#got SO many swords and no scabbards for them

[stardial]

i need to learn how to make scabbards.

[teojira]

Scar x fem! Reader/Rover from Wuthering Waves where Reader is trying to get Yangyang back, and Scar offers to give her back for a kiss from reader 🫦

[What's the harm?] [Scar/reader drabble]

Summary: Scar strikes a deal with you, for both your and Yangyang's freedom. (You are Rover in this!)

Word count: 1k+ (I got POSSESSED)

Pronouns: She/her implied

Warnings: Possibly OOC but the game is 3 days old, have mercy. Slightly nsfw! Scar is down bad. You're Rover in this and you're also down bad.

A/N: I want him so bad, the constant flirting with MC? The way his eyes soften at her? I'm in love with him so bad.

“Where is she?” He's already isolated you for Yangyang, bringing you into his domain.

 It's unnerving, standing alone with a man you've seen cause so much trouble, someone who constantly is trying to get into your head.

The comments he makes, there are so many of them and they just keep coming. 

Is he lying about wanting you? Lying about wanting your trust? Is this just a ploy to get you on his side? 

You're not sure, your brain can't deny that this is a trap, he trapped you, but your brain can't deny that he's looking at you with a soft gaze that you're sure he's never graced another human with. He looks like he simultaneously wants to eat you alive and protect you like he claims.

Scar himself stands a few feet away, arms crossed as his eyes trail along your form, starting from your feet, lingering a bit on your chest until finally meeting your eyes. You swear you can see a twinkle in his eye, and he doesn't even remotely try and hide the way he licks his lips at you, a predator grin making it's way on his handsome face.

“Oh come on Rover, she'll be fine~”

“I'm not doing this with you, give her back.” You steel yourself, hand resting on the scabbard of your sword, ready for him to attack.

To your surprise, he knocks his head back and laughs, shaking his head, the movement jostling his locks. He turns back to you, moving closer, step by step.

“Look at that, that fire in your eye is mesmerizing Rover, you're that concerned with a woman who only wants to use you?” He coos, voice mimicking how an adult talks to a child and you feel small, taking a small step back but the distance still closes, he's not letting you get away.

“Stop. I'm not playing this game with you Scar, let me go and give Yangyang back.” You hate how your voice trembles a bit, hating yourself for his presence having such an effect on you.

“Yangyang This, Yangyang that, what about me my dear? Why don't you say my name like you do hers? With that fondness.” He glowers, finally closing the distance, stepping into your personal bubble and cornering you against a large rock.

“What are you even-” You can't help the flush that rushes to your face, your head dizzy at the proximity. The body heat radiating off of him is jarring, but not as jarring as his smell. He smells of ash and burnt wood, and a mix of his own natural scent and it feels warm and safe. For the first time since you've woken up, you feel protected, despite him being the enemy. The same one who the nation you're supposed to protect hates.

It's so stupid, it's so stupid.

"Say my name.” He's leaning down now, was he always this tall?

“W-” He cuts you off, grabbing your jaw with one hand, squeezing your cheeks ever so slightly, only releasing to brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Say it, Rover.” His face is so fucking close, you can feel his breath tickling your face.

"Scar." You breathe out, your head spinning, this is wrong, you shouldn't have let him get this close, you need to get out and find Yangyang, what the fuck are you doing?

"Give me what I want, and I'll let you both go." He murmurs, eyes zeroed in on yours.

His heterochromatic eyes are beautiful already, but the way they're so dilated, barely any of his color is shown.

"I'm not following."

"Just a kiss my dear, just one."

"How do I know you're gonna keep your word?"

"You don't, but I don't think that's gonna stop you." He coos again, moving to trail one of his hands down your back, pushing you closer to his body, your chests both heaving and resting on one another.

He's right, as of right now, there is absolutely nothing that will stop you from this, from giving in just this once.

You lean in first, shutting your eyes tight.

It's Scar who does the rest, crashing into you like a wave, trying to consume you.

He kisses you like you're long lost lovers, pouring so much passion into the kiss that you can't ever hope to return, so when he pushes you up against the rock, you know this'll be a reoccurring occurrence. It's addicting, the feeling of his lips finally on yours, all the tension finally reaching a climax. His tongue is damn near down your throat, swallowing down your moans as much as he could, his hands gripping your hips so hard, you wouldn't be surprised if it left a mark later (a small part of you hope he does).

It takes everything in your power to pull away, but the second you do, he moves to start licking at your neck, you can feel his canines run along a specific patch of skin that makes your legs weak. You place a hand on his chest, trying to gently push him away.and when that doesn't work, you bring your other hand up to run your fingers through his locks and tug him away.

The groan he lets out is downright sinful. He looks up at you, his expression as if he just fucked you within an inch of your life, his hair mussed, his lips glossy from your combined spit.

"Was that good enough?"

"Oh honey, you're lucky I don't take you right here. But I am a man of my word." He hums, licking his lips and letting out a snicker. With a shocking gentleness, he pecks your lips one last time.

"Wake up now."

"Rover! Rover! Are you okay?" Yangyang has your head on her lap, one of her palms on your forehead, feeling the warmth there.

All you can do is groan and bring a hand to your face, covering your cheeks.

"What'd he do to you in there?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴏᴏɴ!

[portraitofalinkonfyre]

Knightmare In Toronto

Chapter 1: First Meetings

Main Masterlist | Fic Masterlist | Next Chapter

You awoke to a scream.

Having just laid down for a midday nap after an arduous night shift, one can imagine the irritation you felt as you shot up from your place on the couch, grumbling groggily like an old person.

"I swear to fucking- Who the fuck are you?!"

That is, until you caught sight of the screamer: a short, medievally-dressed man who looked like he had accidentally wandered in from the Renaissance Faire or escaped from the jousting pits of the Medieval Times restaurant. A large sword sheathed in a blue scabbard hung from his back, which was why you scrambled up, grabbed a pillow, and brandished it at this medieval home invader. "Answer me!"

To his credit, the man raised his hands and backed away, his expression shocked and apprehensive. Good. "I- Ma'am- Where am I?!"

"What does it look like?" You snarled. "This is my house, dipshit!"

"There's got to be some misunderstanding," as he stammered an explanation, you took inventory of his increasingly odd outfit. His shirt-... tunic(?) looked like he had taken four pieces of different colored fabric and sewn them together, then slapped some brown tights and jester boots on and called it a day. He was also really short, no more than five foot two if you were being generous. "The portal never drops us in houses, always clearings or streams, but that was only once-"

What the fuck?

"Are you on drugs?"

The man blinked, looking at you like you'd grown a second head. "I can assure you I'm not-"

"Then why are you in my house?" You asked cautiously, lowering your pillow just a smidge. He didn't seem the type to chop you up and bury your bones, but one could never be too careful.

"Well, there's this portal-"

"Drugs."

"-No. But it usually drops us off outside," you watched apprehensively as he ran a hand through his stick-straight blonde hair, which was long enough that the only thing holding it back was the thick green bandana around his head. "Would you be so kind as to tell me what region we're in?"

...Region? This guy really was weird, but at least he hadn't tried anything funny with that sword of his. "Uh... Toronto."

It was almost funny how quickly the guy's face changed from inquisitive to downright baffled. "Excuse me, but I don't think I heard you right?"

As weird as having an intellectual conversation about location with a home intruder in your living room was, you couldn't say you were surprised; trouble always seemed to find you one way or another. "We're in Toronto," nothing. You pressed further. "You know, Canada."

"...What?"

The silence spoke volumes as you stared each other down, though you eventaully broke it with an exhausted sigh. "Listen, man, I'm just trying to get some sleep. I'll get you a map and you don't steal my throw blankets, deal?"

Without waiting for a response, you hightailed it to the kitchen of your two-story rambler and retrieved a map from the far cupboard. Your on-and-off job at a tourist company came with many perks, some of which being: yearly adventure passes to the 12-and-under under-the-sea theme park, Royal Ontario Museum tickets during the busiest time in touring season, and a full crate of maps that would never see the light of day.

Until now, that is.

The strange man was still in your living room when you sauntered back in, though he had turned his attention to your television, a box of an appliance you pilfered from a garage sale a few years back. He was poking it with a distinct air of confusion, which only cemented your belief that he was on some type of drug--it was almost like he had teleported here from the fucking medieval era instead of breaking in through your-... well, you didn't actually know where or how he had broken in, but you sure as hell would find out after this conundrum. You held out the map. "Here," you watched as he unfurled the thing, looking no less baffled than he had a minute ago. "I assume you can read?"

The man nodded, all traces of his earlier panic gone. "Thank you for your help. I'm Four.

"(Y/n)," you responded, half-wondering who on earth would name their kid that.

"Say, you wouldn't be able to tell me where the hero of this land is?"

"The... hero?" You echoed. "You mean the prime minister-?"

You would have put more thought into the depths of this insanity, but there was a loud crash in the kitchen that overwrote all desire to discretely call an ambulance for the poor guy. Four was hot on your heels as you rushed to the kitchen, having drawn his sword. "Watch the fuck where you're putting that," you tried to say, but a new voice shocked you into silence.

"Oww, Legend!" In the middle of your pristine floor was another blonde stranger, though he seemed no older than twelve or thirteen. A light blue tunic with gray sleeves hung down nearly to his knees, clothed in gaudy orange tights. Sky blue eyes turned to you and Four. "Where am I?"

Behind you, Four re-sheathed his sword. You breathed a sigh of relief, but it was for naught when the teenager practically sprung up to vigorously shake your hand. "Hi! I'm L- er, Wind! What's your name?"

You told him, feeling quite numb at his point.

"Cool name! You're so tall, I think you might be taller than Twilight and T..." you were already beginning to block him out, looking to Four for answers.

"I don't suppose you know anything about this?"

"I told you; portal," said Four, like that solved everything.

"I think I'm on drugs," you muttered, thinking back to that new Chinese restaurant you tried last night, at the same time Wind chimed in: "You told them?"

Four opened his mouth to respond, but you cut him off. "Okay, I don't know who or why you are, but you need to leave. Now."

"Aww," Wind pouted. "But you haven't met everyone!"

Not that you'd say it to his face, but you didn't think you wanted to. "I'll be fine. And so will you. I gave your... friend a map."

"Oh, alright," said Wind, if not a bit dejected. One of your heartstrings twinged. "Thank you."

"Anytime," you turned to Four. "You'll be fine?"

"Should be," he sighed. "We've been in these kinds of situations before."

Okay, now you felt a bit bad. Sure, they had broken into your house and scared the living daylights out of you, but it wasn't like they had been rude. Despite the impossible circumstances, Four and Wind seemed like decent guys who ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Wait," two sets of eyes turned to you. "...It would be cruel to make you leave without a bite to eat."

Both Four and Wind grin, and it's almost uncanny how similar they look. You offer a small smile, snag a small paper bag from the counter, and make a b-line for the middle cupboard, where a few packs of trail mix can be found. You shove all five in the bag, then add a few protein bars and tangerines for good measure. "Y'all don't have any food allergies, right?"

"Nope," says Four, right as Wind chimes: "Nu-uh!"

Cute, you think before you can stop yourself. "Good, hope you like tangerines and a whole lot of peanuts."

The brown paper crinkles as you fold it down, using a teal paperclip to secure it for good measure. You proudly hand the bag to Wind, who smiles like he just got his dream birthday present. Four nods to you, smiling in a far calmer manner. "We'll be going now, thanks for everything."

"Stay safe," is what you said, or, rather, what you would have said if the air above you hadn't inexplicably reformed in the form of a heavy object dropping down on you, knocking you to the ground as Wind's screams rang out. As you lay, prone and aching, on the unwashed floor, your last thought before unconsciousness was that you really needed to get rid of those maps.

That's a wrap! I hope you all enjoyed reading this as I did writing it, so be sure to reboot or leave a comment if you liked it!

