#how much different are they before and after that process

[wishingstarworld]

“Until all vampires are dead,” I replied simply and dropped my sack onto the floor, a small cloud of dust billowing around it. I glanced around the small, one-room cabin that had once been my home, now simply a house covered with a thick layer of dust. I briefly considered cleaning but decided against it. There was no point. I’d only be here a few days at most anyway.

Varren shorted, leaning back against the wall, “So forever then?”

I shot him a look and cast a small fire spell on the old logs of wood in the fireplace I’d put there pre-emptively a month ago, setting them alight, and pulled over a chair. After brushing off the dust, I plopped down and groaned in relief as the heat washed over me. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long for my clothes to dry from the rain.

Varren sighed and for a moment looked like the three-centuries-old being he truly was, “You push yourself too hard. This is the third month-long hunt you’ve undertaken without rest, something you desperately need if those bags under your eyes are anything to go by. It wouldn’t kill you to take a break and—”

“No,” I snapped, glaring at him hard enough that he shut his mouth, “It wouldn’t kill me. But it would kill the next innocent one of those blood-sucking scum takes while I kick my feet up while sipping tea. It would deprive a mother of her child, a husband of his wife, a friend of someone they hold dear. And all because I wasn’t there to steak the bloody bastard because I was too busy sitting on my ass. So no, Varren, I will not ‘take a break.’ I won’t let anyone suffer through that kind of pain! Not like I…I…”

All the indignation and anger washed away the moment memories of that night flashed through my mind. It was all still so clear. Mother’s cries, Father’s shouting. And the blood…gods, I could still smell it after all these years…

I shuttered out a breath and sighed, running my fingers through my hair, “Sorry.” I turned my attention to my sore feet and unlaced my boots. As I started to pull them off, I winced as I felt resistance from what I could only imagine would be blisters. I gritted my teeth and yanked the boot hard, almost biting through my lip from the pain. I eased the boot off, shook out the rainwater and blood, and tossed it by the fireplace, resting my foot on my knee to get a better look.

Yep. Blisters. Over the entire bottom of my foot. Wonderful.

I sighed and repeated the process with my other boot, discovering more blisters. After my second boot joined the first, I reached for my bag to grab some rags only for it to be pulled out of my reach. I watched as Varren wordlessly opened my bag and pulled out the rags and some bandages. He discarded my bag back onto the floor and pulled over another chair in front of me. He snapped his fingers, a bowl of clean water appearing midair, and patted his leg.

I briefly considered protesting but remembered Varren’s stubbornness and relented, gingerly resting my foot in his lap. He soaked one of the rags and carefully began cleaning the dirt and dried blood from my foot, being extra careful when wiping over a blister and caressing my ankle whenever I winced.

I studied Varren as he carefully but securely bandaged my foot before beginning the process anew with the other. Stories my father had told me as a child about vampires flew through my head. The ultimate predator, monsters with human faces, beings whose only desire was blood, a desire that only grew as their souls aged yet their bodies did not. Watching Varren discard the bloody rags without so much as a second thought, I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the old tales were simply that. How many vampires were like Varren, disgusted with their monstrous nature and desperately clinging onto what remained of their humanity?

Or would things have been different—would he have been different—if we had met even a century from now.

“Answer me one thing,” Varren said softly as he finished bandaging my foot, drawing patterns almost absentmindedly across my shin, “When you have achieved that which you desire, when all vampires are gone and dust…what will you do? What will we do?”

He looked at me with those blood-red eyes and I met his gaze with my equally red ones, “We will finally rest.”

After a one-month long hunt, the vampire hunter returns home with a body full of hastily treated wounds and dark circles under the eyes. Yet, they are already preparing to embark on another hunt. Standing beside them, a vampire speaks up: "How long do you plan to live this way?"

[kiame-sama]

Humans Are Extinct (Yandere!TWST x Fem!Reader) Monster AU pt 41

(Vil- though not fully Overblotted- still has several visual changes to his coloration and appearance due to the intense presence of blot that had been in his system from his potion. He is able to explain most of it away for those who question him, but those who were present in the classroom when it happened know the truth. They are too loyal and earnest to speak that truth for Vil's sake and the Human's sake.)

