#guh good lord yes

[akuaya-eng]

(Main story) Chapter 6 - Episode 1

- INDIVIDUAL INTENTIONS -

Mere

Records of fallen angels…? The prince really desires something unusual.

Dia

I know it's here. All the records of the ages since this world began.

Mere

Hehe. Who knows. In any case, such records cannot be shown to outsiders. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Dia, but…

Dia

It seems you're mistaken. I'm not here with expectations. Show me the records of the fallen angels. That's an order.

Mere

Oh dear. Those who dwell in the Holy Land do not obey orders from anyone… Tell me, Dia. Why do you, a devil, take the risk of wanting to know about fallen angels? Entering the Holy Land should not be easy for a devil… Isn't it suffocating even now?

Dia

You're too full of yourself, Mere. This level of barrier is nothing to me… Why do I want to know about fallen angels? A meaningless question to buy some time. You have an idea, don't you? It's related to the truth about the calamity.

Kai

The truth about the calamity…

Tis

Is he talking about the one Dih caused?

Mere

An idea… I wonder what you're talking about.

Dia

… Even now you feign ignorance. There's no choice then. (charges energy) --I'll take it by force.

Kai & Tis

…!

Mere

Oh my. I would prefer if you leave peacefully… Kai, Tis. You understand.

Kai

Y-yes, Mr. Mere.

Tis

Isn't there another way? Well, okay…

Kai

Here he comes, Tis!

Dia

--Ha! (attacks)

Kai

(gets in front of Mere with Tis) Gah…!

Tis

Kai! Are you okay!?

Dia

Move aside, Kai, Tis. I only need Mere.

Tis

Hey, Dih, wait a second! (receives an attack) …! Geez! This isn't fun at all!

Kai

It's useless, Tis. Dia is serious. We have to face him seriously too… It's tough, but we have no choice… I'm sorry, Dia! (attacks)

Dia

(blocks) …You're finally getting serious. You weren't just a baby relying on your mother.

Tis

Now that you came all the way to the Holy Land, I wanted to play a different game… Haa! (attacks)

Dia

(blocks) Did you think you found an opening? Hah! (attacks)

Tis

Gah! Dih, you big dummy. I won't bring you any nice antiques anymore!

Kai

This isn't the time for that…

Mere

Wonderful, Kai, Tis. It seems your daily training is paying off. Your reaction speed has improved significantly. Next, focus on increasing the power of each strike.

Tis

Mere! Stop being so relaxed and do something!

Mere

If I step in immediately, it would hinder everyone's growth, don't you think? For Kai, Tis, and Dia too. This opportunity should contribute to the growth of each of your souls.

Dia

(charges) ………

Kai

Mere, it's dangerous!

Dia

---- ……! (attacks)

Kai & Tis

Waaah!

Mere

(blocks) ………

Tis

Oww~… Dih, you're strong…

Kai

Tis, are you hurt?

Tis

In a certain way…

Kai

Good. Mere, are you alright?

Mere

Yes, of course. As expected, Dia. Your magical power is truly remarkable.

Dia

You blocked that with a barrier. I'll commend you, Mere.

Mere

Hehe, being praised makes me happy no matter how old I get. It's a shame, but let's end this now. Ha…!

Dia

(gets restrained) …Guh… My body… won't move…!

Mere

I didn't want to do something like this. But it can't be helped since Mere's children are at their limit.

Dia

…Let me go…!

Mere

Just a little patience. I'll release you once you calm down. Until then--

Espada

--I will not allow you to touch my master!

Dia

…!

Espada

Haaah! (sword strike)

Dia

(restraints disappear) …! Espada, why are you here…

Espada

Lord Dia, are you safe? I have been searching for you.

Dia

If you came here, then… Adder and the others must be involved. Something must have happened over there too… Let's go. There's no time to chat leisurely.

Espada

Understood.

Mere

It's quite a busy day for visitors. Welcome, Espada. Why not relax in the Holy Land? Your master Dia also seems tired.

Espada

Don't be silly. You will pay for your disrespect towards Lord Dia.

Mere

Please don't say that. Now then--

??? (Vanis)

… You're as insidious and persistent as ever.

Mere

Wrath! You've come again. Mere is very, very happy.

Vanis

Dia, Espada. I've arranged for our escape.

Espada

Vanis…!? Why are you here…

Vanis

We'll talk later. Let's hurry before it gets worse.

Mere

I was just about to invite everyone for tea. How about you, Wrath?

Vanis

You're acting all relaxed, but inside you're frustrated, right? Sorry, but this time, you lose, Mere. It'd be a good time to hold a reflection meeting with the angels.

Mere

Wrath, you're talking so much…! Did something good happen? Ah, today is a very good day. I'd love to hear all about it over tea.

Vanis

… Tch. Persistent as ever. Ha! (restrains the three angels)

Kai

… Huh? My body… won't move…

Tis

Mr. Mere~! What is this~!?

Mere

Oh my, I can't believe you used this kind of magic… It's a bit inefficient to buy some time, isn't it?

Vanis

Enough. Dia, Espada, now's the time. (walks away)

----------

Vanis

The teleportation magic circle is set up in this room. Ready?

Dia

… Wait, I hear something.

Espada

This is… the sound of a piano.

Vanis

That must be... Mere's favorite piano. It plays music even without a player, just like its owner, always showing off.

Dia

It's near the teleportation magic circle. We need to purify it quickly, we have no time.

Espada

Leave it to me, Lord Dia.

Vanis

Let's get this done quickly.

[akunekoblog]

Lato Bacca Initial Butler Story — Chapter One: Ugly But Clinging to Life

This is google translated!

One night

- Devil’s Palace Entrance -

Flure: Hey Lato~ where are you?

Muu: That’s Flure. Are you looking for Lato?

What’s wrong with Flure?

Flure: Lord. It’s already night, but I can’t see Lato.

Muu: Isn’t Mr. Lato here?

Flure: Yeah. I looked around the mansion, but he’s nowhere to be found.

Flure: He must have escaped from the mansion again when I took my eyes off him.

Muu: I see. Mr. Lato is a free-spirited person.

Flure: Haa... Lato is strong, so he doesn't have to worry about being attacked by people and animals.

Flure: But if a strong angel appears, even Lato might be in danger...

Muu: Hehe.

Flure: What are you laughing at, Muu?

Muu: Mr. Flure is cold to Mr. Lato. You tend to have an attitude.

Muu: Yet, you’re really worried about Mr. Lato.

Flure: Hmm... not really...

Flure: With this, even if Lato gets injured, he’s getting what he deserved.

Flure: As a butler on the same floor, I have the duty to monitor Lato.

Muu: Yeah, yeah. You're not honest.

Flure: Muu. Do you want to make me angry?

Let's go find Lato together.

Flure: No, I can't let the Lord do such a thing…

Creek

Lato: I'm home.

Flure: Lato!

Muu: Mr. Lato!

Lato: Oh? Lord, what are you doing in a place like this?

Choices

I was going to look for you.

I was worried about you.

Lato: Me? Why on earth?

Flure: Lato. You’ve escaped from the mansion without permission again.

Flure: You are…

Lato: Sorry, sorry. Don't be so angry, Flure.

Lato: Today, I went for a walk to the front of the northern land. Say, it's getting late.

Muu: The northern land famous for its extreme cold...?

Lato: I was in a good mood today... Before I knew it, I had walked that far.

Flure: I'm feeling good... yet it would be still dangerous to go such a far place.

Flure: What were you going to do if something happened?

Lato: I'm sorry for making you worry, Flure.

Lato: Hehe. But I'm happy as an older brother to know that Flure is worried about me.

Flure: That's why I've told you many times that I'm not your younger brother.

Muu: I feel that no matter what I say to Mr. Lato, it will not resonate with him.

That’s because he’s at his own pace.

Lato: Huh, Flure. Don't get angry anymore.

Lato: That's right. Can I fix your mood with this souvenir?

Flure: A souvenir?

Flure: What the hell!? Is that an animal!?

A white fox?

Lato: I found it on my way home from the forest.

Lato: It's probably the child of a white fox. It seems that it’s leg is broken.

Flure: No way... I feel sorry for it...

Muu: Did you bring it back to take care of it?

Lato: Yes? That can be true.

Lato: I thought we could use it for tonight's ingredients, so I brought it back.

Muu: What!? Are you going to eat it?

Lato: ...Well, I won’t eat it. I'm not interested in meat.

Lato: But Flure likes soft meat. Right?

Flure: That's... It's a poor thing no matter what.

Lato: Poor thing...? Why on earth?

Lato: This baby fox will only die in agony and exhaustion even if it stays in nature.

Lato: Then, it's better for this child to be killed so that it doesn't suffer.

Lato: Rather, I think I'm doing a good thing.

Flure: But…

Lato: Hmm. It is incomprehensible to me.

Lato: We eat cows and pigs, so why is this fox so pitiful?

Lato: This child is also an animal made of the same meat.

Flure: Lato, you shouldn't say such things in front of your master.

Lato: …I don't know.

Lato: Please take a good look at Flure as well. The state of this child...

Lato: It probably hasn’t eaten or drank anything in a long time and it’s breathing is shallow.

Lato: Look, it can already move on it’s own...

White Fox: Krk!

Guh..!

Lato: That's...

Flure: Lato…!

Muu: The fox bit Mr. Lato!

Choices

Are you okay?

Blood from his hand….

Lato: Lord, I'm fine. Don't worry.

Lato: Wow~. Even if you’re so weak, you’ll still try to live..?

Muu: Mr. Lato, are you angry...?

Flure: Lato…! Don't be upset...!

Lato: …

Lato: Kufufu. I’ve changed my mind.

Lato: I'll take care of this child.

Muu: What!?

Choices?

Why suddenly?

You’ll nurse it?

Lato: Apparently, this baby fox still wants to live.

Lato: He stood up to me even though he couldn't win with such a small body.

Lato: I struggled to survive.

Lato: I was interested in that ugly yet beautiful way of life you know.

Lato: That's why I’ve decided to make use of it. Respect the child's wishes...

Muu: What are you talking about?

Flure: Haa……. Also, something I don't understand...

Lato: Kufufu. When this little fox gets well...

Lato: I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of attack he will make on me this time.

Muu: Don't say scary things Lato!

Lato: Now… I’ll take you to Mr. Lucas first. Shall we go?

Tap… tap… tap…

Flure: Ah, wait a minute! Lato!

Muu: Talking with Mr. Lato sometimes scares me.

I can’t predict what he’ll do…

chapter end

[four-loose-screws]

FE7 Novelization Translation - Chapter 8 Section 4

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

Chapter 8: Noble Lady of Caelin (Section 4)

Darin was inside the throne room of Castle Caelin when he heard of General Bauker's death in battle. The news was so shocking to him that he froze where he stood.

"I-Impossible… even Bauker?" When they seized Castle Caelin, Darin thought that his obstructed path to becoming king of Lycia was open once more. He knew it couldn't be anyone other than Eliwood who was standing in his way again.

Hausen, currently being held as Darin’s prisoner, broke Darin out of his trance.

"Lord Darin! If they've already come this far, then we must give up. It would be meaningless to resist any further… You can never be forgiven for what you have done, but there is still time… If you confess everything to Eliwood, he will intervene with Marquess Ostia, and chances are, nothing bad will happen to you.”

"So I… lost…?" Darin’s shoulders fell, and he hung his head. Hearing Hausen’s words made him realize that he’d been forced into a situation from which he could never turn back. With his mask of greed and ambition cast off, he was little more than a coward who cared for nothing more than his own safety. His emotions were continuing to lead him to his inevitable downfall.

“Eliwood and his allies should be here any minute now. I’ll put in a good word for you…” Hausen continued on, attempting further to persuade Darin. Though he did not think highly of him, Darin was still another marquess of the Lycian League. If he continued to persuade Darin about the situation he was currently in, then Darin would give in. That was what Hausen thought, and why he was so persistent in his attempts.

But those thoughts were cut short when his body was suddenly assailed by a sharp pain.

"Guh… gaaaah…!!!” The pain felt as if his heart was being crushed in someone’s hand. He screamed and collapsed on the floor. Blood spurted out of his mouth.

A man wearing a black robe looked down at Hausen, writhing in pain at his feet, and a cold smile crept across his face. It was his magic that had caused the piercing pain within Hausen’s body.

“How troublesome. Marquess Laus doesn’t need you putting such foolishness into his head.”

“L-Lord Ephidel!?”

“No matter what may happen, at this point, you can never turn back. Marquess Santarus… and now even Marquess Caelin, have fallen at your hand.”

“What?! You’re the one that inflicted the final blows, are you not?! Th-This isn’t what I wanted!”

“Oh, really? Even though… I did it all for your sake?”

“You… set me up?” Darin trembled in fear. Everything he had done so far was not of his own will, but that of the ominous man in front of him. That thought consumed him.

Ephidel’s eyes, staring at him from underneath his low hood, glittered in a way that unsettled him.

“Nonsense. I am following my lord’s wishes and trying to fulfill your ambitions to become the king of a unified Lycia… and then one day the king who rules this entire continent… Isn’t that right?”

Darin hesitated for a long moment. “...Yes. And to achieve that, some sacrifices will be unavoidable. Right?” His goal to become the ruler of this world, just as Ephidel had told him he would be… To the disheartened Darin, that was all he needed to think about to be taken captive once again.

That got Darin’s attention, just like Ephidel thought it would. A thin smile spread across his face. “That’s right. …While most things have not gone according to plan, so long as my lord has his power… we cannot lose. Now, we shall flee before those pesky worms arrive. Please leave behind the soldiers you took with you from Laus. We will use them to slow down our enemy.”

“Leave behind… all of my soldiers? Then who… will protect me?”

“So long as you have the Black Fang, we will be enough. You no longer need anything or anyone else.”

“A-Ah, yes, understood. Now… where are we going next?”

“To the ‘Dragon’s Gate…’ That is where our lord is. According to his message, the man we took hostage recently… if all goes well, we may be able to complete the ceremony with him alone.”

“Oh! Really? Then I no longer have any reason to worry, do I?”

“That is correct. Please go ahead without me. I have a few orders to give, then I will follow right after you.” Darin had already fallen completely into his clutches. His every word held a grip on the marquess’ heart so tight that he could not escape.

Just as Ephidel said to, Darin took a small guard with him, then left. 

Ephidel saw Darin off, then called in a young woman. “...What a foolish man. Leila, are you there?”

“Yes, I am.” A woman appeared behind him without a sound.  She wore a dark yellow cape and had red hair that was cut short. Only her bangs were long, and covered half of her sharp, beautiful face. Her one visible cat-like eye stared directly at Ephidel.

“While Eliwood is fighting his enemies in the castle, kill Marquess Caelin and hide the body. That will slow them down even further…”

“As you wish.” She said to him obediently.

Ephidel turned around to look at her with his golden eyes and said, “...You still had a lot to learn the day you joined the Black Fang. But your skills have improved significantly… There is a lot of promise in your future work.”

☆

A dimly lit prison is a world that exists in the shadows, cut off from the outside, where only the resentment-filled voices of the criminals can be heard, and only the eyes of the guards monitoring them shine. …Or so was the standard impression one would get from a prison, but the situation of this prison in Caelin was a little different.

Currently, because the Laus Army was occupying the castle and Eliwood’s unit was fighting them to retake the castle, there were few people to spare to pay any attention to the prisoners locked up inside the prison. Only two soldiers were guarding it, and they were preoccupied with their worries of the future and what would happen to them.

As they talked, they mentioned that Marquess Ostia’s younger brother was participating in the fight, causing one of the prisoners to stand up. He was the mercenary Raven. At Hausen’s order, he'd stayed behind and fought as long as he could to allow Lyn to escape, then had no other option but to be taken hostage alongside his retainer Lucius.

“Hey, get me out of here.”

“Wh-What did you say?” The guards were shocked by this brazen demand made by one of the men who was supposed to be their captive.

“You said Marquess Ostia’s brother is among the enemy army, right? I’ll help you take him down. …I have a grudge against Ostia.”

The moment the red-haired mercenary said those words, the golden-haired monk inside the jail cell with him shouted, “Y-You mustn't, Lord Raven! You cannot betray Marquess Caelin’s kindness…”

“Silence, Lucius!” Raven refused to hear Lucius’ words, instead pressing the guards further for their response. “C’mon, hurry up! They’re on their way here, aren’t they?”

"D-Don't be stupid! You're working for Marquess Caelin, ain't ya?! There's no way I'm gonna believe you!"

