#he deserved some form of punishment knowing he wouldn't have changed otherwise..

[thiamblogger]

tara and hell fucked with theo so badly that he was unable to hide his chemosignals, the thing that kept liam and stiles away after watching him play video games for three consecutive hours.. but yes, he definitely deserved it.

[yourdandelionofthedeathknell]

The Theraprism: Good or bad?

Ya know, i've never been sure how to feel on the Theraprism, as shown in the Book of Bill. This is in large part because we get very little info on it, from any perspective other then BIll's own at least (and he is...Not a reliable narrator). Personally, I see three possible interpretations and I don't know which one is correct. To be clear, I think all of these are fairly valid: 1. Their methods seem insipid, but are actually quite effective. They seem to have been effective in the past (one of Bill's fellow patients is slated for release in the near-future apparently), and the Axolotl (who, while not exactly rich characterization himself, has, generally, been portrayed as wise and benevolent) referred to it as "what [Bill] needs the most", which would be weird if it doesn't have SOME merit. I, myself, honestly prefer this one, because I think it works better with the narrative of the Book of Bill (a book which, generally, does not encourage the reader to sympathize with Bill's plight. Pity, maybe, but the framing is very clearly that he kinda deserves this) and the schadenfreude the reader is encouraged to feel if Bill's hellish afterlife is, largely if not entirely, a self-inflicted one: That it wouldn't be particularly bad if not for his own combo of being unable to accept that he lost, that he shouldn't be allowed to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to anyone he wants, inability to form meaningful bonds with others, and, most of all, his total inability to admit to being wrong. He COULD leave at any time, if he would just actually repent, but...He's Bill, so...He won't. It just works best for me if his hell is largely self-inflicted. 2. They are harmful, possibly deliberately. This does have a fair bit of support textually. Mandatory therapy is already a pretty major ethical grey area at best (a major tenant of modern psychotherapy is that you can't make someone change unless they take the first step), they definitely engage in toxic positivity, and, of course, the "Solitary Wellness Void" is...Solitary confinement, which is a practice most modern medical institutions oppose and consider to be psychological torture. So, fair bit of support for this. 3. This is what I think was probably Alex's intent: They're a bunch of oblivious obnoxiously happy morons (as Bill himself would probably describe them) whose attempts to treat eons-old eldritch horror bad guys with puppet shows and arts and crafts is meant to be amusingly-inept rather then actively malicious, and whose effectiveness (such as it is) is down to having literally eternity to try. Kinda like what Mabel might do to rehabilitate someone. To use an analogy, think Charlie Morningstar from Hazbin, at least in the first couple episodes, where the fact that she's treating adult criminals like misbehaving children is the joke and is meant to indicate incompetence rather than malice. I get that isn't that much different from the proceeding (except in terms of "how seriously are we supposed to take this"), but still. I think all three of these have support, and, to be clear, I go with the first one not because I think it's the most supported (might be the least), but because it jives most with how I think about BIll's narrative IE as a character we're meant to, at best, pity, but not really sympathize with. I think the intent is "Bill is suffering a karmic self-inflicted punishment after all the pain and suffering he's caused", not "Bill is being medically abused and we should feel bad for him". The Book of Bill does invite readers to sympathize with Bill occasionally, but mostly past Bill, not current Bill. All viewpoints are valid, this is just trying to organized some thoughts on the subject. I sincerely hope I haven't said anything harmful here. Uh, cards on the table, I am neurodivergent, but i've never had therapy, forcefully or otherwise (although I did have an irrational fear of the possibility of institutionalization for a bit), so i'm sorta going off vibes here, sorry to say. If I said anything insensitive here, I apologize.

[tokiro07]

One part of UU that bugs me is that does God or Luna make it “inevitable” each loop that Revolution happens last due to the settings specifically lacking a gravitational/rotational-related negator?

I could see a simple “foreign” one like Tsurubami completely trivializing Revolution if statements about his powers are literal. And he has a rather conventional fighting styles with exploitable weaknesses.

I feel like there a missed opportunity in the fandom Negators posts to include how intergrating gravity-related characters cannot just cheese the penultimate punishment of the canon power system. (Seasonal UMAs have shown their own vulnerabilities, Ragnarok is its own beast, but Revolution I feel like is less talked about considering it took the entire Union to try and halt it for a few months at most).

I'm not sure I understand the issue. Are you irritated that the Gods didn't create a Negator capable of single-handedly stopping Revolution?

Cus there aren't any Negators that have abilities on that scale in the first place, except maybe Fuuko since her abilities have the capacity for exponential growth. No one else has shown the potential to exercise their powers on a planetary scale, otherwise Chikara could keep Sun from descending to Earth in the first place by putting on some high-grade sunglasses

We also don't know that there isn't an Ungravity or something to that effect (though I conceptualized it as Ungrounded, negating gravity's pull towards the ground and allowing flotation), but if there was, they definitely wouldn't be capable of halting the entire planet's movement towards the sun. Even if they could, it would only be momentary

Saying that a character from another series with a different set of rules could affect meaningful change is, in my opinion, completely reductive since they hold absolutely no relevance to the situation. Sure, Tsurubami's Spinning Angler, the skill to control the revolution and rotation of the Earth, would definitely fit as Unrevolve in this context, but he's not in this context and can't be in this context and wouldn't be in this context because he'd break the game

Remember, this whole thing is a game, a bet between the Gods. Each quest is a level, each UMA a boss, and Sun is the final boss. What good would a Mario game be if you didn't fight Bowser at the end? What fun would Final Fantasy VII be if Sephiroth didn't have a final form to raise the stakes? Revolution isn't just an inevitability, it's a narrative tool to show that the game is reaching its climax, the final chance for both sides to show how well they've prepared for each other and to prove once and for all which one deserves to win the game

I would never create a fandom Negator so utterly broken that the final battle can't happen because that would defeat the entire purpose of the context that I'm creating them for, and that's exactly why neither of the Gods did so either. It'd be like plugging a Gameshark in and hardlocking the final boss to be inaccessible, the game would never be able to end and neither the heroes nor villains would be capable of getting what they want

I hope that helps settle whatever dilemma you were having, whether I've answered your question as to why it hasn't happened or bolstered your argument that it shouldn't

[bonesandthebees]

And now we get the incredibly fun side of Wilbur’s self-blame, which is just full-on self-destruction. He’s angry at himself, but he’s still not that good at dealing with and/or recognising his own emotions. As a result, he wants the people around him to reflect those emotions.

