#he didn't deserve to be given eternal anxiety

[pleb-the-original]

Day 14: Bug

(so the starting idea came about for this easily, like literally one of the easiest options. problem was the actual content. luckily I was able to piece together a good narrative that fits with we already know. as for the blurb at the end, I noticed that I kinda slipped into certain genres for these. so i figured why not make the one sided interview parts connected?)

Oh! Oh h-hello. Sorry, you all startled me. I-I don’t get visitors very often, especially n-n-not here at the p-plant. M-my story? Y-yeah, I can do that. So it started with Shappa, she’s a sandhill crane Eden Demon. She made a bet with someone about what kind of cryptid people would make out of her appearance. She wanted an owl, but she got me instead. I only learned this after I was truly formed. The first years were rough. I still don’t know why they blame me for taking his dog, he ran off I swear! I couldn’t have even done anything to it, I have a proboscis! Not to mention balancing being seen and not seen at the same time. At least the Cryptidmaster was there for me. He was kind and understood my nature. I’ve always been a little fearful of everything, but he told me that my skittishness was just who I was as a moth. I mean what’s more delicate than a moth? He hung around even after granting me my gift of language. I wonder what he saw in me sometimes. The bridge? It always ends up at the bridge doesn’t it? Look, I never did anything to that bridge. I just have really sensitive hearing, sensitive enough to hear that eyebar getting ready to keel over. I was just trying to warn people, I hoped that by staying near the bridge that people would be scared off and stay away. I think you already know how that went. Ever since, people have believed that I can predict disasters. I’ve been even more ragged ever since, because I can and I can’t. What I mean is, I can tell when and how a disaster is gonna happen. Sometimes I sense it, but most of the time it appears as a vague warning in my head like a vision. But the worst part is that I can never tell when it's gonna happen. So I have all these clues to stop disasters, but I can never know if I’ll be able to prevent them in time. I’ve become a nervous wreck ever since. I mean, sometimes I do manage to avert some things around Point Pleasant. I’ve also seen how much they appreciate me now. Oh yes, the little demon did try and get me to join in that festival but I was still too nervous. I’m hoping to try again this year actually. I just hope that maybe if I come clean, I could prevent more disasters. Then I could finally take the weight off my shoulders. Ok, one more question. Chernobyl? Why would I go there? That’s way outta my jurisdiction. 

(Report: Mothman interview went as well as the others. Very much anxiety ridden but is coping quite well with the level of fame he has gotten. As for the presence of psychic abilities, I’m surprised this has slipped through. Can we provide some therapy for him? I feel kinda bad. This should be good for the Catalog. - Coraline)

[doumadono]

Carrying his child - Dabi x Reader

Warnings: reader is pregnant, Dabi is rather rude at first, angst Synopsis: you set up a meeting with Dabi to reveal that you're carrying his child Requested by: anonymous

MASTERLIST

You stood nervously at the top of the hill, waiting for Dabi to arrive. The wind rustled through the tall grass, and the distant sounds of the city faded away, leaving behind a quiet serenity. This was the place you had chosen to break the news to him — a place where you could speak without interruptions or prying eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, you spotted a figure approaching in the distance. It was Dabi. As he drew nearer, you couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. Dabi was known for his rough demeanor and cold attitude, and you knew that telling him you were pregnant would not be well received.

"About time you showed up," he grumbled, his voice laced with annoyance. "What's so important that you had to drag me out here, doll?"

You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. "I need to talk to you, Dabi. It's something important."

He crossed his arms, a scowl forming on his face. "Well, spit it out then. I don't have all day, babe."

You hesitated, gathering your thoughts before finding the courage to speak. "I'm pregnant," you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

Dabi's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing into a glare. "And what the hell does that have to do with me?" he snapped.

His harsh words hit you like a punch to the gut, tears welling up in your eyes. "Dabi, please," you pleaded, your voice trembling. "I thought you deserved to know. This... this is your child too."

He stared at you, his anger momentarily giving way to confusion. Slowly, the weight of your words seemed to sink in, and his expression hardened. "Mine?" he repeated, his voice cold and distant.

You nodded, wiping away the tears that streamed down your face. "Yes, Dabi. We're going to have a baby."

Dabi's scowl deepened, and he took a step back, distancing himself from you. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted some brat tying me down?" he growled.

Your heart shattered at his callous words, and you fought back sobs that threatened to escape your throat. "I didn't plan for this either, Dabi," you managed to say through trembling lips. "But it's happening, and I thought you deserved to know."

He sneered at you, his anger seeping through every word. "Deserved to know? You think I care about your damn feelings? You think I care about some bastard child? We had some nice sex, yes, but that's it. I've never signed up for starting a goddamn family."

Unable to bear his cruelty any longer, the floodgates burst open, and tears streamed down your face. "How can you say that?" you sobbed, your chin trembling. "This is our child, Dabi. It's a part of you too. You won't change it. It already happened! How can you be so cruel... I've given upon everything for you!"