"...Then I'll just break open the door and take you both down to get out of here. And you took Lucius as a hostage, but now he's on this side…"

"Grr…" The strength of this mercenary… was painful just to think about. If the Laus army had not taken a hostage, these two soldiers might not even still. There was nothing more assuring right now than him becoming their ally.

But as mere low-level soldiers, they hesitated to decide whether or not it was wise to make their own decisions. Lucius used their hesitation as an opening to try and persuade Raven once more.

"Lord Raven, please reconsider!"

"You talk too much. I told you to be quiet." Raven would not hear a word of Lucius', instead continuing his conversation even further with the guards, "I don't want to fight any pointless battles, but… What would you like to do?"

"...A-Alright, fine! Get out! But if you do anything strange, then assume your companion is already dead!" The battle was currently raging. He and his partner would probably be forgiven for making this decision. He wasn't being pressured by the mercenary's brute force at all. Or so the soldier who opened the cell door told himself as he did so.

"P-Please wait! It'll be dangerous on your own!!" Lucius begged Raven one more time.

"Lucius, be quiet and wait here. …I'll come back for you."

"Lord Raven!!" Lucius clung to the cell door, now once again locked up tight, and continued to call out to his lord, who was only walking further and further away. 

Raven did not look back.

ー

Eliwood and his allies finally began to storm the castle. Kent and Sain had been entrusted to be the vanguard, as they were fired up to save their lord. They charged straight ahead into the castle to begin the battle.

"Sain! We will save Lord Hausen ourselves!"

"You said it, partner! We must show off our best sides here, so all the ladies in our army will swoon over Sain of Caelin!"

Sain said, in character as always, while Kent endured a headache while bringing down the enemy in front of him.

"Sain, you fool… how could you be thinking entirely about women when your marquess and fellow soldiers are being held captive?!"

"Th-That's not only what I'm thinking about at all! Of course saving Hausen is my top priority! "

Their conversation sounded no different from any they would have had a year ago, making Erk laugh. "You two haven't changed a bit!"

"Oh, Erk, you are acquainted with these two gentlemen from Caelin?" Priscilla, who was behind Erk, said.

Then, before Erk could respond, Sain answered, "Yes, he is, oh gentle Lady Priscilla! We fought as allies in Lyndis' Legion during the battle for Caelin’s throne one year ago! Of course, it needs not be said that I, Sain, played a large role in obtaining vict-"

"Wow, Sain, looks like you've got energy to spare!"

"L-Lady Lyndis!" Like a frog being pursued by a snake, Sain shrunk back, then panicked and turned towards the enemy soldiers. 

Kent followed after him with a bow.

"My goodness, some things never change." Lyn said with a sigh.

Erk laughed. "But it really is fun to think back on our memories from one year ago. Now that I think about it, just about everyone from our mercenary group is here, aren’t they?"

Erk was right. Lyn's Legion and the allies they'd been with through thick and thin were almost all together again. "Now all we need is Lucius and Rath for Lyn's Legion to be complete once more."

"Yes… I hope we can see them again soon." Though her grandfather had hired Lucius alongside Raven, Lyn had yet to see him face-to-face.

Lyn closed her eyes and pictured their faces in her mind. The kind face of the monk Lucius, and the face of the nomad Rath, man of few words… Both of them made her feel nostalgic for their days together that she now missed dearly.

"Alright, this is no time to be lounging about!" Lyn said, then opened her eyes and rushed further inside the castle.

☆

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Kicho's Main Story

Episode 0

What was Kicho thinking and doing before he met you?

Man dressed in black: "You're Nobunaga's vassal! Prepare yourself!"

Klink!

Kicho: "Guh!"

Kicho swiftly dodged the attacker's blows as soon as he saw him and picked up a nearby sword.

Kicho: "Back off. I have no intention of dying in a place like this."

Man dressed in black: "What are y―"

Kicho quickly adjusted his stance and slashed at the man with the same force.

His style of swordsmanship was rough and overwhelmingly fast, leading to a quick victory.

Swoosh!

Man dressed in black: "Guh!"

With a splatter of blood, the man dressed in black collapsed to the floor.

Kicho: "Well then."

As he shook off the blood dripping on the blade, he looked back and saw that the owner of this sword had already died.

(This guy must be Nobunaga's vassal.)

(And the one who attacked me thought I was also Nobunaga's vassal.)

The realization came to him as he felt the burning heat on his skin that this building, though engulfed in flames, was familiar to him.

Kicho: "No doubt. This is the Honnoji Incident of 1582."

------------------------------------------------

(I've made it this far.)

Kicho: *sigh*

Leaning against a tree, Kicho took a deep breath.

The reason he had been feeling sick earlier was not due to the countless battles he went through to get out of Honnoji Temple but something else.

He clucked his tongue at the memory burning in his mind.

(Just remembering it makes me sick.)

(But as long as I have this memory, I'll never lose my way.)

He turned around and looked up at the black smoke rising into the sky, seemingly burning away the stars in the night sky.

Upon seeing the unending strife in this turbulent world, he narrowed his hazel-green eyes.

(Tonight, Nobunaga will die in defeat, and Japan will once again enter a new era of change.)

(And then―)

Kicho: "I need to move quickly."

One month later―

Kicho: "Nobunaga is alive?"

Kicho's subordinate 1: "Yes, I have solid proof."

(You mean some force has changed history?)

(I see. To think it would be this easy is a blunder on my part.)

Kicho's subordinate 1: "Also, I have removed all servants, as you ordered."

Kicho: "I see. Thank you for your hard work."

Kicho's subordinate 1: "Are you sure about this? Some requested to stay here."

Kicho: “No need. I don’t think they will last after seeing their masters being driven out like that.”

Kicho’s subordinate 1: “Yes, sir. Then, please check this.”

Kicho’s subordinate 1: “I have summarized the results of my findings on the recruits.”

Kicho: “Sobei and Yoroku? I see. It’s even more suspicious to see that there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Kicho’s subordinate 1: “We’ll monitor them. Is that all right?”

Kicho: “Yeah, I’ll leave it to you.”

Kicho’s subordinate 1: “Understood.”

A voice called out to him as soon as his subordinate bowed and left.

Kicho’s subordinate 2: “Lord Kicho, your guest has arrived.”

(He’s here?)

Kicho: “Let him in.”

Kicho’s subordinate 2: “Yes, sir.”

His subordinate left and later returned with a dark-skinned man.

Shojumaru: “Nice to meet you, Kicho. My name is Shojumaru. You already know I’m a trader, right?”

Kicho: “Yeah, I’ve already done some digging.”

Shojumaru: “Digging? I’m not into some shady stuff like that, you know? Though, I bet you found nothing.”

Kicho: “Yeah, except for this.”

Shojumaru's eyebrows twitched as Kicho pulled something out of his pocket and placed it on the table in front of him.

Shojumaru: "That is a dangerous thing to have."

Kicho: "I should say those words right back to you."

Kicho: "This is a good one. Is it the same type as the one in your pocket?"

Shojumaru: "Yeah, it's for self-defense. In my line of work, I often get myself in trouble."

Kicho: "It doesn't matter what you intend to carry. You are required to leave your weapons with us during business meetings like this."

Shojumaru: "............."

After a moment's pause, Shojumaru took it from his pocket and laid it next to the pistol on the table.

Kicho: "I knew it."

Kicho: "I've already done my research. I know who you are and what you've been up to."

Kicho: "I didn't expect a dead man to be alive. Motonari Mouri."

Motonari: "If you know that much, there's no need to make things up."

Motonari: "So, what do you want from me? You're the guy who was in Oda, right?"

Motonari: "I heard someone had taken over this trading post, so I checked it out, and then baam! You, a crazy bastard, popped out."

Kicho: "That's all in the past now. I have no intention of going back there."

Motonari: "Even though Nobunaga survived Honnoji?"

Kicho: "All the more reason to do so."

(I can use what that man has built up.)

(If a single stone could overturn even the life and death of a person, then―)

Kicho: "If done well, it will be the spark that shakes this turbulent world."

Motonari: "............."

Motonari: "So that's what you mean. Then let's start negotiating right away."

Motonari: "If our interests are aligned, we can negotiate a deal in one shot."

Kicho: "Yeah."

Baam!

Guy: "Guh! Ah..."

Kicho: "No hard feelings. I'll get rid of anyone who gets in my way."

(All for the greater good.)

Kicho put away his pistol as he looked down at the man who had fallen to the ground.

(I guess this is the last of the spies we released in Azuchi Castle.)

(This new information is hardly useful at all.)

(The culprit behind the Honnoji incident. And recently taken into the castle, associated with Oda―)

Kicho: "-----!"

He collided with someone as he continued down a back alley and onto a busy street.

Mai: "Ah! Sorry! I couldn't see anything in front of me..."

Kicho: "It's fine. More importantly, your stuff. You're carrying too much for you to see the road ahead."

Mai: "I think I bought a little too much. I should've planned it better."

(It's a lot, but not the amount you'd expect.)

Mai: "Anyway, I'm glad you're not hurt. I'm really sorry. Well, bye!"

Kicho: "What? Hey, wait!"

He almost reached out his hand.

In hostile territory, one should not try to stand out, even if it’s a bustling place where people’s lives blend.

(This is just a temporary peace.)

(Soon, it will all come crashing down, and everyone will despair.)

(But it's a necessary sacrifice. I'm willing to become a demon for the sake of the cause.)

Kicho: "I will leave everything behind and move on to greater heights."

Kicho: "This is why I returned to this turbulent world."

What will decide the outcome of this war-torn world? A twisted justice or an unshakable love?

This winter, you will reach the wounds of the demon.

➢ Main Story Translation

[tallycraven]

i feel like there's no fun in watching mfs if you're not here commenting on it. come back😔

HI HELLO I'M COMMENTING ON IT NOW WATCH ME GO

mfs's greatest weakness is how short the fucking seasons are. we were robbed of so many good on-the-run scenes. so many chances for character building and bonding and angst i'm gonna hurl.

haha i've definitely talked about a restructure/rewrite of the series n extending everything out with andrea klfbgjhbg

tally craven in civilian clothes has been everything i wanted and more i'm on my knees ma'am please i just wanna smash. those high waisted pants... those sweaters..... the beanies....

): raelle collar come back to me challenge.

the plot this season is fun. i like neon mushrooms and symbolism and death and rebirth and smiting fascists and i hope they do the latter part soon 'cause we're already 4 eps deep jeez.

lyne renee please choke me out i'm begging. alder is so good this season?? she's giving me Spirit Of the Shroom God. she's giving me Astral Projecting Cause She's Part of the Shroom Now.

part of the shroom, part of the crew.

raelle collar come back to me challenge.

oh dear lord the lore this season! they're not even in-depth diving into it and they've provided a bajillion lore hooks n story seeds... from the first song to necro work to THE FUCKING CESSION (wOOO YEAHAAHHWEOOOOE)! the world is becoming more and more colorful just from small lil details guh i'm being fed.......

i'm sorry who gave amalia the right to look that good ?? ??

hold on i have things to say about adil and abigail but they get their entire own post 'cause there another ask i see....

idk what kind of science izadora is doing but woo yes slay girl! you reconstitute that slime cloud into the former first daughter yes yeah woo! go queen!! i hope you get a ton of funding and use none of it for dastardly evil scientist reasons!

THE MARSHAL IS SO COOL fhfhfhhhhh i want more lore about native seed sounds. different ancient works and rituals and their relationship with the mycelium. :')

"witches is just a name they call us" fhufhcck me i knew it they're mushroom people. they're mutants. xmen....

this season is hyper predictable (they always are i guess) but tbf mfs has never been about the plot twists and has always been about the characters and the actors abilities to play them so well in a story about love that's so joyfully crafted.

i hope this was enough to tide you over

raelle collar come back to me or i'm gonna puke challenge.

[kolachess]

DMBJ Names and Honorifics Explained - Don’t trust the subs!

I’ve no idea if someone has already made such a post, but I really like explaining Chinese as it’s also good practice for me, so here we go.

If you are a non-Chinese speaker, you might have noticed inconsistencies in subs when referring to all the different characters. And / or that the names don’t seem to match up to the sound of the name. 

So here’s a little cultural and character guide to understanding DMBJ names.

Why are there so many names, nicknames, and honorifics for one person in a Chinese drama? To chalk this all up to nicknames is... grossly over-simplifying things. The thing with names / honorifics is very rooted in Chinese culture itself. Chinese culture is one heavily indexed on relations and hierarchy, so depending on your place in the ‘hierarchy’, whether it’s society or family, you will refer to each other as different things. As an example to illustrate complexity, where in English, ‘uncle’ refers to all male siblings of either of your parents, in Chinese, your father’s younger brother is addressed differently from your father’s older brother and also different from your mother’s brother. 

Chinese names and translation to English - Space? No space? Hyphens? Last name first?

So Chinese is a pictographic language. Each ‘character’ is one word, and one syllable exactly. Hence, you don’t need spaces or hyphens or anything in Chinese. Spaces and hyphens when romanized are purely for English speakers’ convenience. 

For example, in Chinese, the names would be written as wuxie, wusanxing, wangpangzi, etc. (And no such thing as capitalization either.) As a general rule of thumb, because for documentation purposes, the surname is separated out, Chinese people generally end up writing the given name all smushed together even if they are 2 words.

And yes, the surname always goes first. Other way is just... weird. Never happens.

Can you space out two words of a given name? Sure I suppose. Probably less seen.

As for hyphens with honorifics... sure? I’m not sure if smush together or hyphen is more official actually... 

What are Chinese names? How do people pick a name?

Unlike English names, Chinese people compose their names. Which means... you can have anything from names that have literary eloquence and deeper meaning，like ‘Wu Xie’, where ‘Wu’ is homonymous with ‘Without’ and ‘Xie’ means ‘Evil’, so Wu Xie’s name carries the meaning of ‘no evil’...

...to names that have little to no deep meaning and sometimes downright stupid sounding, like ‘Wang Pangzi’ which does indeed translate to Wang Fatty lol.

That’s why if you ask Chinese people to provide common Chinese names, they’ll stare at you blankly. Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t some popular names, given people sometimes name themselves after famous people and there are plenty of generic ones as well.

But this is also why, when meeting for the first time, you might hear a lot of people explaining how their name is written (i.e. with which word), because there are a looooot of homonymous words and it’s impossible to tell how write someone’s name without them ‘spelling it out’.

How do Chinese people call each other by name?

Most Chinese names (surname + given name) will form 2-3 syllables (very rarely there will be 4). 

General rule of thumb:

- Using someone’s full name is always generally acceptable (not to be confused with addressing them... that’s a whole different game).

- You never refer to someone with one syllable. Which means if their given name is only one syllable, you pretty much always say both surname + given name together (Hence why Wu Xie is always Wu Xie and never ‘Xie’). If their given name is two syllables, you might call them by given name only if you’re familiar. 

Of course, there are tons of ways to give people nicknames (more explanation below), so you might end up only using one syllable of someone’s name, but in conjunction with another prefix / suffix of sorts.

So yes, the subs say ‘Zhang’ for Zhang Qiling but that’s BS no one has ever referred to him as simply ‘Zhang’. And for that matter, no one ever refers to him as simply Qiling either, though that’s more out of habit than any rules of names. And finally, they rarely refer to him as Zhang Qiling at all... more explanation below.

Basic ‘prefix’ / ‘suffix’ / ‘honorific’ introductions relevant for DMBJ

These aren’t really prefixes and suffixes and honorifics. They’re simply words. But for sake of simplicity, let’s just treat them as that.

-ye (sounds like ‘yeah’) = ‘Grandpa’ of the generic ‘old man’ sense, but also ‘master’ or ‘lord’ to indicate status / respect. 

Example usage: Wu Sanxing (Wu Xie’s third uncle) - People like Pan Zi call him Sanye, which means ‘Third Master’. 

It can also be casually used by someone to refer to themselves in third person and indicate their ‘prowess’. Again, due to Chinese cultural relations, there’s a lot of emphasis on hierarchy, so people often humorously refer to themselves in third person with a title of more seniority (’this ancestor’ or ‘this old miss’). 

Example usage: Pangzi always referring to himself as Pangye. ‘Make way, Pangye is coming in clutch with the bombs!’.

-shu (sounds more like ‘soo’) = ‘Uncle’. This can be an uncle related, or not. 

Example usage: Wu Sanxing (Wu Xie’s third uncle). Wu Xie and his peers will generally call him Sanshu, because they’re of the same generation and need to call Sanshu with some level of respect. Of course, Sanye is also respectful, so certainly Pangzi can call him Sanye. But Pangzi calling him Wu Sanxing would be disrespectful. (Zhang Qiling on the other hand, technically can call him whatever since he’s the oldest haha).

