#i hope that my choices aren't too strange or hard to understand!!

[tourturestarradio]

𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇

"𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐰𝐬, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚"

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

Pairing: Choso x Vampire reader

Prompt: You're curse just wanting to roam free but after certain events lead you to meet your new blood bag you fall face first into a growing obsession for his blood.

Warnings:Smut, fem bodied reader, kinda mean reader, hand job, riding, blow job (male receiving), doggy style, not proof read, manipulation, blood sucking (obviously.) switch! choso, Switch reader, semi public sex (only a little), hair pulling

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮

You stared at the male in front of you "you'd be of great help Y/n." blinking you sighed "no thanks." turning and walking away you felt energy zoom past you tilting your head to the side just in time as a sharp object passed you.

You groan in annoyance "I don't have a choice do I?" looking back you stared at the man dubbed as Geto, he freaked you out "I suppose you don't" standing still for a moment you blinked "okay. i'll join you."

After joining the creep with the scar on his forehead's little gang you were paired with a half curse named "Choso?" you looked at him.

He didn't talk much but not because he didn't like you, he just wasn't that sociable. Or maybe he just didn't like you. Either he didn't speak with you much.

Up until you asked what he could do, he explained his technique but in all honesty you didn't pay any form of attention to what he was saying as you were staring at his face. He was so cute. But he was also really hot when he was fighting.

Licking your lips you spoke "sooo, you can control blood can you?" he nodded "can I see?" leaning closer to him, he agreed showing off his piercing blood technique. Then the sweet smell hit your nose "so that's your blood? No one else's?" he shook his head again "can I taste it?" he snapped his head over "...what" nothing but a look of confusion covered his face.

You scooted closer your shoulders now touching "please your blood smells so good! just a little taste?" you asked, it then clicked for Choso, "you're a vampire aren't you?" he asked, as if to remind himself, you slumped "how did you forget so easily" Choso looked you up and down "do you need any blood right now?" you nodded your head rapidly.

Remembering a conversation you had with him you thought of an idea just a quick white lie.

"Ya'know...I have family too." Choso seemed to perk up at the mention of family "really?" you nodded "yes two little siblings, and they mean so much to me. and I'm the only one who can take care of them and I need blood to survive because without me, my little siblings could be out on the streets...or worse..." you mumbled hoping he would fall for your dumb story.

Choso frowned "I understand wanting to do anything to keep your siblings safe." you nodded 'fuckin idiot.' you thought to yourself "i'll let you have some." you smiled "alright come on." getting up you grabbed his arm dragging him away.

He let you pull him away into a different room shutting the door you had to keep a smile from growing on your face. tilting his chin up you pulled his scarf down staring at his neck you could smell his blood right below his skin. Licking a spot on his neck you felt him shiver. Biting down on his neck a sweet taste flooded your mouth, one like which you've never tasted before.

Your heart started pumping faster as you gripped onto his shoulder biting down harder "ah...!" Choso groaned at how hard you were biting him in the mist of an oddly euphoric feeling he remembered "wait-!" shoving you off he held the spot on his neck "my blood it's poiso-" "delicious! ah I've never tasted such good blood in my life!" you didn't seem to be affected by his blood, in a split second you latched onto his neck again.

Choso could feel your tongue glide over where you had bitten at, that same strange feeling washing over him again. His hand slid into your hair gripping onto it, after a few seconds he could feel himself get a little woozy.

Pulling your head away you licked your lips "Choso! I wasn't finished!" he caught his breath "I'm sorry I just felt a little tired" he huffed, You roll your eyes "right. well thanks Choso baby you're a big help." you were about to walk away but Choso grabbed your arm "wait....I feel weird." you tilted your head "hm? oh my saliva has some type of chemical thingy that'll nullify the bite, make you feel a little better." you explained.

"Hm. Alright but I feel all hot. Is that normal?" he asked you looked down seeing he was hard. Cute just from sucking on his neck a bit.

You chuckled "I can help with that, but is it okay if I do?" he nodded his head "ah, ah say it."

"Yes, please."

A smile grew on your face "good boy." pushing him up against a wall, getting on your knees you tugged the waistband down "wow." you stated, staring at his cock grabbing hold of it you looked up at him again "is it okay if I...?" he nodded his head rapidly that growing need getting worse.

"Speak."

"Y-Yes."

Licking his tip you looked up at him seeing him squeezing his eyes shut his face growing red "aw I barely even touched you." you chuckled, taking his tip into your mouth you swirled your tongue around his tip feeling him shudder under you.

Pulling your head up spitting on his cock your hand going to work as you pump is cock whimpers leaving his mouth. He leaked pre-cum as he covered his mouth with the back of his hand "can you...can you use your mouth...fuck...again? please." he asked, a smile played on your face "as you wish" wrapping your lips around his cock again you pushed your head further down.

"Fuck...ah, ah~" as the tip of his cock touched the back of your throat Choso grabbed your hair tightly, feeling an odd knot built up "I feel...hah, weird..."

You giggled sending a vibration up his body 'coming so quickly?' you bobbed your head back and forth faster "fuck...fuck, fuck..!" you nearly gagged as he came into your mouth pulling your head away you licked your lips "you're so cute Choso" you say lightly slapping his cheek "wait...wait can you do that again?" he asked carefully sliding you hand to his cock.

"Oh?" you roll your wrist back and forth "you like that baby?" you hum in his ear he nodded a low moan escaping his mouth "yeah..." he groaned tossing his head back.

"Don't be too loud now baby. Don't want the others to hear what a needy slut you're being." you hummed, pumping his cock faster he gripped onto your arm "shit..." he groaned again.

With another curse he came again letting out little whimpers as he tried to catch his breath, beads of sweat rolling down his head. Letting go of his dripping cock you licked your hand clean "might have to do this more often." You muttered, leaving him there in shambles trying to recollect himself.

.

As the days passed you couldn't get the taste of his blood out of your mouth. Trying your damned hardest to find something similar to it, but no one's was similar.

Once again you asked him for some blood.

A few days after that you went back again after that.

Then the next day.

Then the next day.

A repeating cycle but you weren't the only one getting something out of this Choso would ask for sex after just because he always felt so needy after. Sometimes you'd say yes sometimes you said no. Either way he was understanding.

It was late at night and you were hungry. But not for blood, you wanted Choso. No you needed him. Badly.

By some odd coincidence Choso was also craving you as well, because you heard a knock at your apartment door. Opening the door you saw Choso standing there.

Almost instantly you both were latched onto each other, Choso kissed you his hand holding your hips "I need you...I need you so bad" he muttered between kisses, "me too" pulling your shirt over your head he pushed you back onto your bed kissing down your torso.

He looked at you through his lashes "can I?" you nodded your head "ah, ah, say it" you smirked hearing him turn the tables on you.

"Yes you can"

Sliding your clothes off your body Choso looked over your body "like the view?" you teased, turning around on your stomach you propped your ass up looking back at him. Pulling his clothes off Choso kept his eyes trained on you, putting all his bite marks, and hickeys that littered his body from previous meet ups.

You were already soaking wet waiting for him. Choso pumped his cock a bit before lining his cock up with your entrance. Slowly pushing into you, he hissed "mm...tight, relax Y/n." he groaned slowly moving in and out of you as you moaned his name.

His thrust grew rougher as you gripped the sheets, he held your waist tightly "fuck...you feel so good." he groaned, tossing his head back. You cursed under your breath "shit! just like that baby. ngh, fuck" your breathing grew unsteady as he thrust in and out of you.

His hips stuttered he could feel himself coming close to his high "fuck...Y/n...m'close hah" you squeezed around him "ngh, not y-yet." you shook your head "..what?" he was confused but you shook your head again "n-not yet!" you dropped your head moaning his name again.

Reaching back you grabbed his hand "pull...out" slowly Choso pulled out "what's wrong?" he huffed out of breath.

"Lay back." he did as he was told laying on his back, you crawled on top of him, hovering over his throbbing cock. Leaning down you kissed him again sliding yourself down onto him.

Leaning up again, you rolled your hips forward "I like looking at your face when you cum" you smiled your fangs showing as you continued to ride the black haired male.

One hand held your waist while the other groped your chest.

"Mm I-I could say the s-same...ngh" squeezing his eyes shut he bit at his lip swallowing thickly as the urge to cum became strong again. You also felt the same urge "fuck. m'close too" your moans grew louder "let's....let's cum together" Choso had rolled his hips upwards "mm, make me feel so good...ahh, hah." your eyes rolled back as you and Choso came together.

Your body shuddered as you rode out your high, you laid down on Choso.

He opened his mouth to speak but you were asleep before he could say anything, a small smile displayed on his face.

"I'll let you sleep" pressing a kiss against your forehead he held you close to his chest closing his eyes.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮

A/n: I love Chosoooooooooooo

[rawliverandgoronspice]

The Dondon Post (or: the bizarre TotK's side content counterpoints to its main quest's immuable binary morality)

Speaking of strange TotK Choices, I think I have one singe post left in me about this game; and it's about the Dondon quest, "The Beast and the Princess".

(and about other stuff too, you'll see, we'll get to them)

More specifically: about how... strange of a thematic point it feebly attemps to make in the larger context of the storyline, and how it seems to be yet another mark of a world that, perhaps, once tried to be more morally complex that it ended up becoming.

Buckle up: it's a long one, and it gets pretty conceptual.

(good gem boys notwhistanding)

The Princess and the Beast

So, a couple of things about the setup. We are investigating potential Princess sightings; but at this point, either because we have already completed a bunch and know the general gib, because we have met a couple of wild Fake Zelda shenanigans, or through the simple fact that we are completing a side quest, we know there's a good chance it won't lead to an actual Zelda information. So when we ask Penn about what is going on and he replies with the ominous "we saw the Princess riding some kind of beast --a frightening one with huge, brutal tusks-- that the princess seemed to control", we get Ideas. Then the sidequest is registered: "The Princess and the Beast".

So. You know me. And if you don't know me, here's what you should know: my brain immediately flared up with the thought there was no way in hell this wasn't some kind of wink towards Ganondorf's renowned boarish beast form, especially given tusks were given so much focus.

My first assumption was: that's a miniboss right? I will get to fight some small boar-like thing that Fake Zelda rides sometimes. Cool! I didn't hold too hard onto my hope that the relationship of Zelda and/or Ganondorf to the natural world, or to each other would be expanded upon, since I had already been burned before, but my interest was piqued.

You have to understand how starved I was for any hint of complexity or mystery or ambiguity at this point. I was extremely eager for the game to throw anything at me that would surprise me, enlighten something pre-established, make the exploration lead to a meaningful discovery or deepening of characters, world or themes (and not just slightly cooler loot, or a bossfight, or a puzzle devoid of emotional context --cohesion and depth is what motivates my play sessions, especially in an open world game that I want to believe is worth losing oneself into). This was about the most intriguing task on my to do list at the moment, and so I plunged in immediately.

After really REALLY misunderstanding what I was supposed to do (I stalked every corner of every forest surrounding the tropical area at night or during blood moons in hope to see something --which was very much the wrong call), I arrived to the other stable, then was guided to the other side of the river where Cima awaits and explains that these creatures are actually a new species discovered by Zelda; that they are gentle and kind and not at all scary ("Dondons aren't beastly, they're adorable!"), and even somehow digest luminous stones into gemstones. They like the company of people and liked Zelda in particular.

I was... I felt two different ways about this conclusion, and I think it's worth to explore both: disappointment and some sort of... "huh!" Hard to describe this emotion otherwise.

I'll get the disappointment out of the way first, because it's the least interesting of the two. While I think the little emotional arc I was taken on was not devoid of interest --I was indeed taken on by the rumor and intrigued by its implications-- I wanted, well. A little bit more. And if the creatures were to be Zelda's pet project, I would have loved for them to be actually terrifying and feisty, and for her to develop an interest for these creatures in particular regardless. It could have been very interesting characterization that veered out of the perfect princess loving the perfect world floundering around her, always bringing her clear, practical benefits from the interaction.

(I have made another post that speaks of my discomfort that Zelda does everything everywhere and everyone loves her for it --I get what they were trying to go for, but it either lacks conflict for me to buy into that dynamic at the scale of several regions, or they went on too hard for my taste, as she is, at once and in the span of a couple of years at most: a schoolteacher, a gardener, an animal researcher, a scholar, a traveler, a military expert, a knower of landscape, a painter, a horse rider, an infrastructure planner, a [...] princess --at some point it begins to sound made up, "Little Father of the people"-esque to rattle the hornet's nest a little bit, especially if it's not shown as either a clearly godly characteristic or, even more necessary imo, a negative trait; another expression of her killing herself at work to compensate for a perceived flaw she's trying to earn forgiveness for, like she did in BotW. But that's another topic, and the clumsiness of her character arc has been well threaded by basically everybody disappointed in the story already.)

But, if I decide to be a little graceful, I'd like to explore my "huh!" emotion, and take it apart a little bit.

I think there's something interesting to have such strong parallels to setting up a story about the relationship between Zelda and Ganondorf ("The Princess and the Beast", like come on guys that's the conflict of over half the series), or at least Zelda and the concept of Evil since Ganondorf pretty much represents it in this game, and then have it go: actually, there was a horrible monster that everyone was afraid of, but Zelda was wise and patient enough to approach it and realize its potential beyond the tusks, what beauty can be brought upon the world if one makes the effort to look for what exists underneath. It says something a bit deeper about the world and about Zelda in particular. It intrigues, at the very least.

Is it a reach? Probably! Is my first interpretation that the quest is actually about "eww you thought Zelda would be interested in *disgusting vile monsters* and not sweet and gentle and human-loving animals that literally shit jewlery when cared for? jokes on you, she never would feel any ounce of sympathy for anything that isn't Good and Deserving" uhhh definitively truer? Probably! But I also don't want to dismiss that the quest made me think about it. If I had completed it earlier, I might have even felt like it was (very clumsy, not gonna lie) setup about the main conflict.

But that's also a good segway into my next section: the arbitrary limitations between the animal and the creature, the monstrous and the human.

And the fact that TotK points directly at it.

A Monstrous Collection

(these two guys are just. doing So Much and being So Valid despite being massive weirdos the game wants us to be slightly repelled by. I, for one, respect the Monster kinning grind and their general Twilight Princess energy.)

So. These two guys. There is so much to say about these two guys. I don't think I have seen the Trans Perspective on Kolton on tumblr, and I would love to get it because. I feel like it's a worthwhile discussion (just, how gender and identity is handled in TotK overall, I feel like it's a very complicated conversation and I have not seen super deep dives and I'd be very interested in hearing more).

Beyond the throughline of voluntary consumption of magical objects to turn into less human creatures being a weirdly prevalent plot point in TotK (Zelda, Kolton and Ganondorf casually transing their entire species for funsies --Ganondorf being particularly relentless with Fake Zelda, mummy/phantom shenanigans, Demon King and then literal dragon), I want to focus on Kilton a little bit.

Kilton is genuinely the only NPC in the game willing to acknowledge the inherent personhood that monsters have (the game does showcase them picking up fruits, mourning their boss if you kill them, being cutesy and happy to identify you as one of their own if you wear the appropriate mask --and that's not even getting into creatures like the Lynels, who seem to really edge on the limit of being a conscious creature with a system of honor and property and many other things). He does encourage us to think of monsters as more than a species whose only worth lie in how fun it is to eradicate them; even more, gameplay-wise, he does give us a reason to interact with them in other ways than just our sword with his museum. He does encourage us to see that beauty for ourselves and then select what we think is coolest/most intimidating/cutest/eight billion ganondorfs in every pose imaginable

The fact that Ganondorf is considered a monster was a great win for this feature in particular, and is very funny, but it's also... A lot, if we dig at it a little more than warranted. Beyond all of the Implications and all of the things of representation and political conflict and values already discussed ad nauseum: when did he stop being considered a human? What does that mean about the flimsiness of what is a monster and what is a creature and what is an animal and what is a person and what is even a hylian, as sheikahs got absorbed into the definition in this game? Especially with the stones taken into account, how profound changes in nature are a huge part of the plot (even when reversed and ultimately pretty meaningless): how easy it is, to make that slip? Who decides when that slip has been made? What is acceptable to hurt without remorse? What is beautiful and worth preserving? What is both at once? What is neither?