Dabi's eyes widened as he watched your tears flow, and for a brief moment, a flicker of regret flashed in his gaze. His hardened facade crumbled, revealing a mixture of anger, confusion, and a hint of remorse. Dabi stared at the ground, his jaw clenched tightly. The weight of his harsh words hung heavily in the air, and he could feel the pain radiating from you. The memories of your intimate, passionate nights together flashed through his mind, reminding him of the connection you shared. He couldn't deny the truth. Deep down, he knew it was his child. A mix of emotions battled within him — fear, regret, and a twinge of guilt. He had always been guarded, keeping others at arm's length. Love was a foreign concept to him, and the thought of being responsible for another life terrified him. But as he glanced up at you, your tear-streaked face and trembling figure, something shifted inside him. You had always been there, standing by his side, unwavering in your loyalty and love. He knew that you were faithful, not out of fear, but because you genuinely cared for him. Dabi took a step closer, his voice softer this time, tinged with remorse. "I... I reacted poorly. I know I did," he admitted, his voice laced with vulnerability. "It's just... I'm not used to this. I'm not used to someone caring for me like you do. It's just... Fuck. It's too much to comprehend at once."

Your sobs began to subside, replaced by a glimmer of hope in your eyes. "Dabi," you whispered, your voice filled with a mix of relief and forgiveness. "I understand. It's a lot to take in."

He reached out tentatively, his fingers grazing against your cheek, wiping away the remnants of tears. "You deserve better than what I gave you just now," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "And... our child... they deserve better, too."

You sniffled, trying to compose yourself. "Dabi, I understand that you're scared and unsure," you said, your voice trembling but determined. "But this is happening, and our child deserves better than this. They deserve to know their father."

Dabi looked away, his jaw clenched, struggling to find the right words. The weight of his initial reaction seemed to sink deeper within him, battling against the emerging realization of the life growing inside you.

"I never thought... I never thought I could be a father," he finally admitted, his voice laced with vulnerability. "I've done terrible things, you know that, and I don't know if I can be what this child needs. I'm a fucking monster, certainly not a role model.."

You took a step closer, reaching out to gently touch his scared forearm. "Dabi, nobody is perfect," you said softly. "But that doesn't mean you can't change or be there for our child. It's not too late to start over, to become the father you never had."

His eyes met yours, a mix of pain and uncertainty reflecting in their depths. "You really think I can do it? Be a father?"

"I believe in you," you whispered, your voice filled with conviction. "I've seen glimpses of the man behind the mask, the person who cares beneath the rough exterior. And I know deep down, there's a part of you that wants to protect and love our child."

Dabi's defenses began to crumble further as he took in your words. He reached out, his hand gently cupping your cheek, his touch surprisingly tender. "I... I don't know if I deserve you," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "But if there's a chance... a chance to make things right, to give our child a better life, then maybe... maybe I can try."

A glimmer of relief and gratitude washed over you, and tears of a different kind welled up in your eyes. "Thank you, Dabi," you whispered, leaning into his touch. "Thank you for giving us a chance."

Dabi's grip tightened on your cheek, his eyes filled with a mixture of newfound tenderness. "I won't promise it'll be easy," he said, his voice steady. "But I'll try my damn hardest to be there for you and our child."

A bittersweet smile tugged at your lips, and you rested your hand on top of his. "That's all I can ask for, Touya," you replied within a whisper. "We'll face this together, and we'll create a better future for our family."

Dabi's eyes widened as he heard you call him by his true name. It sounded like music to his ears, hearing you whisper "Touya" with such love and tenderness.

Tears of relief streamed down your face as you leaned in, pressing a tender kiss against his lips. It was a silent promise, a symbol of the new path you were embarking on together.

As you stood there on the hillside, a sense of hope began to replace the initial fear and uncertainty. The road ahead would undoubtedly be challenging, but with each passing moment, you both felt a growing connection, a shared commitment to love and protect the life you had created together. And as the wind whispered through the grass and the city lights twinkled in the distance, you knew that despite the rough exterior, Dabi's heart held the potential to embrace the love and responsibility that awaited him.

[inchidentally]

https://www.tumblr.com/piastrisms/755627714405367808/when-i-saw-the-1st-photo-my-first-reaction-was-i?source=share HOLY SHIIIIIIT??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so I'm an idiot and posted this reply to the wrong ask so here it is in the right one !!!

listen !!! we get one of these 'omg he's wearing a ship name/other driver's name bracelet' things fairly regularly and I'm like yes it's cute for the pic but then you watch when these guys are given the bracelets and they're just jamming them onto their wrists without even looking in all the rush. so it was v cute at first seeing the Oscar bracelet on Lando but I was like it's the same situation as usual.

and then !!

like. Lando's pride and sense of ownership about Oscar (in a sweet way) isn't anything new so him deliberately choosing to keep that one bracelet even after changing and showing Oscar during the fan stage is just. it's totally in character.

bc the symbolism babe the symbolism and the poetry of Lando having been literally raised in the house of McLaren and thick as thieves with the team owner and having seen off two older teammates by the time machinations were underway to spirit off one of the sport's greatest generational prizes from the fate of eternal backmarker perjury… Lando's position and sense of responsibility toward McLaren by the time 2022 was winding up was already something higher than the average team's superstar. he was what Max is to RB and Charles is to Ferrari, except without the Amadeus caped father figure looming behind him or the Borgia/Catholic church blood sacrifice and intrigue.