He is angry at himself, so Tommy should be angry at him. He wants Tommy to be angry at him. He even tells him so. Wilbur is trying to punish himself for messing up. He think he should be punished, that Tommy should be punishing him.

It says a lot about how he was formed into the Pythia. Every time he stepped out of line he probably got punished. He got hit for holding on to his name until he stopped. He got thrown into a system constantly reinforcing how he should behave and probably getting angry when he messed up. So some part of Wilbur’s brain is wired to expect that punishment. To think he deserves it.

We’ve seen it before too. Wilbur has constantly been expecting punishment from the Deathlings. The most prominent one is after trying to kill Tommy, but Phil didn't punish him back then (in fact, it just made him more worried) and he won’t do so now.

Still, Wilbur thinks he deserves that anger. Even when he’s terrified of it. So even if he doesn’t want to tell Phil and Techno, he does. And there’s this fun little duality of Wilbur thinking he should be punished and actively trying to active that while also just wanting to be comforted even if he doesn’t think he deserves it. He hugs Tommy even though he ‘should’ be mad at him. He doesn't want Phil to be mad at him because he feels safe with him.

Also, some examples of Wilbur being self-destructive via trying to get people to be mad at him: [“Tommy saw my eyes,” he blurted out. / “Aren’t you going to get on with it?” /“You sent Tommy away so you could get pissed without him arguing with you, right?”/ “Let’s stop beating around the bush. I killed your kid. / “I had a vision about it,”]

At first he’s trying to get to the anger explosion quicker because he can’t bear the waiting any longer. Then he’s again expecting it when Phil sends Tommy away. And when he still doesn’t get the anger he expects / ‘wants’ he tries to edge Phil on and make him angry. He doesn’t need to tell Phil he had a vision, but he feels like that would make him angry (because that’s why he’s angry at himself, so surely Phil will be angry too).

Over all this entire conversation feels very similar to the earlier chapters where Wilbur was limit testing and trying to get a rise. He’s acting like he lose all the progress he made with Phil and Techno relationship wise because he thinks that what will happen. It’s interesting how Wilbur always keeps overestimating the consequences of his actions while Tommy keeps underestimating them.

(3/3)

-🌲

YUP he's trying to get everyone around him to be as upset with him as he is at himself, because it doesn't make sense otherwise. why wouldn't they be upset with him? they have every right to be! he fucked up. it's his fault. at least that's what's going on in his head

he's wired to expect punishment :)

it was really interesting to write this kind of backwards slide in wilbur's mentality for this chapter. because yes he's going back to that old mentality he had after he first tried to kill tommy where he was expecting punishment, but so much has changed since then. hence why he still wants comfort even though he knows tommy should be angry with him. hence why he desperately hopes phil won't be upset with him even though he thinks the odds are impossible, whereas last time he didn't have the slightest bit of hope. he just thought phil was going to kill him bc he didn't know phil very well yet. now he does.

he's trying to point out why they need to be mad at him. and it doesn't work. he's just waiting for it to happen, for it to finally click and for the others to see what he's seeing.

exactly, again it's a backwards slide into that old mindset he had. but this time around it doesn't last very long because he knows phil. he knows tommy. he knows techno. when they tell him they're not mad at him, he knows they're not lying.

[smolstarthief]

Persona 5/Persona 5 Strikers: Pro-Police or Anti-Police?

Hoo boy... So this honestly has been a LONG time coming on my end because I have seen so much of that debate on social media (Twitter namely) and I can see the points of BOTH sides but there have been moments where it just got out of hand... Especially whenever people tried to put in a more grey/nuanced take only to be slammed and taken out of context. Even repeatedly mentioning the interrogation at the beginning of P5 which, I will admit has gotten tiresome. At least for me, I do still feel for Joker and I wished the game acknowledged his trauma more but there's a thing called, "beating a dead horse" and this is one along with "Haru says ACAB" in Strikers (which was done THREE TIMES in the same arc and it got annoying fast, like shut up already! We get it!). So, let's dive in a little bit:

MAJOR SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!!!

Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal

Now let me just say I know! Police in Japan are just as bad if not worse than the West and I STILL hate the idea of Makoto wanting to become a cop for such naive reasons (especially with what happened to Sae, her own sister!)... But there are at least some of form of nuances sometimes and by that I mean, I can see what they were trying to do? I do agree that P5/P5S backpedaled SEVERELY by deciding to sweep issues under the rug after addressing them and not continuing from such. In fact I feel like it could have been a hell of a lot better. But P5 did something different compared to previous games and addresses the issues DIRECTLY right at the beginning of said game! It was tense and horrifying, but needed. Of course... They then sweep it under the rug and act like nothing traumatic happened to our protag which is NOT a good look at all and I'm still pissed off about it. In the main game's case, it's portrayed as more black and white with only a SMALL amount of nuance like that cop that was trying to help Futaba when she went out by herself and got lost (which people ignore entirely by the way). So I CAN see where people got the "anti-police" message from... But that's only the tip of the iceberg as it's ACTUALLY more about Systematic Corruption, not exactly or JUST police corruption. Namely in politics with Shido and the Conspiracy (which is apparently still somewhat around in Strikers until Owada's downfall) controlling everything all the way to law enforcement. The force had been basically under his payroll (including the corrupt SIU Director before his death) whether by force or not (mostly not in this case though). Now honestly, the police depicted there are undoubtedly rotten to the core save for a VERY SMALL handful (the cop that was trying to help Futaba which, again, gets ignored by several). Look at the interrogators who ruthlessly beat and drug a minor without any second thought or remorse for example. But again, the black and white narrative the game kept unwittingly doing ended up being to its detriment in a way. I'm not defending those assholes AT ALL! They deserved every punishment given to them! But for a game that goes on about grey morality... It doesn't quite deliver on that. Still though, it does emphasize that it's more of the fault of the whole corrupt system, not just one part of it. There needs to be change and reform which is what our MCs were trying to do in a way (more like inspiring change but still). In the end, it's all about the following:

Corruption and abuse of power.

