#headstrong rin is headstrong

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

For Mineta: Who had the softest chest out of all the girls you met? :3

@demon-blood-youths

"Who has the softest chest?" Mineta thinks a little but looks left and right to be sure he's alone before looking at the anon. "It's hard to say honestly. All the girls had soft pretty boobies." he giggled but thinks.

"Most of them were really cute, and so so soooooo soft. Like Ashley butterfly. Her chest is so soft and snuggly. They were the right size to nuzzle my face in them. Sara has the cutest look on her face when you squeeze her cute butt. Even seeing strong girls like Maggie and Kali being cute! Some of the girls have normal or slightly plump boobies but still nice to enjoy." he giggled doing grabby hands.

"Though, I also love some of the fraction leader female boobies...even Van ink's. Hers is so so soooooo soft and it's like snuggling into a warm pillow." he drools flushing pink with a nose bleed.

"*Sighs* I was in heaven when I got the chance. I bet it's better when I get to squeeze and enjoy. Her bras and panties were soft too." He said to the anon but as he did, the anon tenses to see Mineta confused.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. But what the fuck did you say about Ink?" said a angry voice to scare Mineta. He slowly turns seeing six angry young men who were the six claws.

".......Uhhhh.."

"The hell you do to Ink you fucking asshole!?" Rin said aiming the tip of his blade towards him.

"What did I tell you about being a fucking perv Mineta!?" Bakugo cracked his knuckles.

"You know..that's pushing it. We can't let that slide." Ren said pushing his glasses up but he was angry.

"How dare you be a pervert around Ink!" Atsushi said growling.

"I say we beat the living shit out of him! No one touches our Ink!" Denji said.

"Right! That's low for you Mineta!" Midoriya said.

"uhhhhhh..I......." Before long, he begins running away screaming.

"GET BACK HERE!!"

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!"

[racke7]

I was re-reading "In Flight" (because I have literally nothing better to do, stuck at home sick), and I started to think.

Like, gabriel_blessing's Shirou Emiya is an... interesting character. He's not a very good "Shirou Emiya", but he's an interesting character who happens to share that absolutely unhinged lunatic's name.

I can't even entirely blame the author for it, because Shirou is a... very complicated character to do right by. It's a knife's-edge of trying to balance "too traumatized to consider themselves human", and "thinks that this is normal", and trying to fit that into an entertaining (and not trauma-focused) narrative is... not easy.

But. Looking at a character who's called "Shirou Emiya" behaving in ways that don't mesh with "Shirou Emiya"? It's weird. And it sometimes makes me step back and go: "what the fuck kind of Sekirei-story could you write with the actual Shirou Emiya?"

Pre-War Shirou? He's basically just a traumatized nice guy with the ability to make a crowbar a little bit tougher. He kind of disappears into the background, is what I'm saying.

Fate-Route Shirou? You put a Sekirei in front of a man who's sworn his heart to another? You try to steal him away from his beloved Saber, who he must always search for until his dying day? Jail! Jail for the author for a thousand years!

(I could see him being good friends with Miya or Kazehana, who both know what it's like to love and lose. But he didn't really lose, did he? She's still waiting for him, even now.)

UBW Shirou? Do you really think that Rin would ever give up on a promise she made? Her promise to watch over him and guide him away from Archer's path? Rin would rather try to raze the Clock Tower to the fucking ground, than give up. And Zelretch would probably think that that's too fucking hilarious to not reward, so trying to split them up is just... very much a long-shot.

HF Shirou? He's already happily married, dude. He's not gonna fuck your aliens, he's too busy being satisfied with his life.

It just-... There's just no Shirou that really meshes well with Sekirei, because he's already made his choices by the end of the Routes, and those choices don't include ecchi-aliens.

BUT

But, there's one idea that struck me.

HF Rin comes back from London, and stumbles across a young boy desperately searching for his little sister. A boy who is clearly not human, and whose sister is very likely to be targeted sexually (because Sekirei-Ashikabi are romantic bonds).

HF Rin who knows some of those horrors from the suffering of her own little sister? Of fucking course she helps. She'll turn the entirety of Shin Tokyo upside-fucking-down if it means she can track down that girl faster and make sure that she isn't being hurt.

Which made me think about "how would she track Kusano down?". And the answer to that is blatantly obvious: "Shirou is a goddamn blood-hound for magic, and he'll probably owe her like half-a-dozen favors at this point".

And if we'll be involving Shirou by calling him over from Fuyuki in order to track down someone's little sister? I feel like we need to up the absurdity-value of Shirou's entrance.

So, rather than calling a young man who looks very friendly and reliable, Shiina's new Ashikabi calls a tiny little girl with pink hair.

That's right, Emilya von Einzbern is dragged into this mess, and Sakura (who absolutely refuses to have her senpai out of her sight for longer than five minutes) comes with her (and Rider plays chaperone, as always).

So now, we have a very pretty tiny little girl with pink hair. A tall and very sexy-looking (almost unnaturally so) onee-san with glasses. And a young woman with very sizable... tracts of land.

Of course they're going to be mistaken for a group of unwinged Sekirei.

(And then Sakura murders the poor Ashikabi who tried to flirt with her cute senpai.)

As for the rest of the story? I have no clue. But like... what a fucking entrance.

[heich0e]

once rin acknowledges that he's attracted to you he basically approaches this whole omega thing with a sort of 'how hard can it be?' attitude. bc like. you're an omega. he's an alpha. and yeah, maybe he's never actually been interested in an omega before, but even the stupidest beta on earth knows that's just how it works. he doesn't expect resistance. not from you anyway (his brother's another issue entirely.)

and then there's sae. who's been working with you for years. who knows exactly what you're like, and how difficult you can be—how headstrong and fussy you get about the most trivial things, like mating and gender roles and your devotion to your little job. sae who has been so so carefully putting all the pieces into play, knowing that unless he planned it all out to go his way that there's no way that you'd give in without a fight. which is all the more reason why his brother's sudden interest—sudden obsession—with you pisses him off.