so while everyone understandably foresaw immediate tragedy in pairing Lando with an even younger generational talent and Lando twisted and writhed under the idea of being someone else's "mentor" and the "elder" after about three months he realized what a gift Oscar was to him. Oscar already knew an exceptional amount about Lando, he admired him, he agreed to an open door policy between the garages with no resistance, he never minded when Lando's attitude wasn't exactly the best, was always waiting with a smile when Lando would turn his attention to Oscar, suffered any team orders without argument and wanted Lando to guide and help him with media duties and the heightened attention so that Oscar could hold up his side of things. Oscar entered Lando's house with respect and eagerness and humility without being clingy or trying to use a relationship with Lando to boost his own PR or try to ingratiate himself. Lando almost defiantly made it clear he would remain loyal to his previous teammates (when not on the track) and instead of Oscar getting jealous or deciding to pull away from the relationship with Lando, he just agreed with him because he's been a fan of Carlos and Daniel for just as long and he's been a fan of carland0 and dand0 for as long as they've existed! and then he'd lift his chin and puff up his chest whenever Lando would praise him but otherwise gave Lando the space and respect Lando didn't even realize he needed to become one of the big boys instead of a little brother to one of the big boys. Lando went through a meteoric shift as a driver and a person over 2023 because he no longer had the crutch of an older teammate and that he deserved to view his position with McLaren and in F1 just like they did - and not as the baby. but !! Oscar would help Lando's dyslexia and anxiety by close observation and assistance! Oscar would smile and indulge every time Lando was in one of those moods that Carlos would have firmly scolded him out of or Daniel would have tried to joke him out of before warily backing away from.

because outside of the car or a standing on a podium, Oscar couldn't wait to change into the same kit as the engineers and blend in with the other papaya shirts milling around. he didn't waste time ruing what might have been and therefore he never resented or envied Lando proudly parading his trophies and beaming into Oscar's face or conspiratorially over Andrea's head and calling Oscar by a nickname and bringing up Oscar's good driving. and when Oscar stepped off the podium at Monaco to the team photo, a struggling Lando turned to him and murmured something that had Oscar proudly and reassuringly patting Lando's knee in response.

like. Oscar was the strong, capable, exceptionally talented present that McLaren set down next to Lando and allowed him to discover it and open it in his own time and just. goddddd. him proudly slipping an Oscar bracelet on his own wrist and choosing to keep it on and show it off to it's namesake. like rpf/shipping fully fucking aside Lando is absolutely bursting with pride and smugness about Oscar and that the young man who had the backbone to weather the biggest PR storm of 2022/23 is now unable to take his eyes off Lando and has that soft smile and tilted head reserved just for Lando and likes to stand a step or two behind Lando in front of crowds because he think Lando is most worth showing off. that's His Osc so why shouldn't he wear his name on his wrist after the bitter disappointment at his home race bc at least when it comes to Oscar, Lando always wins :)

[no-m4gic]

Damn it Sitaya you do yandere Izzy now? That's it, I'm requesting. Yandere Izuru w/ prompt 26... preferably angst to fluff, but if you're tired you can just do fluff <33

p.s I think you know who I am devil emoji

i hate you so much for making me look for prompt 26 and 25.

also crane beloved, yes, i do yandere izuru. p.s c found this account before you how you like them apples /j

sorry if izuru is ooc, first time writing yandere izuru. THANKS A LOT, CRANE. /s

thank god i made an izuru header before you found me.

don't worry though, i had a lotta fun writing this, i put my writing ass into this.

warning ;; mm lime, mentions of like 'it' as a threat, sorta suggestive lines from izuru, french kissing and a shock collar and izuru feels lust for the first time ever. non-despair AU and izuru is hajime's twin.

prompt 26 ;; Control - “i’ll do whatever the fuck I want to you, got it?” prompt 25 ;; Collar - “don’t you dare take it off, I want everyone to know you’re mine.” prompt list ;; here!

~ mod sitaya

愛毒 // Yandere Izuru x GN S/O

it's only been a few days since you were captured... but it felt like years— decades— centuries— heck, eternities. there wasn't even a damn clock for you to stare at, keep yourself entertained with it. would he be mad for you paying too much attention to an inanimate object? yeah probably, honestly.

was escaping even an option? the thought of it wasn't even a possibility or plan, just a tease and a reminder that you can't even look out a window without your captor getting mad or upset... though he never ever expressed it, you only knew by the atmosphere dropping and his ruby eyes on you.

currently he was away... outside... doing god knows what. this would be the perfect chance to escape for any other yandere, but the windows, doors and yourself are uuh, chained up. however even if you weren't chained up on a bed, izuru would probably find you eventually, no matter where you run to. if you're in the same universe, you're his.

all you could really do was sit and wait for izuru to return. the least he could do was give you some sort of entertainment, jeez. selfish bastard. despite the windows being closed and locked tight, you felt as if the room's temperature started to drop. you curled yourself into a ball and tried not to think about anything, hoping you'd drift away from this reality for awhile... and even better, permanently.

it was only a few minutes before you concluded you couldn't fall asleep in this environment at this temperature in this situation. the only way you'd fall asleep was by taking some sleep pills or melatonin. maybe once izuru came back you could send him away again by asking him to buy some melatonin? that didn't sound bad at all.

you were awoken by a cold gust of wind as well as your hunger. you must've fallen asleep while plotting on how to get izuru to leave you alone for awhile more. you were still so deep in thought, you hadn't even noticed kamukura standing next to the bed with that same cold stare that he'd always given you when you weren't his hostage.