And again, in a classic Zelda conundrum (appreciative(?)): who the fuck gets to decide that, when, and why?

The Bargainers and the Horned God

(major shoutout to these big guys for being the sole and only providers of actual depth to the Depths, and for looking cool as heck)

So. Let's move the conversation to the Depths.

Conceptually: what an interesting idea!! And so well executed (initially)!! A mirror world to the surface, dark and hushed and full of unknown creatures; haunted by gloom and sickness and the unknown. Not a first in the series, far from it: from ALTTP to ALBW, and even taking the Twilight world of TP into account, this idea of a Dark World acting as a deforming mirror to Hyrule and revealing many interesting aspects as we get to explore both is always a very interesting take on corruption and envy and fear/weakness and/or some sense of darkness looming under the perfect exterior. I'd argue even the Lens of Truth of both OoT and MM's serve a similar function, both gameplay-wise, but also in terms of theme: not everything is as it seems. In the world of Light, darkness must hide itself; but darkness also possess its own beauty, its own hardships, and will stare back at you without blinking if you go seek for it. It's, in my opinion, one of the series' most compelling conversation about the cyclical nature of fate, the coldness of godhood, and how small one feels in the face of a universe that is more complicated than it initially appears --which is why Courage must be invoked to push forward regardless.

The Depth's otherworldly ambiance is truy wonderful, whether in the plays of light and shadows, the creatures native to the environment we meet there (wish we met more!), the soundtrack, the strange aquatic/primordial plants, the fact that the dragons visit this place and connect them to the outside --invoking ideas of balance and interconnectivity, that the tree branches look like veins. The coliseums, the mines, the zonai facilities and the prisons do seem to poke at many things about what the relationship to the past was to this place; was it ever truly a place? Did it look like this back then? Why was it buried? Why did it come back? But in spite of it all, I think the Depths struggle overall to question or reveal anything about the surface that we couldn't already assume going in (that the only thing congealing there is Ganondorf's gloom, his lonely domain of Wrongness, only shared by Kohga and the yiga --the only naysayers of Goodness and Light, contemptful and blinded by self-importance and rage). The zonite is mined by gloomy monsters --why, what for?-- so any notion of greed and over-expansion that could have been associated to the zonai is now reabsorbed into Ganondorf's general evilness, since it needs to be reminded he is everything and anything bad with the world: darkness and conquest and greed and capitalism and pollution and bad weather and sickness and darkness and violence and war and death and betrayal and fakeness and lies and patriarchy and exploitation. No matter that he never does a single thing with zonite in the game; rather set up elements of conflict that never go anywhere than, for a second, let the foundations of absolute goodness and absolute evil risk becoming shaky --and you coming to this unwelcoming dark place that hates you, killing the miners and taking their resources for yourself is, on the other holy, royal fur-covered hand, utterly legitimate. The resources were once Rauru's after all, were they not?

And this is what I would say, except... except for the dead. The fallen warriors, the poes, and, most important of all: the Bargainer statues.

The Bargainers are, in-universe, godly creatures guiding the fallen to a place of final respite, regardless of moral alignment. The poes are all, fundamentally, cleansed of judgement: they are lost souls whose past reality does not matter anymore, and all deserve that peace regardless. In spite of the heavy paradise/hell parallels drawn in that game, with Rauru/Zelda/Sonia as the guardians of Light where Ganondorf gets to become a Devil-like figure, it is confirmed here that no such thing exists when you actually die in this universe.

It almost feels as if the fabric of Hyrule itself, in a brief moment that refuses to elaborate on its own point, goes: "yeah, whatever is happening here between Light and Darkness, it doesn't actually matter. This conflict is futile and doesn't understand the real nature of being alive, dead, a god, a person, a monster, an animal. The truth lies elsewhere --but you will never be told what it is."

It's: wild.

One of the game's most striking traits of narrative brilliance in my opinion --to the point where I'm wondering whether it's there on purpose or was effectively an oversight since every other aspect of reality breaks its own back trying to reassure us that everything is at its correct place, receiving the appropriate treatment by the universe in a way that is never to be questioned.

Another case of that ambiguity being allowed to exist without being immediately crushed and repressed is the case of the Horned God (interesting parallel to Ganon's actual horns that he develops in this game in case the hellish parallels weren't clear enough already): a demon Hylia sealed into stone and pushed far from humans in a clear case of questionable behavior since, while the Horned God isn't exactly nice, does propose a different philosophy you are not punished for exploring; and yet, a proposal that has seen itself persecuted in a very real sense by the goddess of absolute goodness, patron of hylians, Zelda, and many more. Pushed away from view.

Interesting.

And Yet, Light Must Prevail

Okay, so, after all of this, we're left to ask... What the fuck is up with morality in Tears of the Kingdom?!

What do we trust? These half-breaths in the occasional sidequests that Light and Darkness is just the wrong frame of reference, that nature cannot be this simple, is ever-shifting and can be recalled or reaffirmed by arbitrary forces, and might even not matter at all in the universe's fabric, despite having so much of its lore soaking in the dychotomy? Or... everything else about the game, this insistence that Good must not only be assumed as whatever tradition the kingdom has passed down for thousands upon thousands of years, but remain utterly unquestioned the entire time? That Bad is without cause, graceless and unworthy of investment?

Are the Bargainer's statues the only thing worth listening to, that morality is a fable the living tells themselves --or should we be moved when Darkness destroys Light, when Light suffers to preserve itself and the world --but not when the Other is rightfully slain?

Was Kilton correct to see beauty in the monstrous? Was Kolton onto something when he let go of his previous form because there is no clear distinction between what should receive an arrow to the face and what shouldn't? Or should we rather focus on Zelda losing her human form as a beautiful and tragic sacrifice --but something that never actually altered her nature as a hylian, the descendant of a lineage of Good Kings meant to rule forever?

Is the Dondon good because it always was, or was it worth Zelda's love in spite of the fear it initially provoked?

Either way, at the end of the game, evil is slain. Ganondorf is, not killed, but --like his angry BotW boar counterpart-- destroyed, as monsters tend to be. He explodes over the lands of Hyrule, freed from Darkness; freed from everything wrong, since the foreign menace that embodied it all was wiped out in one fateful sweep of a holy blade cradled in sacrificial love. Nothing wrong remains. The Sages reaffirm their vows to protect the kingdom forward, and a very human --hylian-- Zelda smiles: Hyrule now forever and ever basked in eternal Light.

[1800duckhotline]

I'm gonna be a huge hater but god I agree so hard about the chaos design for hades 2.

In general they all look even MORE normative than they did in the first game to the point of almost being uncanny to me. I largely place this on them being hopefully unfinished tho. But god chaos being made so normal and made more conventionally hotter is like no!!! why!!!

I'm so tired the people going "it's a game for all the bisexuals" and like nemesis has the tiniest waist ever, everybody has the same body type beyond Hephaestus whose character doesn't exist in a vacuum and is considered to be ugly or like. Hestia.

This is a bit of a long rant but it feels uncomfortable on how the only unconventional traits for female characters are put on one that has a role of an old mother. Like. Desexualized compared to the rest. I'm not sure if I make sense but yeah :( sucks to suck

don't be sorry of being a hater my friend because you said exactly what I was thinking. there's something very strange about the... like... heightened appeals of the designs. and they were already drawn all to be extremely conventionally attractive in the first game. somehow they amped it up for the second for what reason...

I've read somewhere that the artist got the sprites done in 1-2 rounds so I'm not hopeful abt them being unfinished and thus being fixed later but one can hope.

you're especially right about hestia and hephaestus. it does feel like it was a design choice purely driven by critique of the previous games lack of body diversity and facial as well. plus deciding to make the God who, by definition in the Greek myth, is often defined as "ugly or revolting" (as part of his whole disability as well) the One diversely bodied character is strange. would I prefer him be skinny? no but there should've been variety in the first place.

hestia design is kind of cute but strange to me too. mostly cantn understand this allergy for using dark skin colors that aren't in the greyscale LOL her faces proportions are odd and idk why her lips are white...

justbidk man... I'm kind of tired to hear people's only defense to the chaos redesign and every other design being, "but they serve nonbinary cunt slay!" like is that all? is it really everything behind it? to "serve cunt slay" because they're nonbinary? like I feel like people are so easily pleased when their lizard brain Is appeased by conventionally attractive designs that they can't criticize the designs they like because they're hot so what's to criticize.

I'm. not saying I'm better for being disillusioned I guess I'm just shocked that we went on the internet from being very critical of media with lack of body and ethnic diversity and unique character designs (justified or not) to just like being aggro when someone as so even barely disagrees with the common thought that the designs of hades are "good". you're not evil for liking them as they are, but you need to accept they're not very good. that's it. it's really simple. and like I said before too I'm sure the artist behind them is paid enough not to care about people saying this. but fans will fight with grit teeth to defend the idea that they're good designs actually.

it's just a shame that the visual style is so much less strong now too. that at least was the saving grace of the 1st game designs for me. now it's... meh

[lexsnotdead]

Sometimes i forget that Delilah/Breanna aren't 100% canon to everyone bc of "ambiguous relationship" part and some people not wanting to see them as bi & lesbian

And it drives me insane

Everytime i see fic where Delilah or Breanna call each other friends while being alone (or in their own thoughts) I want to bite 😭😭 Something or someone

I sit here and think "Breanna sacrificing 10+ years or her life to save Delilah from her death AND falling on her knees for her is so friendly fr"