All LU characters belong to JoJo!

[intotitties]

❃ A night to remember

pairing: Kit Tanthalos x reader

warnings: fem!reader, kit is a black cat around everyone but a golden retriever with jade and reader, no use of y/n, 18+ topics but no smut, js kissing, reader has seen Kit a few times but didn’t realise she was the princess before, her mother made her basically never leave the house and work indoors

song: “A night to remember” by beabadoobee and laufey

a/n: it was really fun to write, i hope you’ll enjoy:) if you want to request smh don’t afraid to! english is not my first language but i tried my best to find all the mistakes.

INFO

·*¨༺❃༻¨*·

·*¨༺❃༻¨*·

“I swear i have seen her before” Kit sighed as she swinged her sword in Jades direction.

“Yeah? So maybe you should go on a adventure, looking for a girl that you slept with in your dream” she replied sarcastically and repelled Kits attack.

“Oh spare me” she put her hands up, signalling end of the training, “i don’t even remember what she looked like” she groaned and put her sword to its scabbard.

“I don’t know, maybe you will see her again in your next dream” she laughed.

Dreams. Kit got many dreams in her life, but none of them could compete with that one she’s got a week ago. She’d never forget about that pretty girl underneath her white sheets, the soft kisses they shared and the night they spent.. she could remember every detail about that dream, the warmth, the scent of the other girl, the things she felt.. yet she still couldn’t remember her face.

·*¨༺❃༻¨*·

After the training Kit went straight to the dining room, where her mother was already waiting for her.

“Where is Airk?” said Sorsha as Kit sat down next to her.

“I’m here mother” Airk showed up before Kit could answer, sitting down next to his sister.

“Good, now if you let me” she said as she stood up, ��since you are getting married to the princess of Galladoorn” her gaze turned to Airk “there will be a party in two days, and i expect you two to show up” she announced.

Marrying a person you haven’t even seen before.. Kit gave her brother a look full of compassion. She didn’t even imagine what he must feel right now.

A weird feeling hit her when she noticed a girl talking with an older maid. Strange warmth filled her heart and a blush crept onto her face as she watched her every move.

“Kit?” Sorsha snapped her out of her trance, making Kit look at her.

“Sorry mother, i’m not hungry” she said as she stood up, when her eyes traveled back, the girl was done.

She ran to the older maid “Excuse me, do you know this girl you were talking with?” she asked politely.

What a stupid question.

“Oh, of course! She is my daughter” the old lady smiled “is there something wrong with her?” she asked worriedly.

“Oh no, no! My mother wants her to help with the food and everything at the party” she improvised, a nervous chuckle left her mouth.

The maid gave her a slightly suspicious look, because ber daughter wasn’t even working in the castle but before she could say anything, Kit was already on her way to Jades house.

·*¨༺❃༻¨*·

“Calm down!” annoyed moan left Jades mouth as she had to listen her best friend ask her about the same thing for the 10th time.

“What do i even do” she cried.

“Make her a bouquet, give her something yours, be creative!” Jade hit Kits shoulder.

“Will you help me?” she looked at her, almost begging for help.

It’s not that Kit was totally clueless about romantic stuff, she was just kinda inexperienced and lost in the feeling. She’s got some little crushes before, but never asked anyone out. She was too scared of rejection, but this time was different.

For the rest of the day Kit and Jade were looking for the perfect bouquet to impress the girl from her dream.

·*¨༺❃༻¨*·

The next day she was planning everything from the start of the party to the end. But i guess everything went to hell when she saw you in the crowd. The feeling of deja vu hit her when she took a longer look of your face.

Flowered blue dress with green corset made you look in her eyes like some goddess, making her even more nervous.

“She is so attractive” she mumbled into Jades shoulder, hiding her flushed face.

“Go talk to her” she answered.

Kit blew up every chance she got to talk to you, which annoyed Jade even more. She even brought her a drink to help her relax, but it didn’t seem to work. And this is how the past hour passed.

Eventually, Jade got mad and intervened. She dragged Kit to the dance floor, where you were talking with someone and pushed her at you, making it look like an accident.

“Oh i am so sorry! Are you okay?” Kit said, her voice trembling.

“Yeah.. yes i’m okay” you answered quietly.

After a longer moment of awkward silence she asked “Do you want to.. dance with me?” her hand waiting for you to grab it.

You nodded shyly and grabbed her hand, she guided you through the crowd to get more space to dance. Her hands rested on your waist as you slowly wrapped yours around her neck, making her slightly pull you closer.

You two swayed to the music “I feel like this happened before” you said quietly, smiling softly under your nose at how absurdly it sounded.

She wished she could see the smile of yours for the rest of her life.

“Well, it’s happening now” she looked into your eyes.

“Have i seen you before?” you said as you scanned her face.

“You don’t know me?” she asked in slight disbelief.

“Should i?” you replied with a nervous chuckle.

She took your hand again and led you through the hallway of the castle, you followed her without hesitation.

“Are you gonna tell me where are we going or i should start worrying that you want to kill me” you heard her quiet laugh at your words.

While the two of you were walking, a small but meaningful to you conversation started. Just about your hobbies, interests, nothing big but you two seemed like you’ve known each others for years.

After a longer while you could see a big garden with a lot of flowers and a big tree in the middle. It was dark outside so the only source of light came from the windows.

“We shouldn’t be there! The queen’s gonna be mad” you whispered, however she didn’t seem to care.

Kit sat down under the apple tree and signalled you to come closer “You look so pretty” she said as you stood in front of her.

A slight blush decorated your face. You sat down next to Kit, her hand brushing against yours “We are gonna get in trouble” you mumbled.

She sighed and looked you, you could notice her gaze on your lips “That might sound crazy but.. with you i feel like i belong somewhere” she said, looking at the cloudless sky “and i know we don’t really know each other but i would really like to get to know you better”

“Maybe it was meant to be like that” you grabbed her hand and looked at the sky as well, “you didn’t tell me your name” your face turned to hers.

“Kit, Kit Tanthalos” she said hesitantly.

The realisation hit you immediately, you were flirting with the princess! “this is so wrong, i shouldn’t be here” you stood up as fast as you could, but she was faster to grab your hand and keep you in place.

“There is nothing wrong with this! Please.. wait here for a minute, promise me” she said, begging you to stay.

You sighed loudly and sat down under the tree again, she disappeared immediately.

Kit couldn’t believe that she forgot the gift she got you. She was never running this fast, the risk of loosing you from her sight again was too high. She grabbed it quickly and ran back to the garden.

When she got back, you saw her with a big bouquet of jasmines, yellow roses and forget me nots that she was holding. Your mouth slightly opened as you watched her get closer.

“Where did you get that?” she sat next to you and gave you the flowers.

“Save those questions for later, i still have something to give you” she showed you a pretty ring “it’s amazonite” she put it on your ring finger and kissed your hand “i hope it will always remind you of me”

“It will, thank you.. but i don’t have anything to give you” you said, feeling genuinely sad “oh! wait” you said as you took off your necklace “it was my grandmas, it’s ruby stone” you kneeled behind her and put it on, she smiled at your gesture.

“Do you like your gift? It was really hard to get” she laughed under her nose.

“Why are you doing this?” you said quietly, she looked into your eyes again.

“Sometimes, people listen to their hearts and do things that they don’t really know why they are doing” she got closer to you, one of her hands traveled to your cheek.

“I guess they will figure it out” you whispered.

Her lips brushed against yours as you closed your eyes. She laid you down and kissed softly - as if she would hurt you if she kissed harder. You deepened the kiss and put your hand on her neck what gave her more confidence. The kiss got more comfortable as you two got lost in the moment. You could feel her smile between the kisses. Nothing else existed, it felt like you have experienced this before.

Maybe you did, in another universe?

taglist: @lxxk2sua @rin-idk @that-one-little-soybean @venusbequiet @vster0769 @cherryflavoured7777 @lightwhoranoutoflight

[thankshermin]

About the Scene Where Dazai Tells Akutagawa “You got stronger“

...and some rambling about their relationship, featuring a few lines about Kyouka and Mori at some point.

I think about that scene a lot and the fact that it is not talked about is really bugging me off so I need to get some things out of my chest,, let’s gooo 

CW: mentions of abuse

First of all, it is not equal to an apology. It simply is not. There is a high chance that Dazai probably didn’t even say it as an apology. He merely stated the fact that Akutagawa got stronger. What is more important about this scene is not what he said but rather how he said it.  

Dazai has changed and he is still changing for the better. The way he looks at Akutagawa and praises him in that soft tone is not how would Dazai express his thoughts to Akutagawa in the mafia.  

Now, for another matter about this scene; those words obviously meant a lot to Akutagawa but it doesn’t have to mean much, if anything, to him. 

Dazai doesn’t apologize to him. He doesn’t mention anything about his treatment to Akutagawa and doesn’t acknowledge it. We don’t know for sure if he truly doesn’t regret it or if he does feel ashamed about it and decides against saying something.

Why was Dazai even that awful to Akutagawa, anyway?

Well, obviously not because he takes sadistic pleasure from hurting Akutagawa. He believed that if he didn't, Akutagawa couldn't survive in the mafia. Akutagawa turned out to be the mafias one of the strongest attackers, due to this. Was it necessary? Of course not. He was very abusive towards Akutagawa. Is it an explanation? Yes, it is. That is what Dazai thought he was supposed to do, and since he didn't have any direct subordinates he mentored; we can't really compare but there is this conversation he had with Odasaku;

“Ah, Akutagawa is a sword without a scabbard.” Dazai smiles slightly. “It won’t be long before he becomes the mafia’s most powerful ability user. However, someone needs to teach him how to keep his blade.” I am startled. I have never heard Dazai praise his subordinates so unreservedly. “Is he really that outstanding?” “When I first saw him in the slums, I shuddered. His talent is far above that of others. His ability is extremely destructive, and he is fairly stubborn himself. If left ignored, he would be at the mercy of his ability. It wouldn’t be long until he self-destructs.” Dazai has never taken the initiative to take in a subordinate, much less a starving youth in the slums. But Dazai seems to have his own plans.

This makes me sad because Dazai never disliked Akutagawa or thought he was weak. He always thought Akutagawa would be strong. But the thing is, Akutagawa doesn't know that. Dazai never made it clear to him. Kind of a shame he was a shitty teacher most of the time. Makes me wonder why Mori never said anything about it to Dazai. I am curious about lots of things about Mori and Dazai's relationship, to be honest. Dazai was always messed up but Mori messed him to a further point, whether he meant it or not. Dazai was also really mentally unstable when he was still in the mafia and couldn't bother trying to be gentle. Dazai is still not healed but he is doing a lot better in the ADA.

Back to Dazai never saying anything about it, that behavior itself is very weak on Dazai’s end. He desperately tries to change but there are just some things that he still can not work on. One of them is this. He has unfinished businesses with many people and one of them is Akutagawa. Maybe he can’t bring himself to show that vulnerability towards him, maybe he truly doesn’t think what he did was something he should be apologizing for, maybe he thinks apologizing could make it worse instead of fixing it, etc. etc. I can still count.

But there is one thing and it’s that Dazai doesn’t go out of his comfort zone in his relationships. I am not saying that he would return back to his old tendencies in time since that goes against all of his character trying to find his place in a better world but I’m just saying that Dazai probably finds it more convenient to treat Akutagawa the way he always did and even that little “you’ve gotten stronger” was a milestone for him. 

Akutagawa really had the right to say fuck off to Dazai and his half-assed apology, he really did, but I believe that scene was as equally important on Dazai's end as it is on Akutagawa's side. It means something. It isn't supposed to fly over the viewers' heads.

Progress isn't linear and Dazai shows it in a very slow way. A lot of things get in his way. He sometimes struggles, but that's what makes it realistic. you know what they say; one step forward, two steps back.