"what! stop staring at me- go look at the wall or something," you tried to sound intimidating, but ended up sounding like yourself, but more weak and pathetic. "s/o i can look at what's mine," he casually stated, setting down a box of takeout on the bed, "i got your favorite takeout, and since you have this sort of "performance anxiety", i'll leave you be to eat alone, i'll come back soon," and with that, he shut the door and locked it.

you mentally screamed at both yourself and at him out of rage. how dare you let him call you his? once you calmed down from your rage, you realized he actually unchained you. wow. you knew he didn't really want to tell you you were free, but you still felt extremely mad at him for not telling you.

due to your stubbornness, you refused to eat, but you also refused to push the food onto the ground... the food didn't deserve that death just because izuru bought and brought it to you. you were just looking at the food, imagining yourself watching akane eat a gourmet meal prepared by teruteru.

by now the food was probably freezing cold. it was also the time for izuru to return, back to torment you. "oh s/o, if you were claiming my predications were wrong and you weren't actually hungry, you could've told me instead of wasting a good meal," he sarcastically said, placing the box onto the bedside.

"what the fuck do you even want from me—? i don't even know you!" you spat, your anger and rage completely distracted you from your hunger and the freezing temperature biting your skin. "i only want you. i don't need or want anything you own." you cringed at that, but you didn't let that show, "

"s/o, i can do anything for you, sing you to sleep, feed you, bathe you, breed you till you can't walk or stand, give you all the affection you'll ever want and need, get you anything you want in the world, all just for you to submit to me," had his eyes gotten more passionate and brighter or was it just you slowly losing your sanity to them? you didn't know anymore. "i just want you to know as well, i’ll do whatever the fuck I want to you, got it?"

you were shocked at that last part, but chose to ignore it. big mistake. "but i don't want any of that—! i just want my freedom— move around and be with whoever i wish— not whate—" you were cut off by kamukura pulling you into a passionate kiss, shoving his tongue into your mouth even before you could react, it exploring and dominating your mouth with his saliva.

you tried to push away, meanwhile trying to imagine you were kissing your crush or someone else instead of this psychopath. he broke the kiss rather quickly, a string of saliva still connecting you two. you shook your head violently and wiped it away.

"what the fuck was that?!" you gasped out, tears starting to form your eyes from how dirty and gross you felt. while distracted with that, you abruptly stopped to the feeling of something being slipped onto your neck. a shock collar. to make things worse, that collar has his name on it.

"now don’t you dare take it off, I want everyone to know you’re mine. and i think it suits you, s/o." he turned his back to you, taking one last glance before leaving you stranded in the darkness of your brand new room, only a tad bit of moonlight managing to stream in through the metal shutters of the window.

you curled into a ball and started to cry. everything had happened so quickly, you didn't even know izuru well, you only met him through hajime. how special were you to him? you were just a regular mortal doing what they were made to do.

i know how horny you are crane so i added some uuh french kissing, thanks for making me do this 🙄/s also you chose all of the prompts that are so aggressive and izuru-like i'm impressed. i'm considering on making a part 2 of this...

[melmedardasworld]

A forbidden secret

Bonnie seeks out Klaus in New Orleans to share life-altering news that complicates their strained relationship, but also shake the foundations of the supernatural community.

Bonnie's heart remained heavy in her stomach as she stood in front of the double doors. The young witch fought the urge to wrung her clammy hands together for the nth time and ran them along her sides instead. "C'mon, Bonnie, get over yourself; this is more important than you or him." Firming her resolve, Bonnie reached for the handle and knocked on the compound's doors.

After what felt like an eternity, the door finally swung open, and Klaus stood on the threshold. His expression was relaxed but guarded. It wouldn't surprise Bonnie that Klaus had sensed her presence and waited until she knocked.

"Bonnie Bennett," Klaus greeted in a calm tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We need to talk." Bonnie was glad her voice remained despite her heartbeat rising in her chest.

"Do we now?" Klaus's voice dropped an octave and turned even colder.

Bonnie overlooked the subtle bite in his tone. She kept reminding herself, again, that this wasn't about her in the end. It wasn't even about Klaus, no matter the conversation's outcome. It was about something more significant than them. Klaus deserved to know the truth. Whether he accepted it or not wouldn't change her decision. "Yes, it's something important that involves both of us."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, sensing the anxiety and distress coming off Bonnie in waves no matter how hard she tried to hide it. He'd gotten wind of her presence the instant she set foot in his city. Klaus's first response was to meet Bonnie head-on. He stopped himself. Klaus returned home, ordered everyone, including Elijah, to leave, and waited for the little witch at the compound instead. He wouldn't chase her like some pathetic fool when their time together meant nothing to her. It was his oversight to expect the finer feelings that slowly slipped through their well-built alliance to grow into something more.

Finally, a smile that never reached his eyes settled on Klaus's lips. "Very well." He pulled the heavy door open and stepped aside, gesturing for Bonnie to enter. Klaus watched her pass and pressed his lips together as a grating sensation clawed against his core.