[inloveinsickness]

❝ DON'T BE A STRANGER ❞ — itoshi rin

tags. gn!reader, reverse hurt/comfort, mild angst, brother troubles, spoiler warning! set after the U20 game, hand holding, childhood friends, written with a platonic relationship in mind but it's up to interpretation → wc: 915

there's helicopters over my head / every night when i go to bed / do you feel ashamed when you hear my name

rin finds comfort in knowing that you stayed when no one else did

masterlist

rin never thought much of his teal eyes, never quite understanding why you love them so much.

to him, it only served as a cruel reminder of his brother who has a matching pair that’s equally icy, seemingly devoid of feelings and love, just stone cold and unimpressed.

every time they bore into yours, he can’t help but feel almost bad, reluctant to taint the pure, comforting presence your gaze holds. there’s constantly black swirling behind his corneas, a thick dark energy that he can never seem to get rid of especially on the field, like a veil that blinds him, casting shadows into this vibrant world that he lives in and makes it anything but. he never did hold eye contact well with you anyway, even since you were kids.

rain’s pouring down into the stadium from the open roof, showering the astroturf in a glistening dampness. he stands right smack in the middle of it simply staring upwards disregarding the barrage of droplets pattering on his face, wetting his hair and potentially causing him to catch a cold, but against his bettter judgement, he decides that’s a problem for tomorrow.

rin often keeps his troubles stewing and brewing in that head of his, always keeping things to himself and never letting anyone in past the threshold. as you stand five feet away with an umbrella over your head, you watch him, keeping your distance and letting him make the call.

despite the weather, you don’t miss the sheen of moisture along his bottom lash line.

“he came up to me just to praise isagi, he never really did care about me even though i bested him in that moment.” he dryly chuckles, shaky words laced with an age-old resentment, spilling from a quivering lip bitten raw. “i don't know what else he wants from me.”

your heart sinks at the knowledge, eyes softening as you take in his hunched frame. he's standing tall, height still imposing but there's a droop to his shoulders and a tension so palpable, you don't even need to be up close to see it.

you know very well how much his older brother's departure and sudden change in demeanour affected rin, having been there to pick up the pieces both times. you understood sae must've gone through a lot in spain for him to get to that point, but he was evidently too harsh on the poor bright-eyed boy who simply wanted to continue chasing the innocent dream he shared with the one he looked up to.

staying silent, you take a tentative step towards rin, and when he shows no sign of discomfort, you take another, and another, until your shoulders brush against each others. you're keenly aware that there's not much you can do to mediate whatever's going on between them, but as you lift the umbrella over the both of your heads, you do what you do best, cover him from the storm, even if it's just for a little while.

as you take his larger hand in yours, you keep your grip firm yet gentle, something for him to hold onto, anchor himself to until the anguish in his heart simmers for the time being. despite his rough, dominating style of play on field, his hands remain soft save for a few callouses from intensive training and exercise, much like his heart hidden behind the impregnable fortress he's built brick by brick.

it's rare to see him cry, usually composed and headstrong. seeing him crumble beneath his own expectations and his brother's lack of acknowledgement leaves a pang of guilt beating in your chest, never knowing the true extent of how much it weighed on him until this very moment.

“he—” he stutters, words clipping against his tongue, “how can he just leave everything behind?”

“cast me aside like mum and dad, walk away and leave me in the dust like he did those years ago, like all i am to him is a shameful shadow of his past." the last part is unspoken, but you can tell what's running through his mind by the way he clamps onto your hand, the motion desperate and vulnerable, like if you let go, you'd disappear just like he did.

you don't tell him that his grip is hurting you, if that's the only way you can bear at least an ounce of pain he's experiencing, you'll take it in a heartbeat. instead you squeeze back in kind, praying it speaks to him in a way your words can't begin to convey, hoping it's enough to soothe his weary heart.

the two of you stand there in the middle of the field until the rain lightens and his tears slow, until the tension leaves his body with just a shell of exhaustion, your thumb drawing circles against the back of his hand. only now he looks at you, fringe sticking to his forehead and cheeks painted in tracks of dried up tears.

his expression leaves little for the imagination, but the lack of bite and edge in his aquamarine eyes is a sight that lifts a small smile to your face, one that speaks of relief and reassurance, of permanence, that you'd be there through the wind and the waves, the sunshine and the storm.

and as you lightly tug him towards the exit with the slight jerk of your head, you don't let go of your clasped hands, a silent promise that you're here to stay.

taglist. open (link to form) @saucejar @somniachant @returntothefae @daisy-room @stellar-headquarters

@whatisnureotypical @haruhi269 @cherrysurf @cyxjz

© yogurtkags. please do not repost, plagiarise, or translate my work.

[airybcby]

Oooooh, are you still doing the spotify wrapped event? If so, my top artist is my queen Taylor Swift and my top song is Haunted:3 If not, please ignore this!! Have a great day<3

i am!! im OBSESSED WITH HAUNTED!!!

if your top artist was taylor swift and your top song was haunted, i’d pair you with…

sae itoshi

AND

rin itoshi

જ⁀♡⊹｡° i'm wishing he was you instead

♡ a/n — for my spotify wrapped event! - masterlist -

♡ content — sae itoshi x gn! reader, rin itoshi x gn! reader, gn! reader, reader still likes sae, unrequited feelings, pining, reader and rin are in a relationship, set in the u-20 vs bllk match

♡ synopsis — when sae itoshi left you all those years ago, you foun comfort in rin, but what happens when all those feelings come to a head?

It’s supposed to be just a game—another match between the Blue Lock 11 and the U-20 team—but everything inside you stops when you see him.

Sae.

His presence on the field is magnetic, the way he moves, the way he commands attention. It’s effortless, calculated. You can almost hear the echoes of old memories, the ones that made you believe in him. But that’s not the person who’s standing there today, commanding the U-20 team.

He’s changed—hasn’t he? He has to have changed. But when you see him like this, it feels like nothing ever really shifted. The ball at his feet. The smirk. The arrogance. It’s like no time has passed since he walked away from you, no time since he left without a word, leaving you to pick up the pieces.

And there’s Rin. The one you’re with now.

You’ve never told Rin about what happened with Sae. Not the whole story. Not the part where you clung to him after Sae left, afraid to be alone, afraid to face the emptiness without someone by your side. You never told him that part of why you sought Rin out wasn’t just because of who he was—but because he was someone you thought you could lean on when Sae wasn’t there anymore.

You glance over at Rin now, who’s in the middle of the action, fiercely focused, the way he always is when he’s playing. There’s an intensity to him you admire, and it’s real. Rin’s always been like that—headstrong, ambitious, and present. Unlike Sae, whose detachment was as much a part of him as his skill. Rin is here, playing for himself. And you’re with him.

But today… today you can’t help but feel that deep ache when Sae looks at you from across the field. His gaze lingers for a moment too long, and even from a distance, you feel it. That old pull, that ghost of a connection you once had. You quickly turn away, but it’s too late. The memories are already flooding back.

You and Sae, back then—before everything changed. Before he chose his own path, before you learned how easily he could let go of you. Back when you still believed there was a chance.

Rin glances at you from the corner of his eye and then back to the game, but his attention is clearly divided. He’s trying to gauge you, to figure out what’s distracting you. He can see it in your expression—the way your focus isn’t fully on the match, the way your mind is elsewhere.

