#helping you tap into the hidden capabilities of your mind.

[psychics4unet]

Mystical Tarot Secrets: Your Hidden Talents Today! 🌟✨

I put a lot of effort into this reading, so please show some love by leaving comments, likes, reblogs, and follow me! ❤️💬✨

Paid psychic reading (7 questions for just $7) is available here:

Pile 1:

The Magician ✨🎩

Eight of Pentacles 🛠️💰

The Moon 🌙🌌

The Magician is a card that speaks to immense potential, especially hidden talents that might be lying dormant. This card encourages you to harness the power of your mind, use your skills, and bring your thoughts into the material world. The Magician is all about action, bringing forth your hidden abilities and showing others what you are capable of. You might have a talent for creativity and innovation that you haven't yet fully explored. 🌟🔮

The Eight of Pentacles reveals a different layer to your hidden talents: the skill of mastery. This card points to the fact that you have the ability to focus on one task and perfect it. Whether it's an artistic skill, craft, or trade, you have the drive and patience to develop your abilities to an expert level. You might not recognize it yet, but you have a natural ability to commit to the long road of practice and improvement. 💪🛠️

The Moon invites you to trust your intuition and explore your inner world. It represents the unconscious mind, hidden emotions, and the things you may not see clearly on the surface. The Moon reveals that you possess intuitive skills, such as being able to perceive emotions, understand other people's hidden thoughts, and tap into your subconscious to find creative solutions. Your talents may be more spiritual or psychological in nature, and you may not have fully recognized or accepted them yet. 🌙✨

Together, these cards speak to a unique blend of skills: your creative abilities, your discipline in honing talents, and your intuition. You are someone who may have many talents, yet you haven't fully allowed yourself to explore or trust them. The Magician encourages you to act, the Eight of Pentacles teaches you to practice, and the Moon whispers for you to trust your inner knowing. Your hidden talents are waiting for you to pay attention to them and bring them to light. 🌟💖

Pile 2:

Queen of Wands 🔥👑

Page of Cups 💌🐟

Knight of Swords ⚔️🌪️

The Queen of Wands is a card of leadership, passion, and charisma. This card speaks to your innate ability to take charge and lead others with confidence. The Queen of Wands represents someone who is magnetic, charming, and often a source of inspiration for those around them. Your hidden talent lies in the way you influence others with your energy and enthusiasm. You might not always recognize how others are drawn to your passion and warmth, but this is one of your greatest talents. 🔥👑

The Page of Cups introduces a more emotional, creative side of you. The Page of Cups is all about new beginnings, particularly in creative ventures and artistic expression. This card points to a hidden talent for emotional expression, whether through writing, art, music, or other forms of creativity. Your ability to connect deeply with your emotions and express them in a beautiful, meaningful way may surprise you. You may not even realize how much your intuition influences your creativity. 🐟💌

The Knight of Swords represents mental agility, quick thinking, and a fearless approach to challenges. This card shows that you have an ability to cut through confusion and think quickly when needed. Your hidden talent might involve your intellect and how you can solve problems rapidly and decisively. You may not realize how quickly you can adapt to new situations and how sharp your mind can be when focused. ⚔️🌪️

Together, these cards highlight a well-rounded set of hidden talents: your ability to inspire and lead, your deep emotional and creative expression, and your sharp intellect. You may not always recognize the impact you have on others, but your magnetic energy draws people in. Your ability to quickly think and take charge will also play a major role in unlocking further talents. There is a call to balance your emotional depth, intellectual strength, and leadership qualities to step into your fullest potential. 🌟💡

Pile 3:

Ace of Swords 🗡️💡

The Star 🌠💫

Three of Pentacles 🏗️🤝

The Ace of Swords represents clarity of thought, intellectual breakthroughs, and the ability to communicate clearly. This card indicates that one of your hidden talents is your ability to think critically and solve problems with precision. The Ace of Swords also points to your potential for powerful communication skills. You might not fully realize how much your words can influence others, or how sharp your insights can be in certain situations. Your ability to articulate your ideas clearly can be a hidden talent that others admire. 🗡️💡

The Star represents hope, inspiration, and a deep connection to the divine. This card brings a sense of spiritual healing and a reminder that you are guided by the universe. Your hidden talents may not just be physical or intellectual, but spiritual in nature. You may have an ability to inspire others, provide healing energy, or lead by example. The Star also highlights your inner light and the way it can shine brightly for others. You might not always see the way your energy impacts others, but this is a significant hidden talent. 🌠💫

The Three of Pentacles speaks to collaboration, teamwork, and working towards a common goal. This card suggests that your hidden talent lies in your ability to work well with others, building something solid and meaningful together. You might not realize how well you excel in group settings or how your skills complement the talents of others. Your ability to collaborate and share ideas with others is one of your hidden strengths, and it may unlock many opportunities for you. 🏗️🤝

Together, these cards suggest a combination of mental clarity, spiritual insight, and teamwork as your hidden talents. The Ace of Swords sharpens your mind, while The Star connects you to your higher purpose. The Three of Pentacles points to your ability to work well with others, bringing your talents together to achieve great things. Whether through intellectual pursuits, spiritual guidance, or collaboration, your hidden talents are ready to be explored and used to benefit both you and others. 🌟✨

Paid readings (7 questions for just $7) are also available for more in-depth insights and personal guidance! 🌟💫

[mindmagiq]

[tawnfawn]

intoxicated | könig

summary: you get along with everyone on your team, except for könig. you think he hates you, but his perceived distaste for you only makes you want him more. you're able to keep your composure until you're partnered up for a mission, where everything seems to go wrong...

tags: könig x fem!reader smut. cod. pure filthy, shameless smut. sex pollen. proofread. MDNI. 5,000+ words

cw: dubcon (due to sex pollen but there's clear consent before and after). unprotected sex (reader IS on birth control, wrap it before you tap it), p in v, oral m!receiving, fingering, accidental drug use (sex pollen), dom!könig and sub!reader, light humiliation kink, heavy praise, size kink if you squint, overstimulation, mutual pining, violence, killing.

MDNI. NSFW BELOW THE CUT

You crept around the corner of the warehouse with your rifle, watching König’s six as you progressed. The other KorTac members were stationed on site as well, giving quick updates through comms as you progressed. Details were scarce, except that in the warehouse, a Russian terrorist group was producing a bioweapon capable of mass destruction—and anyone inside was KOS.

Of course, the bioweapon in question was…dubious, to say the least. A strong aphrodisiac, the contractor had explained, much to the astonishment of your team. During the briefing, you’d managed to keep a straight face, but not all of your teammates were as courteous.

“So let me get this straight—you want us to risk our lives for…Viagra?” Horangi had questioned, exasperated. Your lips pursed at his crudeness, but it was exactly what you were thinking too.

The scientist’s face flushed. “N-no, this is much different,” he snapped. As one of the architects of the bioweapon, he was clearly offended. “It is much, much stronger. Exposure to just one dose will cause severe arousal: heart palpitations, excessive sweating, overheating. Imagine…” He seemed to be struggling to find the words. “Imagine a brain overload, yes? Rational thinking…disappears. Victims may lose all motor control. Too long without treatment can result in heart failure, aneurysms, seizures, stroke, and sometimes death.”

“So what is the treatment?” you interrupted, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Sex,” the scientist answered, shifting uncomfortably on his heels. “It was designed to be, ah… difficult.”

Your jaw clenched, and your eyes darted to König. He was staring down the scientist, narrowed eyes betraying no emotion. While everyone else struggled to keep their bafflement hidden, his sniper hood obscured any hope of reading him. Just my fucking luck, you thought when you were partnered with him.

It wasn’t that you disliked König; it was just that you found it so much more difficult to talk to him. With the rest of your teammates, you were fine. A natural people reader, you were comfortable with the rest of them, relying on body language and the details they let slip to learn more about them. In fact, you considered yourself to be pretty close with them—unsurprising, given that in your line of work, your life rested in their hands and vice versa. But König was… different. You didn’t distrust him, per say, but outside of the battlefield, he was quiet. Reclusive. No matter how many times you’d tried to get him to open up, he barely interacted with you, despite talking to the others. You’d chalked it down to being the newest on the team at first, but now that you’d served over a year and a half together, you were frustrated. Shouldn’t that be well enough time to open up at least a little bit?

You knew your thinking was illogical. Your job was to hunt targets and invade bases, not deep dive into your coworker’s soul, but you couldn’t help the way it took over your mind. Your need to understand him had become a bit of an obsession. You constantly found yourself looking at him, trying to discern any emotion his eyes betrayed. You listened intently for any of his input in person or on comms, no matter how menial it was. You studied his body language, taken note of any habits or gestures. You’d even memorized the way he reloaded his guns.

It was…embarrassing, to say the least. But could you blame yourself? He was so tall and strong and imposing that even just standing next to him made you, a normally very confident and intimidating woman, feel small. Such was the reason that you pushed yourself extra harder whenever you were paired up with him, making sure he knew you were valuable, a force to be reckoned with. Your excellent performance had made you two quite the duo, often clearing out legions of enemies in mere minutes. And you had to admit, seeing him absolutely obliterate enemy lines made you feel some type of way…

But not like that, of course. You were just…curious. When he finally opened up to you (and not if, but when), your obsession would stop, and everything would be fine. At least, that’s what you told yourself.

Today, however, there were a lot less enemies than you’d expected. Sure, there were quite a few soldiers stationed around the warehouse (which your team had incapacitated quickly), but inside, save for some scientists and the occasional guard, it was eerily empty and quiet.

“It’s fucking cold,” Horangi’s voice rang out from your radio. You sighed and brought the device to your lips.

“It’s fucking Russia,” you stated. “What did you think it’d be? Beachy?”

König’s quiet chuckle sounded from in front of you, and you couldn’t help the pride that swarmed in your heart. Heat burst in your cheeks, but you tried to brush it off.

“Fuck off,” Horangi replied. “East side clear.”

“West unknown,” you said. “Standby.” You tucked the radio back into your pocket, following your teammate.

You both peeked around the corner to the last room. It was filled to the brim with lab equipment—beakers, bunsen burners, flasks, microscopes—all sitting atop of large resin tables. Bright, fluorescent lights bounced off the sterile grey walls and ceiling, creating a dull glare that was almost depressing. Neat racks of tightly sealed vials and test tubes peeked through glass cabinets on the walls, parallel to the large sinks below. Across the room was a row of unfamiliar-looking equipment, and next to that, an enormous whiteboard boasting messily scrawled notes, diagrams, and equations. A bag of what looked like takeout sat on a nearby desk next to a crumpled napkin and a perspiring styrofoam cup. It was almost exactly what you’d imagined a stereotypical laboratory to look like, albeit a bit messier and more lived in. A singular man stood working at one of the tables, frantically scribbling on a notepad with his back facing toward you. König motioned for you to stay put as he crept forward. You complied.

Then the man dropped his pen.

��Xyй,” he cursed and turned around to pick it up. Of course, when he turned around, he saw König’s gigantic form pointing a gun at him, and he screamed. You fired your suppressed pistol, but not before the scientist hurled a glass vial at König. It shattered against his tactical vest as the dead scientist crumpled to the ground, releasing a burst of lavender-colored smoke that curled into the air and quickly dissipated.

König ripped off his tactical vest, coughing violently, but it was too late—the substance had already entered his lungs, likely reaching his bloodstream by now. He stared at you, blue eyes wide with—for the first time you’d ever seen—fear. 

“Oh, fuck,” he muttered, and he staggered to the wall, crashing down to the floor.

“König?” You stared at him, stricken. His eyes were closed, and he was stock still—stiller than you’d ever seen him—and for a long, hard moment, you thought he might be dead. 

Then his eyes snapped open. His pupils were dilated and blown, a sea of black barely tinged by blue irises. He stared at you, unmoving, before letting out a groan and bringing his hand over his face.

“Oh, fuck,” you whispered. You grabbed your radio. “M-man down!” you stammered into it. “König’s been exposed. West side clear. Requesting med evac in thirty minutes. Going dark.” You turned it off, not bothering to listen to any input. The rest of your team knew what this meant. As did you.

In the time you’d been on the radio, König had torn off all of his other gear, leaving himself in just his shirt, pants, and boots. He was panting, his chest heaving with each breath, ungloved hand still hiding his masked face as he cursed in German.

You crossed the room in seconds and kneeled at his side. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay, König, just breathe—”

“No,” he breathed. His voice was deeper, raspier than normal, and the unbridled heat in it sent a shiver down your spine. His hands were clenched into fists, body tensed as he fought the invisible infection. “Go. Now.”

“You know I can’t leave—”

His hand fell to his side, letting his eyes meeting yours for a split second. “Please,” he groaned, starting to tremble as you drew closer. “I—I can’t—”

His gaze strayed lower, and you followed it to the growing bulge in his pants. You gulped, unmoving, and he grabbed your arm. The force of it was enough to make you still.

“Go,” he insisted, his accent even thicker than usual. “I’m not—I cannot control myself.”

“I’m not gonna leave you here!” you argued, swatting his hand away. “You’re my teammate. You could die.”

“I will hurt you,” he retorted. All the muscles in his body were tensed, clearly on overdrive. Even his eyes were watering. “Please, maus. I am not gentle.”

Something inside about his statement made your thighs clench together, but you tried to ignore it. Tentatively, you brought your hand to his chin, pulling his face towards you. His skin was feverish, and your heart twisted in sympathy. “Let me help you,” you pleaded, and he inhaled sharply.

“It feels like I’m burning,” he hissed, and you frowned. His black compression shirt was nearly soaked with sweat, and you grabbed the fabric, pulling it up. He pawed at your arm weakly, but you shushed him.

“You’re overheating. Take it off,” you ordered, and finally, he let you pull it over his head, sagging back against the wall as you threw it to the side.

You’d seen him without a shirt before—it was hard not to with this kind of job, what with donning injuries all the time—but this was different. His head was thrown back as he panted, toned chest heaving with each breath, and you could see all of the muscles in his chiseled abdomen clenched, glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. It was… erotic. Just looking at him made you feel dirty. You felt the thrum of something other than worry in your abdomen, and you swallowed.

“Leave me,” König growled, but it sounded more desperate than commanding. You shook your head at him.

“Not letting you die, König.” You began to rip off your gear, tugging off your tactical vest and discarding your weapons. 

König grabbed your wrist. “What are you…?”

“Wanna help you, okay?” you said softly, trying to catch his eyes as they darted over your face. “Are you gonna let me?”

He took in a deep breath, his other hand in a death grip on his thigh. “I-I don’t want to hurt you,” he repeated, but it was starting to lose its original harshness. He was fading, and fast.

“It’s okay,” you murmured. You placed your hand on his bare chest, feeling the way his heartbeat stuttered and stammered under your touch. He cursed in response, the hand on your wrist twitching, clearly fighting the urge to touch you. In a split-second decision, you swung your right leg over his lap and straddled him, careful not to grind against him, waiting for an answer first. He let out a choked noise and grabbed you by the hips, his tight grip making you gasp. “Yes or no?” you breathed.

“Ahhh, maus.” The low groan he let out was nearly animalistic. “Yes,” he begged, and that was all you needed to hear.

You started grinding on his lap gently, trying to restrain yourself from going further. You wanted to be mindful of his sensitivity, but König simply huffed in annoyance and used his tight grip on your hips to tug you all the way down into his lap—allowing you to feel everything. The imprint of his hard, throbbing cock made you dizzy; you couldn’t resist pressing against it, moaning softly at the delicious friction it granted your clit.

“Scheiße,” König murmured, his thighs twitching underneath you. You felt bad, knowing he was probably dying for some real contact, so you decided to give it to him.

Your heart raced as you reached for his waistband, unbuckling his belt and sliding his pants to his knees. His cock was straining against his briefs, a wet patch forming from precum, and you quickly removed those as well, watching his hardened cock spring up and then fall slightly, its weight making it unable to reach his stomach. Your mouth went dry. Fuck, he was huge. You supposed it made sense: as an exceptionally large man, it was logical to have a proportionally large cock, but the sight of it still shocked you.

“Maus,” he whispered, breaking you out of your trance. He stared at you apprehensively, and you wrapped your much smaller hands around his cock, hearing him suck in a breath. You took a moment to marvel at the sheer size of him—your normally average-sized fingers looked miniature in contrast, unable to even fully wrap around his length. You felt your own arousal seep into your underwear, and you leaned down to kiss his tip.

The moan he let out turned you on even more than before, and you wasted no time teasing him, spitting into your hand and pumping his cock a few times before bringing the tip into your mouth, swirling your tongue over the slit before pushing him further down your throat. His cock was so large that you had to fight not to scrape your teeth against it, flattening your tongue under the base of it.

His hand fisted into your hair, pulling slightly every time you moved your lips up and down his shaft, twisting your hand in tandem. Your other hand gripped onto one of his thick thighs, feeling his leg twitch as he struggled not to buck his hips up into your mouth. Each strained noise and curse you coaxed from him only encouraged you more, your own whimpers muffled against his cock as you did your best to fit him down your throat.

After only a few minutes, you felt him twitching in your hand and sped up your pace, determined to pleasure him as much as possible. Curses fell from his lips as he finished, hot spurts of his release shooting down your throat. You swallowed it quickly, continuing to pump your hand up and down his still rock-hard shaft.

König, however, pulled you off quickly, eyes wide and dark with an almost fearful desperation as he stared at you. “The poison. It’s still…”

You looked back down to see his cock still twitching in your hand. “It’s okay,” you said, starting to lean back down, “I’ll just—”

“No!” He pulled you back up by the neck. You blinked at him in shock, and he stared back, pupils blown wide like black moons. There was a fiery hunger in his eyes as he looked at you, one you’d never seen before. The sheer want in his gaze sent a cold shiver down your spine. No one had ever looked at you like this before—like you were prey.