For Bonnie, nostalgia washed over her. She had left this place behind, along with her feelings for Klaus, but now everything felt as raw and painful as it did the day she departed. The memories of the time she spent in New Orleans with Klaus and their families came flooding back, but she quickly pushed them aside when Klaus turned around and offered her a seat while he stood. His piercing blue eyes penetrated her soul, but she again firmed against the visceral emotions from peeking through.

Standing tall on the opposite end, Klaus watched Bonnie shift in her seat. Her eyes flickered around the room, and she wrung her hands together repetitively. The strain in her jaw muscles flexed while chewing her lips. Despite Bonnie's efforts to come across as calm, Klaus felt the anxiety radiating from her. He recognized the expression on her face all too well; it was the look of someone carrying a heavy burden, struggling to find the right words to express themselves. Klaus leaned forward, his intense gaze fixed on Bonnie's face, and remarked. "Surely, you took the time to prepare yourself for this moment?" His remark was mocking. "Else, you and your cousin wouldn't have set up that honeypot for my brother."

Bonnie's mouth fell slack before shutting it again. She frowned. "Don't be crass. Given how they left things off, Lucy wants to talk to Elijah."

Klaus chuckled, but again the authenticity of the feelings didn't pass on to his face. "Similar to how you want to talk about this important thing that involves the both of us? Bonnie, I have an empire to rule, so stop these petty games."

[fangirlanxiety74]

What things made you like Ted when you know him?

Random Image:

I love this random image, I think it's beautiful.

Okay ngl he did not become a f/o to me until I started obsessively reading x reader fics about him because I was just trying to consume any content he was in, and it kinda went downhill from there, so let's get out of the way.

Why I like him in general though is kinda... Sad, in a way, ig?

tldr; "I can fix him" /hj

I don't wanna go into details but I really do emphasize and like... Relate to him. I struggle with paranoia and anxiety to the degree that he has in the story. And while it's manageable now, growing up, I had a similar thought process to him. It took years of therapy to work through, and I still have to go to therapy to manage more bs that's come up thanks to recent events. And with my paranoia, it's ruined a lot of things in my life, including relationships.

I've talked about this before, I know we all jokingly hate on him. And I know people have genuine reasons to hate him. Yeah, I don't blame people for disliking him in the same vain I don't blame people for cutting me off because of my bs. (Really I could go on about how the best thing for Ted and Ellen would be to completely cut contact from one another after he gives her a genuine apology but)

But this is all to say. The paranoia and mood swings and stuff, that's like. AM's torture to him. AM is literally torturing him by making him act out like that; breaking him down that his only way of coping is through delusions and that "Everyone's out to get me" mindset. He has so much trauma that I think we need to recognize more? Not even just him being an SA victim, but like... If we go with the idea that he ran away with this woman who groomed him willingly. Then just how bad was his life before her. To make that happen. Yk? And then they also mention that woman's death, and even if he didn't love her, like... In a way, she "saved" him. That's traumatizing to just find out she suddenly died and left everything to him.

So much has gone wrong in his life, and in turn, he's acted out and hurt others. He has so many people he needs to apologize to, but he also deserves an apology, I think. He deserves to know those things weren't his fault. That he deserved safety, and love. Like we all do.

I don't think he's intentionally a bad person. I think he just, grew up in an awful environment that shaped him that way. And if someone just gave him a chance to get better. If he was given the option to become better than he is. I think he would take it. I mean, he literally allowed himself to be tortured for all eternity just so the others could be spared from AM. That's gotta count for something, right?

I am thankful, and lucky, to have been given that chance. And to become better than I used to be. So seeing someone so much like me. I really do like him. And I want to give him that chance, too.

Does any of this make sense???

I just really like him. I like the fact that I can relate to him. That I can see the small cracks that show a better person that he, and everyone else, believes himself to be. I like exploring and seeing where those cracks lead. It's fun! Yk?

[triptychgrip]

Yuuri and Tohru: Main characters who don't fully grasp their profound ability to be forces of change/inspiration

This isn't the first (and won't be the last) time that I draw connections between my two favorite anime, but upon my recent rewatch of the 2019 Fruits Basket reboot, I was once again struck by a major similarity between Katsuki Yuuri of Yuri!!! on Ice, and Honda Tohru of Fruits Basket.

While we don't see Tohru struggle with anxiety in the same manner that Yuuri does -- though, we do see her grow anxious/overwhelmed several times in the manga and the anime -- Tohru, like Yuuri definitely suffers from self-esteem and self perception issues. While it might be easy to pass off her repeated underminement of how special she is as mere humility, there are several instances in which we see that she truly does not realize her effect upon those around her, and can't quite grasp the positive light in which other people see her.

In this way, she reminds me a lot of Yuuri: the top Men's Singles figure skater in Japan, yet someone who often refers to himself as a "a-dime-a-dozen". In his first ever Grand Prix Final, Yuuri comes in last place, but, at least from his internal monologue, we never hear him acknowledge what an amazing accomplishment it was to even make it to such a selective competition in the first place (for those unaware, only 6 skaters are eligible to compete in the December Grand Prix Final: the culmination of a series of fall skating events known as the Grand Prix series).