Warnings; jealous dragon, fluff and theories, Clay is the only truly aware platonic yandere, Dragon, Harpy, Drider, Vampire bat, hellcat, mention of Cervitaur, mention of Raiju,

~~~~~~~~

"What happened?"

Standing before you- with his eyes wide and his entire body stiff- was a very unhappy and stressed Dragon. Malleus had been trying to keep himself calm with the aid of Lilia, but seeing your exhausted state sent him spiraling. The tell-tale black ink-like coloration at the ends of your fingers, lips, and hair told him you had more than just a brush with blot.

"Blot potion out of control. We're both good now, but we need a snack and some rest. Papa Hades said he would be up with something for us to snack on soon."

"..."

Malleus stood in silence, the tip of his tail flicking angrily and the low roll of thunder sounded in the distance. It often took a moment or two for the Dragon to fully process what was being said to him, and it often took your calmly stated words just a moment longer than most. You had been touched by blot and he was furious to think such a vile liquid could even have a hold on you for seconds, let alone long enough to stain your flesh.

"... Blot potion?"

"Yeah. A bad idea that became a dangerous opponent. It's sealed up now and Papa Hades said he would be dealing with it later. For now, I think Vil and I need a bit of a rest."

The trip back to your dorm had been a long one, or at least it felt so much longer to you and Vil given the prior events. Luckily Rook and Silver- after pulling themselves together- straightened up and carried the both of you. You were put on Silver's back while Vil was on Rook's back. Sebek, professor Clay, and Papa Hades led your group back to Ramshackle, all the while ensuring that any ne'er-do-wells knew to keep their distance.

Now you all were looking for a bit of rest, and Malleus was likely to panic upon fully realizing what took place. You weren't exactly keen to argue with the Dragon and you knew complete fallout would occur if he ever learned you had kissed Vil in order to give the blot potion easy access to your body. Though you could have likely done it a different way, it was the only thing you could think of to encourage the blot potion out of Vil and into you fast enough to save the Harpy.

"Tsuno, I know you aren't happy about it, but it happened and is over now. All that matters is we are back safe and sound. Right?"

"..."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm not going to classes tomorrow. Well, Vil won't be either after tonight's events, so you can stick around with us tomorrow if you feel like skipping a class or two."

This made the Dragon perk up somewhat, clearly pleased at the idea of spending more time with you than he usually would be able to. Still, he seemed hesitant to believe that all of the present issues were resolved so easily.

"Now, let's talk about who gets to sleep where in the nest."

~•§•~

The ancient Shinigami watched the pan sizzle as he cooked a small meal quickly and fiddled with a device in his hands. If the Harpy was so keen to be a data point in this study, Hades wasn't going to argue. It unsettled him that several of the students were showing signs of desperation and of performing desperate acts to get the soft and coveted Human's attention.

Who knows what the next desperate action will be or how far it will go.

"Lord Hades?"

"Yes, Child?"

The Shinigami turned his head towards the Yeti who had been present for the fallout of the Harpy and had been a rather helpful aide when it came to restraining the other students. Had they all tried to help and not been held back by the Ape-man, they likely would have all Overblotted or worse given the situation at hand. He at least lived up to his reputation of being calm under pressure and having a good grasp on dangerous situations.

"That much blot should have killed her."

"I know, Child. That much blot would have killed all of them had it gotten a hold on them."

"I know that potion. Poachers use it to infest their prey to claim they were 'putting down a Feral' instead of illegally harvesting parts from a non Feral. It never ends well for those who use it. Ever."

"I am familiar with the potion as well."

This only made Clay's frown deepen. He had seen entire poaching encampments turned Feral due to that specific potion and he had seen the way it acted like a blight on any magical being. How it moved from body to body, infesting and possessing anything it touched.

"Why didn't it kill her?"

"I have several theories. Humans are not magical, so they have next to no accumulation of blot as they go through life. Blot is a byproduct of magic, and without magic, Humans don't form blot but are susceptible to those who have turned Feral. My own Humans had very little interaction with Ferals by design. Though I knew they were blot resistant, I did not know the extent of their blot related abilities."

"So you don't know?"

"I don't know for certain, no. She has shown an incredible ability to neutralize blot and even attract blot towards her, as shown by the potion itself choosing to abandon it's prize of young Vil and anchor itself to her instead where it could have just taken them both."

The Shinigami turned towards Clay, moving the pan off of the heat to let it and the food he was cooking rest. The monitoring collar he was fiddling with coming to life in his hands as he adjusted it.

"I have a theory that Humans are natural blot absorbers and neutralizers. They likely developed this and their addictive nature by evolving hand in hand with magic using species. Humans needed protection from magical species so they developed a way to be needed and helpful to those that protected them. The magical species create blot, and the Humans absorb it, creating a symbiotic relationship. Perhaps it is this blot absorption that led to Humans being so addictive as they relieve the negative impact of blot, which all magical species have."

"It would make sense... To have blot creators and blot neutralizers. But still, this rampant almost infectious attraction and obsession doesn't really fit..."

"That is why it must be studied. There is the potential that Little (Y/n) is a fluke among Humans with an unnatural resistance to blot. The only thing that I know for certain is the data that has been gathered. Humans are addictive, thousands of years worth of research has proven that as fact. This blot absorption is a new development, and with only one Human as the sample size, it can't be asserted that (Y/n) isn't the only blot neutralizer."

The Yeti crossed his arms, deep in thought. It made sense from a scientific view. No science was perfect and with the sample size being a grand total of one, there was always room for misinterpretation. Even still, there was more than just the science to be considered.

"She deserves to know."

"Hm?"

"(Y/n) deserves to be told of her addictive qualities. If not for the sake of others, than for her own sake so she can protect herself. If everyone is going to have some kind of obsession- deadly or not- she deserves to know about it."

"... I know. I have considered broaching the topic many times before, yet have found myself struggling to find the right words to tell her."

"Why?"

"Because," the Shinigami sighed, running his fingers through his flame hair, "Humans are delicate compared to us. Physically they could be a credible threat to other species, especially when their young were put in harm's way, but emotionally they put more value into how others viewed them. It makes sense, they were at the whims of others for an extended period of time and are an incredibly social species as a whole, but that does mean they are more delicate to the emotional impact they have on others. Little (Y/n) in particular seems mostly aware of her impact on the others, but I worry what guilt she will feel when she learns the truth."

Clay nodded at this, having seen his own fair share of just how impactful the affectionate Human was on the wellbeing of those around her. From the guards that flocked to her, to the students that stared whenever she passed by, she impacted everyone she interacted with. He had also noticed his own growing attachment to the kind little Human that so innocently looked to him for instruction.

"Young Vil and Little (Y/n) are likely hungry with the blot still in their systems, they need food before they rest."

Clay dropped the subject as the elder Shinigami split the ample and warm food into two servings, turning to leave. He paused for just a moment at the threshold of the door to speak to the Yeti with an even and measured tone.

"I will broach the subject when I feel it is right, but trust that I will do it. For now, I ask you keep our conversation to yourself. She doesn't need such stress so soon after an event like this one, alright?"

"... I understand."

~•§•~

Rook was almost vibrating with how thrilled he was, settled down in the nest with his boon companion laying against his side. Vil had his long tail tucked and curled under his legs as he himself had taken an almost fetal position up against the side of the Drider. You were sitting close by, petting a sore and less than pleased Grim who demanded cuddles when he realized you were back.

The storm outside had quieted somewhat, as Malleus had managed to calm himself despite not liking the two outsiders laying in your nest. Silver was already back to sleep, Sebek laying against his side but still warily observing the Harpy and Drider duo in the nest. Though the Dragon was displeased with the interlopers, he was more relieved that you were alright. He didn't overlook the staining you had on your skin, seeing the darker tints around your eyes and lips where the blot had forced itself into you.

"Are you certain you are alright, (Y/n)?"

"Yes, Tsuno, I'm okay. I promise. If I wasn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I appreciate that you care so deeply about me and want to make sure I'm alright, but I promise you I am okay."

"..."

The Dragon continued to frown as a light knock sounded from the door. It slowly opened to reveal the large Shinigami with two steaming bowls of food and you couldn't help but smile at him. At least Papa Hades was present and could help care for you and Vil after the impact of the disastrous potion the Harpy had created.

"Here you are, Little One. Eat up and get some rest, you and Young Vil are no doubt exhausted by the evenings events."

You happily accepted the bowl of warm food, Grim taking several long sniffs towards your meal as you pet his forehead. His little nose wiggled and you were content to give the sore kit bites from your bowl. Vil seemed much more hesitant to take the food offered, seeming as if he were close to crying despite the kind gesture.

"Vil?"

"... I don't deserve it."

Your smile fell and you sighed, having seen similar remorseful driven behavior from Riddle and Alistair following their Overblots. He was likely going to need an encouraging hand if he was going to accept the meal offered. At least his behavior showed he was regretting his actions that drove him to his current state.

"Yes, you do. Eat, or you will regret it tomorrow."

"... (Y/n), I almost killed you with my actions. I could have killed myself as well. I don't deserve accolades or kindness after my actions."

A beat of silence passed as you handed the bowl off to a confused Lilia, handing Grim to Malleus. Vil seemed confused by your actions as you moved through the nest to his side, grabbing the second bowl from the elder Shinigami. Using the provided spoon, you scooped up some of the food and looked at Vil expectantly, holding the spoon up to him.

"(Y/n), I-"

"If your next actions are not eating and saying 'thank you' to Papa Hades, I'm not going to listen or entertain any further complaints. You will eat. You will be thankful someone took the time to make you food. You will accept that I am not angry with you. And above all else, you will forgive yourself for your own misguided actions. If I have to sit here and feed you myself, I will."

Vil was silent for another long moment, but his stomach spoke for him with an impatient growl as he could smell the warm food you held. With a certain hesitance to his movements and very much like a baby bird, he let you feed him that first spoonful. You didn't have to feed him the rest as that one bite triggered his obvious hunger and he happily took the bowl from you.

Once Vil was eating his fair share you gently pet his head, making the Harpy let out a gentle cooing noise at the affection. Lilia returned your bowl to you and you proceeded to follow the Harpy's example, pausing to give the occasional piece to Grim. Papa Hades seemed pleased with the both of you eating and nodded, resting on the edge of the nest to wait until you both had finished your impromptu meals.

"Young Vil, given the... events... that took place, I would rather you join the current study I am overseeing. It is on blot and how Little (Y/n) affects blot in other species. It will require you wear this monitor on your neck so we can get vitals and a fairly accurate measurement of blot remaining inside of you. Is that amenable to you?"

"Yes. I... am still mortified that I even considered Overblotting in the first place, but I understand now how lucky I truly am (Y/n) intervened when she did. It would be meaningless to deny my own participation in your research given my misguided actions."

Vil moved towards you, Papa Hades taking both bowls away and setting them to the side as he held up what looked like the same collars Riddle and Alistair wore. The Harpy held up his hair to allow the elder Shinigami to place the device around his neck, shivering from the cold touch. It clicked in place and seemed to not bother the Harpy too much despite the way it sat on his neck feathers.

"The both of you, get some rest. You have had an eventful night and tomorrow will be more rest and testing. I wish you all a pleasant evening."

"Goodnight, Papa Hades."

The elder chucked at this, smiling warmly at you.

"Goodnight, Little One."

With that, he left the room and closed the door behind him so you and your company could get some rest. Vil seemed much more at peace as he returned to Rook's side, the Drider placing pillows against his abdomen for the Harpy to rest comfortably on him. You settled down with Grim, noticing the way Malleus kept his back to the outside of the nest before pulling you under his wing so he could keep an eye on you.

As the room settled down, Lilia turned out the lights and a tentative calm washed over your group. Rook, Sebek, and Grim were quick to drift off, comfortable among the others in the nest and trusting their company wholeheartedly. You, Lilia, Malleus and Vil still clung to some awareness instead of succumbing fully to sleep.

Though you fought to cling to consciousness, you were quickly pulled into the embrace of rest. Malleus and Lilia both wanted to stay awake and keep an eye on the nest given their own anxieties with the situation. As they were both nocturnal Fae, they were less affected by the siren song of sleep than the others were.

Vil was just trying to process all that had happened. Though it was all orchestrated by him, he still had to come to terms with the memories that had been dredged up from the darker corners of his mind. Your forgiveness was a soothing balm to his worrying mind as he contemplated the cruelty of his mother juxtaposed with your compassion.

Something odd happened with his hazy memories of his mother that the Harpy couldn't explain. Where he remembered crying and hiding from her under a rather sturdy table, sobbing as his father fought in a flurry of feathers for his safety, another figure had appeared. You were somehow in his childhood memory, holding him and soothing him after his mother had attacked him. Though he knew it wasn't possibly true, he still valued that odd change to his memories and cherished your comfort.

Perhaps something had happened to alter his memories to a more soothing outcome when you took on his blot. Perhaps he rewrote his own memories to include someone soothing his distraught child self. All he knew for certain was that you were a very calming and soothing presence that made his heart ache less when you were around.

Your presence comforted and relaxed him more than anything else could. Given the way he had lived his life up until that point, he considered it a miracle that he could find anyone he is willing to accept affection from. He even struggled to accept the endless praise Rook heaped on his shoulders, believing the Drider only focused on his outward appearance despite being his closest friend.

Maybe, just maybe, Vil could learn to love himself with your help. He still was going to try and win your heart despite everything, but he now had a clear way forward and into a better frame of mind. For now, that was all that truly mattered to him.

[enhateez]

BF!ATEEZ & WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR HOBBIES | ATEEZ

pairing : : bf!ateez x gn!reader

genre : : pure fluff

warnings : : none but a suggestive line if you squint (or its just me being dirty minded 🤷🏻‍♀️ )

author's note : : these are just my headcanons! they may differ from yours, so don't take them srsly <3 I was giggling and kicking my feet while writing this 💕 thank you for requesting this @atinyyuyu 💖

KIM HONG JOONG !

You walk into Hongjoong’s studio, casually pointing at something on his screen, mentioning a term he’s always ranted about.

He freezes. His eyes go wide like you just uncovered his biggest secret. Hands pause mid-air, hovering over his keyboard.

Blush creeps up his ears as he stares at you. “How… do you know that?” almost comes out as a whisper.

He groans, burying his face in his hands, mumbling about how he must talk too much. You laugh, nudging his shoulder, telling him you just listen because you like hearing him talk.

He peeks at you through his fingers, ears still pink, but there’s a small smile growing. His pride and shyness are battling inside him.

Then, the excitement wins. He starts explaining, hands moving as he talks, eyes sparkling. His voice speeds up, getting more passionate with every word.

You nod along, watching him, admiring how happy he looks when he talks about the things he loves.

At some point, he tugs you closer, absentmindedly pulling you into his lap, too caught up in his explanation to realize.

When he does realize, he pauses, looking at you like he just processed what he did.

Blush deepens. Hands hesitantly settle around your waist. A small, flustered laugh slips out before he just… continues talking, pretending like nothing happened.

His voice stays steady, but his grip on you tightens slightly whenever you shift.

You rest your head against his, listening to him ramble, feeling the warmth of his arms around you.

He notices but doesn’t say anything. Just smiles to himself and keeps talking, a little softer this time.

PARK SEONG HWA !

You casually mention a specific LEGO set while Seonghwa is focused on building, and he immediately stops. Hands frozen mid-air, eyes blinking at you like you just cracked a secret code.

Slowly, he turns to you, suspicion all over his face. “…How do you know about that?”

You grin, admitting you’ve heard him talk about it before. His ears instantly turn pink. He groans, covering his face with his hands. “I knew I talked too much.”

You laugh, sitting beside him, watching as he pretends to be embarrassed but keeps sneaking glances at you, lips twitching like he’s trying so hard not to smile.

“Do you wanna help?” His voice is quiet, almost shy. When you nod, his whole face softens. He gently places a tiny LEGO piece in your hand like it’s the most important job in the world.

As you build together, his usual careful and precise movements get a little clumsy. His fingers brush against yours, and you swear he hesitates before pulling away.

At some point, you get a piece stuck and struggle to pull it apart. He chuckles, shaking his head before scooting closer. “Here, let me.”

Instead of just taking it, he covers your hands with his, guiding your fingers as he helps you. His hands are warm, his touch lingering just a second longer than necessary.