I'm okay with people who think that they're way too toxic or something/"Delilah can't love" but Breanna is a walking fruit basket. She radiates "gay".

~~~~~~~~

Sorry for whole essay about Bree and Del but my anonymous ass trusts that you'd understand me at least to some degree bc you ship them

Hope ur doing well, sending best wishes for the week lol

HI ANON YOU CANNOT IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF SEARCHING I DID FOR THIS. anyway. okay... deep breath... yeah, i know, it drives me insane as well. although i haven't come across a Hot Take like that in ages, most likely because i was blocking on sight for this. "not 100% canon to everyone" have we played the same game? maybe it's easy for me to say because i myself am a wlw and i KNOW yuri when i see one. it is really hard for me to imagine how can one look at the way breanna and delilah talk to each other and fail to spot the profound pinning.

• delilah saying "murderer! you can't understand what she meant to me", when you kill breanna in front of her.

• delilah saying "you're the only one i trust".

• delilah swinging her sword at you with "this is for what you did to breanna", in the last mission.

• a with in the royal conservatory saying "breanna was with delilah when you were sucking on your mother's tit. it's not a joke to them"

• breanna's surprise when she spots corvo "a man? here?!" is truly a Peak Lesbian Moment. - i could go on and on.

OHHH AND THE LETTER. THE LETTER!! it makes me lose my mind every time i read it!! whatever breanna had going on in there is more lesbian than eating pussy.

"When we can't talk, I write. There are things only you will understand. (...) If we were together, I could say more! It is as if I can see beyond the air, into another time or place. (...) Oh, Delilah, strange and beautiful whispers are carried on the breeze. I am forever grateful of being your instrument." >>> i'm madly in love with you.

how can you read this and go hmm yeah they were definitely besties! MUST EVERYTHING BE DIRECT FOR YOU PEOPLE?? sorry to disappoint, but that's not how sapphics express attraction. learn to read between the lines. because this, too, is yuri.

and the wiki page is to blame for the "ambiguous" part. BECAUSE HARVEY SMITH DIDN'T SAY "AMBIGUOUS". HE DID NOT. harvey confirmed their relationship some time back in 2016, but since then he deleted all of his tweets and we were left with no elaboration. and as for now it is almost impossible to find sources. "almost". he-he. wink. i saved that from a tumblr post god knows how long ago and couldn't find the op. if anyone knows who to credit for this, i'd be grateful.

does "i totally assumed that" equal uncertainty? maybe my non-native ass is missing something, but it all seems very clear to me.

which makes "some people not wanting to see them as bi & lesbian" part even more frustrating. they are both indisputably queer! and that being stated by the dev and not in the game itself is not an excuse to deny their sexuality and ship breanna with men.

harvey's tweet and in-game lines combined should be enough evidence to prove that delilah and breanna were, in fact, lovers, and if anyone says otherwise, it's a conscious choice to deny/ignore it for whatever reasons, not because there isn't enough evidence for their relationship. believe me, anon, i share every drop of irritation you have in double.

and "delilah can't love" is another very big topic where i could talk for hours and i would rather not make this reply any longer than it has to be. i already ranted quite a lot here haha. anyway, ty for the ask! :] i'm always happy to write mini-essays about delilah and breanna. i hope you have a great day as well!!

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Hello!! This is kind of a stupid question but do you understand who the Moonshadow assassins kill and why? At first I assumed it was just human rulers/generals from all kingdoms but when Viren was talking about how they were a threat in season 2 the other rulers didn’t seem to think it was as big of an emergency and I was a little confused. I hope you have a great day!!

I actually love questions like this! There's some nuance in the answer, and also some uncertainty, but I'll share my take for ya:

The Moonshadow assassins don't seem to pick their own targets, they accept assignments from the Dragon Throne. The full nature of that relationship hasn't been explained in any detail, so it's a tricky, complicated area of lore for the moment.

Basically, we don't have any information on how the Dragon Throne chooses the targets it passes on to the Moonshadow assassins for taking, aside from the one that happened just before the show's plot began, with Zubeia sending Runaan and his team to kill Harrow and Ezran. All we know is that these targets are supposed to be so threatening to Xadia that the world would be better off if they were no longer in it.

It's not impossible to imagine Avizandum telling his assassins to take out someone who didn't actually deserve it. It's relatively easy actually, knowing how he liked to stomp on humans, and how long he lived. It's probably happened. The only question is: how often? (angst)

I would guess - because again, we don't really know this for sure yet - that Avizandum generally chose actual threats, or people who could easily become threats in a war. But when you're a long-lived dragon, maybe you see different patterns in the mortal lives and cultures of humans. And Runaan and all the assassins before him wouldn't live long enough to recognize those patterns themselves, so they probably had to accept their targets out of either trust or duty. (more angst)

Some of them would definitely be military type targets: generals; shining young hero types with a chip on their shoulder; stealthy human assassins; dark mages if they dared risk it; and etc.

But a dragon might see strange harmless patterns beginning to form and decide to nip them in the bud before they led to anything truly threatening: a craftsman who just had a design breakthrough with a prototype ballista; a baker who just invented hardtack that could keep an army on the move for weeks; an armorer who just made a much safer design; a clever miner who found a rare and valuable source of iron.

People like that aren't dangerous on their own. But the knowledge they might share among the humans during a long drawn-out war with Xadia could be devastating in a decade or five. A dragon who already doesn't like humans would probably have no trouble sending his best assassin to snipe unsuspecting ordinary people like that.

We're still not sure if assassins must take an assignment, or if it's just dishonorable or something not to take it. But Runaan's a pretty regimented guy, and he's not fond of humans either. Between his trust issues and his protective instincts, I don't think he'd look too hard at his assignments these days even if he had a choice - he'd believe he was doing the right thing for his people, and then he'd stop thinking and go shoot someone.

I think sometimes Runaan definitely was doing the right thing by killing someone. But it's impossible to say which missions were and which weren't the right thing. Life is way too complicated for clear-cut answers like that.

Okay, onward!

The other part of this answer is about the Pentarchy itself. I think their hesitance to commit right away, and the reason Aanya got so much time to smack Viren with her sass, happened partly because Viren lives in a border realm like she does, and the other three rulers have a nice safe buffer between them and the brunt of the war efforts.

Basically, Del Bar, Neolandia, and Evenere don't have any skin in the border game.

They don't have big standing armies, and the only threats they deal with are small incursions - either assassins from other human realms or occasionally Moonshadow assassins.

Which is the topic at hand! But when Viren tries to convince Harrow to do the switching spell in S1, he claims that Moonshadow elves are an unstoppable force. Almost a force of nature, kind of vibe. If they come for you, you're just gonna die about it. Harrow even agrees with him! It's common knowledge how deadly the Moonshadow assassins are. And that's what happened despite all of Viren's plans - he still lost his king because Moonshadow assassins are scary good at their job.

So it's plausible that the other rulers didn't see any point in committing resources to an unsolvable issue - if Moonshadow assassins were coming for them, then they'd die. Why risk anyone else? Anyone in the assassins' way would die too. (Which they did in Katolis)

Another option is that Viren has been wrong before, and the other royals did commit resources to deal with the threat he claimed was coming, only to have time and money and forces wasted. If Viren had brought them costly mistakes, they could've been hedging their bets this time around.

There's a funnier possibility though: maybe they just didn't like Viren. People in power sometimes say polite things to an underling or a petitioner, and then have no intention of ever following through with it. They might've all been blowing smoke here, telling Viren "oh yeah sure if we're all in, let's totally do war, bro" and absolutely never meaning it even a little bit because they simply did not like the messenger.

Which is mean. But: royals.

tldr:

there's a few things affecting the Pentarchy scene all at once. We don't know all the factors involved yet, and the Pentarchy probably doesn't either. But at the end of the day the Pentarchy chose to hesitate, and that left Viren on his own.

[happymeishappylife]

Games I Played in 2024

Stray Gods

I absolutely loved this game! And I replayed it in full 3 times to hear the story told through the different song style choices because it was different and surprisingly, you did get different pieces of the story by exploring that. But I love all things about reinventing Greek Mythology into present day and to imagine what the gods are doing, how they are surviving and how they aren't, was really fascinating. Also I loved Grace as the heroine and New Muse, but I was devastated by Freddie's storyline. The only reason I ended up pursuing Persephone the final time was it was too painful to lose Freddie again, lol. And since I didn't romance the others that means there are always stories to go back and explore if I ever want to.

2. Assassins Creed: Black Flag

Its funny, because going into this story I thought I was going to be playing more a goofball based on how the fandom sees Edward. And sure, he is less serious than Connor, and while still an ass, he's not in the same league as Haytham. I really enjoyed Edward's journey from just a lost soul, turned pirate for the actual pillaging aspect, and then to a true Assassin once he realizes what the relics can do and what's at stake. That's true character growth and was great to see. The game was a little glitchy and I hated seafaring at first, but then it became one of my favorite activities, especially to listen to all the sea shanties. And I like seeing more of Edward's story in the webtoon comic which I'm reading right now.

3. Europa

I bought this game, not knowing much about the story, but being intrigued by the gameplay and the style. And the style is absolutely gorgeous! It's heavily inspired by Studio Ghibli and honestly so is the story, set in a future time where we have made it to Europa and tried to colonize it. It goes badly and all that is left is this little robotic-ish boy made from a man grieving the loss of his son. But what that means after the game ends, is left to heavy interpretation. My only complaint is that the gameplay becomes pretty repetitive very quickly and I don't understand how this robot survives with all the machines shooting at him.

4. Assassins Creed: Freedom Cry DLC

Adewale! It was an absolute privelege to play as this legend of a man. I think we all knew he was going to do great once he left Edward's side and the fact that we got to experience that was phenomenal. I loved the new mechanic too that we were freeing slaves throughout the Caribbean and helping them to form the societies to keep each other safe and connected. My only complaint, was that it was a DLC (though a good sized one), but not a full game.

5. Venba

I'll admit, I had been hoping for a little more sustenance with this game, but even though it was short, it told a good story about the lives of immigrants and how that evolves and changes through ones life. I honestly felt for Venba the whole time because it is hard to hang on to one's culture in the strange new world, and even though she tries, it's such a strain to her son that it ruptures that relationship. My only other complaint was that the actual cooking sections of the game, were not intuitive and the lack of directions, while important to the story, made the gameplay so annoying because it was not clear how to make the dishes. I also wish there was a better way to access the recipes then the screen on the game because I would love to try making them.

6. Assassins Creed: Aveline DLC

It was great to have another adventure with Aveline even though this was short lived. And after playing Liberation, I was grateful to get a chance to play a story with smoother controls. Still, I just want more, especially because she is the first playable female assassin. But I know more are coming and I can't wait to see what other tales I get to experience.

7. Assassins Creed: Rogue

I was so disappointed by this game. I think the concept of having a story in the franchise be going from the point of a hero as we come to understand it with the assassins, to becoming a Templar such a fascinating and intriguing way to spend the game that I was excited to see what would unfold. But the game was an absolute mess of glitches and controls and it didn't need to be set in the same period of games 3 and 4 where we we were so connected to the other assassin's characters. Like killing Adewale after playing him was hard and I had to stop playing for a bit because that was cruel. I mean sure, nice to know how Achilles lost everything, but this needed to be its own unique story. I doubt they will try it again, but I kinda hope they do if only to execute it better.

Games I replayed in 2024: 1. Animal Crossing 2. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune 3. Uncharted 2: Honor Among Thieves

[quickdeaths]

It was natural for Sonia to be surprised, she supposed. After all, she'd already convinced herself that she deserved her poor treatment, as penance for what she'd done. Indeed, what she laid out to Shinobu sounded as a punishment - a cold castle from which one could seldom leave, in a foreign nation, surrounded by people who were entirely unsympathetic to the Queen of Novoselic and, likely, anyone who aligned themselves with her. How wretched that the likes of Togami saw fit to send Sonia back there at all, merely to consolidate their own power and enrich their own pocketbooks.

Sonia didn't seem to understand that with each sentence further impressing upon them the awfulness of the situation, their resolve was further bolstered. That Future Foundation was willing to send her there with minimal protections and no regard for her emotional well-being was a black mark against the organization Shinobu worked for, in her eyes, whether or not they had their reasons. Perhaps, had she more faith in them to take care of Sonia, she wouldn't feel such a strong desire to intervene personally.

But then again, likely not. As Shinobu looked at her, she knew it would be too difficult to walk willingly out of her life again. "Mm, I've thought it through thoroughly," she said with a nod. "I'm a combat veteran with a great deal of expertise in sensitive situations, and my physical condition is improving by the day. I'm not worried about my own safety, and, I hope that by being near, I'll be able to extend some of that safety to you, as well."

That was certainly part of it. Seldom did Shinobu consider themselves to be of any use to anyone, but they could at least keep any harm from coming to Sonia. More importantly, though... "I know it's a strange thing to ask, from your perspective, but as long as you aren't opposed to it, then I'm glad." It was hard to keep looking at her, and so Shinobu turned her attention first to the kittens, and then to the ceiling as she sat back. "They're going to send someone along with you regardless of anything I do or say. If the situation is as dire as you say, if you'll be isolated and alone in a dangerous place, then I'd rather you be accompanied by someone who cares about you, rather than some indifferent or unsympathetic Future Foundation agent simply doing a job."

Of course, Togami did present an issue. Sonia was right that he would likely see no reason to approve Shinobu's request, out of petty sentiments rather than any belief in it as the best choice. For a few moments, the archer considered whether they could just kill him. His money would be better used by Future Foundation without his presence, and it wasn't like he was especially popular or likable. Shinobu may have made up her mind to quell the violent urges inside of her, but there was always room for exceptions. Togami wasn't even physically imposing, so it would be easy to enter his office, and leave with his brains splattered across the table, or the imprints of her hands black and blue around his neck.

Perhaps it said something about how she felt about Sonia that it was so easy to bend and break her own internal rules on her behalf. But, no, killing Togami would likely not help the situation, she admitted to herself - even if everyone would be better off were he a hideously mangled corpse. "I imagine that Togami would not be amenable to such a request, no." She'd simply say that much. There was no need for Sonia to know that, for a short moment, she'd been considering how best to murder him

"However, I'm not above going around him. I worked underneath the chairman in the 2nd Division for a number of years, and although I wouldn't call us personal friends, I would hope that we have a degree of mutual personal and professional respect." Munakata did understand violence, and while she hoped he would accept her request out of personal affection, she was prepared to put him in the unenviable position of choosing between a former subordinate, and somehow who he rather disliked, in Togami. They'd all sent her to Jabberwock Island due to believing her unstable and unsuited for traditional work. It wasn't hard to believe that if denied a simple request, she might act irrationally, and do something dangerous to the person who she saw as most impeding it.

Well, Munakata was probably too sharp to be drawn in by such an act, but if he was her only option, then Shinobu would do whatever was needed. "I'll speak to the chairman on my own time - I'll arrange a visit when I return to Japan, and speak to him in person about it. Hopefully he'll be willing to hear me out, and might see the logic in my proposal." There were indeed a number of obstacles to her taking a place at Sonia's side in Novoselic, many of them far more troublesome than simply speaking to Sonia. Still, it had been securing her approval that had been the source of Shinobu's hesitation - the fear that Sonia may not want her around like that. "As long as it's alright with you, Miss Nevermind, then I'll do whatever I can to ensure it comes to pass."

She seemed almost optimistic, Sonia thought, as she sipped her tea. Rather strange for a woman who was mostly solemn, if not dour most of the time. Unfortunately, her time as a Remnant of Despair left Sonia cynical. Mass murder leading the man she loved, a fellow murderer, to be disgusted by her did a number on a woman. "I'm not sure they'd care what I called them, if I called them anything," She replied dully. "As long as they're with their mother, fed, and kept safe, I doubt I can offer much more for them. Animals tend to know good and bad people, don't they? I suspect they'll suss out the truth about me soon enough."