What the larger part of the fandom refuses to understand is that Dazai is not on the polar end of something. He is very mixed in that part. He is not a pure angel and probably would be one of the worst people you could have ever met if he were a real person. But he is not the devil's respawn on Earth either. Most of y'all forget that he was a lost child who got guided by the worst possible person ever. (I really like Mori's character too but that's a different topic, he is still a terrible person) If he is trying to change and do better, I'm always going to be rooting for him.

There is this saying, you can't teach an old dog new tricks and I really want Dazai to prove this wrong. His words to Akutagawa were not his destination on this journey, it was more like a milestone.

Akutagawa is also showing development too and that is mostly thanks to Atsushi. I kind of doubt this but maybe Akutagawa understands the meaning of Dazai's words since he was also giving Kyouka a half-assed apology type of thing. Their situations are so similar that I don't need to say much about it.

Akutagawa has grown so much and he probably will continue to do that, but it doesn't erase his trauma, not really. Dazai really messed Akutagawa up. Even though it doesn't count as an apology, this shows that Akutagawa has come to terms with Dazai's abuse and his own treatment of Kyouka and he deserves a kudos for that. acknowledging that your mentor messed you up and also acknowledging that you traumatized someone takes an effort.

Akutagawa may have learned most of the cruel things he did from Dazai, but he has grown enough to realize that he is actually his own person.

Ending;

I like most bsd characters because of how real and how grey they are and the abuse circle/web is really well-written. I really do want to explore it better some other time. As I said, not everyone has the guts to come up to terms with the fact that they were abused, let alone that they were shitty to other people. Akutagawa and Dazai are really different characters on their own but their relationship shows that they truly are influenced by an upper power and even though they both individually have a long way to go, this scene of Dazai telling Akutagawa he got stronger does mean a lot than an interaction between them that lasted two seconds.

[shadowphoenixrider]

Locker Room Debriefing

(After Shadow finishes a Danger Room training session, she finds Gambit is waiting for her. And when Gambit gets an idea into his head, what starts as a simple discussion turns into something more...intimate. Enjoy some more smut!)

"Dat was some performance, chère!" Gambit greeted me as I entered the locker room, grinning widely and spreading his hands. "You gettin' better all de time!"

"Thank you." I smiled back at him, moving over to my own locker, aware of his gaze following me like a hawk. "You were right about getting a weapon to use; I'm really liking this sword." I unbuckled the scabbard of the short bastard sword from my brown leather belt around my waist, placing it inside. "I still can't discount the bow, though." The unstrung fibreglass bowstave leant on the other side of cabinet, a row of metal training arrows arranged alongside. "I've always liked archery, and it feels better if I stay outta the fray, you know?"

"Sure, can see that." Gambit nodded. "Jus' a coupla problems though: one, 'side from stabbin' people wit ya arrows, ya not got many options if someone gets close. Not like ya can hit dem with it without it breakin'." He shifted his position, pointing at my hands. "Two, de archer gloves you'll need remove ya ability to use ya powers. Least 'til you learn to heal us through fabric."

"And that doesn't seem like something I'm gonna be able to do for a while yet." I muttered, frowning down at my current black gloves. Beast had designed them specifically to grant protection whilst allowing me to lay my hands on those I needed to help - they covered my wrist and most of the back of my hand, with a loop to attach around my middle finger, but left the rest of my hand, especially my palm, exposed.

"'Sides." His voice made me glance back up. "Ya can't deny de thrill of jus' wailin' on somethin', non?" His midnight eyes twinkled knowingly. "You were goin' at dem drones like ya were when we be sparrin' in de forest, an' havin' a good time of it too!"

I chuckled, unbuckling my belt and dropping it into the locker.

"Okay, that's fair. It was very fun to just let loose and go to town." My gaze drifted to him, smile playing on my lips. "You still think of that night?"

"O' course." Gambit's warm smile made heat rise up into my face like steam, as he pushed off the wall and stepped towards me. "Gambit'd never forget."

"Neither can I." I admitted, giggling weakly. "Especially my terrible attempt at a first kiss..."

His deep chuckle was as genial as his smile.

"Found it very sweet, actually." He replied, my blush darkening.

"I'm glad."

It was a sweet moment...up until a devious glint entered Gambit's dark eyes, and they began to rove hungrily over me.

"Oh no, I know that look." I folded my arms. "What are you up to?"

"Gambit jus' thinkin'," he said casually, stepping closer with an intent that was anything but.

"Uh huh." I quirked an eyebrow up at him. "And what, dare I ask, is the Raging Cajun thinking?"

His red black eyes flicked away to the closed door for a moment, before returning to me.

"No-one's scheduled to be in de Danger Room for another hour or so, chère," he said, taking yet another step forwards. I stepped back and to the side, away from the lockers he was trying to trap me against. "And here ya be, in dat suit of yours." His grin stretched from ear to ear. "Gambit always wondered what ya look like under it."

I rolled my eyes, continuing to back up from his approach. Ever since I agreed with Professor Xavier that I would be training for missions proper, I had graduated from the spare black and yellow body-suits to something more personalised.

Although I'd stuck with the body-suit, mine had a broad blood red stripe running down the torso and inner thighs instead of the yellow, with the small black 'X' logo remaining against the red, just above my left breast. The look was partnered with shin high black leather combat boots and the custom designed gloves, along with a thick brown leather belt and two thigh pouches to make up for a lack of pockets. I'd left the thigh ones in the locker for this straight combat training session.

And ever since I'd first started wearing a suit for the training simulations, Gambit had seemingly never known peace.

"You've seen me naked, Cajun." I retorted. "It's not going to be any different!"

"Gambit gonna be de the judge of dat, mon amie..." He purred, just as my back hit a wall, and he caged me in with his tall frame. I sighed, giving him a Look as he smirked triumphantly down at me.

"You've been fantasising about this for a while, haven't you?" I raised an eyebrow at him. Gambit barked out a laugh.

"Guilty as charged, chère." His grin became playful. "Can ya blame Gambit, though?" He ran his hands down my sides. "You fill it out in all de right ways..."

"That explains why Rogue keeps turning heads." Was my comment, making him chuckle.

"Dat be one of de reasons, yeah. But we not talkin' 'bout her." Gambit's hands curled around the top of my hips, moving close enough that his heat and masculine scent washed over me from the inside of his coat. "Gambit only have eyes for one beautiful woman." He murmured, lowering his head to gently brush our foreheads together.

His black and red eyes (the same colours as my suit, I suddenly noted with amusement) gazed lovingly at me, despite the desire simmering behind them, and they searched mine for permission to enact whatever crazy plan was cooking in his head.

I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing our lips together in what started out as a chaste, gentle kiss. That rapidly changed as soon as Gambit's hands moved from my hips to my backside, cupping and squeezing, his tongue in my mouth as soon as I moaned. I melted against him as we reacquainted ourselves with one another, the hard lines of his cuirass be damned.

Not that Gambit lingered for long - soon he pulled back, leaving sloppy kisses to the corner of my mouth, then jaw, slowly working his way down. I rolled my head back, exposing my neck to the Cajun's eager mouth, kissing, nipping and occasionally dragging his tongue over my fluttering pulse.

That was until he reached the boundary of my suit, where he paused, fiddling with my collar for a moment.

"Ah, dere it is." He muttered, and when I looked down, I caught sight of a particularly wicked grin on his face.

"Gambit?" I asked, not quite sure if I was ready for whatever the answer would be.

"S'all good, chère." He replied, sliding a hand around to my back. "Jus' keep ya eyes on me, okay?"

"Sure..."

He flashed me another grin, before leaning in close to my collar, his tongue darting out to find and unearth the zip from its hiding place. It was only when Gambit clamped his teeth around it and our eyes met did I realize what he was about to do. He grinned widely, and winked.

Then he began to pull it down.

Gambit took his time, his eyes locked to mine, slowly but surely revealing the expanses of my pale, freckled skin to the cooler locker room air. The Cajun slid down my body with an almost serene grace, hands gliding down my sides even as the spandex parted. The zipper stopped mercifully just above my pubic bone - Gambit was already crouching before me, God help me if his face had gone any lower.

Although, from the utterly lascivious way he was gazing up at me, his hands curling around my ass and thighs, I was already in for a lot of trouble.

"Magnifique..." Gambit purred, nuzzling into the black shorts I wore specifically under the suit.

"Enjoying yourself down there?"

"Always, chère." Came his reply, his gaze homing in my underwear to the point I could almost see the gears turning behind his eyes, absently pulling his gloves off and dropping them to the floor. "Though maybe we could see 'bout gettin' you outta these too..."

"Ah, how about we don't do that." My hand came down on his head, gripping a tuft of his brunette hair warningly. "At least not here. Maybe in the showers a little later."

"Gonna hold ya to dat, mon amie." He grinned cheekily up at me.

"Of course you are, Cajun." I giggled, ruffling his hair affectionately.

"Now, let's see here..." He murmured, attention shifting back to his scheme.

Gambit began pressing feather-light kisses up my body as he worked up to my breasts, now bare calloused hands slipping under my suit to caress me. When he reached my sports bra, he carefully took the bottom between his teeth and tugged it up and over, exposing my breasts to his eager mouth and hands.

"Really taking the 'taking my clothes off with your teeth' to heart, I see." I teased, helping pull the bra up a little further to make sure it would stay in place.

"You say dat like it not gettin' ya hot under de collar too, chère." Gambit rumbled, tucking his head in the valley between them, pausing to enjoy my heart beating fast under his ear.

He pressed a kiss there, before wasting no more time, shifting his attentions to my breasts in earnest. I groaned, rolling my head back against the metal wall, letting my eyes flutter closed. With his mouth on one and a hand on the other, I let bliss wash over me, the world outside this room fluttering away.

Gambit crooned sweet nothings against my skin between his ministrations, swirling his tongue around my nipple before switching sides. I moaned softly, enjoying this soft yet sensual moment, heat pooling between my legs.

"Ohh, chérie..." He purred, very gently nipping at the soft skin, his other hand beginning to wander along my ribs and under my suit.

"Gambit..." I said softly, almost absent-mindedly. "Where's that hand going?"

"Patience, chère." He hummed. "You'll find out soon enough."

That hand slid down my back whilst he continued to play with my breasts, sneaking beneath my shorts to cup my ass. He squeezed it appreciatively, and revelled in my contented grunt. Much to my surprise, Gambit didn't linger there - his hand moved on, around my hip and-

Ah. I see.

I felt Gambit's devilish grin just as his fingers slid down and under me, a gasp escaping me as they brushed over that sensitive bundle of nerves there.

"Well well well," he crooned wickedly, "looks like you been enjoying dis every bit as much as Gambit." He leered up at me from between my breasts, lazily circling my clit with his fingertip, dipping occasionally towards my entrance.

I opened my mouth to retort, to justify myself...but nothing came out, only the rising hot realization that yes, I was just as much into this as he clearly was. His knowing grin only widened.

"Twat." I said instead.

"Hmm?" Gambit hummed. "Didn't quite hear dat, chère. Gonna have to speak up."

I narrowed my eyes, and opened my mouth to clearly enunciate what I thought of his shenanigans, but no sooner had the first syllable started to shape itself in my mouth, his finger connected firmly with my clit. I'm not quite sure what noise I exactly made, but it was definitely a moan of some description, quickly submerged by more as he rolled that bud under his fingertip. Pure bolts of pleasure shot through me, and curled tightly deep in my pelvis, lifting my hips.

"Ah, Gambit...!" I groaned, twisting my fingers more into his hair, tugging some free out of his headpiece. His laugh was pure, delicious evil as he rose up to standing, lips brushing against my ear.

"Dat's more like it, chérie." He purred, his deep voice like hot liquid gold that oozed down my spine. "Sing for Gambit..."