Again the police depicted in this game were incompetent at best, corrupt at worse with very few silver linings. But it's not just them but rather the one person responsible for the whole mess. Who had them under his payroll? Who controlled them and by extension all of Tokyo? Who was willing to dispose of anyone who "outlives their usefulness" or is perceived as a threat to what he wants (including his own family)?

SHIDO AND BY EXTENSION THE CONSPIRACY

Bottom line: They are definitely a problem but it's not just them.

"But, Joker and his trauma?"

I definitely understand that and still do. I fully believe he has and still has trauma with the police. Easy! But... I do feel like people go too far with it sometimes. It's hard to explain but there have been moments where people either use it as a justification/argument against someone trying to provide a more nuanced view of things or... Dare I say, depict him like a "uwu soft traumatized boi." Like I said, it's hard to explain on my end so feel free to ignore it. Everyone deals with trauma differently so there is STRONG chance that I'm overanalyzing it. I just remember moments where I just feel a little, I guess annoyed? I'm not sure exactly but final thing: I understand what he went through and I can't imagine how long it would take to recover but I hope he DOES overcome it.

"Sae? Akechi?"

Yep, even though their jobs are different, they are by and large members of law enforcement no matter how you spin it. Both were broken in a way. Akechi is pretty easy to explain with how Shido negatively impacted his life but not much about Sae, who dealt with sexism/misogyny at her workplace along with the trauma of her father's (also a cop) death. She no doubt had some idealism only to be hit with the fact that she's gonna have to use underhanded/downright illegal tactics to get by and even rise up the ranks. She, therefore ended up (well, nearly) corrupted herself before coming to her senses. That's honestly one of the BIGGEST REASONS why I felt like Makoto joining the force to become a police commissioner isn't a good, even a downright naïve, idea. I honestly would have been somewhat fine with it if it weren't for that fact among other things. Regardless of her willpower, it will go south fast.

Now... Onto Strikers!

Persona 5 Strikers

Since the game came out and I started playing it, I still feel like the system is still beyond saving, especially when attempting to do it from the inside. But I don't mind the added nuances that P5 didn't do much of. It's still continuing the critiques, just shows more of what does happen within said system and even has an ACTUAL officer (Zenkichi) say, "Yeah, my job sucks, everyone's corrupt, there are much better ways to do things and make a change but not this. I'm only staying because I have a daughter to take care of and it's all I know. I'm no different from them." Was it all handled well? I wouldn't say "yes" (Joker's trauma is BARELY addressed at all of course) but a little better than what P5's narrative did which only addressed the issues but not exactly follow up on them. Now to be fair... In the system, regardless of where you live, any one within it who remotely tries to do something or speak against it either lose their jobs or even go "missing" irl. Those have happened and it's more proof that yeah, it's rotten to the core. There's no denying it but regardless, that's NOT what the game is about at all. At least that's what I feel about it as it's only PART of the narrative. I think Zenkichi puts it best here:

Speaking of Zenkichi... Oh boy... Now I definitely understand some of the criticisms with him but honestly, he was the best written (PT) character I've ever encountered! He was honestly the perfect representation of those that genuinely want to help and do good, only to be held back by an extremely harsh reality. It was already hinted at with Sae but here? It 100 percent confirms just how harsh and even cutthroat it can be if it could break someone's idealism so badly. Even Kaburagi of all people thinks the same thing Zenkichi said:

Then there's his past and it's a tragic one! But let's look more at the decisions he ended up making:

While it was no doubt done to protect his daughter, he ended making a selfish decision along with a selfless one (which was brilliant!) with not only allowing the cover up of his wife's death and denying justice for her, but also ruining an innocent person and their family's lives.

It's horrible, but also... There's a grey area/nuance as with the rest of his character. It was both understandable, but also wrong as he, as Akane's Shadow puts it:

He sacrificed his values, his morals, all for the sake of having a peace of mind. Speaking of Akane, she's also an interesting case in a way that she more or less perfectly represents the more "black and white" views on justice in general. Namely the more toxic/biased kind. Her reasons are also understandable but she was also acting selfishly by only focusing on how SHE was effected by Aoi's death and not even considering those that were also grieving her death and/or that people grieve/handle grief differently than her. But back on topic.

Her own views and beliefs that law enforcement basically SHOULD be dismantled (mostly out of said childish bias and black & white views) and it's framed as WRONG and it's very much correct on that. Chaos and order are two sides of the same coin, one can't exist without the other. When I say ACAB, I'm calling for reform, defund, have the corrupt held accountable for EVERYTHING and even face jail time for their crimes! Defund the police, have the ones that arrest, harm, and even murder out of bias (race, gender, etc.), lose their badges/jobs and locked up, make improvements! It's saying that there IS still corruption out there and there's no denying it. But fully eliminating the law in general will just lead to more problems. Now granted, she's young and clearly doesn't fully understand why those views are ultimately wrong but still... It was a very interesting subject to tackle and I feel like they handled it well.

Now back to Zenkichi, he was at first in denial about his decisions ultimately being the wrong ones too and even tries to justify it. Of course, his Shadow said otherwise and that was when he finally admitted that he really did act no different from the criminals he despised. But it also doesn't mean he can't redeem himself and that's what ultimately leads to his new resolve:

That right there along with everything else! There's the nuance! And ultimately despite some hiccups, Strikers handled the grey morality and nuance beautifully! Especially regarding law enforcement! Dare I say, even better than the base game! It continues the critiques with no problem but also showing different sides and areas of it! There is good and evil, but what about in-between? What about the more greyer area? It still says that there IS corruption, sometimes even beyond saving but... Sometimes a small silver lining is hidden somewhere.