“König?” you asked nervously.

Instead of answering, he began to unbuckle your belt, and you gasped as his hand reached under your waistband to cup your clothed core, index finger tracing lightly over your clit. You fought back a mewl, chest seizing as you shut your eyes from the pleasure.

“So wet,” he marveled. He pushed your underwear to the side, smearing your arousal over your soaked folds as you whimpered, bucking your hips into his hand. “Just from sucking my cock?”

His switch in demeanor startled you, and you moaned as one of his large fingers pressed into your weeping hole, curling inside you with precision. His hands were so much bigger than yours; the stretch was making your knees weak. He quickly found your G-spot, taking care to press against it as you arched into him. “Oh, oh, fuck, König,” you whimpered, coaxing a dark chuckle from him that made you clench around him.

Your thighs clenched around his hand, but he pried them apart with ease, forcing you to straddle him and rendering you helpless to his ministrations as he slowly dragged another finger in and out of you. With each achingly slow push into your dripping hole, he made sure to curl them just right, long fingers able to reach that sensitive spongy spot inside you effortlessly. His palm laid flat against your clit as he stroked your walls, letting you sloppily grind into his hand as he murmured praise into your ear.

“Does that feel good, liebling?” he asked, drinking in each of your breathy, pleasured noises with satisfaction. “You like making a mess on my fingers, mm?”

You simply whimpered, too embarrassed of your flustered state to form a real response. He seemed to pick up the hint, giving you a cocky smirk through his mask. “Ohh, it’s okay, maus,” he cooed, but his soft words were laced with a smug condescension that made your cheeks burn. “You look so pretty like this, all dumb on my fingers. I wish I could’ve seen it earlier.”

You whined again, desperately grinding down on his palm for more friction. His slow pace was torturous, giving you just enough to feel pleasure but not enough to build it. It was mean. It was twisted. It was agonizing. You were eating it up.

“Please,” you tried, teary eyes boring into his. “Can you—can you please—”

“Can I what, maus?” He cocked his head, darkened eyes twinkling with mirth. “Tell me, or I can’t help you.”

You know what I want, you wanted to shout at him, but you knew that wouldn’t work. “Please,” you begged, “I need more."

“What more do you need, maus?” he asked again. “You have a mouth. Use it.”

“Need you to—” You whimpered pitifully, dropping your head into his shoulder. “Please, need you to go—go harder.” You nearly sobbed out the words, desperation winning out over your embarrassment. You were mortified at your teary, shaking voice, but he seemed to revel in it, squeezing your thigh in appreciation.

“Oh, is that what you wanted?” he teased, and you could hear the smirk in his voice. “You could have just said so.”

He set a steady pace with his fingers, bullying them inside of you hard enough to make you squirm against him. With each thrust, he curled them just right, sending your eyes rolling back and mouth falling open in heavy pants as you mewled into his shoulder. You were grateful to be spared of his intense gaze; you didn’t think you could look at him in the state you were in. It was mortifying just hearing the sounds of his fingers pumping in and out of your gushing cunt.

“Oh, maus,” he cooed into your ear as you trembled, keening at the stretch of his fingers. “You’re just so beautiful like this, you know. So fucking desperate and pathetic. I wish I could see you like this all the time.”

Would I like him to finger me like this all the time? Hell yes, you thought to yourself, but you couldn’t find the words to tell him, only able to whine and nod vigorously into his shoulder, lost in the feeling of his fingers inside you. You could feel yourself starting to reach the edge of your climax, grinding harder and harder into his palm and gasping with each spark of pleasure it gave your throbbing clit. You were so wet that you were starting to wonder if you’d been infected, too; each time he hit your g-spot just right, you felt more and more slick dribbling out of you and down your thighs. It was driving you insane.

“K-König!” You managed a cry of his name right before you came, clenching around his fingers as you bucked your hips into his hand. Breathy whines fell from your lips, your thighs shaking and seizing as you squirmed in his hold, feeling an almost overwhelming wave of pleasure wash over your body. The feeling was so intense it was almost painful; you hadn’t had an orgasm in so long, and the effect was palpable. His arms held you tight, keeping you grounded while you shuddered in his grasp, his big fingers determined to prolong your ecstasy.

When you finally came down from your high, you couldn’t look at him, mortified at your messy state. His fingers were still knuckle-deep in your arousal, and you could feel more of your slick dripping down your thighs, wet and uncomfortable. You kept your head buried in his chest shyly while your happy cunt stayed spasming in his hand.

“Okay, schatz?” he asked softly, using his free hand to tilt your head towards him. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

You stared up at him, mouth open. There were practically hearts in your eyes; your adoration was clear to him, and he laughed at your expression, cradling your cheek with his hand. “Aww, schatz.” He clicked his tongue, a smile audible in his voice. “You’re so sweet.”

Your cheeks burned red at the words, and you blinked rapidly, unable to look away. His piercing blue eyes stayed trained on yours, but there was a warmth in them that soothed you. He petted your cheek, lifting his hood to press a kiss to your forehead.

Your mind felt fuzzy. All you could think about was your need to be filled by him, and you pawed at his hard cock, wrapping your fingers around the base of it. A hiss of pleasure escaped him, and you kept your eyes on his, wide and pleading. “Please fuck me,” you whispered, still trembling in his grasp.

König’s eyes darkened, and he tugged off the rest of your bottoms quickly. His strong hands lifted you to hover you over his cock, and you shuddered with anticipation, head spinning. He rubbed the tip through your dripping folds, coaxing out a gasp as it brushed over your swollen clit. You tried to push him inside, squirming, but his tight grip on the bottoms of your thighs kept you in place, and you whined his name, hoping he would take pity on you.

“Bitte, König,” you begged, and he practically growled at the words, mercifully allowing you to sink onto the tip of his cock and drawing out a desperate mewl. Even with how wet you were, he was so, so big that he was practically tearing you in half.

“K-König—”

“Hush, liebling,” he soothed, and you moaned as your core clenched around him, beacons of pleasure ripping through you from just the feel of him. He waited for you to relax and then pushed in farther as you gasped at his length.

“Mmph! König—” You keened as he continued to push himself into you, waiting each time to make sure you were okay. You could feel his hard cock twitch with each thrust, and you knew it must be difficult for him not to go straight into fucking you, that he was holding himself back to be more gentle. The thought only made you moan louder.

Tears slipped down your cheeks when he finally bottomed out, and he wiped them away with his thumb. “I’m sorry, maus,” he groaned, no doubt feeling the way you clenched around him. “You’re just—so tight—”

You wanted to tell him to it was okay, but from your already fucked out mind, all that came out was a dumb whimper of his name. In response, he pulled up his sniper hood to kiss your forehead, to which you whined and chased his lips with your mouth. This made him chuckle, and he guided your lips to his, coaxing out a soft moan as his tongue met yours. He tasted wonderful, and you mewled into his mouth, feeling even more worked up from the way he kissed you: hot and desperate and sweet, like the world was ending and you were the last ones in it.

“Mein maus,” he growled, suddenly thrusting up into you and making your eyes roll back. His hips snapped against yours, setting a pace that sent your thoughts reeling. “Taking me so well, doing so good for me, hm? Du bist mein schatz, ja?”

“Yes, fuck—yes,” you babbled, barely able to understand what he was saying. His unusually rough tone was fogging up your dumbed-out mind, the contrast between his sweet words and punishing pace reducing you to nothing but a crying, creaming mess. You’d never been this wet for someone before. “Yes, yes, yes, I’m yours, please—”

“Good girl,” he moaned, pushing you up and down his cock with dizzying strength. Your legs tightened around his waist as he thrust up into you, high-pitched and pitiful noises falling from your lips at a shameful volume. He was using you like a toy, you thought, and the notion of it made your pleasured cries even louder.

“Mmm, yeah? Mmm?” He mimicked your breathy moans, and you could hear the grin in his voice. Normally, you’d be mortified, likely retorting with some witty insult, but now? Now with the way he was fucking you, all you could do was whine in pitiful response.

“So needy for me,” he groaned, punctuating each word with a deep thrust. The sheer force of him made your eyes roll back, and you felt that tight coil in your belly close to snapping.

“Fuck, König—” You panted heavily, your legs starting to give out. “K-König, oh my God, I’m gonna—”

“I know,” he cooed, pulling you closer to his chest so your clit could find purchase on his toned abs. “Doing so good for me, schatz. Such a good girl, getting off on me like this. Like the way I feel, mm?”

His sweet praise became your tipping point, your orgasm hitting you like a freight train. You cried his name, mouth falling open in shock as your legs kicked out, your cunt weeping and convulsing around him as you keened. You gasped for air as your orgasm rocked through you, the pleasure suddenly becoming all too much as he continued to drill himself into your gushing cunt.

Tears streamed down your cheeks as you sobbed from the overstimulation, but he didn’t let up his pace, pressing chaste kisses to your lips to soothe you. “Wonder how many orgasms I can get from you,” he murmured. You could hear the smile in his voice as he panted. “How many more, mein schatz?”

“I—I don’t know!” you cried as his pelvis dragged against your clit, sending shocks of electricity through you. “I don’t—I can’t—”

He groaned as you trembled in his hold, pretty blue eyes boring into yours. “You can do it for me,” he replied. “I know you can. Isn’t that right, liebling?”

“Ahh—König—” The juxtaposition of his soft kisses and brutal pace was making your head spin. Too overwhelmed to answer, you just clutched onto his shoulders tighter, crying out every time his skin brushed against your puffy, overstimulated clit. It was painful. It was overwhelming. It felt so fucking good.

“Hush, mein schatz,” he coaxed, holding you closer as you clenched around his cock, babbling incoherently as he fucked up into you. “You’re doing so good, I promise.”

The answer was two. Two more earth-shattering orgasms before he finally went soft, coming inside of you twice before either (1), his dick just gave out, or (2), the poison wore off. Either way, by the end of it, you were exhausted and fucked out, still recovering from your cock-drunk state as he cleaned you up.

“I’m sorry, maus,” he apologized, sounding genuinely remorseful as he gently wiped your soaked thighs with a clean cloth he had found in the room. “I’m so sorry, I don’t—I don’t know what came over me.”

“Drugs,” you supplied, staring at the ceiling in exhaustion. “Really bad drugs.”

“Yes, drugs,” he agreed, carefully mopping your folds as you sighed. “But still—I am sorry. I was…overzealous. I hope I did not hurt you too bad.”

“I’ll be a little sore,” you admitted, glancing at the bruises his fingers had left on your waist and hips. “But I’ll be fine, trust me.”

He sighed, somehow managing to look resigned even with the sniper hood. “I should not have been so hard on you. I’m sorry.”

“Honestly?” you murmured, blinking at him sleepily. “That was the best sex I’ve ever had.”

He froze for a moment. “What?” 

“Not that I’ve had a lot of sex,” you said quickly. “But still, that was the best I’ve ever had. Probably will ever have, now that I think about it. You must be very experienced. Oh God, I should not have said that out loud. I am—I am so sorry.”

Even with his sniper hood on, you could tell he was blushing. “Oh, um—it’s okay, maus.” You could hear the shyness in his voice. “I do not consider that to be my best performance, but I will take it as a compliment.”

“Your best performance?” You stared at him, mind running through everything that had just happened. You’d had sex before, but that—that was a whole ass experience. You’d never even dreamed about anything that good. “Christ, what’s your best performance, then?”

“Well,” he replied, sliding your soaked underwear back up your legs for you, “I would have taken you out on a date first, at the very least. That would be the proper way to court you.”

“Court me?” you repeated, sitting up straight. “I didn’t know you were so well-mannered, König.”

He looked away from you, shifting awkwardly from his spot on the floor. “I try to be courteous before sticking my dick in people.”

It took you a moment to realize he was joking, and you laughed—actually really laughed out loud. His awkward humor was charming you, and you felt warmth swell in your chest as you listened to him speak. You grinned at him, his eyes crinkling in a smile back.

König still smiled, but a hint of sadness pervaded his gaze. “Ah, schatz.” He hesitated. “I would have liked to make love to you,” he sighed, “but I did not imagine these would be the circumstances. I was hoping to take you on a date first, get to know you better.”

“You wanted to what?” Your eyes widened, and you blinked in confusion. “But…I thought you didn’t like me.”

König practically jolted in place. It was like you’d electrocuted him. He stared at you. “Why would you ever think that?”

“You talk to everyone but me,” you said softly. “I thought you didn’t trust me. Thought you hated me.”

“Hated—?” He shook his head vigorously. “No, I wanted to speak to you. You just…made me nervous. The others do not.”

“I made you nervous?” The words fell from your lips with shock, your eyebrows furrowing. “How would I—how did I ever make you nervous? You’re like three times the size of me!”

König shrugged, sheepish. “You’re very pretty. And you seemed…kind, and well-connected with the others. I have trouble finding that connection. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing to you and fuck it up.”

“So you said nothing at all.” You were quiet for a moment, turning over the information in your mind. “Wow. I was way off.”

“Yes,” he agreed, “but it is okay. I’m sorry for making you think I disliked you, schatz.”

“It’s okay,” you chuckled, shaking your head in disbelief. You ran a hand through your hair, beyond shocked at everything happening. You couldn’t believe you’d fucked your colleague, the one you’d had a crush on for who knows long, and also discovered that he didn’t, in fact, hate you. “At least I know now.”

“Next time, I will be better,” König vowed, helping you tug on your pants. “More gentle. I will do things right, I promise.”

“Next time?” You hesitated, biting your lip. “There will be a next time?”

“Of course there will,” he answered, adjusting his tactical gloves. “Did you not hear what I said earlier?”

“Um…which one?” He’d said a lot of things earlier.

He helped you to your feet, towering over you as he cupped his large hand under your jaw. Your heart stopped in your chest as you looked up into his eyes, his large frame dwarfing yours beyond comparison. “Du bist mein schatz, ja?” he repeated, gloved thumb tracing over your bottom lip. His very soul seemed to ooze confidence. “That’s what I said, no?’

With the way he was making you feel right now, you didn’t think it was even possible to say the word no. “Y-yes,” you stammered, adoration clear in your eyes as you gazed up at him.

He chuckled and pressed a kiss to your forehead. “So there will be a next time. Unless, of course, you don’t want to.”

“N-no, no, no, I definitely want!” you said quickly. You stumbled over your words in your eagerness, and your cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “I would like that a lot.”

“Good,” he said, patting the top of your head. Normally, you’d be furious at such an action, but considering his height, it seemed more practical than condescending. “Now come, schatz,” he said, adjusting his vest. “Time to deny everything to the rest of the team.”

Oh, fuck. You sighed. “Yeah…I forgot about that.”

[absoluteocellibehavior]

Ocelli’s TMAlev Masterpost

Buckle in, dolls, it’s about to be a long one. Two disclaimers before we hop into this! If you have not read my Multi-Avatar System, the Eye’s Great Chain of Being, and Spiders for the Web Avatars, pause your reading of this and read those first! Those will be referenced heavily and are crucial to your understanding of how the boys function in this particular AU. Additionally, if you are not finished with TMA or through Intermezzo in Malevolent, this will be EXTREMELY SPOILER HEAVY for you. Proceed with caution <3 Arthur Lester 

Avatar Alignment: The Eye – Complete/Infinite/Record AKA a “Triple” – THE AMBASSADOR Marked: By literally all of them, have you listened to the podcast?? /j Explanation: Ok, ok. I have gone round and round with people about the whole ‘Eye’ thing in relation to Arthur in the past but lemme just reiterate again here. The thing that cut Melanie off from The Eye in TMA was the complete destruction of her eyes. They were entirely gouged out. Arthur’s eyes are still entirely functional, but he is prevented from seeing due to John’s interference. Therefore, Arthur is still fully capable of falling to The Eye and I believe he does. I’ve seen a lot of Dark!Arthur due to the fact that he’s blind and it’s definitely a really cool take! I just don’t see him necessarily feeding in the way that the Dark reads. Now! Could there be an argument made for Cooperative Eye/Dark!Arthur flavored in the way of trying to find pull answers from things in “the dark”? Hidden discoveries and information that doesn’t want to be pulled from? Absolutely. Additionally, I do also really like Web!Arthur. I feel like that fits him as well with the amount of subtle manipulation that he does; however, I flavor this more as John’s influences on Arthur which bleed into how Arthur’s Eye feeding functions (and vice versa).  So, how exactly does Arthur’s Eye things work? First and foremost, I believe that when Arthur falls to The Eye, his ability to compel skyrockets. There are a lot of little moments peppered throughout the podcast but especially in season four where Arthur has these really compulsion flavored moments that have a sort of Web twist to them from John. Secondly, Arthur now has the ability to see through other people’s eyes in the absence of John from his mind (yes, John has his own body in this). Arthur is still blind himself but is able to see through others’ eyes if they are within his sightline, temporarily imposing his blindness on them while he navigates in a third person view. Oh, how the tables turn!  Lastly, Arthur is seated at one of the top links of the chain as THE AMBASSADOR settled below THE ARCHIVIST (Jonathan Sims) and above THE BROADCAST (Cecil Gershwin Palmer). Why the title? Well, he’s the Eye’s little representative from another universe! The main one at least and is marked by enough to hold special status. Additionally, Arthur’s placement on the chain means that he is graced with a Pupil, a low level Eye avatar that holds its avatarhood mainly for servitude. Arthur is a special little guy and gets TWO! Who are those two, you might ask? No other than Noel and Oscar. I’ll get into their specifics under their names but their fall to The Eye was entirely Arthur’s fault and was their fall to The Web being entirely John’s fault. I don’t have the specifics of this yet but the two are now bonded to Arthur and John for better or for worse. Arthur is able to tap into the sight of one of each of their eyes at any time, no matter the distance (two Pupils for two different eyes? Eh? EH? I think I’m clever sometimes-). This also means that Arthur can tap into the benefits when either one of them are feeding using The Eye and he can also help them do so as well. 