You glance up, catching him already looking at you. He clears his throat, quickly focusing back on the LEGO set, ears betraying him by turning even redder.

After a while, you yawn, stretching your arms. Without thinking, he reaches out and gently fixes your hair, tucking a stray piece behind your ear before realizing what he just did.

He stiffens. You raise an eyebrow. His eyes dart to the LEGO set. “...It was in the way,” he mumbles, voice barely above a whisper.

You let it slide, but you don’t miss the small, flustered smile on his face as he keeps building—his hands still slightly shaky.

JEONG YUN HO !

You casually mention a strategy from his favorite game, and Yunho immediately pauses the game. No slow reaction, just an instant freeze. Controller still in his hands, mouth slightly open.

Turns to you, blinking in disbelief. “Wait… you know about that?” His voice is a mix of awe and mild panic.

When you nod, admitting you’ve heard him talk about it before, his face explodes into the biggest grin—but then it hits him. “Wait… have I been ranting that much?”

He groans, flopping back dramatically, covering his face with his hands. You poke his side, laughing. “It’s cute.”

His hands slowly lower, and his eyes narrow playfully. “Oh? Cute?” Next thing you know, he’s pulling you into a loose headlock, ruffling your hair as you squirm and protest.

He finally lets go, but not before pressing his cheek against yours for a second—quick, warm, and intentional. When he pulls back, his ears are red, but he pretends like nothing happened.

Offers you a controller, grinning. “Wanna play with me?” You agree, and the excitement in his eyes triples.

He scoots way too close, knee pressing against yours as he eagerly explains controls. His hand covers yours at one point, guiding your fingers on the buttons.

He’s terrible at hiding how happy he is. Keeps sneaking glances at you instead of the screen, smiling like an idiot every time you get something right.

When you win a round, he throws his hands up in fake defeat. "Okay, maybe you're not that bad,” he teases, eyes twinkling.

Suddenly leans in, resting his chin on your shoulder, voice softer now. “Guess I have competition now, huh?”

His breath is warm against your skin, and you don’t miss the way his fingers lightly drum against your knee.

He pulls back, still smiling, and hands you a snack like it’s a reward. “Okay, rematch. But this time, I won’t go easy on you.”

KANG YEO SANG !

You casually mention a specific skate trick Yeosang has been practicing for weeks, and he immediately freezes mid-motion. Board under his foot, arms slightly raised, completely stunned.

Turns to you slowly, eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How do you know about that?” His voice is calm, but his ears are betraying him, already turning red.

When you admit you’ve been watching him practice, he blinks a few times, then covers his face with his hoodie sleeve like you just exposed his deepest secret.

Tries to act unaffected but keeps stealing glances at you, lips twitching like he’s holding back a smile.

“Wanna try?” He finally asks, casually patting the skateboard—except he’s definitely nervous now.

Holds your hands way too carefully as you step onto the board, like you’re the most fragile thing in the world.

“Okay, just balance first,” he says, but he’s already hovering like he’s ready to catch you at any second.

The second you slightly wobble, his hands are immediately on your waist, steadying you. He doesn’t move them.

“See? You’re getting it,” he murmurs, voice softer now. His thumbs absentmindedly rub small circles against your sides before he quickly pulls away, clearing his throat.

After a while, you sit on the board while he pushes you gently, letting you glide across the pavement. He watches you with that soft smile.

When you reach the end, he crouches in front of you, resting his arms on his knees. “You look cute like this.” He says it so casually, like he doesn’t just make your heart race.

You throw a playful kick at him, and he laughs, grabbing your ankle before pulling you closer by the board.

Ends up just sitting beside you, the two of you sharing his hoodie while watching the sky turn orange.

“We should skate together more,” he murmurs after a while. Then, quietly—almost shyly—“Or just spend more time like this.”

CHOI SAN !

You show up at San’s place, casually holding a plushie he’s been wanting for ages. The moment he sees it, he gasps—like full-on, dramatic, hand-over-mouth gasp.

His eyes dart between you and the plushie, processing. Then, suddenly, he’s tackling you in a hug.

“HOW DID YOU—? WHERE DID YOU—?” He’s literally shaking you with excitement before snatching the plushie and hugging it like it’s the most precious thing in the world.

Looks at you, eyes shining, voice softer now. “You… remembered?”

When you nod, he just stares at you for a second, like he doesn’t know whether to scream, cry, or kiss you.

Instead, he flops onto the couch, dragging you down with him, the plushie squished between you both. His arms stay around you, warm and secure.

“This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” he mumbles, nuzzling into the plushie—then, after a pause, nuzzling into you too.

He doesn’t let go. Just stays there, holding onto both you and the plushie like you’re equally important (which, let’s be real, you are).

At some point, he quietly says, “You always listen to me, huh?” His voice is filled with something soft, something almost shy.

You hum in response, running your fingers through his hair absentmindedly. He melts.

He’s quiet for a while, just enjoying the warmth, then suddenly—“Okay, now you have to name it.”

He shoves the plushie in your face, dead serious. “It’s basically our child now.”

SONG MIN GI !

You show up with a rare vinyl record of an artist Mingi loves but could never find, casually handing it to him like it’s no big deal.

He just… stares at it. Then at you. Then back at the record. His mouth opens, but nothing comes out except a tiny, breathless, “No way.”

Gently takes it from your hands like it’s the most fragile thing in the world. Turns it over, checking the details, his fingers shaking a little.

“How did you even—? Where did you—?” His voice cracks mid-sentence, and you barely hold back a laugh.

He suddenly pulls you into a hug—tight and warm, like he’s trying to pour all his emotions into it.

Pulls back, eyes shining, then hugs you again because once wasn’t enough.

Five minutes later, he’s already setting up his record player, bouncing slightly on his feet like an excited puppy.

As soon as the music starts playing, he grabs your hands and starts swaying with you, even though it’s not even a dance track.

He’s humming along, looking at you more than the record, and oh no, he’s getting soft.

Midway through, he suddenly spins you around—way too enthusiastically—causing you to almost fall, but he catches you just in time, both of you collapsing into laughter.

You end up on the couch, him lying across it with his head in your lap, still rambling about how much this means to him.

He keeps looking up at you with this ridiculously fond smile, one hand playing with your fingers as the record crackles in the background.

At some point, he just sighs, closing his eyes, murmuring, “You’re actually the best, you know that?”

He falls asleep like that—smiling, music playing, your fingers running through his hair. And yeah, he’s definitely dreaming about you.

JUNG WOO YOUNG !

You casually mention wanting to cook a dish Wooyoung has been talking about forever, and he immediately gasps—dramatic, hands-on-his-chest levels of shock.

“YOU?! Want to cook that? With me?!” He’s already bouncing on his feet, practically vibrating with excitement.

Before you can react, he’s grabbing an apron and spinning you around, insisting on tying it for you. “Stay still,” he hums, pulling the strings snugly around your waist.

He definitely lingers, hands resting on your hips a second too long. “Perfect,” he murmurs, voice a little too smug in your ear.

Immediately back to his usual self, he pulls you to the counter, explaining the steps with way too much enthusiasm. Keeps leaning in way too close, just because he can.

At one point, he dips his finger into a sauce and holds it up to your lips. “Taste.” His grin is teasing, but his eyes are soft.

When you hesitate, he boops your nose with his sauce-covered finger instead. “Fine, I’ll just feed you myself~”

And he does, gently pressing his finger to your lips, watching with a very satisfied smile as you taste it.

He gets playful, stealing tiny bites of ingredients, making a mess on purpose just so he can pout and say, “Guess we have to clean up together~”

Randomly back hugs you while you stir the pot, chin resting on your shoulder. Sways you side to side, murmuring, “We should cook together like this every day.”

When you finally finish, he sits you down, insisting he plates everything. “I have to impress you, obviously.”

He watches so intently as you take your first bite, eyes glowing when you tell him it’s good.

Then, with zero warning, he tackles you into another hug, peppering quick kisses all over your face. “You’re officially my cooking partner for life!”

He keeps holding on, swaying with you in his arms, mumbling something about how he loves this—loves you—but quickly covers it up with a loud, “Okay, now dessert!” before you can tease him.

CHOI JUNG HO !

You casually mention a pool technique Jongho once ranted about, throwing in a term he’s definitely used before.

He stops mid-shot, cue stick still in position, and just stares at you. Like you just told him you’ve secretly been a pool champion this whole time.

“Wait… how do you know that?” His voice is calm, but his eyes are so wide.

When you shrug and say you’ve heard him talk about it, he exhales, shaking his head with the smallest, flustered smile. “I really talk too much, huh?”

Tries to act unaffected, but the way he keeps rubbing the back of his neck definitely gives him away.

Offers to test your knowledge, stepping behind you and adjusting your stance, his hands warm as they rest on your arms.

He’s way too close now, voice soft as he murmurs, “Like this.” His breath tickles your ear, and you swear he’s doing it on purpose.

Guides your shot, his grip firm but gentle. When you actually make it in, he grins so proudly, ruffling your hair. “Not bad.”

But the second he takes a shot, you distract him by casually complimenting his form. His cue stick slips, and he glares at you while you laugh. “You did that on purpose.”

Tries to act mad but fails because he loves seeing you smile. “Alright, if that’s how we’re playing…”

Next thing you know, he’s caging you against the table, one hand flat beside you, smirking. “Maybe I should play like this. You wouldn’t be able to focus either.”

You shove him, and he finally bursts into laughter, pulling you into a quick hug before letting you go.

As the game goes on, he casually feeds you small snacks between turns, making sure you’re comfortable without even thinking about it.

When you win a round, he groans, flopping dramatically onto the table. “This is rigged.”

But then he peeks at you, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips. “Guess I have to play with you more, huh?”

© enhateez

[cinnamongrl2006]

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd x Journalist!Reader⋅ ౨ৎ  ‧₊ .ᐟ 

a/n: here’s part two

warnings: Reader's appearance is not described but she is referred to as a woman, idk not much else?

Summary: It's your first weekend working at a f1 paddock and you interview Jason after a bad race.

────୨ৎ────

It was your first weekend in the formula one paddock after your internship at a newspaper. It was the first weekend you had an actual grown up job, the first weekend you couldn't fuck up. It was just your luck that you'd been selected to interview Ferrari driver!Jason Todd after his race.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd had a very bad race, his pit stop lasted a second longer than it should've, his engineer called for team orders and he finished right outside the podium. If he'd overtaken his teammate at some point he'd be standing there, covered in champagne with a trophy in his hands and a medal around his neck.

But instead he pads over to the post race interviews, hair tousled from the helmet, pupils blown wide. His assistant steers him towards a reporter and he braces himself for the same sour, intruding questions as always. He doesn't look up from his hands, fidgeting with his watch and bracelets.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd who is known to have a temper after a tough race, which unnerved you.

"Good morning, mr. Todd!" You greeted him with a poster smile and introduced yourself, stretching out a hand towards him. He shook your hand and straightened up in front of the camera readying for the turmoil to come.

"How was the race?" You asked, glancing down at your notes and back up, meeting his gaze. He grumbled under his breath but answered politely.

"We had a good start, getting both cars in the podium— I honestly think we could've won the race, or at the least get both cars in the podium, but...strategy is what it is. You win some, you lose some. We'll keep pushing."

You nod in acknowledgement.

"How do you mentally process the difference between a race well won and a race narrowly lost? Do you see it as a lesson, motivation or something else entirely?" You breathed as you pushed your microphone towards him.

Oh. He thought. That's a fucking good question. It wasn't the type of question the hours of Ferrari media training taught him to answer or deflect, it was different. It let him think.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is taken aback by your question. Your words cut through his foggy, scrambled mind like a block of butter. He opens his mouth as if to answer but he just sighs and closes it again.

He regards you with curiosity for a second before finally answering, "Well, to be fairly honest it depends on the race; it's not the same to finish fourth in a championship opener than after getting p1 the race before..." He hummed. "Yeah, I guess I do see it as motivation, us athletes need to strive to be better, that's how we make a living." He fucking winks at you.

You blink, startled, before laughing it off awkwardly.

You don't have time to process what's happening before Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is pushed away from you and onto another journalist. In the same manner, a short Japanese driver is shoved towards you, quickly.

Your eyes don't linger too much on Jason, and that's a shame, because you don't notice how his eyes stay glued onto you, how his gaze, so sharp, so blue, could cut a hole through your skull.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is not smitten, that's for teenagers. He's not blushing at a complete stranger who is not even looking in his general direction; or so he tells himself.

It takes him a persuasive phone call with Roy to muster up the courage to ask you out on a date.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd runs into you in the hotel lobby (it's not like he's been pacing around it for the last hour) and invites you over to dinner with his friends. When you ask him why he grumbles a little and admits he was rude to you.

"You asked a good question, our time was cut short." He says, matter-of-factly.

"Well, yes, but—"

"I also think you're beautiful, is that good enough a reason?" He asks, leaning down closer to you.

────୨ৎ────

co written with @prettywritergirl2 !!

[artisiumstudios]

Holy shit this is so beautifully written

LIKE-

YES?!

Holy-

It’s like you read my mind.

Stanley calling ford dad definitely throws him for a loop because this is his BABY TWIN BROTHER calling him DAD. It’s such a big realization for ford to think how much the dynamic between Stan and ford is going to change. Now instead of Stan acting as ford’s protector, companion, best friend, and brother it’s ford who has to be the protector; the caregiver and the responsible adult in Stan’s life. He to raise his brother and hope he does a good job because he can’t imagine putting this Stan throw filbricks teachings. Not again.

Not after he already lost his brother once because of where those teachings lead them.

And to be honest, he actually enjoys taking care of Stanley. He enjoys seeing his baby (because sure Stan is still his brother but that’s also his baby now, that’s his son) growing up and discovering his interests, his personality, and just the world around him.

It makes Ford reflect back to his childhood and seeing how even in a different environment with a different upbringing Stan still seems to love the sea, still loves marine life, and still dreams of sailing one day. Except the difference is that unlike before it isn’t to escape a home or society, it’s to explore with his dad. (And if that doesn’t bring ford to tears I don’t know what does). Not to mention it makes Ford come to the understanding that while maybe their father had (semi) good intentions, the way he acted as a father was abusive. It makes him basically have to sneak into the library (he’s banned) just to read through every parenting book possible, it makes him suck up his misogyny (you can’t tell me he wasn’t even a little bit) and join their parenting group filled with women just to be the best father figure for Stan.

And yes he planned on telling Stan his origins, his purpose, how do you tell your son that? How do you tell him that the only reason he’s even here is because this universe’s version of him is dead because their father kicked him out and he ended up suffocating in the trunk of a car? How do you tell him that you lead your brother on because you were scared of his reaction about not wanting to sail the world with him? How do you tell him that the reason he was kicked out was because he broke your science project? How do you tell him that not once after being kicked out did you try to reach out, because you were angry and because you were scared?

How do you tell him that he’s meant to save the world and that you fear that you’re going to lose him again?

Ford can’t. He can’t do it no matter how many times his mind supplies that it’s the right thing to do and that Stanley deserves to know.

All he can do is be the parent his brother deserved to have. One that doesn’t link love with monetary value. One that isn’t afraid of affection and can hug, kiss, and be gentle with their child. One who can discipline without raising a hand, and one who listens and tries to be better everyday for their son.

And it works out, because now Stanley has a diagnosis (I love audhd Stan) and ford can adequately handle Stan’s behavior and learning process without their fathers ideals (Stanley was never stupid or a knucklehead, he was just wired differently). He knows how to help Stan with homework and he can speak with his teachers to get him the best education possible. He never once belittles Stan’s interests, but rather lets him indulge and even makes sure that Stan has everything he could possibly want (another flaw in his parenting style) but he can’t help it. Not when he sees Stan’s face light up every time they head to the beach for summer vacation, not when he pays to have a swim session with the sharks that costs a pretty penny (something else Filbrick would never do, especially if they hadn’t earned that penny), not when Stan filled sketchbooks upon sketchbooks of anomalies because he wants to mimic his dad.

Not when he knows their time is limited.

But that mixed with his overprotectiveness definitely causes a bit of conflict with Stan’s want for adventure and independence. (And if he sneaks out every once in a while, we’ll thank the gods Ford is a deep sleeper)

Stanley has an important role in the grand scheme of things, specifically saving the universe. His role is so crucial that if anything were to happen to him it could lead to not only the destruction of his universe, but also lead the destruction of others. So what would happen if Ford had lost Stanley somewhere during the ten years they spent apart, only for Ford to be met face to face with the time police and what appears to be 2 years old Stanley.