Now, the ultimate question:

Is P5 & P5S (namely the latter) Pro-Police or Anti-Police?

Personally, my answer is this: Neither.

Why? What theme do they both have in common?

JUSTICE

Someone puts it best on Twitter that the games are more pro-justice and I fully agree!

P5/P5S gives the idea about following your OWN justice, your OWN moral code and rules, paving your OWN path and not let others dictate it! That's what the MCs ultimately start to learn in both games. Therefore it's pro-justice. Again, do I agree that the system is beyond saving? Yeah. Do I at least acknowledge and understand what the narratives are trying to say and nuances regardless even if I don't agree with some writing decisions (ex: Makoto wanting to become a commissioner despite everything)? Also yes. But at the same time, don't judge a book by its cover for other people (not just law enforcement and politics mind you). Especially some that genuinely DO want to help at best. That there is nuance and greyness, just have to look closely. Some of the MCs are still TERRIBLY written and executed (even annoying) but the message was still somewhat there.

Final Thoughts

Now I fully understand how you all feel of course! I still believe in ACAB and even I agree that maybe I'm one to talk and have a lot more to learn about the world... This is just my own attempt at putting my own two cents in. If you disagree, that's fine! This is just what I've felt should be at least talked about more often. And I tried to phrase it as best as I can without coming off as insensitive or ignorant and if I did, I sincerely apologize for that! I'm not trying to say, come off as a "bootlicker" or any of the sort. I'm just trying show discuss more of the grey areas and nuances that are, more often than not, constantly overlooked. How one interprets both games is ultimately up to them. You, the player. And this is my own interpretation. Simple as that. I hope you all have a good day/afternoon/evening!

[love-hatred-stuff]

>>>part.1 ;; >>>part.3(coming soon)

Title: partners in crime pt.2 } Jin-young [got7]

feat. Ok Taecyeon [2pm] & Kwak Dong-yeon

-> ^Vincenzo^

genre: mafia au

warning: mentions of killing/violence and weapons, a bit suggestive

word count: 1.6k

Third person's POV

It was the next day and already evening. Jinyoung and you had ended the last mission successfully, like always.

Right now you were on your way to your boss, you were about to have dinner with him. So you could talk about things that needed to be handled. But you had a pretty close relationship, so you also talked about private things often.

Taecyeon was ruthless and a little psychotic, but you know him for over ten years now and you were used to his sometimes heartless and violent behaviour.

Although he was unpredictable, he was kind of your role model when it was about business.

He was one of the most successful secret mafia bosses in this world, and of course this had its reasons.

But you cared way more about people's lifes than he did. He even threatened to kill his own brother, even though Dongyeon was always loyal to him.

But when Taecyeon didn't like the ideas of his brother or he wouldn't success in something, he would be punished right away. By the only relative he had left.

You got out of the car that had brought you to the disguised company that was unofficially leaded by Taecyeon. His brother was the official face of it, but everyone in your gang knew, he was just the puppet of the boss.

Then you used the elvator to reach one of the high floors faster. Exiting when you arrived and heading to the large office of him.

You knocked but didn't waited for an answer, since you never did that.

But this time you catched the two brothers; the younger one being pressed on his chair aggressively by the older.

And that wasn't all; Taecyeon was holding a knife against his siblings throat, who had tears welling up in his fear filled eyes.

You could tell at the younger's posture as well, he was scared to death.

You shook your head in disagreement and disappointment.

You were aware of the fact that this wasn't the first time, you boss had threatened to kill him with his own hands. But you respected the other one too, so you wouldn't let that happen.

Taecyeon's eyes found your body that slowly entered the room but he didn't dare to loosen up the grip he had on the other young male, who's gaze wasn't moving away from his brother because he was too scared to do anything wrong.

You let out a 'tsk' and continued to shake your head until you spoke up and stopped you movements, looking at the dangerous scene that was going on.

"Taecyeon, please. Let this poor boy be. What did he do this time to deserve this, huh?" You were asking for a good reason.

But his look only made its way to the terrified face a few inches in front of him now. He smiled, making him look like a psychopath.

"Tell her, brother. What did you mess up this time?" His voice was not rough, he intended on just getting a answer out of him, a knife at his throat was enough, he didn't had to be loud, as well.

You huffed in disbelief. He really wanted to do this in front of you.

The younger began shaking a choking out individual words, but definitely not a complete sentence.

Taecyeon got impatient and growled at him.

"In a whole fucking sentence." He the sharp thing pressed more against the other's flesh, cutting him successfully and letting a bit of blood flood out.

Dongyeon hissed in pain and a single tear ran down his cheek.

You thought he now had crossed the line and stepped a few steps towards them.

"Teac, stop now." Your eyes diggered in his like the knife he had pressed against the younger's neck.

And so your boss finally threw the knife elsewhere and let out a sigh.

His brother's heart hitted like a drum. Of course he was scared of the man that had killed his whole family.

The tall man turned around to keep himself under control as long as you were in the room. But he still wouldn't let go so easy, he hadn’t got a proper answer from his puppet yet.

"Now, Dongyeon. Answer now or I will show you that I don't care when someone is watching." He threatened and looked outside the glass wall.

The male, who still sat there, completely zoned out, looking a bit traumatised, now opened his mouth in hope to be able to form a sentence this time.

"I offered to take care of this company. So it wouldn't be a burden anymore." He stammered.

You smiled, proud at him and approached his seat, earning a scared gasp of him. You stopped immediately, not wanting to terrify him even more.

"Why not, Taec? Let him take care of this building. He learnt a lot from you. And you are still in control. No reason to be angry about. He just wants to help." You spoke to your boss, making him turn back around.

