#how do people watch good shows that are still running?!?

[kj-crayons]

1. The Prologue from Into the Woods

2. Was Gilmore Girls, anymore I don’t watch very much TV

3. Writing more than reading anymore. I used to be a huge reader but I just don’t have as much time for it as I would like

4. A cool summer breeze at midnight when the air is the best it’s been all day but still warm and in the 80’s

5. Noise canceling headphones + punk rock music + going for a walk

6. Eucalyptus and citrus scents. Cinnamon/ fally scents are kinda triggering, but anything that smells like spring is lovely

7. Honestly, myself. I feel like me when I am alone, or when I’m in control of my situation

8. Old, fuzzy fabric car interior chairs

9. I unfortunately don’t remember much of my childhood, but probably when I finally figured out how to ride a bike

10. Silly Christmas pictures with my baby brother

11. Weighted blanket

12. Weight, warmth, and music

13. Shower

14. Running tech on a new theater show

15. Toast with butter and cinnamon sugar

16. I haven’t decided what it is yet, but whatever my next cosplay will be

17. Time and attention and care. People who notice when I’m anxious or who will sit and talk to me after a long day. Being reminded to take care of my chronic conditions is rather ignore, being held and kept warm by another person

18. I imagine my 30’s. Financial independence from my parents, choose where I live and work and who I’m around, hopefully have a steady enough job. Freedom from the things that stop me from being me now

19. Haven’t ever received a love letter, and what I’ve written has been mostly sappy poetry 🫢

20. When I was 4 or 5 and my dad woke me and my brother up to see a Super Blood Moon at like 1am. It was so incredible to see how big and red the moon was, and it’s really stuck with me and influenced my love of fiction, my writing, and my creativity

21. Tea

22. “ Songs for Those Days ™️ (Alt/ Indie playlist) “

23. I’ve gotten flowers from friends, for plays and musicals, and for when I graduated

24. Best Friend is a kind of silly concept, but if there’s one thing I took from my ex it’s that anyone who deserves it or who loves me (platonically or otherwise) can be my best friend.

25. My soul is probably a dark turquoise. I do a lot of witchy shit and aura reading but reading my own is harder

26. Somewhere queer friendly, with good health care, and a north facing front door. Otherwise, I’m not picky

27. It’s hard to get motivated to but I love gardening. It’s actually one of my goals for new years to make a windowsill herb garden

28. I’m proud of making a life where I get and deserve to be happy and loved

29. I think I’m kind in the New Yorker sense. I don’t show it with words a lot, and have been told I come off as kind of intimidating but I’d give you my kidney if you needed it

30. Hobbies include Dnd, cosplay, descending into the void, cooking, and generally anything that helps me feel either a little bit lighter, a little bit happier, or a little less alone

✨soft asks✨

What song makes you feel better?

What is your go to comfort show?

Reading or writing? Why?

Whats your favorite feeling?

How do you like to take care of yourself?

What’s your favorite candle scent?

Who do you feel most like yourself around?

Whats a fabric/texture that’s nostalgic for you?

Best childhood moment?

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or just felt really good afterwards)

Do you have a comfort item? Tell us about it!

What calms you down?

Bath or shower to relax?

Whats something upcoming that you’re excited for?

Comfort food?

What’s something you want to create soon?

How do you feel best loved?

What age in life do you think you’ll feel most yourself at?

Have you ever written or received a love letter?

Tell us about a memory you hold close to your heart.

Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?

Name of your favorite playlist?

Have you ever received flowers?

Who is your bestfriend?

If your soul was a color, what would it be?

If you could live anywhere with anyone you want, where would it be and who would you bring?

Do you like to garden? Have you ever grown something?

What are you proudest of?

Are you a kind person?

What do your hobbies look like?

[lavenders388]

HII!!

could we please get some kang dae ho x reader??

something where he’s a bit of his usual himbo self and the reader is maybe a bit airheaded— something about two people being in love with one another while the world around them is burning is amazing.