His ears feel muffled as he’s handed the toddler.

Death by asphyxiation

Trunk of the car

Far too late

Paradox

The child’s timeline was already gone

The fate of the universe

His hands

The baby coos in his arms babbling as he grabs Ford’s pinky.

[yamumsyadadd]

hidden (2)

part one is here

For the most part, that’s how your relationship went for an entire year. Behind closed doors, hidden away from friends and family. It was truly exhausting.

There was one date out in public, the first and only one you ever went on. When Alexia asked you out, you didn’t even hesitate. The recommendation had come from Jana, it was her favourite hole in the wall restaurant that her and Jill found, she told anyone on the team who would listen.

In terms of first dates, it was awkward, the pressure to do small talk was evident but you both felt well past that. You had seen each other naked and done filthy things to each other before a date was even on the table.

The awkwardness broke when you asked about her foundation and the process of starting it. You leaned forward, fully absorbed into what she was saying. It was like a different side of Alexia was out that night, until she left you there. At the restaurant, alone.

After the waiter politely informed you that it was almost the end of your reservation, you went to the bathroom and Alexia said she’d wait at the front for you. Expect when you returned, she was gone. The waiter informed you that she settled the bill and then left.

It hurt, more than hurt actually. But once you saw Irene and her wife it all made sense.

“y/n, what are you doing here?” Irene’s gaze was intense, looking around for someone who could belong to you.

“Oh Jana finally convinced me to come here.” It wasn’t the best lie, but it was all you could come up with.

“Where is she?”

“Waiting at the car. I needed to use the bathroom, so she said she’d wait at the car, no point staying in here and being uncomfortable, right?”

“Right.” She slowly nodded.

“I better go. I’ll see you tomorrow at training!” you said your goodbyes and then left. Heading towards the carpark so your lie was somewhat more convincing. Alexia’s car was gone, she left. Truly left. No text message, no call, nothing.

Your brain was so confused. In the privacy of your apartment, alexia doted on you. She made you coffee and breakfast, even when she didn’t eat breakfast. But then at training, during the day, you didn’t exist.

As you walked home, a few tears slipped out. Was it your fault that she was like this? Was it how you looked? Were you simply not enough for her? While you walked, you sent Jana a simple message, no details, no fuss. 

If Irene asks, you and I went to dinner tonight.

You thought to yourself that if alexia wanted to pretend you didn’t exist, you would do the same to her. So you did. It only lasted an entire week. It was hard for you to ignore her late-night texts and calls, even harder when she would turn up to your apartment. But she never said anything to your face. At training, you didn’t exist to her expect for as a teammate, and you made sure you treated her the same way.

Sometimes, there was a flash of hurt across her face, it would only last a second or two, but you saw it. It made you feel guilty, sad for her, even if it was the same thing she as doing to you. So on the 7th night, you caved. Answering the door when she arrived fifteen minutes before midnight.

“Why have you been ignoring me amor?”

“Me? Ignoring you?” you couldn’t help the bitter laugh that came out, “Alexia, you pretend I don’t exist outside this apartment? At training? You don’t see me Alexia, really see me.” You didn’t realise that it actually hurt that much until you vocalised it, when she reached out to wipe a few tears that slipped, you let her. “You left me in that restaurant like an idiot. You didn’t call or text. I walked home crying because I thought I did something wrong.”

“No amor you didn’t. I promise. I saw Irene and Lucinda and freaked out. She doesn’t know how I feel about you; how alive you make me feel. I didn’t want her to find out, to try and burst our bubble. I’m sorry, truly I am. I will do better.”

You let her show you how sorry she was over and over again. And over the next two weeks, she did make more of an effort. At training, she didn’t ignore you, but neither of you wanted to outwardly tell your teammates about whatever this was between you two.

For two weeks she made you feel like you were on top of the world. Sending you restaurant ideas and talking openly about you meeting her family. When she asked you to be her girlfriend, officially, you said yes right way under the pretence that things wouldn’t change.

Slowly though, she slipped back into the way she was. When you’d laugh with Jana or Cata, she’d send a dirty look your way, as if you weren’t allowed to have your own friends outside of your relationship. The coldness returned fully after you asked about her family. Her mami and sister were at most of the games, and you simply wanted to meet them.

“no.” alexia didn’t even spare you a glance.

“No? alexia we have been dating for ages, they are always at the games and- “

“no. end of discussion.”

“But why Alexia?”

“Because I said no. why can’t you understand that.”

“I’m trying to understand why you are saying no. what about me makes you so ashamed?”

“Dios Mio, you are so dramatic. You aren’t meeting my friends or my family. End of conversation. If you keep going, then I’m going home.” Your heart broke. She is ashamed of you, but for what reason you didn’t know.

“You should leave.” You said quietly. Feeling the tears well up in your eyes.

“amor- “

“No go home alexia.” You slammed your bedroom door closed, sliding down the back of it and letting yourself cry into your knees. She left quickly after that, slamming the door hard and it caused you to cry even harder.

There was no one you could talk to about this. You’d promised to keep your relationship on the downlow, your friends at home didn’t even know. So you cried yourself to sleep. Alexia was still mad when you arrived at training the next day. Everyone was on edge as their captain stomped around the locker-room.

“God what is her problem today?” Jana said as she sat down next to you.

“Maybe she got dumped?” Esme whispered, you felt your chest tighten. Theres no way that Esme could know, is there? When you went to look up at her, she was already looking at you, eyes soft with pity.

“Maybe.” You said with a shrug, looking back down at the floor.

Alexia stayed mad, all day. You tried to ignore her, to focus on training but that became impossible when you were forced to face her in the final part of training. At first it was fine; she didn’t need to mark you and you were able to keep clear.

Then Jona changed things. With every elbow and every shove you could feel yourself growing more annoyed. By the end of it you decided to play her game, you wouldn’t let her treat you like this. At home or at training.

The tackle was clean, you didn’t make any contact with her body, only the ball. But the sheer force of it forced alexia to stumble, sending her body hurling to the ground.

“What the hell was that!” she screamed in your face.

“Ale, it was a clean tackle.” Irene came in-between the two of you before you had a chance to bit back.

“Bullshit it was!”

“Enough!” Jona’s voice cut through, “trainings done. Everyone go home.”

You all but ran back to the locker-room, not wanting to deal with the questions from your friends nor the wrath from Alexia. You didn’t move fast enough though because she came bonding in.

“What is your problem!”

You scoffed at her, as if she didn’t know she was the cause of it all, “leave me alone alexia.”

“No. you’re behaving like a child! You-“

“A child? Me? I think that’s you. Ever since-“ Irene’s entrance into the locker-room stopped you dead in your tracks, this wasn’t the time nor the place for it. “Forget it. Forget everything Alexia.” You through your bag over your shoulder and left. Ignoring the pleas from Jana and cata to stop.

The fight lasted a few weeks, it wasn’t completely radio silent. You would let her come over when you needed sex but never when she needed it. It wasn’t until right before Christmas break that Alexia came over and wouldn’t leave until you talked to her.

“I’m sorry okay? Im sorry.” She pleaded through the door.

“Go home Alexia.”

“Please let me talk to you and then I’ll go.”

“Talk.” You knew that as soon as she was in front of you, you’d forgive her. You love her too much not too.

“Open the door please.” And you did. Alexia looked like shit, in one hand she held a piece of paper, and the other was tucked safely in her pocket.

You left her standing there in the hallway, walking to the couch and sitting down. For a moment, alexia hesitated. She wrote a letter with everything she wanted to say, but now that she was here, she was scared.

She cleared her throat before starting, “I am incredibly sorry for the way I have treated you for the last four months. You deserved better, the truth is that I’m scared. Because I love you, so much. Every time we are together, I never want to be separated, I want to marry you, to have a family with you. But I can’t be public with this. Not now and maybe not ever.”

“Alexia, not once did I ask you to make this relationship public. I just wanted to be seen by your friends or your family. I wanted to know them, but you refused. Never telling me why and starting fights instead.”

“I know, I know. You can meet them, my sister, Alba, she would love you. My mami too. Please just let me show you.” She came to crouch in front of you, pulling your hands apart and placing hers on top.

“Okay.” You whispered out, getting lost in her hazel eyes as she searched yours.

Her hands cupped your face, and she kissed you hard. There were only a few days between the conversation with Alexia and Christmas break. To be fair to her, she did take you out. It was only to the Barcelona Christmas festival, but to you it was something. She openly held your hand, took photos of you and with you. Laughed and genuinely seemed like she was a changed person.

even over the break, while you were in America and she was in Spain, she called, she texted, she put in effort. To you, alexia had changed, had become the person she promised you.

She kept the promise of introducing you to her sister, it was only brief, but it was enough to satisfy you for now. There was a comment she made, about how it was almost Alexia’s birthday, something you knew, but what you didn’t know was that there was a party planned. A party you weren’t invited to.

There was a part of you that held out hope, that alexia would incite you, but she was just waiting for the right time. But that hope quickly disappeared as you sat there on your couch, on February 4th waiting for your girlfriend to turn up. She had agreed, you would make a nice dinner, give her a present and sex. But as the clock ticked closer to 1am, you realised that you were being stood up.

It was a reoccurring event. Alexia would make a promise, shed break the promise, a fight would ensue and then apologies, she’d change for a few weeks, maybe even a couple of months, but then go back to how it was. You decided, then and there, you’d give her until May, after that, if she hadn’t changed probably, then it was the end.

When may rolled around, you knew what you had to do. It was just about the timing. You didn’t want to go through a breakup in the weeks leading up to the champions league final, but you also didn’t want to continue in this hell scape of a toxic relationship.

Every time you tried, you chickened out. You couldn’t even bring yourself to stop inviting her over. As you stood in your living room, looking at all the odds and ends that Alexia had left in your apartment, a knock sounded.

“Esme?” you were confused, none of the girls had really ever been at your apartment, “Are you ok?”

“I actually came here to ask you that.”

“Come in.” you moved out of the way, letting her lead the way through to your loungeroom. Neither of you spoke for a little bit, Esme was looking around the apartment, probably making note of all of Alexia’s things like you had done mere minutes before her arrival.

“I have a girlfriend.” Esme looked at you, really looked at you, “we have a private relationship. But all our friends know, occasionally we post each other on Instagram but not super often, it’s something we both prefer… but you and alexia are different?”

“How did you know?” You were shocked, truly.

“I live a few doors down. I’ve seen you, in the hallway, in the garage. I’ve heard the fighting too.”

“it’s complicated.” She gave you a look to go on, you took a deep breath and unloaded, “for almost a year we have been in this cycle. I want to meet her family and her friends, but she doesn’t want it. At training, she acts like I don’t exist, but here, at home, it’s like im the only person in the world. I’ve tried, and tried, but it only starts fights and now, well, I’m tired.”

“there’s a difference between a relationship being a secret and hidden. Yours seems to be hidden.”

“It is. I don’t want that. I love Alexia, I love her so much, but all the fighting and making up, I can’t keep going like this.”

“you’re going to back up with her?” you nodded your head, Esme raised her eyebrows, “can you like wait? Until after the champions league? I’d like to win.” You laughed at that, because you too wanted to win.

The champions league final was electric. Something you had never experienced and were so incredibly grateful that you got the chance. By the end of the game, Barcelona were the European champions.

It was probably the high of the win, mixed with the alcohol, but when Alexia pulled you into her side and dragged you to meet her family, you felt almost disgusted. It seemed that you were only now worthy of meeting them because you scored in the final.

As you looked toward Esme, Irene stepped into your line of sight. She did not look happy at all, and you knew she wasn’t a fan of this relationship which made you feel better about ending it.

After the high of the Champions League win and the end of the season looming, you knew it was time. Alexia would stay in South America after the team had left, then going to her own camp to prepare for their first Olympics, you would fly back to America and stay there until it was time.

The plan was simple, you invite Alexia over, break up with her and then lock yourself in your room. But that never worked. Every time she came over, she looked even more beautiful, there was a glow about her, something you couldn’t shattered.

So as you sat on the plane, flying the mere two hours back to LA before international break, you sent her a simple text. You knew it was fair, but she hadn’t been fair for the majority of the relationship.

To Alexia: I can’t do this anymore, I’m sorry alexia.

You tucked your phone away, letting the tears fall. Just because it needed to be done doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

[yokumirumerafan]

| Demon slayer reaction request |

Reaction: characters reacting to first kiss

Could you include upper moons+Muzan in that reaction?

Thanks a lot, I love your works

BESTIEEEE, I GOT YOUUU!!! 💖💖💖 THANK YOU FOR LOVING MY WORKS, I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU SCREAM INTO YOUR PILLOW. 😭🔥 Post Info: "Demon Slayer: Reaction to First Kiss" AUs:Canon: The reactions are based on the canonical Demon Slayer characters from the series. What-If Scenario: A fun, fluffy what-if scenario imagining how characters from different factions would react to experiencing their first kiss. Characters Included:Upper Moons: Muzan Kibutsuji Akaza (Upper Moon 3) Kokushibo (Upper Moon 1) Douma (Upper Moon 2) Gyutaro (Upper Moon 6) Daki (Upper Moon 6) Rui (Upper Moon 5) Enmu (Upper Moon 4) Hashira: Giyuu Tomioka Kanao Tsuyuri Shinobu Kocho Mitsuri Kanroji Tengen Uzui Rengoku Kyojuro Main Trio: Tanjiro Kamado Nezuko Kamado Zenitsu Agatsuma Inosuke Hashibira Genya Shinazugawa Short Summary: In this Demon Slayer AU, we explore the lighthearted and sweet reactions of characters from both the Demon Slayer Corps and the Twelve Kizuki (Upper Moons) to their very first kiss. With a blend of shy, awkward, and comedic moments, each character's response is unique to their personality, history, and emotional depth. From Muzan's cold detachment to Mitsuri’s bubbly excitement, this scenario gives fans a glimpse into a more vulnerable side of their favorite characters, filled with surprises, blushes, and heartwarming moments.

Characters Reacting to Their First Kiss:

1. Muzan Kibutsuji Muzan, being cold and calculated, is taken by surprise, though he doesn’t show it. For a moment, his eyes narrow, and his lips curl into a sneer. His thoughts are more strategic, wondering if this kiss is some sort of manipulation. However, a brief flicker of curiosity or even something akin to amusement crosses his mind before he quickly regains composure. He's not one to show vulnerability, so he simply brushes it off, acting like it didn't affect him at all.

2. Akaza (Upper Moon 3) Akaza is genuinely caught off guard, though he tries not to show it. His pride and arrogance are immediately tested, but deep down, he feels an unexpected warmth spread through him. Akaza is someone who often hides his softer feelings, so he might act a bit aggressive afterward, pushing the situation aside with his usual tough demeanor. However, the kiss lingers in his mind, leaving him conflicted about the strange feeling.

3. Kokushibo (Upper Moon 1) Kokushibo is immediately aware of the significance of the moment, but he's far too composed to let it show. With his centuries of experience, a kiss doesn’t move him easily. However, there’s a flicker of something distant in his eyes, almost as if the kiss awakened a long-forgotten feeling of warmth. He may not admit it, but there’s a small part of him that is both perplexed and intrigued by the sensation.

4. Douma (Upper Moon 2) Douma, always in his cheery, carefree mood, laughs lightly after the kiss. He might even tease the person who kissed him, though there’s a hint of fascination in his eyes. For a demon like Douma, physical connections are more of a game or a means of amusement, but there's something about this kiss that makes him feel oddly drawn to it. He's not sure whether to be frustrated or entertained, so he’ll likely brush it off as a “fun experience.”

5. Gyutaro (Upper Moon 6) Gyutaro's reaction is a mix of surprise and discomfort. He’s used to the harsh world he's lived in, and affection isn’t something he's familiar with. The kiss makes him flinch initially, but as it lingers in his mind, he starts to soften—if only a little. While he won't admit it, deep down, it stirs something in him he’s never quite felt before. He’s not sure how to process it but feels something precious blooming within.

6. Daki (Upper Moon 6) Daki’s reaction is much more dramatic. She might even squeal or express her shock in an exaggerated manner, quickly trying to hide her embarrassment. She’s not used to being vulnerable in such a personal way, and while she may act like she’s unaffected, her flustered face betrays her. It’s a mix of excitement and nervousness as she tries to maintain her façade of superiority.

7. Rui (Upper Moon 5) Rui’s reaction would be cold at first, considering how rigid and detached he is emotionally. He’s not used to such things, so he freezes, not knowing how to respond. Rui would likely turn away, trying to justify his feelings as weakness. But in the silence, the kiss haunts him, and deep inside, he feels an unfamiliar longing, which he tries to suppress with his usual cold demeanor.

8. Enmu (Upper Moon 4) Enmu would likely get lost in his thoughts after the kiss, more fascinated by the emotions it stirred within him than the kiss itself. He might try to analyze the feelings that come with it, wanting to dive into the psychology of it all. His reaction is almost intellectual rather than emotional—he's curious and enjoys exploring new sensations, even if they make him uneasy at first.