John Doe  Avatar Alignment: The Web  Marked: The Spiral + The End (KiY), The Dark + The Vast (The Dark World), The Eye (Arthur)  Explanation: I think it’s generally agreed upon that John is Web. However, if you see other relations with John, please send them! I love seeing different interpretations! John’s relation to the Web is fairly self-explanatory in the context of Malevolent. He is slowly taking over parts of his host’s body as well as being his guide throughout… well, everything. He quite literally controls Arthur’s sight. However, I think it’s important to add that John seems to fear the loss of control in return. Generally, just think back to season four and his anger (out of fear) of feeling like a passenger while Arthur got help from outside sources. John is incredibly manipulative, and his lies and string pulling are clear in his nudges to get Arthur to the Grey Stone. On the brighter side of things, John Doe is also resistive towards a “fate” so to speak. His separation from the King in Yellow had led him to becoming more human, so much so that The King couldn’t get him to fit back anymore. Generally, Web Avatars don’t have others that are tied to them like Eye Avatars do but John is a bit of special case. Like Arthur, Noel and Oscar are bound to John through their falls to The Web being entirely John’s fault. I need to think out what this bond to John specifically does (like stated above for Arthur) but for now know that John has those two under his umbrella as well.  Let’s talk about some marks now! The most obvious of these the The Eye through his ties to Arthur. I do think that Arthur’s Eye alignment has also influenced the way that John connects to The Web. This is certainly clear in how John uses it while still inside Arthur. Admittedly, I need to do a bit more work on my end about how he feeds in his own body. John also is marked by The Spiral and The End from the King in Yellow! Why? Well, the Spiral is all about madness and not being able to trust your own mind and thoughts. That is exactly what the King in Yellow does! The End may not be as clear at least in Malevolent. However, there is a lovely video by the Tale Foundry that talks about The King in Yellow as a metaphorical corpse of god and heaven which I just had to include in one form or another. John is also marked by The End in part of the Dark World as is where all of the dead things from other worlds are discarded. John is also marked by the Dark and the Vast by the Dark World. The Dark is due to…well…I mean it’s in the name- The Vast is due to the fact that if this Dark World contains the dead and forgotten things from other worlds or possibly dead worlds themselves, then the plane has got to be massive. Most likely further than the eye can see.

Father Oscar Pilon-Garcia 

Avatar Alignment: Dominant- The Corruption, Co-Passive- The Web/The Eye - Pupil – THE SAINT 

Marked: The Slaughter (Father McKenna) 

Explanation: Oh, Oscar… let’s get into it. Firstly, why is Oscar’s dominant fear The Corruption? It would have been the only fear that he fell to if it weren’t for Arthur and John <3. Why? I will direct your attention to Part 37 “The Farm” in which Oscar is 100% most assuredly about to be taken over by some parasitic worm if his arm wasn’t severed. This gets pulled on heavily by the other Fears when Oscar feeds, but we’ll get into that in a sec. 

I’ve established before that Oscar’s fall to The Eye and The Web were the fault of Arthur and John. He was NOT supposed to originally fall to those Fears, if any. But he did as his fall was able to pull on just enough inclination in those areas. Oscar is intelligent! We’ve seen this in how he deduced McKenna’s true intentions when he was younger and his investigative assistance to Arthur and John during everything with Scratch. So, there are some Eye inclinations to be pulled on. Now, Oscar is also fairly Web flavored. In general, we’ve seen that The Web loves to prey on religion and I think she has a particular drive towards priests(*motions to Father Edwin Burroughs in TMA* *motions to Father John Ward in Faith: The Unholy Trinity*). We’ll discuss the positives of this first. Like John, Oscar really had a particular fate weighed out for him that he rejected. He was 100% set up to be the violent, unwanted child to turn away from faith the moment he got out of the orphanage and on his own. However, he didn’t. He wasn’t adopted (I suppose due to the violence?) but went through process of holy orders and ordination in order to do his small part in balancing out the evil people that plague the magisterium and to specifically help others through service. Now, to the bad. Oscar truly, truly felt as though his calling and his purpose was Arthur. He gave up everything for Arthur. Finally, it felt like he could see the pieces fall into place as though all of the everything he went through had a direction. He was strung along and then that string was cut. Very abruptly with very little explanation. He doesn’t know the context for that abandonment but what he does know is the fact that he finally felt like his life meant something substantial and that was discarded. He was used. A pawn. A puppet. (Are we crying yet?).

I debated on a few options for Oscar’s title before settling on THE SAINT as it separates it enough from the titles of Priest or Father but brings in a comparison of Saints supposed to being these “exemplars of godliness” and the Fears manipulating Oscar’s ways of being a faithful servant to the people into feeding opportunities.

Speaking of which, how does Oscar feed with all this mess? Firstly, Oscar absolutely abhors feeding. This poor babe will attempt to starve himself in order to spare someone else the trouble. But he must somehow. Now, as a Catholic, I think the idea of Confessional Booth feeding is quite appealing in this case. It’s truly perfect for him. This Sacrament is supposed to be entirely confidential: just between the confessor, the priest, and God. And the Fears entirely twist it. The Eye pries into a person’s worst acts, The Web manipulates what is normally safe situation and a person’s trust in this church authority, and The Corruption worms its way into the situation in the form of the religious ideology of Sin being a stain, a plague on the divine human soul. Oh HO! It’s awful. I love it.

Charlie Dowd Noel Finley 

Avatar Alignment: Tri-Cooperative – The Spiral/The Web/The Eye – Pupil – THE INVESTIGATOR 

Marked: The Buried (Prison Pits) 

Explanation: I have seen SO many takes for Noel’s avatarship and they are so interesting!! Stranger!Noel, Vast!Noel, Dark!Noel! All very interesting options that I can see exactly where everyone gets these from. So, why the three I settled on? 

(Y’all are going to throw me to the dogs for this) 

Generally, when you see a tri-avatar, your automatic assumption is that they’re going to be a relatively high powered one due to their multiple associations. This is the exact opposite case with Noel. His three Fears are fully cooperative due to the fact that they represent his ties to three other Avatars- Arthur, John… and the King in Yellow. Noel has the sort of opposite case than Oscar did that he is very Eye inclined but much less inclined towards the Web. If you take a look at Noel’s previous occupations (i.e police, private eye, detective, and back to private eye in this au’s case) they are VERY Eye heavy. The Web mostly comes out in the trickery that we see Noel pulling off especially in the cases of his expedition in Egypt and his taking on of his best friend’s persona in order to protect himself. The Spiral is quite fun to play around with when it comes to Noel, though. Clearly, this man has gone through enough madness and mind games when it comes to the King in Yellow trying to pull information out of him about the whereabouts of John’s book. He quite literally cannot trust his own mind during his entire time in the Dreamlands. Then you have this odd dynamic after he gets out of the Dreamlands. He takes on not just the “name” of his best friend but specifically the “persona” of his best friend. Why is this distinction important? We assume that, on the surface, the King in Yellow was impersonating Charlie when he was “Adam Fry” in Part 5 “The Gift”. However, Charlie states that he is familiar with Adam Fry because he used “his best friend’s voice” in doing so. So, Adam Fry continues to be an impersonation of Noel, it’s just that, you guessed it, Charlie is also impersonating Noel. However, it’s become so ingrained in his personality over his time the Dreamlands and his two years in New York that he can’t separate the impersonation from his own personality. That’s why we don’t see him drop it at all, not even slightly, in front of Arthur and John. So, not only do you have Noel losing bits of his sanity in the Dreamlands, but you also have him losing a sense of himself outside of the Dreamlands in which he and his best friend’s personality become melded together.

As for marks, I knew that he would have an additional mark from the Prison Pits themselves aside from the overall Spiral. It’s difficult to put a specific fear to it when I don’t have detailed referenced, but I do believe the confinement of it all, the small cells, and the earthy aesthetic to them lends itself to The Buried. 

Why the title of THE INVESTIGATOR. I’m sure you may be thinking, “Um, Ocelli. It’s ‘Detective’ Noel. It should be Detective” and I hear you. However, remember we have now placed the boys in the TMA universe in which I do wholeheartedly believe in the “Basira would’ve been an Eye Avatar if things went slightly differently.” Elias consistently calls her “Detective” and Eye Avatars generally call others by their title if formalities haven’t been dropped. So, unfortunately, that title is taken! Additionally, I think that Investigator covers more of Noel’s jobs as well! Just be grateful that I didn’t go with the titles of Prisoner or Captive that were rolling around for a bit in the mind. 

I need to flesh out a bit more of Noel’s feeding specifically, but I’ll give you the small ideas I do have! Noel’s feeding is very interrogation based. I imagine this fully enclosed room that he visually imposes on the other person. It’s just a very dark concrete room, a table, two chairs, and a swinging overhead lamp. It’s entirely in black and white like a film noir except for Noel’s two piercing glowing yellow eyes fixated directly on the person. He asks all of the questions that the other person desperately does not want to answer all while this swinging lamp passes over the table before swinging away and basking the two in darkness once more. Now, while Noel uses the Eye and the Web to feed himself, the Spiral continues to feed off Noel himself, pulling on his identity crisis and sending him into these sleepwalking visions of the Dreamlands. It twists his relationship with them, making him think that that’s where he belongs. And as a fun little treat, it messes with his language as well. In these Spiral induced states, Noel can only speak in Carcosan (is that a thing? It probably isn’t but it is now!) meaning that generally John is the only one that can get Noel back to his senses.

Dennis “The Butcher” Collins 

Avatar Alignment: Cooperative-The Hunt/The Slaughter  

Marked: N/A

Explanation: Yep, the Butcher is in this too because I love he <3 and this is me and my friend’s self-indulgent “they live” au! The fact that we felled them to horrible fears in the process is entirely beside the point. I feel like the Butcher is the most obvious of these when it comes to fear choices. Like John, I don’t think there’s much debate on which ones he could be. Throughout the majority of season four, he quite literally uses like calling hunting a “devotion” and the love that he has for it. Additionally, Dennis seems to enjoy not only the hunting aspect of it but the killing as well. He likes the blood. He likes the gore. He is a renown serial killer due to this. Also the clear music themes associated with The Slaughter in TMA are also present with Dennis singing as he kills and the constant song playing in his mind. This is also why I think he is a fully cooperative dual avatar because the Hunt and the Slaughter are both fully used each time that he feeds. As for feeding, I don’t think he changes much! I’m sorry his is so short but ah… yeah, that’s all I have-

Nyarlathotep Kayne 

Avatar Alignment: Dominant- Slaughter, Tri-Passive- The Web/The Eye/The Spiral – THE ENTROPY KAYNE :] 

Marked: N/A

Explanation: Kayne, Kayne, Kayne… Kayne is so fun to play around with. Oh my gosh. He messes with literally everything. Let’s get into it. Kayne’s dominant fear as the Slaughter is VERY clear. This man is covered in blood constantly, he killed every other version of himself, he kills other people in extremely gruesome ways and relishes in every bit of it. So, yes, Slaughter is dominant here and was the fear used to pick up the rest of the ones he has. Kayne is also very Web. He is playing chess while everyone is playing checkers. He knows exactly know to nudge his little pawns into place to get them exactly where he needs them. A master manipulator in all forms. He killed all versions of himself in order to be able to “play all the keys.” I think Kayne also has his Eye moments. Due to the fact that he can dance across the keys of the different universes, he has a lot of information. He knows what to tease out of people to get them do what he needs to. I also think this is why his inability to see the Black Stone grates against him so much. Because he needs it but he CAN’T see it. He can see all of this other stuff but not this one. thing. he. needs. Oh! How frustrating!! Kayne is also Spiral. He’s not dominantly Spiral but just listen to him, come on. Spiral drips off of his entire everything. With the amount of mental strife he’s caused to so many people and his love of chaos, Spiral is definitely there as well. 

Due to the fact that Kayne is a preexisting Great Old One and a really powerful one at that, he is able to manipulate a lot of the systems the Fears have set in place for his own gain. The most egregious one is his manipulation of The Eye’s chain. Firstly, he’s gouged his title out, figuratively, to simply be his own name. No one else gets to name him, thank you <3. It’s HIS job to pass out the nicknames! Silly Eye… Additionally, with just how high Kayne is on the chain, he also gets a Pupil. Who’s his Pupil? Well, no other than our precious little English rose, Artie! “But! Ocelli! You said that Arthur is Triple! He’s high up there! He even has his own Pupils! How in the world is he a Pupil?” See, the silly thing about Kayne is that he’s forming a chain of his own using The Eye’s Great Chain of Being to bond Arthur to himself, and thus also bonding Arthur’s Pupils to himself as well. Didya notice that the Fears that Kayne is tied to is also the Fears that the other boys are too? That isn’t a mistake <3. As a fun little added bonus, Kayne also totally changed what spiders were tied to John and Arthur from The Web to the Sparklemuffin and Bunny Harvestman respectively. I highly recommend looking at pictures of those. They’re wonderful.

Thanking you for giving me your time to read this! I hope you enjoyed it! Please feel free to send in asks about it! This has been bouncing around in my mind since I began listening to Malevolent at the beginning of this year and I’m so happy to finally be able to share it with you <3 

[kelru]

LAZY AFTERNOONS

"Lazy Afternoons"

fluff

784 words

SUMMARY: you spend a lazy afternoon at the Armed Detective Agency with Ranpo. Bored, Ranpo playfully challenges you to solve a "mystery"

The sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of the detective agency, casting a soft, warm glow across the room. It was one of those rare days where the workload was light, and the whole office seemed to move at a more relaxed pace. You were sitting at your desk, aimlessly flipping through a book, occasionally glancing at the clock. Time felt like it was crawling.

Then, you heard the familiar creak of the door opening, followed by a soft yawn.

Ranpo.

Of course, it was Ranpo. The great detective of the Armed Detective Agency, though, right now, he hardly looked like someone capable of solving the world’s greatest mysteries. Instead, he looked like a sleepy child who had just woken up from a nap. His disheveled hair and the bag of snacks in his hand confirmed it.

“Bored?” he asked, plopping down on the couch without waiting for an invitation. He stretched his arms above his head, and you caught a glimpse of a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

“Just a little,” you admitted, closing your book with a soft thud.

Ranpo tilted his head, his green eyes narrowing slightly in thought. “Well, lucky for you, I’m here to entertain you.”

You couldn’t help but smile at his confidence. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan on doing that, Ranpo-san?"

He tore open his bag of chips and popped one into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Simple. You’ll solve a mystery with me.”

You blinked. “But… there’s no case right now.”

Ranpo grinned, mischievous and full of energy despite his earlier yawn. He tapped the side of his head with two fingers. “Ah, but you forget. I’m Ranpo Edogawa, the greatest detective. I can make any situation mysterious.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. “Go on.”

He leaned back, resting his arms behind his head, eyes gleaming with playfulness. “I bet you can’t figure out what snack I have hidden in my pocket.”

You stared at him for a moment. “That’s your mystery?”

“Exactly,” he said, crossing his legs. “You’ve got three chances to guess what it is. If you get it wrong, you owe me a favor.”

It wasn’t exactly what you’d had in mind when you thought of solving a mystery with Ranpo, but there was something endearing about the challenge. You could never quite resist his energy.

“Alright,” you said, sitting up straighter. “I’ll play along. Is it sweet?”

Ranpo shook his head, his smirk widening. “Strike one.”

You frowned, thinking hard. Ranpo had a sweet tooth, so naturally, you assumed it would be candy or chocolate. But if it wasn’t sweet, then…

“Is it salty?”

Ranpo paused, a gleam of amusement flashing in his eyes. “Mmm, getting closer. But no, strike two.”

Your eyes narrowed at him. He was enjoying this far too much. Ranpo loved to watch people struggle with simple things, relishing in the fact that his deduction skills were always ten steps ahead.

You thought about his usual snack stash, mentally going through what you had seen him munching on in the past. And then, an idea hit you.

“Is it… beef jerky?”

Ranpo’s smile faltered, just for a split second, and you knew you had him. He clicked his tongue, digging into his pocket and pulling out the packet of jerky, tossing it onto the table.

“You cheated,” he pouted, though there was no real malice behind his words. “You’ve been watching me too closely.”

You grinned, leaning back in your chair with a satisfied look. “Maybe I have.”

For a moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence. Ranpo unwrapped the jerky and nibbled on a piece, his gaze flicking over to you every so often. You were content with the quiet, but Ranpo, ever the energetic one, wasn’t done with you yet.

“Alright,” he said suddenly, sitting up and looking at you with a challenging glint in his eyes. “Since you won that round, I’ll give you another mystery. One that’s harder.”

You raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”

Ranpo leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “What do I like the most?”

It was such a simple question, and yet you could tell from the way his eyes sparkled that there was more to it than met the eye. You thought for a moment, going over all the things you knew Ranpo loved—snacks, mysteries, praise, his detective title—but none of them seemed quite right for this moment.

Finally, you met his gaze, feeling a warmth creep up your neck. “Is it… me?”

Ranpo’s smirk softened into a rare, genuine smile. “Ding ding ding. You’re sharper than I thought.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, and you found yourself unable to look away from his gaze. He always had a way of throwing you off balance, and this time was no different. But instead of teasing you further, he simply leaned back, looking satisfied with himself.