Though with all of her doubts, the newborn kittens didn't look capable of hating her. Of hating anything, as they clung to their mother's nipples and drank and drank until their tiny bellies could hold no more for the meantime. Their tiny mews were quickly quieted by Miss Kitty, who began to groom each one despite her sheer exhaustion. Sonia sighed gently, petting the mother cat behind the ears. If anyone needed looking after, it was her.

Mostly, she was in a room full of strangers. Miss Kitty had relied upon her for food, the kittens were minutes, if not hours old, and Yaguchi she barely knew anything about. Only that she'd come from Japan, had attended Hope's Peak and was part of the Future Foundation, enjoyed coffee and for some reason, spending time with her. It wasn't like her former classmates, whom she'd befriended and murdered alongside and endured a simulation of joy and murder that had never truly happened. Convoluted and strange and painful and yet she would be bonded to them all forever, even when her time on Jabberwock Island was up. How could she form such bonds with anyone else ever again, after what she'd done?

"Sorry, but I'm afraid I wouldn't know," She muttered, relinquishing her hand once Miss Kitty had wrangled all of her babies to cuddle against her belly, and she nuzzled each one before closing her eyes for a well-deserved nap. "Your descriptors, that is. You said you attended Hope's Peak but I cannot place you from my time there. Again, I apologize: I keep trying to remember more of my time there but it comes in bits and pieces. Fragments, if you will."

Her own class, for example, she could remember vividly. But when Naegi and his cohorts insisted they too had once attended Hope's Peak Academy, Sonia had been surprised and bewildered. She hadn't remembered meeting any of them, despite the fact they assured her they did. Maybe Yaguchi was the same.

At least she'd understood her meaning: she was far more free than Sonia was and would ever be. That alone made her wealthy: with life, with experiences she'd be able to have in the new, rebuilding and changing world. "It would be a bit surprising, yes, but I cannot blame you," She assured her between sips of tea. "Despite once being billed a tropical paradise, this place is anything but. If you are able to go elsewhere, places that are less confining and more pleasant, you should. No one here would hold it against you, myself included."

They'd rather live vicariously instead, the ones who wanted off Jabberwock to experience something different: climate, view, people. Anything that wasn't seawater and excessive sun, reminders of death and despair for most of them. Even if they were envious, they couldn't hold it against the members of the Future Foundation who could come and go as they pleased.

And yet, Yaguchi's much-contemplated request wanted to do away with all of it. The freedom to make her own way in a new world, no longer beholden to her talent from Hope's Peak...all of it. Gone. If she was to accompany Sonia into her own future: behind thick stone walls and iron bars, time in the gardens and courtyards when she was on her best behavior and it was safe for her to do so. A world even smaller than Jabberwock, if that was possible.

Hopefully Sonia's shock, then, was understandable: wide-eyed and slack-jawed, she stared at Yaguchi as if the other woman had admitted she was eager to rip off her own fingernails and pour salt into the wounds. A long torture that would never fully heal.

"W-well, I cannot say I am opposed to the idea," Sonia began in a stammer, setting her mug on the end table. She worried that if she held it any longer, she'd spill it onto the bedspread. "I find your company pleasant. But Yaguchi, have you truly thought this through? Whoever is sent with me will be mostly confined to Novoselic Castle alone, unless it is deemed necessary, if not safe, to venture into the capitol. Unlike Japan, your safety and freedom aren't guaranteed. No one who has chosen to remain in the Castle loyal to me is, and the anti-monarchists who wish for my demise are only growing in numbers. From what I have observed in recordings and photographs, Novoselic is not the home I remember."

Jabberwock, for all of its faults, was at least quiet and peaceful. No riots in the streets, no burning down homes and businesses, no looting and fighting over resources. Novoselic would be anything but and worse, she'd be forced to see it all from her windows, unable to meet the people in person and ask for their forgiveness. She couldn't understand why Yaguchi would willing choose such a future, when she had so many other options ahead of her. Ones Sonia would never have, and she wanted the best for her when this was over and the Future Foundation deemed Jabberwock Island a waste of time and expenses.

"And besides, the person who is facilitating my Future Foundation assignment is the person currently in charge of my counseling and well-being," She added, giving Yaguchi a glum look: she could guess what was coming. "Togami. And barring him, it'll be the current Leader of the Future Foundation who will sign off on such decisions, Munakata. And well, you aren't exactly Togami's favorite person right now." She couldn't speak for how Munakata would see it, but she had a feeling that anything Yaguchi truly wanted, Togami would be all too pleased to deny her out of spite and a broken nose.

[i-can-bench-220]

theme songs of each mystery inc. member? (and if you feel like it, their own group theme song?)

this is a wonderful question anon, thank you!!

i decided to choose these songs based on my own very specific music taste, and just what felt the most familiar/close to my heart. even if you don't recognise them, i still hope you enjoy this post and the songs if you decide to give them a listen!

fred — the only house that's not on fire (yet) by lemon demon

i made it when i was an architect this is just the side effect

although fred's own music taste is canonically a mix of early rock & roll with showtunes and acoustic (which is amazing), i think this song is just perfect for him. fred is routinely the franchise's physical and emotional punching bag, but he's remained a positive and enthusiastic leader through it all. thus, i thought that a song about turning negative emotions into positive ones would fit him so well! the fact that it mentions neckties in the very first verse is just an added bonus.

daphne — odo by ado

half-ass deserves a k.o so be it, if you're light-hearted

yes this song is in japanese, but i couldn't pass it up for daphne! i've been associating it with her ever since i heard it. i love the theme of boxing/fighting, spicing up the mundanity of life, and of course lines like "i'mma say what i want". the lyrics of this song are kind of abstract overall and have multiple interpretations, and i think that's part of why it's so perfect! it's generally just so pleasing to the ears and i could definitely picture daphne singing it.

velma — the chattering lack of common sense by ghost and pals

i've been contemplating fallacies and things that scare me

the gang was not going to escape my love of vocaloid. so velma gets a vocaloid song! this is another slightly abstract one, but i love the themes of growth/change and confrontation. it makes me think of the velma that a lot of people want right now, one who is able to challenge her beliefs, face the supernatural and accept the things she may not understand. i also love the manic instrumentation and sense of confusion throughout.

shaggy — meatball submarine by mili

tonight we'll make dinner a feast just count it on me

(pretend that they’re quorn meatballs. you will pry vegetarian shaggy from my cold dead hands) mili is my favourite band, so i'm really glad to be able to include one of their songs here! lyrics about food feature in almost all of their music, but this is one of a handful that is entirely about food! but it isn't just that, as a central theme of the song is the singer asking you to "count on [them]". this very much fits my ideal shaggy, who is often scared and unsure but still wants to do his best for his friends.

scooby — run go run by kaeru underground

for scooby, i knew that i wanted to give him a song without lyrics, as i really enjoy incarnations where he communicates largely using actions. this a song is from my favourite game, deemo! again, i've associated this song with him for a long time. it's upbeat and fun, but also vaguely unsettling — i feel like it would fit well with a chase sequence!

the gang — ghost by mystery skulls

'cause the world might do me in it's all right ‘cause i'm with friends

there were lots of contenders for this one, but no song springs to mind faster than ghost when i think of the gang! the lyric i've put above i feel especially encapsulates them and their bond across every incarnation. the song has this air of hopelessness about it, but it feels like a big adventure all the same! maybe i have mystery skulls animated to thank for that? either way, it always makes me feel emotional when i associate it with the gang and how far they've come. :,)

[cobra-creampuff]

[part one]

"You left me," Ed states flatly, as soon as the door clicks shut behind Stede. "You left me." Stede nods solemnly, the regret plain on his face.

"I did, I did, I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't mean it."

"You left me," Ed repeats. His mouth, and his sickly heart, won't let him say anything else.

"Yes, I-" Stede stutters to an uncertain stop, his grip briefly tightening on Ed's elbow before gentling again. Always so gentle with him, with the legendary Blackbeard of all people - except when he's not. "I, ah. I feared that I had... ruined you."

It takes a moment for the words to register fully in Ed's brain, given the fact that they are fucking bullshit.

"That's fucking bullshit, Stede!" Ed bursts out when they do. He pushes Stede away from him, and his back hits the door with a bang. Stede's hand is torn away from Ed's arm, leaving not a scratch but a void that Ed tries fruitlessly to shake away.

Stede, of course, invites himself back into Ed's space like he'd- like he'd never left. But he did, he did leave, he left, the absolute cunt. Ed snarls and grabs him again by the front of his shirt, idly hoping to tear some of those frills right off. He slams Stede back against the door with another resounding bang, and holds him there hard enough to hurt (just a little).

"I let it seem like you can boss me around," Ed growls into Stede's face, "but I make my own choices. If I changed when I was with you it's because I chose to." He shouldn't have gotten so close. He can feel the warmth of Stede's presence sinking into his lips as if a kiss. Absurd, insane, and weak to boot. But it's too late now; to withdraw is to give ground.

"Yes, of course!" Stede agrees hurriedly. He holds up his hands like in surrender, but then waves them around in his ever-present nonsensery. "But... I did rather expect you to, didn't I?" He gives Ed a soft look that Ed can't begin to understand, and Ed has no response.

Slowly, Stede brings his hands down so that both of them can hold Ed's arms now. His hands are smooth and his touch is soft and it makes Ed feel like a pat of butter. Softly, Stede continues, "It seems I am a stupid, and a woefully self-centered man. And so of course, rather than think to change as well, for you, I thought the only solution was to go away."

"That's fucking bullshit," Ed says again, this time as softly as Stede, though he means to be firmer.

"Yes," Stede concedes without resistance. "I had a lot I needed to learn about... Well, about life, I suppose. And I did!" Ed grunts, an attempt to seem dismissive, but it either goes over Stede's head or he ignores it. Equal chances, really. "I learned I've already changed, actually, and I rather like who I'm becoming. The confidence! And I'd like to keep going. And... We're in love. Aren't we?"

Ed's breath catches sharply in his throat, and his grip in Stede's shirt goes suddenly lax without his say. He blinks dumbly, wide-eyed, empty-headed.

"No," he says, finally, after a prolonged struggle. Even to his own ears it sounds like the least convincing thing he's ever said in his life. He wouldn't have denied it if Stede had said so before leaving him, though he hadn't fully known it until now. But Stede left. him.

"Well," Stede says stubbornly. "I'm in love with you." Ed's guts twist up all weird, his hurt and his... love stirred up together and not getting on great. He tightens his hand in Stede's shirt again, pulls him forward just to push him back, but it's rote now, barely even quarter-hearted.

"Oh! And a hypocrite as well, now that I think of it," Stede adds suddenly. Ed guiltily snaps his eyes back up to Stede's face from where they'd slipped down to the increasingly visible base of his throat where Ed's rough handling is making the collar of his shirt stretch out.

"Hm?" he hums, both less interested and less dismissive than his last closed-mouthed noise.

"I did judge you, didn't I, about that fire Jack mentioned." He emphasizes Jack's name strangely, but he's going on before Ed can try to figure out his tone. "But I left those socialites on that burning ship as well, without a thought. And do you know-" He leans forward, eyes bright with conviction and mischief. Their noses brush. Ed's breath catches again, and he has to swallow it down into his chest where it belongs. "-I don't regret it one bit. Whatever befell them, they deserved it for hurting you."

At long last, Ed's resistance fails and he melts in Stede's hands. A reluctant but genuine smile curls up one side of his mouth despite his best efforts. It's not rare for someone to be protective of him; it's simply never happened before.

"What about you, then?" he mumbles, but he mumbles it into the side of Stede's face. "Gonna set yourself on fire?" Stede's arms make their way to Ed's sides and up his back, his breath in Ed's ear.

"No, of course not," he murmurs there. "I wouldn't threaten you with that. Nor would I grant myself the lenience of death."

"Lenience," Ed repeats, more and more helpless as Stede goes on. His words and his touch are as relentless against Ed's defensive shore as high tide. Stede hums in the affirmative.

"To live and never touch you again," he explains, smooth as exquisite cashmere. "To never see you, or call your name, now that would be properly agonizing. And quite the poetic punishment, too." Ed feels him smile against his cheek. "A real Monkey's Paw* situation."

"What?" Ed splutters, pulling back just to look into Stede's face and try to tell if he's joking, or cracking up or something. "What monkey?" Stede grins hugely, detangling himself from Ed so that he can gesture enthusiastically.

"The Monkey's Paw! It's this wicked little horror story, absolutely marvelous, you'll love it. I have it just here-" He's stepped cheerfully around Ed before Ed can even think to try to stop him, fully into the quarters. The warmth snaps right out of Ed's body instantly and leaves him frozen, facing the closed door.

"Edward," says Stede, and Ed shivers in what could easily be mistaken for fear to hear his full name from him for the first time. "Where is all my stuff?"

*yes, I know The Monkey's Paw was published 200 years after the Golden Age was over. I simply do not care.

[fiadorable]

67 Great Things in Serene Squall

Strange New Worlds season one episode seven... we're starting a mutiny 🏴‍☠️

Strange New Worlds | Children of the Comet | Ghosts of Illyria Part 1 & Part 2 | Memento Mori | Spock Amok | Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach | Serene Squall

T'Pring gets the opening monologue!

Long distance relationships are hard - I like the ritual of Spock and T'Pring both sitting down with a PADD and a glass of wine to try to bridge the distance

Spock narrowly avoiding a spit take as T'Pring drops "I have been doing research on human sex" right out of the gate

T'Pring rightly does some research on human culture to better understand her boyfriend, but seems to skip the part where she confirms that Spock is ready to embrace or even acknowledge that part of himself

Spock being distracted while walking with Chapel is delightful

Chapel helping a friend out with his relationship trouble

"Spock, are you telling me your girlfriend is moving too fast for you?"

"Don't try to be smarter than the truth"

"Also - pro tip: Pay better attention to me when I'm talking because…" "You are very charming and I am completely missing it?"

Dr. Aspen/Captain Angel's character is so cool, they are a treat to watch laying the groundwork for the takeover as early as this dinner (calling Pike a boy scout to prompt him to take risks later on in the episode)

Pike is 100% Starfleet's boy scout, in the best sense

Looks like Pike made lasagna for dinner, but La'An interrupts with the announcement they've arrived before they can eat

Bridge troubleshooting!

Finally! Someone in Trek who listens to music that sounds like it was made later than the 1960s. It's the antagonist, but it's a start.

"Interesting. He hasn't snipped his emotions yet."

Pike and Ortegas bridge banter I

The sound design for the ship moving through the asteroid field is great - all of the external ship stuff is great in this episode. I feel like I have a real sense of how the ship is moving in relation to its surroundings.

Asteroid laser trap!

Camera shot from behind Pike so we see what he sees on the bridge - I like it

Kaboom!

The laser net is a great first test for Spock - if he fails, then I'm betting the trap would disable the ship and then the Serene Squall would swoop in and attempt to take over the Enterprise. But if he passes, then not only does Enterprise get to continue on and reach the point where the crew is separated, but Spock is now off kilter from being forced to use his "gut". Either way is a win for Angel, although I'm betting they were hoping Spock would be able to solve the puzzle so they could fuck with him some more

Visible sigh of relief from Number One and Ortegas as the puzzle deactivates

Angel's little crab-legged ship is cute

Spock and Angel's "maybe you're neither" nonbinary discussion

Pike and Ortegas bridge banter II

In the future people will be accepting enough of other people's fashion choices that they will deliberately ignore the increasingly villainous vibes from a self-professed humanitarian aid worker's wardrobe as they approach their destination

Headcanon: Pike had Una and La'An do rock paper scissors to see who was going to be on the away mission with him

And as Pike beams away with the chief of security, there's Angel's first check, but not mate

Very clean takeover of the ship all things considered

Spock is a beast in hand to hand combat, dang

Everything about Remy the pirate is a win as are Pike's very reasonable, non-threatening-yet-not-impressed facial expressions

Number One death glaring at Spock from down the hallway as they march her to the transporter room 😂😂

The entire interrogation scene from "Handsome and witty. Aren't you a charmer" to "What's wrong with my cooking?"

Chapel is wearing the perfect white jumpsuit to be camouflaged on this empty white ship

I know those are Jess Bush's actual tattoos on her wrists and hands, but I would love to see an in universe explanation for them, it's an interesting character beat

Action!Chapel and her Hypospray of Doom

Pike butters up Remy like he's a dinner roll at Golden Corral while dishing out chili (?) to a pirate crew - it's a nice parallel because he's using the same tactics as Angel

Never ever put the senior staff together in a holding cell, come on, guys