Hashira Reactions:

1. Giyuu Tomioka Giyuu, ever the stoic, freezes when the kiss happens. He’s too caught up in his sense of duty to fully process the emotion. Afterward, he’ll likely act distant, turning his focus back to his work to avoid confronting what just happened. But in his quiet moments, he will replay the event in his mind, confused by the emotions he doesn't know how to handle.

2. Kanao Tsuyuri Kanao is shy and reserved, so her reaction would be one of complete shock. She might blush deeply and struggle to form words. It’s a rare moment for Kanao to open up emotionally, and after the kiss, she’d likely be flustered and act distant, unsure of how to deal with this new feeling. But deep down, she’s secretly pleased and maybe even a little more confident than before.

3. Shinobu Kocho Shinobu’s reaction would be one of surprise followed by a soft, playful smirk. She’s always so composed and analytical that she may respond in a teasing manner. She might even make a joke about it to hide any vulnerability, though the quick flash of genuine emotion behind her eyes would reveal that it did have an effect on her.

4. Mitsuri Kanroji Mitsuri, the embodiment of love and warmth, would absolutely adore the moment. She would probably blush bright pink, her heart racing with excitement. Mitsuri’s reaction would be bubbly and affectionate, filled with joy and perhaps a few shy giggles. She might even hug the person afterward, expressing how much she liked it.

5. Tengen Uzui Tengen, ever the dramatic one, would be over-the-top in his reaction. His first instinct is to laugh it off and tease the person, calling them “amazing” or “incredible” for their courage. However, underneath all the flair, he’s genuinely touched and feels a deep connection to the person, even if he’s unwilling to show it right away.

6. Rengoku Kyojuro Rengoku would smile warmly, his usual enthusiasm only intensifying. The kiss would make him feel honored and appreciated. He would likely laugh joyously afterward and compliment the person on their bravery, though his eyes would shine with sincerity. Rengoku is a passionate person, and his love for others is pure, so he’d see this as a moment of connection.

Main Trio & Genya Reactions:

1. Tanjiro Kamado Tanjiro would be sweet and shy after his first kiss. His face would light up with a massive blush, and he’d immediately apologize for his reaction, unsure of what to say. However, Tanjiro’s heart would be full, and he would cherish the moment in his heart, silently vowing to protect the person who shared such a tender moment with him.

2. Nezuko Kamado Nezuko would be speechless and very confused, especially since she’s still learning about human emotions. Her reaction might be one of surprise, with her eyes widening as she instinctively pulls her hands to her face. She may not understand the significance, but she can definitely sense the emotions surrounding it.

3. Zenitsu Agatsuma Zenitsu would absolutely lose his mind. He’d be flailing around, blushing like a tomato, and struggling to express how overwhelmed he is. He might try to act cool, but his emotions would be all over the place. Deep down, he’d feel incredibly lucky and would likely try to be more protective of the person who kissed him.

4. Inosuke Hashibira Inosuke would be utterly confused. He’d be flustered and maybe even a bit embarrassed, but he’d try to act like it didn’t bother him. In reality, it would send him into a frenzy of mixed emotions. He might even challenge the person who kissed him, trying to understand what it all means, but secretly, he’s touched.

5. Genya Shinazugawa Genya would immediately get defensive, his face turning a deep shade of red. His first instinct would be to push the person away, but in his heart, he feels something stirring. He’s not good with emotions, and this would probably be his first real experience with affection, so he’d react by trying to act tough, though inside, he's deeply moved.

This one is half-ass written, rlly sorry 4 that.

[ghostlychaosfoil]

stained au arc posters!

the first one is the plus || arc (kirby’s introduction and integration with the tmnt) and the second is the poster for the double mutated arc (the tmnt get transported to a different planet via portal)

rambling about the symbolism and my design choices and connections to lore under cut😋

for the first:

everything behind him represents all the things that torment him.

The purpley pink vines is the kraang because of his long kraangification, he gets dreams about kraang, entire the color pink triggers ptsd (which is sad since HIS COLOR used to be pink), his marks his marks are now forever pink after the krangification permanently stained pink from the kraang.

The yellow and the eye represents Venus. Venus is the missing sister that has been trying to reach out to Kirby telepathically through his dreams. Since Venus is not extremely skilled with her mystic powers, her message does not translate well to kirby. His venus dreams end up scaring him and further developing his somniphobia.

The alligator is his father leatherhead, whom he has not seen since before the invasion. Leatherhead is dead but Kirby doesnt know that yet!!! because leatherhead died while kirby was still kraangified!! he does however ignore that possibility and lets his delusions run wild. saying stuff like “oh boy dad’ll looove to hear about this” (he hasnt seen his dad in months and his house is vacant and hes nowhere to be found). While he thinks these things on the surface, part of him misses his father and feels deep guilt and sadness that cant be treated with self gaslighting.

and obviously on the right is the hamato crest respresenting how he has a whole new and loving family that can help him put that stuff behind him. though hes weary

some other little details

kirby’s shell and leatherheads teeth dig into eachothers skin showing how they both are so attached to eachother and they hurt in their absence

the glint of teal in venus’s eye because thats her color

the tear in leatherheads eye representing the depressed spiral he went down after the invasion and kirby was missing

some of venus’s fire is burning kraang bits

for the second:

The purple side represents the planet Axolia and the blue side represents earth. Kirby is on earth because he didnt fall through the portal, but with the help of april and casey jr, hes trying to tap into his ninpo to get them back. Mikey is on the Axolian side because hes is the one of the brothers who didnt get double mutated and turned feral.

The thing that mikey is breaking is a flask of the Axolian mutagen. The bugs that took over axolia produce them and the native axolians (axolotl yokai, much like salamandrians) drink them much like they would water. But its toxic to foreign entities and materials. Mikey is breaking it because though he was not mutated by accident like his brothers, he has to take the mutagen in small quantities to gain enough power to learn the immunification and purification spells from the Axolians. this mutates him in the process but he doesnt lose his mind, but his body progressively changes (ex: the yellow spots forming on his hand in the art where he breaks the flask)

The white shape going through the middle represents the mystic powers at play. which is why its connected to kirby and mikey, who are both tapping into new mystic powers in order to help save their brothers

Leo donnie and raph are all on the cusp of this mystic barrier. on the earth side it shows their normal form, and on the axolian side it shows the new form they take after the mutation.

If donnies design looks a little different than raph and leos you would be right. for donnie, the mutagen didnt hit his skin or shell like raph and leos, the mutagen hit his battle shell, which ended up covering most of his body in mutated metal, making him look like a robot of some sort.

Some lore about planet axolia here and under #stained info #stained au

[ll7esxs]

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶

Relationship Alphabet series with Cod ghosts!

Keegan Russ

✧ Pairing: Romantic. ✧ Genre: Fluff.

✧ Warnings: Light NSFW, and mention of NSFW content MDNI.

A – Affection

Keegan isn’t one for public displays of affection, but in private, he’s a different man. His affection is quiet but meaningful, shown through small gestures like brushing his fingers against yours when no one’s looking or a firm hand on your lower back when walking together, Love it when you sit on his lap, doing nothing but resting his head on ur back after a long day.

He expresses love through acts of service—bringing you coffee/drink/tea just the way you like it, pulling you closer under the covers at night, or standing protectively between you and a potential threat.

Light NSFW: In intimacy, Keegan’s affection is intense but controlled. His kisses are slow and deep, his hands firm yet careful as they explore your body. He won’t say much, but the way he moves, the way he holds you, makes it undeniably clear how much he cares.

"You feel so good." His voice is husky, lips trailing over your Skin, taking his time with every touch.

B – Boundaries

Keegan is big on boundaries, both his own and yours. He values personal space and isn’t the type to be overly clingy. If you need time alone, he gets it. If he needs a moment to clear his head, he expects the same in return.

He’s also protective of you but never possessive. He trusts you completely and won’t ever try to control you. However, if he senses something or someone is dangerous, expect him to step in with a silent but deadly presence.

Light NSFW: In the bedroom, Keegan respects boundaries immensely. He’s a careful, attentive lover, always making sure you’re comfortable. He won’t push you into anything you’re unsure of and expects the same respect in return.

"Tell me what you want, sweetheart and I’ll give it to you."

C – Communication

Keegan isn’t a man of many words, but when he does speak, he means every word. He’s a good listener and pays attention to the little details. He may not always say “I love you”, but he shows it in ways that speak louder than words.

If something’s bothering him, he won’t shut you out completely, but he’ll take time to process before opening up. He prefers to talk when things calm down, rather than in the heat of the moment.

"I’m not ignoring you. Just... give me a minute."

Light NSFW: Keegan is into talking dirty—he prefers low whispers against your ear, deep breaths, and the occasional groan that tells you everything you need to know. But if you push him, he’ll break, and when he does, his words come out rough and raw, he just has no idea what you are doing to him.

D – Devotion

If Keegan loves you, it’s for life. His devotion isn’t flashy—it’s steady, unwavering, and unshakable. He won’t fall in love easily, but once he does, he’s all in. No hesitation.

He’ll always have your back, no matter what. If you’re in trouble, he’ll drop everything to be there. And if someone hurts you? They’ll have to deal with Keegan Russ in full Ghost mode, and trust me—that’s not a good thing.

Light NSFW: In intimacy, his devotion translates into attention to detail. He’s focused on you—your sounds, your breathing, every movement. He takes his time, making sure every touch, every moment, is memorable.

E – Empathy

Keegan might seem cold and distant, but he’s surprisingly intuitive when it comes to your emotions. He notices the small things—the way your breathing changes, the tension in your shoulders, the subtle way your voice wavers.

He doesn’t push you to talk, but he lets you know he’s there. If you need comfort, he’ll silently pull you into a hug or sit beside you in quiet understanding.

"I don’t know what to say love... but I’m here. That’s not changing."

Light NSFW: Keegan’s empathy extends to intimacy as well. He’s a patient, observant lover, ensuring that he’s not just taking, but giving just as much. He’s aware of what you need and won’t stop until he knows you’re completely satisfied.

"Relax. Let me get it done."

F – Forgiveness

Keegan doesn’t hold grudges, he’s so quick to forgive either, It's like yall get into argument then him out of nowhere after hours come back and talk to you like nothing happened. he just doesn't care about these small issues, he lets them slide easily. But if you break his trust? That’s another story.

It takes time for him to fully forgive, but if he sees genuine effort, he will try. However, if someone betrays him beyond repair, they’re dead to him—simple as that.

"I won’t pretend it didn’t happen, kid."

Light NSFW: In intimacy, if there’s ever a misunderstanding or tension, Keegan prefers to work through it slowly he is a controlled man. He’s not one to jump right into bed after an argument—he needs to feel connected again before anything physical happens, but he couldn't help it with the way his body rise up with heated feelings.

G – Growth

Keegan doesn’t just stay the same—he evolves, and he expects the same from his partner. He’s not afraid of change, but he values stability.

At the beginning of the relationship, he’s reserved and keeps his emotions close to his chest, but over time, he starts letting you in, showing you parts of himself no one else gets to see.

If you're struggling with something, he won’t fix it for you, but he’ll push you to be stronger. He doesn’t coddle—he believes in you too much for that, he believes he should get a strong partner in his life.

Light NSFW: In intimacy, Keegan learns your body over time. Every experience with him is better than the last because he takes note of what makes you shiver, gasp, melt—and he uses it against you.

"You like that, don’t you? Thought so."

H – Honesty

Keegan is brutally honest— yeah with everyone around sometimes too much. but with his beloved partner, If you ask him for his opinion, be ready for the truth, because he won’t sugarcoat it.

He doesn’t believe in mind games or passive aggression. If something’s wrong, he’ll say it outright. If you mess up, he’ll call you out but teasing for to get a madness from you, and he expects you to do the same for him, and honestly he is all for someone honest with him.

Light NSFW: Keegan is into the-top dirty talk, and when he does speak, it’s low, direct, and intense—his honesty carries into the bedroom, and when if you ever do the same with him, He is all down bad for it, he already lost and forgot what he wanted to do with you.

"Damn love, who taught you how to talk like that?" Yes he needs to know the secret.

I – Intimacy

Keegan’s version of intimacy isn’t just physical—it’s trust, understanding, and the feeling of home.

Physical intimacy with him is slow and intense—he’s the type to take his time, memorize every part of you, and make sure you feel everything. But emotional intimacy? That’s something he guards fiercely.

"You’re the only one I let this close. Don’t think I don’t know how much that means."

He’ll let you in bit by bit, sharing the past he rarely speaks about, the fears he never voices. And when he finally does? That’s when you know he’s all in.

Light NSFW: Keegan is all about connection—he wants to feel you, not just physically, but emotionally. He’s focused, intense, and unrelenting when it comes to pleasure.

"Eyes on me, sweetheart."

J – Joy

Keegan’s sense of joy is subtle but real. He’s not loud or dramatic about it, but when he’s happy, you can see it in his eyes, the way the corners of his mouth twitch when you tease him, the rare smirk he gives when he’s feeling particularly amused.

He enjoys simple things—a night drive with you [be safe✌🏻], the sound of rain on the roof, the peace that comes with just existing together.

He’s got a dry, deadpan sense of humor, so if you can match that? You’ll have him hooked.

"You really think that’s funny?" He says with a completely straight face... before finally breaking into a small chuckle.

Light NSFW: Keegan might not laugh during intimacy, but he loves seeing you flustered. If teasing you makes you squirm? He’ll absolutely do it.

"Look at you. So desperate already?"

K – Kindness

Keegan isn’t soft, but he’s good. His kindness is quiet, strong, and unwavering.

He won’t baby you, but he’ll always have your back. If you're having a bad day, he won’t say much—instead, he'll bring you coffee/tea/drink, sit next to you in silence, or press a warm, reassuring kiss to your temple.

He’s gentle in his own way—steady hands on your waist, the way he pulls you close in his sleep, the way he waits for you when you need time to process your emotions.

Light NSFW: Keegan is gentle yet firm in intimacy—his kindness shows in the way he takes his time, making sure you feel safe and wanted.

"I’ve got you. Just let go."

L – Love

Keegan doesn’t fall easily, but when he does, it’s permanent. His love is deep, unwavering, and incredibly strong—a pillar you can always lean on.

He won’t be overly romantic, but you’ll feel it in every touch, every glance, every quiet act of devotion. He’s the type to stay up watching you sleep after a nightmare, to hold your hand out of nowhere and give it a kiss, to kiss you slow and deep like it’s the last time, every time.

"Christ, got any idea how much you mean to me?"

And when he finally says “I love you”? You know it’s real, because he doesn’t throw those words around lightly.

Light NSFW: When Keegan loves, he makes sure you know it—with his hands, his lips, his body, his everything.

M – Memories

Keegan holds onto memories tightly, even if he doesn’t talk about them much. His mind is like a vault, storing every little moment with you—whether it’s the way you laugh, how you take yourself always, or the exact tone of your voice when you tease him.

He isn’t the type to take constant pictures, but he keeps small mementos—your handwriting on a sticky note, a pressed flower from a trip you took together, even a stupid inside joke scrawled on a bar napkin.

If you ever doubt if he cherishes your time together, just know: he does. He always does.

N – Nurturing

Keegan isn’t openly coddling, but his way of nurturing comes through in protective instincts and subtle care. If you’re sick, he won’t smother you, but you’ll suddenly find water, medicine, and a warm blanket within reach. If you’re exhausted, he’ll just tug you into his arms and let you rest against him without saying a word.

"Go to sleep. I’ll still be here when you wake up."

And if you ever break down, he won’t ask questions. He’ll just pull you close, hand steady on your back, heartbeat solid against your ear.

"I got you."

O – Openness

Keegan isn’t naturally open, and that’s the hardest part of being with him. At first, he bottles everything up—he thinks his burdens are his alone to carry.

But over time, he learns that being open with you doesn’t make him "weak". It’s not easy for him, but if you patiently wait, you’ll see him start to unravel in small ways—a hand gripping yours a little tighter, a quiet admission at 2 AM when the world is still.

When he finally trusts you enough to let you in, that’s when you know he’s truly yours.

P – Patience

Keegan is stoic, disciplined, and controlled, but when it comes to you? His patience is infinite.

Whether it’s helping you through something difficult, waiting for you to open up, or calming you down after a bad day, he never rushes you.

"Take your time. I’m not going anywhere."

And if you’re stubborn or having an off day, he doesn’t push. He just stays close, offering his silent presence until you’re ready.

Light NSFW: His patience extends to the bedroom, too. He’s the type to drag things out, savoring every reaction, making sure you feel everything.

"I can do this all night."

Q – Quality Time

Keegan doesn’t care for fancy dates or extravagant plans— Yeah he will go with you for whenever you want but his idea of quality time is just being with you.

He loves the quiet moments—long drives at night, sitting on the rooftop watching the city lights, lying in bed with you, tracing circles on your back just going deep in his thoughts breathing in and out.

"You don’t have to do anything special. Just be here."