He gave you a grin. He liked you and maybe you were right. So he nodded in agreement, letting it go finally.

Then his gaze went to his brother again, stepping up to him.

And the fear in the man's eyes was back. You were watching and ready to make a move.

"Good, brother. Do a good job. Otherwise it will have consequences, understand?" He asked him.

Dongyeon nodded fastly, tremling under his intense gaze.

You realised under how much pressure he was because of his not so gentle older brother.

"No, Taecyeon. He will do his best, it's human to make mistakes and have failures. Don't expect your brother to make or have none." You made clear and made sure to keep a straight face while looking at him.

"Sure." He gave in. "Go home, Dongyeon. Get some rest." He told him, before getting over to the table and sitting himself down.

You were feeling bad for his younger brother. So you hugged him as you saw how much he struggled to just get up from his seat. He was so surprised but also scared that Taecyeon wouldn't want him to have physical contact with you.

In private the older had always claimed you as his, he remembered.

The man in your arms looked in his brothers eyes, checking his reaction. Of course Teacyeon did not enjoy seeing that, but he kept silent and began eating.

After some good seconds you let him go and he disappeared out of the room fastly.

You sighed.

"Let him rest more, Taec. He needs a break from you." You said while going over to your own seat.

"No, I need his face, to keep mine a secret." He refused.

You were getting angry at his impulsive behaviour.

"Hear me out, boss. Either you will be more friendly to him, or this will have consequences. I want him to have a clear mind when he handles things that involve our safety."

Taecyeon rose an eyebrow. He liked playing with you, too bad you were a good player too.

"What do have in mind for him? Will you make him submit to you and fuck him?" He tried to surprise you with his choice of words.

But you didn't even look up from you food.

"No, I'm not interested in that. I only want him to feel safe and not terrified of you. Stop threatening him, or I will threathen you." You cold voice filled the room.

"You impress me every single time, baby. But I wanted you to come here to ask you if you are still satisfied with Young's abilities." He stated, talking about business now.

"Yes, don't worry, Taec." You assured him and gave him a simple smile.

He leaned back while letting out a comfortable moan.

"You are truly the only one that never disappointed me. You are so fierce. Why won't you be my actual girlfriend?" He suggested, convinced you would obey him perfectly.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You shouldn't get romantic feelings for me, Taecyeon. I'm the wrong person for that." You confessed truthfully.

"No, no. Don't think that. I just want to call you mine already. People keep asking me about it and I'm tired of liying. It's decided already, little one. As you said, I'm in control and today I'm not in the mood to compromise or tolerate another protest. Do I made myself clear?" He checked for your answer.

You gulped. Even if you had a chance against him in a physical way, you could never win completely, if he didn't want you to.

"Yes. But I'm not your girlfriend to satisfy any of your sexual needs. I'm here to work, that's all I want."

He smiled at you words. He would be surprised to hear you tell him the opposite. And he respected that. Even if he would gladly accept it if you would change your mind.

"That's all I want for now, too." He replied while wearing a mischievous grin on his lips.

[ae0nx]

FRUITS BASKET S3 EPISODE 8 RECAP AKA THE KYORU CHRONICLES PART 2 (plus a quick recap of eps 3-7)

aaaaaaAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! I gotta get it out of me otherwise I won't be able to concentrate on work and I will be scrolling through the tag till the day I die. Everything from episode 3 of Season 3 literally hit me like an avalanche - literally cos I marathoned 3-7 over the weekend which I wouldn't advise unless you want an accelerated heartbeat - and I'm starting to realise... maybe I just wasn't ready for season 3. Despite asking for it, haha. Not gonna put as many screencaps for this one cos tumblr editing bay be trippin and I just don't have time nor emotional energy to be fighting with the picture uploads, sorry lol

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

Episodes 3 - 7

I spoke before about how (despite my feelings about the characters) the English dub VAs for Akito and Shigure pair up really well audibly. And I think I feel the same way about both Yuki and Machi's English VAs! They both have the same soft spoken yet scratchy element to their voices almost like they are holding slightly back. Although, I'd argue that Yuki has been losing the element of slightly holding back as the anime has gone on which I wonder if the same would be included for Machi's performance?

I really like the presentation of Machi's trauma through her family's expectations to be perfect and how physical it is? How Yuki kind of encourages her to let it out in a healthy way? (Btw the whole chalk breaking scene in the meeting was SO FUCKING SMOOTH. YUKI IS A NERD BUT HE IS SO EFFORTLESSLY COOL A LOT OF THE TIME)

The age gap between Isuzu and Haru for sure isn't the worst age gap in this anime/manga but it's still a bit... hmm...

Episode 4:

In all seriousness, I know Akito deserves some sympathy but it doesn't change the fact that I still see her as a villain. Hurt people hurt people but it doesn't mean they should get away with it, I was honestly pleased Haru got that big confrontation with Akito to tell her WHAT'S WHAT but it was also somewhat... merciful?

Hiro's growth has been so beautiful to see, him realising there are bigger things than him from the event with Rin to his relationship with Kisa to then the birth of his little sister.

Kureno choosing to get his hands a little dirtier and paying the ultimate price for it (as far as we know so far in the anime lol) was great, he is the moon side of Tohru's sunshine.

Shigure... I still don't really get him and Akito's relationship. It's clear he's waiting for Akito to grow the fuck up but at the same time he's not creating an environment for her to grow and develop. He's decided to go with the 'tough love' route which I'm still deciding whether I like it or not tbh. Sometimes it feels necessary, at other times it feels shitty. I respect that he knows he's a scumbag and I don't deny that there are people out there who take revelry in the fact that they are awful but at the same time, him remaining unchanging despite everything feels... unrealistic. But considering throughout this story he doesn't seem affected by trauma, it's understandable, I guess?

