#i just need to express this because it's really important to me. and i have a new mantra because of this incident and sevral others previou

[jennamoran]

If a strategist from Glitch were to try and go about killing a god (maybe they’ve backslided, maybe the god is just really annoying or trying to kill their friends), how would they go about doing it. What would be the best way to use Eide, Flore, Lore, or Wyrd?

-

Jenna, my readers are always asking me, how do you kill a god? But there is no one size fits all answer to killing gods.

You have to look within yourself.

You have to find the unique way of killing gods that expresses you.

-

Glitch is a game where you tell stories, and an important feature of stories about killing gods is that they are not all the same.

Some are long. Some short.

Some put their protagonists through heck. Some let them just glide through.

Stories can have very different ideas about what it takes, and what it means, to kill a god.

Gods, too, can differ.

-

If you're frustrated, looking at Glitch, trying to find the thing you're supposed to do to accomplish task X, you're misunderstanding the intended flow of play:

To kill a god, decide how you want to kill a god.

Then, express it in the form of actions.

Optionally, discover that you're misaligned with the group zeitgeist on how god-killing stories work, and adjust.

Then, the god dies, or doesn't.

If you're having trouble figuring out how you want to kill a god, then you might need to stick it on a back burner. Over time, you'll have a better understanding not just of the game options the traits provide but of how your character uses them, and some things your character might want to try will gain more dramatic weight in the group zeitgeist.

-

Decide you want to kill a god by shoving it out of your way into the street. Declare that as an everyday Ability action.

Decide you want to kill a god in a complicated flower rite. Declare that as a quest or planning miracle.

Chain it down in a place of sorrow with a Greater Invocation. Erase it with a handwave and your Wyrd. Give in to the wicked voice of your god-killing knife, that whispers to you always, and draw the curtain on the scene, and expect that when the next scene starts it will be dead.

Declare that gods aren't real, and let it poof away.

In every last case, perhaps the group goes, "Yeah, that's a satisfying answer!" Perhaps they don't. If they don't, then your action still "works," in that it happens unless in direct conflict with a stronger action, but it likely doesn't kill the god.

-

A secret is that this is not just how Glitch works.

In almost every RPG, the way you make something happen is get the group on board with that thing happening. All rules can do is help that happen.

If the rules of Glitch could make that happen then you wouldn't even have to read them, you wouldn't even have to know you were playing Glitch, you could think you were playing D&D and accidentally play Glitch instead and the rules would sort that out for you.

They can't.

-

When it comes to killing gods, the game of Glitch bestows a certain implicit authority on higher-level miracles, particularly epic miracles; miracles that take time to play out; miracles that imply in their description that they're on the right power level for killing gods.

Strategy and Greater Strategy are good ones when they apply, because you can get the players on board during the planning process, spend a while playing it out gathering narrative momentum, and then have it feel well-grounded when it works.

If you have a Talent for killing gods, then that probably works well, but also tends to reframe the game as one where you're killing a bunch of gods and more story time gets spent on the ones where there's a twist that makes it difficult. Think of the Traveller in Black; as competent as the traveller is, they still spend most of their time "in play" dealing with entities that are difficult even for them.

Greater Invocation is well-built for attacking gods.

Destruction and Greater Destruction can be good, though honestly they kind of push the GM to make a complex conflict out of it, which in turn means it's actually the Wailing Rite that would serve you best.

Flore is all kind of of one piece, but you'd definitely want to start with a Greater Glorification on a god-killing weapon.

-

If you decide in play to do something that the GM and group think you can probably do, but which they also think should feel difficult and earned, then you probably have to spend some time on either a quest or a spotlight-driven exploration of what's going on with that thing before coming up with a plan people think is cool, executing the plan, and then having the plan mostly work but devolve into some kind of chaotic complex conflict at the end to finish up the final details.

If you decide in play to kill a god ... well, probably the GM and group will believe you can, but also think it should feel difficult and earned. That's kind of what the book implies, at least.

-

In the old days---I once wrote this.

In the old days, they didn't know very much about the world. But they made maps anyway. If they had to map something they couldn't, they just drew whatever they felt like and wrote, "Here there be dragons."

We still don't know very much about the world; and there are things to map of it besides its surface.

How do you write a book?

How do you kill a god?

Can broken things be remade? Can destinies change? Is it worth the risk of hope?

Important questions, but one can only shrug, you see:

Here, there be dragons.

-

As for Glitch, I mean, like ... the game only has two rules, and they're not even a dozen words between them; some things had to be left as exercises for the reader, and the dreamer, and their group.

[secriden]

There's something so wondrously momentous about Style only saying his "I love you" now, when he realises that all the secrets he was keeping from Fadel are already laid bare.

He says this a significant time after Fadel has said his (and, in the context of the wider narrative, after Kant and Bison) and for the character we have seen as prone to glibness, exaggeration and flippancy with his words, that feels incredibly intentional.

Because this confession was the only truth Style had left to give.

Fadel is finally done playing his (poorly thought out) game, done with his (already cracking at the seams) charade, done with giving Style more opportunities to pull at his heartstrings with his earnestness lies.

Fadel is demanding the truth, and tells Style exactly what truth he wants to hear.

And the thing is, there is truth in this: Style's motivations at the start were wrapped up in a deception specifically targeting Fadel.

I know we, as a fandom, harp on about Style "doing all that for a car", but something I would like us all to revisit is what Kant actually says to Style when he first asks Style to "hit on" Fadel:

Kant: You need to help me. You know I don't usually feel this way about someone. And then shortly later, after Style refuses: Kant: Hey, hold on. (Kant grabs Style's hand.) What do I have to do to for you to help me out? Should I pay you?