His love language is undistracted presence—when he’s with you, he’s fully with you. No phone, no distractions, just you and him, existing in the same space.

R – Respect

Keegan doesn’t take respect lightly. He won’t tolerate being disrespected, and he sure as hell won’t do it to you.

He values your opinions, your choices, your independence. He’ll challenge you, push you to be better, but he’ll never undermine you.

"You’re strong. I knew that the first time I saw you."

If someone crosses the line with you? Keegan won’t lose his temper, but the danger in his eyes will say enough, He is already there throwing hands perhaps.

S – Support

Keegan isn’t the cheerleader type, but his support is unshakable.

If you have a goal? He’ll push you towards it. If you’re struggling? He’ll stand by your side. If you doubt yourself? He won’t even let you start to do it.

"Hey You’re more though than you think. I see it, even if you don’t."

His support isn’t loud—it’s steady. A reassuring touch on your back, a quiet “I believe in you,” a subtle nod when you need it most.

T – Trust

For Keegan, trust is earned, not given. It takes time, but once you have it, he’s all in.

He trusts you with his life, his emotions, his everything. But if you break that trust? It’s almost impossible to rebuild.

"If I trust you, it’s because you’ve won it. Don’t take that softly."

But when he loves you, he trusts you completely—his heart, his body, his soul. He lets himself be vulnerable in ways no one else sees.

Light NSFW: In intimacy, trust is everything to him. He wants to know that you trust him just as much as he trusts you, He trusts you enough that you saw beneath his clothes and the moments you share. together.

"Let go. I’ve got you."

U – Understanding

Keegan is a man of few words, but he understands you better than you might realize. He’s good at reading people, catching onto small details others overlook.

If you’re having a bad day, he won’t ask a million questions—he’ll just hand your favorite snacks, pull you into his arms, and let you breathe.

"You Gonna tell me what happened, love?."

He knows that sometimes, you need space. Other times, you need him to just be there. He never pressures you to talk but will always be ready to listen.

V – Vulnerability

This is the hardest thing for Keegan. He’s spent years keeping his emotions in check, believing that showing weakness could cost lives.

At first, he’s walled off, refusing to let you see the weight he carries. But as time goes on, you’ll see cracks in his armor—soft confessions at night, small glimpses of the man behind the soldier.

The first time he opens up to you, it’s raw and real—not dramatic, not forced, just genuine honesty. And after that? He’ll trust you with parts of himself he never shows anyone else.

W – Warmth

Keegan isn’t sunshine and rainbows, but his love is steady and strong. His warmth comes in silent gestures—a calloused hand brushing your cheek, an arm around your waist as you sleep, the way he always makes sure you’re safe.

"You cold? C’mere."

He isn’t cuddly in public, but behind closed doors, he’ll pull you into his lap, press a slow kiss to your temple, and let you melt into him.

Light NSFW:

He runs warm, and you’ll always notice it at night—his body heat wrapping around you, his breath against your ear as he holds you close.

"You feel good against me, sweetheart."

X – XO (Hugs & Kisses)

Keegan isn’t overly affectionate, but when he wants to touch you, he makes it count.

His hugs are rare but meaningful—a strong arm around your waist, a firm grip on your shoulder, a brief but lingering squeeze before he lets go.

"Goddamit, you mean everything to me."

His kisses are intense—slow, deep, and makeout sessions full of big passion. and for teasing? He’s the type to tilt your chin up, letting his lips brush over yours until you’re practically begging him to kiss you.

"You want more? Say it."'

Y – Yearning

Keegan isn’t the type to voice his longing outright, but you can see it in his eyes, in the way he watches you, in the tension in his shoulders when you’re apart.

If he is gone for a mission, he won’t spam your phone with messages—he’ll just send one text:

"Stay safe. will Come back to you."

When he misses you, you’ll feel it in the way he holds you after you return—his grip a little tighter, his voice softer, the way he just rests his forehead against yours in silence.

Light NSFW: When he’s been away too long? Expect his hands to be greedy, his lips demanding on yours, his voice low and rough in your ear.

"You have no idea how much I fucking missed you."

Z – Zeal

Keegan might seem quiet, but when he loves someone, he loves them with everything he has, And he is questioning himself how this happened or passed him.

He’s devoted, intense, and unwavering—his passion doesn’t burn bright and fleeting, it smolders like an ember, lasting forever.

"You were never a choice to me...I don't get on loveing that easy"

His zeal for you isn’t just in words, but in actions—how he watches your back, how he protects you, how he chooses you over and over again.

Light NSFW: When he’s focused on you, he’s all in. His passion isn’t rushed—it’s deliberate, consuming, leaving you breathless under his touch.

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶

[that-one-i-think]

Since we are overanalyzing stuff, time for me to talk about my view on Shadow Knights.

I like to think of Shadow Knigts as a metaphor for obsession and how trauma can fundamentally change you and your relationships, and this is exampled by all of the Shadow Knight we know (with few exceptions, but I can explain why).

As well all know, the biggest part of being a Shadow Knight is the strong desire to kill the person closest to you, with the majority case being your lord. It is what the required step to change from fledgling to fully developed Shadow knight is. No avoiding it, and that's because relationships have power.

There is no relationship where someone does not have some sort of power over the other, and that is not a bad thing objectively. It is just a fact. From siblings to parents to friends to lovers, all relationships have some sort of power dynamic. I am not talking stronger or weaker, but more like a charge or energy. You trade and share your power like a circuit to a bulb, some relations brighten it, others burn it out.

The trading of power is natural, but Shadow knights are unnatural beings created by a man scourned by every relationship he had, especially with a woman who held so much power over him, so much sway. We have all seen the trope of "I have had my heart shattered so I must make sure no one EVER LOVES AGAIN!", well, to me this is exactly that. The knights are forced to kill the person closest to them, the person who holds the greatest power over them, metaphorically but especially literally when it comes to lords. You cannot have a relationship in fear of harming the other.

The process of being turned into a Shadow Knight is also very similar to how abusers trap their victims, this time to a very literal extreme. They isolate them, make them dead to the world, feed them vile thoughts about the people they care about, and when they do leave, there is a literal calling, forcing them to come back. They can't be around their old relationships because they now fear they are too violent, too dangerous, too broken. They try to act normal, try to be who they once were, but they can't. Cause that is not how trauma works.

The two shadow knights who exemplify this the most are Laurance and Sasha, who are the ones we are the most familiar with. We watch for essentially 150+ episodes of Laurance and Aphmau building a relationship as friends and having that relationship deteriorate as Laurances trauma gets worse and worse, before overtaking him entirely when he has to respond to the calling. I am not going to go into [black] deserved better in either relationship as it doesn't matter what they deserved, this is how the situation played out. Friendship to genuine care to hyperfixation to possession to obsession to hatred, that is how their relationship played out because Laurance was never able to heal. The relationship became toxic because of it, NOT ON PURPOSE, mind you, neither were abusive or intentionally tried to be. Sometimes that just happens and you need to know when to walk away, which is what Laurance did.

Sasha is another character who faced this conundrum with Kenmur, but the only difference was that she had time. 15 years with the knowledge that Kenmur was most likely dead (Irene dimension), and she, to some extent, already mourned. That is not to say she did not freak out when she saw him again, but she wasn't murderous. She was incredibly depressed. Just like Laurance, her love moved on and was even getting married, but her reaction wasn't murderous rage. It was to try and bury her feelings. She had time to be away, time to heal, and while she can never move on (as shown is season 3 when she cries when Kenmur dies despite being in Tu'la) she can allow both of them to heal at least.

Gene is another character who is obsessive with his relationships after becoming a Shadow Knight, but a big difference with him is that he already had abusive tendencies. He tried to erase his ex's memories so they could continue dating, so after his transformation, his TRAUMA these traits became worse and exaggerated, something that does happen after trauma. It does not excuse nor make sense of his actions but when Gene came back, he came back for revenge but he felt no desire to kill Dante, the person you would assume would be closest to him, because Dante had already betrayed him, so he had no one. There was no one with power over him because Gene was in abusive relationships where he did have all the power, where he was the one burning their bulbs in a sense.

Vylad is another character who has no one he was truly close to either. He was the bastardd child of a lord, he came into this life as an accident, as a mistake. Objectively he should have the desire to kill Garroth or him mom (which 50/50 for Garroth, those arrows man) but here's a big thing for Vylads healing, Hyria. She took care of him and made sure he was okay before sending him off. He was given the tools to heal by someone who doesn't give him permanent reminders of his trauma. He also had time on his hands to heal, where his family was trapped in another dimension or being invaded by Tu'la. He had both time and resources, which is why he is the only one who is truly fine.

I am not going to go into Zenix cause he is... Odd as hell and I don't recall his shadow knight status. He is very complicated character with not enough answers to go with.

Vincent is a full-fledged shadow knight after killing his brother, but the thing is, after purging that relationship he still struggles. He said he had moments of no control but he doesn't anymore, he is in control and that is after time, a very long time. Purging the relationship didn't solve his trauma, it just gave him nothing to obsess with.

Now, there is one last Shadow Knight I am going to go into, and that is Amethyst, the old lady who was in like, 2 episodes. She was a happy old lady who was with her loving husband, and that is all she was because time allowed her to be so. Nothing more. She is a shadow knight who was able to overcome her trauma and live a happy life, but that was with time, and with her husband, whom she grew old with.

Even if the relationship you desire wasn't the one to traumatize you, the memory of that time can be enough to cause damage. Time is what is needed so someone can be able to set their wounds and allow themselves to heal, if they so choose.

[biblical-chronicles]

Exposed

___________________________________________

where an interview host let's Noel know that you have a crush on him

___________________________________________

You sat comfortably on the plush chair, smoothing your hands over your trousers, shaking off the last bit of nerves. You weren’t new to interviews, but this one felt different, maybe because Noel Gallagher was about to sit beside you.

You had barely processed the thought when the man himself strolled onto the stage, greeting the host with a firm handshake before turning to you. His blue eyes flickered with curiosity as he pulled you into a quick hug, his jacket slightly rough against your arms, the scent of cigarettes and some light perfume clinging to him.

“Alright?” he murmured near your ear, his voice low, effortlessly cool.

You nodded, hoping you didn’t look as starstruck as you felt. “Yeah, you?”

“Sound, yeah.” he said, before dropping into his seat with a sigh, already making himself comfortable.

The host grinned, glancing between the two of you. “Well, this is quite the moment. First time meeting, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you confirmed, shooting Noel a quick look. “Big moment for me.”

Noel smirked, adjusting his cuffs. “For you, yeah?”

Before you could fire something back, the host’s grin widened. “Now, I don’t know if you know this, Noel, but—” He turned to the audience with a dramatic pause. “She’s got a bit of a crush on you.”

Your stomach dropped. Your head snapped toward the host. “Oh, you are not doin’ this to me right now.”

Laughter erupted across the room. Noel raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, while the host only leaned forward.

“Oh, come on,” the host continued, barely holding in his own laughter. “You’ve said it in interviews before—how fit you think Noel is, how much you rate him—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” you groaned, covering your face for a second. “This is cruel.”

Meanwhile, Noel just leaned back, stretching an arm over the couch with a smug grin on his face. “Yeah? That right?”

The audience laughed louder, and you could already tell that this was going to get you some embarassing publicity later.

You turned to him. “Can you blame me?”

He let out a low chuckle, tapping his fingers against his knee. “Suppose not.”

The host clapped his hands together. “Oh, this is brilliant.”

Noel smirked, tilting his head slightly as he looked at you. “So, what’s the deal then? You got a poster of me on your wall or summat?”

You narrowed your eyes, trying not to laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself too much.”

Noel only grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself. He reached out, taking your hand in his, running his thumb along your knuckles in an infuriatingly casual way.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “But I reckon I should be a bit flattered, yeah? You’ve been singin’ me praises all this time, after all.”

Your breath caught for just a second, but you masked it with an eye roll. “You are such a dickhead.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he dismissed, still holding onto your hand, tilting his head slightly. “Just tryna picture it, y’know? You, sittin’ in your room, starin’ up at me face on your wall, sighin’ all dramatic—”

“Oh, fuck off.” you laughed, tugging your hand back, your face growing warm.

The audience was eating it up, and the host was also happy with the new dynamic. “Oh, you two are unreal.”

Noel let you go but was still smirking as he leaned back. “Nowt to be embarassed about—I had posters too, y’know.

You scoffed. “Right, that makes me feel so much better.”

“No problem love.”

You shook your head, still grinning despite yourself, but thankfully, the host took mercy on you and steered the conversation back towards actual interview topics. You spent the next twenty minutes discussing your new album, your influences, your upcoming tour. But the whole time, your mind kept flashing back to the way Noel’s fingers had grazed yours, the teasing look in his eye, the way he had leaned just that little bit closer than necessary. You were rattled, no doubt about it.

And then, just like that, the show wrapped up. The host thanked you both, the audience cheered, and the crew began to move around, wrapping cables and adjusting equipment. You exhaled, shaking off the last bit of nerves as you stood from the couch, ready to head backstage and escape this ridiculous night with at least some dignity intact.

But just as you turned, Noel’s voice stopped you.

“Oi,” he said, standing up beside you.

You glanced up at him. “What?”

Noel shifted on his feet, hesitating for a beat, then exhaled through his nose, giving you that same measured look he’d had earlier. “Maybe I’ve got a bit of a crush too now.”

You blinked at him, then let out a short laugh, shaking your head. “Alright, dead funny.”

His brow furrowed. “What?”

“You don’t have to be nice, you know.” You gave him a pointed look, arms crossing over your chest. “I get it, you were just playin’ along for the telly, it’s fine.”

Noel stared at you, looking almost offended. “You think I’d say summat like that for a laugh?”

You lifted a brow. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

He huffed, running a hand through his hair. “Jesus Christ.”

“I mean, come on,” you went on, your voice light but a little nervous. “I'm not mad or owt. It's only natural tha—”

Before you could finish, Noel let out a frustrated noise, stepped forward, and grabbed you by the waist, pulling you in and kissing you.

It was just a quick, firm press of his lips against yours, like he needed to prove his point before you could talk yourself out of believing it.

He looked at you after pulling away, eyes sharp, lips just barely curled at the corners. “That change your mind?”

Your thoughts were scrambled. You swallowed, blinking up at him. “Maybe?” Then, with an exhale, “Yeah.”

A satisfied smirk tugged at his mouth. He leaned in slightly, voice dropping just enough to make your stomach flip again. “Meet me by the exit in half an hour, yeah?”

And before you could even find a response, he stepped back, gave you one last look, and walked off, leaving you standing there with your heart hammering, trying to process whatever the fuck just happened.

___________________________________________

gettin' back on track, hope ya lot like it xx

I'll try me best to post more regularly now, love ya all !

[justafewberries]

I'm obsessed with your philosophical analysis! Can you do Plutarch? I knew he wrote Parallel Lives before SOTR, but now that we're seeing all the parallels on full display I want to know more!

Yes! Hi! There’s so much here. This took me forever, so stick with me. I made it as concise as I could, but Plutarch spent his life writing.

This post won’t be a deep dive into the character Plutarch Heavensbee, as I feel he embodies so many different schools of philosophy. I can’t possibly fit it all in one answer, so this will be more of a comparison between Plutarch (Historical figure) and Plutarch Heavensbee (book character, from now on referred to as “Heavensbee” for clarity). I’ll cover Parallel Lives then Moralia. It’s bound to be a long post.

In order to understand Plutarch, you must dive into his philosophy. While I won’t include extensive detailing into his ideas on the soul and rationality, I did comb through most of his works to find values that I think align with how Heavensbee acts. I’ll start with a brief synopsis of Parallel Lives, and then I'll talk about his much lesser known philosophical works. 

Keep reading for my essay on Plutarch and Plutarch Heavensbee

Parallel Lives

Plutarch’s most famous work is indeed Parallel Lives, commonly known in short form as just Lives. In this collection of 48 works, he juxtaposes biographies of two comparable figures, one of whom is Roman and the other Greek. He compares the lives of prominent figures both in times during the decline of their nations, Greece having already fallen and Rome in the contemporary process of decline.

The most notable aspect of Lives is how the juxtaposition presents the impact of choices. In the comparison of Coriolanus and Alchabedies, both men are extremely successful generals, but both were, in a sense, exiled due to their choice to commit immoral actions. In the comparison of Theseus and Romulus, both men are very powerful socially and successful in battle, but they let their compulsion rule.