~Flowers in December~

<3 Kang Dae Ho x Reader

requested 💌

authors note: i am amazed by the amount of requests and also so flattered!! I am so happy to get back into writing not only for myself but to be able to make other people happy to see their ideas come to life!! i apologize if this has some flaws i cant wait to get more practice in and promise the next will be better!! feedback is always appreciated! thank you all so much!!<3 -matcha

~~~~~~~~~~~⋆｡‧˚ʚ🍓ɞ˚‧｡⋆~~~~~~~~~~~

...

~takes place during the second night~

"we should all take turns keeping watch over the group" player 456 urged as the warning for lights out echoed throughout the room, the rest of the group silently agreeing- trusting the man who claimed to have been in one of the previous games, leaving as the sole survivor. you were, as were many others, reluctant to believe that he had done all of this before, but after his help in the first game and joining his team for the second, you grew to trust him; and the other members of your group. the man that had been assigned your partner for keeping watch was coincidentally a member you were drawn to specifically- at first because he was close to your age, his boyish face making you feel a little less scared and alone in the second game, and eventually you appreciated his outward personality and kindhearted confidence, a stark contrast to the situation you both were in. as you sat together, although trying to protect your group from whatever could happen in the dark room, you felt even safer. "how in the world did you pull that off?" you broke the silence with a whisper, referring to him playing gonggi in the previous game. "my hands were shaking so badly i could barely even hold my ddakji." he laughs, a bit louder than he should have given the people sleeping, but it made you smile. "i told you all i played with my sisters!" he chuckles. "you said you know how to do it yeah," you retorted, stifling a giggle at him being unaware of the compliment. "you didn't tell us you were amazing at it, that was a surprise." he turns away, embarrassed of how deeply your compliment made him grin and scared you'd see him blushing even in the dark. "thank you y/n." he says bashfully as he regains his composure. the silence returns; the reality of where you're both having this conversation threatening to creep back in. his gaze softens as he turns to you again, "you did really well with your ddakji you know, doing it the first try is really impressive, especially given the circumstances." you smile, a toothy grin as not only are you proud of yourself but you appreciate the compliment; especially from him. the kind, authentic way he states how good you did has you unable to find a response. "t-thank you" you say, blushing and still smiling. "it helped that nobody was there, i get nervous when people are watching me." his demeanor changes. he nervously runs his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry if i made you nervous, y/n" he says sincerely. your confusion shows on your face until you realize what he means. "oh no don't worry! i meant the crowd, like how everybody was cheering for the other teams! i didn't want them all to see if i messed up. you watching me helped actually. it made me less nervous." the silence returns; comfortingly. you've forgotten where you are, you've forgotten what would have happened if you'd messed up, all that's on your mind is the man sitting next to you. when you look back he's staring at you. smiling. "thank you for being on my team." you say to him as he turns away, trying to hide how long he was looking at you. you've never seen him speechless before. "if we work together nothing can stand in our way." he said to you just as he said to jung bae before the game. "i am truly honored you feel that way." you half-joke. "what are your plans for tomorrow?" you ask as if youre speaking to him in a normal situation. "oh wait im sorry!" you laugh. "well i bet they're the same as mine then!" you joke about your forgetfulness as well as making light of where you find yourself. like hes done for you, he also had forgotten the events of the day and what followed tomorrow. the two of you talking made him feel as though he was living a good, normal day. it was greatly appreciated by him, your bubbly nature being a moment of solace.

a/n if this is buns at all please lmk what i can do better!!! ⋆｡‧˚ʚ🍓ɞ˚‧｡⋆

[lesbozoid]

I shouldn’t get so worked up about this because it’s something that was written in 2003 but it’s been 21 years and people still praise it so. Elphaba’s ending in the musical is a disservice to her character.

Before I go on with this I have to say I obviously love musical!elphie with all my heart even in act 2 but I think the writing for her during the entirety of it was AWFUL and out of character and I need to sit down with Winnie holzman and Stephen Schwartz and ask them what was up wirh that.

Anyways, the big moment of the whole show is defying gravity. It is a big moment to watch. It is a big moment for the story. It is a big moment for Elphaba. Dg is the moment on the story where she decides that she has to give up her desire of being liked and accepted for the sake of doing the greater good. It is not an easy choice to make, but it’s one that she knows she’s gonna have to own and live by for the rest of her life.

And then comes Wonderful (which I love as a song btw), where Elphaba more or less goes “Geez, I guess fighting against fascism does get pretty tiring? Doesn’t it? I will give up on my fight and join the fascist wizard then! Because I want to be liked and accepted. It’s almost like I didn’t give all of that up for the sake of doing the right thing five years ago!” And only comes back to her senses once it gets personal to her again with Dr Dillamond.

Then, comes the second offender, which is arguably the least worse one but still one that bothers me anyways. The cornfield scene. Not the fighting with Glinda over fiyero, because as much as I hate it, it’s not the worst thing in the world, I guess. It’s the fact that she stands there and lets her new boytoy point a GUN at Glinda and does nothing??? I get they were fighting but that’s still her best friend??? WHY WOULD SHE JUST STAND THERE???

And the worst of all: the end. The fact that she dedicated YEARS to the cause and trying to seek justice for the Animals only to go “Gee whiz I guess I’ve done my time now! I guess now I should just surrender and run away with fiyero and have my happily ever after!” WHY. WOULD. SHE. EVER. DO. THAT.

The beginning of that scene being her begging Chistery to at least try to continue speaking is probably what makes it all worse to me like.. you can see how much she cares. You can see why she’s so dedicated to her cause. And then two minutes later suddenly she’s changed her mind and gives up? To run away with FIYERO?

And I find that argument that she only did that because she somehow knew Glinda would take over so stupid. Glinda hadn’t defeated the wizard yet. She only managed to after Elphaba’s “death” because she realized Elphaba was his daughter. There was no way for Elphaba to know what was actually going to happen once she was gone.

And those shippers will insist that’s a good ending and a happily ever after and that he gets her more than anyone else THE JOKES WRITE THEMSELVES

[sunflower1experiment]

Another mouthwashing analysis

I feel like people forget that Jimmy’s character is important because it forces us to see his crimes and while it is uncomfortable and feels unnecessary.

That is the whole point of the game, what he did was unnecessary and it proves how unreliable he is and how realistic the story is. We have people like him in real life that cause these types of problems, hurt others like he did to Anya and Curly because in his pov he views them as useless or someone to clean up his mess whether he indirectly or directly caused it.

What he did to Anya, he blamed Curly, he’s blaming Curly for his crime against her. When Anya can’t handle feeding Curly the pills, she gets nauseous and upset. And there is a symbolic point in two ways, Jimmy getting angry at her for not handling/cleaning up HIS INDIRECT MESS and the fact that he expects her to act normally after Sa’ing her. Because he doesn’t see the problem, only when she asks for help or gets worried about the baby causing him problems so he runs away from the baby and belittles/ antagonizes her as if that was her fault he crashed it.

Now here’s the symbolism, Anya and Curly symbolizing each other because they both had to fawn and or ended up with flight/freeze. Because of Jimmy, Curly is not perfect or a good person and what happened to him isn’t karma.

The only karma he gets is being forced to watch Jimmy cause all of this chaos and then watching Jimmy crawl back to him and practically cannibalize Curly just because Curly isn’t here to clean up his mess.

Anya is young, so is Daisuke, they were both failed we got that bit but we also forget the part that Curly sort of symbolizes what it would be like for Anya if she had the baby with her abuser still roaming around.

Which causes her to get more depressed, his whole plan was to literally kill her and then he lies saying Curly crashed but we all know thats not true which where the irony comes in and my personal theory. Anya and Swansea probably knew especially when Anya told Swansea, and Swansea told Anya his plan.

Anya basically is giving up meanwhile Swansea was too busy getting drunk to take action when it was needed.

Now we all know this dance and repeated it many times but as a fandom we have to understand that Jimmy shows the worst in everyone as Anya said “Our worst moments don’t make us monsters” Jimmy was in his worst moment and he was portraying everyone in their worst moments meanwhile he was the monster of it all.

And he tries to repeat this quote but Polle (aka Anya) stops him. Because if that were true why did he SA her? Why did he think that he had nothing to lose? Why did he ruin Anya and Curly’s potential relationship/friendship just for a power stroke?

Because he saw Anya as an object and sees Curly as an airhead “Good Captain” whom Jimmy knows well because he was able to analyze Curly’s psych evaluation meanwhile Curly was barely able to analyze Jimmy.

They were never friends, Jimmy took advantage of Curly’s kindness and deems him this airhead, heart on the sleeve Captain. But he forgets that being a Captain comes all the stress.

Which cracks me up when he gets angry at having to do four tasks. This should’ve told everyone how useless he is, he didn’t even do anything for the past 2 months and made sure to blank that out until Anya asked for help, they saw the mouthwash and he was expecting everything to be normal.

No Jimmy, Anya is human, Swansea is human and Daisuke is human. You ruined a future doctor’s life, took a father/husband from his family and ruined a young man’s life. Because you couldn’t take responsibility.