“You should feel lucky,” he said, popping another piece of jerky into his mouth. “Not everyone gets to be the favorite of the greatest detective.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head at his playful arrogance. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ranpo stretched again, yawning as if the conversation had tired him out. “Alright, I’m taking a nap. Wake me up if something exciting happens.”

Before you could respond, he flopped down on the couch, closing his eyes, a content smile still on his face. You watched him for a moment, warmth blooming in your chest. Even on lazy afternoons like this, Ranpo had a way of making things interesting.

And maybe, just maybe, being his favorite wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

[dryadalisliv]

Madeline Willow sat crossed legged upon her comfortable yellow armchair.

In her right hand she held a biro, and in her left rested a block of ruled paper. She was meeting a new client today, one Merlin Hunithson, whom at the moment occupied the sofa before her - fidgeting with the ends of his shirt.

If she had to guess without consulting his journal, Madeline would place him to be around his late twenties. He had curly black hair - just shy of needing a new haircut, pallid skin, and wore a casual set of clothes consisting of a dark blue jumper atop of a seemingly plane white t-shirt, and red, beaten, converse trainers hidden beneath the ends of his straight legged jeans.

He looked desperately normal, except for his eyes, which was such a startling blue that it contrasted greatly with his otherwise dull demeanour.

Merlin Hunithson sat as if trying to occupy as little space as possible. His shoulders pushed inwards, and legs twitching like he was forcibly stopping himself from tugging them up on the sofa and beneath his chin. His gaze shifted quickly around the room, never resting on Madeline.

“You wrote to me,” was the first thing Madeline Willow said to Merlin Hunithson, “and told me you were seeking help regarding the death of a friend of yours.”

She studied him intensely. The first meeting between a client and a therapist was important. They were both here to learn the basics of one another. Madeline’s job was to assess her patient. Figure out how they dealt with their emotions, and by that how she should deal with their emotions.

And Merlin Hunithson’s job was to figure out if Madeline Willow was capable of dealing with his emotions, she supposed.

So, she studied him intensely as she said the words.

Hunithson sat awfully still, only betrayed by a slight twitch to his eyebrows upon the word ‘death’.

“Would you mind telling me more about that?” she asked.

Hunithson finally placed his gaze upon her, and she suddenly felt overwhelmingly dizzy meeting those strangely deep blue eyes. He tilted his head, as if he was studying her, a small wrinkle appeared between his brows. He pursed his lips before tearing his eyes away once more.

His gaze fell on her wooden bookshelf - once again, he tilted his head - in what she assumed was a gesture to facilitate the reading of the titles gracing the books.

Hunithson’s eyebrows suddenly lifted in surprise, his mouth turning lopsided before the expression disappeared.

Madeline had to suppress the sudden urge to ask him what book had warranted that reaction.

He cleared his throat, and Madeline toyed unconsciously with the biro.

“It was long ago,” He said, his voice was gentle if not a little hoarse, “and yet…” he trailed off.

“And yet it still festers?” she prompted.

He sighed but nodded.

“And when you say, ‘long ago’, what do you mean?” Madeline questioned, leaning a bit forward in her chair.

A mirthless smile painted itself on Hunithson’s lips just as a breathless laugh escaped him, “It feels like a millennium.”

Okay, she thought. Jokes.

He said it like it was an inside joke that he felt no need to include Madeline in. In fact, the excluding seemed to be what he found funny about it.

“So, long ago?” She asked, saving the specifics for later.

“Long ago.” Hunithson confirmed with a nod.

She wrote that down upon her pad of paper. Long ago, and yet it festers.

Madeline looked up from her notes, finding Hunithson with his head tilted as if he was trying to read what she wrote. She scrutinised him for a moment, he seemed to be aware of this - yet he didn’t hurriedly look away trying to cover his curiosity regarding the notes, as she had seen other patients do.

Merlin Hunithson was apparently unapologetically curious of other people’s perspective of himself. Or maybe he just had trust issues and was in no haste to hide the fact.

She let herself fall back on her chair again, tapping the end of her biro gently upon the padded armrest in a steady tattoo. Hunithson’s eyes stayed fixed on the movement, his pupils evenly going slightly up, before slightly down, and the up once more.

She halted herself in her tapping, and Hunithson’s eyes followed.

He looked up and met her gaze. She smiled gently.

She figured, judging by the vague dismissal within the previous joke and the indefinite answer, they probably weren’t ready to talk of the death itself today. So, Madeline said, her voice soft, “Okay, so it was long ago. Mr. Hunithson, could you tell me about your friend?”

 A secret part of her always relished in this moment - the moment she got to crack open the mind of a new patient. Get a look into a new spiderweb of thoughts and feelings. Get a look into a new perspective of the world, a new untold story.

It was like opening a new book, every appointment with the patient a new page.

But then again, not really. It was more so being provided a new page sporadically each meeting - not at all chronologically, and with small side stories that you were left wondering how they truly fit into this book of which you so desperately tried to make sense of.

So, Madeline turned the first page of the book of Merlin Hunithson, asking him about his late friend.

Hunithson crinkled his nose, as if supressing a wince.

“Merlin.” He said, “Call me Merlin”

Madeline’s lips twitched at that. She would usually call her patients by their first name, but she always began with their last - making it the patient’s choice on the distance they started at, and when they would move closer.

“Merlin, then,” she smiled easily - which Merlin surprisingly returned, revealing soft crow’s feet by his deep blue eyes. “Tell me about your friend.” Madeline continued.

He sighed and shifted his weight as he clenched and unclenched his hands, as if preparing himself.

“He-“ Merlin swallowed, running his hands over his thighs. “His name was Arthur.” He wasn’t looking at Madeline anymore. His gaze had moved to the bookshelf by her left once again, albeit he didn’t seem to be looking at the titles - there was something unseeing in his eyes, like he was looking faraway, long ago.

Arthur and Merlin, Madeline couldn't help but think to herself with an inward huff of laughter. She swallowed and shifted her weight as she tucked the thought away, before focusing back on Merlin.

“I- well,” suddenly Madeline could see him return to the presence. His eyes grew clearer, and he looked back at her, a mirthless smile playing on his lips. “I don’t really know what else to say.” He admitted, wetting his lips as his right hand covered his left wrist seemingly unconsciously.

Madeline shrugged exaggeratedly, offering a lopsided smile. “It could be anything that comes to mind,” she watched as Merlin’s right hand stared twisting his wrist. He was sporting that faraway look once again. “It could be his appearance, or something like if he talked a certain way - it could also just be a memory you shared,” Merlin was looking - but not really - at the bookshelf, a soft and sad smile on his lips. “It doesn’t matter, just tell me about him. About Arthur.”

Madeline noticed how Merlin’s head twitched ever so slightly upon the name. His gaze remained faraway, long ago.

“He-“ Merlin seemed to be searching for what to say, until a huff of something that could vaguely be described as a laugh escaped him. “He was so bloody rude,” he spoke; Madeline watched as his eyebrows squished together, and he shook his head nearly incredulously. “He was terrible - incorrigible,” Merlin continued, the fondness of his tone belying the harsh words of which he spoke. “He would always - He could get so angry.” Merlin interrupted himself, right hand still twisting his wrist. “He would yell and throw things and just be so damn annoying.” He laughed, it sounded wet and shaky. “Sometimes he would get himself into these utterly ridiculous situations, and I always had to get him out of them. And- and he would get so mad the few times he found out that I helped him. Well, I think he would really get embarrassed, but he had a habit of hiding all his emotions with anger - even the nice ones.” Merlin sighed and finally lost his grip on his wrist to run his hand through his hair. Presence fell into his eyes again, and he chanced a glance at Madeline.

“His father - well, Arthur always tried to do right by him, his father that is. Problem was that his father was an utter arse, so Arthur was really following the wrong banner.” He grinned shakingly, and Madeline tried to return it.

She didn’t quite know what to think yet. Merlin sounded incredibly fond of this ‘Arthur’, but she noticed his way of expressing it was convoluted and indirect, saying ‘he was annoying’ and meaning ‘he was brilliant’. It told her more of their relationship than Merlin probably thought.

It told her that, what he did now, Merlin and Arthur probably did within each other’s company as well. The jesting of ‘I hate you’ and being able to hear the underlying ‘I like you’ beneath it.

It was convoluted and complicated, and so damn common.

For what an easy way to be vulnerable, without being it at all?

What she gathered of Arthur’s character as of now, was that he was rude, quick to anger, desperate for his arse of a father’s approval, and that Merlin Hunithson utterly adored him.

[pessimisticoptimistsblog]

A/N: Two chapters in two days, I'm on a roll! I hope you all like this, finally getting some of the show in this.

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Chapter 4

What the fuck

Grabbing another book off the dwindling pile in front of them, Caelwen’s shoulders slumped. This was the 4th day that she and Lucifer had been in the library. As much as she was enjoying the fallen angel’s presence, every book that wasn’t what they were looking for made her want to cry.

The news of the extermination moving up had come as a surprise and shock, Heaven truly was heartless. But it also moved Caelwen’s deadline up, she was too close to making Adam pay to wait until the following extermination – it had to be this one.

Lucifer tossed another book on the pile of useless ones, having given up on putting them away for now. Looking over to see his companion also growing weary, he checked his watch to see it was almost lunch time. Lucifer tapped Caelwen on the shoulder to pull her away from her current book. “Let’s pause and get lunch, we could both use a break.”

In the kitchen, Lucifer summoned ingredients for some sandwiches to the island, arranging them so they could both make their own. As Caelwen was going to sit, she felt her phone buzz in the pocket of her dress. Pulling it out, she noticed a message from Nia.

Nia: hope it’s going okay boss lady. We’re all good here, Velvette was a bitch but I handled it. Don’t forget about overlord meeting tomorrow. I know you don’t normally go but with everything happening…

Caelwen: Thank you. Yes, I was thinking this might be the time to go. I’ll go alone though, I’m more interested in seeing who still stands and assuring them I’m still capable.

Nia: let me know if you change your mind, okay? I’m here if needed.

Caelwen finally sat down, rubbing the bridge of her nose; she hated those meetings but with all the chaos of the extermination being moved up, she knew being present could make or break her company and position.

“Is everything okay? Your assistant hasn’t let your business burn to the ground, hopefully?” Lucifer asked with a chuckle.

Caelwen gave him a small smile *Yes, she was telling me that all is well. She also reminded me that there is an overlord meeting tomorrow. Despite not owning any souls, I rank rather high amongst the demons apparently. I’ve been considered an overlord for almost 300 years now, but it’s been a few decades since I last attended a meeting. With the extermination moving up, this is one I don’t think I should miss.*

Lucifer’s was slightly taken aback, he had always thought the sinners were only led by fear and power. This woman in front of him seemed so gentle, how could she have gained respect amongst heartless demons? Caelwen could see his confusion and chuckled silently.

*I can be quite scary when I need to be. Plus, I do have support from Beelzebub with my business. And that’s been a helpful bonus* Caelwen finished with a smirk.

Chuckling, Lucifer agreed with the Nephilim – not too many sinners would willingly try to piss of one of the sins. Though he wasn’t sure he could ever see Caelwen as scary.

Back down in the library, the two continued the cycle they had established on the first day. The 14th and 13th centuries had been a bust, nothing had come close to the symbol Caelwen had been branded with. Despite their lack of success, though, they were both smiling and laughing. Between sharing stories from their lives and making small jokes there were secretive glances, light touches that lingered on hands or shoulders, and faint blushes that they each did their best to conceal.

Caelwen had never felt so light in her life. In spite of how long she had lived in Hell, the Nephilim had always been more concerned with staying alive and hidden then with maintaining her company and image. She had never bothered with romance; she’d read about it, sure, but never looked for it. Still, here she sat, next to the strongest being in all of Hell, blushing and feeling as though her heart might beat out of her chest every time his hand brushed hers. And, fuck, if he kept brushing the feathers of her wings she might combust – she’d never realized how sensitive they were!

When night rolled around and they retired to their separate rooms, Caelwen lay awake, trying to sort through her feelings. Having been unable to speak for so long, she’d become well-attuned to her surroundings and reading people. She knew Lucifer was reciprocating her actions, truthfully he’d been the first one to start lingering when handing her books or moving her wings to a better position. The problem was that she didn’t know how to proceed or if she even should.

~ The Next Day ~

Caelwen was gone after breakfast, expressing her desire to check on the office and Nia as well as grab some clean clothes before the Overlord meeting. She hated taking a break from their search, but Lucifer assured her he’d keep looking while she was out.

After changing into a clean, sleek black dress and assuring she was consumed in shadows, Caelwen headed into her office. There, she saw Nia sitting in her chair with her legs propped on the desk with a phone to her ear. Plopping down into a chair across from the hell hound, Caelwen waited for the call to wrap up. From the eye rolls and the hand yanking at her hair, it was obviously not a fun conversation.

Finally slamming the phone down after a gruff ‘fuck off’, Nia turned to her boss with a grin. “How’s it goin’ boss lady? Any luck with the books?”

*Unfortunately, not yet. We’ve worked through quite a lot though and Lucifer is going to keep going while I’m out today.* Caelwen leaned forward then, peering at the spread of papers on her desk before looking back to Nia. *I assume everything here is still okay? No one has died or tried to get one over on us?*

Nia smirked, “Duh! I’m pretty good at this shit. You know, if you ever wanted to take some time off, I’d be more than happy to run this place for awhile!”

*Good. I may take you up on that; once this seal is broken, I’ll probably need some extra time to adjust and get myself in order before the extermination.* The two women smiled at each other then Nia began to catch her boss up on everything that had happened over the last few days.

An hour later, Caelwen was standing in an elevator of the tall building, and the overlord meeting would be held in. Consumed in shadows, she took a deep breath to center herself and mentally assume her alter ego. The elevator door opened, and Madame C exited and turned to walk towards the meeting room. Entering the room, she noticed Carmilla walking to the head of the table. Madame C looked around, taking note of each Overlord in front of her, a couple she didn’t fully recall, but most were the same. When her eyes landed on Alastor and his unnerving grin, a shiver rolled down her spine – she’d thought for sure he had died, wished for it honestly.

“Welcome Hell’s sovereign Overlords. I’ve invited you all here because you represent the controlling powers of our city. Together you own millions of souls, souls at risk with the new extermination schedule. We need to discuss what can be done to minimize the impact to our interests.”

As the tall woman was talking, Madame C made her way around the table towards her chair. Despite not being present for a few decades, the chair next to Carmilla and opposite to Zestial had always been hers, and no one had bothered to try and occupy it.

“Zestial, so good to see you my friend”

“Enchanted as always Carmilla” the spider demon said, summoning a cup of tea.

The arms dealer then turned towards the radio demon in surprise, calling his name. It seemed Madame C wasn’t the only one who had thought him dead.

“Oh, yes, I know I’ve been absent some time. I’m sure you’ve all been wandering!” How she hated the sound of his staticky voice, like nails on a chalk board.

“Not really,” Carmilla shrugged. “But welcome back in any case.” She turned to the shadow-encased woman beside her next. “I’m glad to see you as well, Madame C. It’s been some time since you’ve graced these halls.”

Madame C gave a short wave and nod of her head, eager to be done with the niceties and this meeting.

Carmilla snapped her fingers and was handed a clipboard. “This years extermination was brutal, far more even than years past. We have assessed that about 16% of the population was lost. With the Angelic legions returning twice as quickly, I think it prudent we-“

The door was kicked open by Velvette, entering the meeting late and on her phone. ‘Children’ Madame C had never liked the Vees much either, to brash for her taste. She propped her elbow on the table and placed her head in her hand, doing her best to tune out the youngest Overlord.

Madame C jolted back as a head rolled towards her before stopping. It was the head of an exorcist, golden blood leaking from where it had been severed from its body. Bringing a hand to her mouth, the shadowed woman looked away to re-center herself.

“Where did you get this” Carmilla asked Velvette.

“We found it during extermination day. If these Holy Rollers can be killed, the game has changed!” She hopped up on the table walking towards the center, “We can take the fight to them. The boys and I have come up with a full assault plan –“

Loud slurping interrupted Velvette’s tirade, thankfully. Everyone turned to Zestial.

“If it be true thee and thy colleagues desire to war with such meager proof, thou art far more foolish than I be thought.”

Madame C gave a subtle nod agreeing with the spider, one exorcist meant nothing in the grand scheme, no matter how wonderful the thought of eliminating the holy army was.

Velvette snorted, “’Meager proof’? It’s a dead fucking exorcist. I’d say that pretty fucking definitive. You goin’ blind, old man?”

“We know not how this perished. Mayhaps t’was not by a demon’s hand at all. If we rush to war without knowing, mightn’t they purge all of Hell for daring an uprising?” A round of agreements was heard from every overlord around the table, angering Velvette.

“Oh I get it. So, grandpa is too pussy to fight so I guess there’s no point. Right?” She got into Zestial’s face. “Oh what’s the matter, fossil? Too senile to make a real power grab?” Madame C clenched her fists to keep from throttling the girl, letting Carmilla stand up for Zestial.

The two women began to battle it out over showing respect. Madame C felt a headache forming behind her eyes, doing her best to not lose her mind over the shit show this meeting had become. She could have been with Lucifer - looking through the library, getting closer to actually flying, sharing more stories. Testing the boundaries of their growing friendship. Instead, she was stuck here watching a child argue for all out war with angels trained to kill sinners.

Madame C tuned back into the conversation when she heard Velvette accuse Carmilla of knowing why the angel was headless. If it was true that Carmilla had killed or at least knew how to kill the exorcist, she’d need that information for later.