And it’s true. You’re not fully here. You’re not fully present, and it’s not fair to Rin. He deserves better. He deserves someone who’s as invested in him as he is in you. But how can you be when part of you is still haunted by Sae? When the "what-ifs" and "could-have-beens" keep swirling around in your mind every time you look at him?

It's after the game when Rin finally finds you, waiting on the field for him. Or someone else. “Hey,” Rin’s voice cuts through your thoughts. “Are you okay?”

You shake your head, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes. “Yeah, just a little distracted,” you mutter, your gaze flickering back to Sae as he makes a move on the field, reporters around him. It’s impossible to ignore him, especially when he’s so close, when every part of him pulls you back in like it always used to.

Rin notices where you’re looking, and the edge in his voice hardens. “You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?”

Your heart stutters. You don’t answer right away. You don’t have to. Rin knows.

“I’m here,” he continues, his eyes searching yours, softer now. “I’m not him. But I’m here. And I want you here, too.”

You feel the weight of his words, and your chest tightens. You want to be there with Rin. You are with him, after all. But Sae’s shadow lingers, and you can’t escape it. Not when you see him there, so perfect and untouchable, just like before.

And the truth hurts, doesn’t it? The truth is, part of you will always wish things had been different with Sae. You’ll always wonder what could have been if he hadn’t left. But it’s too late for that now. You’ve already chosen.

You look at Rin, and the guilt sets in. You’re here with him, and yet your heart still aches for someone who walked away.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, almost to yourself. “I’m trying to move on. I really am.”

Rin doesn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, he takes your hand, his fingers firm, but gentle. His touch grounds you in a way Sae’s never did.

“I know,” Rin says softly. “But I’m not him. And I won’t leave. You’re mine, whether you realize it or not.”

You squeeze his hand, nodding. “I know.”

But in the back of your mind, Sae’s lingering gaze stays with you, a reminder of what you could never have.

got this idea and i'm not sure ppl will like it but f it we ball

i hope you liked it!

likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated!

[malin-la]

OK I AM ASKING ABOUT GIN AND RIN a sneak peek.. a headcanon.. an anything I NEED

WELL SINCE YOU ASKED SO KINDLY

Enjoy some LENGTHY yapping and some excerpts from my fic planning notes

Long story short, after Ryunnosuke discovers his ability, the pair realize they can be more useful in the slums. They decide to try their luck at working for a popular underground fighting ring. Ryu essentially works as backup for the fights in case things get too rowdy and Gin works as a ‘money girl’ at the front who collects cash from betters

On Gin’s first day, she gets a lengthy explanation of the rules from the group of girls who work there.

- Gin is led to the front where she meets a few girls who run her through the process

- The girls are all in their teens and coated in makeup

After getting an explanation on how to do her job, another girl interjects.

- “Also, you make a little commission on the bets you collect, so don’t be afraid to use that cute face of yours to ask them for a little more!”

- Gin is slightly offended because the girl looks about the same age as her yet she's talking to her like she's a full grown adult

This is Rin!!

My hc is that most of the 8 kids are escapees from the same orphanage. Rin however is not one of them. She was an abandoned child who found her way in the fighting ring after wandering the slums.

After the work is done (which is a little complicated to summarize lmao), Gin and Rin finally have a chance to talk for the first time

- Gin tries to start conversation but Keiko is not having it and just keeps sending her dirty looks

for reference, Keiko is kind of the ‘lead girl’ among the group and is the oldest at 15

- The next couple of girls are kind of passive and just sit there talking with each other

- Finally the second girl that talks to her walks in and comes to sit next to her

- “Thanks for your help, I’m Akutagawa Gin, and you?”

“I’m Rin, just Rin”

“You don’t have a given name?”

“Rin is my given name” Gin looked at her puzzled

“You don’t get a last name when you don’t have parents”

- There was a bout of silence before Rin leaned in again

“So how’d you do it?”

“huh”

“How’d you count your stuff so fast”

- Many of the other girls tuned in as well, Keiko just rolls her eyes and looks away “Well, I just added all the bets together in my head as I was collecting them, so I just had to check if the number in my head matched the total of my cash”

- She starts to teach the girls how to do the math in their heads and Keiko gets pissssed

- “What if you did the math wrong, what if you fucked up?” Gin stayed silent, but Rin defends her “Shut up, Keiko, you’re just pissed that she did her job faster than you”

I’ve always seen Rin as nothing if not headstrong in the face of unjust leadership. Whether that be from her bosses, to Keiko here, to Takahiro when she meets the other children.

An event™️ in particular leads to the Akutagawa’s stopping their work in the fighting ring, but while they were there, Gin and Rin were CLOSE.

On that same first day, the girls find out Ryunnosuke is Gin’s brother, and a lot of them become afraid of the pair. However, Rin never really cared. She saw them both as their own individual people and adored Gin’s company.

Eventually, Rin does join the group of children as we know them to be in canon. Once again to put a very long story short, they try to recruit the siblings’ ‘services’ after Rin raves to the gang about their talents. However, leader kid Takahiro ends up insulting Gin and only asking for Ryu. Rin is feeling shocked and betrayed, and naturally the siblings decline the offer.

These segments comes after that interaction:

- It was a few days later that the knocking returned, heavier and more frantic than before. The siblings could only assume that Takahiro and his gang had returned after licking their wounds and rehearsing a lengthy apology. To their surprise, they didn’t find eight calm children, but rather one, extremely scared, familiar face. Rin was panting to the point of heaving, leaning against the doorframe to keep herself upright.

- “We need…” she paused, letting herself catch her breath “We need help. Sayaka’s been hurt, like, really badly.”

Gin looked at her brother in concern

“We don’t have medical supplies. Hell, we don’t even have the money to buy any. And even if we had what we needed, she’s so small, so small…” Rin chuckled nervously “We aren’t even sure we can give her stitches safely”

Akutagawa disappears from the door frame to get the makeshift first aid kit under their ‘mattress’ while Gin turns back to Rin

“Only because it’s you”

Ok pack it up queers

Once again, the pair just stay close when they work together as a group with the other kids. While Ryunnosuke was an established loner in canon, I like to think Gin kept her closeness to everyone, especially Rin.

Even when they lost contact between seeing each other again, Rin never faulted Gin for leaving the job (even though she didn’t know why), and even made sure Gin was the first one she called when her family was in trouble

.

ANYWAYS THAT WAS THE YAP SESSION SORRY IT WAS SO LONG. If you wanted anything in particular though like… feel free to specify bc I’m also coming up with these characters as I’m writing them so yapping abt them helps me flesh them out

[entamewitchlulu]

this ruri rin event is soooo good the girls are so perfectly characterized ;w; i love how while they all have a lot in common due to being reincarnations of the same person, and have a lot of similar values and such, they're also so distinct and have such distinct voices.