-ayi (sounds like ‘ah-yee’) = ‘Aunt’. Similar as uncle. 

Example usage: Chen Wenjing (in Ultimate Note, Sanshu’s former girlfriend). You’ll notice Wu Xie addressed her as Wenjing-ayi. Of course, since she was a bit less familiar with them, and wasn’t always around, he and others will refer to her as simply Chen Wenjing... it’s complicated. The nuances of when it’s ok to leave off the suffix is an art form lol.

-ge (sounds like ‘guh’) = ‘older brother’. Can also be related or not. Can be used alone, or doubled up (which tends to be cuter).

Example usage: Huo Xiuxiu refers to Wu Xie as ‘Wu Xie-gege’ and Xie Yuchen as ‘Xiao Hua-gege’. Pangzi told Yun Cai (the girl he crushed on) to call him ‘Pangge’. And yes! This is the ‘ge’ in Xiaoge. More explanation below.

Xiao (sounds like ‘shall’) = ‘Small’ or ‘Little’. This is often used in creating a nickname and used first before a name.

Example usage: Wu Xie’s second uncle will refer to him as ‘Xiao Xie’. Wu Xie refers to Xie Yuchen as ‘Xiao Hua’, which translates to ‘Little Flower’ and is a nickname based off his stage name, Jie Yuhua. And yes! This is the ‘xiao’ in Xiaoge. More explanation below (because translating it as ‘little older brother’ makes no sense I know).

Lao (sounds like ‘lao’ lol) = ‘Old’. Similar usage as ‘xiao’.

Example usage: I think I remember Granny Huo perhaps referring to Wu Laogou (Wu Xie’s grandfather) as ‘Lao Wu’?  But also, yes, his actual name has that word too.

Numbers - Numbers are very commonly used in nicknames.

Er (sounds like ‘are’) = Two / Second.

San (sounds like ‘san’ lol idk) = Three / Third.

Hence why Wu Xie refers to his uncles as ‘Sanshu’ and ‘Ershu’. (And yes, their names themselves also conveniently carry the numbers...)

You’ll never say ‘one’ though. Instead, ‘da’ or big / large is used.

Names of the characters

Wow so only after all that can we begin to explain the many names... Let’s begin.

Wu Xie - Wu Xie is actually the most straightforward thank god. Most people will call him this, Zhang Qiling included.

AKA Tianzhen or even Xiao Tianzhen - This is nickname provided Pangzi gave him meaning ‘naive’ or ‘innocent’, and what Pangzi calls him most if not all the time. There’s a phrase in Chinese too called ‘tianzhenwuxie’ to mean innocent, carefree, and pure. The ‘wu’ there is a different but homonymous word with Wu Xie’s ‘Wu’, but the meaning and reference is clear (Chinese has looooots of homonyms and puns). This is also why that phrase ‘My lifetime, in exchange for you a decade of innocence and purity.’ from Zhang Qiling to Wu Xie is so heart-wrenching, because those last four Chinese words are ‘tianzhenwuxie’, a poetic play on his two names. 😭 

AKA Xiao Xie - Called by his second uncle, Wu Erbai

AKA Da Zhizi - Called by his third uncle, meaning ‘big nephew’. ‘Da’ here just means the oldest really. Wu Xie is Wu Sanxing’s oldest (but also only) nephew. And ‘nephew’ here too specifically refers to the son of your brother.

AKA Xiao Sanye - Called by Pan Zi, Bai Haotian (from Lost Tomb Reboot). Sanye here is in reference to how he dogs his third uncle’s footsteps all the time. And he’s the younger version so... there.

AKA Laoban or Wu-laoban - Called by Wang Meng, business partners because laoban means ‘boss’.

Zhang Qiling - Whew OK honestly, I don’t think of him as ‘Zhang Qiling’ much at all, because very rarely do any of the other characters refer to him as Zhang Qiling. Most of the time it’s...

AKA Xiaoge - This is what Wu Xie and Pangzi refer to him a lot as. Xiaoge literally translates to ‘little big brother’, but that meaning is weird in English. So don’t think of it that way. Xiaoge is just a generic term for a young guy. Like... ‘lad’? Lol. But he’s all mysterious and stuff so the generic term just stuck. This is also why in Tomb of the Sea, someone referred to Li Cu as ‘xiaoge’, because he was indeed a xiaoge. But in Wu Xie’s heart, there’s only one Xiaoge. ❤️

AKA Menyouping - The name of this ship! Pingxie! This is what Wu Xie referred to him mostly as in his first POV novel. It means ‘stuffy oil bottle’ and communicates the sentiment of ‘poker face’ or just someone with no expressions.

Note on Zhang Qiling: This name is actually a title rather than a name. Qiling is the title given to the Zhang patriarch responsible for handling the spirits of their ancestors... eh it’s complicated and warrants its own post if you want to know more.

Note on ‘Kylin’: I know this is what the official translations had it, but like... wtf. What, no. Like, idk what happened here, but this is a terrible mistranslation. ‘Kylin’ or ‘Qilin’ is the name of the mystical beast of which Zhang Qiling has a tattoo of, but it is two entirely different words from the ‘Qiling’. Don’t let the similarity in English spelling fool you. Completely different words. Some translator thought Kylin might market better probably. But... no. It’s just wrong. I have to do a double-take when I see people writing ‘Kylin’. Come on translators, have more faith in your English speaking audience. Fans can adapt! Don’t butcher the name for sake of marketability!

Wang Pangzi - Yes, ‘Fatty’ is the accurate translation haha. Most people refer to him as Pangzi, including Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling.

AKA Pangye - Referred to by Pangzi himself, but also sometimes people who are trying to suck up to Pangzi.

AKA Pangge - Referred to by his love interests.

Wu Sanxing - Wu Xie’s third uncle. See, I don’t even know what to call him by default because I’m not sure what the subs tend to say. 

AKA Sanshu - Wu Xie and his friends will call him this.

AKA Sanye - Pan Zi and other people in the industry will call him this.

Hei Yanjing - Again, I’ve no idea which name to use as his primary. Translates literally to ‘sunglasses’. Not technically ‘black sunglasses because that’s redundant’. See, even the spacing between his name here is unnecessary because this isn’t his official name, only a nickname. I don’t think we have his real name. But this version is generally called by most others I think?

AKA Hei Xiazi - This means ‘black blind person’, and is what Xiaoge refers to him as... and some others.

AKA Heiye - Just a more respectful reference. Called by Xie Yuchen.

Xie Yuchen - Called by Xiaoge and others less familiar.

Jie Yuhua - His stage name.

Xiao Hua - Called by Wu Xie, as it’s a nickname built off of his stage name.

Huaye - Called by Hei Yanjing and Pangzi, but more so out of humorous flattery than anything. 

.

.

Whew that was a lot. Just be glad this isn’t MDZS where people had courtesy names on top of all these names... I think I’ll stop there, but feel free to shoot me any questions about other characters!

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 285: You Looked Like You Needed Saving

Previously on BnHA: Deku was all, “hey guys I’m just gonna fight Tomura one on one and risk my own life rather than risk letting him do the whole Destroying Everything bit again.” Kacchan was all “WAIT NO ARE YOU SERIOUS THAT’S THE EXACT THING I HATE THE MOST” and indignantly launched into his “P.S. I CARE ABOUT DEKU” flashback, which was a revelation in that it proved exactly what Bakugou fans have been saying this whole time, AND YET OUR MINDS WERE STILL BLOWN ANYWAY, BECAUSE HOLY SHIT, HE REALLY WENT AND SAID IT OUT LOUD THOUGH. Anyway, so Deku’s strategy for defeating Tomura is to, you guessed it, break his fucking arms again; and meanwhile a frantic Katsuki is gearing up on the sidelines to do something really awesome and incredibly stupid, probably; and all in all it’s a pretty terrible situation our boys have found themselves in. Terrible for them, but GREAT for me, and I’ve never been so hyped in my life omg.

Today on BnHA: Deku breaks both of his arms like a dozen times over. Like, just pages and pages of arm breaking. Just like in the good old days! Meanwhile Kacchan is all “jesus christ, okay you know what would be a better idea, JUST SETTING HIM ON FIRE AGAIN”, and so he grabs Shouto and Endeavor, and they do a whole Prominence Burn combo thing. The AFO-inside-of-Tomura is all “‘sup it’s me again, but seriously now would be a REALLY good time to let me take over your body”, and so Tomura TOTALLY DOES LET HIM TAKE OVER, WHOOP, and so AFO is all “HELLS YEAH.” And then he STRAIGHT UP STABS MY SON, WHOSE BODY WAS SIMPLY MOVING ON ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, JUST HERO THINGS. Anyway so now Kacchan is fucking dead*, and so if I were AFO I would start putting as much distance as possible between myself and Deku right the fuck now, because boy, IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS MAD BEFORE? Holy shit. We’re about to see a whole new level aren’t we.

LOL WE’RE OFF TO A GRAND OLD START

Deku’s arms should sue for legal emancipation. I think most of us can agree that they’re probably better off without him. sure they’ll have to buy their own food and stuff, but I think the trade-off is more than fair

oh wow that 100% shit really is something though

too bad it did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! spoiler alert. I don’t even have to scroll to the next page, Deku. we already know

OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS

did Deku really pull off some “three hits in one” bullshit, or is this a mistranslation referring to the fact that Deku’s already hit him twice with his left arm, and so this is now the third 100% hit. kinda hoping for the latter, ngl. either way though, I’m really getting a “Deku’s arms are legitimately done for” vibe from this

ESPECIALLY SINCE:

DEKU YOU SHRUB!!! WAS IT WORTH IT YOU EGG FDKF KKDJ YOU DON’T GET BONUS POINTS FOR BREAKING THEM TWICE

goddammit I’m pretty sure he just Detroit Smashed the last remaining hero brain cell. now they have diddly squat to work with, oh this is bad

...

do you guys remember a few weeks back when I was joking about him breaking the rest of his bones and using Blackwhip to move his shattered body around like a grotesque marionette. do you specifically remember the part where that was a joke

holy shit Deku. it’s like we’re all the way back to square one with you. wasn’t that like the first thing Aizawa taught you, not to break your whole body apart? how are you supposed to fight Tomura if you can’t move?? why didn’t you wait for one of your pals who could hit him with an attack from long range WITHOUT BREAKING EVERY SINGLE BONE IN THEIR BODIES. WHERE DID YOUR BIG HERO BRAIN GO

boy you better pray one of those remaining quirks is a healing factor, or else you’re gonna be on IR for a LONG time. anyway. idk why I’m getting so worked up when I already knew this was going to happen lol. it’s just like Katsuki said; he takes himself out of the equation. it’s worth sacrificing his own body if it means he can take out AFO and prevent Tomura from hurting anyone else again. it’s just that... well. you know that saying about taking calculated risks when you are bad at math?

GUH I REALLY HATE THAT TOMURA IS STILL COMPLETELY FINE KSKWOILWKKJ AT LEAST PRETEND TO BE A LITTLE HURT, WOULD YOU

please ignore all of those worried-sounding thoughts; I think we all know that’s a bunch of bullshit. completely and utterly fine. the only person Deku’s attacks hurt was himself. hip hip hooray

anyway. so now, this!

pretty sure he can’t use Decay or AFO without at least touching SOMETHING, so I’m guessing this is another one of his new quirks. dammit Tomura why are you so fucking invincible

HAHAHA MEANWHILE

if I were you, Deku’s Arms, I would simply detach from his body altogether at this point. cut my losses. mmm

OOF HE HIT HIM WITH THE WHOLE OF TEXAS

spoiler alert: again, it did nothing. SORRY TO KEEP RUINING THE SUSPENSE FOR YOU GUYS. is there a single human being reading this who thought for even for the milliest of seconds that this stood a chance of working though

OH MY GOD

DEKU GET IT TOGETHER YOU’RE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THE ENIGMA OF AMIGARA FAULT AND I CAN’T STAND THIS ACTUALLY

so Tomura is all “there must be something I can do to stop this fucking kid” and shuffling through his quirk pokedex while he’s tossed around bleeding in the air

hey Tomura I’ll tell you right now that you don’t actually need to do a damn thing except not die for roughly the next thirty seconds or so, and then you’ve got this. the quirk that can stop this kid is called “One for All”, and it just so happens he’s already got you covered bruh

and Katsuki’s realized the same thing, apparently!

SHOUTO YOU’RE NOT EVEN LOOKING?? wow that is some trust right there. focused on cauterizing Gran and Aizawa’s wounds, I guess

MEANWHILE KATSUKI IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS. HE FOUND A NEW BRAIN CELL! A WHOLE DAMN CACHE OF FRESH NEW BRAIN CELLS, LOOK AT THIS

THANKS FOR THAT, PROFESSOR

OH SHIT SON ARE WE MOUNTING A COUNTERATTACK?

I like how Endeavor is just SITTING THERE in the background looking all disgruntled. yes, sorry about that sir, this is now Kacchan’s show. he’s in charge now. time for that long-range attack I was complaining about them not doing earlier?? hopefully?? omg

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS IT’S A BAKUROKI TRIPLE COMBO?!?!

ARE YOU GOING TO YEET THEM A LA GANG ORCA?? ALSO OH MY GOD, HE REALLY IS IN CHARGE. FIRST DEKU TOOK OVER FOR TWO MINUTES UNTIL HE BROKE ALL HIS BONES, AND NOW IT’S KACCHAN’S TIME. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU KIDS

LOL SHOUTO’S GETTING IN ON THIS TOO

THIS JUST IN, THE KIDS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE MANGA, ADULTS OF BNHA IN SHAMBLES

WELL MAYBE NEXT TIME DON’T LET AIZAWA GET SHOT THEN, YOU HAT!!!

WOOP OKAY WE FLYING NOW

Kacchan, tired of sitting back watching Deku invent new ways to die, decides to improvise a few of his own. hmmmmmmm

(ETA: HE LEARNED FROM THE BEST ORZ.)

OKAY WAIT A MINUTE NOW

why does this sound like he’s planning something on his own after the Todorokis have done their part. KACCHAN. EXCUSE ME, KACCHAN

SDLFKJLKJLJ

OKAY HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE

IS THIS LEADING WHERE I THINK IT’S LEADING, HOLY --

-- ooOF

I WASN’T FUCKING READY FOR THAT ONE. BAKUBULLYING FROM HIS OWN NOW-REMORSEFUL POV. SHIT. FUCKING FELT THAT. HERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE BUILDING UP TO AN “ALL FOR ONE FOR ALL” REVEAL, AND THEN YOU GO AND PULL THAT INSTEAD, WHAT’S GOING ON

-- HOLD UP WE’RE NOT DONE WITH THIS ONE YET MAYBE!!

“ONE FOR ALL IS”??!? KDSLFJAKLSJLKJLKJL AND THEN INTERRUPTING ME WITH THE CUTE BABIES WATCHING THE ALL MIGHT FOOTAGE, OH MY GOD. I’M JUST WILDLY REACTING TO EVERYTHING THAT’S BEING THROWN AT ME RIGHT NOW LMAO I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS IS LEADING

OOF THE NOTEBOOK

KACCHAN THIS ISN’T EVEN YOUR MEMORY HONEY, GET IT TOGETHER

OH MY GLOB

THIS IS THE MOST NONSENSICAL SEQUENCE OF PANELS RIGHT NOW. I’M SURE THIS IS ALL SHORTLY GOING TO COME TOGETHER IN SOME PROFOUND WAY THAT’S GOING TO KICK MY EMOTIONS SQUARE IN THE BALLS, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M JUST ALL “OOH AHH” LIKE SOME HAPLESS RUBE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. p.s. this chapter still doesn’t have a title!! p.p.s. Horikoshi is a knave

(ETA: HORIKOSHI IS A FUCKING MALFEASANT!!)

I CAN’T TAKE THIS??

PLEASE STOP BUILDING UP TO WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE BUILDING UP TO AND JUST SAY IT ALREADY, I’M DYING OMG

...and we’re cutting back to the action. godfuckingdammit it’s gonna be one of those chapters where the entire thing is just buildup to some huge reveal on the very last page isn’t it

(ETA: [sounds of screaming heard in the distance])

anyway so this next page is just Deku flying in the air, and Tomura flying through the air, and Endeavor+Katsuki+Shouto flying through the air, and everyone’s flying through the air, and we’re all just flying. TALK TO ME MORE ABOUT THE CURSE OF OFA DAMN IT

OOHHHHHH

guess if it was good enough for Hood, it’s probably their best shot huh. better than whatever the fuck Deku was trying to pull at any rate

OOP

gotta admit, if I didn’t already know full well that Tomura could not possibly die here, I’d have been pretty convinced he was dying here lol

DSFKJL ENDEAVOR BUDDY YOU MIGHT HAVE POSSIBLY OVERDONE IT JUST A BIT

wait... is that Blackwhip...?? or???