Carmilla called for the end of the meeting abruptly as Velvette tried to get a confession, leaving the other Overlords confused and upset. They had all taken the time to gather, and the meeting had barely begun before it was over. Madame C had not missed the chaos these meetings could be.

Rising from her seat with the other Overlords, Madame C made her way to the elevators, avoiding any questions thrown her way. It wasn’t like she could answer, so why did they try?

Once out of the building, shadows consumed her and transported her to Lucifer’s front door; she didn’t want to bother with being interrogated by Nia after the disastrous meeting. Greeting the imp that opened the door, Caelwen dropped her shadows as she waited in the entryway for Lucifer. Less than two minutes passed before a portal opened in front of the green-eyed woman, a black gloved hand hastily pulled her through.

Stumbling, Caelwen was caught at her shoulders by a grinning Lucifer, his smile so wide it nearly split his face.

“I found it! It’s not the exact symbol, but that’s because he changed it to make it what he needed. I’ve spent the last hour triple-checking and I can’t believe I forgot about bindrunes! They’re very old, but powerful and it makes perfect sense for the timing and-“ he cut himself off, running a hand through his hair. “We can break this seal within the next couple of days, just need to get a couple things first!”

Caelwen’s jaw had gone slack, her brain silent, eyes wide in disbelief. When Lucifer said she’d be whole in just a few days, she couldn’t contain her body and threw herself at the blonde man, wrapping him in a tight hug. She felt his arms slowly encircle her waist, returning the hug slowly as his mind processed the action.

Pulling her head back to look Lucifer in the eyes, it took everything she had to not kiss him. Instead, she grinned at his shocked face before squeezing him tighter and then pulling away slowly. Caelwen grabbed Lucifer’s hand and gestured for him to show her the book, her headache completely forgotten as the two lost themselves in reading through the book together and making a list of everything they might need.

Whether they realized it or not, neither one made any attempt to pull their hand from the other’s, content with the connection as they basked in their victory.

A/N – Ahhh!! I’ve done a quick proofread of this, so hopefully, I didn’t miss anything. We got a little peak into Caelwen’s mind this chapter which was fun. I’ve been developing her since the season premiered on prime, and it’s so nice to get her written down. Hope you all enjoy; likes, reblogs, and comments are so appreciated. They’ve literally kept me out of a depressed funk this past week, so thank you all!

Tag List:

@leximus98

[dream-meister-translations]

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X BETA - PART 8

━

RUFERU : There’s only one thing to do…

RUFERU : We have to go to the Metaverse and steal something from Takeyuki Kiuchi. 

RUFERU : That is to say… Become a Phantom Thief.

WONDER : Define “something”...

RUFERU : I call them Secrets. But first thing’s first…

RUFERU : As you know, there are many mysteries hidden deep within the Metaverse. As well as the existence of Shadows which are dangerous in and of themselves.

RUFERU : The only way to truly understand and put an end to this…

RUFERU : Is to go into business with me as your partner.

RUFERU : So how about it? Will you become a Phantom Thief?

WONDER : You’re asking me to…

RUFERU : Forget it… I knew you’d react this way…

RUFERU : After all, just yesterday you were yet another ordinary high school student. And now an owl is asking you to take on a job that puts your life in mortal danger.

RUFERU : But please remember this…

RUFERU : The masses being impacted by Kiuchi’s selfish desires are slowly losing their own desires in turn…

RUFERU : In the worst case… This can even lead to death…

RUFERU : You, on the other hand, managed to awaken your Persona through your abundant desire to live.

RUFERU : It is only by relying on the mask of your Persona that we can defeat this Shadow.

RUFERU : The only human capable of taking action in the Metaverse… Is you.

RUFERU : If Takeyuki Kiuchi is a being that leads others to death…

RUFERU : Then you are a being capable of leading others toward survival.

WONDER : Just what are you trying to do here, Ruferu?

RUFERU : We can discuss the details once you’ve become a Phantom Thief.

RUFERU : For now, I’ll leave it at this… It is my belief that possession of one’s desires is one of the most crucial aspects of human existence.

RUFERU : No… Not quite… That would be to force desires upon you…

RUFERU : The free will to make one’s own choices is another important aspect of human existence.

RUFERU : Please, forget what I’ve said here. You must make this decision of your own volition.

RUFERU : Perhaps a stroll around the central street area will help clear your mind?

RUFERU : You can also take the time to stock up on healing items if you so choose to join me.

RUFERU : I’ll stay here a while. If you wish to join me in this endeavor, please come and tell me.

━

After some time, Wonder returns to Ruferu and talks to him once more…

RUFERU : So, have you thought it through?

RUFERU : Am I to trust that you understand that you coming back to me means you’re willing to take the job?

Memories of what he’d just witnessed. Women being pushed and bullied around, fleeing in terror at threats of physical violence… His vision of the mother and her baby tumbling down the stairwell… All the while, questions tore at his mind…

WONDER : (If I turn a blind eye now…)

Echoes of the mother’s cries, the woman screaming in search of the baby… The man’s somber voice…

WONDER : (Then the worst may come to pass…)

Ruferu spoke up once more, breaking him from his reverie…

RUFERU : So… Have you come to a decision?

Yes, Wonder had…

WONDER : I’ll do my best to help…

RUFERU : Now that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.

RUFERU : Well, now, let us set off for the Metaverse! You should have your navigator intact.

WONDER : Navigator?

RUFERU : Ah, yes, that’s the icon on your phone that looks like an eyeball.

RUFERU : If you click that it should transport you to the Metaverse.

Wonder does as Ruferu says and true to Ruferu’s advice, one tap of the icon has the world around them warping before their very eyes… Twisting into what was quickly becoming an all-too-familiar hellscape…

━

RUFERU : So, now our work has officially begun, first order of business: From now on, we will refer to each other by our code names.

WONDER : Code names…?

RUFERU : Right, I mentioned before that the Metaverse is the materialization of humanity’s collective consciousness…

RUFERU : That means that people knowing our real names will impact their perception of us.

RUFERU : And that risks them finding out our true identities.

RUFERU : As such, I want to use code names during our work as aliases to conceal our real identities.

RUFERU : And calling everyone by their fake names and their real names, don't you think it's a pain?

WONDER : Um… What?

RUFERU : Wait, you don't know what “a pain” is?

RUFERU : It means... like, a problem, an inconvenience… oh, c’mon, all the cool kids say it!

RUFERU : As for your code name… You’ve succeeded all my expectations thus far. In fact, you’re a human who surpasses my wildest dreams…

RUFERU : Let’s call you “Wonder” then, how about it?

WONDER : Wonder?

RUFERU : I’m trusting my gut on this one, and my gut tells me to call you “Wonder”.

RUFERU : As for me, you can call me Cattle.

WONDER : …Cattle?

RUFERU : I’m not sure I fully understand it myself… But I feel it in my gut. I’m “Cattle.”

RUFERU : So shall we get going, Wonder?

With their code names decided, Ruferu and Wonder set off down the tracks, deeper into the Metaverse. However, before they’d even taken five steps, a strong wind billows through the tunnel, the ground shaking as Shadows crawl out from pitch black holes forming in the ground.

RUFERU : Tsk. I can’t believe I didn’t sense them approaching…

RUFERU : If I had to guess, I’d say these Shadows were triggered by Kiuchi’s twisted desires.

RUFERU : Well, looks like we gotta mop the floor with these mooks, first!

Wonder and Ruferu swiftly deal with the attacking Shadows.

RUFERU : Okay, four shadows taken care of, let’s keep up the momentum!

On cue, three more Shadows crawl from the abyss.

RUFERU : Oh, come on, more of them!?

More Shadows spawn behind Ruferu and Wonder.

RUFERU : They’re jumping us from behind, as well? Oh, this is bad…

WONDER : Should we retreat?

RUFERU : Wish we could… They’ve blocked off our escape!

RUFERU : Cheaters! …Urgh… There’s nothing for it. We gotta hit ‘em hard!

RUFERU : I’ve got the Shadows at our six. You smash through the front!

Wonder is seen fighting off several Shadows, but nothing seems to keep them down. Behind him, Ruferu acrobatically dances around his own attackers. One of the Shadows manages to sneak through Wonder’s defense and knocks him back. He falls to his knees, the constant assault draining on his energy. As he looks up, three more Shadows burn their way into existence, stalking toward him. One of the shadows roars out and they charge to strike him in unison… 

RUFERU : Wonder!!

And then… As Ruferu calls his name… In a blur of energy and motion, each Shadow is swiftly ripped apart one by one. They don’t even have a chance to react. And Wonder doesn’t have a chance to blink. A single blow to the back of the final Shadow has the creature crying out before dropping to its knees, and shortly after, crashing to the floor, revealing…

[bees-making-art]

Beat of the Heart, Chapter Three: Up All Night

Hope y'all enjoy! Things are getting flirty ;). Don't forget to like comment and reblog if you enjoyed!

You had just grabbed your lunch from the kitchen and were heading back to your classroom when Logan and Ororo approached you, a concerned look on both their faces. Logan’s brows were pinched together, his frown lines a bit more prominent given he was frowning. Ororo’s face was less pinched, but no less concerned.

Ororo is the first to speak, “have you seen Rogue today? Or recently?” You tilt your head slightly to the side as you replay  your day in your head, trying to think if you had seen the girl. You shake your head when you come up with nothing. 

Logan’s frown instantly deepens and Ororos eyebrows furrow.

“Why? What's going on?” You ask, voice laced with concern, noticing their shift in demeanor from worried to distressed.

Logan sighs, dragging a hand over his face before telling you the problem.

“Rogues missing, it seems no one has seen her since lunch time. The last time someone saw her she was talking to a kid her age and she looked upset. I think she ran away because of what someone said about last night.” 

Your heart drops and your eyes widen at the realization, “then why are we standing here?! We need to tell Charles right now!” Ororo looks a little embarrassed, seeing that she probably should have told Charles as soon as Logan told her.

“You’re right, I guess we were just hopeful she hadn't run off,” Ororo says as she leads the two of you in the direction of Charles's office. 

When the three of you frantically tumble through the door to Charles' office, he is already wheeled in front of his desk. You step back from the door, letting him through and following behind him.

“I apologize for tapping into your minds, but your concern for Rogue was hard to block out. I have informed Jean and Scott of the present situation and they will be meeting us in Cerebro.” Logan and Ororo follow you and Charles. The two of them catch up to walk by your side, you give both of them a reassuring smile that's as much for them as it is for you.

When the group of you reach the elevators Jean and Scott catch up with you, joining you in the ride down to the basement where Cerebro is held. The ride down in quiet, all of you quietly worrying to yourself about what Rogue is doing and where she is. 

Reaching Cerebro you assist Charles in setting it up. Using your powers you turn the complex device on then turning to help place the helmet correctly on his head, making sure the sensor touches his forehead. Once everything is ready you step away, letting him concentrate. 

The screens all along the walls flash to life, displaying the familiar glowing silhouettes of mutants across the world. You look at Logan to see his reaction, smiling at his barely hidden expression of awe at the capabilities of Charles and Cerebro . 

After a few seconds the screens focus on Rogue. They show her walking down the street towards the nearby train station.

Charles removes the headset, setting it down. You turn off the machine with a simple brush of your fingers walking with him to the rest of the X-men.

You all look at each other for a minute, deciding what to say. You're the first to speak up.

“We need to go after her, if we don't either the brotherhood or mutant hating humans will find her.” Logan makes a noise of agreement, crossing his arms.

“While I do agree, we need to prepare first, and I want you to stay here Logan. This is most likely a trap in order to capture you and we can't give them that,” Charles comments. It's not quite a command, but his tone doesn't leave much room to argue.

Logan argues anyway, saying that he's not going to let himself get captured and that you all need his help. Charles holds his hand up and Logan closes his mouth.

“I understand your concern but you need to stay behind. I do not know what they plan to do with you, but we must not let it happen, and they are capable. The X-Men will be perfectly fine handling this mission.” Logan looks like he wants to argue, but he instead just huffs and walks away.

Scott scoffs at Logan's behavior and you push his shoulder in retaliation, and follow after Logan.

It’s about an hour later and you are walking toward the garage, pulling on your conductive gloves as you head to prepare the car for the train station. As you pass by the entrance you also pass Logan. You catch him as he’s about to exit the front entrance's door, calling his name to which he turns and looks at you.

“Where are you going?” You question, your left hand coming to rest on your hip. 

Logan looks almost sheepish for a moment, maybe even a little guilty, but it’s quickly covered by his scowl.

“I’m going to do what needs to be done, I'm going to save her.” You sigh, knowing that’s what he was planning. You walk over to him, setting a hand on his shoulder, matching his expression.

“I agree, but you can’t go alone, it’s not safe. At least let me go with you, I’ll watch your back.” Logan huffs, looking at your face for a moment. He seemingly finds what he’s looking for and nods. You smile in response and release his shoulder.

Walking away you lead Logan to the garage, turning on the many overhead lights. There are several cars parked in the garage, an SUV that is able to fit all the X-men, a sports car, a large truck along with others, and a lone motorcycle. You gesture out with your hand, non-verbally telling Logan to pick what to ride. 

He immediately walks over to the motorcycle and you resist the urge to laugh. Predictable. You grab the helmets from off the wall, telling Scott you were sorry in your head and promising to return it safe, even though he couldn’t hear it. 

Putting the helmet on, you hand Logan the other. To which he gives you an incredulous look that makes you blush and laugh a little. You set the helmet back where it was before touching the vehicle, making it hum to life in an instant. Logan gets onto the motorcycle with ease. You follow much less confidently, wrapping your arms around his waist, holding yourself close to him.

Logan flips up the kick stand, walking the vehicle a bit as you open the garage door with your powers, before taking off. You’re thankful he can’t see your blushing face from this position as you ride away from the mansion. 

A little bit of nervousness creeps up as you pass the estates gates. You had never ridden on a motorcycle before and it was now hitting you how fast it is. Your hold on Logan tightens, pulling yourself closer to him and resting your face against his shoulder. 

In your hold you feel Logan start to shake with a chuckle.

“If you hold me any tighter you’re gonna rip me in half there sweetheart,” Logan teases, turning his head just a touch to the side to see your face. 

A blush immediately rises to your cheeks. Butterflies begin swirling around in your chest as you hide your face from him further behind his back. 

But the reality that you're heading out to save someone hits you in the face with a cold rush of air, getting rid of the butterflies as quick as they came. You can tell Logan feels this too as he goes silent. After a few minutes of silent riding you squeeze Logan in a sort of pseudo hug.

“We’ll find her. We’ll bring her home,” you say more to yourself than him. 

The two of you arrive at the station within 15 minutes, parking the car a bit hastily in front of it. You and Logan enter the building, looking around the lobby. After just a few seconds you both come to the realization that she is not here and you’re going to have to split up to find her. 

You turn to look at Logan and he nods. He turns and pushes through the crowd, heading toward the left end of the station. You head the opposite direction, albeit with more struggle. 

You spend several minutes walking around the station in a rushed manner, looking side to side in an attempt to find Rogue as fast as you can. Your phone buzzes in your pocket against the side of your leg. 

With a small sigh you pull it out of your pocket, looking at the screen to see an incoming call from Scott and several messages from Ororo. You feel a little bad as you turn your phone off and put it back. 

Just as you finish returning your phone to its place you hear commotion from one of the nearby trains. It’s hard to hear anything distinct but you have the inkling it’s Logan and Rogue. You run there as fast as you're able to through the crowded station, finding the two of them and Magneto having a standoff. Erik is holding Logan up with an outstretched hand, slowly pulling his arms in opposite directions. The moment you see them you send a bolt of electricity Magnetos' way. It hits him, but you fired it from too far away so most of the energy had dissipated. While it may not hurt him, it does drag his attention from Logan and to you. 

Magneto glowers at you as you give him a smirk, charging up another bolt of electricity in your hands as you continue your charge toward them. But just before you fire it off Magneto pulls Logan in front of him. Using the man as a meat shield. You nearly skid to a stop as you absorb the energy back into your body then continue your race into the train. 

Just as you step on and in you hear Rogue agreeing to leave with him, under the condition that he leaves Logan and you alone. You want to shout, to stop them, but Magneto is already guiding her out of the bus. You send out one more spark of energy as a last ditch effort but it doesn’t do much. 

Once Magneto has left the scene, Logan is released from his suspended position, dropping down onto his knees. As soon as he makes contact with the train floor you rush over to his side, checking for any injuries before you help him back to his feet. 

The two of you share a look, Logan’s far more angry than your concerned one and once you’re sure Logan has his footing, the two of you book it to the entrance of the station where you hear the sounds of a conflict between what you can only guess is your fellow X-Men and The Brotherhood. 

Through the large windows and glass doors you can see Magneto, Rogue, and some other mutants you don’t quite recognize surrounded by police force. It takes all your willpower to not burst through the doors to attack him. Logan seems to do the same. But that doesn’t prevent you from using your powers to hear the conversation happening outside. 

As soon as you tap into one of the police officer’s many walkie talkie’s you can tell that Charles is speaking through one of the mutants to Erik. After a few tense moments, Magneto and his Brotherhood depart and the police force soon follow. 

You and Logan exit the building, meeting with the others in front of the black car Charles is sitting in. Upon your arrival you straightaway can tell that Scott is not happy with you.

You give him a sheepish smile as he asks, “And what happened to the two of you?” Logan gruffly and with many simplifications tells him about your encounter with Erik and how he took Rogue. Scott is ready to scold the two of you but Charles raises a hand to stop him.