A part of me wanted to bite back, parry and riposte. But it was so hard to do that when Gambit started kissing my neck, still palming my petite breasts with one hand whilst the other continued teasing moans and other pleasured cries from me, coaxing my hips to rock with the motions.

"Really puttin' on a show for Gambit now, aren'tcha?" He murmured, fingers dancing close to my entrance, suggesting. Teasing. "Gambit can't wait to get ya in de showers, chère." He ground his own hips against me - despite his armour, I could feel his hard length straining for freedom. I shuddered with delight.

"Why not...now?" I managed breathlessly, through my pleasure-fogged mind.

"And leave mon ombre adrift?" He raised an eyebrow at me. "Non. Gambit gonna give her what she deserves first."

And with that, his fingers sunk into me - a groan of relief and euphoria rolled off my tongue, my back arching. As careful as always, Gambit paused to let me adapt, gently scissoring his fingers to stretch my walls.

Only when I tenderly rubbed his head did he begin his ministrations in earnest, stroking and pumping in and out of me, his other hand still playing with my breasts. I arched my back again, moaning luxuriously into his ear, making Gambit shiver with delight.

"Ohh, chérie...!" He breathed, grinding his hips against my own. I rolled mine to meet his, pressing against his arousal, and his groan was music to my ears.

Gambit rewarded me with a quick bite of my neck, revelling in my gasp and running his tongue over the now tender area.

That familiar hot coil was winding tight at the base of my spine again, the sheer onslaught of sensations and pleasure making my head spin. Only Gambit pressed against me kept me tethered to reality, to what he was doing to me. Where anyone could just walk in and see us...Or at least, the fact something was happening behind Gambit's large frame and trench-coat.

Tension began to build within me, starting from my pelvis and spreading through me, down my legs and up my chest.

"Remy," I gasped in his ear, "I'm nearly there! Please!"

"Bien sûr, chérie." He murmured in my ear. "Gambit's got you. Jus' relax. Let it take you." His voice became a whisper, a seductive temptation. "Come for Gambit, mon ombre."

The coil constricted, almost too much to bear. And then his thumb pressed hard into my clit, snapping the coil completely. Gambit kissed me quickly to catch my loud cry of ecstasy as pure pleasure roared through my body, lighting me up like a beacon as my powers flared, multiplying every sensation thrumming through me. A hard squeeze of my breast kept me from accidentally passing into Gambit's body, and his motions slowed, helping me ride through the aftershocks.

My knees started trembling with the effort of holding me up, and Gambit wrapped an arm around my waist, taking my weight against him whilst he whispered sweet praises in my ear.

"So gorgeous, ma chère. Always so beautiful when you come. Gambit so lucky to have you."

My eyes flickered open, offering him a dopey smile. His smile back was so fond and adoring I swore my heart did a somersault in my chest.

"So...everything you dreamed of?" I asked when words returned to me, stroking his hair. Gambit chuckled.

"Perfection, chère." He grinned as he slowly withdrew his fingers from me, holding them up to the light. "Looks like ya made a bit of a mess, mon amie..." He purred lowly. "Gonna have to clean you up."

I slapped a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back.

"You can do that in the showers." I said sternly, trying to straighten my back to my full height.

"Oui, madame!" Gambit replied cheerily, sweeping an arm under my legs to pick me up nigh effortlessly. "Let's continue dis dere."

I leant into his body and under his coat to hide my state of undress as he set off, uttering a long-suffering but affectionate sigh.

"What I am going to do with you, Cajun?"

He laughed, a beautiful throaty sound.

"Keep me close, chère?"

I smiled, tucking my head under his chin.

"Always."

[suckerforcate]

Dancing in the Dark

Pairing: Brienne of Tarth x Reader

Word Count: 1419

Warnings: none

Summary: You ask Brienne out for a dance. She doesn't take it very well.

A/n: So now that I've got that draft posted, I can start working on your request @pastanest!!

Yet again you sat on a rock just by the training ground. You were mesmerised by the way Brienne fought the men, by the way she held the sword and made the fighting look like a dance. It was a special dance, one that no one else could dance with such grace, with such beauty. You knew not many thought of Brienne as beautiful, because she didn’t fit the beauty standard of Westeros. She was taller than any woman you had ever laid eyes on, and she didn’t exactly stand for femininity. But that didn’t matter to you. The way you felt about her, it was something you had never felt before with anyone.

As you looked up from the book you were reading to look at her, you found her eyes already on you. She smiled at you, it was a smile most people probably wouldn’t understand as one. But you did, it was reserved just for you. You smiled back at her and suddenly felt enough courage to ask her what you had wanted to ask her for the last week.

You packed your book away and walked over to her.

“Brienne, do you have a moment?“ she looked up at you and put her sword back into her scabbard. You walked a few steps past her and turned around to look at her.

„Come, walk a bit with me.“ she followed you, and quietly you walked to your favourite tree. You had seen it grow since you were little, and slowly it became a big tree, that was a great source of shadow on a hot summer day. You stopped and leaned on the tree.

“How can I help you, my princess?” You smirked at her stubbornness. Whatever you did, she never called you by your name. It annoyed you, yes. But it was cute, so you didn’t mind.

“Your princess,”, you mocked her, “would like to ask you something.” Brienne nodded slightly.

“Have you heard about the dance my father is hosting?”

“Yes, I have heard of it. But I don’t plan to attend it.” You were sad to hear that, but were sure that you could change her mind.

“Why not?”

“I don’t have a partner for it and I know that no one wants me there.” It broke your heart to hear her say something like that.

“Well, I would want you there. Will you go to the dance with me?”

Brienne took a step back and her face suddenly changed from relaxed to pure discomfort. Her posture stiffened, and she looked down at you with shock in her face.

“(Y/n) I really thought you were different. I won’t fall for this, you’re just gonna stand me up.” With that Brienne turned around and left.

“Brienne, wait. I don’t…” she ignored you and honestly you didn't have the energy to follow after her. Your legs were much shorter and it would have taken all your energy.

——————————

It had been three days since you asked Brienne to the dance, the dance which was today. You had decided, much to your sisters despair, that you wouldn’t go. Brienne was the only one you would have gone with. If you went alone, all the princes your dad had invited would try to seduce you, and it would be unbearable. So, you just didn’t go. You stayed in your room the whole day, not wanting to meet your sister. Knowing that she would just try to get you to going to the dance, you could easily do without that conversation.

In the evening after everyone had left for the ball, and you felt that you could wander through the halls without meeting people all the time, you left your room. For about half an hour you just walked around until you sat down in the courtyard. It was a clear night and there were many stars in the sky. They probably formed all sorts of star signs, but that was your brother's speciality not yours. You were better with books and knew a lot about different flowers and their effects.

Suddenly someone sat down next to you, you hadn’t even heard them coming.

“You’re not at the dance, my lady.” You recognised the voice as Brienne’s. She had such a calm and soothing voice, you would recognise it everywhere. Normally it brought you comfort, but now it felt like a stab in the heart.

“No, I’m not.” Your voice was cold. Colder than you had wanted it to be.

“Why not, my lady? I assume there were plenty of suitors for you.” You looked at her and chuckled. But it was not out of amusement but rather out of disbelieve. She really didn’t get it. “Well, the only person I would have gone with said no. So I didn’t feel like going on my own.”

Brienne looked at you for a second, and then she looked into the stars again. Even if you were hurt and even a little pissed at her behaviour you had to admit that she looked beautiful in the moonlight. And the sight of her here, not in armour but simply in her most natural form, reminded you again why you had fallen in love with her.

"I'm sorry, that he did that to you."

"You really don't get it, do you?"

She looked at you, utterly confused.

"I don't think I can follow my lady."

"My god, Brienne. Stop calling me that. I've told you so many times."

You jumped up on your feet and just stared at Brienne for a second, not really knowing what you actually wanted to tell her now. The truth, yes. But she would never believe you.

“Ah, Brienne. I'm sick of this dancing around each other and ignoring each other. I’m very well aware of the fact that you will probably not believe a word of what I’m about to say. But I don’t know how to make you believe. So I’ll just spit it out. I’m in love with you. There, now you know it. This is most definitely not how I wanted to tell you, but I can’t do this anymore. You were the only person I would have attended the ball with and you let me standing under that tree like an idiot because you can’t believe that anyone could ever love you. I understand that you’ve been hurt in your life, many times. But I thought we trusted each other, enough for you to know that I would never joke about you like that. And I could have lived with you not wanting to go with me and ignoring me afterwards, if I knew that you didn’t like me. But you do. I know you do.” Brienne was blushing like an idiot and was quite happy for the darkness around her for covering it up a bit.

“How…”

“Oh come on, I’m not an Idiot. I see the way you look at me, the way you smile when I enter the room and the way your voice softens when you talk to me, the way you visibly relax, when around me.”

Brienne saw a lonely tear fall down your cheek. You had never seen her stand up and rush towards you so fast. She dried the tear and looked at you apologetic.

“I’m sorry I brought you so much hurt and sadness.”

“Oh stop, you have brought me so much more. So much joy, laughter, love and memories. I will always thank you for that. And even if you don’t see it. I see so much beauty in you. To me there is no one like you.”

“But you’re the princess, I’m a female knight, neither am I what people expect a knight to be like nor am I what people expect a lady to be like. No one would accept it.”

“You said it yourself. I’m a princess. I do whatever I want. Now, will you dance with me?”

You laid your arms around her neck and gently put your head on her breast. You melted in to her touch and let her lead you.

She placed a kiss on your hair and whispered something in your ear:

“I love you (Y/n).”

With a smile on your face you danced around the courtyard and didn’t stop until your feet started to hurt because of the heels. But even then you didn’t stop, you just took them off, making you even smaller next to Brienne, and kept on dancing in the dark.

[fuedalreesespieces]

inukag week - day 3: bickering

the yakuza boyfriend

read on ao3!

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He was what Eri had expected, but also not at all.  

The character called Inuyasha sat cross-legged in Kagome’s room, eying them all with suspicion. His shock of white hair was tied back in a soft blue bandana that contrasted strangely with the bright red clothes he wore. He’d answered their questions with curt responses that hardly surpassed a few syllables, staring at them like they were alien specimens all the while. His impatient yellow eyes darted back and forth between the girls, Kagome’s shaken form distributing tea around the room, and the window. 

So this is her boyfriend. Eri took a tentative sip of her tea. “So, Inuyasha...what school do you go to?” 

Before he could respond, Kagome cut in with, “He’s, um – a foreign exchange student! He goes to a school far away. In, um, Hokkaido.” 

“Oh, wow,” Yuka exclaimed. “That’s a four and a half hour train ride. What’re you doing here during the busy school year?” 

“I’m just helpin’ out her granddad.” 

“Aww,” Ayumi gushed. “That’s so sweet!” 

He blushed. “Uh...” 

Four and a half hour train ride? Exchange student? Eri gave Inuyasha a furtive glance. He hadn’t taken a single drink from his cup, and she noticed how long his nails were as they tapped restlessly on the ceramic rim. Sounds like a cover to me.   

In truth, while the other girls had mostly discarded of their previous yakuza notions, Eri still clung to them. There were too many items of contention that continued to make themselves known. She didn’t know a single school that would let him get away with that hair color and length (he’d claimed it was natural, but how could that be?) - nor those bright contacts, for that matter - unless there was an external factor at play.  

He even went by some sort of code name. Perhaps it was an indicator of rank? Regardless, she was certain that he was lying about at least one of his claims. Not that he had done much of the talking at all. 

She wouldn’t have cared so much if it weren’t for his dating Kagome. He seemed too nonchalant, and with all of the accusations Kagome had levied against him during their group WacDonald excursions, Eri was seeing two very different pictures. She just needed to make sure for certain that Kagome was happy and safe with him, and that he wouldn’t board the next four hour train to Sapporo the minute things got inconvenient.  