He doesn’t even take responsibility for practically making everyone out to be people that they’re not. As he said and I quote “Pain is what makes one know you’re living.”

……..Anyone who hates him, I do not blame you, folks who like him, I still don’t blame you or anyone.

As long as folks aren’t toxic and bashing others about it, I don’t care.

We just gotta understand that when it comes to each pilot’s perspective. Jimmy’s is super unreliable meanwhile Curly’s is somewhat but he also fails terribly at being Captain. He keeps trying to be friend and Captain at the same time which is impossible unless you know how to juggle the responsibility of one of the crewmates acting out to challenge your authority.

Which is what Jimmy did twice….

And let’s also not forget that he was super selfish the whole time and when it came to judgement day. Him putting Curly in the cryopod and taking the cowardly way out, still selfish and doesn’t make him a hero. Instead it sorta makes him worse, he has all the potential to change as it shows in Swansea’s speech but doesn’t. Because he believes everything he is doing, is right.

Thats all I just wanted to rant because I always think about how he says “I’ll take care of it” he says it to Curly and practically ruins everyone’s life then says it to Anya twice and them proceeds to abuse Curly.

Then when Anya gets the chance to have her own authority, it’s to end it all. Which sucks for her because that’s how depressed she was and how stressful it was and Jimmy once again tries to make it seem like she breaks down all the time. When for 2-4 months she’s been handling Curly’s pills.

Meanwhile he broke down at having to do 5 tasks….which is actually crazy. The tasks sorta represent the months, just saying. He never did a single thing for those past months besides correct folks and talk about how he’s Captain now.

Okay Jimmy, and you can’t even be Captain. Under qualified as a pilot and under qualified as a Captain.

[leucrotta]

A thing! Thanks for the tag!

(I sometimes miss when people tag me in things, but I do try to participate!)

Last song: Uhhhh right now I'm listening to podcasts, but I think I switched it over during the Placebo version of Running Up That Hill. Which, as the first version I ever heard, is the superior version, obviously.

Favorite color: That dark blue-violet shade that kind of hurts to look at.

Last book: Last one I finished was Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House. It was pretty good! (I still sold it, though.) After that I DNF'd The King in Yellow (ugh!!!) and now I'm halfway through The Deep by Nick Cutter. Enjoying it so far!

Last film: I... should not have done this on a Wednesday. But because I did, it was my latest Werewolf Watch movie, Beast: A Monster Among Men. It was terrible. Don't watch it.

Last show: A cult documentary, but I don't entirely recall what program it was.

Sweet/spicy/savory: Sweet and savory, please. Spicy is okay, too.

Relationship status: no thanks

Last thing I googled: "does ibuprofen reduce fever" because I had a fever, and couldn't think straight enough to remember lol

Current obsession: my own writing project, for better or worse. also learning to crochet (why is it so much harder than knitting)

tagging: I AM VERY BAD AT THIS PART. SORRY.

Ten People I’d Like to Get to Know Better

tagged by: @orphiclovers

last song: It’s all been Christmas retail crap or if you count the radio on the drive home playing Avril Lavigne

fav color: this pale seafoam green for things or white for clothes

last book: Eclipse by Wilder (poetry)

last movie: Deadpool & Wolverine

last show: N/A

sweet/spicy/savory: sweet and savory 

relationship status: 4 people proposed to me this year. 1 meant it fr 🥹 (engaged irl) otherwise I have a harem on AO3 going.

last thing i googled: how big is a wintermelon?

current obsession: cooking and Infinity Nikki

looking forward to: I’m planning a road trip with the girls later this week!!

Tagging: @auuwmk, @ssunfish, @ajhaijma, @stoneclaw, @quiteboared, @kiwiandmint, @dgeneralacc, @rex44201, @readingdreaming4951, @thottykunikida

[jellymochii]

My Ego's in this show

˙⋆✮ pairings: rockstar!huening kai x rockstar! gender neutral reader

˙⋆✮genre: angst, smut, a pinch of fluff

˙⋆✮cw: smut, swearing, switch!kai x brat tamer! reader, orgasm denial, use of s3x toys

˙⋆✮wc: 1.1k (drabble lol)

↪author's note: hiya! planning on doing something gxg next, but I just had to scribble down my thoughts at the request of some of my moots, lol. it's only my 2nd time writing smut, so any feedback and commentary is greatly appreciated! hope you enjoy!

**THIS IS PURELY A WORK OF FICTION AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED**

Forming a band with your boyfriend was the best decision of your life. Watching him go from creating music on an acoustic guitar in his basement as a teen to thriving as the lead guitarist of a popular rock band was thrilling to watch. You'd been through thick and thin with each other, and now your dream of sharing your music to the world with the love of your life was finally a reality.

There was, however, one slight problem that came with it.

Your boyfriend, Kai, was always the sweetest and bubbliest boy you'd ever met, always caring and attentive to everyone. Though recently, you feel that fame may have gotten to his head and faded the once kind personality he used to have.

It started small, with him occasionally becoming frustrated with tangled aux cords and stage lights–but the more well known your band became, the more Kai seemed to lash out at everyone. Now, it wasn’t just the crew or the equipment that faced his wrath—it was you. The sharp words that used to be reserved for sound checks now cut into your rehearsals, and the sparkle in his eyes seemed to have been replaced with a fire you didn't recognize. Has fame really inflated his ego?

Whatever it was, you were gonna do something about it.

________________

You had just finished a thrilling concert in Chicago, your adrenaline still running high from the cheers of the crowd as you tried to settle down with a cup of water. Kai on the other hand, had a little more trouble controlling his rush of adrenaline.

It was pretty normal for you both to get a quickie in at his backstage dressing room to relieve some of those endorphins in your system, to the point you'd even carry along some toys and your favorite pair of fluffy pink handcuffs with you from city to city. Normally they were meant for you to keep your hands in place as Kai bends you over on the dressing room vanity and pounds into you mercilessly. This time, however, you wanted to teach him a fucking lesson for disrespecting you.

You took small sips of water backstage while you plotted how to execute your revenge, when Kai arrived and grabbed your hand, ushering you into the hallway and leading you to the dressing room. You knew exactly what he was going to do, and you were more than ready.

After locking the door, he pressed you up against the wall and fiddled with the hems of your pants.

“Y/N…I need it, now. Be a good girl and let daddy use you for a little, ‘kay?” He growled into your ear, your panties exposed at this point as he tore off every layer you wore one by one.

And so, for the next few minutes, you let him get his glory moment–pounding into you at a brutal pace without warning, accompanied by his symphony of growls and grunts. You could feel his legs begin to shake–you knew he was close.

It's a good thing you'd secretly been building up some muscle recently, you now had the strength to swiftly push him off of you and shove him down into the chair, as you kicked your leg up to have your boot propped up onto his chest– keeping him in place.

“...The fuck are you doing Y/N?”

A smirk grew to your face as you looked down at your confused boyfriend.

“I think it's time you learn a fucking lesson about the way you've been acting.” You sneer.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He asks, arrogance and anger seething in his voice.

You pull out the pink pair of handcuffs from your duffle bag, earning an audible laugh from Kai.

“Tsk. You really think that's gonna have any effect on me, sweetheart?”

“I guess we'll find out, won't we baby?”

He sighed, almost begrudgingly. “Fine, I'll play your stupid little game. Besides, you're not gonna win anyway.”

________________

And thus, Kai's hands were cuffed behind the chair as a sweet mixture of sweat and tears rolled down his face after 10 long minutes of denying him his release.

“F-fuck babe please, I'll be good I promise, just please let me c-cum!” He cried out, writhing from even the slightest touch you gave.

“Hmm…I don't know sweetheart, you haven't exactly been the nicest to me recently–”

“Nononono P-PLEASE! I'll be the best boyfriend, I-I promise! I'll take you to your favorite sushi bar, get you a dri- hnnughhhh…fuck-k.” You interrupted his speech, causing him to squirm and seep further into disassociation.

Your lips wrapped around his now swollen tip as you bob your head, making sure your tongue feels up the taint of his cock—where he’s the most sensitive. You take his whole length in your mouth, feeling him at the back of your throat as a loud broken series of whimpers are heard from him.

His poor cock is now twitching from the pain of your denial as it leaks a thick, white precum. As much as you'd feel bad right now, he’s still gotta learn his lesson.

“So tell me Kai…do you think you deserve to cum?” You ask, your hands now pumping his length at an animalistically fast pace.

“YES-hnngh, I'll be the best, I promise!”

“...And are you my good boy, Kai?”

His head nods up and down as fast as possible. “YES I'M A GOOD anngh- I'm your good boy Y-Y/Nnie, I'll do any-fuck..anything! I swear!”

“Alright then…I'll let you cum’ but don't you dare disrespect me again, mmkay?” You tell him, now wrapping your lips around his tip as you suck the living soul out of him, assisted by your hands brutal pace at his base.

“Oh God oh my God…fuck~!” Kai cries out as you feel his cock begin to twitch.

His eyes are barely open as his lips are parted in absolute bliss as a long, drawn out whine of pleasure and relief washes over him as his cock shoots ropes and ropes of cum right into your mouth. Seeing your boyfriend so fucked out and pretty like that could almost make you cum as it is.

You reach for the tissues on the vanity, taking notice of the sweat beads running down his body as he comes down from his high. You place a gentle kiss on his temple as he crumples into you, handcuffs still attached.

“I'm…sorry babe. I'll start doing the best I can for you, I promise.” He utters, chest still rising and falling.

“Oh I know you will.” You say, dabbing the tissue across his face.