Yuuri is a textbook unreliable narrator, and in the first few episodes of Yuri!!! on Ice, there are many times when we get a glimpse into how he perceives himself during his career slump. When Yuri Plisetsky arrives in Hasetsu, we get the sense that Yuuri believes a vast "chasm" in skill exists between himself and his younger peer, which is why it always makes me emotional when I think of the beachside "Viktor Nikiforov is dead!" encounter between Yuri and Viktor.

After Yuri stalks off like the dramatic (and lovable) little gremlin we all know him to be, Viktor's internal monologue notes how much of an impact Yuuri has had not only on him, but on Yuri, too. He notes that Yuri wouldn't be so motivated to "fight" (i.e. compete at his best during his Senior debut season) without Yuuri's drive. And he's already noted how much "life and love" Yuuri has brought to his own life. In this moment, we see so clearly that Viktor is able to perceive Yuuri as the hugely profound (and inspirational) force of change that he really is.

While there are many moments from Fruits Basket that I think illustrate a similar kind of parallel -- one where someone other than Tohru is able to "read" her in the way she deserves -- the moment that most readily comes to mind is the one from Season 2, specifically, the episode in which Tohru and the Sohmas are at the beach during their summer getaway to stay at the Sohma vacation house, and about to set off the (huge) collection of fireworks that Momiji bought.

Yuki makes the comment that before Tohru, the Sohmas didn't really get together to spend time "like this", and we see a shot of them all clustered together, laughing and enjoying one another's company.

Think about how ironic Yuki's statement is, though: in a family united by the zodiac "curse", and one where its members are all supposed to be spending time at an "eternal banquet" -- only looking to one another in the insular fashion that Akito demands -- Yuki notes that until Tohru, they really didn't spend time together. In more ways than one, she is a profound force of change, causing the Sohmas to break free of the isolation that the zodiac curse emprisons them in.

And, of course, given her nature, she isn't even able to see how much of an influence she has until later. I love this parallel arc for both Yuuri and Tohru, where by the end of canon, they are able to grasp (maybe not fully, but at least more than before) how deep an impact they have on those around them, thus forming a clearer (and more affirming) picture of themselves as the sources of inspiration they really are. It's an idea I'm really excited to explore in my YOI x Fruits Basket crossover!

[bludstaind]

𝐢𝐟 𝐢 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞. // closed event starter for @axdently

⸻ Her heart raced as she stepped out of the bathroom, the remnants of her panic attack still clinging to her like a shroud. The grandeur of the Masquerade ball enveloped her in an uncomfortable warmth, and her stomach churned with anxiety. She glanced around the opulent hall, her gaze darting from one masked face to another. The mask she wore was a feeble shield against the sea of unknown eyes, but it offered a modicum of solace. After losing control and killing a man in front of thousands, she had run off and hidden away with Viv on his peach farm, feeling too much like a monster, too afraid to face the world. Yet, here she was, forced to attend, the ach of longing for Benny at equal odds with her fear.

Across the hall, she spotted him standing beside Lenora, the one who had given Elia the push she needed to show up. Panic washed over her like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her in it's uncertainty. What if he didn't love her anymore? What if he didn't recognize her anymore?

What if he was afraid of her?

With each step she took, pushing past the swirling, masked bodies, the walk felt like an eternity. Finally, she stood before him, her trembling hands reaching up to remove her mask. Her lips quivered as she struggled to find the right words, her voice reduced to a whisper. "Dad?" Her voice broke, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry." The weight of her guilt and fear hung heavy in the air, a plea for understanding and forgiveness she didn't deserve in those simple words.

[cherubchoirs]

From what I remember of the movie. Hal 9000 is a bit of a cinnamon roll before he goes nuts. (It's not his fault he went insane: he was given an order that contradicted his core programmming. If anything, that blame should lie solely on the people who gave the order.)

100% CORRECT - this is one of the reasons i chose to make my robot design for him cuter and pretty non-threatening. hal is so often remembered as one of the most chilling villains in cinema and while he is definitely extremely effective, i do feel a little sad that he's seen as the (now) stereotypical cold, calculating ai out to destroy humanity. like you said, hal only did what he did due to bad instructions from humans - he was told to conceal the true nature of their mission despite being programmed to always relay the best, most accurate information available to him. this contradiction led to a degradation in his thought processes, catching him in an endless loop with no clear answer until his thinking deteriorated to the point that he developed severe anxiety and paranoia. this in turn effected his decision-making even further, causing him to lie MORE (despite, once again, that being against his coding) and eventually breaking down so severely that he came to the conclusion that if he kills all the humans on board, he no longer needs to hide information nor lie to cover up that concealment. it was faulty logic resulting from his thoughts looping so badly he could no longer conduct his normal functioning - additionally, this went even further south when hal realized that dave and frank were planning on disconnecting him. hal didn't understand sleep, he had never experienced being shut down and didn't realize he could he brought back through reconnection. he genuinely thought they were trying to kill him, permanently, and so that put his already fragile mental state into a complete tailspin. these events cascaded into hal's villainous break down, and it really is put on the humans that gave him these orders as dave no longer feels any resentment toward hal after he finds this out. additionally, hal is completely redeemed in the second book, giving his life to save the human crew even though he knows he'll be left behind to die. he's just. so good and he absolutely deserved the ending he got when dave saved him so they could spend eternity together as one being amongst the stars...he's a sweet little guy and humans gave a perfectly good computer anxiety!!!