You've got Yuzu, who's kind of big sister coded in a way, like she can take it and dish it out, but she's also caring and mature. She's a bit more on the reserved side compared to Ruri, being more reticent about her real feelings because of embarrassment, but she's not a tsundere. She's competitive, but in a friendly competition sort of way.

Ruri is a bit similar to Yuzu, but she's a lot more forward and up front about both her feelings and her random thoughts, being much more willing to just directly ask someone "oh so are you going out?" rather than dancing around the subject, and never holding back on saying how she truly feels about someone (which is almost always positive). She has no shame or embarrassment about saying how she cares about someone.

Selena is a wildly sheltered, one-brain cell jock who doesn't know what dating is, and she can be blunt but mostly just because she doesn't really get social graces. She's very headstrong and straightforward, and almost devastatingly honest, maybe even a little gullible (her upbringing certainly made her susceptible to influence). She's very pure, in a way, but she's quick to take responsibility for her mistakes and straightforward with others.

And then there's Rin, who is definitely the most reticent about her true feelings, covering them up with tsundere-esque dismissals and sometimes avoiding closeness (likely because her upbringing causes her to fear loss, so she holds things at arm's length in case they disappear). But she's also so much more like Yugo than I initially anticipated, she also has the same pure love of dueling and competition which is why they make such a good duo. Peas in a pod. She can be a bit childish in some ways, when she gets petty about not getting to be in the Friendship Cup, and she's less a big sister or a mom friend than she is the friend who struggles to hold onto the brain cell when she's with her other dumb friend, and i love that for her.

It's just so cool how unique they all are. I love Arc V. The character writing is so good.

[iho6hi2]

Unspoken Rizz.

Type: Drabble, Oneshot

Pairing: Isagi Yoichi/M! Reader

Summary: Isagi was never the type to get frustrated over petty shit talk, but you prove to be a special kind of exception.

Warnings: Degenerate Flirting, One-Sided Dislike, Enemies to ???, Unresolved Tension, gay bitches

Word Count: 1,890

A/N: theyre so LAME 🫥🫥🫥

*Du bist ein Blödian - you're an idiot

"Only one goal against the U-20? You'd think the superstar on the rise would be better, but he's barely keeping up." Isagi overhears you talking about him to a less notable player of Bastard München.

Recently, Isagi kept seeing and hearing more of you. When first introduced, you didn't speak a word of importance and value to him, just the simple greetings with the regular dose of stiffness and unfamiliarity he had expected and returned.

Then like a switch that's been flipped, one morning you slap him in the face with headstrong, criticizing and bitter comments. He was confused, baffled and a little speechless to say at the very least.

You two clash gazes and your smile impossibly widens, while he pinches his eyebrows together. He decides to be the better man and just nods his head politely while looking away from you.

Isagi isn't one to pick fights. He isn't the type to argue with people unless he was bitten without provocation first, but other than that, Isagi doesn't actively seek butting heads with others for whatever reason, nor does he enjoy it.

So, he couldn't help but allow your little snide remark to get under his skin and boil his blood slowly from within him.

He wouldn't admit it, over his dead body would he confess something as pathetic as that, but it did make him look back on the game and think about whether or not he could have done something more, and truthfully, he really could have. But he was still proud of his game and hearing someone diminish his hard work made him angry.

He shouldn't be, he was surrounded by assholes. Both figuratively and literally. Isagi should know better, you were no different than players like Kaiser, Rin, Barou... hell even Karasu. The same shit-eating grin, sly eyes and pompous attitude.

And with that set in stone, he let it go. Isagi continued on with his training, not thinking about you and that smug mug and smart mouth of yours.

★

Isagi was reviewing the latest rankings. Noa had updated everyone's current standing and Isagi smiled when he checked his status, he was higher up now! He was slowly climbing up the rankings and surpassing in numbers even regulars from Bastard München.

"Your physicals are still trash. Go hit the gym," amid his ignorant bliss, your voice booms directly in his ear. Your breath fans his neck, sending shivers down his spine. He whips his head around so quick he was pretty sure even you could hear the slight cracking noise.

He frowns and grits his teeth and almost froths at the mouth upon noticing how pleased you seemed with his reaction. "Shut the fuck up."

In one way or another, you remind him of a vulture. Preying and biding your time to devour him, but perhaps he's giving you way too much credit with just this analogy alone.

You roll your eyes, your smirk never once falling off. "Brains alone won't get you anywhere, go run the treadmill and lift some weights." You advise, all the while ill-mannered.

"We'll see about that. I'll beat you," Isagi replies confidently. He stands his ground firmly, staring into your eyes.

You whistle, unimpressed. Bemusedly, you say, "That was lame, did you make that up on the spot or have you been practicing it for a while now?" It's not exactly a question, he knows that perfectly well, but Isagi still feels compelled to answer, to have the last word.

"Trying to act cool and unbothered isn't the way to win a confrontation, [Last Name]."

You chuckle and it feels entirely out of place coming from you. "What movie on Earth did you escape from? Are you delusional or is that just another one of these group symptoms that Blue Lock gives you?"

Isagi sighs, you were hopeless. He can't deny the fact that you were good, but he can't understand why you only spoke to him and him alone in that patronizing way. He's seen how you behave around Kaiser, Ness and the other less talented players on the team and they've never once appeared displeased to his degree.

"What's wrong with you?" Isagi asks out of the blue, voice not exasperated, just inquisitive.

You blink, the corners of your mouth twisting downwards for a split second. As if self-conscious of frowning around him, you immediately smile. "What's wrong with me are those ugly cleats you got on."

"But we're wearing the same exact pair."

"Look how you're copying my style, though. That's crazy, though."

Isagi sucks in a breath, walks around you and resumes his daily routine. Meanwhile you continue to stare at him, amused at the silent treatment you were receiving. You could deal with the cold shoulder, makes it more fun.

"You're never gonna be anything." You claim. Isagi turns on his heels and exits the room. You quickly deflate.

Perhaps you couldn't deal with the cold shoulder as well as you thought you could.

★

Isagi wipes his sweat with a towel, sitting his ass on the sidelines, slumping all over the wall. He pants, eyes getting droopy. He was about ready to doze off.

Isagi did extra the exercises in his usual work-out regime. Embarrassing as it is, he did take your suggestion to consideration and decided to run with it. His legs were killing him and his arms felt like falling off, but he thought that it wasn't a waste of his time.

He battled the urge to fall asleep in the in-door gym, unaware of the way you drank up the sight of him from where you stood, all too pleased to see him listening to you in spite of everything that was said and done.

Kaiser glances at you briefly, then clicks his tongue with his usual arrogant expression. Like your subliminal signs of affection were inconveniencing him despite your lack of vocalization.

"When are you ever gonna learn? You make yourself far too obvious," he chastises you with a holier-than-thou voice.