“Wait…what do you mean by that?” He asks, face growing with concern.

“I'm not done yet, silly.”

[lookatthoseuselessgays]

A semi coherent rant abt Gojo’s outfits

You know how adult gojo, doesn’t wear casual things much? Like he’s always wearing the button down and slacks or the uniform? The time we’ve seen him in casual wear was when he was training with Megumi in that one scene, he’s still wearing jeans tho

that’s it. Even when Yuuji was living in his basement, we never see him out of the uniform. I know that I might be pushing it but it really seems intentional, we see him in his uniform for damn near all of his screen time pre-ch. 221, and my question was, Why?

My first though maybe it’s just him being dramatic, until I watched HI where he’s dressed casual all the time, he didn’t care then, when his ego was just as inflated as it is now!

so then I thought, huh, maybe I need to touch grass, (I do) but I chose not to, then it hit me. What happened between the uncaring outfits he’d put together pre-KFC breakup and his constantly put together self post-KFC breakup. He became alone (I’m sorry Shoko, you are a godsend and deserve better than this useless homosexual) and the saying became “I am the strongest,” not “we are the strongest.”

He needed to distance himself from people to complete all of the missions, to put a physical reminder in place that he is the strongest and that “when you die, you’ll be alone” yes that was a reminder to Megumi, but he has probably told himself this same thing over and over to himself after Geto defected.

clothes are a symbol of power and have been for the good part of all human civilization, now is no different. The fact he wears his uniform all the time is kind-of like a dog wearing a collar with the name and number of its owner on it. It’s dehumanizing. When he’s in formal wear, he looks like he’s part of high society, because he is. He wants to look above people, so he doesn’t get attached like he did with Geto.

does he regret the time he spent with Geto? Hell no! Does he feel guilt about all the innocent lives taken by Geto? Yes. Does he still love Geto as much as he loved him pre-HI? Hell yes, he just misses Geto to now.

in HI Gojo wears casual things all the time, the trunks in Okinawa and the white tee and sweats he definitely stole from Geto.

His uniform also matches with Geto, the difference is, he matches it with someone he believes to be his equal, his “one and only.” No he didn’t choose to wear the uniform itself, but he did choose to make him and Geto match. The fact both of them wear the uniforms shows the are both on the higher up’s leashes, something that Geto breaks away from by wearing the garb he does after he defects, while Gojo stays firmly planted because of the scene where Geto tells him not to kill the star religious group, he stays like a loyal dog, as Geto told him to do. He becomes the dog sitting by the fence, his leash still there but not tied, unmoving because he was told to stay. He does not run, he does not fight, he follows all the higher up’s orders, except the one to kill Geto. What shows that is in his uniform as an adult, he keeps the jacket the same from his youth, the one acknowledgement of the fact his collar says Geto’s name, not the higher up’s.

another thing abt the fact he almost is never casual post kfc is that he only wears casual clothing in front of Megumi, who is essentially his child. Not even in front of Yuji when he had the boy living in his house. Probably a sign of some trust issues that he has, or the fact he feels he needs to be detached from people, because he’s the strongest.

thank you for coming to my rant, please add things or correct me if I got something wrong! I love over analyzing the costuming choices in things I like, so expect that with the flow of utterly useless homosexuals 🤗

[lilyrachelcassidy]

Obsessed

a/n: low key a little inspired by @etherealily cuz I simply love this star, lets just state the obvious.

Summary: Be careful. He is watching.

Warnings: oh yeah. This is super dark. Not to spoiler or anything but physical abuse, language, and psychological manipulation. Also not proof read.

(images not mine. credits to whoever owns them, love ya.)

“What did you want, Nate?”

He grunted, saying nothing. His gaze was fixed on the floor the whole time, minutes elapsing ploddingly, excruciatingly. He was leaning over your locker, the backpack tightly wrapped around his shoulder, but not for long — without a word of explanation, he started taking it off, unzipping it as though trying to create the ambience of mystique.

But that’s Nate Jacobs — taciturn, surly, and simply fucking creepy. Well, creepy because it was the middle of the night, you just finished your training, and yet how the heck did he know where to find you?

Well, again, that’s Nate Jacobs.

“This is for you,” said he while taking out a bouquet of flowers from the said backpack. He wasn’t smiling nor wasn’t he wincing while doing the gesture; he was entirely blank as though it feared him to evince an emotion. See? Creepy.

“What is that for?” you asked, unsurely taking the flowers into your hands which you now noted were a bunch a lilies. Your favourite flowers. What. The. Heck.

Had you ever talked to the boy before? Well, yes, but that’s only because of the mutual friends you both shared. And it wasn’t like a fully-fledged conversation either but a few tacit words were exchanged, like “how was your day” or “oh yeah, the math classes are agonizingly boring.” The mere nothings. So literally where was this all coming from, you didn’t know. You also didn’t know whether to run, laugh, or cry.

“Just rising your standards.”

You furrowed, incredulous. “Literally what the fuck?!”

He then shrugged, the expression still unrevealing, not even a flicker of anything in his eyes, and then he took a step forward towards you. As your instinct, you wanted to recede but you were keenly aware that if you showed any sign of weakness in front of him, he would position himself as a predator, and you as his prey. He devoured in others’ fear. You didn’t want to grant him that satisfaction.

He extended his hand, grasping your chin so that now you are looking up at him and locking in the tenacious eye contact. He began playing with your bottom lip for a moment, flicking his gaze between your eyes and then your lips again. You persisted in that position for a half a minute or so (but you couldn’t swear to it, your heartbeat banged in your chest in a rabbit speed, your time passing as though in a slow motion). You stood, rooted to the ground, motionless. Anyhow, you even weren’t certain what to do, even if you wanted to move…

Was it a sign for you to finally run away from the soon-to-be place of a crime? What were you still doing, just standing here with his psychopath? After all, Nate Jacobs had a reputation… and not a good one.

At last, he scoffed but not shifting in his position in the slightest. “You should know what I mean. You think people in the school don’t know?”

“Know of what?” you asked, your voice increasingly demanding of answers, brows furrowed and you were sure that this amount of face muscles flexing should be a whole new category of a workout altogether.

“Your fucking dating profiles,” he finally disclosed, somewhat angry with that, and also proving for the first time this night that he wasn’t some kind of robot but a person. An unhinged person with some serious mental problems. But yeah whatever. “Love, you are way too beautiful for this shit. Way too beautiful…”

It was spellbinding, really, how quickly he could shift in between the moods because he was stroking your chin again, a small smile on his face, after just literally yelling at you for using the dating apps.

“Now how is that any of your business?” Your tone was laced with defiance, eyes now narrowed and ready to fight back.

He stared you down for a couple of moments, pausing his thumb on your chin and utterly disrespecting your personal space. Then he let out a small sigh with an almost imperceptible head shake. You could feel his breath tickling your skin, so minimal the distance between the two of you was.

“The first time I have seen you was next to this locker actually." Well, apparently we are dodging the questions now. "You were wearing your little skimpy pink skirt, flaunting yourself in front of all the guys. Or am I wrong?” He bent down a little, just enough to look you in the eye on the same level. Another scoff. “You are so fucking desperate for attention, aren’t you?”

Before you had a chance to object, he continued, his hand now growing rougher under your chin, almost as if making sure you weren’t ducking his gaze. “Then we talked during that one party. You know, when we celebrated our team’s win? You were so fucking shitfaced, I don’t even know if you remember this conversation at all. But I do.” His gaze became so hard on you, it was piercing and you really wanted to escape this whole situation now. Your survival instincts were turning glaring red right now.

“From there on I already knew you were just as fucking fucked up as I was.” And out of nowhere, his hand was suddenly wrapping around your neck and he was suffocating you. Violently. Frantically. Your eyes widened, shocked and breathless simultaneously, and your hand flew over to his grasp to try to unlock yourself from the hold but miserably failing in doing so. He chuckled at the attempt, just observing your face without flinching. You dropped the bouquet, and you could very acutely hear it as it hit the floor.

“You are too fucking locked up in your head, you don't even know how fucked up you are,” he spat out, the chokehold turning tighter and tighter every single second. His mouth drew closer as well and you could feel how his breath fanned over your face now; not that you could focus too much on that fact right now as you were dangling in a hold, unable to deliver any air to your lungs. “Trying way too fucking hard to fit into this societal bullshit.”

Your eyes started roaming around the entire place, praying for someone to enter the corridor this very instant, though you knew it would be unlikely for anyone to be here at this time of a day. You looked at Nate again, and noticed just how much he was relishing your horror right now; and it was definitely turning him on as you discerned a growing tent in his pants.

“You enjoy validation, don’t you? No…” He tsked his tongue. “You fucking love it.”

He chuckled again, ultimately releasing you after what felt like an eternity. Instantly you slid to the floor, now finally registering how tear-stained your face was. He stood in front of your cowering self, taking some time in inspecting how much damage he had done to you, and sickly relishing your state, your reddened face, your tears...