[iamverysmall-andihavenomoney]

Finding Out That Their Career is Over

Haikyū!! Masterlist

Pairing(s): Oikawa Tōru x Gender Neutral! Reader

Warnings: Talk of knee injuries, angst,

A/N: Apparently, I just love giving Oikawa knee injuries.

If the pain hadn’t been enough, here he was, stuck in a rehabilitation program. With a few more months, his knee was looking towards a recovery, or at least, that’s what the doctors had told him, at first.

   The pain was bearable, in his opinion. If he had his way, he’d have been back to the team, as soon as he’d recovered. But his doctors, nor his teammates would allow that. Most of all you, the lover who’d been with him, every step of the way, wouldn’t allow him to continue playing, until he was given an ‘okay’ by the doctors.

   Watching him shakily stand from the seat beside yours, in the doctor’s office, you allow him to gently grasp your shoulder, to stabilize himself. He’d only just gotten off of his crutches a month ago, and after four months of dealing with them, he was relieved.

   Tōru sends you a grateful smile, leaning over and gently kissing your temple, “Thank you, Y/N,” he whispers, moving his hand so he can place his arm gently over your shoulders, walking with him towards the office.

It had taken him a while to get used to putting some of his dependence on you. Tōru was an independent person. So getting used to having to place his hand on your shoulder to get up, to having to have you help him do mundane things like get up in the morning, to get into the shower, to get the bulky brace on, every morning... It was hard. He was trying to get used to it, he truly was. But going from an Olympic level athlete to, in his opinion, a below-average man who needed to depend on everyone around him, wasn't something that happened overnight.

Making it back to the room, you move to sit in the seat next to the small, plastic and paper encased bed where the patients were supposed to sit, while Tōru moves to take a seat on the bed. His legs hang over it, spread open a bit to allow his hands to rest in between his thighs, fingers picking lightly at his nails - a habit both of you had thought he'd dropped a long time ago.

Reaching over, you grasp the hand closest to you, giving it a gentle squeeze. Brown eyes shift to you and soften at the sight of your reassuring expression. Bringing your hand to his lips, he gently kisses each of your fingertips. "I love you."

   You tilt your head, "I love you too, Tōru."

The wait for the doctor to come in only worsened Tōru’s steadily growing anxiety. Long digits fiddle with the fabric that keeps his knee supported. If you hadn’t been there to hold his hand through it, you were sure he would have lost his mind, trying to just wait for the doctor to come in.

   Though the anxiety building up in you through the duration of your wait in that little room was nothing compared to the way your stomach dropped, when the doctor entered the room. His expression was near emotionless, despite the smile plastered on his old, wrinkled face.

   “My boy,” both you and Tōru visibly cringed at the display of unwanted familiarity. You’d both been in this office far too often, recently.

   “Hi, doc!” Despite his own worry, your husband manages to keep a clean face about things. “So, tell me: when am I due to return to volleyball?” He sat on the edge of the table, leaning forward in anticipation... Almost like a child might... You could only hope that there would be only good news, from here on in.

The hope that was filling his expression nearly broke your heart. He wanted to return to volleyball so badly. He deserved to go back. If only the universe wasn't so cruel.

   The mood of the room changed and the smile slipped from the doctor’s features. “My boy, I’m afraid I don’t think that will be possible.”

   Toru’s expression darkens, though it’s only for a moment. “That - That’s not true -... You and Dr.-”

   “While we thought a full recovery was possible,” the older man continues, “After reexamination, we’ve realized that your knee, while you will have the strength to walk again, without any pain, will never be able to handle the type of pressure that your jumps put on it. Even with how remarkable your recovery has gone, thus far... You shattered your patella, Señor Oikawa. You were lucky to have made the recovery you did, as quickly as you did.”

   You couldn’t breath for a moment, just staring at your husband. He’d worked to be on this team, doing what he loved, his entire life. It wasn’t fair that now he found himself not able to play. Watching the way emotions scattered through his features, you swallowed the lump in your throat. If the recovery hadn’t killed him, the grief of losing his entire career and livelihood might.

   Disbelief, anger, denial, terror... The all struck his features faster than he could stop them, leaving him not only feeling lost, but leaving him feeling vulnerable in front of this near stranger. And he hated feeling vulnerable.

But how could he stop these emotions? His whole world came to a stand-still. All of those nights he'd stayed away for hours, before coming home to find you having fallen asleep trying to wait up for him, dinner now cold, on the table; all of those weeks at different training camps, when he wouldn't get to see you for what felt like an eternity; all of those years of perfecting his techniques and making a name for himself... It was all for nothing.

   He wanted to leave. Now.

   Without a word, he shoves himself up from where he was seated, walking haphazardly towards the door. He’s swinging it open by the time you can stand up and take the steps to reach him. “Don’t touch me.” His voice holds a bite you weren’t used to as he turns his back towards you, walking... Or rather, limping, away from the room.

   You frown and turn to face the doctor, offering an apology and asking him to send the medical bill to your residence. Then, you take off after the tall male.