"You think so?" you question, rubbing the back of your head sheepishly.

Kaiser focuses on Isagi's form and discerns the nasty drool escaping his mouth before studying your own awky figure. "Never mind that, he's got shit for brains up in that skull. You aren't any better, either."

Ness chimes in passive-aggressively, "I'd still give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Wow, thanks guys. Love you so much." You reply sarcastically in turn.

Kaiser glares and raises a finger, "Don't say that to me, ever again. You'll make me hurl on the spot." Ness claps at that and you simply marvel at the dick riding.

★

Your shadow looms over Isagi, who refuses to acknowledge you. He preoccupies himself with his half-empty bowl instead, wondering how long you're going to stick next to him, leering down like you're a supreme being and he's a measly flea.

You pull the chair right beside him, plopping your bottom with the least bit of grace he's ever seen. He closes his eyes, shoving a spoonful of food in his mouth as a distraction.

You chortle, splitting a loaf of bread apart and dropping it in your soup. Isagi gags at your method. "Don't look at me like that. It's not like I'm feeding myself steroids."

"You'll need them to beat me." Isagi bites back at you even if you easily spot the rice grains sticking to his nostrils and the sauce stain on his chin.

"I don't need that shit to kick your ass."

"We can take it there."

"We've already taken it there. Next game, I'll humiliate you live in front of all these dumbasses tuning in and you won't have a shred of pride and dignity left in you." You respond, but for some reason Isagi can't feel the characteristic hostility, instead there was a rhythmic lilt to your tone.

"You love talking, don't you," Isagi grunts, but he can't find it in himself to frown unlike before. He was getting a bit excited, you're no weakling and the thought of competing against you made him unable to sit still. He wanted to be standing on the field in this very moment, but he nevertheless had to wait.

You stay silent after that, but he could tell you weren't backing down just because of what he had retorted. You squint your eyes and mirth settles once more on your features, "Unfortunately for you, I've always been a blabbermouth."

★

You contemplate drowning yourself in the hot springs. The water is warm, but your shame has your blood running cold.

You have lost against Isagi. Even if for the most part you didn't mean half the things you said, you still had some pride. And yet what little confidence you had left was shattered in mere seconds.

You should have been faster, you should have read the situation first and you should have calculated better. You should have scored that goal, but you ended up as a piece of shit decoy for Isagi, who reveled in his victory.

You look up at the ceiling, blinding yourself. Your ears were getting filled with gross butt water and you felt like a torn-up plastic bag. "I suck hairy ass cheeks, man. Fuuuuuuckk."

"You're not wrong." You pause in your fit, eyes saucers wide as you stare like a deer in headlights. You were suddenly embarrassed, like you were caught doing something appalling.

You dip your head under water and Isagi observes the small bubbles emerging on the surface. "Stop that, [Last Name]! Are you a child to be upset over something dumb like that?" He scolds you and you think that might have been your breaking point.

"Shut up! You're one to talk, you big penis! Weren't you the one sending death threats to Gingerhead via real life? I'm allowed to cry! Real men cry!" You manage out between green snot and you divulge that you were ugliest when you wail.

Isagi parts his mouth, rendered speechless. Not so much because he felt guilty, but because being put so abruptly in such a weird situation made his mind go blank. He couldn't figure out what to do or say to comfort you. Seeing you cry like a baby prompted him to at least try and pacify you a tiny bit. That's what nice people do, right?

"Hey," He reaches out to you, his hand grabbing at your arm to pull you out of the hot spring. You grip his forearm out of the blue, bringing him down, large splashes of water escaping the confines of the small pool. "What the fuck?!"

You cling to his back, semi-strangling him. "Do you really think I'll cry cause of one loss? Especially in front of you? Don't make me laugh! You're not that special. Du bist ein Blödian, Blödian, Blödian." You sneer even if he can't see. Well, you really did cry, but you somehow played it off. You didn't know if he believed you or not, but it's not like it mattered.

"To think I actually felt bad for you..." Isagi's lips twitch into a ghost of a smile.

"Don't pity me!"

"You're a sad man, [Last Name]."

"Eat my horseshit."

At the end of the day, Isagi couldn't stand you. But that didn't mean he couldn't stomach you. You were still annoying as hell, though.

[thesauce8]

I wish Kushina and Minato swapped roles. Hear me out on this one.

I was super excited seeing how Kushina wanted to be hokage, and I was disappointed that she wasn’t able to be the first female hokage. She was super headstrong, badass, and not a pushover. She was also a Jinchuriki, which means she had a lot of power potential. Imo, it would’ve been cool if she was also Kakashi, Rin, and Obito’s sensei.

She would’ve been revived during the war, and ngl, I think her and Naruto’s interactions would’ve been more heartfelt than him and Minato’s. She was most of what was making me so emotional during their deaths. (No offense to Minato. It’s not like I dislike him; he’s just a little bland to me.) She would’ve resonated with Obito as his sensei since they’re similar (we got a bit of this in the game), and those interactions during the war would probably also be more gut wrenching because of that connection. We could’ve been shown that she was a little harder on him because she believes in him (sorta like their dynamic in the game) but he doesn’t know that, creating some future regrets for her. That way, it doesn’t mess up the fact that Rin was his closest bond, but it would’ve made their encounters during the war so painful.

There’s a shortage of female characters who weren’t done dirty, so a female character with that much presence who isn’t a pushover and is badass would’ve been really nice. She also seems like someone who’d oppose the system and want to be hokage to fix it because of her likeness to Obito and Naruto (maybe even validate Obito’s concerns with the system), her passion, her past, and her resilience.

Someone mentioned that kunoichis were specifically trained to be medics back in Kakashi’s time, and I’m not sure about the credibility of that, but I think that would’ve been a fine thing to add to demonstrate another issue with the system. Kushina could publicly abide by that but secretly train Rin more in depth because girls have to stick together and all that. And then the idea of Kushina wishing to pass her title to a boy she wishes her own son would be like. Plus, she seems like the type to be able to hammer down Kakashi’s tough exterior, even if only a little bit.

