drabble Event”, press here

Title: Two Minuses Make a Plus

Prompt:  “Did you know that you talk in your sleep?”

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Pairing: Bennett x gn! Reader

Genre: Fluff (with a bit of angst if you look into it deeply enough)

Warnings: a bit of sad thoughts, strong language

Spoilers: None I believe

Word Count: 1200+ (once again, i love him)

Description: Both of you were unlucky and always casted aside to walk the world alone. Two minuses. So when you finally met and combined your minuses, you got a plus, a nice treasure and bond that not even bad luck can break.

As someone who believes they are unlucky, I really feel like this is self-insert. 👀

BOUKEN DA BOUKEN!

Adventure with Benny would be epic!

Enjoy!

Two Minuses Make a Plus

You were always casted aside in life. Either it be an adventure, hanging out with people you considered friends or a simple family gathering, you were never truly a part of it. Just a ghost in the background, possibly not even visible in the pictures.

Still, you pushed on, smiled through tears, laughed through bubbling pain in your chest. You were sure you would grow out of your bad luck eventually. No one can be unlucky their whole life, right? Right??

You were a prisoner in your own body, your own bad luck holding a you captive. People always said you should value freedom the most, but only thing you could associate with freedom from your cell was the city you lived in. The Anemo Archon himself gave everyone a choice to be free here. And yet, deep down, you weren’t granted that choice. You weren’t in control of your life. You aren’t in control.

In order to finally take the wheel, you decided to join any adventure team. Possibly the smallest one they had, the one where you wouldn’t be thrown on the sidelines like a plastic bag.

And maybe it was your luck, even if many would beg to differ, but you found the perfect one. Benny’s adventure team. The smallest one they had, with only one permanent member. According to many stories you heard in the guild that day, when you proudly and happily announced that you were joining Bennett’s team, it was laced with bad luck and failure. But it didn’t make you sad or concerned in the least to hear that.

If anything, it made you kinda hopeful. You were not the only one with awful bad luck then, huh? Maybe you two will have luck together, or maybe you two will die on an adventure, with smiles on your faces because you both finally met the mirror image of yourself.

And so, the adventuring began. First it was small, trying to work out the dynamics between you two. Bennett was skilled with sword, while you on the other hand have just picked up a bow after so long. When you were younger, you would go and try hunting with your father, but it would result in empty stomachs or with injuries, so your father just benched you.

You had fun and you were sure Bennett had fun too or maybe it was just both of yours carefully plastered masks of happiness. What surprised everyone in guild the most was when even after two full months, you weren’t quitting. And you weren’t injured in any of yours joined outing, but rather when you were on your own.

You could’ve lived with that. You felt like everything was finally falling into place, slowly but steadily. It wasn’t a smooth ride and it will never be one, but maybe the rough patches were finally left somewhere behind in the distance, greeting the sun as it was setting. Casting it’s orange, purple and pink hues, scattering them across the scenery.

And as the third month passed by, Bennett finally agreed to take you in a domain where he heard from his good friends Razor and Prinzessin Fischl, a great treasure laid hidden, daring the brave and reckless ones to try and claim it.

You two didn’t fit in any of those categories. You weren’t the brave and successful adventures, the big ones that can die peacefully, knowing their stories will be told for years to come. Knowing that their comrades will raise a toast to them instead of letting a tear slip out of their eye and land on their casket. You weren’t reckless either. Knowing full well what your bad luck can cause, you two were always a bit too careful. But bad things just seemed to follow you like duckling it’s mother.

You were both the unlucky ones. The two minuses. Two unlucky souls frantically looking for your luck, hoping it will appear behind a corner any second now. But it never did. At least not until now.

You two made a vow. You will either get the treasure or die trying, your bad luck be damned.

So you ventured deep into the ruins, avoiding every trap, making it to the treasure room without a single scratch. But this was the real test. You and Bennett looked at each other before you thrust out your hand. Both of you smiled and silently prayed that this was your lucky day as Benny placed his hand in yours.

You opened the chest with closed eyes, neither daring to look in case the shine that illuminated your faces was just your imagination, but at last you opened them and let out a high-pitched sound, prompting Bennett to open his eyes out of concern.

There, in front of you both stood a luxurious chest filled with gold and other goodies. You both threw your hands around the other, only to pull away after a few moments with faint pink color on your cheeks.