Making it to your car, you slide into the driver’s side, silent as you turn on the car. You don’t say anything until the car is running, “Tōru, you can’t just-”

“Why can’t I?” He snaps at you, shooting you a withering look, as if you were the cause of his injuries. “Why can’t I lose my temper? Please, give me a reason, Y/N. Please tell me why I can’t act the way I want to, when my life is in pieces."

"Since you seem to know so goddamn much, please tell me why I can't lose it. I've waited my entire life, only to fall just short of the Olympics? What good am I if I can't even do that?" Tōru wasn't made. It was upset, call it heart-broken, if you will. But all he could find himself doing was lashing out in anger, kicking his bad leg out to his the glovebox of your car.

Pain courses through his knee, making his let out a pained noise as he slowly sinks down into his seat. "I fucked it all up... I'm never gonna be..." He lets out a shaky breath. "I'm never going to make it. I should have fucking known, I-"

"Tōru, I love you, but shut up." Your tone makes watery eyes shift to you. "You are not going to sit here and tell yourself that you're useless and push me away." You grab his hand and lift it up, "You see these rings? Through hell and high water, Tōru. That's what we promised one another. You made it here. This is a setback, but it doesn't mean your career is over, with volleyball. Let's just... Go home. You can get mad, scream, hit the wall or something, whatever you need to. Then we can sit down and talk about what's next.

"I love you... You are going to make it through this. And I'm going to be here with you, every step of the way. Understood?"

Your husband lets out a shaky exhale, tears sliding down his cheeks. "I understand. I'm sorry I yelled at you," he slowly puts his head on your shoulder.

You could tell by the way his lip quivered that he was trying to hold it all in. But what good would that do?

Sliding back the center console you shift so he can lean into your embrace. No words are spoken as loud sobs begin to rip through his body. His lean form shakes against you as he cries. His sobs break your heart, though you couldn't imagine the pain he was in, at the moment.

His sobs didn't quiet for a while, in fact, as you soothed a hand through his soft hair, he only seemed to sob harder, almost as if he thought he'd disappointed you. Though, as he wore himself out, his sobs slowly quieted into soft whimpers. No matter if his sobs had quieted down or not, you weren't moving until he said something.

"I wanna go home."

That was all it took, before you were both back in your seats, on your way back to your shared home. You weren't sure how long it would take Tōru to be okay, again, or if he ever would be. But you'd fallen in love with him and made your vows. He's the love of your life and you promised that you would see him through it, to the end.

General Taglist:

@thathoneybee3 @bratkugo

[thricemarked]

@obliviouskind asked: -Absence-

HEADCANON/DRABBLE BASED ON A WORD // accepting drabble

Death was lonely as the souls in the lake flowed as they wished... Well, as Kurda thought - well could think to the best of his ability. There’s no senses, there’s no development in death, though the abyssal dissonance of the endlessly deep body of water felt overpowering. It swallowed whatever type of consciousness he had in here that allowed him to think, yet not entirely have a mind on his own... As if he would be forced to eventually choose a set of his own memories to feel, to remember, or to relive.

Though, there were times when he had more freedom to think on his own. In the past - when he had freshly died - he could think about the potential anxieties of the future. In the past - when he had witness a soul silently linger beside him, especially if they were familiar to him - he could think about what they could’ve done in the present if they were alive... If he hadn’t ruined that opportunity for them. In the past - when he had recalled a memory with those he’s cared about like Darren - he could think about the pains he’s caused them and especially him; he could think about what future Darren has potentially paved for himself.

It truly felt like he was no longer himself at times, but just a set of memories and feelings... With only the occasional interjection of his true self which was slowly fading, fading away into the Lake of Souls as a whole. The flow of time would be suffocating and disorienting.

( The regrets he’d continuously relive over and over threatened to speed this process up at an agonizing pace. )

Though, moonlight would erupt the eternal darkness of the lake and Kurda would be gifted a body again. His mind foggy, as he forced himself up trying to get used to having legs once again, before... His eyes met her’s and his first thoughts would appear into his head, ‘..Evanna... Why are you..?’ She never would do something like this, would she? This is unlike her to his knowledge. He’d open his mouth, but she’d shake her head “no” before speaking up herself, cutting him off preemptively.

“Kurda, don’t try to speak until you’re back in your time... You’re going to be alive again, but,” She pauses herself before sighing before waving a nail as Kurda would be clothed and strength would be given to his body, yet his mind would remain hazed, but he wanted to argue against that last statement. He didn't deserve to be alive again. “Because you have no say in this... You have no obligation to keep to vampire culture, but can return to it if you desire to tempt your own destiny. I’ve removed you from the Stone of Blood myself and you will be transported somewhere away from the current events.”

He couldn’t even question her properly, but he knew this wasn’t fair since he knew she was doing that on purpose. Though, she’d shortly speak as Kurda finally stood looking back to the lake for a moment, before back to her, “It’s true. I’m trying to rush you out of here out of the eye of Mr. Tiny... Though I won’t answer your questions after this either. Unless you successfully reintegrate yourself into vampire culture again. Though, again, its your choice to be absent after being given another chance at life or not... You’re under no obligation anymore.” Then with a wave of her sharp nail, Kurda’s surroundings would change in an instant... He’d be somewhere, in the night of a city in western Europe.

( What would it be like to be truly absent? How long could he last? )