OH SHIT

WHAT EVEN IS THIS CHAPTER, COME ON

-- FMMMJAKAKJDJL, UM

TIME TO SCROLL BACK UP TO THAT PANEL OF TOMURA BEING MELTED, AND READ WHAT AFO WAS SAYING A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY LMAOOOO. LOL. WHOOPS. OH NO KATSUKI WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

AHHHHHHHH

WHAT’S WITH THE NARRATION SQUARE ALL OF A SUDDEN AHHHHHH

oh my fresh and citrusy lord. this is it isn’t it. all of my theories converge at once. Tomura being possessed by AFO; OFA is AFO/Deku has AFO; Katsuki does something stupid and loses his quirk. THE PERFECT STORM. THEORY SINGULARITY

oh my lord oh my god oh my lord oh my god honey what are you doing, honey, no

his body’s moving before he can think. WHAT ARE THESE FLASHBACKS OF ALL HIS DEKU RELATED MEMORIES. BULLYING DEKU, BEING SAVED FROM THE SLUDGE MONSTER, RECONCILING WITH HIM AT GROUND BETA, OH MY GOD. I’M NOT READY. [WRAPS MYSELF IN A BLANKET BURRITO AND SLOWLY SCROLLS DOWN FROM THE SAFETY OF MY COCOON]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HORIKOSHI KOUHEI: [LOADS GUN WITH CHAPTER TITLE AND AIMS DIRECTLY FOR MY HEART]

ME: [SWEATING]

HORIKOSHI: [SMILES, REACHES FOR THE TRIGGER... AND THEN SUCKER PUNCHES ME SQUARE IN THE FACE]

excuse me WHAT. PARDON, THE FUCK. WHY ARE THE FIRST FEW LONE PIANO NOTES OF ADELE’S “SKYFALL” PLAYING. WHAT THE FUCK

excuse me, Horikoshi. excuse me, could I just -- could I get. COULD I JUST GET A WORD WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE. SIR

son of a. ...how am I even supposed to wrap this up. just

sob okay. so let’s just. ...

All for One 100% just took Tomura’s body over. like, he was all “Tomura, you’re fucking dying, just give me your body you muppet”, and Tomura couldn’t really argue on account of he really was dying, and so, YOINK. which is the sound that a body makes when it’s being taken over, I think

All for One then activated his forced activation quirk?? which OF FUCKING COURSE he passed on to Tomura as well. so THAT’S JUST GREAT

Kacchan is seriously the fastest character in the series. the reflexes, the sheer speed necessary to intercept that hit? goddamn

every single one of those BakuDeku flashbacks are now wanted by the FBI for first-degree murder of me

this has nothing to do with Kacchan fucking dying and stuff, but is it just me or were there HUGE “Kacchan as Bakugou’s hero name” vibes earlier on in this chapter with the flashbacks to Deku explaining the meaning behind his own name, HMM

and speaking of, this is the first time we’ve gotten Kacchan narrating in the little box panels, unless I’m completely mistaken somehow. Horikoshi really waited almost 300 whole chapters to do that. and it was worth it. holy shit

fun fact, this moment is something that’s been on my wishlist since chapter 12 lol, you can go back and check the recap if you want. back then I called it a long shot. oh how the times have changed

I DON’T KNOW HOW I’M EVEN SO STUNNED ABOUT THIS, GUYS. this is exactly what I predicted at the end of the last chapter. MY CHILD IS DUMB. THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO IT. HE’S THAT EXACT KIND OF SHOUNEN DUMB. WE’VE KNOWN IT ALL ALONG

oh my god. and now Deku’s gonna go ham, arms or no arms. AND BETS ON WHICH NEW QUIRK HE’S ABOUT TO UNLOCK? because the last time someone so much as insulted Kacchan in his presence, he SPONTANEOUSLY GREW SHADOW TENTACLES OUT OF THE BLUE AND ATTEMPTED TO MURDER THE PERSON. so if this kid has got ANYTHING left up his sleeve, I have to imagine that SEEING HIS PRECIOUS CHILDHOOD FRIEND TAKE A DEADLY ATTACK MEANT FOR HIM is gonna leave him feeling SOME KINDA WAY. I literally have no idea what’s going to happen next but I would not count this angry little broccoli out yet. not as long as he’s still conscious

anyway. so I wonder what’s the world record for continuous screaming, and whether or not I could break said record by doing such nonstop from now until a week from now when I finally get to read the next chapter

...lol apparently the record is only 8 mins and 45 seconds so GOOD NEWS GUYS, WITH THE POWER OF THIS NEW CHAPTER, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HISTORY. DEEP BREATH. -- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[ticklishfanart]

YES YES MORE TADAAI TK HCS >:)

OH FUCK OH GO D okay we'll do lee tadashi hcs for this one and then lee adam for the other person in my inbox asking for more

SO AFTER THE EVENTS OF SK8 HAPPEN TADAAI GET CLOSER AND MORE AFFECTIONATE AND STUFF

Tadashi doesnt know how the FUCK to react when he gets tickled bc he is Just not used to it!!

Tadashi is super duper good at hiding his reactions, like if adam pokes him, he might MAYBE jump slightly, but no noise will come out of him.

!! one time tadashi was laying in bed and and and adam came up to him all tired and soft and was like "hey puppy <333" and fucking rubbed his tummy and tadashi was NOT expecting that and he flinched real hard and adam stopped but kept his hand on his stomach while being like "?" but it only took him a second to be like "ohhh he's tummy ticklish >:)"

and so while tadashi was silently staring at him with a small blush, adam started his hand up again, slightly wiggling his fingers this time, with his other hand holding him still. now tadashi's fucked bc he cant hide his reactions forever!! before he knows it hes rocking side to side, holding adam's wrists with his hands and GIGGLINGGG

Tadashi's got a quiet, breathy giggle, and it takes a bit to get him laughing, but even that still manages not to be very loud. Its adorable. He blushes easily, especially since his ler is Quite teasy.

Adam's teases,,,, good lord

"You're quite ticklish aren't you? Ohhhh poor baby, what about here? Here? Where do you think you're going? You're not getting away any time soon."

Its canon that adam likes to spontaneously start dancing with his s/o so he also likes spontaneous tickle attacks. Sometimes tadashi just freezes and sometimes he runs, but adam knows he loves them toooo

tadashi just loves adam's attention guh

adding this on after it’s posted- tadashi is most ticklish on his tummy and his ribs! He’s got ticklish feet too!!

[thewritingginger]

Naughty list 7 for Beelzebub and naughty list 13 for Belphegor with f!reader please and thank you!

Thank you Lovely for your request and your patience for me to get this done. I do have the Beel one on my WIP list as well :3

This one was a bit interesting for me cuz it’s not smut but also not fluff it just... idk what to call it 😂 But not in a bad way I did have fun writing it.  just something new for me and I'm a bit unsure but that could be bc it’s 7 am and I’m a bit sick lol

Prompt:  Naughty #13: “I need you to pretend to be my s/o.” “Why? You hate me!” Fandom: Obey Me! Pairing: Belphegor x F! Reader Word Count: 2,438 words Warning(s): may cause slight annoyance :)

Enjoy~

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You spot Belphegor pass the end of the hall, saying goodbye to your friends you rush over. Stopping by him, slightly out of breath as he stands straight from the water fountain.

“Hey Belphie.” You say sweetly with a small smile. Belphegor looks you up and down with a raised brow. “Uh, hi.” He responds slowly, readjusting his backpack strap as he turns to leave.

“So how’s your day been?” You ask, walking at his pace.

“What do you want Y/n?” He asks curt. Stopping he leans against the wall, arms crossed. Looking at you through his brows, unamused.

“What do you mean? I’m just trying to make conversation with you.” You say innocently.

Rolling his eyes he kicks off the wall and continues down the hall. Not getting ten steps in front of you, you stop him again. “Wait-” You huff. He turns your way. He waits, shaking his head, tuning his hands up signaling you to spit it out already. You sigh,

“I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend.” You say, wincing at the idiocy of your request. If you can even call it that. You’re practically begging him to, ‘Gosh really Y/n, “need” him to?’ You mentally slap yourself, not noticing the grin on his face. Snapping back when you hear him snort a bit. Trying to remain calm cause lord knows you need him to agree. For a moment there is just silence. Seeing him process your question a bit more. Then he speaks,

“Why? You hate me.” His statement punctuated with an amused half cut smirk. Taking in a deep breath through your nose, contemplating your rebuttal. Because the truth is, you don’t hate the guy. Sure, he’s probably the most annoying being to ever exist in all the three worlds, but that doesn’t mean you hate him. Clearing your throat you respond,

“No I don’t hate you. We just don’t know each other enough.” You smile.

“Uh huh. So me pretending to be your boyfriend will do just that, huh?” He says. His face cracks with amusement once again as he watches your face twist in annoyance.

“Look, why don’t you just ask one of my brothers? They like you.” He says as he backs away symbolizing he’s done with this conversation.

You sigh annoyed. ‘Yeah like I haven’t thought of that before, Dickhead.’ You had thought about it before but that didn’t go down well.

You didn’t dare ask Lucifer well because, he’s Lucifer.

Mammon would only accept if you paid him to and even though you were in need of a prop-up boyfriend you weren’t that desperate.

Both Levi and Satan were busy the day you would need them.

And lastly there was Beel. You would’ve asked him but… on Halloween Beel was plastered and drunkenly confessed that he really liked you. After that night he hadn’t seemed awkward about doing it and you never told him he did it either.

So that left you with the youngest one that just walked away from you.

~~~

Why do you need a pretend boyfriend, you ask? Well in a phone call with your family talking about arrangements for New Years. Your mother wouldn’t shut up about the amazing guy your cousin is dating and how he’s coming to the New Years Eve party, and whilst your mom was babbling on about it you zoned out and when she asked if you had a ‘special someone’ you absentmindedly said ‘yeah’. And before you knew it she told you to bring him around and said her goodbyes as you tried to correct the situation. But it was too late.

And now you need a boyfriend.

~~~

Back at the house of Lamentation heading towards your bedroom you spot Belphegor going into his room. Taking another chance you dropped your book bag at your door and rushed over to him.

“Belphe-” Cut off by the door in your face, you roll your head back in frustration but not defeat. You had to do this! You hate to say it but he really is your last hope for this.

Knock Knock Knock.

No response. You sigh once again trying to keep your cool.

Knock Knock Knock

Your hits get a bit heavier with each one. Then finally he opens the door.

“What?” He says with a huff.

“I need to talk to you. I -” You begin to say as he rolls his eyes starting to close the door once again. Stopping the door with your palm you finally put your pride aside.

“Belphegor, please ~” Your words come out slow. Hating to beg the demon but knowing you had to at this point. The pressure on the door lightens. Belphegor stands behind the door and sighs.

“Fine.” He says. Opening the door for you to enter. Sitting down on his bed, he looks up at you waiting for you to speak. “Like I said before I kinda need you to be my ‘boyfriend’ for a night.” You say. His blank stare boring into you, “Yes you did but you failed to mention why. What, do you secretly have a crush on me.” He says with an amused grin. Your reaction only made it better,

“Tsk you wish. The reason I need you is because I’m going home for New Years and my mom thinks I’m bringing home a boyfriend.” You say with your arms crossed.

“Why would she think that?” He asks. Pursing your lips, hating your answer you sigh. “I may have accidentally told her I did when I wasn’t paying attention.” You say, refusing to look at what you’re sure is a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Ha ha oh my god. You’re more stupid than I thought.” He says laughing. Your face heats up with anger, before you can say anything he cuts you off. “You know what, I’ll do it.” He says standing up. Your anger subsides a bit when you hear those words. Slight relief sweeps through you. “Really?” You ask, happy but slightly shocked. “Yup.” He says walking past you, opening the door.