Also... that scene where Shigure ponders about whether he should've been with Tohru is THE creepiest creeper shit he's EVER done in this series. No. 🙅🏾‍♀️

Momiji is best bunny boi regardless of how tall and 'manly' he becomes. 🐰His scene with Akito was so authentically him and he really did that shit. We love him. <3

I love the way that the curse breaking should (on surface) be a happy event considering all the trauma the zodiac went through because of it but it's presented mostly as loss as well as happiness. It's the realness of getting out of a bad relationship

Shigure basically laying it out to Tohru how Kyo means nothing in a very taunting way was an excellently painful scene and I choose violence. It was heartbreaking seeing how worthless they all saw Kyo compared to how Tohru saw him but... by this point I was just living in the pain so 🤷🏾‍♀️

The story visually showing how Isuzu is more willing to be soft after her whole ordeal through her fashion choices (e.g. the pastels, the cardigans) was really nice. And Haru being happy about Isuzu making friends with Tohru was cute!

It was nice we saw that Kazuma was still wary about whether Tohru loved Kyo for the right reasons, you'd assume after everything Kazuma would love Tohru as a match for Kyo but he's so emotionally intelligent and also just a protective Dad! Yay, good parenting!

Tohru's confession to loving Kyo was amazing however I still adore Kyo's confession a little bit more. Just a bit. Lol. However, if you add the moment later in episode 8 it trumps it completely. Ethereal goddess.

Kyo and Tohru's grandfather having a scene together was great and nice

Now that I think about it, I wish there was more a visual link in the story between Tohru adapting her speech to imitate her Dad and Momiji adopting his Mum's German accent. Albeit for slightly different reasons, it just adds to the unique connection Tohru and Momiji have. In short, I'm seeing this ship with my third eye now. I get it lol

I don't wanna screencap the scene where Kyo is haunted by both his deceased mother and deceased Kyoko and potentially deceased Tohru because it's the stuff of nightmares. But, it was a wonderfully done scene. You definitely understand fully and clearly why Kyo buried all of that trauma under his hatred for Yuki (I CAN'T WAIT FOR EPISODE 9, YOU GUISE!)

If Akito is a villain, Ren is the final boss. Although, with her type of villainy... I feel like I can kind of enjoy a bit more. She reminds me of a Greek God in the ways she master manipulates people and her desperation for control and power (I just read 'Mythos' by Stephen Fry, it's a great read lol)

It lowkey feels like every female character who's comfortable in expressing their sexuality in this story is punished in some way for it... this is an incomplete thought

Shigure as a child feeling like they should all be pitied is so... mature... I feel like I need more of an explanation for why Shigure is the way he is

Akito's ego death with Kureno? Amazing. I loved that she was at least aware enough to realise how Kureno had been coddling her all this time but again... doesn't excuse her crimes

But anyways...

EPISODE 8

Honestly? I really don't have much to say about this episode besides 3-5 points I wanna get out of my head. It's not a bad thing at all, it's just that there's still a lot left to play out from this 'arc' and this season in general that I wanna complete my thoughts on.

But I'll start with this:

Lol, isn't it funny?! Isn't it heart-wrenchingly funny how the relationship between Kyo and Tohru has kinda reverted back to how they were at the start of the series? The coldness of Kyo at the beginning of this episode (and throughout) was a bit of a gut punch considering all the light and fluffy moments that we've gotten between the two since the True Form arc.

Talking about the True Form arc, I feel like this episode is somewhat a repeat of the same emotions, same trials of the True Form arc. Kyo still 'runs away like he always has' but this time we get him being the most honest and confrontational with his own emotions and trauma than he ever has been during the course of this whole story. While trusting someone (Tohru specifically) for the first time with the whole truth of his story! He always seems to move one step forward and then three steps backwards and while it's a tad bit frustrating, it feels very... real. I'll probably complete my feelings how this arc reflects the True Form arc when we finish this section of the story in future episode(s).

Considering the fact that 80% of this episode is Jerry Jewell monologuing as Kyo and I never got bored really just sells his performance. Kyo was being incredibly cold this episode and yet the range of emotions through his performance made it feel understandable enough for you to empathise with it.

BrattyKid!Kyo to lighten the mood 😹I still wish he and Hiro had more of a relationship, I feel like they could have taught each other a lot. Well... mostly Kyo teaching Hiro tbh

Kyo rejecting Kyoka for her honesty and kindness and then later rejecting Tohru? Oh... kid...

Wow, I felt so good about that whole episode of Kid!Yuki helping Kid!Tohru get home and then it's slightly soured knowing KID!KYO was running about the streets alllll night into the morning?!?! I really did feel Kyo's frustration at not getting that win to actually do something right. And the irony of that being linked to him being unable to save Kyoka from the oncoming car?

Honestly, I don't know what my feelings are on Kyo being unable to save Kyoka. I don't even know what my feelings are on Tohru pretty much pushing that aside in favour of her feelings for Kyo. It's... complicated and I've been mulling it over in my head for the last 10+ years hahah However, if I was in Tohru's position I think I'd eventually come to a point where it feels like it's too late to really do anything about how bad I'd feel about it. Kyo's intentions weren't horrid, if anything he was just being a scared kid and he's allowed to be that. I just wish Tohru had a bit more time to evaluate it but considering she knew her mother well and assumes that wouldn't have been the full scope of what she had said, I don't have much of a problem with it in general

Lol, I love when Tohru gets a 'FUCK YOU, I LOVE YOU' moment with Kyo. 😂Another reflected scene from the True Form arc... only thing is that this time... it doesn't quite work. 😕

(Again, I love how all of these reflections are resolved in later occurences in response to the duality but I'll get to it next week when it shows hopefully)

Laura Bailey only had a few sentences in this episode but she killed it as always. Comparing her performance in 2001 to now is just... growth!

Ok, so Yuki automatically gets Best Boi in this episode for meddling and chasing after KYO of all people. Showing how he's personally done with hating Kyo. Realising Kyo is pretty much the only person who'll make his mother happy. I think he also lowkey wants to understand Kyo? But, we'll get to that next week.