“Do not give them too much grief Scott, I am the one who made the biggest mistake. I apologize to you all, I guessed his motives wrong.”

“You shouldn’t blame yourself either. None of us could have accurately predicted what Magneto's plan was we just have to make up for it by rescuing Rogue,” you counter, resting a hand on his shoulder. Charles places his hand atop yours, giving you his signature fatherly smile. 

Everyone begins to pile into the car to go home. Logan goes to where he had parked the motorcycle and you begin to follow him, but you turn around when you hear Charles sigh wistfully. He’s staring at where Erik was and you know what he’s going to say before he even says it. 

“It pains me to see him like this. He’s reverting to the comfort of his anger, letting himself fall back on old habits. If he would just let me in, let us help him, he wouldn’t have to be so angry, he could come back home.” You stay quiet, simply listening to Charles’ woes. Squeezing his shoulder in comfort you give him a hum of agreement, then join Logan atop the motorcycle.

The ride back to the mansion is quiet, you're too busy stewing in your feelings to muster up a conversation with Logan. You’re pissed at yourself, for not getting there earlier. For not being able to do anything to Magneto. For not being able to save Rogue. Your frustration manifests itself in electricity crackling across your skin. It zaps and flashes, releasing the built up energy you had stored. By result,  your untapped electricity zapped across Logan’s jacket and flesh. 

Logan flinches at the stings that are gone as soon as they happen. You, however, don’t notice this, simply thinking he's shifting to get comfortable on the motorcycle. He tilts his head to the side, about to ask you about it, but upon seeing your face scrunched up in thought he decides to leave it be for now. 

You only realize your slipped control of your mutation when you are inside the X-mansion. Your eyes wander to the burned holes in Logan’s leather jacket, gasping when you realize they were caused by you. 

“Oh god Logan I am so sorry, I didn’t even realize what I was doing or that my powers were out of control. I’ll help clean and patch you up and I promise I will buy you a new jacket-” Logan stops your fountain of apologies by wrapping his hands around your hand. Butterflies bloom in your stomach as you stare wide eyed at him.

He takes off one of the sleeves, showing his arm to you, whereupon inspection, you realize there are no wounds or even a hint of a scar from your powers. You sigh in relief, meeting Logan’s eyes. 

“Don’t worry ‘bout it bub, this jacket was getting old and worn anyway. I was wearing it till it gave me a reason not to. You took care of that,” he gave you a smirk before continuing, “besides, didn’ even hurt that much. Just like a little pinch,” he lightly teases, making you smile. 

You laugh and shake your head, pushing his shoulder with your free hand. A blush rises to your cheeks and the butterflies intensify under Logan’s carefree gaze, flustering you immensely. 

“Okay,” you pause, “but at least let me buy you a new one to make it up.” Logan laughs and shakes his head, giving your hand a squeeze. You squeeze it in return as he tells you, “I’ll let you know if I ever need a new one.” You laugh with him, fingers faintly glowing.

The two of you look at one another for a long moment, not saying anything, simply enjoying the sensation of holding each other’s hand. Warmths blooms in you. It starts where Logan's hand meets yours, through your arm, and into your chest. 

But the quiet moment is shattered by Jean’s footsteps into the foyer. You turn your head just as she spots the two of you, a noise of surprise bubbling up from the back of her throat. Logan’s head snaps to join yours in looking at Jean. 

Your eyes widen as you release Logan's hand, taking a step away from him. A blush burns fiercely across your face. Accompanying your blushing is energy rushing in your veins, making the fine arteries and capillaries in your face and hands faintly glow. 

“Ah! Sorry I didn’t know anyone was still up and about,” Jean apologizes as she steps out of the foyer and down the hall to her room.

You and Logan stare at each other for an awkwardly quiet moment before a giggle bubbles its way up and out of you. Logan gives you a confused look and it only makes you laugh harder. Soon he joins your laughter with a chuckle of your own.

It takes a minute for your laughing to calm down, both of you catching your breath. You hesitate for just a second before grabbing Logan’s hand once more, giving it a gentle squeeze as you look at him with a smile.

“I'll see you tomorrow. Get some sleep Logan.” 

“Yeah, you too,” Logan replies in a dulcet tone. The two of you look at one another for a moment longer, several words left sitting on the tip of your tongue, waiting to be said. Even though everything in you doesn’t want to, you pull away from Logan, walking to your room and giving him a little wave before you turn the corner. 

A few minutes after you walk inside of your room you hear the opening and closing of Logan's door. A smile flashes across your face. You quickly finish your nightly routine before sliding into your bed and falling asleep for the night. 

The next day you head down the long hallways to the kitchen. The X-Men usually had breakfast together and today was no different as you walked into the room to the sight of your friends gathered around the table eating various breakfast foods. 

“Morning!” You say as you grab a plate and grab the foods you want on it. A chorus of ‘good morning’s are told to you in varying states of awake, and mood on being awake. 

Plate loaded with food, you sit down in your chair. Like a college lecture hall no one had assigned seats, but you all still had your preferred spots at the table. However, curiously Jean sits next to you. Something she normally doesn’t do, instead preferring to sit next to Scott and Hank in the mornings. Ororo sits next to you like normal. But the two of them move their chairs to sit even closer to you, almost trapping you between the two of them. 

You sit awkwardly between the two women, glancing back and forth between them as you cautiously nibble your breakfast. After a few grueling seconds that feel like minutes, Ororo speaks.

“Soooo,” the white haired woman starts, dragging out the ‘o’ sound, “Jean told me that she saw something last night,” the redhead simply nods in agreement, a teasing smile on her lips. 

“Wanna tell us why you and Logan were holding hands?” Ororo matches Jean’s smile with one of her own. Your head tilts to the side in confusion. But then it clicks and heat rises to your cheeks flushing them a soft pink. 

“I- uh that's- um well- ah uh you see um-” You sputter, trying to find an explanation for them. As if some cruel, ironic joke from the universe, Logan chooses to walk into the kitchen at that very moment. You don’t even look to see because you can feel Ororo and Jean smirking at you, but before they can say anything you give both of them little shocks and hard stares. 

The two of them stifle their giggles as Logan sits down across the table from you. You give him a smile that he returns. During Jean and Ororo’s teasing, you had not only blushed but began to glow as well, you however had it under control by the time Logan had sat down.  You think he doesn’t notice, based on his lack of reaction. But Logan does, just the very end of it, to which he chalks up to your friends making you laugh.

Logan starts eating the moment he sits down, which reminds you of your own food. As you resume munching on your breakfast Jean and Ororo resume talking to you, though no longer about Logan but about a movie that had recently come out that you all had seen together as a group. 

All conversation at the table is halted when Scott clears his throat. Every head turns to face him, waiting for him to say whatever he has to say.

“We need to discuss what happened yesterday with Rogue at the train station. We couldn't have predicted what he wanted but you were out of line Logan. You could have gotten yourself, Rogue, or the rest of us killed with your recklessness. Next time you need to listen to what the professor and the rest of us decide on.”

From the corner of your eye you can see Logan's eyes practically roll to the back of his skull in annoyance. You have to bite your lip to stop yourself from giggling. 

“Oh yeah? And if you guys had gone at the time you decided then you wouldn't even have had a chance to look at Rogue before he got to her. At least me and Y/N got to try and get to her!” Logan retaliates, gesturing at Scott with his knife. 

“You don't know that, for all you know you being there early could have triggered Magneto to go after her sooner!” Scott is now standing, the tension in the room rose with him. 

“Hey! He was just trying to save her, Logan was not planning on putting us in danger and I made sure of that! All he wanted to do was help her,” I interject.

“Oh don't you even start Y/N! You know better you should have stopped him, not babysat.” Your veins begin to glow from the frustration, small sparks of energy crackling across your skin.

“Fuck off Scott we're both full grown adults we knew what our decision meant,” Logan butts in.

“But Scott makes a point, the two of you should have followed instruction instead of leaving or at the very least asked the rest of us to come with you like the team we are supposed to be! Something could have happened and we wouldn’t have made it in time, but you could be nicer about it Scott,” Jean adds, trying to calm the situation.

At this point Logan is standing, him and Scott glaring at one another. Just as Logan opens his mouth everyone at the table receives a telepathic message from Charles.

“Arguing won’t solve anything, stop it and enjoy your breakfast.” Logan grumbles and the two of them sit down, everyone quietly returning to eating their food. 

The moment you finish you stand and declare that you’re taking care of dishes. Even though you stood by your decision to go with Logan, you felt bad for making the others worry and undermining Scott and Charles, so this was your way of non-verbally apologizing. Logan joins your side. You assume it's for the same reason you are. 

The two of you settle into a rhythm, you cleaning and washing the dishes and Logan drying them and putting them away. Everything is quiet, until you get the grand idea to tease Logan.

“You really let Scott get to you huh?” You say with a sly smile, looking at him from your periphery. Logan lets out a huff followed by a quiet chuckle.

“You’re one to talk, I saw ya glowin’ earlier, Jean say somethin’ real funny?” He counters. Your face flushes and you stumble around an explanation but before you can get a word Logan presses a finger to your lips, shushing you effectively with a smirk. 

Butterflies take flight in your chest at the proximity. But by some miracle you manage to keep your powers controlled and your veins unilluminated. You roll your eyes and give Logan a gentle shove, returning to the dishes. 

When the dishes are washed, put away, and your hands are dried you turn to one another. 

“Wanna get out of here?” Logan asks with a roguish smile. You tilt your head to the side, raising your eyebrow in questioning but return the smile nonetheless. 

“And where exactly would we go?”

Logan shrugs his shoulders, walking toward the garage, “wherever we wanna go, sweetheart.”

You roll your eyes at the nickname, ignoring the butterflies it gives you. “And how are we going to get there? ‘Cause I’m not letting you steal Scott’s motorcycle again. We don’t need him to be more upset.” You cross your arms over your chest.

Logan smiles and gives you a nod, “Wasn’t plannin’ on it, we’re taking a car.” You return the smile and start walking towards the garage, Logan following after a few seconds.

When you reach the garage Logan wastes no time in picking the large truck. You shake your head and chuckle at his stereotypical choice, but you join him anyway in the passenger seat. Once your seatbelt is on he pulls out of the garage, heading down the gravel paved road of the institute. 

Hours later the two of you return in the afternoon. You and Logan are laughing as you enter through the garage door into the main hall, you’re leaning against his side as you laugh, almost using him to steady you. But Logan doesn’t seem to mind as he all but leans on you in return. 

Your laughter calms down and the two of you stand there for a moment, simply enjoying the lingering euphoria and close proximity. But upon looking at a clock you realize you have to part. You let out a soft sigh and step away from Logan, immediately missing the steady warmth of his body. 

“I’ve gotta go, I wish we could talk for longer but, I have school lessons to plan and then lab work with Jean. But I’ll see you tomorrow,” you say with a smile. Logan nods and gives you a smile in return.

“Guess I can’t always have you all to myself,” he jokes, making you blush a bit, “but yeah, see you tomorrow.” You give a small laugh at the joke, gently punching Logan’s shoulder. You have an intense urge to kiss him, but you quell it by biting your lip and walking away to your room with a little wave. 

One out of his line of sight you let out a small breath. You regain your composure and continue to your room to write your lesson plans for the next day.

Credit to strangergraphics for the banners!

[lightcreators]

@asrielbelacquaaaa continue from here

Asriel leaned back in his chair, his piercing blue eyes narrowing with a glint of mischief as he considered Sherlock’s words. He tapped his fingers against the armrest, the rhythm sharp and deliberate, a subtle indication of the thoughts swirling in his mind. ❝Boredom, you say?❞ he replied, ❝A most insidious foe, isn’t it? I’ve always found it best conquered not merely by exploring the unknown but by bending it to my will.❞ He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, his gaze fixed on Sherlock with a mixture of curiosity and challenge. After a moment, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

❝Because, really, what’s the point of venturing into uncharted territory if you don’t leave your mark on it? The unknown has a peculiar way of trying to tame those who seek it.❞ He leaned forward slightly, his expression sharpening. ❝The real question is,❞ he continued, his tone dropping into something almost conspiratorial, ❝do you explore to understand it... or to dominate it?❞ Asriel let the question hang in the air, his mind already flitting to memories of his own encounters with the unknown—moments of victory, moments of peril. He couldn’t help but wonder if Sherlock’s pursuit of the unknown was as clinical as it appeared or if, like himself, there was a spark of something darker driving the detective forward.

Boredom.  He  was  an  man  fighting  endlessly  with  the  sensation  of  the  feeling,  was  searching  to  keep  away  of  the  annoying  impression  to  remain  without  be  able  to  do  an  single  move.  Without  murders,  without  affairs  hanging  around,  there  was  an  complete  absence  of  intellectual  challenge,  in  which  in  some  manner,  he  appreciated  deeply  all  the  attention  James  Moriarty focused  that  dependant  need  to  having  something  to  think  about  ---  Though,  their  game  of  mouse  and  cat  wasn't  always  tangible  timeline  wise,  not  every  time  the  Lord  of  Crime  would  claim  dreadful  events  he  generated  by  his  own  hand.  John  was  the  first  to  complain  inside  these  calm  moments,  in  which  he  explored  unknown  countries  in  middle  of  their  little  apartment,  welcomed  by  experiences  once  he  opened  the  door.  Concerns  of  Miss  Hudson  were  always  appreciated,  understanding  the  reason  hidden  an  worry,  and  yet,  wanted  to  be  reassuring  concerning  the  temporary  mess  presented  in  the  room.  Interest  given  by  John's  patients  were  limited  ---  his  poor  friend  would  feeling  suddenly  demotivated,  how,  in  an  fragment  of  seconds,  established  conclusions  he  created  during  long-term  moments  of  thinking  would  be  related  and  expanded  in  one  moment,  giving  him  another  way  to  do  his  own  job  …  It  has  been  concluded  it  was  better  his  lips  remaining  sealed  on  the  matter.  Did  he  could  considering  his  own  brother  as  an  enough  pleasant  distraction  when  he  was  leaving  the  government alone,  removed  of  remembrance  his  brother  always  managed  to  find  couple of details  he  overlooked  ?

❝  I  search  the  absence  of  this  feeling,  an  long-term  work,  constantly  on  my  heels,  constantly  chasing  me  like  a  shadow  to  limit  the  sensation  of  this  feeling  as  much  as  possible.  What  complexity  in  the  face  of  the  gloom  of  this  world,  which  my  gaze  clearly  perceives,  but  whose  honest  evocation  of  my  opinions  makes  me  perceive  as  harsh.  Doctor  Waston  frequently  reproaches  me  for  it,  the  harshness  of  my  honest  vision  is  capable  of  hurting  others,  despite  a  sincere  desire  to  simply  evoke  a  fact.  ❞  He  confessed  as  calmy  as  possible,  as  he  wouldn't  offend  him,  at  least.  Well,  he  had  Liam  too,  but  it  was  circumstances  who  making  them  met  once  in  a  while,  in  which  every  moment  was  enjoyed.  Excitation,  excitation  !  ❝  An  foe  in  which  no  bullet  can  put  a  end.  ❞  He  commented  with  playfulness.  Approach  of  his  perspective  was  something  who  captived  his  immediate  interest.  Giving  his  mark  in  middle  of  the  unknown  ?  Wasn't  he  creating  another  meaning  of  the  unknown  by  himself,  wasn't  himself  one  incarnation  of  the  word  for  the  rest  of  people  around  him  ?  ❝  Unknown  can  be  created  too,  by  experienced  it,  and  controlled  every  corner  of  it.  ❞  It  was  expressed  calmy,  as  it  was  an  debate  he  would  be  inclined  to  have  at  the  second.  Tame  the  unknown  ?  Venturing  uncharted  territory  ?  Boredom  came  when  these  things  were  already  made,  since  he  couldn't  know  something,  and  would  refuse  to  bend  towards  the  feeling.  The  society  was  evolving,  and  as  an  gear  of  the  world,  his  knowledge  will  expand  likewise.  Followed  assumption  generated  an  uncontrollable  laugh.  ❝  Mr.Belacqua,  we  can  all  becoming  at  some  point  in  middle  of  our  existence,  simple  pawn  of  the  unknown.  Controlling  entire  unknown  domain  would  mean  control  the  world,  and  as  much  I  don't  have  such  ambition  on  my  end,  an  Lord  of  Crime  prove  himself  wishing  of  such  thing.  Understanding  something  that  hadn't  been  understood  right  away  is  an  proof  an  mental  weakness.  Knoweldge  own  an  specific  power  that  could  be  used  if  circusmtances  needed,  and  each  added  information  are  bullets  that  can  be  used  anytime,  but  remain  nonetheless  an  simple  distraction.  The  world  look  terribly  gray  to  my  gaze,  the  shadows  are  only  one  facet  of  the  light  that  I  explore  just  as  much,  constantly  searching  for  an  interest.  What  is  the  point  of  dominating,  what  is  the  point  of  understanding  without  associated  meaning  ?  ❞

[grief-worn]

@neverhangd sent: “So…let me get this straight. Ye’ve got a magical doohickey in yer possession of foreign origin and unknown purpose, and it just so happens t’be keeping the tentacles at bay…and ye still plan t’hand it o’er when we get t’the fucking Gate? Does that apply even if the wriggler’s still present for ye?” She isn’t judgmental of the religious aspects of the cleric’s plans—that’d make her one hell of a hypocrite, her own sordid past considered—family’s family, whether that family’s a torture cult or a band of thieves—but the lack of self-preservation continues to astonish her. Especially seeing as Shadowheart’s yet to present such an astonishing lack of care for the self, both in battle and in camp.