"More good news: I convinced these guys to sell us to the Klingons."

Bahahaha Number One is suspicious (and rightfully so) and Ortegas is convinced Pike's lost his mind

The idea that Pike and Number One regularly start mutinies on away missions gone wrong is amazing and I need fic, please

Chapel trying her damnedest to get that SOS out to Starfleet

Chapel is the fault in Angel's plan - she's the worst person who could be left on the ship with Spock

Once Captain Angel reveals themself, their sarcasm gives me life

Great twist that they don't need any information from Spock, they just need Spock himself as bait

Gasp STONN???

T'Pring immediately starts out with "Who are you", no hi hello nothing, just who are you and why are you calling me

Sarcastic death threats have never been sexier

Angel's look of incredulous disgust as Spock insists that Vulcans aren't swayed by emotion 😂😂😂

Angel being pissed that Chapel is on the stupid ship in the first place, ruining their little back and forths with Spock

"Love is the only thing that makes the cold loneliness of space bearable"

Setting the mutiny in motion 🏴‍☠️

"Now let's get those transporters hot and trade lovers" 😂 what am I watching

"Spock, you are failing to communicate effectively" 😂😂😂😂

"Oh, you guys are fun"

Angel's plan going completely to pot because one little nurse got missed when they took over the ship

The pirate ship has a goddamn steering wheel

Backdoor codes!

Pike and Ortegas bridge banter III

Chekhov's necklace

"The question isn't what you are. It's who you are"

"Our mutiny is still in progress" as pirates literally climb the walls in the background 😂

Just a normal shift on the bridge, on the way back into Federation space to deliver some pirates to the authorities. Then out of nowhere… "Arrrrgh me mateys!" Your captain affects an old Earth pirate accent and demeanor from behind you. It is hilarious and sudden. The Dad vibes are off the charts. You beg the captain to stop before you burst into giggles on the bridge and ruin the carefully cultivated image of "where fun goes to die". You feel his frown and hear him sit back in his chair, but he desists and ship travels on. Your reputation is intact and the morale is lifted.

T'Pring's unwavering faith in Spock's faithfulness is beautiful and heartbreaking, as is Spock's relieved "of course" as T'Pring confidently says the one thing he's wondering if he's capable of

"So I know for certain there's no feelings between us" uuuuugh the angst… the mutually unrequited feelings (because I do think Spock does feel something for Chapel even if he can't or won't accurately quantify it right now)

With this episode ending on Stonn and T'Pring walking to Sybok's cell together, I wonder if he helped her do the prisoner swap - maybe he was even on the ship with her and we just didn't see… hmmm…

Sybok and Captain Angel had better return in Season 2

[botheringlevi]

Good evening, Captain (it's evening where I live at least). I'm afraid I don't have a name with which to introduce myself; my given name is not my true name, but I don't know what my true name is.

Actually, to save you the trouble - since it's already in my handle, you can call me Shelby (any pronouns except he/him).

I didn't see any report of how your birthday went. No pressure to divulge, but I hope it wasn't too annoying or overwhelming. As a neurodivergent person who's very slow to trust, I understand the pressure that comes with attending well-meaning but overwhelming events.

I'm not sure if you've answered this already, but what do you look for in a tea blend, and what are your favorites?

Personally I'm not well versed because I'm not much into hot drinks. But I did have some pu erh from a friend who got it as a gift, and it was fantastic.

I also very much enjoy whatever they put in those kettles at Chinese restaurants. I think it's jasmine? But I usually wait on it because I don't enjoy burning my mouth.

On another topic - I really enjoyed your take on music, and how you expressed your preferences. The way that some trained musicians talk about music that's simpler technically than what they play, is absolutely abhorrent. Classist if not outright racist.

I remember one person I know theorized that many people don't like opera or classical singing because the singers have to work so hard to get everything that clean and technically perfect, it becomes completely unrelatable to most people. What many want to hear in a singer - myself included - is the sound of human suffering.

I think I'd amend that to say just the wide spectrum of human emotion. To say "suffering" specifically I think is too reductive.

Would you say that's what drew you to the singers you heard in the Underground?

Evening. *Intrigued* If Shelby’s what you want me to call you, then that’s that. Otherwise I’d call you Jasmine or something, since you mentioned the tea. Either way… good luck with figuring it out.

*Grunts* At this point, I’ve rehashed it enough times. The Admin can fill you in. [1 - 2 - 3] Scroll back some, and you'll find a heap of 'reports'.

*Frowns*

*Thoughtful* I don’t get overwhelmed under pressure… but social settings are different. Stinking bodies in crowds. All the conversations overlapping with each other. *Weird look* No thanks. Erwin knows to limit the number of guests, even with those who show up as a “surprise”. I count myself lucky he and Hange know me, so… they can tell I'm pleased with a gift, or whatever it is. *Sips tea*

Of course I have. The short answer is subtlety. Earthy tastes over floral or citrusy ones. My personal preference is black.

Neither is the Admin. *Scowls* They can’t stand hot tea. Tch.

But your friend made a wise choice with pu’er. Especially if you’re concerned about your health.

*Strange look* I don’t know anything about Chinese. I’m guessing that’s a type of people. But don’t let me stop you from avoiding burning yourself.

[Referenced ask] *Grumbles* I just tell it like I see it. I’m not an expert. If you want my opinion... musicians who can't appreciate music aren't musicians. Either way, fine art, like fine anything, attracts assholes.

*Calloused look* I doubt that. When you take into consideration something so subjective like music, there are about a hundred factors that go into opinions. If that person is one of those types of musicians you talked about, that theory’s unsurprisingly short-sighted.

*Scoffs* Human suffering... What the hell does that even mean. The “spectrum of human emotion” still sounds too rigid. Like with jokes, if you go out of your way to explain the set-up and what it means, it ceases to be comedy.

So no. Like I said, there’s a variety of factors that shit out an opinion. I didn’t have much of a choice in music if I walked by beggars back then, but sometimes I stuck around if I was in the mood for what I was hearing. Same thing in taverns. I don’t like to listen to a bunch of drunkards wailing lyrics at the top of their lungs. Other people get a laugh out of it, or they join in.

I’ll admit, emotion is a part of it. *Struggles* ...Like lament. But it's much more complicated than that.

[nightswithkookmin]

A quick lesson on ships

Because why not??😌

No but seriously, bare with me, I'm trying to answer your questions. Sit if you have to. Hehe

Uban Dictionary defines shipping as this:

A term used to describe fan fictions that take previously created characters and put them as a pair. It usually refers to romantic relationships, but it can refer platonic [sic] ones as well. (Just think of “shipping” as short for “relationSHIP”.) 9 Apr 2015

Ships can be platonic or romantic or both.

There's fictional ships and non fictional ships too. You ship two people you want to be in a relationship or who already are in a relationship or who you suspect to be in a relationship- perhaps due to queer baiting, ship baiting, romance baiting etc.

In the shipping fandom, there are two sects of people. Those who are Proships those who are Antiships- antis are ironically considered part of the shipping community because for some reason they are always in shippers business💀

Antishippers are those who oppose a particular ship or shipping in general (more on that later.)

Proshippers are well- Pro ships.

Pro-Ship

A term mostly used in fandoms, but can stretch outside of this to include original characters. The core belief is that shipping two fictional characters, no matter if they are family, share ages gaps, considered to be unhealthy, or show blatant signs of being abusive or other generally unsavory behaviours, are valid in a fictional setting.

Pro-Shippers or "anti-antis" are also known as "rainbow meaties" and will use 🌈 + 🍖 emojis together often in their bio on twitter or other social media platforms- usually within fictional settings.

These shippers reinforce the idea fiction is separate from reality and shouldn't be confused with the other.

‘Anti’ is short for ‘anti-shipper’ or ‘anti-[ship]’.

Kindly read through this thread to get the gist of it.

III

IV

Shipping non-fictional individuals is a subset of Proshipping, in my opinion, known also as alternative shipping- as far as my knowledge on it goes.

As with fictional shipping, alt ships have their antis too. People who disagree with shipping real couples in a romantic way for whatever arbitrary moral reasons they have and who feel entitled to go out of their way to correct, stop, police and punish such shippers.

Then there are those who although may be pro real people shipping think they have the right to tell others how they should ship and to what extent they can ship.

Others too prefer to ship real people platonically because they view romantic shipping of real people as problematic.

So to answer your question on Anon's post- there is no such thing as a Proshipper who is also Anti shipping. Thats oxymoronic. Perhaps they might be platonic shippers who are anti romantic ships but not necessarily romantic shippers themselves.

I don't think there's anything wrong with preferring to ship platonically. It is when they assume by virtue of their false sense of moderacy that they are better than others that shit starts to get funny.

Those shippers are delusionally confused beings with a supremacist imperialist complex rooted in ignorance and absurdities.

I usually walk by those quietly. keep it pushing. Gotta mind my business somehow even though most times I just want to pull their hair and bite them and shit😭

I try to keep it classy.

Lord knows I try.

You are either pro ship or anti ship. There's no in between. Those shippers who are shippers but claim they are not are nothing but fraudulent, fake us, simps trying to bamboozle their way through life- pardon my Swahili.

There are a lot of anti shippers moonlighting as shippers in this fandom. It's fascinating.

Personally I think those people are either confused or their desires to appeal to other Anti shippers must have morphed their brains into ass dick hybrids.

Anti shippers in general are notorious gatekeepers, gaslighters, bigots, high key sanctimonious and often have a cis white westernized sense of morality and ethics through which they fliter others and expect everyone and everything to conform to.

They impose their values on others, their ethics on others, resort to manipulation, policing, intimidation and bullying to impose their will etc.

Within shipping, there are those who are Proshipping yet anti certain ships. Most Tuktukkers are anti Jikook. And assume anyone who isn't a tuktukker is equally anti Tae Kook and so go ahead and exhibit anti behaviours towards them.

Think of such groups of shippers as Proshippers with a preference for particular ships if you will.

There are Pro shippers who also feel some kind of way about Shipping real life people or alt shipping.

Here's further resource to help you understand what proshipping is

If you are intolerant with other shippers choice of ships or style of shipping and you traumatize them for it that's Anti shipping. Especially if you feel entitled and justified to traumatize others because you take a higher moral status over them.

You can be proship and not like how certain people, how they go about

Simply walk away, click off, mind your business. You are not the only adult in these streets and leave people to do what interests them.

I think for as long as I can remember, I've always been a proshipper and I ship both platonically and romantically, fictionally and alternatively💀

Some themes in fiction are a hard limit for me such as the R word, pedophilia, incest, child abuse- I just can never find the entertainment in those topics and will struggle through such themes.

But others believe it's just FICTION and those fictional characters aren't really dealing with the imaginary struggles we read about.

Yall do you sis.

I don't really know why people make a big deal of it or try to demonize the concept of shipping as if it were something strange or mysterious- just keep your moral values to yourself. I am not your mother's daughter. we were not raised in the same households.

Then again I think it all depends on the different cultures and social backgrounds we all come from and how entitled, supremacist or imperialist they are.

For Yoonmin, I shipped them romantically but didn't think they were a real couple at all. I just romanticized their interactions and found humor in it. At the back of my head I was expecting them each to one day find husbands or wives and go their merry ways and even harbored the thought they each could very much be in serious romantic relationships with others.

In similar ways, I shipped Minimoni and Vmin.

You can ship a pair romantically and not think at all that they are actually REAL.

A lot of jokers ship Jikook romantically and don't assume they are real. Just as a lot of people shipped say Elena and Stefan romantically even though Paul was married.

Some shipped Elena and Damon too due to their unscreen chemistry and even felt they could be a thing- that was before later it was revealed they had started dating in real life. Even that I was holding on to my Bonnie x Damon fantasies because Bonnie was my bias and I shipped her with everyone romantically- of course I didn't expect any of those ships to manifest into something because it was the character I was shipping not Kat herself. To this day I still love her onscreen chemistry and friendship with Damon and don't see how people could wish for it to be more than that😭

It was beautiful as is. Not everything should climax into sexual intercourse.

But if I felt at some point any of her ships had crossed into alternative ships I would have jumped on those and supported it whole heartedly.

If you assume a pair are a real couple and dating in real life that's alt shipping- a lot of alt shippers suspect a ship is real and that's why they ship them.

There is no such thing as platonic alt shipping.

And for me personally, because I believe Jikook are a real couple and have made that cross over I don't ship any of that pair romantically with other members anymore.

It's bizzare to me to ship someone I know has a partner romantically with anybody else- I make exceptions for Vmin of course💀

I know JK is side eyeing me but I don't care.

I want Tae to be happy too😭😭😭

Tae just wants his bestfriend and soulmate😭

It's too much😭😭😭😭😭😭

He stays shooting his shots🤣

Jimin Harem is real🤭

I must admit, I catch myself slipping on Vmin and Minimoni every now and then- old habits die hard and they don't make it easy 😫

But that don't mean I think Vmin is dating. THAT WOULD BE WILD.

Summary

Proshippers can be Platonic or Romantic shippers and you can ship a pair romantically and not assume they are real at all.

Anti shippers are just assholes trying to beat their values down people's throats.

Alt shippers don't ship their OTP with other players romantically.

I don't know what you mean by Jinkooker...

Do you ship Jinkook romantically or think they are real?? Sis...

Maybe you just ship them platonically or casually.

I ship all the ships platonically.

Especially all Jimin"s Tae's ships. I'd let my self flirt with the idea of romance every now and then.

JK's ships don't make sense to me as ships.

As nonplatonic ships I mean.

I'm fascinated each time I see a hardcore JK x any member ship besides Jikook swearing up and down JK is screwing Namjoon🤣🤣

I hope this helps??

GOLDY

[warriorsbutnotreally]

Firestar Has Powers As The Fourth - AU

ooo

so I'm gonna make this a TPB thing

but I will add some afternote info

for future events

in case anyone wants to do anything with this

[which idr if this was ever mentioned, but my designs and ideas and AUs are free to use I just ask for credit]

Rusty is a kittypet who is drawn by the forest and other kittypets are cautious about him as he's always had something about him that unsettled other cats

He seems to know about things no cat does and talks about things he's seen that no one believes exists

Rusty has the ability to basically safely separate his spirit from his body and wander around in his sleep, so long as his spirit has a place to return to

One night while he does this, his spirit travelling through the forest, he notices two cats sitting together - a blue-gray molly and a tortoiseshell molly -, talking. He isn't paying attention to what they say but watches them curiously, as he's done many times, but never so close to where all the strange forest cats slept

Suddenly, after the blue-gray she-cat leaves, the other cat looks and he realizes the tortoiseshell can see him do this and it frightens him into being wide awake

Despite his fear, though, he's also curious on what's going on and he feels himself being called towards the forest

Finally, gathering his nerves, he sets out only to find there's someone waiting for him.

The tortoiseshell from before is sitting out in the open and she greets him the moment she sees him

He asks who she is and she introduces herself as Spottedleaf and she asks if he was the cat that was spying on her and her leader

He sheepishly admits to it

Spottedleaf nods and then turns to an unseen figure that steps out of hiding. It's the blue-gray she-cat.

She's Bluestar and she admits she didn't believe in what Spottedleaf saw for a moment, but is quite curious about this young tom.

They have a long talk that ends in Rusty agreeing to join ThunderClan as long as the two she-cats promise not to tell anyone about his gift, as it has lost him many friends

With no goodbyes to anyone, he follows them

Rusty grows into Firepaw and is quickly mentored by both Bluestar and Spottedleaf. When asked, Bluestar states that she's curious if he's more suited to being a warrior or a medicine cat.

He's not interested in being a medicine cat at all, but rather Spottedleaf, being the only cat who can see him when he spirit walks, just wants to learn the extent of his abilities and such and has no interest in making him be a medicine cat apprentice.

They learn the hard way that she's not the only one, as he's noticed by another cat - a sickly ShadowClan tom.

When he returns, he mentions this and Spottedleaf informs him that who he met was Runningnose. She then speculates that perhaps its those with high ties to StarClan - aka medicine cats - who can see him.

Firepaw eventually goes to full warrior training to avoid any issues with the other medicine cats

Now able to hang out with cats his own age more often, he becomes fast friends with Ravenpaw and Graypaw, though he keeps his secret from them as he's worried they'd no longer want to be friends with him if he told them

He goes through his time in ThunderClan trying to avoid using his abilities - or, at least, not using them enough to get caught doing it

His stance on this changes after Spottedleaf dies, as he realizes he could've spied on ShadowClan and seen this coming, even though he had no clue he would've needed to spy on ShadowClan at all and it's kind of a illogical back and forth with himself