....Oh yeah, Akito is there.

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In total, I liked this episode even though it has me anxious for the next one. We finally get the full picture of why Kyo is the way he is! Ahhhh - a weight off all our chests, I'm sure. I kinda don't like that they put the ending theme at the end of these episodes - the joyfulness doesn't really match up with the intense theme? But, that's just a minor gripe. And hey, maybe they just want the audience to know... it's all gonna be okay :)

See you next week!!!

[turbo-slut-420]

I saw something that's only tangentially related and wanted to make my own post.

I agree when people say that you need to communicate in relationships. There's no way to have a functional relationship of any kind without some form of communication, non-verbal or otherwise. It's also incredibly difficult for some people to express discomfort or discontent in relationships for any number of reasons. And I get that it's difficult for people, ND or not, to pick up on social cues. But I don't think either is an excuse for continually ignoring what is ultimately increasingly obvious cues that someone is not feeling safe or okay.

Like...idk if someone constantly tries to stay out of arm's reach or flinches or stiffens and looks upset when you touch them, maybe stop trying to touch them. Idk I just don't think that's subtle or unreasonable to expect that someone might pick up on something in that vein, and this is coming from someone who struggles with social cues.

It feels kinda victim-blamey when we shame people who aren't comfortable speaking up about stuff. Like I haven't confronted a couple of coworkers about their behavior despite being on (formerly) friendly terms because it stands to make my life much harder and they've proven by nature of refusing to pay attention to the way their words and actions affect others (and me) that any communication will be met with some sort of punishment. Not consequence. Punishment. And because the specific environment means I can't easily escape them or necessarily speak to someone about it. Am I then to blame for not communicating, even actively refusing to do so, when the result is having to deal with something significantly worse? That feels...wrong and bad.

Only vaguely related, but ghosting. Yeah it sucks when it happens, but not everyone deserves an explanation as to why they don't warrant a space in your life and not every reason feels "good" enough to justify saying it. And not everyone has the mental fortitude or whatever to say "dude ur annoying and I just don't vibe with u". Even when said nicely, it's rarely worth saying to someone. It just serves to make everyone else feel worse. I'd, personally, rather be ghosted. I ghosted someone last year and was shamed for it. I'd known him for like 2 months and the reason I ghosted him was because he violated my boundaries several times and got defensive and continued to disrespect them when confronted. Even knowing that, people still shamed me for it. Because they felt I was obligated to tell him why despite the very clear behavior indicating it wouldn't change anything because "boohoo how else will the poor widdle boi learn uwu". I am not obligated to be practice for anybody to learn how to treat people. Especially not a grown-ass man. I am not obligated to teach anyone by virtue of being first disrespected.

Idk communication is important, but can we not shame people for either not knowing how or opting to not do so altogether? Like everyone should learn how to communicate and how to accept feedback on behaviors/whatever that might upset people, but can we also respect and understand that sometimes it's just not fucking worth it? That sometimes, we just need to trust that people know what's best for them and their situations? Idk this is mostly just a rant but...yeah.

[lawrising-a]

( continued from here! // @pseudoneiric )

there's a sore sensation nestling against the sensitive skin of his wrist -- not rubbed raw, exactly, considering his tie is too silky to achieve such a feat ( and he, desperately, tried to move as little as possible ) but it still stings. a chiding reminder of what he allowed to happen not even minutes ago. yellow wrapped around him, completely bound and helpless ... it was something he can't say he's done before, not like that. he thinks the correct term would be bondage, but was it? gloved hands sinking beneath layers of flesh to expose the fluttering organs beneath, and expose her own in turn. call him crazy, but that's not what he thought bondage was about. but when was anything with lilian it's textbook definition? he can't blame anyone for his display of vulnerability except himself, completely ensnared with the girl the moment they crossed paths. there were times he watered down his attraction, for both their sakes, blaming her allure for his enchantment. yet lies come clean eventually and here he now perches. the edge of his mused bed, chest rising and falling more then it should as he burns with the black markings drifted upon his ivory skin. lipstick marks painting him in a light he's not used to. he's been stripped of all his warm tones and fake boy scout personas ; left in cool colors. green pants and black marks.

‘and what are you ... the sun?’ whispered a voice earlier, like every hushed word was a secret reserved between the two of them. mat rolls his shoulders, because he doesn't feel that way anymore. never has, honestly. he wants to be beaming lights with a killer gravitational pull, but he ... isn't. the colors on him now is a striking reminder of that : yet he replays lilian's maddening words and fools himself briefly. it's okay to believe lies when she's the one feeding them! as long as she believes it, why can't he humor it? everything she said had been a warped view, a funhouse mirror at those shifty carnivals -- but it was raw honesty from lilian, and he can't turn away the swell of attention. even if he should, even if mat should waltz into the bathroom where she's currently shrouding herself away and spill out the truth. let her know he isn't some angelic force but rather a mockery of one. how matthew naively hopes he can be hers regardless of his lack of good ... it's dizzying, causing his vision to blur, because it's been a while since he's confronted this about himself. the student doesn't like it. but oh, he loves her -- a burning sensation that lights his veins aflame and races his heart.