“I’ve been told it’s good to do charity. And besides this seems too funny to miss out on.” He says, walking out leaving you angry once again. ‘Guh, what an asshole!’ you think to yourself storming out of his room.

~~~

It’s New Years Eve and you are getting ready to leave devildom with Belphegor to the human world. Picking up your jacket and purse you leave your room. “Ok, let’s go.” you say to no one walking down the stairs, Belphegor waiting by the door dressed in jeans, a dark teal blazer, and a black shirt. He turns to speak but hesitates a second when he takes in your appearance. Rushing down the stairs the hem of your black velvet dress rode up your thighs a bit, your hair messily framing your face and your cheeks rosy from rushing around to get ready. “Phew, okay, I’m ready!” You say sliding your heels on at the base of the stairs. Standing straight smoothing the front of your dress you look up to see Belphegor looking at you. “What are you looking at? Are you ready?” You ask, putting on your coat. “Yeah I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.” He says opening the door.

Pulling into the driveway of your parents home you turn off the car and turn to Belphegor. “Ok like I said before, they might ask questions, especially my mother! And please, please try not to make an absolute fool in there.” You say. Belphegor laughs at your pleas. “Don’t worry I won't make a fool out of you on purpose, you  do that well enough on your own.” He says with a chuckle. Man, he really knows how to get under your skin.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go in there and act like any other boyfriend.” He says with a patronizing smile. Pursing your lips trying to hold yourself back from slapping him, instead you just get out of the car. You knock on the door as you wait, Belphegor comes up behind you and you see him holding a bouquet of sunflowers. “What are you~” You’re cut off by your mother. “Well hello. Please, come on in, you'll freeze out there.” She says opening your family home to the both of you. Before you can introduce Belphegor, he’s already ahead of you.

“Thank you. These are for you.” He says handing your mother the flowers. “Oh my, they’re beautiful… oh I never even got your name.” Your mother says with a smile. Chuckling back he responds. “I’m Belphegor. And I’m glad you like them, you know sunflowers represent happiness and longevity which is not only what I hope for you this coming year but also for my time with your daughter here.” He says, pulling you in by your side, looking down at you with a smile. Your mother seemingly swooning. You smile back, “What the hell are you doing?” You ask through your teeth. “Fulfilling my end of the agreement, and taking what I want cause I don’t recall you ever telling me what I’d get in return.” He says. You fake a laugh, “What do you mean ‘get in return’?” You ask. Turning you to face him, lifting your chin. “You don’t think I came here out of the goodness of my heart do ya? I came here to have a bit of fun and I’m already just getting started.” He says. Giving you a sly look he kisses your hand sweetly before rushing over to your mother, “Please let me help you with those.” He says walking with your mother before looking back at you.

‘Oh he’s good. But two can play at that game, Buddy!’

As the night goes on you two continue to seem a convincing couple. Good to know his lying can actually be of some help in this situation. “So Y/n how did you manage to land such a charming guy?” Your cousin asks. 

You hate it! How can they love him so much? 

“Um well~” You start, when you feel Belphegor wrap his arm around your shoulders. “Well we actually met through my brothers.” He says. “Oh how many brothers do you have?” Your mother asks. “I’m actually the youngest of seven. And my twin brother introduced me to this girl and ever since that day I’ve wanted her by my side.” He says, with his left arm around your shoulders, his right hand makes its way on your bare knee. Laughing you look at him with warning eyes as you take his hand off you. Your family chuckles at your “puppy love” moment.

“So how long have you been together to be exact, because somehow up until a couple weeks ago Y/n had failed to mention you.” Your mother says looking at you. ‘Oh brother.’ You think to yourself. “About a year.” You say. “And here I thought it was longer. I guess that's just wishful thinking, huh.” Belphie says, looking at you with a smirk.

‘I’m gonna kill him.’

“You know if we let the love over there get too strong, we might be seeing a new addition to the family sooner than we’d think.” One of your family friends says, chuckling into his glass. The whole table starts to chuckle as your eyes widen. “O-oh no, not now.” You stutter. “Looks like my baby is blushing. She is always more amusing this way.” Belphegor says. “Haha ok enough of that. What time is it anyways?” You ask trying to get this night over with.

“It’s almost 11:40.” Says your mother. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re counting down the minutes till you can kiss me.” Belphie says, leaning into you. “Yeah, no. I couldn’t think of a worse way to start my year.” You say into your glass.

“Ok guys the ball is dropping! Count down in 10…  Standing before Belphegor he just smirks. “Make sure you don’t fall in love with me after this.” He says. You almost gag, “Yeah, no problem.” you say.

Everyone chanted the countdown,

“3”

“2”

“1”

“Happy New Year!” Everyone exclaims.

Looking at each other Belphegor puts his hand behind your neck and pulls you in. Your lips touch. A second passes, still connected. The hand in your hair tightens slightly and his lips move with yours. Your mouths dance together one second and parted the next. The expectant feeling of disgust never came, rather the moment wasn’t that bad. You stand there in his grasp for a few more seconds, eyes locked. Looking up at him you notice something in his eyes you've never seen before, but it’s gone just as soon as it comes. “I think we should go before you try and kiss me again.” He says. “If you keep talking you’re sooner to get slapped, than kissed.” You say walking past him, making him laugh.

It’s nearing 1am when you and Belphegor are taking your leave, “You know you two can stay till the morning since it’s late.” Your mom offers. “No we have things to do tomorrow and I’d rather not travel in the morning.” You say hugging your mom. “Well, drive safely and Belphegor you’re always welcome in our home.” Your mom says making him smile. Taking her hand in his he places a small kiss on the back of hers, “Your hospitality is too much.” He says. You see your mom swoon once again. ‘Damn he is good.’  

Finally in the car you sigh in relief. “Glad that’s over.” You say. “Yeah. When are we coming back? Maybe we can bring Beel, he’d love that- well, everything your mom made.” He says turning the car on. “Uh, what do you mean ‘coming back’? This was a one night deal.” You say laughing. “Well your mom said she’d love to see me again and I’d say I had a pretty good time playing with you tonight. So i feel it would really be a win-win situation.” He says.  “How is that a win for me though.” You ask with your arms crossed.

“Well it’s a win for you cause you’ll get to kiss me again. I rather enjoyed the look you had after the first time” He says with a smirk. You finally hit his shoulder.

“I did not have a ‘look’ after kissing you.” You argue.

“Yes you did.” He says back.

“No I didn’t!” You say with more force

“Yes you did.” 

And this went on back and forth the whole ride home. You knew asking him was a bad idea.

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I hope you enjoyed this, and that you have a great New Years or when ever you find yourself reading this :3

💛 ~

[snt-good-omens]

Good Omens snippets: before the beginning, but a bit later

The first weeks after the Glorious Revolution (really. guys? really? That's what we're calling it? It is? All right, moving on now) were, to put it lightly, unpleasant. The shock of suddenly being cut off from the Almighty's presence, which up until now they all took for granted. The pain of their grace rearranging itself to protect them from the sudden gaping void where her grace used to be; their outer forms  twisting with it. The shock of discovery that they were no longer able use their own bloody names. The absolute and utter confusion that followed, when everyone tried to come up with a name that felt right and wouldn't burn their throats when spoken. (Most of the Fallen weren't very creative and many a fight broke out when two dozen demons tried to claim the same name simply because it started with the same letter as their angelic designation).

Interesting side effects of that, and the radical makeover they all went through, was that, for quite a while, nobody knew who was who. Numerous were the incidents of a demon getting uppity with a vaguely familiar stranger, only to get smacked clear across the room and realize that, oh, oops, former archangel, sorry my lord, my prince, so sorry. (Alternatively, it was getting smacked harder than expected and realize - oh, fellow-ex-archangel, how very much dare you, this is my piece of Hell, fight me!)

And, to top it off, Lightbringer, now going by Satan for reasons only known to himself, was throwing a temper tantrum for the ages. The Hell shook with his pure rage (And his furious roaring rants. And his attempts to physically tear the palce down and get out). Quite a few unlucky demons who ventured too close found themselves rent apart and absorbed into his Disgraces's being. Good for Satan's power level maybe, but not so great on the overall morale. (And disastrous for the extinguished demons, of course, but nobody really cared about that).

Eventually the newly self-titled Princes of Hell stopped squabling among themselves over hierarchy for long enough to stage an intervention (which is to say, they held a screaming match with His Nastiness from a safe distance) which, after much posturing and reminding everyone who's the boss, ended in Satan settling in for a good long sulk; his sullen mood poured over the Hell like thick syrup and spread among the denizens, settling ruffled feathers and replacing the straight up agreession with much calmer medium-level discontentment.

The demon formelrly known as Zakzakiel spent most of that transitional periond curled tighly in a dark hole in the wall, thinking such deep existential thougths as "What?" "How?" and "Guh?", occasionally even reaching coherency of "what am I even doing here?".

Eventually, things calmed down (see aforementioned discontentment).

Eventually, no-longer-Zakzakiel emereged from his hiding spot, looked upon the new world he got to live in, and with innate talent and grace he immediately put his foot in it again (seriously, he didn't even have any feet at the moment, how did he keep doing that?). Well, in this case like this: by slithering up to the person who, he was quite sure of it, was his former immediet superior and asking what he thought was perfectly reasonable question. "Why do we have filing cabinets?" It might have saved him quite a lot of grief to take a moment to contemplate said superiors new title. He didn't take that moment though, and when Almost-Certainly-Ex-Raphael, his ichthyic aspects now etched into his face like scales, looked down at him and hissed "too keep track of things", he carelessly answered: "Yes, keeping track, I get it, very useful thing, keeping track, but why like this? Why do the things the old way? Wasn't the whole point of this mess you didn't like how Upstairs was run?"

Dagon, the Lord of Files, Master of Torments, looked on at him with pure malevolance on his face and smiled. "Zakzakiel, is that you?" he purred, and wow, they weren't kidding when they said that hearing one's former name hurt.   "Oh, I'm sorry," Dagon continued, very clearly not sorry at all, while Definitely-Not-Zakzakiel writhed on the floor in agony. "That was bad form, wasn't it? What were you calling yourself these days, Zeke?" "Blargh," wheezed Not-Zakzakiel-And-Also-Never-A-Zeke. Dagon showed his spiky teeth in what could technically be called a grin (were those steel? How did he not shred his tongue everytime he spoke?) and made a show of checking some files. "No, that one's taken, I'm afraid. So are all other pronouncable B-sounds. Maybe you'd like somehing in C? How about Crawly? Since you're so good at crawling?" "Ngk," said Yeah-I'll-Take-It-Crawly,

[queenofnohr]

Twisted Wonderland: Lilia Vanrouge Scary Outfit (SR) - Voice Lines + Personal Story

Voice Lines

Summoning: Halloween is my home turf~♪ I’ll be looking forward to seeing your surprised face in the future. Groovy: Don’t look down on me. You never know— you might just end up spending the whole night sleepless, trembling in fear. Set Home: Roar~ How was that? I’m a dragon ghost. Home Idle 1: It is said that on Halloween night, the ghouls that served under the Witch of Thorns dance round a fire all night long. They’re party animals, surprisingly. Home Idle 2: I can remember the day I met a genuine Long from the East like it was yesterday. Their crimson scales were truly a sight to behold. Home Idle 3: Most sweets are delicious, but marshmallows aren’t my cup of tea. I can’t feel satisfied after eating them. Home Login: Trick or treat…… what? Have you already gotten used to my pranks? Then I’ll just have to prepare something extra special for you. Home Idle Groovy: If I were a real Long, I could give you a ride on my back. Shall I give you a piggyback ride instead? Home Tap 1: Ugh, the horns on this hat are heavy. And Malleus always has to deal with these on his head? Home Tap 2: My red nails are cute, right? I had Vil paint them. It seems these crimson nails are some kind of long lasting thing called “gel nail polish”. Home Tap 3: Silver and Sebek used to be such scaredy-cats way back when. The morning after Halloween, they’d do laundry all day without complaint. Home Tap 4: Have you seen Ace? The way he’s always eating Trey’s sweets makes them look so delicious, so I made some too. Home Tap 5: Whoops. Because of my height, the tail is a tripping hazard dragging on the ground. You should take care not to step on it either. Home Tap Groovy: ACHOO! …...Excuse me, the peacock feathers tickled my nose.

Personal Story I’ll Scare You to My Heart’s Content: Chapter 1

-Interior Hallway-

Ace: This is around where the Halloween Organization Committee was having their meeting, right? I was told to submit an application for using magic in our production, but…… Dorm Leader Riddle is super impatient, but if I wait a bit, Cater will come back to the dorm. Sebek: Silver!!! Don’t you dare fall asleep again!!!! Ace: Hm? That voice must be...... Of course it’s Sebek…… and Silver-senpai. What are you guys doing here? Sebek: Hm…… If it isn’t Ace. We’d like for Lord Lilia and the Young Master to review our decorations. So we’re waiting for the meeting to end. Ace: Wouldn’t be easier to just shoot them a text saying, “Let me know when the meeting is over.” You don’t have to wait right outside the door for the meeting to end. Sebek: You think that I could call those two on a smartphone!? There’s no way I’d do such a disrespectful thing!!!!! Ace: Okay, okay. I don’t know what’s so disrespectful about that, but I’ll wait for the meeting to end with you guys. All: ………………………… Silver: Zzzz...... Sebek: Silver! Don’t use me to prop yourself up while you fall asleep!!!! Silver: Ah! Sorry. Ace: Sebek, you’re way too loud. They’re having a meeting in there, so turn it down a notch. Sebek: Guh…… Of course, I wouldn’t want to get in the way of the Young Master’s work. Ace: Isn’t he falling asleep ‘cause we’re just standing around silently? How many times have you yelled at him instead of having a single engaging conversation? Sebek: Talk about something interesting, hm? Then, last night, the Young Master...... Ace: Yeah, of course it’s about the “Young Master.” Topics only you’re interested in are prohibited. Sebek: Why! He should be an exciting topic for everyone in the world! Ace: Oh, I know. Are there any interesting stories about Halloween in the Land of Thorns? Sebek: Isn’t Halloween more or less the same between countries? Silver: No…… I heard from my old man that Halloween is celebrated differently depending on the country and culture. The other day, Azul told me about how they celebrate Halloween in the Coral Sea, but it was different from how we celebrate at the academy or in the Valley of Thorns. Sebek: What, really!? …...A- Ahem! Let us chat a bit! In the Land of Thorns, lanterns are made of carved out wood. Though I don’t think they’re used any differently than jack o’ lanterns…… Ace: Wow, what else? Silver: Then…… When the moon rises high in the night sky, a scarecrow is burned in the castle’s town square, and people in costume dance around it. Ace: I see. So it’s like a midnight costume dance party. Sebek: It is not something as frivolous as some social event. It's a feast for ghosts where all the evil spirits in the land run rampant! …...I’m trembling just remembering Halloween ten years ago…... Ace: Yeah right~ You’re totally exaggerating. Sebek: I am not exaggerating!!!!!! You can only say that because you haven’t seen it for yourself!!!! Silver: He’s right…… What Sebek says is true. Halloween in the Valley of Thorns......is truly terrifying…... Ace: Huh? Even Silver-senpai is agreeing……

Creaaaak......

Lilia: Sebek, Silver. Sorry to keep you waiting. I voice hear your voice from all the way inside. Malleus: It’s fine if you wait, but be a bit quieter while there’s a meeting in session. Sebek: My...... My apologies...... Cater: What’s this? Ace is here too. What’s up? Ace: I brought the documents Dorm Leader Riddle told us to submit. Here they are. But I had some free time while I was waiting, so we got to talking about Halloween in the Valley of Thorns...... Sebek got all heated and said, “There’s nothing more terrifying!” Cater: Wow, I didn’t think Halloween in the Valley of Thorns was so scary. It’s said that life in the Valley of Thorns is centered around magic…… Do you also use magic to decorate? Malleus: Yes. Most of our decorations use magic. As for scariness, it depends on the person. Ace: See, Sebek is just a scardy-cat, right? Sebek: No, I swear I’m not......! Lilia: Kufufu. Putting aside whether or not Sebek is a scardy-cat…... It’s true that Halloween in the Valley of Thorns has a very different atmosphere than the festivities at this school Cater: Eh, how so? Ya boy Cay here loves scary stories. Tell me about it, Lilia♪ Lilia: Okay, then as Halloween ambassador from the Valley of Thorns, I’ll teach you guys all about it!

I’ll Scare You to My Heart’s Content: Chapter 2

-Interior Hallway-