Before Eri could get on with the subtle questioning, Ayumi spoke up. After a few intervals of stagnant conversation with a frenzied Kagome, she shifted her starry gaze elsewhere. “Hey, Inuyasha?” 

Inuyasha kept that same puzzled expression, like he didn’t understand why she continued referring her attentions to him when there were three other people in the room to talk to. Any other guy might have been bashful, or even taken it up with stride, but Ayumi’s easygoing nature was lost on him.  

“Yeah?” 

“Why are you carrying a sword?” 

Eri paused, her eyebrows furrowing. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed before (well, she’d mostly been staring at his face) but there really was a sword strapped to his side. The scabbard was hidden by Inuyasha’s voluminous red sleeves, but from where she sat, it looked old and well-worn. 

Kagome choked on her tea when Inuyasha peered down at it. “’S my old man’s,” he confirmed. 

Eri's eyebrows arched. A sword passed down from father to son, huh? He was making this too easy for her.

Ayumi's voice broke through her train of thought. “Oh, like a prop or something?” 

“A prop?” he repeated. 

“You know, like in a play. Oh!” Her eyes glowed with recognition. “Is it the same prop you used during our school play? You know, when you brought out that super huge sword on Hojo?” 

“It’s called the Tessaiga,” he told them, and there was a twinkle of pride in his eyes. “Dunno why that Hojo kid was carrying around a wooden sword. As if it would do ‘im any good.” 

Eri could never forget that disastrous scene – Prince Pannacotta, Escargot Pudding, and what the crowd had dubbed the Sekihan Rogue. As much as she valued preparedness, Inuyasha’s unexpected intrusion had actually made the play so popular that they sold more tickets than any previous cultural festival the school had ever held. 

Yuka clasped her hands together. “Can we see it?” 

He grinned, pleased to get the opportunity. Before he could make a move, Kagome, who had been preparing to take another sip of her tea, said in the most irate tone imaginable: “Osuwari.” 

Immediately, Inuyasha crashed into the ground, hands flying into the air with ludicrous vigor. He held the position for an embarrassing moment, Kagome’s casual sips filling the otherwise pin drop silence, before sitting up and rubbing his chin fervently. Eri expected there to be a bruise, what with the speed and force he had dropped, but his skin was unblemished and he looked only mildly annoyed. 

“What’d you do that for?” 

“I know you weren’t about to demonstrate Tessaiga’s theatrical prowess in my room.” She lowered her teacup to the palm of her hand and gave him a chilling smile. “Right?” 

Like magic, the incredulous dip of Inuyasha’s mouth flattened into a shaky line. He almost looked nervous, but quickly pivoted so that only his forelocks were visible to Eri. Still, the blush on his face was evident, bright as his old fashioned clothes and just as misplaced on the tough-guy image she’d formed in her mind. Had he just bowed at a single word from Kagome’s lips?  

Furthermore, Eri couldn’t understand how Inuyasha could keep up with Kagome. That girl had the potential to be terrifying, but he matched her blow for blow when they argued - and sometimes won out with logic. The rest of the afternoon consisted of their bickering – something about twisted handlebars and broken pottery – but even when they fought, it was incredibly evident that the two were a couple. They cut into each other’s personal space like cars having a feud on the road. When another member of the group tried to steer them into vaguely peaceful territory, Kagome’s shoulders would brush against her boyfriend’s, and his head would tilt down against hers, holding her in place until an irrelevant detour in the conversation ignited their dormant arguments for the nth time. 

As the day drew to a close, Eri decided that she no longer quite saw him as the wayward caricature she’d envisioned – still a punk, though. He was dramatic (he probably just worked in theater) and blunt and the claws were still a questionable fashion choice, but she concluded he wasn't dangerous, at least to Kagome. She admitted that his occasional tenderness - from wrapping a solid arm around her shoulders to defending her from Yuka's obvious joking insults - had gotten to her. After everything that had transpired, she was convinced that Inuyasha’s involvement in the yakuza, or any gang for that matter, was next to none. That notion far too outlandish.  

She now had a new theory. Constant absences, unexplained sicknesses that never seemed to go away despite maintaining a sprightly disposition, and the ability to make someone like Inuyasha bow with a single word... 

(It was Kagome. Kagome was definitely part of the yakuza.)  

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

what i love most about swords, other than actual swords, is how (in english anyway) it's a constant reminder that ppl didnt always have widely distributed dictionaries or news papers or the internet where words were (unrealistically) expected to have a Specific Meaning rather than the way they've been used for most of history, which is loose as fuck depending who you ask and when, not even getting into using a general term for sword in one language for a very specific kind of sword in another bc of different traditions in what ye basic sword even looks like- result being you will cry if someone asks what a sabre / saber REALLY is, or a backsword, or a rapier, or a broadsword, or a town sword, or a falchion, bc a lot of the time the SAME SWORD was described using several of these words at the same time OR was just called "a sword with a curved / straight blade" bc literally all that mattered was that the specific person you were talking to in your time period and your area got the specific information they needed about this sword (single edged or double? what kind of scabbard will it need? are you gonna use it mostly with one hand or two?) so instead of trying to categorize swords by words ppl just mashed together as many words as needed to explain the sword and anyway to me that's queer culture but more importantly there are SO MANY EFFING SWORDS AND I WANT (almost) ALL OF THEM!!!!

[firstknightvulion]

Now, there is some discourse regarding Minthara and her romance. Specifically, that it feels out of character for her to romance a Masculine presenting Tav. I respectfully disagree.

Minthara is all about power. Ya gotta prove yourself to her. Be vicious and direct. She don’t give a hoot about your gender identity, she’s looking at your kill streak.

But it did give me an idea. Minthara has spoken about going back to Menzoberranzan and burning that fucker to the ground to spite Lolth (paraphrasing). My Seladrine Drow Tav (half Drow/half moon elf) would join her because he’s got a hate boner for the religion of Lolth that’s been turgent since his family and friends were killed by a Lolth Warband’s attack on his Eilistraeen compound.

Now, I imagine her first target would be her house. Minthara would want to twist the knife. Make them suffer.

Minthara’s Mother stands in the great hall of her house. Two of her daughters stand by her side. They are the last of their house. Hours before a shadow descended into their home and started systematically killing every living thing inside.

The great doors to the hall fly open with an explosion. Shrapnel and smoke fill the space. A heart beat later, two arrows fly through the air with deadly intent. They find their marks in the two daughters. One is hit through the eye, she drops instantly. The other is struck in the throat. She does not die quickly. She gurgles and grasps at her throat, feebly trying to stop the escaping blood. Her hands fall limp as the sound of deliberate footsteps fill the hall.

Minthara’s Mother looks away from her daughters’ corpses and up at the dark figure walking towards her. It is dressed in Drow leathers, a hood and mask covering the face. Two green eyes stare at her from shadow of the hood.

Minthara’s Mother: What pit spawned you!?

A chuckle is heard from behind the figure, a deep and dangerous sound. Minthara walks in, blood and a wicked smile painting her face.

Minthara: Hello, mother.

MM: Minthara?! You heretical traitor! Why haven’t you had the decency to die?!

Minthara: The Spider Bitch’s webs will burn, mother. The house Baenre will be the first of the kindling.

MM: You would have us become ash for the sake of such blasphemy?! Deeper and deeper you fall into a pit of shame!

Minthara: To feel shame, I would need to feel remorse. I assure you, mother, I feel only joy. The fact that you were cast down by one so low shall keep warm and smiling for many decades to come.

Minthara pulls back the figures hood. The scared face of Drow male greets her. His eyes a green and while sporting the dark skin of a Drow, it is very pale, almost ashen.

Minthara: This male is of the traitors that stole away to the surface to follow Eilistraee!

MM: How?! How were we defeated by such an inferior being?!

Minthara: Stealth is very broken in this game, mother.

Tav: Minthara! The fourth wall!

Minthara: He was conceived by a loving union that bridged the gap between Drow and our surface kin! In the missionary position!

MM: *gasps*

Tav: *giving Minthara a very confused look*

Minthara: He is not only a third son, he is a sixth son! You were beaten by a third son times two!

MM: *clutches her metaphorically pearls*

Tav: *is an only child but knows enough of Menzoberranzan culture to be slightly offended*

Minthara: He is my romantic partner! I treat him as an equal!

Tav, somehow, feels the sensation of someone vomiting in his thoughts.

MM: You disgust the Spider Queen! Next you’ll tell me you don’t even peg him!

Tav: No, she does.

Minthara: Mother, please. I’m a genocidal conqueror, I’m not debased.

Suddenly, Minthara pulls the sword out of the scabbard hanging from Tav’s back. Within a blink of an eye, it is driven through her mother’s chest. Minthara leaves it embedded in her mother’s body half the blade sticking out of her back. With a gasp, she falls over.

Minthara: *kneeling down to whisper in her mother’s ear* The blade is of Eilistraee. Fitting, don’t you think, mother?

Minthara stands, throwing her head back and raising her arms, as if soaking up sunlight. She begins to laugh.

Minthara: The first conquest is done.

She walks over to the Matriarch’s throne and sits down.

Minthara: Come, fuck me.

Tav: Now?

Minthara: What better time and place than this? My former house is ended, my mother dead-

Tav: She’s not dead.

Minthara: What?

Tav: Still gurgling.

Minthara: Oh, for the love of-she can’t be long for this world.

Tav: Do you want to wait? I don’t want to pull out the blade in case that kills her. I’ll be hearing about taking the honor of killing the mother for years after.

Minthara: No, I don’t want to wait!

Minthara quickly jogs over and pulls the sword out of her mother’s chest. She plunges it in again, hitting the ground underneath. With pure malice in her eyes, her mother reaches up to clutch Minthara’s leg.

Tav: Wow, she is resilient.

Minthara: Enough of this!

Ripping the sword out of her mother’s chest, Minthara makes a wild swing and cut the Drow’s head clean off. The pair watch it roll down the length of the hall. Before another snarky comment can leave his lips, Minthara’s mouth collides with his. They stand, kissing, amongst the skeleton of Minthara’s old home for several moments.

Minthara: Come, there is a duty to which you must attend.

Tav: You have a thing for thrones, don’t you?

Honestly, I should get an Ao3 account cause my posts are looking like fanfiction chapters.

This post was all to get to that line Minthara says about the sixth son. That and the 4th wall break.

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Could I request ROR humans of how they react when Fem!reader had 4 weapons that are ancient and elements and defeat the god opponent easily.

Katana of ice

Metal claw gloves of fire

Twin daggers of wind

Scythe of Lighting

-You were a bit unassuming compared to some of the other warriors for humanity, you didn’t look much like a warrior, despite the weapons you were carrying.

-A katana that as in an ice blue scabbard was on your right hip.

-A pair of clawed gloves that looked to be made of molten rock were attached to thigh straps, easily able to slip on and fight with.

-A twin pair of daggers that looked unassuming, they looked like a normal pair of daggers, that were tucked in the top of each of your boots.

-A large scythe across your back, the metal of the blade looked to be pure white of shining metal.

-You were a cheerful and polite person, not serious and cold like many of the warriors you had come across, but you had quickly become a ray of sunshine around the other human fighters who found you enjoyable to talk to.

-Kojiro was the one to notice your katana first, seeing the ice blue scabbard and hilt, a hum leaving him as he cupped his chin in his hand, “Hmmm, if I’m not mistaken Y/N-san, is that the fabeled Katana no Hyou?”

-You beamed, holding it up so he could hold it, trusting him and he was in awe, feeling the coldness of the blade as Jack spoke, “Is there an English version of the name for this blade?”

-You beamed brightly over at him, as he had given you some yummy tea, “The Katana of Ice! It’s a legendary weapon.”

-Raiden took the sword next, pulling the blade out just a bit, feeling the rush of cold air, “Amazing! How did you find it, Y/N?”