The plan was intended to be simple. Horrendously dangerous and almost certainly liable to result in her own death, but simple.

Steal Retrieve the prism, keep it safe and out of unsafe hands, and deliver it personally to the control of her sacred enclave. This changed the moment she discovered its true capabilities. The moment she learned it was all that stood between them and their agonizing mutation. Not just a permanent end, but a resurrection into something monstrous and unfathomable. A mindflayer.

She still intends to carry out her mission in its entirety. Failure is not an option she is willing to consider, but she's not immune to doubt. To the grim reality of what obedience means for both her and her fellow companions. To choose between thoroughbred faith, and the atrocious violation of body and mind to live onward as illithid, well, such a decision is beyond what she's prepared to handle.

Still, if there's anything Shadowheart can rely on, it's faking it. And she will fake it until she makes it, or, until it breaks her.

"There is no outcome that ends in me forfeiting my duties. I will deliver the artifact, with or without help, and will face whatever consequences as they come." It's nearly imperceptible, almost invisible, but her voice wavers. She is scared. "… if you intend to stop me, I won't show mercy. Anyone who stands against me will be brought to their knees, through force, if necessary." A well-placed, violent threat might add a bit of credence, and she was eager to prove herself worthy of the responsibility placed upon her shoulders. Not that she needed to prove anything to anyone, of course.

The group treks onward, carving a route through a mountainous forest. Sun speckled polka dots filter through the canopy, still hours away from dusk. The day had been long, and it only promised more to come. Their journey's been anything but peaceful, and more than anything, Shadowheart just wanted to go home.

"We're a long way from the Gate, though. Might want to conserve your strength and focus on the more pressing matters at hand. There's a decent chance we won't even make it that far, especially with you jabbering my ear off." A rather abrupt plea to end the conversation. Shadowheart isn't chatty even in her sunniest of dispositions, and much less so when she feels cornered and probed.

"... and what of your fate? I can only imagine you'll find the nearest leaking tap and drown your gullet in pints of ale." Or rum. Or mead. Or whatever it is that seafarers seek to fill their barrels. That's what Anne is, no? Either a caster of nets, or an explorer of tides, or a castaway sailor seeking glory. Her story is sealed away, hidden behind chapters unopened, perhaps permanently. Shadowheart has pieced together a small bit of Anne's heritage, based on the odd off-hand comment or educated observation of the redhead's wardrobe. She smelled of the sea, as well. Whiffs of salt breezed water and a sun-kissed complexion. All the trademarks of a seasoned mariner.

Baldur's Gate is a port teeming with much of the same breed, and the Sharran would recognize their stench a mile away.

[seleniangnosis]

What is your hidden talent 🪞

A hidden talent could be anything, from the most obvious ones such as singing to the more abstract or less usual ones such as maybe, being a witch, being good at giving advice or overcoming personal challenges.

* having a hidden talent does not have to be related to your life purpose. You can benefit from it just by pursuing it as a hobby or sharing it with friends/ a community.

Pile 1

Hello pile one ☁️🪞

If you picked this one, you might secretly be highly imaginative and artistic people, and in addition , visionary people. This talent can manifest not only in arts, but psychology, social issues, writing, content creation or spiritual activities. You are able to see what others don't, to tap into the unknown and mix everything together without rushing, so the best result is created. You get the best of both worlds.

This talent is still hidden because you weren't taught how to develop it, or it's something you dream about, but lack the knowledge or mentality of bringing it out into the light. It's possible that you were dreaming about this when you were a child, but adults later on told you such an intrest is childish and you are a hopeless dreamer.

If you decide to bring this out, it can help you in becoming more confident into your abilities and enjoy the satisfaction of pursuing the interests you love and bring you joy and happiness. You can do so by becoming more invested into your own pursuits, rather than feeling defeated by other's opinions. You might be a sensitive person ( artists tend to be so) , therefore the words of those around you might have hurt you and gave you a sense of shame.

* it's possible for some of you to be highly intuitive people who have a talent for channeling, intuitive/ tarot readings, but this talent needs to be refined.

*you might have cancer or pisces placements ( especially moon ) or neptune in a water sign

Pile 2

Hello pile two ☁️🪞

If you picked the second image then your talent is a more personal one, and it resides in your ability to face hardships, difficult situations by making a call to your inner power and stabilise yourself in times of need. You're highly capable of handling problems and difficulties, but your talent stays hidden because you don't have enough trust that you can face anything, without loosing "you mind " and give into a state of despair.

This talent can prove to be extremely helpful I teaching you how to take control of your actions, instead of being a victim of your life circumstances. You might be a bit of a passive person when faced with stressful or difficult situations, incapable of seeing their inner "resources " which will help them in facing anything life throws at them.

In order to connect with this side of you, you need to give op this passive attitude, because it's keeping you away from enjoying your life, and being confident. This is mostly in your head, you with your own thoughts limit yourself, put a blindfold on , and then wander in the dark, unable to see that you're perfectly capable of succeeding.

Pile 3

Hello pile three ☁️🪞

If you picked the last picture, this is your reading. (you might have been drawn by pile two, check it if you feel called to) Your hidden talent is seeing and sensing deception, overcoming said deception, or overcoming negative / obsessive thinking patterns. Unlike pile 2, you have the devil card instead of the tower combined with lots of eights , so I see your troubles and obstacles coming more from the inside rather than outside. You might often find yourself in a battle with your own mind and instincts, where the negative side seems to win. This " talent " remains hidden because you let yourself be put down by your own struggles, possibly waiting for a perfect time to deal with this attitude.

This can manifest in different ways for those of you who picked this pile, because I'm getting slightly different interpretations upon looking at the cards. Some of you are always waiting to feel "ready " to end this phase but the moment never comes, while others might have had a lot of responsibilities and hardships forced upon them, so the strength in one's own ability to cope with negative situations have been highly diminished. So, by overcoming this stagnation, you can learn how to move on, free yourself, and recognise when negative thoughts or people are trying to get you back into that dark place. You can start cultivating this by giving yourself small tasks to accomplish, where you put an emphasis on how and trough which ways you can make something better, but without thinking like you are doomed or that nothing works. The change has to start with you.

[quirksphere]

How to Choose the Perfect Electric Massage Chair at the Right Price

Investing in an electric massage chair can significantly enhance your well-being by providing convenient, at-home relaxation and therapeutic benefits. However, with a wide range of options available, selecting the perfect chair that aligns with your needs and budget can be challenging. This guide will help you navigate the essential factors to consider, ensuring you find the ideal electric massage chair at the right price.

Understanding Electric Massage Chairs

What is an Electric Massage Chair?

An electric massage chair is a specialized piece of furniture designed to mimic the techniques of professional massage therapists. Equipped with motors and gears, these chairs offer various massage styles, including shiatsu, kneading, rolling, and tapping, targeting different muscle groups to alleviate tension and promote relaxation.

Benefits of Owning an Electric Massage Chair

Owning an electric massage chair offers numerous advantages:

Convenience: Enjoy massages at any time without scheduling appointments.

Cost-Effective: Over time, it reduces the need for frequent visits to massage therapists, saving money.

Health Benefits: Regular use can improve blood circulation, reduce muscle tension, and alleviate stress.

Customization: Many chairs offer adjustable settings to tailor massages to your specific preferences.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Massage Chair

Massage Techniques and Functions

Different chairs offer various massage techniques. Common functions include:

Shiatsu: Deep tissue massage targeting pressure points.

Kneading: Circular motions to relieve muscle tension.

Rolling: Up and down movements along the spine to stretch muscles.

Tapping: Rhythmic tapping to stimulate blood flow.

Consider which techniques align with your needs. For instance, if you suffer from lower back pain, a chair with a robust kneading function may be beneficial.

Build Quality and Material

The chair's construction affects both durability and comfort. Look for high-quality materials like genuine or high-grade synthetic leather, sturdy frames, and reliable motors. A well-built chair may have a higher initial cost but offers better longevity and performance.

Size and Space Requirements

Measure the space where you plan to place the chair. Ensure it fits comfortably without obstructing movement. Some chairs require additional space when reclined, so account for that in your measurements.

User-Friendly Features

Modern massage chairs come with various features:

Remote Controls: For easy operation.

Pre-Set Programs: Offering different massage routines.

Customization Options: Adjustable intensity, speed, and targeted areas.

These features enhance usability and allow for a personalized massage experience.

Pricing: Finding the Right Balance

Budget Options

Budget-friendly chairs range from $500 to $1,000. They offer basic massage functions and are suitable for occasional use. While they may lack advanced features, they provide essential massage benefits.

Mid-Range Models

Priced between $1,000 and $3,000, mid-range chairs offer a balance between cost and functionality. They often include multiple massage techniques, adjustable settings, and better build quality.

High-End Luxury Chairs

High-end models, costing $3,000 and above, come with advanced features like 3D or 4D massage capabilities, body scanning technology, heat therapy, and premium materials. These chairs provide a comprehensive massage experience and are built for long-term use.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

When evaluating electric massage chair prices, consider additional expenses:

Maintenance: Regular upkeep to ensure optimal performance.

Warranties: Extended warranties may add to the cost but offer peace of mind.

Delivery Fees: Some retailers charge for shipping and setup.

Factor these into your budget to avoid unexpected expenses.

Where to Shop for the Best Deals

Online Retailers vs. Physical Stores

Both options have pros and cons:

Online Retailers: Often offer a wider selection and competitive prices. However, you can't test the chair before purchasing.

Physical Stores: Allow you to try the chair and assess comfort and functionality. Prices may be higher, but you gain firsthand experience.

Consider your priorities and choose accordingly.

Seasonal Discounts and Promotions

Keep an eye out for sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or end-of-year clearances. Retailers often offer significant discounts during these periods, allowing you to purchase a higher-end model at a reduced price.

Secondhand and Refurbished Chairs

Purchasing a used or refurbished chair can be cost-effective. Ensure the chair is in good condition and comes with a warranty. Buying from reputable sellers or manufacturers' outlets can mitigate risks associated with secondhand purchases.

Final Tips for Choosing the Perfect Chair

Test Before Buying: If possible, try the chair to assess comfort and functionality.

Read Reviews: Customer feedback provides insights into performance and durability.

Consult Experts: Seek advice from professionals or knowledgeable sales representatives to make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Selecting the perfect electric massage chair involves balancing your needs, preferences, and budget. By understanding the available features, assessing build quality, and considering pricing options, you can find a chair that offers both comfort and value. Remember to factor in additional costs and take advantage of promotions to secure the best deal.

FAQs

What’s the lifespan of an electric massage chair?

With proper maintenance, a high-quality electric massage chair can last between 10 to 15 years.

How much should I expect to spend on a good-quality massage chair?

A reliable massage chair typically costs between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on features and build quality.

[juealhossain]

Why RankNinja Tool is the Top SEO Choice for Small Business

RankNinja Tool Is The Easy SEO Solution for Any Website to Rank Higher on Google, Attract More Visitors, and Grow Your Business Quickly and Affordably

Ranking a website on Google can be tricky. Many people try hard but fail because they don't know what Google wants. This is where RankNinja helps. It makes ranking websites simple and easy. Even beginners can use it to improve their website rankings.

This guide explains RankNinja, how it works, and why it's a powerful tool. We'll also explore ways to use RankNinja to grow your business online.

What is RankNinja?

RankNinja is a tool that helps websites rank higher on search engines like Google. It uses advanced technology to unlock secret ranking methods. These methods are based on Google’s algorithm, which decides how websites are ranked.

Many SEO tools are difficult to use and require expensive monthly payments. RankNinja is different. This one is affordable, user-friendly, and works in just a few steps.

[[Get instant Access]]

What Makes RankNinja Unique?

Understanding Google’s Complexity

Google is the most popular search engine, handling over 8.5 billion searches daily. To determine which websites rank for specific keywords, Google’s algorithm evaluates factors like:

Page speed

Mobile-friendliness

Content quality

Backlinks

Understanding and optimizing these factors can be overwhelming for most website owners. RankNinja simplifies this process by analyzing your website and pinpointing areas for improvement. It reveals hidden ranking points that even many advanced tools miss.

A Tool for All Skill Levels

One of the standout features of RankNinja is its ease of use. Unlike traditional SEO platforms, which require a steep learning curve, RankNinja is designed with simplicity in mind. You don’t need to:

Learn technical jargon

Understand coding

Hire an expert

Instead, RankNinja offers a straightforward, beginner-friendly interface that guides you through every step.

Save Time and Money

Traditional SEO often involves hiring professionals or paying for expensive tools. For example:

SEO consultants charge $100–$300 per hour.

Platforms like Ahrefs and SEMrush cost $99–$399 per month.

RankNinja eliminates these costs. It’s a one-time investment that provides lifetime access, making it a cost-effective solution for small businesses, freelancers, and individuals.

Compatibility Across Devices

RankNinja works seamlessly on any operating system, including:

Windows

MacOS

Linux

Chromebooks

No installation is required. Log in through your browser, and you're ready to optimize your site.

Features of RankNinja

RankNinja is packed with features that set it apart from traditional SEO tools. Below are some of its most notable capabilities:

1. Uncover Hidden Google API Factors

Google’s ranking algorithm is like a secret recipe with thousands of ingredients. RankNinja taps into 14,000 API factors to analyze how Google evaluates your site. This includes:

Content relevance: How well your content matches user intent.

Technical health: Issues like broken links, slow pages, or missing metadata.

Backlink quality: Analyzing the trustworthiness of sites linking to you.

RankNinja helps you align with Google’s expectations by identifying and fixing these factors.

2. Simplify SEO for Beginners

For newcomers, SEO can feel like navigating a maze. RankNinja simplifies the process by breaking tasks into small, actionable steps. For example:

If your website has slow pages, it provides specific tips to optimize speed.

If you need backlinks, it shows opportunities to build them.

This feature is perfect for those with limited time or experience.

3. Local SEO Optimization

If you run a local business, appearing in searches like "plumber near me" or "best coffee shop in [city]" is critical. RankNinja specializes in local SEO by optimizing your:

Google My Business listing

NAP details (Name, Address, Phone)

Local keyword targeting

This makes it easier for customers in your area to find you.

4. Competitor Analysis

Understanding what your competitors are doing right is crucial. RankNinja allows you to analyze competing websites, uncover their strategies, and adapt your own. For instance:

Learn which keywords your competitors rank for.

Identify backlinks they have that you’re missing.

Compare their content structure with yours.

This data gives you a clear advantage in your niche.

5. Real-Time Updates

Google’s algorithm changes frequently. RankNinja stays updated to ensure you’re always aligned with the latest requirements. This prevents your rankings from dropping after algorithm updates.

How RankNinja Helped a Small Business

Imagine Sarah, who owns a small bakery. She struggled to attract new customers through her website. After using RankNinja, she discovered that:

Her site wasn’t mobile-friendly.

Her loading speed was too slow.

She wasn’t using local keywords like “best bakery in [city].”

By fixing these issues, Sarah’s website climbed to the top of local search results. Within three months, her online orders doubled.

Benefits of Using RankNinja

Save Hours of Manual Work

SEO often involves manual tasks like auditing your site, researching keywords, and analyzing competitors. RankNinja automates much of this work, saving you hours each week.

Achieve Faster Results

While SEO is a long-term strategy, RankNinja helps you identify and implement quick wins. For example:

Fixing broken links improves user experience immediately.

Optimizing meta tags boosts click-through rates.

Adding alt text to images enhances accessibility and ranking.

These changes can yield noticeable results within weeks.

Build Trust with Your Audience

Websites on Google’s first page are trusted more. RankNinja helps you appear in these top spots, increasing credibility and brand recognition.

How RankNinja Works

Step 1: Login and Start Scanning

Using RankNinja begins with a simple login process. Once you’re in, you enter your website’s URL. The tool immediately starts scanning your site, identifying areas that need improvement.

The scan covers multiple categories, such as:

Technical SEO

Page load speed

Mobile compatibility

Broken links or 404 errors

Content Quality

Relevance of keywords

Duplicate content

Missing meta descriptions

Backlink Profile

Quantity and quality of inbound links

Spammy or harmful backlinks

This comprehensive analysis gives you a clear view of your website’s strengths and weaknesses.

Step 2: Analyze the Results

Once the scan is complete, RankNinja provides an easy-to-read report. This report includes:

Scorecard Overview

Your site’s overall health score (e.g., 70/100).

A breakdown of issues categorized as critical, moderate, or low priority.

Recommendations for Improvement

Each issue is paired with actionable advice.

For example, if your website is slow, RankNinja might suggest compressing images or using a faster hosting service.

Competitor Comparisons

See how your website stacks up against competitors in your niche.

Identify gaps in your strategy and areas where you excel.

Step 3: Take Action with Step-by-Step Guidance

RankNinja doesn’t just tell you what’s wrong—it shows you how to fix it. For every issue, the tool offers:

Clear Instructions

Example: “Your page load speed is 4.2 seconds. Reduce this to under 2 seconds by compressing images and enabling browser caching.”

Tool Recommendations

Suggests free or affordable tools to implement fixes. For instance:

Image Optimization: TinyPNG or ShortPixel

Site Speed: Google’s PageSpeed Insights

Task Prioritization

Focus on critical issues first. For example, fixing broken links and optimizing mobile performance will have the biggest immediate impact.

Step 4: Track Your Progress Over Time

RankNinja includes a tracking dashboard. Here, you can:

Monitor Rankings

View keyword positions over time.

Identify which strategies are working best.

See SEO Improvements

Compare your site health score before and after fixes.

Export Reports

Share progress with clients or team members using professional-grade reports.