"Now listen babe." He hunched over you again, lifting your head with his callous fingers so that you were looking straight into his face and his demented smile. "You are going to delete those fucking dating profiles. Cease talking to whoever the fuck you met there. Because I'm telling you." He yanked your head a little, a little manipulative move of his to foreshadow a warning of some sorts. "They aren't worthy of you. None of them. I will show you, do you understand?"

His face was expressionless but you could tell, even with the tears in your eyes and streaming all the way down your cheeks, that he was seething. You didn't risk it, especially since you knew you were verging on the very dangerous territory right now -- you nodded, the most visibly you could so that he didn't find you uncooperative or something like that.

“Don’t fucking play around, kiddo. I know what's best for you.” He chuckled for the last time, pecking your forehead. And then was gone, probably returning to some mental hospital they keep him in.

You weren’t much aware of your surroundings at this point as you struggled to let the air back into your lungs, at the same time try as might to suppress your sobbing sounds. Your hands were clutching your throat, failingly attempting to loosen an invisible noose from your neck. You knew, in fact, that this was going to leave a robust bruise and that people will be asking questions. But you were going to lie because who in hell was going to believe that a star basketball student was also a fucking psychopath with some uncontrolled anger issues? He might have a reputation but even for him that seemed extreme.

Or had seemed extreme just half an hour ago.

You could feel your eyes still watering, unwittingly so, but after ten minutes or so you could finally make out what was happening around you again — you were in the black corridor, nobody around, and the bouquet of lilies still laid not far away on the sordid school tiles.

Upon closer examination, you noticed a small paper note peeking through, crisp and elegant. The churning in your stomach instinctively increased because you knew very well that it was yet another message from Nate fucking Jacobs among the slew of other messages you learnt about yourself from him today.

Slowly breaking through you fear and bodily shocks of the events, you crawled over to grab a little piece of paper.

You unwrapped it. As feared, you didn’t like it. Very much.

“Meet me in the school parking lot. Tomorrow. 1am.”

[familyagrestefanblog]

Yeah, now that you point it out, as far as the leaks show, Maribug is really out here not even trying to help Sublime up or do anything else to help her. Marinette is once again too paralysed by the realisation that she's capable of something... *checks my notes* not good,

so the local hero goddess just leaves the hurt civilian with the two broken prosthetic legs SHE BROKE on the floor to instead have a meltdown again over in how much emotional agony she is bc now someone might think she isn't the pure hearted underdog martyr in this (and every other) scenario

Which of course the narrative declares the more important matter. That everyone involved understands that Maribug is a pure hearted innocent little underdog who must now be comforted 24/7 and reassured that no one is angry with her or else she would apparently drop dead

They're really have LADYBUG this fucking inconsidered that she just lands in front of a running disabled person and, as far as the leaks show, everyone has to immediately make sure Ladybug isn't feeling bad about it. It's not like Ladybug SHOULD be asked to fucking pay attention to where she's landing bc civilians are not only vulnerable, they are also just living their normal lives in the normal world. THEY shouldn't have to pay attention and look out if Ladybug will show up any second so their existence isn't bothering her, she should watch out for THEM (that sounds infuriatingly familiar, doesnt it?)

Please don't have this be treated as a case of "Ladybug landed here so the entire environment is now the battle field she owns, meaning it's actually fine and JUSTIFIED that she pays no attention to where she's landing. She thought there is an akuma, so she can't be expected to remember that civilian life goes on"

Cause ngl, I'm still not over how near the end of season 5 one of Marinette's plans seriously was to just... use the tiger powered Akuma to NUKE a part of the city.

She absolutely killed innocent people there for the crime of existing because I guess she forgot that the world isn't her empty battle field once there is an akuma, so she didn't feel the need to think of another plan for 5 seconds that doesn't involve nuking a part of the city (but remember, Adrien was VILLAINOUS for breaking that poor chimney lmao)

So count me unsurprised that Sublimation seems to continue Maribug's irresponsible treatment of her environment once she's suited up. I wished I could say that I hope she'll grow from this, but I can't see the show finally challenging Maribug's entitlement of thinking the world around her doesn't count and belongs to her as battle field because anything else would be mean to her authority.

She's gonna be shocked to her core here that her existence is capable of causing something not good, then she'll be reassured to hell and back that it's not her fault, and that's it.

did you see the spoilers for ml season 6 where there’s a new girl with a prosthetic leg and that leg ends up broken and marinette’s involved somehow? honestly i’m gonna give marinette the benefit of the doubt for now and just assume this is either a huge misunderstanding/accident or extremely misleading spoiler just because this is a serious thing, like I was super disappointed with how her character’s written in season 4 and 5 but I just don’t want to believe the writers would come up with something like this when this would easily be one of the worst things she’s ever done (if she’s actually responsible). I saw the spoiler on TikTok and there’s several explanations I’ve seen in the comments:

the new girl (idr her name) is lila/cerise in disguise and she wants to ruin marinette’s reputation (iirc the writers said she’s nice and not a villain but maybe they just don’t want to spoil the plot for obvious reasons)

marinette didn’t have bad intentions/it was an accident/misunderstanding/spoilers are too misleading/not enough information yet

and my least favorite explanation…the new girl was trying to get with adrien (some fans are saying this to say this is all part of her scheme to get adrien to break up with marinette and date her instead but some are saying this to justify marinette if she was actually at fault for this)

I think my main concern is how the writers are going to address this. What if they try to justify it if marinette really was at fault? Or what if it’s all a misunderstanding but then they put the new girl to the side to focus on how sad this is for marinette? Are they going to be able to address this in a way that doesn’t come across as ableist while also not making their protagonist look like a bad person? What do you think?

---

I just saw the leak, but at first I couldn't find it, so I’d already written a response before that, so here's me describing the possible nightmare scenarios before the writers proved me right about their priorities:

Like, hot take, but it doesn’t matter what the new girl is doing, messing with her mobility aid would still be absolutely unforgivable. Even if it’s Lila in disguise, Marinette has already exhibited so much ableism in trying to prove her disabilities aren’t real that I would just say that the writers shouldn’t be allowed to as much as mention any disability ever again. “A person claiming they’re disabled could be lying to get special considerations, so make sure to check any claims of disability, no matter how awful you come across for doing it,” is not a lesson that has any place in a children’s cartoon, even accidentally. And that’s exactly what any scenario with a girl faking a disability / using their disability to get closer to Adrien would entail as well, the idea that we should be suspicious of disabled people trying to “cheat” their way to things that “belong” to us.

But, like, even if it actually is going to be aiming to be an actual lesson in disabilities where it’s all a misunderstanding/mistake, the thing is that, lately, I’ve been looking back at the “lessons” in this show, even in the earlier seasons, and I just don’t have faith in these writers’ ability to deliver any kind of moral to kids in a consistent way, unless they’re going to have a character directly talk to the screen to explain what the moral is.

Let’s use ‘The Mime’ as an example. The scenario in this episode is that Marinette, through her clumsiness, deletes the most important video Alya had filmed so far, and then spends the rest of the episode trying to recreate the video in order to cover up for her mistake. In the end, it turns out there was no problem because Alya had already saved a copy of the video because she expected something like Marinette deleting it to happen, so she was never even mad or disappointed, but Marinette still sets up Alya to get a one-on-one interview with Ladybug. What did Marinette learn in this episode exactly?

The most good faith interpretation of the episode is that the point is that you own up and make up for your mistakes, hence Marinette setting Alya up to get an interview with Ladybug. But this message is muddled up by the fact that, even before the retool, the writers didn’t want Marinette suffering any real consequences for messing up, or to show her messing up in a way that couldn’t be “fixed”, so the video was actually safe and no irreparable damage was done. Alya had foreseen that Marinette would mess up and planned accordingly. This takes the wind out of the sails of the lesson because of course Marinette would do something nice for Alya, who’s such a considerate friend who never gets mad at her and plans around Marinette’s flaws. It’s a pretty different thing to go out of your way to apologise or make things up to someone who is actually mad at you for a good reason, and it requires a lot more courage. The situation in ‘The Mime’ is the easiest version of this situation imaginable for Marinette, but completely unrealistic for anyone facing this kind of situation in real life.

So, with this kind of previous showing back when I still had faith in this show, how would I expect them to deal with Marinette accidentally messing with someone’s mobility aid post-retool? I’d expect a lot of focus on how upsette Marinette is, because that’s the show’s number one priority outside of the love quest, with the show going out of it’s way to make it very clear that Marinette didn’t mean to, she feels really bad about it and she’s scared of how the new girl will react. At the end of the episode she would gather her courage and face the music, and it turns out the new girl was actually getting a new mobility aid that very same day and she wouldn’t have needed the old one any longer anyway. And then Marinette will maybe make some gesture of friendship that the new girl gladly accepts, no hard feelings. Any normal person would still be pissed about their expensive mobility aid being messed with, but the writers of this show never have characters react normally when the normal thing to do is not instantly forgive Marinette. So this scenario would be making things easy for Marinette, but completely unrealistic for the viewing audience.