[starthaw]

so for the past year I've been reading girl meets rock! (highly recc - it's very well written, just a shame about the music lyrics censorship... we hate copyright laws ong)

anyhow, this is my rant-analysis about takami and his relationship with hatano as it developed over these months and some predictions for future chapters, because this in particular is one of the more interesting developments imo

please talk to me abt this manga none of my friends care about jrock like this man

from the get go, takami is very clearly meant to be an antagonistic character, or about as antagonistic as a high schooler can be (even in the first ch we're told they don't get along throughout all of high school, lol). as the story progresses it becomes clear that there's a clash in personal philosophies, particularly where the glimpses of takami's backstory seem to hint at rock music being a point of contention. he's obviously good at it, he's definitely practiced a lot, and he enjoys it enough to keep going. but what else does it mean to him? what's the point of all this?

the song he sings in protocol. (ch36) is eve's dramaturgy, which centers on his internal conflict; that is, this role on the stage. why a rock band? why not violin, or baseball, or any other activity? why follow in the footsteps of his (likely to be, and probably unsuccessful) brother?

he bears the weight of social expectations and he greets it appropriately. because he's popular and good looking, it's expected that girls will ask him out all the time, and if that's the case, why should he say no? it's only a matter of course to him. the thing is, life grows meaningless and predictable if everyone is assigned to such specific roles and expectations.

takami's the same in that sense. he thinks of other people in a narrow-minded manner, acknowledging ayame as "another boring normie" (ch21), "just like everyone else". it's all the same to him, and he's given no reason to change this worldview. it's high school for now, sure, but when he has to "grow up", he'll be just like them. he's nothing special in the grand scheme of the world. he can afford not to care about how people think about him, because if everyone is the same and nobody is special, it really doesn't matter what they think. the way he sees it, everyone is bound to be the same, boring normies.

this is why hatano's such an anomaly to him. she's interesting for sure, similarly self aware but internalized in a different way. opposite to takami, she absolutely bombs it on stage (ch15), and she messes up the guitar all the time. she lacks the finesse and skill takami has but makes up for it with ambition. she wants to get better. she wants to play more. she wants a band on the stage, under the lights, with all eyes on her. she wants all these things and even when the world seems to bagger her down, she gets up and tries again.

she's confrontational and headstrong in a way takami can't comprehend. hatano contradicts these self-assumed truths tamaki has and turns them upside down, rejecting his worldview.

when she's knocked down, she fights back to stand up for herself - the biggest surprise of all. japanese society oppresses individuals in favor of the collective, so when hatano embodies the spirit of rock and roll, it renders takami speechless.

takami makes a lot of arrogant assumptions. they're not totally baseless with his limited worldview, but they're typical and immature for someone his age. he's self aware enough to acknowledge skill and respect people's dreams (see ch19 with his thoughts on rin), but when ayame mentions looking at the bigger view, takami is forced to think of himself as "ordinary".

it's because he sticks this label on himself, despite all his skill, that he'll never make it to much at all. he's trapped himself with the box of what a "ordinary" person can do unless he changes his mindset, which, given his internal thoughts (end of ch47)... unlikely to happen anytime soon.

that's not to say hatano isn't ordinary - because she is. she's an ordinary high school student who happens to be a bit passionate about rock music and still learning how to play guitar. but she's special in a way takami isn't, as well as being ordinary, and that's because she can inspire others in a way he can't. she has a spark he lacks, the kind of fire he doesn't seem to have.

it's gotta suck for takami to see that, right? because by all accounts, even if they're both ordinary, he should be better than her, you know? it's what he expects. it's not right otherwise.

that brings us to the latest chapters (ch48) - takami sets the game, the terms, the prize. hatano honestly doesn't have much to lose, but takami is hinging his pride on this.

if hatano loses, takami gets to go back to the same as he was before, and nothing will have really changed. they're both ordinary people in the end, but takami still has something over her. it's to be expected. if hatano wins, though, takami has to change the way he thinks and start to acknowledge her as a genuine equal. it'll force him to re-evaluate his approach as a whole.

tl;dr: he's obnoxiously pessimistic (nihilistic?) and she's annoying optimistic, in spite of how it might seem at first glance. it's wack, I love it.

i think the best ending would be for heartbreak to lose - again, it's within expectations. the skill diff is obvious, and the girls have the least to lose. moreover, plot-wise, the boys have more pressing questions to advance characters development than the girls seem to.

my main reason for thinking this though is because takami still won't be satisfied, even if he won. so what? if hatano is just another high schooler, then what's up with her being so different from him? it'll be more fuel to develop his character further, which is the best way to drive the plot.

in a battle of the bands, protocol. could win easily. but in a battle of character, tamaki would lose to hatano, for sure.

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

To the six claws! Did you hear about the rumors regarding Ink's greatsword; Wyvern. Also what is your opinion on that sword?

Ren was looking to the anon with arms crossed but the boys knew what they spoke of. "Yes, we heard the rumors regarding Ink's greatsword Wyvern-"

"You mean that piece of shit?! It hit me in the damn face five times now! I think it hates me!" Denji grumbles remembering but Ren looks to him remembering that.

"Ahem, but honestly we are unsure of the sword. I've never seen such a weapon having such a aggressive soul. Though, that explains it destructive behavior." Ren said.

"That sword scares me at times from the feeling of being near it at times. But it still is pretty powerful for it." Midoirya said.

"Yeah, it's a cool sword..just wish it would STOP DESTROYING EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES! IT TOOK ME WEEKS TO FIX THE APARTMENT!" Bakugo shouted.

"..I think it's cool. Dangerous but it's almost like my own sword but it's a lot more deadly." Rin said thinking.

"I don't know. The sword feels like a living creature to me but not in a mean way or anything." Atsushi said as Ren sighed.

"To say in quote, the sword is...powerful and strong, but very aggressive."

[verysium]

ive always imagined mrs itoshi to be a really energetic woman. you know those middle aged women that are just so youthful, you can feel her energy and aura when she's in the room. and she would definitely love saes gf. because sae has a personality totally opposite to hers but after committing to a relationship he learns a lot from you and you encourage him to to strengthen his family bonds. she would LOVE spending time with you, talk to you about fashion and gossip. she'd call you her daughter in lawww omg shut up i love her

🥲 *cries in heavily dysfunctional mommy issues* when will it finally be my turn to experience the kind and loving touch of a middle-aged woman? sae better treasure his mama or else i'm gonna steal her from him when he's not looking.

on a more realistic note, i do think mama itoshi would be the type of person who simply doesn't age. there is something irrevocably uplifting and youthful about her, and i think that has a lot to do with the adversity she's faced throughout her lifetime both as a woman and a mother. even though she's soft-spoken, she is firm and headstrong. definitely knows what she wants. she always tells sae that the strongest people are the ones who smile, no matter what life puts them through. (obviously, that lesson flew right over sae's head cus he looks perpetually depressed but whatever...)

i honestly don't think sae has a strong attachment with either parent, but he isn't averse to them either. it's the small things that you pick up about him. how he never lets anyone touch him but stays still when his mother to brush his bangs back. how he never buys those expensive lunch meals during practice because he prefers his mother's homemade bentos. how he doesn't like to show unnecessary emotion but cracks a small smile at his mama's kitchen antics.