-You looked away, a bit embarrassed, scratching your cheek, “I actually… I fell down a hole and found it there while backpacking in Japan, around Kyoto.” They all looked amazed, hearing that you just found it.

-When it came to you fighting, your opponent was a master of weapons himself, taunting you until you pulled out your ice blade and slashed, sending a wave of icicles that nearly hit him.

-The gods were instantly in an uproar over the fact you held a legendary ancient weapon, and the fact that you could use it was proof that it saw you as it’s master.

-The gauntlets sent out waves of fire as you punched your fists together, chasing after your opponent, flames erupting with each hit, “HOW DID YOU GET THOSE?!”

-You dodged a swipe of his own sword, “I was roasting marshmallows by a volcano in Iceland and tripped over them!”

-You wind daggers nearly made your opponent become unglued as you sent sharp slices of wind, “The Twin Daggers of Wind?! Those were stolen from Valhalla back in the time of Ancient Greece!! How did you find those?”

-You gave a shrug, like it was no big deal, “Got them at a pawn shop in New York City, buy one get one free.”

-The gods were not amused, in an uproar over these lost treasures being in such a place.

-Your opponent brought out his bisento, twirling it easily before pointing the blade at you, “I will defeat you, human, and take back those weapons!!”

-You pulled out your scythe, spinning it around you neck, electricity crackling brightly and he immediately face palmed, exasperated that you had four legendary weapons, “How did you get that one?”

-You just grinned, leaping up with the scythe aimed to hit, “I won it in a poker match against some bikers in Australia!”

-Your swipe missed physically hitting him, but the stretch of your lightning instantly electrocuted your opponent and you were named the winner.

-You saw the other human fighters and you gave them peace signs, proving that you didn’t need to look like or even be a warrior to win a fight against the gods.

[normal-sea-urchin]

Casey Jones Fucking Dies: Chapter 7

whoo! chapter seven is done. here ya go @theosb0rnway @clanofjones @veritas-dolos anyways i hope you guys like it, sorry if the ending seems kinda rushed

Leonardo's katanas made a loud clanking sound against Raph's sai. The two were sparring together in the dojo, under the vigilant eye of Master Splinter. Mikey and Donnie watched from the sidelines, as they had already finished their sparring match. Leo swung his swords downward to release them from Raph's sai. Raph countered with a slash towards Leo's chest. The red-masked turtle lunged towards Leo, who then dodged the attack. Raph stumbled to regain his balance and whipped around to face Leo.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Raph saw something, shadowy? He glanced to the right, expecting to see something; but he didn't find anything other than the weapons organized neatly in the corner of the dojo.

He was so busy checking for something out of the corner of his vision, he almost missed Leo's frontal attack. 

Raph's attention snapped back to the sparring match as he blocked Leo's katanas.

"Do not lose your focus, Raphael." Splinter lectured. Raph held Leo's swords in a locked position. It wasn't long before the dark spots in the corners of Raph's eyes began to flood his vision. The turtle tried to blink them away, but it seemed to be failing. He could really only see a few pops of colors through the black and white flashes clouding his sight. He released Leo's swords from the position he had them trapped in and took a step back.

He squinted, still blinking a bit until eventually his vision came back. His brothers and father were all looking at him like he had just admitted to murder. 

"Raph, you okay?" Leo worried. his katanas were now in their scabbards, leaving his hands free to place one on Raph's shoulder. 

Raph's eyes still ached a bit and his legs felt weak; he could still stand on them of course, but they ached. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." Raph fibbed. He put his sai back into his belt, sensing that the match was clearly over. His father began to walk over to him, along with Mikey and Donnie. Raph prepared himself for a lecture from Splinter and a plethora of questions from his brothers.

"Are you feeling well my son?" the rat inquired. Leo moved out of the way, removing his hand from Raph's shoulder. 

"Hai Sensei, my vision got a little cloudy is all..." Raph got quieter as he spoke. He glanced to the right, hoping to avoid eye contact. He hated admitting weakness.

"Hmm, maybe it's iron deficiency. If someone doesn't get enough iron, it can cause vision problems." Donnie explained. Splinter hummed in response, one hand on his cane, and the other one stroking his beard. 

"Perhaps that is enough training for today. you may all go." Splinter dismissed. The turtles began to walk to the door. "Except, Raphael. I would like to talk to you." Raph stopped in his tracks. Shit. He slowly turned to face his father as his brothers walked past him, muttering and whispering about something.

"Come, sit with me." Splinter offered. He and Raph sat down on one of the many rugs that covered the dojo floor; across from each other. Raph could feel the tension of the room rising, or maybe it was just him. He hoped his face didn't reflect his thoughts. "What is troubling you, Raphael?" Splinter inquired.

"Nothing Sensei, I'm fine, really." Raph pleaded, hoping he could get off easy again.

"Just, worried about April..." he trailed off again.

"Hm," Splinter hummed. "one does not  acquire vision problems and inattentiveness through mourning a friend's loss. Even then, it has been several months since her friend's passing. I am sure April will be okay." Raph felt his father's gaze burn into his eyes. "Now, would you like to tell me what is truly bothering you?"

"I- It's just- Well-" Raph tried to explain or at least come up with some kind of half decent lie to tell his father. Could he really tell his father about what happened? Raph let out a deep sigh, bowing his head down. He had to tell his father or at least someone eventually. "You know how you always warn me not to let my anger get a hold of me?" 

"Yes." 

"Well- You see- It- I-" Raph tried to piece together the words needed to confess. He felt tears prick at the edge of his eyes. He felt a warm, fuzzy hand on his left shoulder. The turtle peered his head upwards to lock eyes with his father. 

"Raphael, did something happen?" he asked in a serious tone, but with a sympathetic look on his face. That simple question was enough to make start sobbing. The tears began to poor out as he lunged toward his father, wrapping his arms around him. 

"I'm- I'm sorry." Raph sobbed out, crying into his father's robe. "I'm sorry I'm sorry i'm sorry" he repeated. His father was silent, leaving the only sound in the room being Raph's sobbing. After a moment Raph felt his father's arms wrap around him. His crying slowed to a snivel as he turned to look up at his father. 

"My son," Splinter began, "what did you do?" his soft paws rubbed the last few tears off of Raph's cheeks. 

"I'm- I-" the turtle tried to piece together a sentence that would make some semblance of sense. "I killed-" he couldn't even get the words out of his mouth. But his father seemed to understand. The look on his face told raph that.

"You-" Splinter was now also trying to speak, only to trip over his words as well. "Hmm. my son, you do understand what you have done?" he asked. Raph only had the strength to respond with a nod. "And you understand why I always warned you not to let your anger blind you?" The turtle only hummed in response. The room was left silent for a while as Splinter thought of what to say.

"Do you... still love me?" Raph asked, his voice came out in a much smaller tone than he wanted. He turned his eyesight away from his father, knowing that no matter what he said, he would start crying again.

"What?" the tears began to prick at Raph's eyes again; he tired to blink to them back, hoping he could prevent another breakdown.

"Raphael." the rat spoke softly; Raph turned his eyes back to his father. The look on his face was enough for several tears to flow down his face.

"You are my son, Raphael. Nothing you do could ever make me not love you." Splinter assured. Raph jumped into Splinter's arms, letting his tears soak into his father's robes once more. A few minutes, or maybe just a few seconds; Raph couldn't tell. But after a period of time the turtle's tears ran dry, leaving his eyes red and cheeks red. 

"...You won't tell the others, right?" Raph asked. 

"Would you like me to, my son?" Splinter replied.

"...Please don't." he requested. Splinter hummed in response, which Raph assumed meant he wouldn't tell the others.

After further comforting Raph, Splinter let his go to his room. Upon leaving the dojo, Raph tried to avoid his brothers, not wanting them to see his tear stained cheeks. Leo was sitting directly in front of the TV, geeking out over Space Heroes. Raph assumed Donnie was in the lab, per usual. As for Mikey, he was nowhere to be seen. Just get to your room, Raph repeated in his mind. 

"Hey Raph!" a familiar voice cheered from behind Raph. Mikey. Shit. "What did Splinter want to talk to you about dude?" Mikey questioned. Raph turned slightly, just enough to see where Mikey was. He was holding a bowl of popcorn, presumably for cartoons. Raph shot a glare at Mikey and growled, hoping that would signal Mikey to leave him alone. 

And it seemed to worked. Raph stomped off to his room without hearing another word out of Mikey. The turtle slammed the door shut behind him and sunk into his mattress. after rearranging himself into a more comfortable position, he let himself fall into the comfort of sleep. 

                _______________________

He woke up about an hour, maybe an hour and a half later. He rolled over to face the wall his bed was pushed against. He really didn't want to get up, but unfortunately his body didn't want to seem to fall back to sleep. So, he forced himself up and out of bed and decided to rinse his face off.

Upon making it to the bathroom, he closed the door behind him. Before turning the water on, Raph stared at himself in the mirror for a while. Or rather, he stared at the mirror itself. He thought back to when he had first seen Casey's apparition. That wouldn't happen again, right? It was a one time thing. It would be fine, Raph thought to himself as he turned the water in. But before he splashed the water into his face, he glanced up at the mirror one last time, just in case. All clear.

Raph splashed the cold water into his face, waking him up. With water still in his eyes, he blindly reached for the towel. He felt around for it a bit before grabbing it and bringing it to his face. He rubbed the water dry, leaving his face moisturized. His eyes fluttered open, blinking the water out of his eyes. 

Oh no. Not again. 

The haunting skeletal face stared at him from the other side of the mirror, wherever that was. Raph was left speechless. Although he now knew for a fact he was being haunted, he still struggled to really come to terms with it. 

His breath grew heavier and faster the longer they maintained eye contact. Casey's cold, whited out eyes stared into Raph's. Raph stared deeper into the ghost's eyes, which had seemed to lure him into a trance of some kind. He was so far gone into this trance, that he didn't notice the specter's arms moving. 

Raph felt his head hit something hard.

                _______________________

"Huh... Where?" Raph mumbled. His eyes fluttered open. What the hell happened? The last thing he remembered was going to the bathroom to wash his face, and this sure as hell wasn't the bathroom, or anywhere in the lair. This was...

Shit.

Shit shit shit shit. Shit.

He was back in the alleyway. The same one as about a month and a half ago. The same one that he had dreamed about earlier that week. the memory of how he had gotten here came flooding back. He was washing his face in the bathroom when. When Casey's face appeared in the mirror again. He recalled him getting pulled into the mirror. 

At least, that's what he thinks happened. It was all fairly blurry. The clank of a tin can hitting the concrete several feet away from Raph snapped him out of him memories. He whipped around to find a mouse skittering back into the shadows. Raph let out a sigh of relief. Just a mouse; it's only a mouse. 

"Boo!" an all too familiar voice spoke into Raph's ear from behind him, making him jump. He turned around to find the infamous Casey Jones, an off-putting grin on his face. Raph reached to unsheathe his sai from his belt, only to find that they weren't there. He glanced down at his belt and then back to Casey. His breath grew fast and heavy.

"What's the matter? Missing something?" the ghost asked, pulling something out from behind his back. He revealed Raph's sai, one in each hand. Raph took a step back, and then another one, wary of whatever the apparition was planning. 

"What's wrong? Scared?" Casey asked, the cruelty seeping into his voice as he set the sai ablaze with his bare hands. "Whoops." he taunted through gritted teeth. 

Raph let out a scared whine. He stared at the ashes of his sai. Casey had destroyed with them with such ease. All he had to do was wave a finger and Raph's only weapons were reduced to cinders. His vision snapped back to Casey when he took a step towards him. 

"Aw, come on! I just wanna talk." Casey explained in a cocky tone. Raph wanted to yell, he wanted to scream at the ghost to get away. And he would've if fear hadn't taken his voice. His body was paralyzed in place as well, meaning all Raph could do was watch as Casey approached him. 