Simply put, I really, really really hope the sneak preview is purposefully misleading, as they tend to be, and the crew doesn’t try to tackle the topic of physical disabilities with their tendency to favor the perspective of their coddled, able-bodied protagonist.

—

After seeing the leak:

So, like, fucking hell, way to further sully the idea that Marinette ever took her job as Ladybug seriously. Just to make herself look like the victim when she’s caught stalking someone (something she insisted last season she’d stopped doing), she goes so far as faking being Akumatized, transforming into Ladybug and jumping right in the middle of the field, of this girl's path, to scream about an Akuma attack. Like, the reveal that Sublime knew there was actually no Akuma and that Tomoe apparently made the leg less sturdy on purpose doesn’t make it better when Marinette got Sublime slippery and then startled her enough to make her slip. People break perfectly fine legs from slipping, it's why anti-skid devices sell so well in winter. All of this being an accident doesn’t make it okay, and Marinette sure as hell didn’t have anything close to those “good intentions” her stans love to attribute to her.

But, of course, her victim is going to be a perfect flawless angel who wasn't even upset about the stalking, instead defending Marinette to Ladybug, just in case saying: “this girl I know pretended to be Akumatized because she was caught stalking me” might make Marinette look bad to the audience. She also instantly reassures Ladybug, the one who actually caused her to slip, who hasn't done anything more than stare at her slack-jawed, because god forbid anyone ever say anything about Marinette that isn't validation or praise while she's too busy freaking out about herself.

Like, Marinette causes Sublime to break her leg, and we instantly see the victim in this situation go: “I’m okay, I’m not hurt”, while Marinette just stands there having her personal little panic attack. Like, a girl lost her leg, and the writers still try to sell Marinette as the injured party by having the victim insist she's okay while Marinette is having another one of her manipulative, please-feel-sorry-for-me-audience emotional breakdowns. The writers seriously made Marinette’s victim prioritize reassuring her over anything else.

I knew the writers were going to have Marinette be instantly forgiven, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so instant that she didn’t even get to finish processing her fuck-up. Or to go so out of their way to make Marinette seem less at fault because, like, Tomoe messing with the leg on purpose isn't a villain scheme, it was just to make Marinette look better in comparison.

The writers have this ability where, when I write down what I think would be a very likely way for one of their stories to go very badly, they do just that while still managing to make it worse.

[vanmarkus]

on top of all the high blood pressure Oliver is causing me right now, I can't stop thinking about a platonic(ish) buddie slowdance in their ruined suits

[gerrik1llman]

rewatching connor’s wedding for the millionth time (i am unwell, yes) and roman firing gerri is just always such a fucking scene oh my god!!

like first of all, how quickly it all unravels the moment he actually speaks to her, because as he says, he goes weird with her and!!! this time it is reasonable! because they haven’t spoken in, what? 4 months? and they left off in such a fucked up state and never talked about the dickpics or the betrayal or anything, and now he’s supposed to just fire her? at connor’s wedding? like the levels of absurdity are unprecedented.

then the actual conversation is so well constructed, because roman tries so hard not to look at her since he knows she has fucking superpowers and can read him like he’s a shampoo bottle and she’s bored on the toilet, but she doesn’t let him off the hook either, because she does have superpowers and knows he can’t hide from her, and yeah, she also hasn’t gotten to talk with him since italy and maybe she expected this conversation to go differently, and maybe she had prepared herself for, i don’t know, anything else than this.

and as soon as he gets it out of himself, that she’s done and dead and goodbye, her face just shifts (the fucking acting here oh my god) and it just becomes so fucking clear that this hurts her so much, and there’s nothing she can do. like it’s insane. he tells her she can go legal but they’ll silence her with money, and maybe i’m a bit too familiar now with J’s many expressions when she’s Feeling Things and Acting Them Out (turns out she cries a lot in her roles), but she’s very good at the whole ”look like you’re just about to cry, but are being so very brave about it” and it’s absolutely conveyed in this scene as well.

roman is so helpless too, because she’s emotionally stronger and more intelligent than him and he’s made her go quiet and deadly, but also you can see it in her eyes that she’s not OK but she’s handling it, and i’m sure his balls burrowed themselves right up in his fucking chest because four (4) months (!!!) of not talking to each other, and when they do he fires her and makes her put her fucking guard up and it’s so unfair, because yeah, he chose logan and fucking chose to do this to her but it’s like it doesn’t even register to him until after it’s done and he realizes that yeah, he just broke something so unbelievably badly between them and there’s no way to fix it but if only he’d held off until tom would call him again and their day would get just so much worse, but then they could’ve had an actual conversation, after, and maybe even resolved some shit and this might have all been just a bit better, in the end.

[icewindandboringhorror]

It always seems a bit unbalanced on The Great Food Truck Race when there will be multiple teams who are cooking a wide variety of complex dishes with 10 different components and a bunch of prep work, and then there's that one team who like... exclusively serves plain crepes with some premade nutella on them, or plain waffles with just some whipped cream and cut up strawberries lol...

[happyfunf3tti]

i finally finished the last film for rebuild and ooooh boy it's a lot to take in. also new stuff came in too. perfect timing

[gece-misin-nesin]

"You were born to lead this team, maybe not now but soon."

How about no.

[acourtofquestions]

Kingdom of Ash Chapter 57

Chapter Highlights (most of the chapter is the highlight lol)

An hour before dawn, the keep and two armies beyond it were stirring.

Rowan had barely slept, and instead lain awake beside Aelin, listening to her breathing.

That the rest of them slumbered soundly was testament to their exhaustion, though Lorcan had not found them again. Rowan was willing to bet it was by choice.

It was not fear or anticipation of battle that had kept Rowan up—no, he'd slept well enough during other wars. But rather the fact that his mind would not stop looping him from thought to thought to thought.

He'd seen the numbers camped outside.

Valg, human men loyal to Erawan, some fell beasts, yet nothing like the ilken or the

Wyrdhounds, or even the witches.

Aelin could wipe them away before the sun had fully risen. A few blasts of her power, and that army would be gone.

Yet she had not presented it as an option in their planning last night.

He'd seen the hope shining in the eyes of the people in the keep, the awe of the children as she'd passed. The Fire-Bringer, they'd whispered. Aelin of the Wildfire.

How soon would that awe and hope crumble today when not a spark of that fire was unleashed? How soon would the men's fear turn rank when the Queen of Terrasen did not wipe away Morath's legions?

He hadn't been able to ask her. Had told himself to, had roared at himself to ask these past few weeks, when even their training hadn't summoned an ember.

But he couldn't bring himself to demand why she wouldn't or couldn't use her power, why they had seen or felt nothing of it after those initial few days of freedom. Couldn't ask what Maeve and Cairn had done to possibly make her fear or hate her magic enough that she didn't touch it.

Worry and dread gnawing at him, Rowan slipped from the room, the din of preparations greeting him the moment he entered the hall. A heartbeat later, the door opened behind him, and steps fell into sync with his own, along with a familiar, wicked scent.

"They burned her."

Rowan glanced sidelong at Fenrys. "What?" But Fenrys nodded to a passing healer.

"Cairn—and Maeve, through her orders."

"Why are you telling me this?" Fenrys, blood oath or no, what he'd done for Aelin or no, was not privy to these matters. No, it was between him and his mate, and no one else.

Fenrys threw him a grin that didn't meet his eyes. "You were staring at her half the night. I could see it on your face. You're all thinking it—why doesn't she just burn the enemy to hell?" Rowan aimed for the washing station down the hall. A few soldiers and healers stood along the metal trough, scrubbing their faces to shake the sleep or nerves.

Fenrys said, "He put her in those metal gauntlets. And one time, he heated them over an open brazier. There…" He stumbled for words, and Rowan could barely breathe. "It took the healers two weeks to fix what he did to her hands and wrists. And when she woke up, there was nothing but healed skin. She couldn't tell what had been done and what was a nightmare." Rowan reached for one of the ewers that some of the children refilled every few moments and dumped it over his head. Icy water bit into his skin, drowning out the roaring in his ears.

"Cairn did many things like that." Fenrys took up a ewer himself, and splashed some into his hands before rubbing them over his face.

Rowan's hands shook as he watched the water funnel toward the basin set beneath the trough.

"Your claiming marks, though." Fenrys wiped his face again. "No matter what they did to her, they remained. Longer than any other scar, they stayed."

Yet her neck had been smooth when he'd found her.

Reading that thought, Fenrys said, "The last time they healed her, right before she escaped. That's when they vanished. When Maeve told her that you had gone to Terrasen."

The words hit like a blow. When she had lost hope that he was coming for her. Even the greatest healers in the world hadn't been able to take that from her until then.