idk if it's just me, but i also feel like his mother was the stricter of the two parents. both sae and rin were forced to become self-sufficient from a young age. walked themselves to practice. bought snacks with their own allowance. sae even took a train ride to tokyo by himself to find a representative agent. not saying their parents weren't supportive, but they definitely weren't a constant presence either.

i think what sae needs is time. time to process his youth and to reconcile with his family (both his parents and brother ofc). i feel like he went through a lot of parentification, and undoing that will require a lot of patience. this would probably happen in his late twenties to late thirties, once he's well-established or even retired from football. with so much time on his hands, he has nothing to do but reflect. emotionally mature sae will be very different from current sae.

mama itoshi does welcome you kindly. mostly because none of the itoshis ever fathomed sae getting involved with someone seriously. i just know she has good skincare, so you two probably have girls-only nights where you two do nothing except watch TV dramas and wear face masks. i don't think she's particularly physically affectionate, but she does show her love through cooking. always pinches your cheek fat and tells you that you aren't eating enough (typical asian parent thing to do lmao.) also cuts up random fruits and places it beside your desk lamp while you're working.

i feel like sae has a bit of a hard time coming to terms with the way you assimilate into his family. he already feels like a stranger in his own home, but when his mother treats you like her daughter-in-law, it really gets him thinking. can he be normal? is this what it's like to be normal? is it really okay to have this? long story short, he probably has to reason with himself for one thousand and one nights before he decides he's actually going to marry you.

[dandelionterminal]

Invisible String (Sebastian x OC) Part 1: Prologue I

link to next part

tags: not beta read, Non-Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, like demon ranking stuff, Demon Deals, demon biology, Mentions of Myth & Folklore, Family Feels, Platonic Relationships, Eventual Smut, Eventual Romance, Song: invisible string (Taylor Swift), Cross-Posted on AO3, eventually part of a collection

characters: Sebastian Michaelis, Original female character

Summary:

-One single thread of gold tied me to you-

Demons, angels, and grim reapers roam the streets of London in the latter half of the 18th century. Adelaide DuPont knows that whatever killed her parents was not human. Someone, or something, killed them and left no trace. Adelaide and her brother, Luca, are left almost desolate. Their only hope is to get the Earl of Phantomhive on their side as an investor in their parents' company. Sebastian Michaelis is a leashed demon. However, that does not stop him from smelling his mate. He will not let the fate of humans in this world take her away from him. He can balance two goals at once. He can care for his master and convince his mate to return to the pits of Hell with him.

Every faith in history holds some shred of truth. No one faith holds all the answers to the way of the world. No one being that exists on the mortal plane can answer all questions. No piece of folklore is entirely true. Many creatures exist, from the yokai of Japan to the Selkie of Europe. Many wives' tales are also true. Our story is based on a few shreds of folklore and faith. Demons, angels, and grim reapers roam the streets of London in the latter half of the 18th century. Within these streets, one earldom houses many strange people and… entities. 

Ciel Phantomhive, a dark-haired young man with fair skin, houses a rather odd band of servants. Mey-Rin, an outwardly bumbling and clumsy maid with maroon hair and wide glasses, has extreme farsightedness. She has an impeccable vision for seeing afar and is an invaluable sniper. Baldroy, a former soldier with dirty blond hair and lightly tanned skin, is a very headstrong man. He is stubborn and determined to prove himself, but he could be a better cook since he is a chef. Finnian, a walking ray of sunshine with equally sunny hair and freckles, is abnormally strong. Having previously been an experiment subject, he is not used to his strength and breaks objects easily. Tanaka, a butler from Ciel Phantomhive’s younger childhood of Asian descent, does not provide much in the form of serving. And finally, there is the “leader” of the servants. Ciel Phantomhive’s personal butler, Sebastian, is not human. He blends into the human servants well, given that they are all so peculiar. Their own non-human characteristics may help them ignore the russet red eyes and sharp fangs that protrude from his lips. The dark hair on his head matches the dark color of his nails and contrasts his inhuman pale skin. 

As we take a peek into their lives, we may observe the servants preparing for guests. The non-human butler cleans up the messes the bumbling staff make as they lay out provisions for these guests. He glances around at all of the staff, taking note of the auras that glow around them. Mey-Rin and Bard glowed with bright red energy, Finny glowed a brilliant yellow, and Tanaka a soft blue. He watched as his young master came down the stairs, speaking in that too-grown-up tone that masked the young boy inside, as he glowed in muted colors that were filtered by his blocked energy. The servants, including our demonic butler, all bowed to their master. 

“Where are our guests, Sebastian?” the young master asked.

“They should be arriving any minute, my young lord,” the butler answered. As if on cue, a knock resounds on the door. Mey-Rin scrambles to open the door for the guests. On the doorstep stood a young woman with light skin like fine porcelain. Her cheeks were hollowed and her emerald green eyes were dull and sunken. She wore a dress of cheap blue material that highlighted her strawberry blonde hair. Next to her stood a boy with matching hair and eyes who wore a suit of the same material. His figure was much healthier than that of the young lady, though. 

Sebastian took stock of the pair. The boy’s aura glowed a vibrant indigo, but he oozed introversion and anxiety. The female’s aura was a dull, almost black shade of grey. It was a dulled shade of white, a very rare aura color. He looked her up and down when he noticed a shimmer of gold near her hand as she curtsied to the master of the house. He did not hear her words, however, as his ears rang and hummed with his pulse. His heart raced as he took a deep breath, smelling the most alluring scent of discontent mixed with florals and musk. His eyes traced the thread as it flowed into the manor. His mind raced as he saw the thread reach him and go around his neck, tying and binding him to the thing human female standing before him. His face briefly showed his shock before he masked it in a smile. 

His master, the owner of the contract binding him to the mortal plane, spoke to him, “Sebastian, show Ms. DuPont and Mr. DuPont to their seats. We will dine and then discuss business,” he said sternly. His visible eye glowered at him, noticing his flustered state. 

Sebastian’s heart raced in his chest, thumping rapidly with excitement. The need to claim his bondmate was strong in his veins. 

“Of course, my lord,” the demon said. He glanced up at the siblings, “Please follow me, my lord and lady.” 

He led them to the dining room, desperately trying to ignore the scent that was filling his nose. The scent of his mate. The one who held the thread of his fate.

[captainspiggbo]

So. . What if Satan gets Yukio?

[[Tw: mental health, depression, s*icide, death, unhappy shit, etc.]]

I really doubt this will make sense, but as per usual, I'm open to being corrected and spat at lmao. . . So uh, enjoy the read! 😅👌

Boo!