Lilia: So about Halloween in the Valley of Thorns…… Well, where should I begin? Malleus: As Diamond stated earlier, life in the Valley of Thorns revolves around magic for the most part. Lilia: That’s right. So, the light from decorative Halloween lanterns aren’t from LEDs, but from fire magic. The lanterns are also made from carved wood, not pumpkins. Many of them are carved to resemble the ancestors of the followers of the night, like dragons and bats. Sebek: On the actual day of Halloween a lighting ceremony is held wherein the Young Master lights all the lanterns in the country with magic. The sight of the Young Master lighting those noble green flames can only be described as awe-inspiring. Ace: He uses fire magic to light all the lanterns in the entire country!? Cater: Is Malleus’s magical strength seriously that crazy!? Malleus: The Valley of Thorns is a small country that has less territory and fewer people than the Rose Kingdom. It’s not a particularly notable feat. Lilia: I remember the day the Queen first asked Malleus to light the lanterns. Malleus: ! Lilia! Don’t tell them that story……! Lilia: It was a catastrophe— Malleus was so enthusiastic he made a mistake in the amount of force he was using, and burned all the lanterns in the entire country. Houses and fields were set ablaze, and the whole nation worked together until morning to extinguish the fire. Malleus: ....... Lilia: The incident was engraved into the history of the Land of Thorns as “The Halloween Fire.” Sebek: I can’t believe it……! What a wonderful event to make the populace recognize the Young Master’s power! Ace: No matter how you look at it, isn’t burning peoples’ houses down no laughing matter……? Cater: As expected of Malleus. Even as a kid, he’s been on a completely different level. I couldn’t imagine him dressed up in a ghost costume, going around to all the neighbors, asking for candy with a, “Trick or Treat”~ Malleus: You’re right, I certainly haven’t ever done that. Though in the first place, the tradition of distributing sweets on Halloween does not exist in the Land of Thorns. Cater: Whaaaat, no way! Ace: In the Rose Kingdom, that’s the main event. Lilia: It’s true. The first time I learned of the custom of handing out candy was when I traveled to other countries. It’s a good tradition. Innocent children happy to receive candy are so cute. That’s why I wanted to let Silver enjoy it…… However, we lived far away from any other people. As a replacement for him being unable to go around a neighborhood to visit houses, I was the only one Silver could ask for candy. Silver: And I knocked on your door endlessly until my bucket was full. Ace: Wow, Silver-senpai and Lilia-senpai were neighbors. Silver: Neighbors, huh…… Well, you’re not wrong. Lilia: Silver asking for sweets over and over again was so adorable! No matter how many times he did it, he’d always laugh so happily. Malleus: We never did that, did we? Lilia: Why, do you want to do it too, Malleus? How about we do it this year? Malleus: Lilia, just how old do you think I am? Lilia: Age doesn’t matter as long as you’re having fun. Sebek: If you wish it, Young Master, I shall give you sweets as many times as you desire! Malleus: I’m saying I’m not going to do it. I’m no longer a child. Sebek: My…… My apologies. I’ve overstepped my position. Lilia: Kufufu. The part of Malleus that thinks like that is still a child, no? Ace: By the way, you said that Halloween in the Valley of Thorns is super scary, but none of this is scary at all. Silver: The scary part is what happens with the scarecrow in the castle’s town square…… Malleus: In the Valley of Thorns, it’s customary to burn a scarecrow in the middle of the castle’s town square at midnight on Halloween. And people in ghost costumes dance around the fire until morning…… Ace: Oh yeah, that’s the midnight dance party that you mentioned earlier. Sebek: That’s right…… And what’s truly terrifying is Lilia, dancing around the burning scarecrow, illuminated by flames!! Silver: Halloween ten years ago was especially horrifying…… An ominous dance you would never in a million years imagine could come from our usual Lillia-senpai…… Malleus: Ah…… Remembering that day makes even me feel like my entire body is freezing over. Lilia: What’s with you guys? In my youthful impetuousness, I just cut loose a little bit. Ace: Lilia-senpai’s dance…… But he doesn’t look scary at all. Sebek: You can only say that because you haven’t seen it for yourself!!!!! Malleus: His uncanny wriggling body was like a venomous snake, and just hearing his hoarse laughing voice felt like you were being cursed. Silver: His shadow stretched long across the cobblestones in the square looked like a giant demon that kidnaps children. Sebek: Both children and adults alike were terrified of his appearance and with a single glance returned home, trembling, and waited for the nightmare to end. Silver: Some of the children who witnessed Lilia-senpai had recurring bed-wetting issues. Ace: No way, you guys are totally trying to pull a fast one on us! Cater: Ahaha, even Malleus and the others got in on Lilia’s joke, and are playing along surprisingly well~☆ Though I think it’s true that the husky shouting he uses sometimes in Casual Music Club is a bit scary. Malleus, Silver, Sebek: (Lord) Lilia(-senpai) is nothing like this when he’s serious!!! Ace & Cater: Whaaaat? Lilia: Kufufu. Now I’m in the position to spread loveliness as Diasomnia’s cute mascot, however…… In the Valley of Thorns, I was feared as the, “General of Terror.” If you like, I can show you a scary face right now…… But I think it’s better to keep it as a fun treat for Halloween day proper. Ace: Should you really be saying that? Our expectations are gonna be sky-high. Cater: I’m looking forward to seeing it on that day, Lilia♪ Lilia: Kufufu…… Then your wish is my command, and I’ll scare you to my heart’s content. I’m very much looking forward to Halloween day.

-

*If it wasn’t apparent from the personal story, in this line Lilia implies that he’d scare Silver and Sebek so bad they’d do their chores without complaint the next day and/or were so shell shocked they’d just obediently do laundry and/or would wet the bed the night before

[jimmythejiver]

For the first time in a long time I went to the movies in forever and then to Target. At Target I see some Godiva bars on discount yellow tags and I was ecstatic until I read 70% Cacao, Dark, Salted Caramel and was deflated.

Anyway that's how I felt about seeing The Green Knight. What you thought this was about chocolate?

No see since the pandemic I've been back on my perennial King Arthur kick. I've for a long time since I was a young preteen thought, someday I too will write my own King Arthur epic and it'll be gay, magical, gangster and culty too, but for now I'll make up my own stories for practice and then with every story I got attached too, it got too involved and convoluted to the point that when it came down to actually writing a novel, I threw it all away and made a space opera I only planned in two weeks and wrote in a month. Anyway...so now I've been writing this very gay, magical, gangster and culty take on Final Fantasy XV with my boyfriend and just fell in love with Somnus Lucis Caelum who nobody has any insight about him than to make him the Mordred to Ardyn's Arthur, which is a strange flex, but okay, I thought about what if I wrote a Dark Age prequel about Ardyn and Somnus, but Ardyn becomes king and Somnus his shogun and they play games of seduction and power because I'm twisted like that. Anyway...I was like I'm never going to write this and I have to keep making up characters based on FFXV characters and King Arthur tropes because there's not a lot of stories that take place during the Dark Ages, it's always some Roman Empire story, or High Middle Ages and FFXV gave no room for either society to happen after the fall of Solheim and the rise of King Somnus...so we left with Dark Ages, y'all, the King Arthur comparisons are obvious, but Ardyn is no Arthur and Somnus is no Mordred, Aera is only Guenevere if you make up an affair with Somnus, Gilgamesh is no Bedwyr/Bedivere, but uh...they both amputees and the oldest companions to their respective kings so...I guess. Anyway making an ancestor of Cor Leonis and deciding well he's Owain/Yvain, or am Ignis type as idk Sir Cai/Kay I guess, they both cook, but Cai's more like Seifer Almasy than any FF character... Anyway I'm losing people.

My plan was to just scrap the FFXV prequel, leave my Somnus ideas into Overtime (a gangster and gods story) and just plan an actual King Arthur adaptation. I'd have King Arthur the treasure hunter, leader of a warband turned founder of Camelot who fights giants, giant cats and dogheads, but also fights King Claudas of the Franks and King Aelle of the Saxons and Cerdic a Briton who puts in his lot with the Saxons, etc. It'd been a a glorified turf war, meanwhile Arthur's gotta make alliances with King Pelles, The Fisher King and his strange cult he's founded because, why yes I find the ends justifies the means prophecy of the Holy Grail Quest very culty because Christianity then does not resemble it now. Meanwhile you got the secondary plots of Mordred, Gawain, Lancelot, Percival, Tristam and other's going on because they matter and too many modern King Arthur stories sideline the knights.

So many have always sidelined Mordred as a final boss eldritch abomination in mortal flesh conceived of sin and give him no personality, or complex motives, or even just a relationship with Arthur. I also have noticed the general sidelining of Lancelot, or give him a chad villain upgrade if you must include him at all, and the villainizing of Gawain to the point that you don't even have to have Mordred, or Agravain as a catalyst shit stirrer in court, just slap Gawain's name on Liam Neeson in a top knot and you're good. Mordred can just be a child offscreen until last act...fuck that, while Morgan Le Fay can either be a villainess plotting her cabal through men, or a well-intentioned, ineffectual idiot. Fuck that.

Now Hollywood just be doing King Arthur first acts that suck ass, only for said director to get rewarded failing upwards by giving this same jerk the Aladdin remake. The tonally shitty, crammed in blockbuster mess of a cliche heroe's journey that sucks.

With that background I was excited for The Green Knight. I read an illustrative version as a kid, I read Tolkien's translation as a teenager, I read Simon Armitage's superior, but with liberties taken translation. I was prepped to go knowing that indie, or not they were going to make changes to weave the disjointed poem together. I'm excited that because this movie exists Project Guternberg's finally thrown Jessie Weston's prose rendition up on their website. I'll be reading that at some point when this blows over.

The movie adaptation makes a lot of...choices, many I wouldn't love, but would forgive had their been a payoff. There was none.

The journey was fine, the cinematography was a breath of fresh air after crappy slo mo, glossy action scenes ruined another. Guys, I don't think I want to see a Zack Snyder Excalibur, it'll marginally be better than Guy Ritchie, but that ain't saying anything. Leave Excalibur to the post-Star Wars 80s where it is impeccable for it's time. I liked Green Knight's breathable pacing, it's color palette's in the forests and mountains made up for the muddy grey of every Ridley Scott send up in the castles and villages in every other Dark Ages/Medieval story in the last I don’t know since the shitty 00′s. For all the dark tones when there was blues, greens, yellows or reds, they were vibrant in this movie to contrast the gloom of Britain. The soundtrack was good. This isn't all what makes a movie, but it enhances it so let's get to the story and what I did and didn't like.

Things I Liked: Gawain is still a novice in his career The Costume Dressing Everyone pronounces Gawain's name different. I pronounce it like Gwayne, or Guh Wayne, but here you got Gowen (like Owen), Gowan (like Rowan), or even Garlon who I'm pretty sure is the Fisher King's heir in some versions of that Arthurian story, so uh... The reference to Arthur slaying 960 men with his bare hands (Nennius for the win!) The Waste Land that is implied to be a site of a battle (an important aspect of the Arthurian landscape) The Fox companion No long grisly, drawn out hunting scenes. The Fox lives! No misogynist speeches

Things I'm Mixed: This being a dream, is the magic real? Are the giants? Is the Green Knight a figment of Gawain's imagination from a spell Morgan casted in him to hallucinate? Is Lord and Lady also figments? It's...a way to interpret the poem, but lazy and I don't see why it's got to all fantasy, or all dream...this movie makes it too vague you're stuck picking one camp than to accept it's a fantasy with dream and hallucinatory sequences.

Things I'm Meh: Morgan Le Fay as Gawain's mom. Look I fucking hate Morgause as a character and these two get merged and steal each other's aspects so much at this point the difference is who did they marry, King Urien or King Lot? Both are attributed to being Mordred's mom, Mordred is Gawain's brother...both practice magic depending on certain incarnations, both love and hate Arthur their brother and are in conflict with him. Saint Winifred. I actually liked this sequence, but I don't appreciate her as the tacked on wife in the later dream sequence as like...a contrast between the wife you should marry than the whore next door you don't respect anyway? I don't even know what lesson I'm supposed to get out of the damn dream sequence, or any of it? That Gawain should've married his girlfriend and then he'd be a just ruler? That he shouldn't be king? That he'd never have to make the same heartless, impartial choices? I don't know, he seemed like a king doing king shit because guess what? It never gets easier. Wars will be waged. The world didn't become better because he married the right woman, respected her and lived in obscurity. The world didn't become better because he made her his queen. We certainly don't know the world would be better Gawain had his head chopped off and dead XP They never reveal the Lord and the Green Knight as one and the same because of this shit.

Things I Hated: Arthur withdraws from the challenge because he's old. In poem he takes it on and Gawain takes it so he don't have to and he finds himself more disposable than the king. Gawain only takes the challenge because of arrogance. Arthur and Gawain had no prior personal relationship. I'd not have hated this so much if it wasn't compounded by it cancelling out the first two things. Gawain is portrayed as having no respect for his woman, or any woman, maybe his mother? He has to be pushed by Winifred to regain her head. Gawain is portrayed as arrogant, covetous and ready to pass the buck, or the bare minimum than have any honor or decency. It didn't matter the kid in the wasteland was shithead bandit, the way Gawain acted towards him, when he gets robbed, it almost feels like he deserved it and Gawain doesn't learn a damn lesson. I'll admit him taking the sword to cut his ropes and cutting his hands was a neat sequence, it shows him go from stupid, to almost clever and having will to survive...you know traits he had in the poem, but he stops showing these traits or growing. Basically Gawain has to be dragged kicking and screaming to help people and shows no fortitude when facing temptation, or when showing respect towards others, it's exhausting. You don't make this kind of journey story without character growth. Why are you skipping this? Also is it just me, or is this like when you take Frank Miller Batman and transport him onto a Bill Finger story? This is at best Thomas Malory Gawain (and this is charitable) transported on the earlier Pearl Poet's story. Stop it. It's not tonally correct and goes at odds with the story and the set up characterization you'd need to tell it. Speaking of which, you know how I get through the oof... of Liam Neeson Gawain in Excalibur? By pretending he Agravain instead. Here...I don't even think Gawain could pass as Mordred in spite of his covetous nature, lust and entitlement. Why? because I don't think even Mordred is this dumb to warrant this hubris. Essel being invented as a tacked on love interest just to be shit on utterly and for what? I don't think I have much commentary here as there is no Essel I'm aware of to compare, or stack up. I just notice this trope of like...usually if you include a sex worker in Hollywood she often has a heart of gold, she often has her own sense of values that goes at odds with society, but is more true and less hypocritical than a privileged lady’s. I thought that's what they would've done with the added trope of back at home sweetheart to contrast and pit her against the despicable femme fatale of Lady Bertilak and her adultery and her ladyship...and I'm glad they didn't...but you did nothing with Essel than to shit on her for existing when you made her exist, you know. Lady Bertilak being portrayed as the seductress devil incarnate. Look I know adultery is a touchy taboo, but uh her and Gawain hit it off in the poem, dammit! Her values and his values come to clash, but here it's played off as Gawain is stupid and covetous and Lady Bertilak wants to prove something because...? If my brother's theory that she's a figment of Morgan Le Fay's magic, then I'll take this as a lesson of Gawain is impulsive and covetous and his mom knows it, but he don't want to fuck his mom, but he wants her power, and Morgan wants to teach him a lesson... I guess. Hey we don't have misogynist speeches in this movie, but we'll make sure to have the movie drip with it with no point, or commentary. Pass. Lord guilting, extracting and initiating the same sex kiss and only once. Poem automatically better that Gawain don't have to keep being reminded to keep his part of the bargain and he does it willingly more than once. What he doesn't do is give up his belt...gods how did we get more homophobic as a society that the homoeroticism here is worse? Catholics of the middle ages officially had no issue doing same sex, passionate kissing until it lead to sex. The Ending: The gods damn ending. In the movie as is, Gawain waits to uphold his end of the bargain and get his head chopped off. He imagines, even though we don't get any fuzzy or distortion to indicate this is a dream, but I already knew this was coming, he runs away and comes home, is regarded a hero, he sees his lady, takes her from behind and if you saw Brokeback Mountain (I didn't, but DJ has) you know this is a sign of disrespect to women. He gets her knocked up, pays her off for the kid she wants to keep, he is crowned king, marries the ghostly saint lady he helped retrieve her head earlier from a lake in the movie (this right here is the damn tip off). There's no more dialogue by this point and everything is montaging, so you know by now it's a dream, though nothing is out of focus. He rules as a heartless king, his whore son dies from war he waged, he has a daughter, his wife dies. Gawain then takes off the belt that would've saved his life and his head falls off. This would've been the one good twist, except... In this sequence of events he never had his head cut off so uh... now we back in present day. He decides not to bitch out, Green Knight in a sexy way is like "now off with your head," movie cuts to credits with no resolve...uh what the fuck? What the fuck? This is not good. You wasted the one twist in your dream when idk, you could've...

How I'd fix it: No dream sequence at all. No Incident At Owl Creek twist. Gawain comes home a hero and survivor of this game and ordeal. He wears this belt of shame. He becomes a well-renowned knight, but he bears a shame. One day he goes to take off his belt and his head falls off because he cheated to get this belt and to survive this encounter. There. Done. Improved your high concept movie that couldn't play any of the lessons straight from the damn poem without making everyone an asshole for no reason! Ugh! But nope you had to end it on we don’t know if Gawain lives or dies...because...it's dream magic made from his momma's witchcraft...?