Rowan wiped his face on the arm of his jacket. "Why are you telling me this?" he repeated.

Fenrys rose from the trough, drying his face with the same lack of ceremony. "So you can stop wondering what happened. Focus on something else today." The warrior kept pace beside him as they headed for where they'd been told a meager breakfast would be laid out.

"And let her come to you when she's ready."

"She's my mate," Rowan growled. "You think I don't know that?" Fenrys could shove his snout into someone else's business.

Fenrys held up his hands. "You can be brutal, when you want something."

"I'd never force her to tell me anything she wasn't ready to say." It had been their bargain from the start. Part of why he'd fallen in love with her.

He should have known then, during those days in Mistward, when he found himself sharing parts of himself, his history, that he'd never told anyone. When he found himself needing to tell her, in fragments and pieces, yes, but he'd wanted her to know. And Aelin had wanted to hear it. All of it.

They discovered Aelin and Elide already at the buffet table, grim-faced as they plucked up pieces of bread and cheese and dried fruit. No sign of Gavriel or Lorcan.

Rowan came up behind his mate and pressed a kiss to her neck. Right to where his new claiming marks lay.

She hummed, and offered him a bite of the bread she'd already dug into while gathering the rest of her food. He obliged, the bread thick and hearty, then said, "You were asleep when I left a few minutes ago, yet you somehow beat me to the breakfast table." Another kiss to her neck. "Why am I not surprised?"

Elide laughed beside Aelin, piling food onto her own plate. Aelin only elbowed him as he fell into line beside her.

The four of them ate quickly, refilled their waterskins at the fountain in an interior courtyard, and set about finding armor. There was little on the upper levels that was fit for wearing, so they descended into the keep, deeper and deeper, until they came across a locked room.

"Should we, or is it rude?" Aelin mused, peering at the wooden door.

Rowan sent a spear of his wind aiming for the lock and splintered it apart. "Looks like it was already open when we got here," he said mildly.

Aelin gave him a wicked grin, and Fenrys pulled a torch off its bracket in the narrow stone hallway to illuminate the room beyond.

"Well, now we know why the rest of the keep is a piece of shit," Aelin said, surveying the trove. "He's kept all the gold and fun things down here."

Indeed, his mate's idea of fun things was the same as Rowan's: armor and swords, spears and ancient maces.

"He couldn't have distributed this?" Elide frowned at the racks of swords and daggers.

"It's all heirlooms," said Fenrys, approaching one such rack and studying the hilt of a sword. "Ancient, but still good. Really good," he added, pulling a blade from its sheath.

He glanced at Rowan. "This was forged by an Asterion blacksmith."

"From a different age," Rowan mused, marveling at the flawless blade, its impeccable condition. "When Fae were not so feared."

"Are we just going to take it? Without even Chaol's permission?" Elide chewed on her lip.

Aelin snickered. "Let's consider ourselves swords-for-hire. And as such, we have fees that need to be paid." She hefted a round, golden shield, its edges beautifully engraved with a motif of waves. Also Asterion-made, judging by the craftsmanship. Likely for the Lord of Anielle— the Lord of the Silver Lake. "So, we'll take what we're owed for today's battle, and spare His Lordship the task of having to come down here himself."

Gods, he loved her.

Fenrys winked at Elide. "I won't tell if you don't, Lady."

Elide blushed, then waved them onward. "Collect your earnings, then."

Rowan did. He and Fenrys found armor that could fit them—in certain areas. They had to forgo the entire suit, but took pieces to enforce their shoulders, forearms, and shins. Rowan had just finished strapping greaves on his legs when Fenrys said, "We should bring some of this up for Lorcan and Gavriel."

Indeed they should. Rowan eyed other pieces, and began collecting extra daggers and blades, then sections from another suit that might fit Lorcan, Fenrys doing the same for Gavriel.

"You must charge a great deal for your services," Elide muttered. Even while the Lady of Perranth tied a few daggers to her own belt.

"I need some way to pay for my expensive tastes, don't I?" Aelin drawled, weighing a dagger in her hands.

But she hadn't donned any armor yet, and when Rowan gave her an inquiring glance, Aelin jerked her chin toward him. "Head upstairs-track down Lorcan and Gavriel. I'll find you soon."

Her face was unreadable for once. Perhaps she wanted a moment alone before battle. And when Rowan tried to find any words in her eyes, Aelin turned toward the shield she'd claimed. As if contemplating it.

So Rowan and Fenrys headed upstairs, Elide helping to haul their stolen gear. No one stopped them. Not with the sky turning to gray, and soldiers rushing to their positions on the battlements.

Rowan and Fenrys didn't have far to go.

They'd be stationed by the gates at the lower level, where the battering rams might come flying through if Morath got desperate enough.

On the level above them, Chaol sat astride his magnificent black horse, the mare's breath curling from her nostrils. Rowan lifted a hand in greeting, and Chaol saluted back before gazing toward the enemy army.

The khaganate would make the first maneuver, the initial push to get Morath moving.

"I always forget how much I hate this part," Fenrys muttered. "The waiting before it begins."

Rowan grunted his agreement.

Gavriel prowled up to them, Lorcan a dark storm behind him. Rowan wordlessly handed the latter the armor he'd gathered. "Courtesy of the Lord of Anielle." Lorcan gave him a look that said he knew Rowan was full of shit, but began efficiently donning the armor, Gavriel doing the same.

Whether the soldiers around them marked that armor, whether Chaol recognized it, no one said a word.

"Ready now," Chaol called out to the men of his keep.

This would be it—today. Whether that hope remained or fractured.

Already, the awakening sky revealed two siege towers being hauled toward them. Right to the wall. Far closer than Rowan had last noted when flying overhead last night. Morath, it seemed, had not been sleeping, either.

The ruks would remain back with their own army, driving Morath to the keep. To be picked off here, one by one.

"We have minutes until that first tower makes contact with the wall," Gavriel observed. A scan of the battlements, the soldiers atop them, revealed no sign of Aelin. Lorcan indeed muttered, "Someone better tell her to stop primping and get here." Rowan snarled in warning.

"Archers!" Chaol's bellow rang out. Behind them, down the battlements, bows groaned. Fenrys unslung the bow across his back and nocked an arrow into place.

Rowan kept his own bow strapped across his back, the quiver untouched, Gavriel and Lorcan doing the same. No need to waste them on a few soldiers when their aim might be needed with far worse targets later in the day.

But one of them had to be noted felling soldiers. For whatever it would do to rally their spirits. And Fenrys, as fine an archer as Rowan, he'd admit, would do just fine.

Rowan followed the line of Fenrys's arrowhead to where he'd marked one of the bearers of a siege ladder. "Make it impressive," he muttered.

"Mind your own business," Fenrys muttered back, tracking his target with the tip of his arrow as he awaited Chaol's order.

If Aelin didn't arrive within another moment, he'd have to leave the battlements to find her. What in hell had held her up?

Lorcan drew his ancient blade, which Rowan had witnessed felling soldiers in kingdoms far from here, in wars far longer than this one. "They'll head for the gates when that siege tower docks," Lorcan said, glancing from the battlements to the gate a level below, the small bastion of men in front of it. Trees had been felled to prop up the metal doors, but should a solid enough group of enemy soldiers swarm it, they might get those supports and the heavy locks down within minutes. And open the gates to the hordes beyond

"We don't let them get that far," Rowan said, eyeing up the massive tower lumbering closer. Soldiers teemed behind it, waiting to scale its interior. "Chaol brought the tower down the other day without our help. It can happen again."

"Volley!" Chaol's roar echoed off the stones, and arrows sang.

Like a swarm of locusts, they swept upon the soldiers marching below. Fenrys's arrow found its mark with lethal precision.

Within a heartbeat, another was on its tail. A second soldier at the siege ladder fell.

Where the hell was Aelin—

Morath didn't halt. Marched right over the soldiers who fell on their front lines.

The pulse of human fear down the battlements rippled against his skin. The cadre would have to strike fast, and strike well, to shake it away.

The siege tower lumbered closer. One glance from Rowan had him and his friends moving toward the spot it would now undeniably strike upon the battlements. Close enough to the stairs down to the gate. Morath had chosen the location well.

Some of the soldiers they passed were praying, a shuddering push of words into the frigid morning air.

Lorcan said to one of them, "Save your breath for the battle, not the gods."

Rowan shot him a look, but the man, gaping at Lorcan, quieted.

Chaol ordered another volley, and arrows flew, Fenrys firing as he walked. As if he were barely bothered.

Still, the whispered prayers continued down the line, swords shaking along with them.

Up by Chaol, the soldiers held firm, faces solid.

But here, on this level of the battlements ... those faces were pale. Wide-eyed.

"Someone better say something inspiring," Fenrys said through gritted teeth, firing another arrow. "Or these men are going to piss themselves in a minute."

For a minute was all they had left, as the first siege tower inched closer.

"You've got the pretty face," Lorcan retorted. "You'd do a better job of it."

"It's too late for speeches," Rowan cut in before Fenrys could reply. "Better to show them what we can do."

Rowan steadied his breathing, readying his magic to rip through Valg lungs. He'd fell a few with his blades first. To show how easily it could be done, that Morath was desperate and victory would be near. The magic would come later.

The siege tower groaned as it slowed to a stop.

Just as the wall under them shuddered at its impact, Fenrys whispered, "Holy gods."

Not at the bridge that snapped down, soldiers teeming in the dark depths inside.

But at who emerged from the keep archway behind them. What emerged.

Rowan didn't know where to look. At the soldiers pouring out of the siege tower, leaping onto the battlements, or at Aelin.