Every person in the history of the world must at some point in their lives make a choice. In the case of Lives, Plutarch emphasizes how choices in conduct lead to different outcomes. 

To give you important context, Plutarch was a big fan of Plato. In his argument on the soul, he even alludes to Plato’s allegory of the chariot. He values virtue in a similar way to Plato and Aristotle. In very brief terms, Plutarch believes virtue is found between two extremes. It’s a middle ground between reason and emotion. 

I can’t cover all recovered twenty-two pairs and four individual biographies in this post. If you want to read all of them, there are wonderful, accessible transcriptions here. Keep in mind there are different translations and transcriptions, this is just a source where most of the biographies are accessible.

Please also note that Parallel Lives is more so a historical work than a structured philosophical essay. Plutarch himself is not considered fully credible by many historians. He would notably embellish his works, and at some points, likely make things up. He’s often the only source we have for some events, so his works have become crucial to the histories of Rome and Greece. Still, be conscious that a lot of the information he provides is disputed. Funnily enough, in this way, he’s similar to Heavensbee. 

In this section, I’ll examine a few pairings: 

Coriolanus and Alchabedies 

Theseus and Romulus

Lycurgus and Numa

Coriolanus and Alchabedies 

Just like President Snow, Coriolanus lost his father at a young age. He was known to abstain from pleasures of life and dedicated himself to his studies, and the Romans had “admiration upon his insensibility to pleasures, toils, and mercenary gains, to which they gave the names of self-control, fortitude, and justice; but in their intercourse with him as a fellow-citizen they were offended by it as ungracious, burdensome, and arrogant." 

After receiving notoriety for his valor in battle, he became a consul to the senate as a general. Marcius (the name Coriolanus preferred, thus I will henceforth refer to him) did not want the senate to listen to the mob of people who claimed the rich were withholding grain from the poor. He thought that conceding to the demands of the mob would show weakness of the senate, and he was beloved by the rich senators for this sentiment.

During his rise, Rome was experiencing a grain shortage. When it began to purchase grain, the commoners, or plebeians, began to demand a fair price, as the rich were withholding it. During a heated meeting in the senate, Marcius “rose in his place and vehemently attacked those who favoured the multitude, calling them demagogues and betrayers of the aristocracy, and declaring that they were nourishing, to their own harm, the evil seeds of boldness and insolence which had been sown among the rabble; these they should have choked when they first sprang up, and not have strengthened the people by such a power­ful magistracy as the tribunate.” He advocated for getting rid of the tribunate, as it empowers the commoners. This proclamation turned many statesmen against him, but gained the approval from the rich.

Skipping forward, he was eventually tried under multiple charges and sentenced to banishment. He fled to Volsci where he became a general. He laid siege to neighboring cities, and upon camping outside of Rome, his mother, Volumina (like Dr. Gaul) talked him out of his intended siege and he called off his troops peacefully. He valued no one more than his mother.

Upon returning to Volsci, he was assassinated in a plot by his friend Tullus, who resented him.

On the other side, Alcibiades indulged in vices. He was said to be beautiful and had many lovers. Alcibiades was a great orator, but, like how Marcius hated plebeians, he was corrupted by his hatred for Nicias. Nicias was a general that was credited for obtaining peace and freeing some men. Alcibiades believed it was his doing that freed the men, not Nicias, and thus conspired with the enemy to have them invade, all to make Nicias look bad. It worked, and after a rousing speech, Alcibiades was appointed general. 

He had a long and very successful career in war, but he wasn't loyal. He fell to his vices, often living lavishly, partaking in excessive drinking and partying, and he was easily corruptible. He would switch sides to whichever offered him protection, valor, or more wealth, often to take refuge from those he had wronged. He'd return to previous allies in a cyclical manner, going anywhere that would take him. According to Plutarch, his death came when Lysander, a spartan general, sent soldiers to surround his residence. They set it on fire, and when Alcibiades fled, they shot him down with arrows.

Both of these men made choices out of spite and resentment. Their choices were often self-serving. As Plutarch summarizes the morality of the parallels, he writes: “Neither course, then, is to be approved; although the man who seeks to win the people by his favours is less blameworthy than those who heap insults on the multitude, in order to avoid the appearance of trying to win them. For it is a disgrace to flatter the people for the sake of power; but to get power by acts of terror, violence, and oppression, is not only a disgrace, it is also an injustice.” 

Theseus and Romulus 

Plutarch summarizes these biographies best: “Both Theseus and Romulus were by nature meant for governors; yet neither lived up to the true character of a king, but fell off, and ran, the one into popularity, the other into tyranny, falling both into the same fault out of different passions. For a ruler's first aim is to maintain his office, which is done no less by avoiding what is unfit than by observing what is suitable. Whoever is either too remiss or too strict is no more a king or a governor, but either a demagogue or a despot, and so becomes either odious or contemptible to his subjects. Though certainly the one seems to be the fault of easiness and good-nature, the other of pride and severity.” 

Lycurgus vs. Numa 

Lycurgus, a Spartan King, banned money, trades, and craft to shift the focus of the population to training for war. In Plutarch's words: "allowing the true citizens no implements but the spear and shield, the trade of war only, and the service of Mars, and no other knowledge or study, but that of obedience to their commanding officers, and victory over their enemies."

Whereas Numa, second king of Rome, sought to make his territory more peaceful. He did not outright ban the military, but he began to encourage the arts and trades of his people. According to Plutarch, it lead to great and unrestricted hoarding of wealth: "allowing free scope to every other means of obtaining wealth; nor did he endeavour to do away with inequality in this respect, but permitted riches to be amassed to any extent, and paid no attention to the gradual and continual augmentation and influx of poverty".

To interject, this parallel set reminds me most of Peeta and Gale. Neither king had a great outcome. In the end, Sparta fell, just as Rome does. It lacked the virtuous middle ground. 

Upon their deaths, the enforcement of their legacies differed greatly. Lycurgus's legacy continued for hundreds of years/ Interestingly, Plutarch cites indoctrination via education: "The obligation of oaths to preserve them would have availed but little, if he had not, by discipline and education, infused them into the children's characters, and imbued their whole early life with a love of his government." 

Numa's lasting effect was short-lived. His ideas about peace crumpled upon his death. Plutarch specifically cites the fact he lacked the enforcement of education, thus dooming his attempted culture to fail: "and thus that best and justest fabric of things was of no long continuance, because it wanted that cement which should have kept all together, education."

Plutarch poses an important question which I believe lends itself well to Heavensbee: "What, then, some may say, has not Rome been advanced and bettered by her wars? A question that will need a long answer, if it is to be one to satisfy men who take the better to consist in riches, luxury, and dominion, rather than in security, gentleness, and that independence which is accompanied by justice." He follows it later with: "[Numa] by mere force of wisdom and justice, established union and harmony amongst all."

Moralia

Moralia is a collection of Plutarch’s essays. The best source I found to read them is the Perseus Digital Library. I’ve taken screenshots of different passages I think encompass the conduct of Heavensbee. I apologize for the difference in the screenshot sizes, as some essays are best found from other sources. 

On Moral Virtue:

In De virtute morali, Plutarch argues the value of emotion in making virtuous decisions. He argues exactly what Heavensbee argues in SOTR: people use reason after their emotion. 

He goes further to compare reason’s desired effect on emotion being like a gardener pruning a plant. Heavensbee, although he doesn’t necessarily do this in the intrinsic sense, most definitely uses emotion to grow the rebellion through propos.

He also claims that passion can rally, which is Heavensbee’s ideas behind the propos in the first place:

How a Man May Become Aware of His Progress in Virtue:

In Quomodo quis suos in virtute sentiat profectus, Plutarch argues emotion and “manner of diction” that allows people to become “intimately connected with the character” encourages people to be more receptive to higher order thinking.

In this same essay, he argues it is most virtuous to act, not just speak.

Plutarch was a firm believer that philosophers should get involved in politics.

Whether Vice Is Sufficient To Cause Unhappiness:

In An Vitiositas Ad Felicitatem Sufficiat, Plutarch argues vice is stronger than a tyrant. You can endure the hardships of tyranny and oppression, but you cannot control your vices, which Plutarch sees as negative.

On The Fortune Or Virtue Of Alexander:

In De Alexandri magni fortuna aut virtute, Plutarch admires the unionization of cultures under Alexander the Great. Just like Heavensbee, he subscribes to the idea “we should consider all men to be of one community and one polity and that we should have a common life”.

Plutarch also believes that fortune does not outweigh virtue. He writes man should seek to be virtuous. While in this case he likely means fortune as in luck, I think it applies well to the actual wealth of the Heavensbees. 

He also writes about how virtue is what made Alexander great outside of his luck. His self-control and avoidance of pleasures is what kept him so great.

On Stoic Self-Contradiction:

While De Stoicorum repugnantiis is more so a response to popular stoic writers, there is an interesting argument about God that lends itself well to how Heavensbee and Panem are supposed to see Snow. 

Plutarch argues how God gets a pass for evil and bad things happening when a king in his position would not. He continues to chip away at the stoic’s argument by saying if there’s a necessity for evil and bad things, then God does not have power over them, and is therefore not omnipotent. 

Seeder makes this same argument in Catching Fire when in her interview, she mentions how the people of district 11 consider snow to be all powerful. If it’s true, he should be able to stop the games.

Interestingly, Plutarch has formidable thoughts about free will. He sees the importance of free will on the morality of man. While there may be other factors that affect us, we can control our reactions, interpretations, or way of coping. In his argument again against the Stoics (he had beef genuinely), he says:

Fate is deficient if we have free will. However, if free will is indeed all encompassing, we cannot be held responsible for our actions. Nothing is our fault, only fate’s.

In summary

Plutarch believed education and upbringing (such as seen in Lives) can lead to being a more virtuous person, which is something we see in Heavensbee’s extensive library. He argued fortune is “petty” without virtue, which is similar to how, despite the luck of being rich and capitol, Heavensbee’s desire to free the districts lends itself to his developed virtue. He also believed in emotion being a genuine asset to reason, to the point where one without the other is less valuable than having them together, such as his quote in SOTR. He wrote about harnessing emotion, making changes based on your beliefs, and that we have the ability to use our free will to make choices-- no matter if you’re under Snow’s thumb or not.

[sexisbetteronthemoon]

i’m not trying to pressure you at all i know how annoying it is when it feels like people are demanding things but i was so curious whether you’ve ever considered a sequel to change ringtone? A continue on or an explicit sequel i was just really curious!! i love that fic so much even if you had any like… dot points about that universe or what you were thinking writing it i’d love to know 😭 pls don’t take this as demanding anything from you!!!! sorry if it comes across as bothering 😭

thank you for question and for not being demanding. ❤️ 

ah, i'm really happy you liked the story so much, thank you!

i did think of making a continuation for Change Ringtone For Keith Kogane? but ultimately did not feel there was much left over to write that was pressing over the other fics i had waiting.

so if there's ever a continuation, it would have to be either when i'm explicitly in the mood for a continuation or when i'm done with everything else. that's not likely to happen however bc there's always new fics to write. so if i do ever do this it'll have to be bc i'm suddenly inspired.

i didn't really give any thought to a sequel. i imagine that the wedding would be ENORMOUS, but like not even on purpose. Lance's family is just extensive and everyone wants to see Lance FINALLY get married.

uh, some bullet points:

it would be in acapulco since all of Lance's family is there and Keith only has a few to invite.

rather than letting Lance and his family handle it all, Keith is extremely involved in the process.

he doesn't actually understand any of this or why the flowers need to be a certain kind or a certain color, or why the clothes need to be a certain color, and why that white is different from another white etc, but he's enthusiastic bc it's his wedding with Lance and Lance loves that he's so involved (even tho his involvement makes the process go much slower bc Lance has to explain why he wants a certain thing.)

Keith absorbs all of Lance's stress and is the one who freaks out when something goes wrong.

Keith is constantly being presented to new family members. he is doing his best to remember their names. his spanish is nearly nonexistent and everyone keeps talking at him in it. he tries very hard to understand what people are saying. bc of this, he starts picking it up and can understand a little by the time of the wedding.

Keith can't get a single moment alone with Lance even tho he's dying to consummate their relationship. people keep interrupting them and leading them away from each other or basically chaperoning them. 

plot twist: it's Lance who asked them to keep interrupting bc he wants their first time during their wedding night and he knows it will be hard for him to resist.

Keith has his mom come down so she can be involved. in a strange twist, she's just as bad at understanding wedding planning, but she's eager to help.

she brings Keith's baby pictures with her.  her and Lance's mom get along SPLENDIDLY.

luis takes Keith to a bar with the other men of the family. they drink keith under the table and all Keith can talk about is how much he loves Lance. he starts getting real worked up over not being near Lance and they all get the brilliant idea of Keith performing a serenata for Lance. cue Keith showing up with a hired band (literally just a mariachi group that was spending their time at the same bar after giving a show) roaring drunk, and singing in spanish (badly) as he reads off the lyrics on his phone.

the only song i can think of for this is "amarte a la antigua" by pedro fernández bc it would be SO FUNNY and Lance would unironically like that song.

Lance both loves it and is dying from secondhand embarrassment. he had one of his siblings record it to show Keith later when he's not dying from his hangover.

Lance eventually tells Keith he wants to wait for their wedding night to have sex and Keith agrees to it bc he loves Lance.

they don't make it. they fuck the night before and Lance is furious about the hickeys littering his neck.

Lance doesn't get pregnant that night, but he does get pregnant on their honeymoon.

it's twins.

and that's all i got for now. feel free to ask for clarification on anything!

[noneatnonedotcom]

obligitory batman like character. the gentleman badass.

this character doesn't have physical superpowers instead he's mastered two distinct mental techniques that better allow him to learn. mainly in an attempt to impress a girl. now the only question is just how far will he be able to push himself?

build under the cut

Man of the New World: (200cp)

"As the world moves on from hitting each other with crude sticks and fists, power begins to change hands.

The strongest man in the room goes from an undoubted leader to mere muscle for the true power, the man with all the knowledge.

A combination of natural prodigy and years of effort gave you a position among Britain’s most vaunted minds. While your most famous talents are focused in a single academic discipline, such as Moriarty and his world-renowned skill with mathematics or an unsurpassed brilliance with biology, you are broadly skilled with many other fields.

From several respected academic paths to the different styles of the arts and even a deep understanding of philosophy, you match the learning in each of what most men try a decade or more to come close to.

Though a touch barbaric, you even indulged in learning a martial style of the empire, having enough experience in boxing or baritsu to knock back-alley heads together without trouble.

It’s made possible with a particular mental technique that allows you to absorb and retain information easily, the creation of a continually expanding ‘memory palace’ style territory within your mind.

Information is easily memorised and efficiently stored, granting the ability to rapidly make connections between even seemingly disparate pieces of data that you have gathered. Knowledge of disciplines you once studied thirty years ago remains as fresh as the new fad you spent an afternoon exploring."

Thought Acceleration: (200)

"Even a human brain operating at peak capacity has its limits - it is, after all, what amounts to biological hardware with set limitations.But what if those limitations could be surpassed?

You are able to accelerate your thought processes to twice their normal speed, letting you quickly multitask and react faster than body and nervous system would normally allow, running calculations and strategies in a blink rather than a minute.

In time, you could even accelerate this to three, or four or more times in speed. However, much like overclocking a computer, this is a stressful technique that is exhausting and, if overused, can burn your brain out like an overheated engine. Practice and careful moderation may let you overcome this, but for now, be cautious in how you use this."

In for a Penny, in for a Pound of Flesh: (200) "Training? Guns? Numbers?

All is for naut against true battle experience.

You have no issue taking on entire armed groups on your lonesome.

The more you kill, the larger groups you can take on, and the stronger individuals you can challenge. With a few wars under your belt, taking on a small army or a stone-skinned monster is child’s play."

Stealth Efficiency: (100)

"The strong rules the weak, so how can the weak defeat the strong? Like how two brilliant NEETs from another universe always say, the weak’s weapons against the strong are their intelligence and strategy, not their power.