You filled your bags and started making your way back to Mondstadt. If only the journey wasn’t so long. But the sun started setting and you decided to camp out, sleep underneath the stars. It was your luck day either way, you can afford to have some fun, right?

If only you two were a bit more reckless, the night could’ve gone in a whole different way, but instead you both argued who would keep the guard while the other one slept. You both ended up on that duty in the end. But being so close to Bennett filled you up with warmth. Maybe you started to catch feelings for this white-haired boy with two dashing emeralds as his eyes.

And while you were admiring his beauty, you succumbed to the sleep that awaited in the back of your being, taking you over and giving you the sweetest dreams yet.

You woke up when the sun appeared at the horizon, only to see Bennett next to you, his back pressed to a tree, a smile immediately made its way to your lips.

“Good morning” you mumbled and his gemstones settled on you, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Morning,” he paused and looked to in front of him at the hot and rising star. “Did you know you talk in your sleep?”

You were mortified, your cheeks heating up in an instant. Oh no! What in the hell did you say?

“What did I say?” you mumbled under your breath, hoping he was just messing with you.

“Well, you were mumbling for the most part. But when you weren’t, you said that you really like me.”

Your heart dropped in your chest. You messed up, huh?

“But that’s amazing!” he turned to you with the biggest smile on his lips and grabbed your hands in his.

“I really like you too! And my dads like you too! Isn’t that just amazing? Haha!” he was like a kid that was given some candy and you could feel the butterflies bursting in your stomach.

Soon you both started laughing uncontrollably, full of affection and happiness. You were both finally feeling accepted. You both felt like you finally made someone proud of you and the feeling was amazing. But the true treasure was meeting each other.

Maybe two minuses really do make a plus.

[fantasyinvader]

Beat Binding Blade tonight

So, right off the bat I'm going to admit. I abused the arena and save states. This is a really, really hard game. And while I enjoyed it, I'm going to give three things I didn't like about it.

1)Enemy reinforcements arrive at the end of the player phase, and can attack during the enemy phase. That is unfair, especially when I assume that parking a unit on the spawn point will prevent them (It doesn't) or my healer just happens to be in the area. I like difficult games, but when I fail at something in those I want to feel like it's my fault for doing so. When I die in Bloodborne or lose a unit in Fates Conquest, I'm willing to accept it because I felt it was fair (plus I'll just restart the chapter in Conquest anyway). I could have not died if I had played a little better. This game was not fair when it did that.

2)The supports. A lot of the stuff about the characters is locked away in their supports, since this is one of the old Fire Emblems where it throws units your way because it's assuming you didn't reset the game when one died. They don't get cutscenes to be important, and with only five supports per character (barring if one dies, then any unit that had supports with gets those supports back). And even then, getting an A rank doesn't pair up any units except for Roy. So you don't get to play love doctor here, it's only really there for the stat boosts. But in the case of my boy, he needs those supports in order for his character to fully come through.

3)I can take 8 units into the final battle, and they're the only ones who get full ending cards. Everyone else just gets a single line. Kinda weak if I use someone like Fir for most of the game, but bench her at the end to give Rutget Durandal.

Even with my cheating, I still enjoyed this game. Mostly for the story. When Fire Emblem first appeared in Smash Brothers Melee, as a kid it instantly caught my attention. Roy and Marth just looked so cool with their swords and armor (true fact: My favorite design for Link is the Skyward Sword design, simply because it has chainmail under the tunic. I get it, the tunic is iconic but SS's Link just looks practical), and I preferred Roy because I though his fully-charged shield breaker hurting him was cool. I even keep a Cipher card of his in my wallet for good luck. I wanted to know what Fire Emblem was, what kind of game it was. My friend showed me a screenshot of the upcoming GBA game in Nintendo power, which I got for the following Christmas (sadly, I didn't get Sacred Stones as I got a PS2 the following year). I loved that game, but the idea that I was playing as Roy's father always was a bit of a sour point for me. It's because of that game when I got a 2DS a decade later, because I wanted to game but kept getting pulled away from my console, I eventually went back to Fire Emblem.