He makes a quiet promise to himself to use his powers whenever he feels he should to avoid losing anyone else

After Bluestar sends him and Graystripe to find WindClan, Fireheart uses his ability to wander until he locates where they are, leading his friend in that direction

Graystripe is in awe, thinking Fireheart is just the best tracker in the four Clans and looks up to him with great fondness

As they lead the Clan back, Fireheart is confronted by Barkface, who admits he isn't sure why, but he's certain that there's something strange about the fire-orange tom and he hopes that whatever that is, that it's for the good of the Clans

Fireheart promises that he's doing all he can to help the forest, even if he wasn't born into it

Barkface liked that

The gorge scene and Fireheart saves Sandpaw, coming to terms slowly that his powers can't help him with everything

Fireheart returns and Yellowfang is now aware of his powers, as Bluestar told her while he was gone. She wants to test his limits rather than just seeing them work. [Cinder and Bracken aren't apprenticed early]

While back to training in the medicine cat den, he learns he cannot physically interact with the living while his spirit is detached

They also learn, after he travels to the Moonstone as a spirit, that he can travel to StarClan and we learn of them a bit earlier than expected. He sees Redtail's spirit and he runs to ask him what happened, but is snapped awake by the sounds of Tigerclaw interrogating Yellowfang on why Fireheart is here

Fireheart interrupts by saying he was considering being a medicine cat

Tigerclaw accepts this answer and tells him he should bring it up with Bluestar

After he leaves, Yellowfang asks if he was telling the truth and Fireheart admits that he's not entirely sure. She informs him that if he chooses to become a medicine cat, there's always a place for him, but she warns him that it's not an easy path

Fireheart is aware of this

She also then adds that he'd never be allowed to have a mate or kits.

He's also aware of this

He goes off on a hunting patrol and while he's out he stumbles across a kittypet and she stares at him from her fence, wide-eyed. He's about to leave when she calls him 'Rusty' and he realizes that this is his sister, Princess.

Princess is happy to see him

He's happy to see Princess

They talk and she reveals she's expecting kits and he starts thinking about what Yellowfang said

Fireheart has been sneaking out to talk to his sister during the day and trains his powers with Yellowfang at night

One day Graystripe drags him off to go hunting before he can leave camp and the two of them hang out for the first time in a long time. Graystripe asks if Fireheart is actually considering being a medicine cat and he admits that he isn't entirely sure yet.

Graystripe, implying to like Fireheart, tells him that he'd rather be able to share a den with him

Fireheart didn't catch on and instead jokes that, with how much Graystripe gets into trouble, that he'll be in there more often than not if Fireheart does become a medicine cat

Graystripe is not impressed and goes off to hunt alone. Fireheart is confused on why his friend was hurt, but Graystripe refuses to talk.

After some time, Fireheart realizes that he isn't the only one sneaking out of camp and he decides to investigate, even though he was doing the same thing

There he sees Graystripe hanging out with a RiverClan cat

He confronts them and Graystripe introduces Silverstream

Fireheart scolds the two of them and Graystripe counters back that he's not the only one sneaking off to see someone

Silverstream leaves the two to argue and Fireheart asks what he's talking about.

Graystripe mentions he knows Fireheart has been going near twolegplace. He asks what business he has there.

Fireheart brings up his sister

Graystripe feels awkward now

Next time he sees Princess, he says he'd have to visit less often. Princess understands.

Whitecough is spreading through camp and Fireheart avoids the medicine cat den for the day as he's not sure what he wants to do with his life.

He goes to Bluestar and asks what he should do

Bluestar is confused

He brings up how he told Tigerclaw he was thinking of becoming a medicine cat

She asks if he's being truthful

He isn't sure

She then asks what he wants to do

He's still not sure

Bluestar gives him the option to train as a medicine cat for a couple moons and he can make his choice then

So Fireheart starts his journey as a medicine cat around the same time Bluestar gets sick. Tigerclaw's attempt to kill Bluestar ends with Fireheart almost getting hit by a car, but he manages to stumble over into ShadowClan territory. He gets scolded for doing so.

Some time later we get Cloudkit in ThunderClan. He is made aware of his kittypet origins a lot sooner and Brindleface loves him regardless and her kits defend him from being bullied.

Fireheart helps heal his Clan from whitecough and, while learning herbs, ThunderClan is attacked by rogues. They win and the Brokentail is Yellowfang's son reveal happens

Fireheart confronts Yellowfang about this and the two have a long talk about what happened with her life and how she had kits as a medicine cat

He's sympathetic but then asks why they don't just change the code

She admits she isn't sure

Fireheart promises change

She laughs a bit and says "sure"

Yellowfang is busy so she sends Fireheart to gather herbs and supplies. He brings Sandstorm for help. The two hang out and bond and she apologies for being an ass when he first joined. He accepts her apology.

The two become friends

They return to learn Cloudkit, Ashkit, and Fernkit are missing. They are found by the two adults and scolded.

Fireheart and Sandstorm are like two disappointed parents and Tigerclaw warns Fireheart not to grow too comfortable around Sandstorm or the kits

Fireheart is confused

ThunderClan helps WindClan against River and Shadow, but Fireheart is forced to stay behind, despite his worries for his Clan. Yellowfang shows him how to prepare herbs for after battles

Fire grows sus of Tigerclaw after learning that Graystripe almost died and the deputy did nothing to help. Graystripe is stuck in the medicine cat den and asks Fireheart to please make sure that the tom didn't hurt Silverstream.

Fireheart promises and Graystripe purrs, calling him a good friend before passing out

Fireheart grows more worried, however, about Tigerclaw and wants to ask Ravenpaw more about what happened that day

While Graystripe is recovering, Tigerclaw seems to be watching over the medicine cat den like a hawk. Fireheart doesn't think he'll be able to leave without being noticed and wonders if he'd be able to use his powers

Fireheart stays behind for the gathering as does Tigerclaw, the deputy stating that he doesn't trust Brokentail.

Fireheart uses his powers and travels to the barn. That's when he learns, for the first time, that he can basically create a shared dream space in StarClan for cats to talk, as he accidentally brings Graystripe as he was thinking about him while creating the space.

The three talk and Ravenpaw tells them everything, seemingly still thinking this is a dream.

Fireheart later confirms this is a dream and realizes then that he can physically interact with Ravenpaw here and realizing he's more or less controlling the tom's spirit to be there.

This makes Fireheart worried, but Ravenpaw and Graystripe wake up safely.

Fireheart has Sandstorm help him get Graystripe out of camp for a bit and the three hang out and bond, warming up to each other. Fireheart is becoming aware about these feelings he's having about Sandstorm and tries to ignore them. However, he also thinks about Yellowfang and how silly the rule that medicine cats can't have a mate or kits is, especially since it's not like he'd be the sole parent of the kits.

He realizes he's thinking like this and tries to act like he wasn't imagining a life with him and another cat

Granted he's not sure who the other cat was, but brushes Graystripe off as an option, since the tom has a mate already

Speaking of, Graystripe got them a chance to talk to a cat who had seen the battle - Graypool - and thinks she may know something. They agree to meet her the next day.

Before they go, though. Apprentices. Cinderpaw goes to Sandstorm, Brackenpaw goes to Runningwind, Brightpaw goes to Whitestorm, and Thornpaw goes to Mousefur

The plot where Graypool tells them about Mistyfoot and Stormfur happens as well as Bluestar being dismissive about it remains the same.

Everything goes about the same, minus Fireheart having warrior duties and more him learning how to be a medicine cat and having conflicting feelings about the rule about not being able to have his own family. Also maybe a bit where Brokentail taunts him about the death of Spottedleaf and how ThunderClan needs kittypets to heal them, which he does his best to ignore.

Fireheart agrees to help Graystripe visit RiverClan during the flood under the terms that he's checking if the medicine cat, Mudfur, needs any aid.

They save Mistyfoot's kits and Fireheart agrees to help them while Graystripe aids a hunting patrol. Graystripe returns, but Fireheart is permitted to stay behind.

This is when he learns that Silverstream is pregnant. He's shocked, but keeps her secret. The two talk for a while and he understands why Graystripe would admire her, as she's independent and has a strong heart. While in camp, however, he notices something strange. Like a shadow is following Silverstream wherever she walks that belongs to a much different cat.

Graystripe is still secretly delivering prey and aiding patrols while pretending to check on how Fireheart is doing.

When Fireheart returns, Bluestar has many questions for him and it makes him curious, but he assures his leader that RiverClan will be okay.

Fireheart notices Tigerclaw is visiting near the medicine cat den more often and sees him near Brokentail and is curious on what's going on. He wonders if there's something going on or if Tigerclaw has developed empathy.

There is another attempt on Fireheart's life [the almost drowning], but Longtail saves him and Tigerclaw brushes off what happened and informs Bluestar about the flood

It's revealed at the gathering by Nightstar that ThunderClan has Brokentail and the other Clans are mad

Shadow and Wind invade Thunder, get chased off etc

Cinderpaw is hurt during the fight and Sandstorm uses that as an excuse to visit, despite also being hurt and needing to visit anyway.

Fireheart notices Graystripe leave camp and he excuses himself. He follows and learns Silverstream is having her kits. Sandstorm and Cinderpaw, who followed, are surprised as well.

The group of them come together and help Silverstream, but she's actively dying. Fireheart lays next to her to help keep her warm and uses his powers for the first time in a bit and manages to use his connection to spirits to keep her alive.

Also Tigerclaw arrives on the scene as he wakes up from saving her

Silverstream and her kits are brought into ThunderClan and Graystripe is revealed to be the father.

Goldenflower helps Silverstream take care of the kits while Tigerclaw yells at the small group. Bluestar takes over the situation.

In private she admits to Fireheart that Mistyfoot and Stonefur is her kits and that she hopes Graystripe knows what he's going to do.

Fireheart asks what she thinks should happen but she doesn't answer

Tigerclaw is still mad

Silverstream is not doing great and soon enough needs to be brought back into the medicine cat den

There's talks of sending her home to avoid any tension with RiverClan, especially since Brokentail is still in camp and Crookedstar would be upset if he learned his daughter was so close to a killer

After a couple days and her condition getting worse, Bluestar decides it's time to send her home, especially after Willowpelt announces that she's expecting Whitestorm's kits

A patrol is sent to get RiverClan and Crookedstar brings some of his warriors to pick up his daughter and her kits. Graystripe goes with them, worried over his kits.

A meeting is held as Cloudkit becomes Cloudpaw. Bluestar personally trains him.

One day Fireheart asks permission to have Cloudpaw collect herbs. Bluestar allows this. He brings Cloudpaw to meet his mother, Princess, instead.

Fireheart becomes Yellowfang's official apprentice now, choosing to use his powers to help, but also still keeping up on battle-training as it's helping him calm his nerves.

While Yellowfang and Fireheart are doing some light battle training to keep their skills up and also talk about Fireheart's worries about Tigerclaw when they see Tigerclaw with a group of rogues

The two run back to camp and things go the same with ThunderClan fighting the rogues and Brokentail siding with the rogues

Fireheart gets Sandstorm's help in saving Bluestar and Sandstorm goes feral on Tigerclaw for a moment before the rogues are chased off

Bluestar exiles Tigerclaw. He tries to get cats to join him, but they all say no.

Brokentail is killed and Fireheart is dragged off to the side by Bluestar and she demands him to help her chose a deputy, since she can't choose him.

He chooses Sandstorm

Bluestar trusts him and she announces Sandstorm as her deputy. Sandstorm is shocked but accepts.

ThunderClan begins recovery and Fireheart is worried about Bluestar and Graystripe - the leader being on edge and paranoid and his friend being far away with no news on how he or Silverstream are doing.

Sandstorm visits him that night and the two talk about what happened - Fireheart not mentioning that Bluestar asked him to choose a deputy - until they fall asleep.

Some time passes and Sandstorm is taking over helping the Clan quite well; Whitestorm is proud of her. She does come to Fireheart with some worry over Bluestar and Cloudpaw, but Fireheart comforts her.

Fireheart is personally worried about what Tigerclaw is doing and seeing Bramblekit only makes him worry more. He has that talk with Goldenflower about her kits

When Fireheart heads out, he noticed Sandstorm is frustrated still and he asks what's going on She mentions apprentices ceremonies and how Bluestar brushed her off about it. She expresses both worry and annoyance about this.

The two go talk to Bluestar and Bluestar tells Sandstorm to do the ceremony if she's so worried about it

So Sandstorm does. Ashpaw is apprenticed to Dustpelt and Fernpaw is given to Darkstripe.

Bluestar's mad that Sandstorm actually did that and the Clan is a little confused, but goes with it. It's also at this point that Fireheart realizes that Cloudpaw is missing, as he was busy with so much.

He asks Bluestar and she mentioned sending him off hunting right as Cloudpaw returns with a single piece of prey.

Fireheart is worried

Bluestar later drags Fireheart off to the Moonstone, leaving Sandstorm alone. She vents to Fireheart and reveals he's the only cat she trusts and she's even on edge about Sandstorm.

She asks if he's sure about being a medicine cat, even offering to drop Sandstorm as deputy and give him Cloudpaw, but he's certain.

They are confronted by a WindClan patrol and Fireheart tries to be diplomatic and use him being a medicine cat as an excuse, but WindClan is made and refuses to let them pass.

Bluestar almost gets into a fight but Fireheart almost drags her back home.

The Clan is also angry after they learn what's going on. Except Cloudpaw, who is rather unbothered.

She returns to her den and doesn't seem worried about Cloudpaw. Fireheart is worried about Cloudpaw.

Sandstorm and Fireheart talk to each other about their worries for Bluestar and Fireheart is very supportive of Sandstorm. This helps the deputy relax and she thanks him awkwardly.

The gathering doesn't go great

Things go the same with Whitethroat and Littlecloud and Yellowfang teaches Fireheart about this disease and what to do about it However Bluestar sends the ShadowClan warriors away Sandstorm helps Fireheart escort them

Fireheart explains to the two on what to do and Littlecloud asks a lot of questions. Fireheart gives what answers he can.

Littlecloud asks if he could come see Fireheart for more information and Fireheart, surprised, looks at Sandstorm, who pretends she isn't listening He then agrees

They watch the two leave through a tunnel and Sandstorm becomes a bit worried, admitting she'd never noticed the tunnel before.

She wants to tell Bluestar, but Fireheart has her promise not to, since he wants to help ShadowClan

She hesitates but agrees

Fireheart comes back and notices that Cloudpaw is just being allowed to do whatever and Bluestar isn't really training him. He drags Cloudpaw out to train but Cloudpaw is a brat about it.

Fireheart tries to counter that he originally trained as a warrior, but Cloudpaw still doesn't care

He lets Cloudpaw wander off but follows him in secret, learns he's eating kittypet food, and gets mad. He talks to Sandstorm about this and the two try to talk to him about it, but he honestly does not care what they have to say.

Soon after Fireheart helps Willowpelt give birth and he thinks about Sandstorm

He tries to push these thoughts away, but he has a lot of feelings towards her

Fireheart is training Littlecloud in Littlecloud's dreams and also sneaks to the tunnels to help anyone that is struggling

Sandstorm catches him and scolds him while also helping. Sometimes she even brings Cinderpaw sometimes, though this is less out of willingness and more out of the fact no one's allowed to tell Cinderpaw what to do, not even her deputy mentor.

Sandstorm also quietly mentions that pretty soon there will need to be warrior ceremonies.

They return to learn that Cloudpaw has been missing for a while and Fireheart panics

He uses his power to try to hunt down Cloudpaw but is unable to find him. He wakes up in an even bigger panic and Sandstorm is confused how he increased panic after a sudden nap.

He tells Sandstorm about his powers and she's surprised but promises to keep it a secret. He informs her that Bluestar knows and that, if she asks, tell her what he's doing.

She guards him as he frantically uses his powers to try to find his nephew. He even uses a moment to inform Littlecloud, who can see him naturally now, and the small tabby promises to help keep an eye out.

During one of his wake ups, he learns from Sandstorm that Bluestar and Whitestorm are aware of what's going on - with Whitestorm to a lesser degree as both she and the leader talked vaguely about Fireheart's powers.

She also brings up that cats are starting to whisper about how much time she's spending helping him.

He's confused for a moment but becomes flustered when he remembered how he was thinking of Sandstorm while helping Willowpelt.

He asks if she's upset he became a medicine cat and she says no, but seems to be holding something back

He then asks if it's possible if the two can remain close and she's confused before he elaborates that he likes her a lot but there's not much that can be done. Even then he goes on and adds that he wants there to be a change because he cares about her a lot. She cares for him, too.

They begin secret dating with plans to make their dating not a secret in the future.

Worries and stress grow through the Clan and there's a small point in time that Fireheart has to stop searching for Cloudpaw in order to help the Clan.

Everyone's worried about Bluestar

While grabbing water for the queens and herbs for Yellowfang, he encounters Graystripe and realizes it had been a moment since he thought of his friend and he feels a little guilty

Graystripe talks about Silverstream's condition and how she's still alive but a lot weaker than before. Still, she's kicking and refuses to go down.

Fireheart is happy to hear that and gives Graystripe some herbs to take back to Mudfur to help Silverstream.