Last Thoughts So then post-credits scene because Marvel because Pirates Of The Caribbean existed. A white girl who looks nothing like Gawain's daughter we see who didn’t pay off, or any child I can remember through this whole movie picks up King Arthur's crown that dream Gawain inherited and puts it on her head. Who is this girl? Are we gonna have an indie equivalent of of the Marvel Movie Universe/Universal Horror Monsters thing with ancient British legends? We gonna get a Life Of Saint Patrick next that crosses over? I don't know. What is this?

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers GRAND EDITION for Switch ;; More, Blood ー Reiji Maniac [Epilogue]

Monologue

ーー Why Father has chosen this woman,

puzzles me to no end.

‘Mediocre’ is the only way one could describe her.

The triplets’ mother, is the daughter of the Demon Lord.

She is broken beyond repair,

however, her blood is highly valuable.

The reason why Father chose her is that simple,

and most likely boils down to that.

On the flip side, I wonder what can be said,

about our mother?

There is absolutely nothing she has going for her.

If I had to name thing, it would have to be her fidelity.

Despite being our mother, her lack of noteworthy traits,

is truly a shame.

There have even been times where I found myself wishing,

I had been born as the son of one of my younger brothers’ mother.

Mother is fulfilling her maternal duties,

but besides that, she truly is a worthless woman.

If anything, the way she desperately tries to be a good mother,

makes her all the more unsighty in my eyes.

ー The scene starts with a flashback of an older Reiji in the study room

Reiji: ...Haah...

*Flip*

Reiji: ( ...How horribly boring. Can I really just stay like this...Without any ambitions or a clear goal in mind? )

( Simply protecting his household is an easy feat, I assume. At this point, only fools would be so stupid to make themselves our enemy. )

( They are not worth my time...Instead of that, I...Rather than protecting this house...I want to aim for something bigger... )

*Cling*

ーー Father, what should I do?

Beatrix: Reiji.

Reiji: ...Mother. Is something the matter?

Beatrix: No. You are reading a complex book once again, it seems.

Reiji: ...This one isn’t particularly complicated.

Beatrix: Don’t be so modest. You truly are a clever child. As your mother, I feel very proud.

As long as you’re here, I’m su...

Reiji: Mother.

Beatrix: Reiji...?

Reiji: Please excuse me. I just remembered some important business.

Beatrix: I-I see...In that case, go ahead.

Reiji: Pardon me.

ー Reiji leaves the room

*TIMESKIP*

Reiji: Fuck...It pisses me off.

( Why is that woman like that? Time after time after time...Whenever she sees my face, she spouts those compliments. )

( And one phrase she says on repeat. How I’ll become a great right-hand man to Shuu... )

I do not care about that...Not one bit! ...Shuu’s right-hand man? Hah! Nonsense!

( Mother must have gone mad to think that being the right-hand man to Shuu, something even a child could do, is considered an accomplishment. )

( Besides, why do I have to serve under that imbecile simply because I was born after him? )

( Good grief...Not only is it of no interest to me, it is simply ridiculous... )

( Does Father truly...wish for this situation? For real? )

I wonder why someone of Father’s caliber...wishes for such a ridiculous situation...?

Even though he holds the power to conquer the world...No, to conquer everything.

( If he truly thinks things are fine like that, I simply cannot forgive him. )

ーー A family like this, might as well fall into ruin.

*TIMESKIP*

Seiji: So the woman on this picture is the target?

Reiji: Yes, without a doubt.

...However, it truly is curious.

To think that one day, I would have a conversation with someone like youーー

With a Vampire hunter.

I am counting on you, okay?

Seiji: …I shall fulfill the request without fail.

And eventually, I will come to kill you as well.

Reiji: Yes, please come at any time. I will be awaiting your arrival.

Seems like…This shall not be the last time meet. (1)

Seiji: Hmph...

ー Seiji leaves

Reiji: Fufu…

Soon enough, you will get to know first-hand.

ー Who is the most worthy to stand at the top, that is…

Don’t you think so too, Mother…?

( Upon losing something precious, perhapsthat good-for-nothing will open his eyes a little as well. )

( Serves you right...As a punishment for not using the power given to you... )

( Furthermore, Father...You shall suffer the same fate... )

On the planned day and hour, Father will come to Mother’s side to see her...

( That will mark the end of this house... )

ー The flashback ends as the scene shifts to the bedroom

Reiji: Guh...Uu...Fuck...Haah...The thrist is not...settling down in the slightest...

*Rustle*

Reiji: Has one of the people in this manor ...slipped something in my food... after all...? Kuh...Haah, haah...

Kuh...

...However, I should have not given them any openings...

Yui: ...

Reiji: Haah, haah...Fuck...You sure have the nerve to...sigh so peacefully in your sleep while...I’m suffering over here. Haah.

Haah...Haah...Kuh...While I do believe...I should just...suck her blood as I please...

...I do not like it one bit...I should be...a Vampire who has learnt to control their own desires...

ーー Control the desire...

*Cling*

I see...So this is what Father wanted to tell me...Hahaha...To think this is how I would come to this realization...

The mental strength needed not to peek at the clock’s face after obtaining the pocket watch showing the end of time...

ーー How unfortunate, Father...I have looked at it long ago...

*Cling*

Fufufu...How pathetic, I am ashamed of myself...It is almost as if...Father predicted that this would happen to me.

We are all...dancing in the palm of your hand, aren’t we...? However, I...

ーー That side of you...Is exactly what I find so endearing, and extremely infuriating.

Haah, haah...Guh...Again...The urges are welling up inside of...me...

Yui: ...Reiji-san...!? Are you okay...?

Reiji: Che...You’ve awakened? In that case...It would be in your best interest to...get away from me as soon as possible...

Reiji: The...slight hesitation...from back then...I can’t say the same about my current state...

Yui: Is there anything...I can do?

Reiji: ...Water...Bring water...

Yui: Water, right? Please wait one second...!

ー Yui pours him a glass of water

Yui: ( Reiji-san must have caught some sort of disease after all...He’s suffering this much... )

Reiji: Phew...Kuh...

Yui: Hang in there! Here...Water!

Reiji: Haah...Haah...I know it’ll only bring temporary relief but...even so, I’m sure it’s better than drinking your blood.

*Gulp gulp*

Reiji: Nn...

Yui: ...!

( ...His hands are shaking, he can barely drink it properly... )

Reiji: Che...This is vexing. At this rate, I might as well use my own hands to tear apart my own body...

*Thud*

Yui: ...Reiji-san! You might not like this...but endure it for a bit, okay?

Reiji: ...What are you...?

Yui: ...

( Reiji-san does not want my blood. In that case, this is the only thing I can do for him... )

Nn!

ー Yui feeds him the water mouth-to-mouth

Reiji: ...!?

Yui: ( Reiji-san...Please swallow...You might not want to, but at least... )

*Gulp gulp gulp*

Reiji: Nn...!

Yui: Haah...

Reiji: ...What is the idea behind this? Making me drink the water...mouth-to-mouth...

Yui: I just...really don’t want to see you suffer like that...

Reiji: ...Yui...

Yui: ...Has it eased down a little?

Reiji: Haah...Temporarily, at least...

Yui: I see, thank god...

Reiji: I don’t understand how you can say that...? In your eyes, I am nothing but a pesky predator, am I right?

Yui: If I thought that way, I wouldn’t be here right now.

Reiji: Then, what is it? What point is there...in trying to help me out?

Yui: Meaning...you ask...?

Reiji: Good grief...I simply cannot comprehend someone like you.

Yui: Sorry.

Reiji: Haah...Come on, now’s your chance. Please leave before I start suffering again...

Yui: Would you be...better off without me?

Reiji: When you’re here...I feel like I’ll lose all reason.

Someone like me will...Fufu...It almost sounds like a joke, don’t you think?

Yui: No way, don’t call it a joke...

Reiji: It’s fine. Aah, right...While I’m at it and still am capable of thinking logically, there is something I’d like to ask your opinion on.

Yui: Opinion? What is it?

Reiji: We talked about the pocket watch of demise the other day, right? When Father handed me down this clock...

Shuu was given a violin by Father at the same time.

Yui: A violin?

Reiji: Yes. I am sure I do not have to add that it was a true showpiece...

Even now, I still find myself wondering. Why a violin for Shuu?

And why a pocket watch for me?

Yui: I suppose it wasn’t a simple reasoning such as Shuu being fond of music?

Reiji: Of course not. There must be a hidden meaning behind it. It was a gift from that Father of ours after all.

Although, I did more or less realize the meaning behind my pocket watch earlier...

Yui: ...Eh?

Reiji: Forget about the clock. It’s the violin I want to know about...I’m sure you have plenty of time on your hands.

As I am slowly losing my ability to reason, I would like you to take my place...and rack your small brain over its meaning.

Yui: Reiji-san...

Reiji: Guh...No good...Haah...Come on, go! Hurry!

Yui: Y-Yes...Please excuse me!

ー Yui steps out in the hallway

Yui: ( He chased me out... )

Haah...

( Why Shuu was gifted a violin, huh...? Will I really be able to...find an answer to that question? )

( Furthermore, Reiji-san was given a pocket watch... )

( He said he more or less grasped the meaning behind that one, but what could it be? )

( I wish he’d be a little more worried about his own health right now, rather than worrying over the meaning behind those presents... )

( I understand that he does not want to lose his own reason, but I don’t think he has to hold back to the point of suffering. )

( Wouldn’t he feel at least a little better if he drank my blood to his heart’s content? )

( Is he perhaps ーー Looking out for me...? )

( No way, right? That’s being a little too conceited of me... I’m sure Reiji-san would get upset if he heard that. )

( Haah, if only I knew what was causing those symptoms... )

( I don’t want Reiji-san to suffer any longer... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) Literally he says ‘Seems like our relationship will last long.’

<- [ Maniac 10 ] [ Ecstasy Epilogue ] ->

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 263: [Immigrant Song Intensifies]

Previously on BnHA: Ujiko sicced five Noumus on Miruko. Rephrase that: Ujiko sicced only five Noumus on Miruko. In hindsight this was obviously a mistake. Miruko proceeded to laugh and jump around kicking all of them and literally ripping the head off of the strongest one’s neck with nothing but her thighs. It was legendary and awe-inspiring and also she lost an arm but WHO EVEN CARES, I’m still pledging my allegiance to her. Miruko once beat the sun in a staring contest. Miruko’s calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, because nobody fucking fools Miruko. Anyway so also the heroes are finally attacking the League of Pliff’s HQ and Skeptic is running around all “AHHHH” so I guess we’ll see how that goes now.

Today on BnHA: Things finally get started over in Gunga, although for the time being most of the kids from 1-A and 1-B are still sitting around in the woods all pent-up and anxious and restlessly shipping KamiJirou. Meanwhile on the front lines, three-and-a-half-year-old Kaminari Denki is all “SOB I WANT TO BE BACK WITH MY FRIENDS WHERE IT’S SAFE”, to which Midnight, who I would just like to remind you is (1) an adult, (2) a teacher, and (3) a person responsible for this literal child’s safety in any number of other capacities, responds with “SORRY KIDDO WE NEED YOUR QUIRK.” I have yet to see any compelling evidence that they really do need it, but putting that dubious matter aside, Kaminari does kick some ass once he gets over his anxieties. Meanwhile Cementoss tears a building in half, Tokoyami reflects on how he was exposed to Kaminari’s good and pure moral character during their many soulful jam sessions, Hawks is about to kill Twice, and – wait, what.

a few stray thoughts since this chapter is taking forever to come out today. one, the good guys need to take out Twice and Toga as soon as they find them, because they’re currently the deadliest combination in the League. Twice for obvious reasons, and Toga because I’m pretty sure she got some of Aizawa’s blood that one time back during the Basement arc, and that fact coupled with the fact that she can now use the quirk of whoever she transforms into spells big trouble for the good guys since she can basically just cancel out whoever’s quirk she wants. plus she’s probably also immune to Midnight’s quirk. all in all bad news

two, it is interesting that Hagakure is the only 1-A kid we haven’t seen yet! probably just me overreacting, but still interesting!

(ETA: we do see her standing next to Mina in this chapter, so so much for that. you get out of it this time Tooru!)

and three, I’m not clear on whether or not Skeptic has actually figured out that Hawks betrayed them, or if he just suspects it, or if he thinks that Hawks leaked something accidentally and doesn’t realize that this entire time the dude was 100% playing them. I’m sure we’ll find out shortly. but regardless of how this plays out, I’m already dreading Twice’s reaction to all this :/ my sweet innocent baby. HE THOUGHT YOU WERE HIS FRIEND HAWKS. HE TRUSTED YOU. fff I really hope Twice’s inherently good and trusting nature isn’t a casualty of all this. then again I still think Twice himself is very unlikely to survive this. so basically I’m just bracing myself for pain sob

(ETA: oh this is bad.)

(ETA 2: by the way just to clarify, the above paragraphs were all written on Friday, and the rest of this recap+all ETAs were written the next day when I finally got to read the chapter! this is not important in any way whatsoever but now you know and that’s half the battle!)

“it’s time” holy shit finally lol. you all have been camped out over here for weeks now. not that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy each and every second of Miruko’s one-woman murder show, but it is nice to finally check in with you guys over here so we can get to work at last and I can get a better feel for who’s about to die. cuz someone here is dying guys

the chapter is called “I wanna be with the others!!” so. this is gonna be a Kaminari chapter isn’t it. I wonder what fresh new traitorous hijinks he’ll be getting up to this week. that detestable scoundrel

Mineta is being all weasel-y and reluctant, and honestly, I’m a bit annoyed. and for once it’s not directed at him! it’s like... how do I explain it. okay, so like, the manga is showing him being all cowardly and clearly not at all happy about being out here, and the fact that it’s Mineta doing it only adds to the general flavor of this being the wrong attitude to have and just a really shameful way of acting in general, because it’s Mineta and we all know Mineta is vile and so clearly he’s in the wrong here! the only thing is though, I actually don’t blame him even if he’s being a little shit about it, because the kids absolutely should not be here in the first place. are they strong? fuck yes. are they gonna end up being the ones to turn the tide once everything inevitably goes to shit, and thus the others are really goddamn lucky that they’re here? probably. does that make it right to conscript kids and send them out here to a soon-to-be war zone which the adults have very little control over meaning that some of these children will almost certainly be injured and traumatized and possibly even killed? nope! not right at all! no amount of “plus ultra” can justify this, folks. and “we get that it’s wrong but that’s just the fucked up times we live in” doesn’t actually justify it either, even if the HPSC seems to think so

but having said all that, there’s clearly nothing to be done about it at this point, and I’m about to enjoy this chapter of the kids presumably kicking ass even after all that whining, so I’ll just carefully climb down from my soapbox now. but I’m still keeping it handy just in case!

who the fuck is this Thundercats guy who looks like he was part of an old timey street gang in 1920s Chicago

lol can he hear the villain hotel being ripped in half over there in the distance

and speaking of hearing, Jirou is popping her earbuds into the ground to do some reconnaissance of her own I guess!

the heroes?? she better not mean the villains. oh lord I still don’t have the faintest idea how they’re planning on actually containing them all. well, brace yourselves everyone. here comes the shitshow

now Gangs of New York is making the most unnecessary speech in the history of this manga

were any of them actually going to be careless?? I’m pretty sure they understand the gravity of the situation my dude. and if they didn’t, I’d say that’s honestly on you guys and not on them because, again, they’re kids. and if you didn’t want a bunch of teenagers goofing off during your incredibly dangerous and vitally important do-or-die hero mission, then maybe you shouldn’t have brought a bunch of teenagers to your incredibly dangerous and vitally important do-or-die hero mission

“listen makeste are you just going to sit around all day bitching about my cardinal sin of daring to involve your precious little darlings in the actual plot,” the imaginary Horikoshi that sits around trying to keep these recaps from veering off track interjects. and okay fine

sob it feels wrong to see MomoJirou there without their Kaminari

(ETA: and there is Hagakure on the left, FYI. at least I think that’s her?)

their baby boy is all out there alone in the woods. is that why you were really listening, Jirou? you can tell me, I promise not to make a big deal about it

MOMO ARE YOU COMFORTING JIROU WHILE SHE OPENLY WORRIES ABOUT “TOKOYAMI”

I lied, I might make a big thing about it. what a beautiful March day for some OT3

MY INFANT SON!!

HE’S ONLY TWO YEARS OLD!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!? MIDNIGHT YOU BETTER KEEP HIM SAFE!! at least until he makes it back safely into the hands of his friends, the League of Villains

meanwhile here’s a fun tip, this manga gets 100x funnier if you scroll back up to that panel of Jirou being all serious and saying “they’re on the move” now that we know that this outburst is almost certainly what she was listening to lmao. “oh, Kaminari is crying, that must mean they’re getting started”

and here they go!!

who is that in the witch hat?? COULD THIS BE THE LEGENDARY MAJESTIC, AT LONG LAST? this person looks like they cobbled together their entire hero costume from Sero’s bedroom. just ransacked it and draped all of his tapestries and throw pillows every which way over some Adidas pants. goddammit who is this person, I need to know everything about them right now

DAMMIT MIDNIGHT

HE’S NOT OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS GODDAMMIT. HE IS YOUNG AND PLIABLE!! WHAT DID YOU DO, OFFER HIM CANDY. DID YOU PROMISE YOU WOULD TAKE HIM TO CHUCK E. CHEESE AFTER IF HE WAS GOOD

SON OF A BITCH ARE YOU GUILTING HIM

I DON’T LIKE THIS, MIDNIGHT. I MEAN, YOU ALREADY KNOW, IT’S NOT LIKE I’VE MADE A BIG SECRET OF IT OR ANYTHING. GUH

and he’s shouting back “no I don’t think you adults are pathetic at all!” while still looking terrified! goddammit how do I cast protection on a fictional character in a manga. I don’t play D&D, but D&D players can do that, right? how do I create a shield around my party. Kaminari you stay put while I try and figure this all out