"Y'know," Casey stopped in front of the turtle, "I think we got off on the wrong foot, Raph." He put emphasis on Raph's name. He stuck his hand out, clearly expecting a handshake. The turtle was hesitant to shake Casey's hand. He didn't trust him, but he also feared what would happen to him if he didn't; he glanced back to the ashes that used to be his sai. Raph, who now had control over his body (kinda, he was shaking a lot) reached his hand to meet Casey's. they shook hands, and Raph glanced up to look at the ghost. 

His eyes were closed and he was...smiling? His now toothy smile stretched across his face as his eyes opened to squint down at Raph. The specter adjusted their hands so that they were locked in an arm wrestling position. Casey pulled Raph up and over his head. Once Raph was in the air, Casey got a better grip on him and slammed him into the pavement behind him. 

"Ughh..." Raph groaned. His shell took the worst of the hit. Now on his back, Raph tilted his head to face Casey.

"Oh come on," Casey began, a white portal with a green halo appearing behind him, "You didn't actually think i would forgive you, right?" He was right. Raph didn't expect that Casey would forgive him, but... a part of him had hoped he would. Maybe then could Raph tell his brothers what he did. The turtle turned over, now on his hands and knees, just in time to watch Casey walk through the portal. 

And with that, everything went black.

When Raph awoke, he saw that he was in the bathroom again. Damn, how much time had it been? He picked himself up from the floor, placing a hand on the wall for balance. His head was spinning and it took him a moment to gather himself; after he had, he turned to look at the mirror, hoping he wouldn't see Casey again.

He didn't have a reflection.

There was no reflection in the mirror. Raph stood in shock. He placed his hands on the mirror, only to find that he himself was translucent. 

"Wha- Huh-" he remarked, bringing his hands in front of his eyes. Through his arms, Raph saw into the mirror; there was someone using the counter to push themselves up.

Holy shit.

Raph's eyes, now whited out, peered into his own. Raph's body moved seemingly on its own accord. Only he was now watching it move in the third person. An all too familiar smile appeared on his face, accompanied by an all too familiar voice. 

"What's wrong Raph?" Casey's words cut into Raph like a knife. "Sorry, but this body's taken." He taunted. Despite having taken a moment, Raph finally understood.

Casey was possessing Raph's body, and using him like a puppet. Meaning Raph was now trapped in the mirror. Meaning Raph was now a ghost. 

[oddlydrawnpuppets]

HEY YALL IM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING YOU EARLIER BUT

The chapter is almost finished I SWEAR I’m SO SORRY it a been taking so long but yk Christmas happened then new years and I got super sick AND on top of that I work a full time job it’s just been so much. SO as an apology I wanted to give you guys a sneak-peek of what to expect from this chapterl!

Excerpt from Turning Shadows into shapes

Chapter 2, Embrace the Unknown

Tim made his way up the staircase and went to Damian’s room. He found that the brat had left his door open, and he peeked his head inside, looking for traps. Damian was at his desk, sharpening and carefully inspecting one of the many swords that he usually hung on his walls.

“What do you want, Drake? Surely you did not come to my room just to stand in the doorway.” Damian called out, still sharpening his blade.

“Are you busy right now? I wanted to ask a favor.”

“Does it look like I’m busy, Drake?” He cleaned and oiled the blade, cut his thumb purposefully and put it back in its scabbard before hanging it back on the wall.

“Um, yes?”

“Good to know your eyes are working. Now leave my room.” He grabbed another sword from the wall and unsheathed it, glaring at Tim.

“It’s important, there are unknown metas in Gotham, it could be trouble.” Tim called the brats bluff, keeping half of himself in Damian’s room. There’s no way he would stab him… again… right?

“Last chance Drake, I have not yet cleaned this blade, so I have no qualms with dirtying it. Leave.” He pointed the blade threateningly at Tim, unblinking. Okay so maybe he wasn’t bluffing. He needed to get Damian interested in this fast, or else this was going to be like when the brat first showed up all over again.

“You know, I thought one of them was one of your clones at first, he looked exactly like you.” That caught the brats attention. He lowered his blade slightly as Tim continued. “I think he’s somewhere around your age too, only reason I knew he definitely wasn’t you is because was he was smiling, oh and his eyes were blue.”

If Tim blinked, he wouldn’t have been able to see how quickly Damian sheathed his blade. Something he said had caught the demon brats attention, and he wasn’t going to question it as long as all his blood stayed on the inside.

“What do you want me to do Drake?” Tim took that as permission to enter the room, ignoring the glare that was still pointed in his direction.

“I’m directing a debrief on the situation, as I have the most information on the two of them. I haven’t been able to get any photos of their faces, though, and I know you’re an artist, so I was thinking you could maybe help me out?” The question hung in the air for what seemed like forever, Damian glaring at Tim, and Tim ready to book it if things go wrong.

“Your share of Alfred’s cookies. For a month.” That… wasn’t too unreasonable, especially for the brat. Something was up.

“That’s it?” The question was met with silence. Everyone would kill for Alfred’s cookies, including Tim, but if he could get Damian to actually work with him on something, maybe the cookies were worth it. “Deal.”

[yellowcry]

As long as I'm here

Luisa jumped on her feet, realizing that she was nowhere to be found. Caught in a middle of a woods. The only person around her is Mirabel And why does she act so odd?

It's an au union fic.

Luisa's from Pedro and Alma swap au

Mirabel's from Fracture Au by @miracles-and-butterflies

Luisa blinked several times, the place was unfamiliar. She jumped on her feet a second later, looking around frantically. The place seemed unknown, huge trees were towering over her. It didn't seem like jungles, the greenery wasn't thick enough, but it looked like some forest foreland. Luisa narrowed her eyes, gazing all over the place  Her hand instinctively grabbed the hilt, dragging the cold sword out of its scabbard just in case.

Mirabel starled from her place on the ground, but her face didn't change. "Luisa, you can not carry this thing around, it is dangerous." 

The older girl blinked, her sister's voice was completely bland, devoid of any emotions.  Luisa had no idea how to react to this. On one hand, it was important to stay collected in case of possible danger. But this? Luisa knew everything about hiding her emotions, but Mirabel acted like she didn't have them at all.

Luisa took a deep breath, calming down her jumping senses. "Are you alright?" They both stared in an awkward silence for a while. Luisa had to admit that her hermanita was able to hide her emotions extremely well, to a worrying extent. "Mirabel?" She reasked, her tone got to be colder, the same way Abuelo usually did. 

"I am fine," Mirabel replied in the same monotone voice she had before. "And you should return this sword to where you bought it. You can cause harm by accident." 

Luisa winced, she knew that weapons can be dangerous, but with how many years she had been training, she was entirely sure there would be no problems. "I've learned to fight for years, I know perfectly well how to handle this." She muttered, more to herself than to Mirabel.

Mirabel blinked, looking up at Luisa, for a moment her eyes flinched, before the same nothingness returned to them. "I am sorry, I did not know that."

Maybe, hiding Luisa's abilities would be useful, the enemy wouldn't expect her to be as good as she is, giving her a huge advantage, but she was pretty shocked with how good Mirabel was in pretending. If Luisa didn't know better, she would assume that Mira really had no idea.

Luisa sighed. "Stay close. We'll check if anyone else is here." Or, rather, it would be Luisa to check, Mirabel would just stay in front of Luisa.

Mirabel kept staring into her soul. "There is no one except us around." The older girl just shook her head, she trusted Mirabel, of course, but they had to be careful. Considering that they had no idea how they came in here there were endless possibilities of what was going on all around them.

Luisa had to admit that Mirabel was right, her sister was always really smart and observant, still, she was in awe of how the younger girl was able to have a correct answer immediately. They were walking in an unknown direction, according to the sun it was north. 

—

A hard, awkward silence hung over them. Mirabel was usually the one to start chatting, lowering the tension. But currently, she was unnaturally quiet, even moving like a ghost, almost inaudible. It was making the situation harder, not like there was anything wrong with staying quiet, but Luisa had to watch over Mirabel all the time to make sure she was safe and also keep alert about their surroundings.

"Do you know how we ended up in here?" Luisa asked unsurely, trying to break this strange suffocating hush.

Mirabel didn't answer and it only made Luisa worried a little bit more. It wasn't a normal behavior for her, and the lack of an explanation made it look extremely bad. But interrogating Mirabel right now was a bad idea as they could be spied on at the very same moment.

"How's been school?" Luisa sighed, changing the topic to something else.

"It has been okay." Mirabel nodded, still devoid of any emotions.

"Is there anything interesting in general?" Luisa asked, getting closer to Mirabel, throwing a shadow over her head. "Just something you want to share."

"No, there is not," Mirabel replied blankly. Something was definitely wrong.

Luisa sighed, tightening her belt. "Are you upset because I've been busy lately?" The younger girl just shook her head saying that she wasn't. And it wasn't like anything new. Luisa has been spending most of her time training since she was five. Still, she knew that Mirabel didn't act like this. Did something bad happen? Why didn't Luisa notice it before?

"You are worried." Luisa winced at her sister's emotionless question. Was it that noticeable? Abuelo would be so disappointed if he found out. She inhaled through her gritted teeth, forcing a calmer expression. 

"Thanks for telling me." Luisa nodded. Mirabel's eyes shifted to her side for a second. 

They kept walking, both didn't talk much. Luisa was busy keeping track of their surroundings and also making sure Mirabel was close. The younger girl just seemed not to be in a mood to talk. Luisa could respect that, besides, it wasn't a good time for chatting, they could actually be in danger right now. They did speak occasionally, but it was some brief talk. 

The wind rushed across the area. It wasn't a real problem for Luisa as her hair was never out of her bun unless she was sleeping. Mirabel's hair, however, fluttered in the breeze, the younger girl cowered from the cold air. Luisa could give her her coat. It would be obviously too big, but Mirabel needed to stay warm. But, as the wind pushed Mirabel's hair to the side, just for a brief second, her neck got open. Luisa froze, seeing bits of pink-colored skin. Her years of trainings didn't come only as an ability to handle different kinds of a cold weapon and strategy on a battlefield. She knew something about medicine too.

"Mirabel, stay still." She ordered, grabbing her sister's shoulder. Mirabel flinched, feeling a strong grip on her body, Luisa could swear she did inhale sharply.

"Lui-" Mirabel's voice was cut off as Luisa gently pushed her hair from its place and lowered the collar of her shirt, freezing dead.

Luisa's breathing started to shake in terror as she saw tons of deep cuts all over her neck, pink, faded white, big and small. Some of them were still fresh, unhealed; some were old and turned into scars.  

"Who did this?" Luisa whispered, as she finally managed to suppress her terror. She did not doubt that there were more injuries under the shirt

"It is nothing..." Mirabel gasped as Luisa turned her around, forcing her younger sister to face her.

"Mirabel Rojas Madrigal," Luisa said strictly, she probably sounded like Abuelo when he demanded an answer on something. "Who did this to you?" And, as far as Luisa knew, Mirabel wasn't allowed to leave Casita without accompaniment. Had someone from the family done this?

Mirabel flinched, before looking at Luisa with begging eyes. "It was my fault, I was getting emotional and deserved a punishment." Luisa felt her blood running cold, Did Mirabel really assume that anything could justify this?

Luisa's mind was running wild, how did this happen? Who would even...

She froze. The words 'I was getting emotional' had finally got into her head. In their family, Luisa knew only one person who demanded her to stay calm and not show her emotions to everyone. Because emotions would make her more vulnerable.

"Did Abuelo..." She cut herself off, not willing to finish this sentence.

Abuelo, who had always said that Luisa should protect this family, that somebody could die if she would let her emotions take the best of her, had harmed Mirabel. All this time her grandfather was the one from whom Luisa should have protected the others.