the plot with Mousefur and Thornpaw is about the same, though Fireheart comes to help with Runningwind. While the patrol chases away ShadowClan cats, Tigerclaw attacks Fireheart while he's alone and Fireheart fights back

Tigerclaw actively tries to murder Fireheart with the help of rogues, but Graystripe and a RiverClan patrol help and Tigerclaw is chided for trying to harm a medicine cat

The rogues are chased off, Runningwind is buried, Whitethroat is given a proper funeral, and he vents to Yellowfang about Tigerclaw.

After his wounds are taken care of, he casually brings Sandstorm out of camp to get help gathering herbs, except they just cuddle and talk and she expresses her worries to him

Ravenpaw stumbles across them and chooses not to ask questions, instead informing them of a kittypet with a ThunderClan scent

Fireheart is surprised, Sandstorm is cautious, and in the end they decide to go. Fireheart considers using his powers to make sure, but Sandstorm asks what other ThunderClan cat would willingly become a kittypet.

They have a small argument as he doesn't believe it was willing and she does apologize while they travel.

They Cloudpaw rescue goes the same, including the confrontation with the WindClan patrol. WindClan is still mad at ThunderClan, despite Fireheart's best attempts to be reasonable.

The fire also still happens in about the same way, but Fireheart comes out the full medicine cat of ThunderClan and has a Tigerstar child with him

While in RiverClan, Sandstorm is working hard to keep ThunderClan under control and safe.

Fireheart checks with Silverstream and Graystripe and meets Featherkit and Stormkit. Silverstream still isn't doing the best, but Mosspelt is shown to often help take care of the kits when Silverstream's having one of her weaker episodes.

Fireheart is worried about her but Graystripe is confident that she's going to be okay. Fireheart notices the shadow from before does seem weaker.

Fireheart, Sandstorm, and Graystripe go to check on ThunderClan's camp after the rain puts the fire out. Yellowfang is dying and she talks to them before passing away.

Fireheart is not, even more officially, the medicine cat of ThunderClan. Sandstorm expression worry but he comforts her, both as now the sole cat in charge of healing and as her mate.

ThunderClan returns to their territory, Bluestar declares war on StarClan, Sandstorm starts rebuilding ThunderClan's camp, and Fireheart and her worry over Bluestar only grows.

Bluestar refuses to go to the gather and a stressed out Sandstorm takes over, just getting more and more frustrated to the point Fireheart is hardly able to help.

As they talk about their future and what they're going to do, they get to the gathering to find Tigerclaw is now Tigerstar of ShadowClan.

Sandstorm is angry and calls Tigerstar out for the shit he did to ThunderClan. Tigerstar remarks that he's here to make ShadowClan strong and that ThunderClan is made of weak, know it all cowards.

This is a very unpeaceful gathering and it ends early with ThunderClan barely getting through their news without Tigerstar egging Sandstorm on and pissing her off He insults her covering for Bluestar and taunts ThunderClan about Fireheart until they leave.

Sandstorm informs everyone about Tigerstar and Bluestar is absolutely no help in the situation, confiding her worries into Fireheart and once more making another offer to make him deputy.

Fireheart misses Yellowfang and isn't sure what to do in this situation, still denying the role.

Time passes and ShadowClan is quiet. There is some worry over dogs, so Sandstorm sends a couple patrols at her former mentor's request to soothe any troubled minds.

Fireheart and Sandstorm learn from Graystripe that Crookedstar's unwell and Leopardfur is taking charge of RiverClan. He also brings up how Silverstream is at least healthy enough for short patrols.

That night, Fireheart has a dream and hears the words 'pack, pack, kill, kill'

Worried for Silverstream, he goes to check on her as a spirit only to be confronted by the shadow of a molly who seems to be weakened greatly.

She hisses and attacks him and he's surprised to find that he's actually hurt, causing him to realize that she's a ghost

She's angry that Silverstream is alive and tries to attack him again, seeing it as his fault - also vowing to "get rid of her little scraps with her".

Fireheart manages to chase her off

He returns and is overwhelmed with everything that just happened.

He hears the mentors talking about their apprentices and Sandstorm agrees that they should be made warriors. She's tired of waiting for Bluestar and admits she's tempted to do the warriors ceremony without the leader.

The other cats are in agreement.

He is drawn to the medicine cat den by the sound of Snowkit getting hurt. The whole confrontation with Snowkit happens and Fireheart decides to watch over the kit.

He goes for the medicine cat meeting and learns what all is going on in ShadowClan. That night he spends the time trying to figure things out by himself, but does talk to Yellowfang and Spottedleaf for a bit for their feelings on the matter.

While out gathering herbs, he comes across Sandstorm who came across Princess and stops Sandstorm from smacking his sister by revealing that she's his family

Sandstorm is understanding

They learn that dogs are missing and on their way home, they pass RiverClan and learn that Tigerstar is manipulating Leopardfur and that Graypool is missing

Graypool's death happens

After he returns he also learns Snowkit is deaf. Bluestar does not like this and Speckletail does not like Bluestar. Sandstorm currently also doesn't like Bluestar.

Speckletail and Brackenfur work together to try to train Snowkit with express permission from Sandstorm

Fireheart overhears talks about dogs and learns they found dog scent at Snakerocks. He also overhears Sandstorm and Bluestar's very vocal fight about this and starts heading to the nursery to get away from it when the hawk comes

He makes a made dash to Snowkit and gets hurt as he's almost grabbed by the hawk.

Bluestar is angry at Fireheart being reckless and shows this is more of a sign that StarClan wants to fight ThunderClan.

Fireheart is hurt and needs medical attention but is also ThunderClan's only medicine cat Still, he aids Sandstorm in calming cats down

He gets help from Sandstorm, Brackenfur, and Cinderpaw. They help patch him up, help Snowkit calm down, and he thanks them, joking that they'd be good medicine cats.

Sandstorm scuffs his ear for being an idiot

That gathering that Bluestar leads goes about the same and Sandstorm has to do damage control.

Fireheart learns from Sandstorm that Bluestar wants to start a war with WindClan. They agree on a plan to fake a sign for Bluestar and then just politely ask Tallstar to talk things out.

While they're getting ready, they spot Darkstripe with Goldenflower's kits outside of camp and Sandstorm goes off on him. She bans him from being near the kits and leads them back to camp. Fireheart goes off without her.

He gets Tallstar, makes a sign for Bluestar, and they go for a peaceful meeting.

The meeting is pleasant, but afterwards Bluestar goes off on Fireheart and Sandstorm and warns them that there will be no more treachery like that Sandstorm tries to argue, but Fireheart becomes actually worried for her safety and stops her

Bluestar goes missing for a bit, having gone to Highstones, and comes back with news about her time there and mentions the pack thing.

During one leaffall day, Swiftpaw comes running in from a patrol and mentions how RiverClan attacked a border patrol. Fireheart gathers his supplies and runs to go help.

Sandstorm is unable to stop him.

He comes in time to see Mistyfoot and Stonefur about to kill Bluestar and he stops them. They're confused and confrontational about a medicine cat being on the front lines.

Fireheart reveals that Bluestar's their mother. They don't believe him.

He is then almost thrown by Leopardstar, who is stopped by the warriors, warning her that he's a medicine cat. Leopardstar implies he's an idiot for being in the way of dangers and threatens him harm, only to be chided by her deputy, Stonefur.

RiverClan gets driven away

Fireheart helps cats with their injuries on the way back.

Bluestar holds a warriors ceremony. But only for Cloudpaw. Who is now Cloudtail.

The mentors are angry but she refuses to listen. Sandstorm goes to yell at her for a bit.

While this is going on, Swiftpaw storms out of camp with Cinderpaw, Brightpaw, and Brackenpaw behind him. Brackenpaw s trying to convince them to stop and Cinderpaw was on her brother's side until Swiftpaw made some good points.

Brackenpaw eventually falls back and goes to warn his Clanmates.

Fireheart watches in worry as Sandstorm, Whitestorm, Longtail, and Cloudtail go out to find them.

It takes a while, but they come back injured with three equally injured and scared apprentices. Fireheart tends to their wounds, stressing out greatly over Swiftpaw, who is the most injured. He's worried the apprentice won't make it through the night.

Sandstorm takes over the situation again and decides to hold proper warrior ceremonies, stating that this shouldn't have happened and expressing her disappointment in Bluestar quite loudly.

She makes the apprentices warriors; Cinderstorm, Brightsong, Brackenheart, Thornclaw, and Swiftstrike. She also goes on to make herself Tawnykit - now Tawnypaw's - mentor, has Cinderstorm mentor Bramblepaw, and has Brackenheart mentor Snowpaw - with help from Speckletail.

Bluestar is absolutely outraged and confronts her at the Clan meeting.

Sandstorm isn't having Bluestar's bs.

Bluestar than proceeds to demote Sandstorm and forces Fireheart to play the role of both deputy and medicine cat.

Everyone is confused and concerned, especially Fireheart, who has enough shit going on.

Fireheart spends his time taking care of the injured cats while trying to keep Bluestar calm and also doing what he can as deputy - while just doing what Whitestorm and Sandstorm tell him what to say and do as deputy.

He is overworked

He's still dragged off to the gathering, too, where he looks and feels terrible. He learns Graystripe's kits are apprentices and Tigerstar tries to get custody of his kits.

Bluestar's tempted but Fireheart manages to reason with her

Fireheart is taken away from camp for a bit by Cloudtail, Sandstorm, and Brightsong under the lie to their leader of a patrol. They meet Princess and she is worried.

The meeting with Princess happens and Fireheart passes out the moment he's in the medicine cat den.

He wakes up to Longtail, who expresses worry about dogs in the territory. He only agrees to go with him if he can take Sandstorm and Whitestorm. Longtail agrees and is surprisingly understanding.

Fireheart and Sandstorm take some time alone to be together and just breathe. They're mildly affectionate and she tells him to send patrols this way.

He promises she'll be deputy again

Brindleface death reveal goes about the same

Fireheart teams up with the Clan to make a plan to lead the dogs away from camp and eventually steps back as Sandstorm takes control and lets her be deputy.

He catches Darkstripe again with Goldenflower's kits and Whitestorm keeps a close eye on them.

Fireheart is on the sidelines, ready to help in case something goes bad.

Everything goes okay until the dogs scent him instead of their next target - thanks to Tigerclaw - and Fireheart is forced to flee from the dogs until Bluestar saves his life and gets him out of danger.

The dogs get chased over the edge and Bluestar dies.

The first thing he does is give Sandstorm back her proper place and she's ready to become leader of ThunderClan.

Bluestar is brought back to camp, the funeral, Mistyfoot and Stonefur go back to RiverClan, Sandstorm is announced as the new leader, and Fireheart joins Sandstorm on their trip to the Highstones.

While there they talk about talking to StarClan about their relationship and Sandstorm assures that she has a plan.

Fireheart is confident in her.

Sandstorm becomes Sandstar and gains lives from Lionheart, Redtail, Rosetail, Runningwind, Brindleface, Sunstar, Yellowfang, Spottedleaf, and Bluestar.

Immediately after, now a leader, she states loudly that Fireheart is her mate and she's going to get rid of the rule that they're not allowed to be together because of his role in the Clan

Fireheart is a lot less confident

Surprisingly, however, a lot of the cats are on Sandstar's side. Especially Yellowfang. They agree to talk this over and remind Sandstar that 'leader's word is law'.

After they wake up, Sandstar's very proud of how that turned out while Fireheart's still in shock. She asks him to be her mate, officially this time. He agrees.

They spend the night at Ravenpaw and Barley's and Sandstar and Fireheart have the same horrible dream. When they wake up they make quick goodbyes and hurry back to camp.

The first thing Sandstorm does when she arrives at camp is make some announcements; She names Longtail as her deputy, she announces that ThunderClan will allow medicine cats to take mates - and implies she and Fireheart are together - and tells ThunderClan that they need to prepare for whatever Tigerstar does next.

ThunderClan is a bit mixed about that second message, but they're pretty okay with everything else.

Fireheart expresses to Cinderstorm his concerns about her apprentoce and the warrior counters him, saying that Bramblepaw is a proud young warrior.

He apologizes.

Sorrelkit almost dies and Fireheart saves her. Darkstripe is cornered and forced to admit his crimes before being immediately exiled. Fernpaw's new mentor is Longtail and Longtail does not defend Darkstripe or his actions

There is worries about rogues in the territory and that night Fireheart wanders as a spirit and discovers BloodClan for the first time

He is shaken awake by his own shock

While visiting Graystripe, Fireheart learns more about what's going on in RiverClan and there's genuine worry about the safety of him and Silverstream. Silverstream has fully recovered and has been trying to reason with Leopardstar.

Fireheart brings this news to Sandstar and Sandstar's ready to start a fight with Tigerstar

Tigerstar fails to bring ThunderClan and WindClan into TigerClan and Sandstar goes off on him and Leopardstar She even calls Leopardstar a coward for allowing this tom anywhere near her Clan

Sandstar goes off on her own for a bit to clear her head and Fireheart takes this moment to check on the apprentices and see how they're doing

They could be doing better, especially Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw

Sandstar comes back and vaguely mentions a vision but doesn't go into details.

Ravenpaw had been on his way to pay his respects and check on his old Clanmates when he had stumbled across Silverstream who begged for help in RiverClan

Fireheart, Sandstar, Ravenpaw, and Silverstream go to RiverClan to see what's up

Mistyfoot, Stonefur, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw are in danger. Graystripe is also in danger, but is being held apart from them. Stonefur almost dies when Graystripe breaks out of his containment and helps Stonefur fight Darkstripe and then Blackfoot.

While this fight is going on, the guard for the other prisoners is distracted and the three other halfClan cats are rescued

Sandstar is about to have them go back for Graystripe and Stonefur when they realize that Graystripe is down and Stonefur is about to die next

Leopardstar is unable to watch this anymore and asks for the chance to talk to her deputy

Tigerstar is skeptical but allows this

Leopardstar proceeds to let Stonefur run away [reason being that she was still heavily bothered by Sandstar's words and the drawn out death was getting to her]

Stonefur is badly injured, but the ThunderClan rescue patrol manages to help him

Silverstream is distraught over the loss of her mate and the apprentices are shocked to hear their father is dead

They also learn, after returning, that Tawnypaw ran off while they were gone and no one knows where she is

Ravenpaw tries to help them find her, but parts ways when they can't, promising to keep an eye out for her.

While they're trying to help the RiverClan cats settle - Mudclaw arrives with the news that ShadowClan specifically has attacked WindClan

Fireheart stays behind, but sends Sandstar and her cats off with herbs for those wounded

After a moment, Longtail is sent back to grab Fireheart to help the wounded WindClan warriors. Fireheart follows and is horrified at the sight of what happened to WindClan.

Sandstar decides to confront Tigerstar once and for all next chance she gets and spends the night with Fireheart to soothe her mind

At the meeting, Tallstar and Sandstar both formally reject Tigerstar's offer once again, Tawnypaw's location in ShadowClan is revealed, Bramblepaw stays firmly right next to Cinderstorm - who is a good mentor to him, and BloodClan arrives.

Fireheart reveals to Sandstar he had seen these cats before when he had been looking for the rogues that had been a problem

Scourge, the leader of BloodClan, publicly and horrifically murders Tigerstar, is hostile to the Clans, and gives the Clan a short amount of time to decide if they're going to live or die

Barely able to comprehend what just happened, ThunderClan prepares for what's about to come and Sandstar begs Fireheart to not do anything rash and stupid

He tries his best to promise, but he himself knows that that's a big promise to need to keep

Ravenpaw and Barley join to help the fight

Fireheart and Cloudtail also go to warn Princess about BloodClan to make sure she's safe

Sandstar has another dream and brings Fireheart, Longtail, and the sheltered RiverClan cats along to try to be diplomatic with RiverClan and ShadowClan

They are brought to Fourtrees and the lot of them talk it out. Sandstar, though through some rather 'tough love' means, manages to spark inspiration in Leopardstar and Blackfoot. Leopardstar also formally apologizes to Mistyfoot, Silverstream, Stonefur, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw.

Most of them accept the apology and Leopardstar is understanding about it

She also takes a brief moment to thank Sandstar, but keeps it short and simple and follows it up with RiverClan agreeing to help

Blackfoot isn't here for that mushy stuff and just agrees

Also they learn why Tawnypaw left. She decides to stay in ShadowClan.

Speckletail and current queens are left in charge of camp, as well as Swiftstrike, who wants to tear apart any cat who gets past the Clans' defenses

They go and the battle against BloodClan begins

Whitestorm is still killed by Bone, the apprentices kill Bone, Longtail is almost killed but is saved by Fireheart [and then scolded by the deputy], and while Fireheart retreats to a safe distance, he is almost killed by Scourge

The small cat is about to absolutely obliterate him when Sandstar saves his life and throws Scourge off of him

He watches as Scourge turns and Sandstar loses her first life

Shocked, he runs at Scourge and fights the tom. Sandstar comes back to life as Fireheart kills the BloodClan leader.

BloodClan is chased from the forest

Some other deaths to note; Thornclaw is killed in the battle and Mistyfoot dies of infected wounds days after

And that ends TPB

For some after notes;

Squirrelflight and Leafpool are probably born a sooner than they were in canon and Leaf gets mentored by her father.

Bramblepaw gets the warrior name Brambleflower, more in honor of his mother than ever thinking about his father. Brambleflower likes this. Tawnypaw still becomes Tawnypelt.

Snowpaw becomes Snowtail, Ashpaw becomes Ashfur, and Fernpaw becomes Ferncloud.

Sorrelkit, Rainkit, and Sootkit become Sorreltail, Rainwhisker, and Sootfur