And, I'm going to admit, Binding Blade hurt me because I played Blazing Blade first. It really did. I mean, Hector dies early on, Lyn is presumably dead hell a lot of my old comrades probably died in this war, Eliwood's wife dies shortly after they are married while Eliwood is more useless than ever, the kid I saved in Bern becomes a genocidal maniac, and the fact that the characters of Blazing Blade kinda caused this to happen by releasing the seals on the Legendary Weapons in their own quest... It kinda bugs me that the Legendary Weapons I used in Blazing Blade are in their trap filled storage places. Like, who returned them there? And if I have characters from that game returning in Binding, I find it strange they don't comment on needing them again. But this is a case of the game trying to be a prequel to a story that wasn't written with it in mind.

But at the end of the day, one thing just kept popping up in my mind. Binding Blade is the antithesis of the Crimson Flower route from Three Houses. I know they said Genealogy of the Holy War was an inspiration, but I can't help it. I've seen so many people try to praise that said route as some sort of denouncement of the rest of the franchise. That it's about putting power in the hands of the people (it's not) instead of having some Lord be the good king. Granted, the Mandate of Heaven seems like it's a running theme of the series, so without understanding what that is I can understand why people don't grasp what that part of the message. But Binding Blade, it just hit so many things on the nose that I needed to say something.

So without further adieu, I'm just going to bring up a few points.

With Regards to Humanity

It's interesting how both Zephiel and Edelgard come at this from different angles. Sure, they both lead wars of conquest across the entire continent, and I'm guessing Zeph didn't tell his troops what he was planning on doing once he won so there's likely a level of deception going on there as well. He really doesn't care for his fellow man, and the game goes out of it's way to show us why. Hatred, greed, or even selling out your people in the name of self-preservation. The game doesn't shy away from showing us any of this, saying that it's wrong and thus why Roy has to kick some guy's arse. Zephiel knows this, but in Edelgard's case? She's out there fighting for absolute power, destroying anyone who won't bend the knee to her while those who do out of self-preservation like House Gloucester are rewarded for it.

In essence, Edelgard is everything Zephiel saw wrong with the human race, she is why he felt we needed to go extinct. The very things he condemns humanity for are the things she reward. Zephiel would have actually handed over power to those he felt deserved it if he had won, whereas Edelgard is demonstrably shown to hold onto power until near the end of her life. One wants humanity dead, the other wants all the dragons. They even oppose each other in their classes. Edelgard is based on the red emperor archetype, she wears red, her class is the heavily-armored Emperor and her weapon of choice is an axe. Zephiel is a king, armoed but wearing purple and he uses a sword in battle.

Even if they both have screwed up history with their family's due to their father's inability to keep it in his pants, they're both presented as villains despite being ideologically opposed which goes to show with Fire Emblem the method IS the message.

Ancient Wars, Super Powered Weapons and Lies.

War of Heroes vs. The Scouring. The former is an event where the full details are shrouded in mystery, up to the player to piece together the clues and figure out the truth for themselves...or in Crimson Flower's case, ignore the truth and act out in your ignorance.With Binding Blade though, when the truth starts coming out, it hits hard. I mean, right from the beginning of the game we're told man was the one who broke the peace by attacking the dragons, but then we learn that those legendary weapons messed up the environment, resulting in dragons needing to use human forms only to be slaughtered by man. Dragons were blamed for the environment, the people who used those weapons were revered as heroes. We don't know why mankind launched their attack, but we do know that they weren't able to slay the Demon Dragon, one who had her soul destroyed in order to control her, because the Heroes felt sorry for her. It's making dragons out to be the victims here, much like the dragons in Three Houses. But Crimson Flower only serves to demonize them, acting like they can't understand humanity when the dragons in that game are a lot closer to humans emotionally than the ancient dragons in Elibe.

The Elites in comparison weren't heroes, and that lie has been confirmed as Rhea trying to make peace.

The good ending for Binding Blade is being able to save the dragon whose soul was destroyed, whereas Crimson Flower ends with slaying a dragon after you've spent the entire game triggering her (and is the ending that leads to oppressive rule under Edelgard, in addition to the only ending without sunlight. What? You thought you'd get the good ending when her final boss theme was playing on the last stage?). Also, you need all the Legendary weapons in order to unlock the final stages, which all play into the big mystery. Crimson Flower requires the player to not understand that the world-building was done to support fighting against Edelgard instead.