distractingly, he presses the pad of his rough thumb against the mark on the corner of his lips. a replica of a kiss she once bestowed upon him like salvation itself ( hm, what's with the spur of religious imagery today? hah ). trying to prod away the disappointment that rises every time he feels the wishful want of her actual lips there instead. she has to -- she has to feel something for him at this point, right? that can't be an assumption anymore, can it? questions whirl around as his fingers ghost down his ruined skin, tracing over the words left with his own hands like confirmation. like he's silently saying 'yes, property of lilian eyler.' like he's finally allowing himself a love he thought he wouldn't ever have when he traces, ‘mine. mine. mine-’ that ends with him working his way back up, away from the bulge of his stomach and trembling arms -- away from 'poetry, life, religion' and back to his lips. where he's reminded, with a fuzzy feeling balling up in his chest, 'mine.' almost pushing hard enough to slip a finger through his pink lips, plush and ready for ... mat isn't sure. he just wants her to kiss him there. though he knows she won't, least not today. and even if there's this sickening greed that controls him with a talent, he lets her have that. lets her take all her time in the bathroom and tries not to beg for more. how did she elegantly put in, in all her poetic prose that he's seen briefly in the club? a loyal dog? just for you now, only ever for you, lili--

a shiver rocks his form, startling his hands to the edge of the bed to tear into as he digs his heels into the carpet ( like he once had in the bed, to ground himself, to not buck ). was his pulse racing with the life she declared to adore so much? the man sinks canines into his cheek to hold back from beckoning her out to check. no, no ; he said he'd leave her be. it's a good thing for them both right now. if she had stayed and let the fabric obscuring his view fall from his eyes, he would've reached for her. try to pull them close and he'd ramble like a mad man ... wouldn't he have scared her? some part of him thinks he still has. which wobbles his posture in order to keep his head bowed, like awaiting punishment. almost waiting for pain building in his scalp, because surely she'd card her delicate laced fingers through his hair with a bit more force if she came back out. or was that his gentle throb of arousal wanting that? she got him worked up so easily ; ah, well, at least it's a good exercise for his thinning self control ...

a sigh, shaky and human, whistles out of parted lips. dry due to the fact he can't lick them thanks to the lipstick, though he can't help but wonder if he did -- would he be licking lilian's lips that way? the material touched them ... realizing how wild he is, a thoroughly teased animal, matthew laughs nervously. jesus christ, there's parts of him strewn all around his bedroom, because there's no way mat is fully put together. his brain feels like soupy liquid dripping from his ears and hissing into his scarlet skin. a puzzle of a man that lilian expertly took apart and left half completed. no matter how hard he tries to reel himself in, chase away all the sweetened morbidness delivered, he can't find all the pieces. surely, the clever girl took some with her to the bathroom. she was ... possessive. mat learned that just now. possessive over him, envious of basic things that matthew almost couldn't believe. she'll never know how comforting it was to see. a feeling now nestled happily within because nobody's been possessive of him before! she mustn't of gotten the memo from former friends, didn't hear how expendable he was to everyone who's known him. people don't get jealous for matthew, they don't care how much he sleeps, they don't care if he isolates away -- and they certainly don't care if his eyes linger on a girl with purple hair.

because who would find him special? he's an emotional wreck everyone stays weary of, a boy to eye with skepticism. his jealousy, his rawness, his obsessive love and need is wrong and ugly. you're shunned for those things by society. to the world, mat is anything but special, he's wrong ; so wrong and he's relentlessly tried to change that. but lilian ... she thinks otherwise. feels like he feels. sensitive and lovesick. and while he's always tried to hide before, if the girl with inky hair thinks it's beautiful and radiant ... everyone else must be wrong, because lilian eyler never is! as clever as the devil and twice as pretty, so the saying goes. with a rueful smile, too boyish and gentle for his own sharp face, he thinks it's an accurate fit for his favorite person ever. his throbbing molten core of earth, the darkened reflective surface of his beloved moon.

“im excited about lunch tomorrow, you know?” calls mat, voice as rough as ever ; like he uses it too much. but during this whole date, he fears he hasn't used it enough. “i haven't eaten with another person in a while. i usually just grab an apple and loiter around the library.” did you think i ate with yuri? though the fawn haired male doesn't ask, he quickly kills that assumption if it festered in lilian's mind. “if it goes well, we could ... ah, why don't we eat together from then on? maybe everyday? maybe forever! i think it'd be ... nice.”

the last part is so quiet he's not sure she hears it, but maybe she hears it die off. senses his shyness that bares him like it's her own. matthew doesn't want to dwell in it, so he tries to push forward. telling himself to keep tearing down the walls until there's nothing left ( the bathroom walls or his own? ). she deserves to hear more then his sputters from their little session, brought on by gutting arousal and his own jittery sparks : she deserves the world on an obsidian platter. to know he does want to be owned by her, to understand he'd be so comfortable displaying that label for all to see. and for lilian to be told, sternly, that he'd choose her out of a line up with certainty most would be scared of. love isn't half way for him, ever, and lilian needs to know that. even if his heart thunders and he wants to hear more of her disarming voice instead.

“and i want to be yours ; your idea with the whole 'blindly leading me around' wasn't half bad!” heartfelt chuckling makes him feel like he's vibrating out of his skin, her skin now, isn't it? “i'd let you blind me, i'd let you led me even if i was deaf and mute. you could be all my senses, because maybe then i'd trust them more. you don't know how much i wish these words on me were permanent, lilian --” mat twists his mouth, ruins his hair more. “darling, you just ... i've tried so hard to be normal this year, more then any other, yet you make me so helpless! it's ... how do you do that? do you know how special you are, how beautiful? perfect ... well, perhaps not that ; because you're stupid for worrying about not owning me. isn't it obvious you already do? were these reminders for me, or wishes for you?"

( eyes flutter to words he can barely read on his bared parts, words overlapping due to frenzy. all true. all true )

with a tightening throat, emotions rising like waves and god he could just drown, matthew lays back on the mattress. meekly pulling the tie out from under him, only to drag it over his used wrists. picturing only her. wondering if this sight would entice her to keep going when she comes out. and he wants to say lilian, you've won! congratulations on having a lover for life! or, something like : yuri couldn't pry me from your cold dead fingers! but what stumbles out is something foolish that he immediately grimaces over. hopefully she's too shaken to judge him too much.

“i think you're my soulmate, lilian. i .. really do.” so why would i ever let you go? or deem you unworthy? it's me, im unworthy. not you, never never -- his lashes tickle his skin when he shuts his eyes. breath hitching before evening out. reminding himself to calm down because matthew thinks he'll actually explode otherwise. a bundle of nerves, of her love, is all he really is.