At the Queen of Terrasen.

She'd found armor below the keep. Beautiful, pale gold armor that gleamed like a summer dawn. Holding back her braided hair, a diadem lay flush against her head. Not a diadem, but a piece of armor. Part of some ancient set for a lady long since buried.

A crown for war, a crown to wear into battle. A crown to lead armies.

There was no fear on her face, no doubt, as Aelin hefted her shield, flipping Goldryn in her hand once before the first of Morath's soldiers was upon her.

A swift, upward strike cleaved the Morath grunt from navel to chin. His black blood sprayed, but she was already moving, flowing like a stream around a rock.

Rowan launched into movement, his blades finding their marks, but still he watched her.

Aelin slammed her shield against an oncoming warrior, Goldryn slicing through another before she plunged the blade into the soldier she'd deflected.

She did it again, and again.

All while heading toward that siege tower. Unhindered. Unleashed.

A call went down the line. The queen has come.

Soldiers waiting their turn whirled toward them. Aelin took on three Valg soldiers and left them dying on the stones.

She planted her line before the gaping maw of that siege tower, right in the path of those teeming hordes. Every moment of the training she'd done on the ship here, on the road, every new blister and callus—all to rebuild herself for this.

The queen has come.

Goldryn unfaltering, her shield an extension of her arm, Aelin glowed like the sun that now broke over the khagan's army as she engaged each soldier that hurtled her way.

Five, ten—she moved and moved and moved, ducking and swiping, shoving and flipping, black blood spraying, her face the portrait of grim, unbreaking will.

"The queen!" the men shouted. "To the queen!"

And as Rowan fought his way closer, as that cry went down the battlements and Anielle men ran to aid her, he realized that Aelin did not need an ounce of flame to inspire men to follow.

That she had been waiting, yanking at the bit, to show them what she, without magic, without any godly power, might do.

He'd never seen such a glorious sight. In every land, every battle, he had never seen anything as glorious as Aelin before the throat of the siege tower, holding the line.

Dawn breaking around them, Rowan loosed a battle cry and tore into Morath.

This first battle would set the tone.

It would set the tone, and send a message.

Not to Morath.

Impress us, Hasar had said.

So she would. So she'd picked the golden armor and her battle-crown. And waited until dawn, until that siege tower slammed into the battlements, before unleashing herself.

To keep the men here from breaking, to wipe away the fear festering in their eyes.

To convince the khaganate royals of what she might do, what she could do. Not a threat, but a reminder.

She was no helpless princess. She had never been.

Goldryn sang with each swipe, her mind as cool and sharp as the blade while she assessed each enemy soldier, their weapons, and took them down accordingly. She dimly knew that Rowan fought at her side, Gavriel and Fenrys battling near her left flank.

But she was keenly aware of the mortal men who leaped into the fray with cries of defiance.

They'd made it this far. They would survive today, too. And the khaganate royals would know it.

Galloping hooves drowned out the battle, and then Chaol was there, sword flashing, driving into the unending tide that rushed from the tower's entrance.

"To Lord Chaol! To the queen!"

How far they both were from Rifthold.

From the assassin and the captain.

Arrows rose from the army beyond the wall, but a wave of icy wind snapped them into splinters before they could find any marks. A dark blur plunged past, and then Lorcan was at the siege tower's mouth, his sword swinging so fast Aelin could barely follow it. He battled his way across the metal bridge of the tower, into the stairwell beyond. Like he'd fight his way down the ramps and onto the battlefield itself. Below, a boom began. Morath had brought in their battering ram.

Aelin smiled grimly. She'd bring them all down. Then Erawan. And then she'd unleash herself upon Maeve.

At the opposite end of the field, the khagan's army pushed, gaining the field step by step.

Not helpless. Not contained. Never again.

Death became a melody in her blood, every movement a dance as the tide of soldiers pouring from the tower slowed. As if Lorcan was indeed forcing his way down the interior.

Those who got past him met her blade, or Rowan's. A flash of gold, and Gavriel had slaughtered his way into the siege tower as well, twin blades a whirlwind.

What Lorcan and the Lion would do upon reaching the bottom, how they'd dislodge the tower, she didn't know. Didn't think about it.

Not from this place of killing and movement, of breath and blood. Of freedom.

Death had been her curse and her gift and her friend for these long, long years. She was happy to greet it again under the golden morning sun.

[silkentine]

Me when they are the sisters ever: 😭😭😭 They came out soooo freaking well. I won’t lie, they took me a thousand years to finish but through the constant support from all of my buds (and my latent bisexuality), we made it 😤

Hopefully you guys know the deal by now: design choices, easter eggs, and (NEW!) closeup shots below the read more. ⬇️

I wanted Ace to have a very down-to-earth vibe and looked at Aussie beach-girls, coastal cowgirls, and vaqueras for reference. (IDK, I’ve just always envisioned Ace as part-Australian🌺 and Mexican 🏴‍☠️) Her clothing choices are mostly natural or utilitarian materials like the painted wooden beads on her top, her woven fabric and leather belts, and her denim jumpsuit. I gave her bikini top a zen-garden kind of feel because I read the first Ace’s Story Novel and I loved how idyllic and peaceful they made Sixis Island sound so I wanted to invoke that in some way.

Speaking of her painted wooden beads, they hang off the back of her top and represent her connection to Sabo and Luffy. They watch her back once she sets sail. She only wears one red glass bead earring because the other one got ripped out of her ear when a child, leaving her earlobe torn (don’t think about it too much 😢). Also, YES! she does wear a hibiscus flower just like Rouge (because I hate you and I want to make you cry, muhwahahahaha).

Also, I really wanted her to have super textured curly hair that licks behind her like flames. I am always considering whether or not a character should have long hair or not because I don’t want it to be a hindrance if they’re in a fight (or if they ARE a fighter with long hair, how to they avoid an enemy making use of that?). Ace is, of course, a Logia-type Devil Fruit User so I think she wouldn’t have trouble with people grabbing it LOL I get the feeling that she doesn’t take very good care of it even though it looks amazing. Like you’d think it would be soft and bouncy just by looking at it but if you ever get the chance to run your fingers through it, it’s a total rat’s nest and there’s sand and food all up in it. She still falls asleep while eating 😂 but she tries her best to only do it around people she can trust (woman moment 😔).

Honestly, her design is not that different from Ace’s canon look. It feels really vital to Ace’s character to have a lot of skin showing. And he’s always hanging all over himself with his hips all cocked like the weight of the world is too much to stand up straight. It is certainly not my OWN preference to make her an absolute smoke show. That’s just the character, okay? (I’m partially lying and the proof is that I turned the emblem on Ace’s hat strap into a sternum tattoo for no other reason than that it is sexy af.)

Here are some closeups of Ace:

Now for Sabo, I’ve made her very girly. I tried putting her in pants or something more militant but she told me that she’d wear the big poofy sleeves and hiked-up ruffled skirt. I think Sabo has always had a strong grasp on his fashion sense and individual flair and I truly believe that his personal style is one of the major influences for the rest of the Revolutionary Army resulting in the very flashy, queer, steampunk aesthetic (aside from Dragon’s plain-ass cloak). So of course I had to implement her nonconformist look when reimagining her as a woman and dress her up to the nines.

I’ve given her very ornate jewelry that is there to tell a story, even if she herself doesn’t know it. I like to think she picks up stuff from her travels that resonate with her, such as a damaged set of earrings with one stone missing or red cup-shaped shells featuring three nestled pearls. Another accessory that cannot go unmentioned is her dragon claw hat pin that keeps her top hat resting on top of her hair (and is definitely used as a weapon when the situation simply doesn’t call for trusty metal pipe). She also has a veil that obscures her prominent facial scar. I imagine she’s not very keen on the reminder of the incident from her childhood that took away her memories. I also kept her chipped toothed because 1) it’s fucking adorable and 2) is a visual reminder that she no longer aligns herself with the nobility who would have gotten such a thing fixed. She is so poised in almost every outward facet of her life from her dignified role as the Chief of Staff to the elegant materials in her clothing that it can be easy to forget she was also a rough and tumble forest dweller. Every time Koala remembers this, he lets out the biggest sigh.

Her hair is inspired by Gibson Girls and Elizabeth Swann from the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I wanted it to be fussy and tidy but fall apart when she’s in moments of distress. For example, when she remembers her sisters, her hair starts to look like Ace’s flaming mane. I’m so in love with her, I think she looks like an adorable little porcelain doll that would fuck you up. I made an effort to keep her eyes a little bit manic. I get lost in her steely black orbs (and also Ace’s warm brown ones, but we’re talking about Sabo rn).

Here are her close-ups:

Plot notes for this AU:

For this series of character designs, I wanted the expressions and outfits to be aligned with the canon plot but I don’t know if I have the heart to kill fem!Ace in my AU. I’m too attached and ASL has suffered enough!!!!! But Ace’s death is also a major defining moment for Luffy so it feels disingenuous to completely avoid it. Also a huge aspect of Sabo’s character is carrying on Ace’s will and I have so many thoughts about how the Dressrosa Colosseum scene would play out if they were all women. Oh well, I’ll cross that tragic bridge when I get to it. I’m definitely going to draw some Modern AU Girl Piece ASL though. They deserve to hang out with no stakes 😭 They are sisters!!!

Check out the tag “girl piece” on my blog for my other One Piece genderbends! 🥰