Merits of a leader

Let's not beat around the bush here, Roy will not carry you through Binding Blade. His bases are low, and while he has good growths he is unable to promote until the very end of the game. Even then, you need to save the Binding Blade's usage to ensure you get the good ending. Roy is also very unsure of himself, thrust into a position of leadership despite his young age. But look at what happens when he succeeds, he manages to overcome the odds and take down the mightiest army on the continent. At the end of the game, he's shown himself as more than capable of leading. Not to mention, he also believes that humans and dragons can live together, even seeing this in Acadia (and if Ninian was his mother, he's unknowingly proof of this as he is 1/4 dragon himself. May explain his poor bases). If he marries Liliana, he even becomes a King for likely much of the same reason Byleth does in SS/VW (most leaders are dead following the war, plus combining his territory with Ostia which had already taken over Lyn's land after she abdicated/married Hector). Roy learns the truth as already established.

Compare this to Crimson Flower Byleth. Byleth leads the Black Eagle Strike Force, but credit for it goes to Edelgard. Byleth never gets any recognition for this, no position of authority despite proving themselves, instead that goes to Caspar Jenkins of all people, and ends the war continuing to fight TWSITD from the shadows to support Edelgard's regime. And if you read between the lines, Edelgard is NOT a good leader, resorting to bribes, threats, cronyism, secret police, propaganda, and even TWSITD's support and later stolen tech in order to maintain her rule. Byleth lost whatever emotional development they got from White Clouds during this route, once again becoming the Ashen Demon, and is even willing to let themselves die if they can't keep their “humanity” in check showing a distaste for their own draconic heritage (showing humans and dragons can't live together in this timeline). They didn't grow into being a leader, they devolved into being Edelgard's unthinking muscle. Byleth never learns the truth in this route, falling for Edelgard's manipulations resulting in them losing Enlightened One/Nirvana status.

Not to mention, Heroes Relics have really low weapon levels. In theory, they can be used by anyone but only safely by those with Crests and most fully with a matching Crest. Legendary Weapons, on the other hand, can be used by anyone with an S rank in their type. Your characters have to EARN the right to use those things and you'll need them to deal with all the Manaketes during the final level, whereas Relics aren't exactly that level of broken.

Honestly, seeing the ending of Binding Blade and Idunn recovering put at least one tear in my eye. Crimson Flower's just made me feel like the game was calling me an idiot (which considering the Nirvana/Enlightenment thing, it kinda was). I would love if Binding Blade got the Echoes treatment, or even if they just did a GBA collection for the Switch. But after all these years, one thing is as certain now as it was when I was a kid.

In this house, ROY'S OUR BOY!

[lady-ragnvindr]

So while playing Genshin, and reading a comic about Diluc and Childe wanting to rip each other's throat because they like the traveler on Twitter, I had the idea of writing on how my team acts with each other and on what's their relationship.

So to begin, my team is based on Diluc, Childe, Kaeya (yes my boy came back from a long expedition and kicked Beidou out, sorry bae) and Bennett/Diona. So in total, 3 husbandos, and 2(3) children and ofc the traveler.

Now I recently have been trying to get ascension items for Diluc and Childe to ascend them to Lvl. 90, since I'm dangerously close to AR 50 (sadly). So whenever I go on my way to get Diluc's lamp flower (forgot the name, but it's a blue like flower.. very pretty) Childe is the one collecting them, while Diluc is the one picking up Childe's starconchs, reason I do this is because I imagine those two bickering.

"That's the wrong flower fatui scum" (glares)

"That's the wrong sea shell...... comrade" (glares harder)

(snickering in the background)

Now while those two are at it, Kaeya, Diona and Bennett are the ones trying to keep them from fighting each other (mostly Bennett). Kaeya and Diona formed a bond with each other, even tho Diona doesn't like it when Keaya drinks, since it kinda reminds her of her dad...(to understand, gotta go listen to Dionas lines whenever you unlock her friendship) but besides that, those two grew kinda close, always trying to bet between Diluc and Childe, on who will snap first.

Bennett on the other hand, grew close to both Diluc and Childe (shocking) why? Well Diluc has been kind of a mentor for my boy, giving him tips here and their and also being the one to spar practice with him and also being kind enough to hunt and share some of his ascension materials, Childe treats him like his younger brother, if Bennett is having a hard day, or Bennett's bad luck gets him, Childe is the first to put a smile on that boys face.