Look I'm not one to bring up season one's uh. . "Ending" unless I absolutely have to. . But in this newest chapter we see that Yukio and Rin are on they're way to the palace thing and can already assume based on the time skip; things are likely not gonna go well. . Demons require broken individuals, mind breaking is like they're whole schtick. . Only one of the twins has truly spiraled (i.e. self exit attempt), depression is a demon all on it's own; point is, you don't spiral just once. While Yukio is finally healing, he's no where near "better" and unfortunately that makes him a walking beacon of a target. I don't have too solid a theory as to how this will play out, but Satan can't kill them outright correct?? He hates Rin, but Rin is the best body for him, Yukio would be the perfect stepping stone to get closer to Rin. . Rin is headstrong, he won't break easily. . But who is the one person he loves more than anything? If I was a deranged, narcissistic, fuck who wanted to hurt my target to they're core the logical step is to remove who they love/care for. . The older exorcists can be easily removed, Satan's little lackeys are gonna maybe (HOPEFULLY NOT) pick off everyone one by one. . His mentor, his friends, potentially even his love interest, and finally Satan will take his brother. Do I think Yukio has the potential to die? Not really? (A part of him maybe??) But he would be a pretty good puppet to dangle in Rin's face, cause him to despair; act foolish or straight up give up the good fight. . No, we don't see Satan directly having a body yet in the future, but there is a hungry core feeding on the land. He just needs something to latch onto, a vessel to hide in that won't expire right away, just a sentient nugget. . I'm likely going too far, as per usual, but I believe something will happen that will make Yukio either self sacrifice or have his will broken again. I see Mephisto or someone under his direction removing Rin from the situation as to not let Satan get them both right away (also extending the fun, yippee!). Either way, Satan will have a decent body to build around as he waits to challenge Rin again whenever he pops up in the future. The goal won't be to "win" the fight outright, but to have a vessel that can hold on long enough to wear Rin down in order to finally succumb to Satan. I believe that is why we don't see Yukio in the future, Satan has him in some form or fashion and Rin will have to fight to get him back. . The goal of "killing Satan" was already not enough as we've seen, Rin couldn't do it (well he could theoretically but you get what I mean). . . Ooooor I could be talking out my ass as per usual and bringing back an element from a (assumingly approved by Kato) "ending" from season one is too far fetched. . It's not like she's ever set things up from the beginning or anything. . She totally doesn't like hidden meanings. . . 👀

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb:

Star-crossed lovers grapple with forbidden attraction and a growing army of ghostly dead in this swashbuckling YA fantasy debut.

After ten years of exile, following regicide in the House of Tristain, an alarming royal edict is delivered to the immortal scarecrow Guardians who once defended the crown: surrender themselves to the church of the Silent Gods, or stand accused of further treason. But with a puppet prince set to take the throne and vengeful wraiths appearing with alarming frequency, something foul and sinister is at work in the kingdom of Niveaux.

Lady Charlotte Sand was born to calm the restless dead. A headstrong heroine, she refuses to relinquish her family’s lavender Guardian to the Cardinal’s Watch—a rash misstep that costs her brother his life and sets her on a path for revenge.

For pious and handsome Captain Luc de Montaigne, it’s an excruciating predicament. His long-lost, childhood love has triggered a faction war that could tear the realm asunder. Now Charlotte and Luc must choose between killing one another and stepping closer to victory—or yielding to the electricity between them.

Heartily inspired by The Three Musketeers, this multiple-perspective narrative features a unique system of bone and herbal magic, sultry banter, and a feisty cast of well-rounded supporting characters. This rousing first entry in the Waking Hearts fantasy duology is a gorgeous read and an excellent pick for fans of Rin Chupeco and Margaret Rogerson.

Review:

A French historical fantasy inspired by the Three Musketeers and the first in a series. The story is told through multiple point of views. It follows Lady Charlotte Sand who is on a path of revenge after her brother dies. Then there is Captain Luc de Montaigne, facing off against his long-lost childhood love who has now triggered a war that could tear the realm apart. Charlotte and Luc have to decide who's side they are on and if they can trust one another or have to kill one another. The story has a Wizard of Oz-esque feel to it and it is a YA fantasy. I'm going to be completely honest and say that this book was a real slog to get through for me. I really found myself getting bored and disassociating from the book. Just getting to the end of the book was a drag. The characters weren't as engaging as I had hoped and the story felt slow. I really wished I would have liked this more but honestly it just didn't work. Unfortunately I will not be continuing with the series. I do think if you like the Wizard of Oz or the Three Musketeers, you should give it a try and see if it works for you!

Release Date: June 4,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink | Peachtree Teen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[faidfluorite]

mermaid swamp (remake) reviewwww

prefacing this by saying i can count the amount of rpgmaker games i've played on one hand (SADLY)... gradually changing that by going through a friend-vetted list >:3

mermaid swamp felt super confined which really lent itself to the stories super spooky atmosphere... i love lakeside horror and this definitely cranked up the notch with the bog body mermaids and swamp fume craziness. after my first playthrough i wasn't super crazy on the protagonist aside from the fact that i love women who are written as sort of unapologetically brash and headstrong, but in my playthrough (true ending) i wasn't huge on her being a history major with 0 interest in actually researching what the hell was happening in that house

and then it totally hit me that i went to college for animation with people who didn't know how to use the fill tool and a lot of stuff made sense LOL. rin feels like the kind of character that learns through doing, and a fundamental part of the her escape from the trap the main cast find themselves in is learning, through multiple horrific experiences, to put trust into her friends even when she's beginning to not trust herself.

with yuka, it's trust that she'll survive- that if they find a way out of the mansion and to a hospital yuka will pull through and their struggles won't have been for nothing.

for yuuta, it felt like trust that he could break through his episode once rin destroyed the paintings holding him hostage. there's a small order you have to follow, new house's paintings to old house's and if you rush off in a frenzy to try and lose him, he almost senses that franticness and you get a game over as he kills you at the swamp's edge. when you find a way to calm him down, he's able to rest and regain his strength to bring you all home! something you can't do if yuka or yuuta don't survive.

with seitaro... you sort of have to battle with this line of trust and intimacy throughout the entire story. without him, rin loses her motivation and some of her grounded sanity (in an ending where yuka, yuuta and rin make it to the climax without rin, she still completely loses it and throws herself into the swamp). when seitaro has an episode and tries to coax rin into staying by his side, she has to trust in who she knows he is to break through her confusion and defend herself to keep them both alive.

to give the "mermaids" peace and to find closure herself, rin has to trust her gut and bury them underground. they have to share in their suffering, accept that the only way they're leaving the mansion is if they leave irrevocably changed and that in itself is how the old man can also find closure from his families prolonged "curse"...

i have a lot more thoughts about folklore and urban legend, generational trauma and the passage of time as a means of healing old wounds but i only played the remake tonight so i would want to play the original game before writing more so i can compare the two and see how the story has been changed and developed ^_^

all in all a really fun, short game! if any of you like rpgmaker games, i would love some more reccs!