The other Clans are skeptical about the fact that ThunderClan's leader is openly with their medicine cat, but there's only snide remarks at gatherings and no proper confrontation

Snowtail and Ferncloud get together and Ferncloud helps cats learn kitty sign language and helps translate things for her mate

Brightsong and Cloudtail still get together

Swiftstrike and Dustpelt get together and can butt heads on certain issues, but still love each other

Sorreltail and Brackenheart still get together

Cinderstorm gets with the kittypet, Cody, who joins ThunderClan and the two are a happy couple. Cody is a permaqueen and that's an okay and valid thing to do.

This is about as much as I got-

Also Fireheart s 100% aware of his daughter's relationship to Crowfeather and is okay with it as long as he makes her happy

[kuronanox]

Home is you - Ulquiorra Schiffer

"Hello? Hello~" (Your Name) sings shaking the pale man up from his sleep.

Opening his eyes slowly he blinked a few times looking at his surroundings. "Where am I? Why aren't I in los noches?"

"Jeez you creep! Don't go sleeping around the park like that! I know Japan is safe but I thought you were dead for a second." She says sighing in relief offering a hand.

Ulquiorra slaps her hand away and gets up realizing he wasn't in his uniform but some random t shirt and jeans.

"What have you done women?"

"Me?! I woke you up. That's what I did now, do you have someone you should be? It's getting late."

Looking around he couldn't sense any reistu, he couldn't bring his sword out or use cero. Till he remembered his fight with Ichigo. Ulquiorra remember dissolving into nothing.

"I-I don't understand." He stuttered, frustrated at the emotions he was feeling at the moment. He was lost, why was he here? Was he reborn a human? But why did he remember everything of his past life. 

A salty tear slipped in his lips as he touched his face confused. "Is this the human emotion of feeling frustrated? Feeling hopeless? Powerless?"

"I'm sorry. Do you need a place to stay?" (Your Name) asks more sympathetically watching the man breakdown in front of her.

The walk to a capsule hotel was quiet, she was surprise he asked for help. "I paid for you. I hope you find your way after tonight." She tells him as he looks into nothing and says nothing before taking his leave.

(Your Name) watches his back and sighs. "Maybe he's homeless?"

Ulquiorra laid in the comfy bed lost in thoughts, what had happen to the war? To Ichigo? To Aizen?

Why did he have to be reincarnated as a weak human?

"So this is human emotions?" He says out loud looking at himself in the mirror. He examined his face, was he always this pale and fragile looking?

Pissed he hit the capsule and nothing broke.

He was weak now, weak in mind and powerless.

He didn't know how he was going to survive.

It had been a few days and (Your Name) walked around trying to find the man. She felt a attraction towards him, like she was suppose to help him. She had no luck the past few days trying to find him.

"You have to pay for that thief!" A sales man yelled shoving Ulquiorra out his store.

"I'll kill you stupid human." He says in a monotone voice and raised his finger to use cero but nothing came out.

"You need help man!" The sales man yelled walking away in disbelief as Ulquiorra stared at his finger.

(Your Name) sighed in relief and ran towards him. "Hey! It's you again. What are you doing?"

"Trying to survive." He plainly says walking away still wearing the same clothes she saw him in the day they met.

"How do you plan on surviving with no job?" She asks following him as he walked to random places and examining people. "You will help me find one."

"Me?!"

"As you can tell women I'm not like you humans."

Bewildered a bit she pinched her nose bridge and sighed. "That's what I get for helping a weirdo."

"What do I get if I help you?"

"My protection." He simply says, even though his powers were gone he still was skilled with hand to hand compact.

"Just don't do anything stupid." She says as he follows her.

It was a very interesting few months that passed by, she never understood a lot of things Ulquiorra did.

He lacked a lot of empathy and emotions. He questioned what people did and enjoyed examining strangers on the street. He didn't speak much either.

He also became her protector.

"What is this manga that people are so crazy about?" He asks her one day as they sat and ate breakfast.

"As an manga artist and author it's my job to make my books into a reality. It gives people a sense of escape of our miserable lives." She says shooing him away from her work.

"Humans are weird." He simply says watching the news as she rolled her eyes.

"You know you're a human too?" She states to him and sighs.

"I am now."

There was a silence as she looked at him. He was a bit odd at first. She had to teach how to read, write and proper manners. She never questioned him though.

"So what were you before then?"

"Espada. I was an Espada."

"Huh a what?" She asks a bit taken back and lost.

"I don't know how to be thankful." He then says changing the subject as she sits across from him.

His eyes were green and he did have weird green marks on his face. "I'm starting to believe this guy."

"It's okay. I understand." She tells him as he looks at her with no smile or anything. His face was blank, she couldn't read him.

She knew he was thankful when he learned how to pick up humanity. He would pick up food for them, clean the house and when the rare opportunity comes he would beat up any stalker fans she had.

"I don't know who you were before but I promise you I'm here to help."

It was a cold winter night as they came back from Christmas shopping and picking her up from work, Ulquiorra was holding the bags as she rambled on how work went that day.

Ulquiorra wouldn't admit it but he had grown fond of her after spending everyday together. At first he has no choice to. He had no money or no home but she provided everything for him.

He would find himself smiling softly but frown after realizing what he had done.

"How was your day?" She asks him with a smile as his eyes widen a bit.

"I read books." He answered as she nodded her head.

Ulquiorra never really left the house unless he needed to. She had to admit it was comforting coming home to someone every night.

"I bought you new ones. I hope you like that."

"I enjoy all the books you've bought me." He says looking forwards at the snowing street.

She gasp a bit as he looked a way a bit confused. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No I'm just happy. Happy your expressing your emotions more."

He didn't say anything afterwards as she entered the warm house and set the gifts under the tree.

"I'm going to get some rest." He says and leaves to his room.

Before she could ask if he ate she saw that he had food already made for her.

"He sure is a fast learner for not being human."

Ulquiorra escaped to his room and laid in bed. He really was growing emotions, the more he stayed here the more he felt every emotions.

The emotions of pain, loneliness, sadness.

Recently he didn't feel any of those he felt happy, safe, secure. Was this the human way of saying he was satisfied of his life right now.

He didn't know but he felt a comfort of having someone by him at times. Unlike los noches, he was alone and don't know how to talk to people.

(Your Name) gave him a sense of living again and he would try to fit in this world. There was no way he could change the past so he decided might as well live for the future.

It was weird for Ulquiorra to have these thoughts, it was a new thing to him.

Before he lived for nothing but killing.

"What did you do before becoming human?" She asks him one night as they watched a movie. Well she had to force him to watch it.

"Kill."

"Okay? More explanation."

"I was created to kill, that was my only purpose in life. My home had nothing but sand and a moon."

"What did you eat?"

"My people."

She wanted to not believe him but every word he said were straightforward and he never blinked once. He didn't tell lies to her. "Interesting. So what happen? Did you get eaten or die?"

"I lost in a battle and disappeared into dust and I woke up here."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" He asks curiously a bit taken back from her words.

"I don't know you don't seem happy here."

He blinked a few times and tried his best to smile but it didn't come along. "I am satisfied as you humans say."

She sighed in relief and sadly smiled. She never really given the thought of being somewhere new with no one and not being able to fit in.

"I realize how hard it must have been for you, when people call you strange and treat you like an outcast. It must have been hard."

Ulquiorra sits with his legs crossed and tilted his head giving it thought.

"I don't need anyone if I have you."

There was a mutual understanding between the two even though words of expression were rarely ever spoken.

"I'm really glad to have you." She answered back feeling the warmth of her cheeks turn pink.

"As I am too."

(Your Name) had gone to a late meeting with a few of her editors and seeing it was past midnight she didn't wanna wake ulquiorra up from sleep to walk her home.

She lived in a nice part of Tokyo but in a quiet area so people rarely ever walked on her road.

It was raining hard as she made cover underneath a store. Sighing she pulled her phone out and tried to speed dial Ulquiorra number before a loud rumbled hit the floor and she looked up to see a hollow.

At first she didn't wanna believe it but the thing was real and screaming walking towards her.

"(Your Name)."

"Ulquiorra- there's a, there's a monster charging towards me."

The phone line went dead as he rushed out to find her.

Running in the rain he spotted the hollow immediately. "Don't get any closer to her trash." He spoke as it roared.

Ulquiorra had lost all his powers but luckily he knew some move although none of it worked as he was easily slapped away as he hit the floor hard and he groaned.

"This human body is pathetic."

Watching the hollow grab (Your Name) he felt every emotion go through him. The pain, sadness, frustration. She was screaming as she reached out her hand to his.

He called out her name and whined in pain before blacking out.

"Ulquiorra!" She yelled to him but he didn't respond. Looking back at the hollow it open it's mouth to consume her as she shut her eyes a green light was glowing around her.

"I told you I would protect you." He says to her as she opened her eyes to see him in a white uniform and he was standing on air. STANDING ON AIR!

With one smack the hollow diminished into nothing as Ulquiorra settled her down safely on the road.

"You. You got your power back! How?"

Ulquiorra thought back about his fight and realized the same thing happen to Ichigo and he finally understood why he came back.

"Someone important to me is worth protecting." He reply's as she tears up and hugged him tightly as he gasped.

Sadly smiling to himself where no one could see him he embraced her back.

"Ulquiorra?" She asks him that same night as they sat on the roof top and he was still in gear. "Yes?"

"Does this mean you are leaving?"

He doesn't answer and looks down. He thinks back on how life was here in the human world. It was quite fun here. He didn't remember what he did back in the barren sand and dark night.

"No. Unless I have to."

She sighed in relief but still she knew he was different. "Just promise me, if you ever decide to leave... you will without telling me goodbye."

"I won't leave. I have no reason to go back." He plainly says looking up to the moon.

"You promise me? I can't imagine a life without you, the way you are eases me is comforting. Your the peace I needed in my chaotic mind."

He was lost for words, was this a human way for showing love?

"I to."

He wanted to say more. He liked her. Loved her. Even if he wouldn't admit it now, there was a warmth in him he had never felt before and the feeling of being needed was something he might have yearned for.

"I promise you, I'm only yours. Even if there's a obstacle between us there's way we can break it."

She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder as he stiffen a bit and then relaxed.

He was home. Home wasn't a place for him but someone that accepted him for who he was.

It was you.

(Author note: idk why he's such a hard character to write for me. I know he seemed oc but I put in some thought of how he would be as a human.)

[thanatos-drive]

More eds breakup stuff

A friend made me realize the extent in which I have been emotionally been cheated on for years. I've known it, I've been too busy been disabled, mourning my past life and angry to admit it. Because of the untraditional nature of this breakup I have to live with her, until I'm out of school, my only choice, I have no where to live, which is a nice-ity of her but also a lampshade to many issues.

I never confronted the issue with her cheating I became as angry as I did. If I wasn't crying, I was angry. And now that's been held of against me. I understand being afraid of my anger been a thing. But its the ultimate cop out to blame me for my anger when a big source of my anger was been emotionally abandoned and again, cheated on, I cant call her out despite how much of a chain reaction she caused.

The more I keep reflecting on how I've have been talked to, the more I realize how hated and disdained I am. To this day I've been still trying to be friendly, share things. But now I realize that's pointless. I'm insignificant, seen as weak and worst of all useless.

That's the consequence of allowing someone to see you cry for so long, they see you as less. But no more.

Many people have complimented me for how much more I'm doing, pushing my limits. But the truth is that my body is in the most pain it's ever been. I can't put weight on my knees without then screaming. My tendons are so flared up. But I will not give her the satisfaction of seen me cry again. I literally put so much of me on this relationship.

It's nothing but hatred pushing me, I am going to burn out a day soon. But I was willing to kill myself a couple of weeks back. Pushing myself as much as possible for the sake as progress doesn't feel much different lately.

I made the wrong choice with this ex. I shouldn't have moved to a different state for her, abandoned my morals and dated a cheater and allowed her to see me at my weakest... after my last relationship I promised I'd be more open and vulnerable. Big fuckint mistake. She doesn't see me as a man. Why would anyone?

I don't have a good future. But I know myself enough that I have never, EVER been as motivated, productive and ambitious as when I want to either impress someone (usually a girl), or when I feel hatred. I suppose I'm afraid because those two scenarios lead to me doing something self destructive and I don't think my body can take more.

I've been holding back, I'm afraid something will irreparably break like so many things already have if I push. But does it matter? Nothing will ever compare to the pain she has incurred to me by treating me the way that she did. And why wouldn't she? I'm hideous, this disease has made me unsightly, adhd means I can never focus, I'm likely autistic and hard to act in social interactions so I can never make connections or make good impressions and worst of all weak as fuck. I AM the defect I believe myself to be, but strangely enough I also AM NOT the one she's made me out to be.

Let me body break at this point. She is but another in a long line of shitty people. As hard as eds has been its allowed me to be more compassionate to others and more willing to see how I am also shitty, I don't know who I could ever help tbh, but I know what it's like to be completely helpless. I don't want others to go through this. It's my only hope to from now on be better and not do the shit she did to me to others.

But the hatred, I need to hold on to that. It's the only thing keeping me together, God know my joints aren't.

[sunshine-and-strewberries]

✨🎱 Using Magic 8 balls for divination 🎱✨

So I have never seen anyone post about using a magic eightball for divination, which is a bit strange to me considering we use simpler methods such as dice or pendulums, whereas the magic eightball is also just as straightforward and easy to use. Perhaps it's the stigma of using a "toy" to divine the future? But again I cannot fathom as Tarot was also originally used as a "toy". Anyhow using a magic eight ball for divination is a great choice! I myself use it constantly and get accurate answers everytime, well accurate results I should say. As with any divination tool my ball has an attitude that requires some warming up to.

🎱 Firstly, you must aquire a ball, I work best with a physical ball, though I haven't tried the digital version. This step usually is the easiest for most.

🎱 Secondly, cleanse your space, your mind, your body, especially cleanse your ball and set up wards for the best answers. Now this process doesn't have to be long or drawn out, just a quick little routine to get rid of any potential answer swayers.

🎱 Thirdly, connect to a source to gather your answers from, I personally choose my higher self, the me that has experienced all of my life's experiences in full and knows what awaits. Then say your little incantation aloud "I call upon my Higher self to answer all of my questions truthfully. I seek only the most truthful answers that align with the greatest good" and now you should be able to answer your questions.

🎱 Fourthly, take deep calming breaths and close your eyes and word your question, though you can do this before the entire process of setting up wards and cleansing energy. If I'm being honest I'll get a great question right as I'm in bed so I'll take out my notebook and jot it down quickly to reword it for another day. Personally I find it best to stand and place my nose and lips on the ball while searching for your question. Your question should be specific though not overly so, for example I want to know if I'll see someone on my way to work so I'll word my question as follows "Will I [Full name I associate with] meet [Full name other person associates with] on my way to my job at [place of business]". It seems a bit silly but it's always helped me lol.

🎱 Lastly ask your question, focusing only on the question, not the outcome, not anything around you, be totally emotionless and void of feeling while asking. I do this by focusing really hard on the way my lips move and the sound of the words I say to the eight ball.

After you have your answers and are finished with the ball, close out with a thank you and rest well, just for respect.

✨Deciphering answers given by the Magic Eight Ball✨

One of the most crucial parts of deciphering the answers of your eight ball are the vibes it gives off while showing the answer. When I ask obvious and kinda stupid questions I get an irritated are you serious vibe, and usually the answers are wrong, but you can tell it's in an irritated playful impish way.

🎱 The vibe of the answer. The way that the answer is displayed, while also taking into account the sort of personality your eightball has.

🎱 The answer to your question. Usually the answers from an eight ball are very straightforward, and when you run across an ask again later answer, it typically means the eight ball didn't understand the question too well, or got confused, and needs you to restate or reword your question for a better answer.

Now this post isn't too thorough as one I'm not certain if this will be something other witches will use, second my thoughts aren't as put together since I have notes scattered through various books, thirdly I'm on mobile and fourthly it's not a well represented version of divination so I don't know everything about it!

I hope y'all enjoyed! Lots of love Gran!