Apparently, you learned a different lesson from this ideology: no one, regardless of their power, can prepare themselves from an attack they don’t know is coming, including those stronger than you. Your attacks are twice as effective and powerful when used against an unadvised opponent, but this power boost loses its effect once they perceive your presence.

This is perfect for a first surprise attack to end a fight before it starts, letting even a weaker servant defeat a stronger master."

Stealth expert: (200) "You’re a Master of stealth. You could infiltrate highly armed military bases and no one would ever even know you were there."

Stuntmaster: (100)

"The absolute best part of being a skilled warrior as a Solar Exalt? It’s how your every movement follows with both grace and grandeur, how you become a stuntmaster that makes combat look almost like dancing.

Your attacks become eye-catching and graceful, and while no more effective, your skills in battle will look visually impressive in addition to your already-existing effectiveness. This can also be applied to any sort of skill, power or trade you put effort and enthusiasm into, letting you perform all of your abilities while looking absolutely fantastic doing so."

Stunt Master: (free)

"You are a master of stunting. Any time you try to do something amazing the world will conspire to make your attempted stunt just that little bit more dramatic and incredible. Maybe there just happens to be a rope to let you swing across the ballroom dramatically as you make off with the nobles treasure, or maybe there's just the right amount of handholds and footholds on two opposing walls, at just the right distance from each other, that would allow you to dramatically wall jump your way up.

So long as you strive to do things in an amazing and/or over the top fashion you will be slightly rewarded for doing so, Fate conspiring to make you that little bit better at whatever you're doing because apparently Fate is really fond of over-the-top action sequences. You can still fail when you're doing over the top stuff though, so don't get too out of hand, this just represents a slight-to-moderate increase when you're purposely trying to be amazing. "

Beautiful: (free) "You are very beautiful, guaranteed to be beautiful enough make the majority of the opposite sex think you are hot. This won’t shift your appearance to something you find ugly. "

so the basic idea behind this character is a sherlock holms/ batman like character who's main abilities are mental. his mind palace plus thought acceleration puts him well above street level and his skill with baritsu means he's not a slouch in combat anyways. but his skills in stealth and using surprise to take down his enemies really pushes him to the level of someone like batman, plus like batman he's got plot armor in the form of his stunt master abilities. Everything he does is over the top and stunning to behold. and as he keeps fighting he keeps getting better his skills somehow never hitting a peak letting him fight even superhumans.

his one downside is that he starts off as a kid trying to impress a girl and he never really out grows that. no matter how many years and adventures he has under his belt this character will always find himself in trouble by chasing a pretty face.

He'll also always start young, having to grow into his own body to truly be the force on the battlefield he's destined to be. but because of his more esoteric mental abilities, he's far more than just a brute able to plan and strategize around enemies and react to or predict things, moving faster than human thought. a genius.

This character doesn't need to be the hero. if you think they'd do better as a phantom thief or big bad evil guy, or even just a merc doing work for the highest bidder or prettiest face he'll fit into and thrive in any situation.

@heliosthegriffin i'm picturing this as an alternative Shadow Knight, but this jaune learnt mental abilities rather than trying to out fight the Grimm learned how to go all in on the advantages he has. Still having neo as his assistant and having a less heroic and more mercurial bent to him, he's just trying to keep his girl entertained after all.

@weatherman667 @howlingday how would you two use a character like this?

i like the idea of a guy who gets mental powers but thinks he's stuck being a street level hero for the rest of his life, un aware that he's constantly taking on threats that the heavy hitters just can't handle because they're too big to find the root cause of the villainry of the city.

[lotusloong]

Hi, me again. I'm just curious, when/why did you first get into Monkey King? I'd been aware of him for while (I kinda knew who he was, where he came from, that he inspired certain other characters like Goku in DBZ and Saiyuki and stuff) but only started learning more about him recently after I watched Monkey King: Hero is Back and fell in love. I watched an entire playthrough of Black Myth Wukong and, even though I had no idea what was happening storywise, absolutely loved every minute of it! Since then, I've gotten more familiar with the characters and story of Journey to the West, and devoured the three live-action movies, the Netflix movie, Monkey King: Reborn, New Gods: Nezha Reborn, and the Lego Monkie Kid series. I can't get enough of this guy! He's such a lovable little gremlin. I think my fav versions are Hero is Back Wukong and the Destined One.

...Okay now I'm going back to hide in my corner for realsies this time lol (sorry I'm shy)

I am so happy to get asks like this, thank you for fighting thru your shyness to send them!! Fair warning, I do get rambly (I'm an AuDHD writer, it's very hard for me to turn off my info dumping lolol) 

First off again, I really really do appreciate getting asks like this!! I put my writing and silly ideas up because I want to interact with other fans!! Sadly within the past few years interaction with fan works has depleted, and so it does make it a struggle to keep up with the creative process. (I've honestly been feeling like I'm speaking into the void sometimes when I post my Wukong stuff. The thing that keeps me going and writing is the few individuals who consistently interact with me with their own ideas and comments. Other people's ideas fuel my ideas, so if you or anyone else has a thought they want to share I will love to hear it and respond to it.) With that said, on to my past!!!

Now, I've always been a massive fan of mythology, and I hyperfixated on Greek myth for years (like, this year is my 16th anniversary kind of hyperfixation). And I always told myself that at some point I would branch off into other mythologies. 

I had always felt a connection with Daoism and Buddism because a lot of the philosophies made sense to me. I'm a zoologist, part of my job is teaching people at my city's science museum about nature and animals. A lot of Daoist philosophies are based on the ebb and flow of nature, but I just never found anything that actually hooked me to get me obsessed with it. It was more like a passing appreciation for what it represents and the ideals it holds. 

Now complete subject change, I love FromSoft souls games. Up until Wukong, I would write for other fandoms, and get a couple fics in before moving on (and even then it's not a lot. Wukong just…does something to my brain to get me writing) but I adore FromSoft games. I love the combat (I don't think I'm like…competitively good but I can beat the bosses and I have some decent skill) and I especially love the lore. Those games are so rich in lore, I adore it!! About gods and monsters and magic practices, all amazing! 

And back in February, a YouTuber I watch for mythology content did a whole video on Black Myth Wukong, explaining the lore of the different bosses. I was bored and hadn't heard anything about the game before, so I clicked it. 

I had my mind fucking blown.

That intro to the game? Sucked me in like nothing else. I didn't even get 5 minutes into the video before I was exiting out and looking up how much the game cost and everything I could to learn about it. 

Who was this sexy demon guy in gold armor flying on a cloud with this gorgeous music playing in the background? Holy shit this sexy demon guy is challenging a celestial army, he's so badass! Who is he!?!

I stayed up all night learning everything I could about Journey to the West. I bought the books that same night, I bought the game and started playing, I started looking up movies and shows, everything. 

And then it hit me, “oh wait, I know who the Monkey King is! I heard that name before!!” And I realized how many things this god had influenced! Characters from all different types of shows and movies and games, all with nods to this story!!

I think my first real moment of being aware of Wukong was actually from the game Persona 5, funny enough. I was never big on anime (believe me, I've tried. Never could get into it) but I did like the Persona 5 game, I liked the art style and story telling. Now for those who haven't played this game, there is a character named Ryuji, who is my fav character.

Ryuji is a brash ball of sunshine who's labeled as a delinquent and constantly looked down upon by the adults in his life because he tried to do the right thing and got fucked over by an adult who was supposed to help him, but instead abused him. He has a Persona (his personality/heart given magical form, essentially) that started out as a pirate based on Captain Kidd. When you level his friendship up enough, his Persona evolves into - you guessed it - Sun Wukong. A pretty funky looking design but I thought it was still fun and kooky and it was the Persona of my fav character from the game, so I was going to like it no matter what. That is technically my first introduction to Sun Wukong 🤣🤣🤣

Since I've gotten Black Myth Wukong and the OG Books, I've been devouring content for Wukong wherever I can get it. I haven't watched the live action movies yet, but I've been watching the 1986 show 💖💖 I want to watch Havoc on Heaven but haven't found a decent quality with Chinese VAs and English translations sadly…

But I've watched all the other animated movies I believe, and I haven't caught up on Lego Monkie Kid (I have…mixed opinions on it) but I just love Wukong in any form!! I have been asked before what my fav version is and I'm gonna give the same answer I did then, I like all of them for different reasons. They all have their charm and flaws and funny moments that make me fall in love with them 💖💖💖

I really really hope to see more of him in the future, especially Hero is Back!! Nezha and Nezha 2 are the highest grossing movies, could you imagine if the same director and writing team did another movie focusing on Dasheng!?! I would die!! Not to mention whispers of Black Myth dlc this year!!! I want all the content I can get on our beloved monkey husband, I love him so much 💖🐒💖🐒💖🐒

[spartancommander-2874]

It didn’t take her very long to see just how drained Baird was by the time he returned to his room. Thankfully, she and Noesis had concluded their conversation well before the Gear’s arrival and Auri had been sitting in the ground with one leg tucked under her while cleaning her pistol to pass the time. She needed something to keep her mind busy, if not her hands, after mulling over her AI’s theories.

Noesis had since deactivated her avatar, further perusing the data cache she’d recovered from that Forerunner facility that had landed them in this mess. Another part of her processing power was dedicated to coming up with different ways to return home should it prove true they were really in a whole other universe. She needed a better look at the pieces of tech these people had on hand. That would help determine whether building a teleporter similar to the one on Requiem would be successful. By the time she and Auri finished speaking and Baird had returned, she’d already devised up twenty different blueprints for prototypes and scrapped half of them.

As Baird entered his space, clearly very much in the mood for conversation, the Spartan kept quiet while watching him. There was that damned rookie’s ear piece. Kid was bound to get a literal earful more so come morning once it was fixed. Once again, Auri did not envy him at all.

“Hm? No. I’ll be fine with the floor,” she replied after a beat. “I already tested the cot when I got in. It started creaking a bit too much for my liking so I’m taking my chances with the floor.” She lightly patted the concrete beside her with a tired smile. “Didn’t want to risk bending the frame while I still have this thing on.” Her hand moved from the floor to her chest piece with a light tap. “Besides, I’ve slept in worse conditions before. Don’t worry too much about it, okay? If your buddies question us, you can just tell them I took the cot.” Auri then held her hand up, palm facing him.

“Before you press the matter, I’m serious. The suit’s a bit too heavy and that thing isn’t rated for this kind of weight. I’d take it off but putting everything back on come dawn would take much too long without a proper Brokkr Armor Mechanism. We use portable ones in the field for basic repairs and the like but the full machine slots each armor piece into place much quicker. I’ll take a spare pillow if you’ve got one though.”

@bigmouthgenius

This was supposed to be a simple smash and grab. Get the blueprints of the place, locate the objective, nab it and run.

In and out.

Easy enough, right?

Nope.

There was a security program that had been running passively in the background that not even the team’s AI had detected while pilfering the system and she had Forerunner code built directly into her matrix. Alarms began to blare loudly, alerting the Prometheans of offending intruders, once the data left its protective, holographic casing. Their fireteam leader quickly placed a hand on the terminal and green pixels flowed up her gauntleted arm and into a slot on the back of her helmet indicating their AI had come home. Without another word, the trio of Spartan IVs took off, wanting to be as far away from this place as physically possible.

Red blips began pinging off their motion trackers during their flight through the ancient complex and the digitized roars of anger echoed off down the halls. Their AI, Noesis, was still tapped into the local network and began to shut down the massive gray-white doors to cut off their pursuers or at the very least slow them down.

Evac was well on the other side of the facility in the form of a D79-TC Pelican dropship. Their pilot, Spartan Kent, had already activated the autopilot, calling the dropship in closer as the LZ was going to be hot by the time they got to it. A pair of beam turrets popped up in front of bulkhead doors at the end of one hall and began firing white-hot lasers at the fleeing super soldiers, forcing them off their current path and to take a hard right down another hallway to avoid being melted down to slag.

A Promethean Knight had sprung forward seemingly out of nowhere toward the Spartans as they attempted to dodge the turret fire and had nearly pinned their XO to the wall with its gun when it received a shotgun shell to the side of its head. With the creature down, they continued onward with their flight.

“Finally! We’re almost out of here!” came the Spartan to their XO’s left. Her IFF transponder marked her as Cordova, Caterina A.

“About time. I think we’ve really riled up the locals. Kent,” their fireteam leader replied then glanced to the right at their other squad mate. “Kent, once we get out, get that pelican ready for transport. We need to get the hell out of here ASAP before they call in for more reinforcements. Last thing we need is for the Storm Covies clogging up the air.”

“Way ahead of you, ma’am!” came her companion’s reply.

Just as they reached the last stretch, however, a Promethean had teleported meters away from the exit and brought an Incineration Cannon up to bear. The weapon began to charge, red light glowing like death. Right as the thing fired, their commander cried out, “Move it!”, before diving out of the way herself. The creature must’ve been in the local network as well as it was fighting for control over the doorways and cut the commander off from the other two. She rolled up onto her feet just in time to jerk to the side to avoid another blast.

“Commander?! Auri-?”

“Hey, you still-?”

“Get outside! I’ll meet you at the LZ. This place is going to be crawling with Knights shortly. I don’t want them bringing down our bird before we even get out of here,” she called back over their COMMs.

Spartan Kent paused briefly before responding so his counterpart took over. “Yes ma’am! Noesis is still feeding us a map of the area and there’s another exit out here. We’ll see you outside.”

“Copy!”

The Knight attempted to fire on the Spartan once more and just before it released the trigger, a well thrown grenade took it out of its misery. Reloading her weapons and taking a quick stock of what was leftover, Noesis, the team’s AI, wormed her way past the defenses the Knight had thrown up and unlocked one doorway, placing a waypoint that led to the exit on the Spartan’s HUD. The commander took off and was forced to double back twice due to an influx of hostiles. Out of nowhere, a brilliant flash of blue and black lit up a doorway to the Four’s left. Hovering there, of its own volition apparently, was a portal. She was really backed into a corner right now, with Prometheans encroaching on her location. The construct hiding within her helmet was already following her line of thought before the woman even voiced her plan.

“Commander, as much as I’d like to be out of here, we don’t know where that portal leads,” Noesis protested.

“Anywhere’s better than here. They’re already starting to wrest control from you and you’ve already transferred over the data to Roland, right?” Auri had already started to back up toward the swirling vortex. Sure enough, another entrance on the far side of the room had opened up, revealing a mass of very angry Promethean Knights who thought they had the human cornered.

“Yes but…” the AI said, her sentence petering off. Oh hell. Her Spartan had already made up her mind and there was no changing it. “I’m notifying the others and I don’t think these Knights are going to wait much longer!” Moments before the Forerunner constructs could pounce, the Spartan dove into the portal’s center and her world went black and the machine shut off.

---

She could feel her body being spun this way and that. Her skin being tugged hard off her bones as she fell end over end. Or so it seemed.

Auri’s shields flared up as an unknown source drained the batteries until they cracked and died for a few seconds, the annoying alarm blaring right in her ear. Her equilibrium was way off and it felt as though she remained within the portal network for far longer than before although she couldn’t tell how much time had passed since she had taken the plunge.

Without warning, a hole suddenly opened up and spat her out into the dirt rather unceremoniously. The Spartan rolled to a stop, head spinning violently and she swallowed down the urge to throw up. Any attempt at getting to her feet were met with major protest as her vision swam sickeningly. Shutting her eyes tightly against the light filtering through her faceplate, the commander took in a few slow, deep breaths before rising up to her knees carefully. Her stomach was still her throat and her head throbbed something awful but she was alive and surprisingly in one piece. A few meters away from her, the portal floated and seemed to shudder. Had the Spartan not been paying attention, she wouldn’t have caught that slight waver that indicated something was off.

“Okay, good. You’re alright,” came her AI’s soft voice. “We may have a tail. Prometheans may have followed us and… I don’t think that portal is going to last much longer. We need to get clear of the blast radius and into cover.” Noesis sounded almost distracted and for a second, the Four couldn’t pin down what had caught her attention.

“Great… You don’t have to tell me twice,” Auri replied, turned around to get moving and stopped.

Oh.

That’s why.

They weren’t on Requiem anymore.