The girl's coldness broke for a moment, she stepped back. "It was to make me better."

Luisa's fist clenched. "He was saying that I was supposed to protect everyone from harm since the day I got my gift," She hissed under her breath. She knew it wasn't the time, but she was too pissed off, too hurt and betrayed right now.

Mirabel was startled, looking up at Luisa. "Do you have a gift?"

The latter winced in surprise. "Why are you asking this?" This question made zero sense.

"You are not my Luisa..." Mirabel clarified, calm and emotionless again.

She blinked in surprise "What?"

"You have a gift, you do not act like she is nor look the same way." 

Luisa felt her mind getting ready to blow up. She had to admit that this Mirabel also didn't act like hers. "Okay..." Luisa sighed in exhaustion. "Did your Abuelo hurt you?" She asked unsurely, kneeling in front of Mirabel. This situation was really bizarre.

"As I said, it was my fault." Mirabel's voice sounded as if she was reading a fact from an encyclopedia. A second later some strange realization appeared in her eyes, but her face stayed expressionless. "Did he hurt you?"

Luisa gasped, shaking her head rapidly. "Gosh, no."

Mirabel blinked, clarifying. "But Abuelo was your first guess."

"He's just..." Luisa closed her eyes, trying to find the right words. "My Abuelo scolded me when I was getting emotional, but he never harmed me." 

What would happen if he did? Would Luisa turn out to be like this Mirabel? Bland and emotionless?

If she ever met this other Abuelo, he would be dead.

Mirabel nodded. "This proves it was my fault."

"No, no!" Luisa interrupted her quickly. "Your Abuelo had no right to harm you."

"He would not do this if I was good enough."

Something in Luisa's heart shattered. "Mira, it doesn't excuse him. No one can do this to anyone."

"Yours Abuelo did not harm you. You are definitely better than I am."

Luisa thought for a moment, before asking. "What would you say if he did harm me?" Mirabel blinked and looked away wordlessly. "Would you think it was my fault?"

The younger girl did not answer.

"What about the rest of the family?" Luisa finally asked, breaking the silence. Mirabel's gaze shifted back to her.

"They are scared of me. I can not feel." Her voice and face stayed expressionless, but the deep pain was visible in her eyes. "I did not have relationships with anyone for years."

Luisa's face got pale in terror. Was it why Abuelo managed to abuse her? No one had actually contact with Mirabel. She took (not) her sister's hand gently, but let go immediately as she felt more injuries, not wanting to make it worse. "I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve this." Mirabel had opened her mouth, probably to disagree again, but Luisa interrupted her before she could even start to speak. "No, Pedro had no right to do this. No matter what he was saying." Mirabel blinked, still staring at her with a blank face. Luisa wanted nothing more than to squeeze this girl in a hug. But she didn't want to unintentionally touch any of the slashes under her clothes. "Do you want a hug?" She asked unsurely.

Mirabel just shook her head. "No, thank you." Luisa gently patted her forearm. "What about you?" Luisa winced at the question. "You said that yours Abuelo scolded you for emotions as well."

The older girl pursed her lips, staring at the ground. "I can't let my emotions control me if there's a danger. Somebody could get harmed if I am distracted," Thinking about it, saying to a five-year-old that someone could die because of her was a messed up thing as well. 

"I do not think it works like this," Mirabel admitted, clutching her skirt, "Surely there are a lot more people who can help in case of emergency.

Luisa was about to disagree, saying that she was the strongest and very resilient before she realized how much she would sound like this Mirabel. "I think we have something in common." She sighed

Mirabel sat next to her, leaning her side against Luisa without saying a word, before admitting. "You were good at hiding your emotions." Maybe it was why Mirabel had opened up so easily, it made her more comfortable.

Luisa wrapped her arm around Mirabel gently. "I love you, Mira," Mirabel's eyes flinched away. "You don't have to say it back, you just needed to hear this."

"I'm sure your Mirabel loves you too." She finally whispered under some silence. 

[veryace-ficrecs]

Merlin Magic Reveal Fic Recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

Prioritizing is a Thing, Merlin, Look it Up~ by Merlioske - Rated M

Gaius has a Paper Door and is Far Too Loud for someone with Secrets to keep. or Merlin you /idiot/ Privacy Wards maybe??? or Magical beasts don't die from steel and Arthur finally Gets a Clue.

Wanted: One Merlin. Big Ears. Memory of King Arthur Optional. by watchriverdale - Rated T

Merlin had been having quite a good day, actually, until some bloke calling himself King Arthur turned up and tried to get him to run away with him.

A Tapestry of Scars by psychotic_fangirl369 - Rated G

“It’s okay,” he said, although it really, really wasn’t. “I’m okay. Look, all I’ve got is a scar!” And he lifted his shirt up to show Arthur the new scar from todays death.

That was the wrong thing to do. Arthur paled and reached out, yanking Merlin’s shirt over his head and tossing it aside.

“Hey!” Merlin grumbled, but shut up the instant Arthur’s fingers were on his chest.

“So many,” Arthur murmured. “Merlin, there are so many.”

“So many what?”

“Scars.”

Or, the one where Merlin is immortal and Arthur finds out.

Branded for Gold by arcturus7 - Rated M

Years of calling Merlin the idiot, it turns out it is him that is the idiot. Not just any idiot. An absolute buffoon. An useless, oblivious, tunic. Heck, even a tunic is more observant than he is.

OR

Merlin's a badass mf, as always. Arthur is impossibly in love (he doesn't know it yet). They take down a few bandits. More than just a few.

You Know What They Say by DragonflyonBreak - Rated G

Nothing good ever comes from eavesdropping. Or, that one time Leon and Gwaine decided to commit treason.

Unexpected meetings by dreaminreality - Not Rated

When Merlin, Arthur and the knights decided to go for a hunt they didn't expect to be attacked, or to run in to the Dragon Arthur is sure he was supposed to have killed.

all oak and iron bound by numinousnumbat - Rated M

Some of those born with magic are repelled by iron. Merlin wished he knew how much iron there was in Camelot before he started his new life there.

In A Name by StarlightInHerEyes22 - Rated G

In the middle of some quest or another, Merlin, Arthur and the knights find themselves stuck in the middle of a shrine being told that, if they wish to proceed unharmed, they need only speak their true names and titles. Straight-forward enough, right? Wrong. Merlin really hates the Old Religion sometimes.

They Can Only Cut Your Head Off Once by Drag0nst0rm - Rated G

In hindsight, handing the exhausted Arthur his breakfast before announcing, "I need you to cut my head off," was possibly not the best way to introduce the subject.

Into Thin Air by foxy_mulder - Rated T

Merlin has fulfilled his destiny. Albion is united and magic is restored to the land- but nothing in the prophecies had mentioned what to do afterward. Merlin's old roles are suddenly filled by people more competent than him, and there is no need for him any longer.

 

So Merlin disappears.

Where the Lost Things Go by EmrysOfStorybrooke - Rated G

When one started receiving lost items from their soulmate, it was supposed to be an exciting day. It was an opportunity to learn things about them and about their life. People loved making speculations about who their soulmate was based on the clothes, childhood toys, or other things that their soulmate lost, and therefore ended up in their possession. Everything was going fine until Merlin found a crown belonging to the prince of Camelot.

Hot Water by LadyAJ_13 - Rated G

Leon shuffles, a move so unlike him that Arthur is immediately concerned. “It's about Merlin, sire.” He wonders what he's done now. Something stupid no doubt, insulted a noblewoman or broken something valuable. A day in the stocks might be required to make the aggrieved party happy. But then, that's not unusual enough for his most capable knight to be fiddling with his sword scabbard. “I believe he has magic.”

Would You Let Me Die by Noel803 - Rated M

What if Arthur was awake when Merlin reveals his magic to Uther’s ghost? Plus a few other minor changes to turn this scene into the hurt/comfort I desire.

Five lessons on how to not kill your best friend by injeong - Rated T

In which Arthur Pendragon gets kidnapped by a strange mystical being who decides that the best way for him to learn about the things he doesn't know is to send him to five different alternate futures in which his past self had made the wrong choices. Arthur gets a sneak peak preview of what could happen if he messes up majorly, ends up discovering more than a few things about himself and Merlin, and has to make a choice on everything he's ever known. aka Five alternate futures in which Merlin is not having a good time (due to alternate-future Arthur) and present-Arthur decides that he is not letting that happen, ever

Strange Lights by Noel803 - Rated M

Throughout Arthur's life a strange blue light has seemed to always save him when he needs it the most. All Arthur wants is to find out who is behind this little helpful light so he can thank them. The pieces finally start to come together when he gets a new manservant.

[topaz-witch-tea]

ok so like

me again :D

imagine yx taking care of yanqing and teaching him forgery (yq is like 10 - 12)

thats it thats all

i dont have any brain juice anymore - paimon

This is adorable!!! I love getting asks so feel free to send them in. I'm sadder that work has taken so much time out of my day that I wasn't able to respond sooner.🥺

I know you meant forging but the idea of Yingxing teaching Yanqing how a good sword is made so he won't get duped by a counterfeit in the market stuck to me. I also don't know much about forging so this was born from the little research I did. I hope you like it. If you want more regarding this, please feel free to send me an ask!

Yingxing has always banned Yanqing from the forge due to the fact that it was dangerous. Molten metal, and sharp tools, all are just accidents waiting to happen. Even in the Artisanship Commission, Yanqing is only allowed in Yingxing's office, the man cannot bear the thought of his child wandering around and getting attacked by an automaton.

However, as Yanqing got older, his allowance which would go to candy and snacks was now going to swords and scabbards. In the Xianzhou Alliance, swords and spears were preferred over guns as personal weapons. Part of it came from durability and aesthetics, but the other part was due to it being more useful as it did not need to be reloaded. But the high demand also brewed a strong market for counterfeit items which Yingxing had a strong distaste for. There was no way to ensure a weapon was high quality without knowing the artisan and the basic nature of blade-making and Yingxing could never allow Yanqing to be near a poorly made weapon. Which is why, for the first time in his son's 10 years of life, he was allowed in the forge.

Yanqing watched carefully from the bench as his father hammered the heated stick of metal flat, sparks flying with each contact.

"Now look here Yanqing, this is one of the most important steps in making a sword. During this process, both sides must be perfectly even and the point must be blunt. An uneven blade and a dull point are signs of a poor sword and an even more incompetent artisan for allowing such a thing to be sold. Don't ever buy swords from incompetent artisans and merchants. If they are unable to spot a quality sword, then there is no point looking at any of their wares." Yingxing stated very strictly.

"I understand." Yanqing nodded. He's sure that if he ever brought home such a poorly made sword, his Baba would walk straight back to the market and give the artisan an earful.

Yingxing then moved the cooled blade back into the forge and repeated the process 3 more times before sanding the edges smooth. He placed the blade back in the forge again, watching the blade turn bright orange and yellow before dunking it in oil. The sword sizzled upon contact with the liquid and steam erupted from the basin.

"This is to strengthen the metal. Doing this step improperly means a weak and brittle sword. This steel is from the furnace aboard the Zhuming and has very special properties. You can tell from the lines in the metal and the way it glows that the steel was properly quenched. If you don't see these, the sword is either a fake or poorly made."

Yanqing peered at the stellar blade his father made. The lines in the metal were smooth and evenly spaced and when held up to the light it produced an iridescent glow around it. "When I get better at the sword, will you make me one?" His voice brimming with excitement at the thought of weilding one of his father's blades.

Yingxing smiled at him and patted him on the head. "Of course, I look forward to making you as many blades as you wish."

Yingxing awaited the day he could make Yanqing a sword. He had tons of drawings made and a list of the finest materials saved for his son's first real sword. His child would only have the best swords, blades worthy of being compared to Starfall Reverie and Cloud-Piercer.

I hope you like it!❤️