Features of RankNinja in Depth

A. Keyword Optimization

RankNinja goes beyond basic keyword research. It identifies keywords based on:

Search Volume: How often people search for a term.

Competition Level: How hard it is to rank for that keyword.

Intent: Whether users are looking to buy, learn, or browse.

Example:

If you run an online pet store, RankNinja might suggest targeting “organic dog food near me” (low competition, high purchase intent) instead of just “dog food” (high competition, broad intent).

B. Backlink Insights

Backlinks are one of Google’s top-ranking factors. But not all backlinks are equal. RankNinja helps by:

Analyzing Your Existing Backlinks

Finds links from low-quality or spammy sites.

Suggests disavowing harmful links to protect your ranking.

Finding New Opportunities

Identifies websites in your niche likely to link back.

Example: If you’re a fitness blogger, RankNinja might recommend reaching out to health-related forums or blogs.

Competitor Backlink Analysis

Shows where your competitors are getting their links.

Helps you replicate their successful strategies.

C. Local SEO for Small Businesses

RankNinja’s local SEO tools are perfect for businesses targeting nearby customers. It assists with:

Google My Business (GMB) Optimization

Ensures your GMB listing is complete and accurate.

Suggests adding photos, responding to reviews, and including operating hours.

Local Keyword Integration

Identifies phrases like “plumber in Vancouver” or “best bakery near Toronto.”

NAP Consistency

Ensures your Name, Address, and Phone details match across your website and local directories.

D. Content Improvement Suggestions

Google loves fresh, high-quality content. RankNinja reviews your existing content for:

Keyword Density

Ensures keywords are used naturally without stuffing.

Readability

Suggests simplifying text for better user engagement.

Internal Linking

Recommends linking to other pages on your site to improve navigation and SEO.

E. Algorithm Update Alerts

Google frequently updates its algorithms, which can affect your rankings. RankNinja keeps you informed so you can adjust your strategy immediately.

Real Success Stories

Case Study 1: Blogger’s Traffic Boost

Name: Emily Niche: Travel Blog

Before RankNinja, Emily struggled to get 500 monthly visitors.

After RankNinja: Within six months, her blog got 10,000 monthly visitors.

How it helped:

Fixed broken links on her blog.

Targeted long-tail keywords like “budget travel tips for families.”

Built backlinks from travel forums.

Case Study 2: Local Business Dominates Search

Name: Dave’s Plumbing Location: Ottawa

Before RankNinja, Dave's business didn’t appear in local search results.

After RankNinja, Dave ranked #1 for "emergency plumber in Ottawa."

How it helped:

Optimized Google My Business profile.

Improved site speed and mobile usability.

Added location-based keywords.

Why RankNinja Stands Out in the SEO Market

Traditional SEO Challenges

SEO has long been viewed as an overwhelming and expensive endeavor. Many website owners face challenges such as:

High CostsSEO agencies charge anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per month. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush, while powerful, come with recurring fees starting at $99/month. For small businesses and freelancers, these costs are not sustainable.

Complexity of ToolsAdvanced SEO platforms often have interfaces designed for professionals. They require prior knowledge of terms like "canonical tags," “CTR," or “schema markup." This complexity alienates beginners.

Constant Algorithm UpdatesGoogle updates its algorithm several times a year. Staying ahead of these changes without expert guidance is tough for most website owners.

How RankNinja Solves These Problems

RankNinja bridges the gap between affordability, simplicity, and effectiveness. Let’s examine how:

1. One-Time Cost Advantage

Unlike other tools, RankNinja has no recurring fees. Pay once, and gain lifetime access. This makes it ideal for businesses with tight budgets.

2. User-Friendly Interface

RankNinja uses plain language and simple instructions. Even users with no SEO knowledge can navigate it easily. For instance:

Tasks like “Add a meta description” are explained with examples.

Visual dashboards make data interpretation straightforward.

3. Built for Beginners and Experts

Beginners appreciate the step-by-step guidance. Professionals value in-depth insights, especially competitor analysis and API-based data points.

SEO Strategies Enhanced by RankNinja

1. Long-Tail Keyword Targeting

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?Long-tail keywords are specific phrases with lower competition. For example, “best vegan recipes for kids” is easier to rank for than “vegan recipes.”

How RankNinja Helps:

It suggests long-tail keywords with high search potential but low competition.

Provides content ideas to target these keywords effectively.

2. Improving User Experience (UX)

Google prioritizes websites that offer a good user experience. RankNinja evaluates:

Page Speed: Recommends optimizing images and enabling browser caching.

Mobile Responsiveness: Identifies issues with navigation on smaller screens.

Content Structure: Ensures headings and paragraphs are easy to read.

3. Building High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks are like votes of confidence for your website. RankNinja helps you:

Discover websites in your niche that might link to your content.

Avoid spammy backlinks that harm rankings.

Use competitor insights to replicate their backlink strategy.

Example:

A photography blog can use RankNinja to find opportunities with forums, social media groups, or other photography-related sites.

4. On-Page Optimization

On-page SEO focuses on improving individual pages to rank better. RankNinja guides you through:

Adding Alt Text to ImagesAlt text helps search engines understand your images.

Improving Meta TagsSuggests compelling meta descriptions to increase clicks.

Optimizing Internal LinksLinks between your pages help Google crawl your site more efficiently.

Real-Life Applications of RankNinja

Bloggers: Reaching Wider Audiences

Bloggers often face low traffic despite consistent posting. RankNinja can help them:

Use trending long-tail keywords.

Optimize images and videos for faster loading.

Find guest-posting opportunities to gain backlinks.

E-Commerce Owners: Increasing Sales

Online stores rely heavily on search engine traffic. RankNinja supports e-commerce businesses by:

Helping them rank for product-related keywords like “affordable running shoes.”

Suggesting fixes for abandoned carts caused by slow-loading checkout pages.

Optimizing product descriptions for better search visibility.

Local Businesses: Attracting Nearby Customers

Local businesses need to rank high in location-specific searches. RankNinja achieves this by:

Optimizing Google My Business profiles.

Ensuring consistent business information across online directories.

Adding schema markup to improve local search results.

FAQs About SEO and RankNinja

Here are some common questions that website owners ask about SEO and RankNinja:

1. Is RankNinja Suitable for New Website Owners?

Yes. RankNinja is designed for both new and experienced users. Its step-by-step guidance allows beginners to follow without needing prior knowledge.

2. Can It Replace SEO Professionals?

RankNinja simplifies most tasks performed by professionals. It can be a cost-effective alternative for small—to medium-sized websites.

3. Does RankNinja Work for Non-English Websites?

Yes. The tool supports websites in various languages and adapts to different markets.

Action Plan for Getting Started

Step 1: Sign Up for RankNinja

Visit the official RankNinja website to create your account. Once purchased, you’ll gain instant access to the tool.

Step 2: Run Your First Website Audit

Enter your website URL and let RankNinja perform a full scan. Review the results to identify critical issues.

Step 3: Follow Recommendations

Fix the high-priority problems first, such as page speed or mobile optimization. Use RankNinja’s guides to implement changes.

Step 4: Monitor and Adjust

Track your progress weekly. Use the insights to improve your content, build backlinks, and refine your SEO strategy.

RankNinja delivers where it matters most—simplicity, affordability, and results. While it’s not a replacement for long-term strategic planning, it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to simplify their SEO efforts and achieve better rankings without breaking the bank.

If you want a tool that demystifies SEO and helps you stay ahead of the competition, RankNinja is a smart investment. Now, get started. 

[starseedfxofficial]

Introduction: The Force is Strong With This One Have you ever felt like your trades are destined for defeat, like an amateur Jedi swinging their lightsaber against a Sith Lord? Well, there’s a secret indicator in the galaxy of Forex that’ll help you tap into the real force of the market. We're talking about the Force Index, and today we’re going to apply it to everyone's favorite love-hate relationship: the US Dollar (USD) and Japanese Yen (JPY). In this comprehensive guide, I’ll not only share how to wield the Force Index but also dive deep into advanced tactics, so you can avoid the common pitfalls of the USD/JPY galaxy and discover some unexpected tricks hidden in plain sight. This isn’t your average analysis—it’s filled with unconventional approaches, a bit of humor, and insights to make your journey through the Forex universe profitable and (dare I say) fun. Force Index: The Jedi Tool for Trading the USD/JPY Before we leap into the advanced techniques, let’s understand what the Force Index really is. Imagine the Force Index as Yoda’s mind—capable of gauging the market’s strength based on momentum and volume. Essentially, the Force Index helps you figure out when there’s strong buying or selling activity in the USD/JPY market, which can be critical for making those tough trading decisions. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t march into a crowded cantina without knowing who’s a bounty hunter and who’s just ordering blue milk, right? The Force Index gives you that awareness in the USD/JPY market—it’s your compass for identifying potential shifts in market power. Hidden Secrets of the Force Index: Going Beyond the Basics - Read Between the Candles - The Force Index is particularly useful for assessing the strength behind price movements, but its true power lies in pairing it with Japanese candlesticks. A classic mistake is to focus only on whether the Force Index is positive or negative. But here’s a nugget of wisdom: watch how the Force Index behaves around Doji candles. A Doji with a declining Force Index might signal that a major reversal is just around the corner—just like that “plot twist” when you thought the hero was doomed but instead gets a lightsaber upgrade. - The Trend Sneak Peek—The Forgotten Strategy - Most traders stick to the old-school trendline strategy, but what if I told you the Force Index could actually predict trends before they form? When trading the USD/JPY, notice when the Force Index diverges from price action—if price is making new highs, but the Force Index isn’t following suit, it’s a classic sign that momentum is weakening, which often leads to a reversal. Kind of like that feeling when your friend says, “Trust me, I know a shortcut,” and you just know it's going to be a dead end. - Combining Force with PMI: The Double Impact - Want to make the Force Index even more powerful? Pair it with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for both the US and Japan. The PMI gives you a sneak peek into economic health—if the Japanese PMI drops unexpectedly while the US PMI is skyrocketing, and the Force Index confirms strong bullish activity, you’ve got a killer setup for going long on USD/JPY. It’s like combining a lightsaber and a blaster—why settle for just one when you can have both? How to Stay on the Winning Side: Tips & Tactics for USD/JPY - Ninja Moves for Stop-Loss Placement - Picture this: You’ve found an incredible entry point thanks to the Force Index, but your stop-loss is where every other trader’s is. You know what happens next—the market dips, nabs your stop, and rockets back up. It’s like playing hide-and-seek, and you're always the first one found. To outsmart the competition, set your stop-loss using a Force Index threshold. For instance, place stops just outside a critical Force Index divergence—this keeps you safer than the average trader who’s merely looking at price levels. - Expert Insights: From the Jedi Masters of Forex - According to Boris Schlossberg, a renowned Forex strategist, “The key to trading USD/JPY effectively lies in understanding the shifting power dynamics between US and Japanese monetary policies”. Now, if you combine that wisdom with the Force Index, you gain insight not just into the economic impact but into the intensity of market reactions. - Kathy Lien also points out that USD/JPY often responds to market sentiment shifts, particularly during major economic announcements. Use the Force Index to gauge how investors are truly feeling when those announcements drop—it’s like seeing beyond the Jedi mind tricks. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) - Ignoring the Power of Divergence - Divergence is an often-overlooked element of the Force Index. The classic mistake here is focusing purely on price. Let’s get real: trading without considering divergence is like baking without tasting the batter first—you’re missing key ingredients. If you notice that the USD/JPY is trending up but the Force Index is losing steam, take it as a serious warning. Divergence is your early bird alarm that something might be off. - Being Too Static With Entry Points - Here’s a little-known tactic: Instead of jumping in as soon as you see a Force Index spike, consider waiting for a second confirmation. This could be a retest of a recent high or a key resistance level. As Paul Tudor Jones once said, “Losers average losers”—it pays to be patient for the right confirmation when the Force Index is involved. Jumping in too quickly is like entering hyperspace without checking the coordinates—risky, and you may end up in a meteor field. The Unconventional Approach: Position Trading With the Force Index If you’re tired of scalping and looking for a more strategic, less stressful way to trade the USD/JPY, consider position trading using the Force Index. Unlike day traders who stress over every tick, position traders focus on broader movements—which makes the Force Index particularly useful for spotting momentum buildups. When the Force Index consistently aligns with macroeconomic data (such as a positive US GDP report and rising PMI), it’s time to consider holding a long-term position. Think of this as buying a bottle of wine you know will age well. Sure, it takes time, but the rewards are worth it. The Force Index helps confirm whether that trend is just getting started or if it’s about to fizzle out—giving you an edge over the competition that’s constantly jumping in and out. Avoiding the Dark Side: Risk Management Strategies Let’s get real: no one likes talking about risk management—it’s the vegetables on the plate of trading. But just as Yoda says, “Fear is the path to the dark side,” poor risk management is the path to an empty wallet. When using the Force Index, always set dynamic stop-losses that adjust based on volatility. During high-impact news, when the Force Index is spiking, consider widening your stop-loss to avoid getting taken out by market noise. Another trick is to scale in and out of positions. Instead of entering a full position all at once, enter part of it when the Force Index shows a clear signal, and add to it as the market moves in your favor. This way, you can capitalize on a strong trend without risking everything in one shot—after all, even a Jedi doesn’t swing their lightsaber without sizing up their opponent first. The Force is with You: Wrapping Up The Force Index isn’t just another indicator; it’s the secret sauce that can turn a good USD/JPY trade into a great one. From combining it with PMI for double-barrel accuracy to using divergence as your early warning system, there’s plenty of Jedi-level tactics to explore here. Remember, trading is a journey—sometimes you hit a bump, sometimes you find yourself in an epic trend that makes you feel invincible. Ready to take your Forex trading to the next level? Get exclusive access to economic indicators, smart trading tools, and join a community of elite traders at StarseedFX Community. Let’s keep the force with us—and may your pips be plentiful. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[creativesgenie]

“5” Woocommerce Extensions to Optimize Your Online Store!

Just like in our traditional commerce, we have trading, buying, and selling, today’s digital age brings E-commerce. It is the buying/trading/selling goods or services, and the transferring of funds or information over an electronic network. Several e-commerce websites help you optimize your online store, one of those being, WooCommerce. This blog contains all the relevant information regarding WooCommerce extensions. So, read until the end and make the perfect decision for your store.

What Is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is the most renowned e-commerce platform in the world. It’s free, unrestricted, and accessible. However, even though WooCommerce offers several features, you may find yourself looking for even more updates to improve your store.

WooCommerce has a Marketplace that offers a range of powerful WooCommerce plugins called WooCommerce extensions, that add effectiveness to e-commerce sites. 

Here’s a list of the 5 best WooCommerce extensions that can revolutionize your online store:

1. WooCommerce Shipping:

Making packages with accurate details and packing them at the post office can be a hassle for running businesses. Knowing this, WooCommerce Shipping enables you to print DHL labels and USPS straight from your dashboard to make packaging easier. This not only saves you time and effort but you even get access to discounted shipping rates, making it one of the most useful WooCommerce extensions. 

Shipping costs are a major reason why products get abandoned in the cart, however, with the occasional shipping discounts that Woocommerce shipping offers, your customers are more likely to buy from your online store.

Pricing:

This is one of the free WooCommerce Plugins and has no fees or hidden costs, you get to save on shipping costs.

2. WooPayments:

WooPayments is the only payment solution that fully fuses with the WooCommerce platform, allowing you to collect payments, handle disputes, and manage recurring revenues from one place. It’s capable of accepting all major credit and debit card payments, local payments, and digital wallets like Venmo and PayPal. It also supports “buy now, pay later” services like Klarna without any added monthly fees. Moreover, traders can schedule deposits into their accounts on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

It is available in 36 countries and accepts more than 135 currencies. Plus, if you sell in person as well, This extension will enable you to accept payments in person with a card reader or use “Tap to Pay” to process payments without added hardware. 

Pricing:

WooPayments is free, however, the trader will be responsible for standard transaction fees.

3. Google for WooCommerce:

All WooCommerce plugins help you improve your online store, this one lets you synchronize your products and services with Google Merchant Center. It is one of the best WooCommerce extensions helping businesses manage and boost their products on Google listings and ads. Plus, thanks to its cost-per-click pricing model you only have to pay when shoppers click on your ads.

It uses AI to optimize your campaigns and show them to visitors who are interested in your services. Moreover, the cost-per-click pricing means you only have to pay when shoppers click on your ads!

Pricing:

This WooCommerce Plugin is free, however, paid ads are an incredible option to increase awareness. 

4. WooCommerce Tax:

If you’re an online trader, you probably know how tricky it is to calculate sales taxes. With this in mind, WooCommerce Tax has created a solution that allows you to automatically calculate how much tax is to be collected for orders based on city, state, and country.

However, you will have to connect your WooCommerce store with your WordPress account.

Pricing:

This free WooCommerce Plugin supports several locations including Canada, the USA, Australia, and more.

5. Tiktok for WooCommerce:

With the rising popularity of social media app, Tiktok, it is only a wise strategy to fetch customers from there. This extension helps you create engaging ads, target an ideal audience, and measure results easily. It connects your store with the app’s TikTok Shop enabling you to sell through the platform directly and create product awareness.

Pricing:

The extension is free but paid ads on TikTok cost extra.

All these WooCommerce extensions are effective in helping you manage your online store, but managing them, alongside your business can be hectic for a few. So, to focus more on growing your business, you can rely on a trusted marketing agency, like Creative’s Genie’s digital solutions to synchronize the best WooCommerce extensions to optimize and enhance your online store. Visit our website and contact us now so our experts can enhance your e-commerce store professionally and effortlessly.