lmaoooooo Tokoyami’s words of encouragement

A MAGNIFICENT FELLOW. you guys I’m gonna be honest, lately I’ve been enjoying these fan scanlations even more than the official ones at times. obviously Viz’s are fine and good, but sometimes it’s almost like they localize everything a little too much, you know? most people don’t go around calling other people magnificent fellows, but would Tokoyami? yes. yes he would. I believe this in every fiber of my heart

LMAO KAMINARI

“KAMINARI, I REALIZED WHEN WE WERE PLAYING GUITAR TOGETHER... WAY TO WHITE-KNUCKLE THOSE SICK FRETS, HALEN.” thank you so much for that Tokoyami but we are kind of in the middle of something so I’m not sure if right now is really the time to start asking my boy here for his autograph. after, maybe

now Cementoss is literally screaming “ATTACK!” and throwing subtlety to the winds

and now we’re back to this!

and it looks like this is most likely Cementoss using his quirk to tear the building in half! so that’s one mystery from last week solved! holy shit you guys I just realized we’re actually going to see Cementoss in action. so long as the environment is right, dude is a literal earthbender. we may be in for a rare treat

Skeptic is shouting at his minions to alert the Council. it’s okay, Cementoss already alerted them for you I’m pretty sure

so he’s sending Violet and Black to the front entrance, and Cleveland and Carmine to the Assembly Hall (where the Council is). these, if you recall, are the names of the various Vanguard squads, though I don’t recall who is actually on which squad and I really don’t want to go back and look it up... but fine!

okay, Twice is on the Black squad and Dabi and Otter Pop are on Violet. so they’re being dispatched to the front, while Toga, Compress, Spinner, and Skeptic himself (how convenient for you Skeptic) are heading to the Assembly Hall. isn’t that nice that Dabi is heading out to the front, where my son Kaminari “Clapton” Denki is. hahaha. fuck

Lefty Hair is now making a sudden appearance and giving Skeptic some threatening “you majorly fucked up and the only reason I’m letting it slide for now is because we’ve got bigger things to worry about” vibes, which I like. also he has a cigarette. it’s been a while since I’ve seen a manga character actually smoke a cigarette. I guess only villains are allowed to smoke them now

YOU GUYS LOOK HOW FUCKING RAW CEMENTOSS LOOKS HERE HOLY SHIT

HOW MANY PEOPLE IS CEMENTOSS GOING TO KILL TODAY. place your bets. and is cement stronger than fire. please don’t die Cementoss

YOU GUYS HE FUCKING SLAMMED THE FUCKING BUILDING OPEN LIKE ARAGORN OPENING THOSE FUCKING DOUBLE DOORS IN THE TWO TOWERS. I KNOW YOU CAN’T ACTUALLY SLAM A DOOR OPEN BUT ARE WE GOING TO SIT HERE AND ARGUE SEMANTICS ALL DAY OR ARE WE GOING TO KEEP READING??

ARE WE EVEN ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS MUCH BADASSERY IN A CHAPTER THAT DOESN’T HAVE MIRUKO IN IT. LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY FORGOT TO INFORM THE BADASSERY GUILD THAT THEIR UNION MEMBERS ARE WORKING OVERTIME. I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M GOING WITH THIS METAPHOR I GOT TOO EXCITED

by the way I like how a key part of their “let’s contain all the villains” plan was to open up their secret HQ and spill them all out like a bunch of ants. everyone knows this is the best way to keep people contained. instead of stationing people outside of every exit, let’s just make the entire building into one giant exit and MELEE AWAY ALL YOUR PROBLEMS

who died and made Lefty the smartest guy in the room

if only they had all listened to you, Mister Smart Guy. you’re so smart. why didn’t they put you in charge. probably just because they were jealous

booooo it looks like Black and Violet are attacking but Twice and Dabi are nowhere to be found! because they’re part of the Council?? boooo

Best Sweaterist can do anything a sweater can do. it’s not a very good power. everyone was all “you look like the number 3 hero you must be really strong” and so she got promoted waaaaay above her skill level and it’s too late for her to do anything about it now so good luck Best Sweaterist

finally some people from the League!

but where is Hawks? AND WHY IS DABI HEADING THE OPPOSITE WAY AS EVERYONE ELSE HOLY SHIT

LOL HAWKS YOU BEST MAKE YOURSELF SCARCE MY DUDE. OH FUCK

(ETA: Dabi is either going to arrive just in time to save Twice, or just in time to witness Hawks murdering him, and I’m not sure which would be worse.)

OH MY GOD EDGESHOT GOT A LINE

I CAN’T FUCKING WAIT TO HEAR THIS WITH MY OWN TWO EARS IN THE ANIME. IT’S GONNA BE SO GREAT AH MAN. but real talk, Miruko should be above him in the power rankings. I’m sorry I don’t make the rules. but unless you kill three Noumus within the next few pages here I’d say it’s pretty clear cut

OH NO MY SIX-YEAR-OLD SON, MY POOR BABY, HE LOOKS SO FRIGHTENED NOW. LIKE GENUINELY AFRAID-FOR-HIS-LIFE FRIGHTENED AND NOT JUST COMICALLY FRIGHTENED OH MY GOD I CAN’T

Kaminari you sweet little lamb, it’s going to be okay. you just take a deep breath and zap some of these PLF fuckers and then you can go run and hide and you’ll be playing tacky arcade games and eating hit-or-miss-quality pizza before you know it

Kami is actually in a lot of danger here what with how helpless he gets after he uses too much of his quirk though. (unless of course you subscribe to the theory that he doesn’t actually go dumb at all and that’s when he’s secretly transmitting his traitor messages to the zetans.) whose fucking idea was it to put him on the front lines, honestly. he’s only four!!

fuck me, Midnight sees him panicking and she’s being all soothing and encouraging while also being ridiculously sexy as usual. dammit Midnight

hey Kaminari if you want to think about Momo and Jirou I’m not going to complain, I just want you to know that. you can even make it all platonic by just saying “my friends.” either way is fine and I will respect your smokescreen

ahh he’s turning around and the camera is zooming back to the woods where the rest of 1-A are!

the title of this chapter is becoming surprisingly meaningful!! well played!

WOW

I don’t even know what to say?! I basically just slapped both of my cheeks and said “AWWW” out loud?! would you fucking look at these two bisexual icons living it up in this the year of our lord 2020. what a blessing

oh hey this guy decided it was time for him to talk again

okay Kami I give you permission to go pikachu on his ass. go ahead and show us why the heroes went ahead and violated ILO conventions in order to bring you here

don’t tell me this guy is also an electric type. lol who could have guessed that, there were absolutely no clues at all in his hairstyle or anywhere else. I would definitely have noticed something like that because I definitely pay attention to these things lol

(ETA: and presumably the heroes knew the identities of the Vanguard squadron leaders thanks to Hawks, and knew they had to have some sort of plan in place for this guy’s quirk, hence them being all “hey Kaminari let’s talk.”)

anyway

OH SHIT YOU GUYS KAMINARI IS ABOUT TO BE A BADASS!?

MOTHERFUCKER WAS THAT A SHOUNEN WOOSH???! whaaaaaat oh shit everybody brace yourselves

and now a Tokoyami flashback to the two of them jamming like little hero Hendrixes

because he prioritized the health of his fingers beneath his desire to learn the guitar to help his friends perform, you realized he was truly a magnificent fellow. aw shit it’s all coming together

yep

look how evil that smile in the last panel is. clearly the traitor. probably this other electric man is his dad

USING AN ELECTRIC ATTACK AGAINST ANOTHER ELECTRIC TYPE CLEARLY WON’T WORK AND THUS THIS IS ONLY A FAKE ATTACK DESIGNED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN HIS COVER!

LOOK HOW EVIL HE IS

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A FIVE-YEAR-OLD HAVING THIS KIND OF RAW FIREPOWER UNLESS HE’S SECRETLY EVIL!??!

OH MY GOD I LITERALLY SAID “OH MY GOD” VERY LOUDLY IN REAL LIFE AND NOW I’M HOPING MY NEIGHBORS DIDN’T HEAR HOW LOUDLY AND EMBARASSINGLY I SAID “OH MY GOD”

FUUUUCK

just. it’s like this weird and crazy feeling that’s a combination of adrenaline and chills-rushing-up-your-spine. that’s the sensation of clicking to a page and suddenly seeing the thing we fucking knew was going to happen, but just because we knew doesn’t mean we actually wanted it to happen, shit

holy shit. does Jin have to die in order for the heroes to succeed? probably. do I want it to actually happen? NO. am I suddenly reevaluating every single thing I thought I knew about Hawks and mentally updating Jeanist’s presumed mortality status in my head?? yes. are Hawks’s eyes here going to give me nightmares for the entire coming week? also yes. am I really unsettled wondering if those eyes were the last thing Jeanist ever saw? listen why do you keep asking me all of these intrusive and deeply upsetting questions like I’m some kind of magic 8 ball?? am I going to be on the edge of my fucking seat now waiting for next week? fuck

[goodomensblog]

Afterward - Part 9

A Good Omens Choose Your Own Adventure Fic

Here’s how it works:

I’ll write a scene.

At the end of each scene, you’ll be presented with 2-3 options for what the characters will choose to do next.

Comment or reblog to vote for your choice. I’ll count all votes after the first 24 hours after each update is posted.

Read: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8

(#3 is the winner! And the results are...interesting)

Afterward - - Part 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I mean,” Gabriel says, shrugging, “I always assumed demons had some way of healing other demons, but if you-”

“Yes, yeah we’ve got ways,” Crowley says with a glare. “But it’s complicated, alright? Some of them only work in Hell. And we can’t exactly pop down for a visit.”

Aziraphale’s hand is gentle, a soothing touch on his shoulder. 

“We’ll find another way.”

“There is another way. Might be the best option that we’ve got, given the circumstances.”

“And ...?” Gabriel says, impatiently waving him on. “Come on. Get on with it.”

Aziraphale’s hand remains on Crowley’s shoulder, and at Gabriel’s tone, they share a commiserating look.

If Beelzebub didn’t have information on a rampaging Satan - and potentially hold the key to keeping him at bay, Crowley wouldn’t even be attempting to deal with Gabriel and his over-the-top dickery. 

But considering that a crazed Satan does in fact, pose a significant problem for everyone, Aziraphale included, Crowley is willing to deal. 

For now.

With a long, deep sigh, Crowley rolls his neck, and begins, “It’s a ritual. One of the ancient ones. Transfers a portion of one being’s life force to another.”

Gabriel, thin lips mercifully closed, is nodding.

“I’ll have to perform the ritual. So you,” Crowley says, nodding sharply at Gabriel, “will have to offer up a bit of angelic life.”

Silence swallows the room.

Gabriel opens his mouth, closes it, and opens it again. He tilts his head, blinking, and finally says, stiff and sharp, “Yeah, no. I’m not doing that.”

“Beelzebub is dying, you jackass,” Crowley hisses, gesturing at the burnt demon, small and sunk into Gabriel’s lavish couch. “You’ve got plenty of life to spare. Get the fuck over yourself.”

Beside him, Aziraphale has a hand on Beelzebub’s wrist. He chances a short glance at Gabriel before worriedly re-examining the fading demon. 

Arms folded across his chest like a shield, Gabriel shifts, looking between them.

“Gabriel,” Crowley demands.

Twitching in a distinctly uncomfortable manner, the archangel turns a quick circle. A muscle works in his jaw. Rubbing his hands over his arms, he shakes his head once.

“Transporting you all from that church was one thing. But giving up some of my holy energy to — to —” and here, Gabriel glances down at Beelzebub, and blinking, averts his gaze. “I’m an Archangel. It would be beyond blasphemy.”

“But Gabriel,” Aziraphale starts, then stops. Carefully placing Beelzebub’s hand on the couch, he looks up. “I know you’re not on the same side, but you two have worked together. In a sense. And I don’t know the full story, clearly, but Beelzebub trusted you to—”

“Yeah, well they shouldn’t have.”

“Obviously,” Crowley drawls, lips curling back over teeth.

“It can’t be angelic to let a being just die—”

“You—” and here Gabriel stops, pressing a fist against his lips. He hisses a breath through clenched teeth. “There are rules, Aziraphale. And you never got this, but there are the right ways of breaking the rules and the wrong ways. Using one’s own angelic life force to literally breathe life into a demon is the wrong way.”

“...but,” Aziraphale says, shaking his head, “either way, it’s breaking the rules—”

“Plausible deniability, Aziraphale,” Gabriel breathes, and the sound of it is the exhaustion of ages.

“You’re really going to let Beelzebub die on your couch,” Crowley says.

Violet eyes shutter, and Gabriel turns, staring fixedly at the floor. 

“My hands are tied.”

“We could make you,” Crowley says, deadly quiet.

“You could try.”

“Crowley, stop. We can’t fight here. If we’re, I mean - I assume Gabriel brought us to...?” Aziraphale halts, glancing at Gabriel for confirmation.

Arms folded, Gabriel gives a short nod.

Heaven.

It’s his second time returning to the above in the span of a few months, and Crowley feels as little this time as he did the first. And it’s - odd, considering that Heaven - or at least his expulsion from it, has been, for many centuries, a topic of particular fixation. His lack of attachment - feeling - anything - with regard to Heaven, now that he, again, stands upon it’s pristine floors, has Crowley thinking, in a vague, distracted sense, of the nature of home. 

It’s Aziraphale’s voice, soft and musing, which draws Crowley from his thoughts.

“Release too much power, and they’ll sense our presence here.”

“Gabriel wouldn’t want that either,” Crowley thinks aloud as he refocuses on the problem at hand. Gaze wandering to the twitching Archangel, he adds, “Imagine, being caught red-handed, harboring two demons and an angelic fugitive.” 

“It’s a moot point, because we especially do not want to be discovered, Crowley,” Aziraphale says. “I don’t want to imagine what Heaven would do to us, let alone Beelzebub.” 

Pressing his lips in a thin line, Aziraphale nods once, apparently arriving at some conclusion.

“I’ll do it,” Aziraphale announces.

“You - um - what?”

“We need Beelzebub. At the very least, to find out what they know,” Aziraphale insists. “I’ll happily give up a portion of my life force to heal them.”

Crowley blinks, and there’s a stuttering rhythm in his ears, because Aziraphale was nearly d—

He can’t even think it.

“You’re an idiot,” Crowley says, tongue curling around the shape of an agitated hiss. “Look at you, still pale from your lassst guh - bloody gavotte with death. You don’t have any extra life to spare, Aziraphale.”

“Crowley,” Aziraphale says, solemn and serious, “I know myself. I know my form. I will be fine.”

Shoulders hunching, Crowley roughly shakes his head, “No. No.” Heaving a sharp breath, he shakes his head again for good measure. “Better idea. How ‘bout we off Gabriel - consequences be damned - and give Beelzebub all his miserable life energy?”

“Dear,” Aziraphale says, as Gabriel calls out—

“Fuck you too, buddy.”

And Crowley is standing, Aziraphale’s hand on his wrist as Gabriel turns, sword re-emerging from the aether-

“You are,” a halting, tremulous voice wheezes, “the actual fucking worst. And I hate... all of you.”

Aziraphale is first to react. Hands fluttering, he drops back to his knees.

“Oh, oh dear. You’d better — oh you really shouldn’t move.”

Ignoring him, Beelzebub claws the couch, attempting to rise - and promptly falls back, raking deep gouges in the cushions on their way back down. 

Crowley watches the spectacle, and for Beelzebub’s benefit, lifts a single, unimpressed brow.

Baring their teeth, the demon lord manages a wheezing cough in place of a snarl.

“While you’re up,” Crowley says, conversational, “You’re in support of us killing Gabriel to feed you his life force, yeah? He’s not really in the giving mood, it seems.”

Beelzebub’s dark, slitted eyes shift in Gabriel’s direction. 

“...what did you honestly expect?” Beelzebub says, matter-of-fact. “Angels don’t go... go around helping demons. And demons don’t help angels.”

It’s an echo of Gabriel’s own words, but the Archangel determinedly refuses to meet Beelzebub’s gaze. Fingering the edges of his pressed coat, he dips his chin once in silent agreement.

“...we exchange in trades...,” Beelzebub says, their voice little more than a sigh, “...and I’ve got information to trade...if, if you assholes can keep me alive long enough to share it.”

“So we kill Gabriel-”

“Stop offering to kill Gabriel,” Beelzebub snaps, and across the room, the archangel’s shoulders stiffen. “Just,” Beelzebub groans, “...it would be...bit ambitious to ask for a bit of Hellfire, huh?”

“A bit,” Aziraphale says, wincing.

Crowley and Gabriel, in what must be the first time in...well - ever, seem to have the same thought, at the exact same time.

“Now hold on a sec—.”

“Um. About that.”

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Two angels and a demon are TRYING to figure out how to save a friend complicated acquaintance, and they’ve all got different ideas of how to go about doing it...

Gabriel’s idea: steal borrow without, uh, permission, Heaven’s super secret stash of Hellfire, squirreled away after Aziraphale was supposed to be executed. It is well guarded at the best of times, and for reasons Gabriel refuses to talk about, Heaven is on high alert today...

Crowley’s idea: Get in touch with a reliable  mostly reliable contact from Hell. Crowley is sure that if he can get back down to the surface and - erm, pays his contact well enough - he’ll be able to get a flask of Hellfire, probably...

Aziraphale’s idea: Go through with the ritual and give up a portion of his life. Crowley is worried over nothing. Truthfully, Aziraphale feels fine. In fact, strangely enough, better than fine…

(AUTHOR’S NOTE - these are all possible plot threads that can and WILL be explored later, so even if it’s not picked this round, mysteries will likely be revisited as the story progresses)

Comment or reblog to vote :)

Read Part 10 Here

[hellhoundsprey]

Okay BUT: Smith & Wesson The Mummy AU but with a) fucking, b) monster fucking and c)all the worst-best awful things. Your thoughts and feelings?

I spent nearly 3 decades of my life without watching The Mummy but you converted me, haha! That movie is...something. Branden is a fucking doll, I have feelings, oh, lord. Anyhow.

We talked about this but lord I do need a librarian!smith kinda fic. Evy is such a fun character and an ideal damsel in distress, which is so good bc, as we discussed, an asshole library-patron!wesson would be a perfect match. I’m all in for monster fucking but I feel like that should be a whole seperate thing. But with swesson, too, yes. Yes yes 💕.

Monster fucking as in, like. Smith discovers an ancient curse or cursed artifact and thusly materializes this kinda hot dude but Smith gets massive chills because something’s just not fucking right. Gets pinned and maybe mind control and tentacles and black ooze that doesn’t make sense, and there are too many eyes and the words don’t go into his ears but somehow directly into his brain, and, guh, can you, can you guess? Can you guess how I feel about this?