Now, for the children, Bennett and Diona get along but not as close friends, just as simple friends, they play around when not fighting and sometimes when Diona wants to cook something for the team, Bennett is their to give a hand.

Childe and Kaeya, for me, is kind of an interesting relationship, they both have secrets and if I'm not lying, i bet those two know that two of them are quite similar and Diluc knows that, anytime those two are together, Diluc is on the shadows, watching and listening. Obviously he still cares for his brother, but his relationship with him has been damaged so the trust is broken between those two. And the reason on spying on Childe is quite obvious.

Nowwwww ...let's start with the interesting part, the relationship between the traveler and the team.

So I will base this on which character I got first on my team, Kaeya.

Kaeya and the traveler have a kind of double the power, double the trouble relationship. Those two have been close ever since Kaeya joined her. Some would say that they are a couple, but they aren't, they are more like...... friends with benefits. Listen, listen, that man has been in my team for the longest, and yk he is a very handsome man (his personality is the best, love his little comments here and their) and gives me sub vibes, (well everyone besides the children give me sub vibes) so for me, my traveler ( who i visualize her someone tall, strong and with a badass vibe) and Kaeya are very veryyyyyyy close.

Now Diona, was the second to join. My traveler friended them right of the bat, those two are worst then Kaeya and her. But it's not to say that Kaeya also joins them when causing trouble. Beidou, who was my main dps before the two 5*, was the one keeping them on a leash.....until she also joins.

Childe, was the 3rd to join, now on how he join, well I wanted to make a little story, after the first meeting, he tries to get on her good side, always trying to bring her a smile, at first it was because of his job as a Harbinger but a change was happening and he knew it. They end up creating a business like bond, for her at least, he on the other hand, slowly but surely started to fall for her. Maybe it was her strong will, maybe it was on how gentle she could be when attending to his wounds or on how fearless she was when giving him an earful for being reckless. But a bond that fragile was bound to brake, and obviously the fighting happens. After the fight those two were two broken souls. When everything was save and secure, the traveler met his little brother and y'all know the story with that. But throughout the mission, Tartaglia and my traveler slowly started to rebuild their bond, but she was still cautious, and he...well he fell even harder. So after his family's mission, he offered to go with the traveler not as a fatui but as a friend and she agreed.

And finally Diluc. The traveler and her team came back to Monsdtat and the first stop was on Angels Share, and luckily Diluc was the one taking the orders. So when a Captain, a cat and a foreigner along with a tired traveler barged in through the door was quite a surprised. The traveler sat down, slammed her fist on the table and with a glare so piercing that Diluc had to do a double take, said, "Give me the best wine ya got and after that, you and I will talk" And so he did what she asked, gave her the best wine, and quickly took her to the back of the tavern, without being noticed, not even the Captain or Fatui knew for those two were too tired and drank everything on site, Diona was sleeping on Kaeya's lap who was giving a glare to anyone who disturbed him. Back to Diluc and my traveler......they were at it (😐 sorry not sorry, listen that mofo took his sweet time to get home, gotta take my anger out) gotta say that my traveler was railing Diluc (let's say she pulled out a strap on out of her inventory) making him whine and whimper at the way she was pulling his hair and thrusting her hips into him, all while bending him over or pushing him against the wall......(he deserves it) don't worry he gave consent. And it all started after she drank her wine, giving Diluc a glare who was about to question her when she stopped him by kissing him and ...... 🤯. But yeah by the end of the night, Diluc couldn't walk but was willing to go with the traveler the next day when she offered him to go with her. So he joins, and while giving Kaeya a nod and a side glance, he gave a glare at the fatui who had an arm around the (his) traveler, while Kaeya gave him a knowing look after noticing the way he walked (and the bite marks on his neck). Diona was beyond pissed but she couldn't care when she was on top of Kaeya's shoulders and sleeping on top of him, his hair is fluffy. On the end of the day, Diluc was either red bcz of his anger towards the fatui or whenever the traveler teased him, either whispering dirty things or touching him. Childe noticed and made it his life mission to disturb them when possible, Kaeya and Diona are just in the back enjoying the show (Kaeya who understands what's going on, Diona on wanting the fatui to beat the red hair for she was too short to do it herself)

Anyways, that's how my team works on a daily basis. Sorry for the long rant, was bored. Thx for listening to my ted talk.