(Please forgive my inability to gif and watch Style's reaction to this.) Style is visibly surprised and intrigued. Kant seems to be serious about this request, and I think Style decides to test just how important it is to Kant by asking for the one thing he knows Kant will not give up.

Just look the expressions on Style's face. We didn't have the context of knowing Style back then as well as we do now, but this is the look Style gets when he's throwing out a challenge (to Fadel), when he's trying to ferret out some new insight (from Fadel), when he wants to see how someone (Fadel) will react to whatever outlandish (provocative) thing he's said or done.

And when Kant agrees, Style even checks again if Kant is serious about going through with it -- and it's this that convinces Style of the sincerity of Kant's request.

Yes, the car was a factor, and yes Style also wanted revenge and to humble Fadel, but at the centre of Style's motivation has always been a plea for help from a friend.

In episode 1: Kant: Under one condition. You have to make him head over heels in love with you. Style: I'll do it. Not just for the car, but someone like him needs to be humbled by someone like me.

But in agreeing to help Kant, Style really was damning Fadel to play the fool because Fadel's feelings (his heart) was a commodity that Style was fully willing to play with back then.

And there are aspects of truth here too. When Kant tells Style about Fadel (and Bison) being hitmen, Style decides he's done and wants out. Kant reasons that it's more dangerous for Style to break up with Fadel now, because it would look suspicious, but crucially this isn't enough to convince Style.

So Kant, once again, makes the plea to friendship and to his need for Style specifically, and it is this that causes Style to finally cave.

But in doing so, the things that Style agrees to are:

Kant: Work with me. Help me get more information about them. Once we get that, it's done. Captain puts them in jail, and we walk free.

So while Style may not be directly working with the police, he is working with Kant who he knows is working with the police. By proxy, Style is involved with the police, but in front of the empty pool, he makes it clear to Fadel just what that involvement actually entailed:

Style: Kant asked me to take you out so you could leave him alone and he could freely investigate. Fadel: What did he get out of it? Style: I don't know! That ain't my business! All I was asked of is to take you out.

And this, too, actually is true! Since finding out, Style has literally not discovered a single thing that could be remotely useful to the police investigation:

He's found out that Fadel likes to gym at night. He's found out that Fadel uses tenderloin in his burgers. That he runs in the morning before going to the market. That he attends a grief support group.

But these were all things Kant also already knew and could have given the police if it were in any way useful for the investigation.

Even his attempts to get Fadel to confess to his "other job" (something the police also already know) were clearly in service of wanting to save Fadel and/or convince him to give up the life of crime in the hopes that Fadel wouldn't have to be sent away from Style to prison.

But the truths are tangled up in misunderstandings and Fadel's own assumptions now; and also further tainted again by Bison's own hurt over Kant's betrayal. And Fadel literally cannot see -- because his eyes are filled with tears [see: @thisautistic's gifset + my tags] (good grief, Joong, the actor you are) -- the honesty Style is bleeding from the marrow of his bones.

Because the truth is that along the way Style has also found out that Fadel is a good older brother. That Fadel is still hurting and bleeding inside because his parents were murdered. That Fadel wears his favourite bands' make up in secret because he cannot bear the thought of other's judgement. He's found out that Fadel misses Style, wants Style, and hates himself for it. That Fadel is afraid to love. That Fadel is acutely aware of his own darkness and cannot comprehend an existence that would not involve someone (Style) rejecting it. That Fadel does not believe that 100% trust is possible, but that he will get himself drunk so that he can offer Style as much vulnerability as he can physically make himself give.

Because the things that Style did find out were all the ways Fadel's heart is soft and tender and precious and worthy worthy worthy of all the love Style has to give.

And Style will stand firm on this truth because this is the only thing he has left to give Fadel.

Because Fadel knows, now, all the ways Style was unworthy of his trust, but crucially has not figured out the most important truth:

Because in a very significant and profound way, Style is wholly deserving of Fadel's trust. Because in all the ways that Fadel has ever known he should want, Style actually IS worthy of his trust. Style knows the truth Fadel is hiding, knows what this man is capable of, knows the danger of being in his arms, knows the likely nonexistent future Fadel has to offer him -- and wants him anyway. -- Quoted from my meta post on the "One day, I'll be your 100%" line.

And as I alluded to in the tags on @yinwaring's insightful post: Style fully embodies the belief he espouses; because even in the face of a gun to his head and Fadel threatening to kill him if he will not admit that this, too, is a lie, Style refuses to give Fadel anymore dishonesty.

And this is because Style knows that the truth matters; now more than ever.

Because Style has had days to grapple with his worry after Fadel's disappearance. Style has had a week's worth of checking the diner only to face the regret he feels about not handling things differently. Style has had to recognise the terror of thinking he had lost something he never even knew he wanted in the first place.

And while Fadel had his realisation back in episode 4, Style never had to face this until Fadel vanished from his life and left a gaping hole in the shape of the absence of Fadel's smile.

So if this is what it takes, if this is the penance that Fadel demands of him, then it is a price Style is most happy to pay.

Because Fadel does not realise is that Style, too, now knows what it means to lose a love worth fighting for.

And in the war Fadel now feels compelled to wage against Style (because, yes, that's definitely still going on), the one damning thing Fadel has failed to recognised is that his only true weapon was leaving Style behind.

Which is why Style has already won. Not because Fadel's walls have crumpled again or because they don't still have a ton of things to talk through and work out (they really, really do), but because Style has already been stripped bare (and I mean this literally, like we all recognise THAT was the reason why Dunk is only in boxer shorts in that scene, right?? Like, I know we were joking about it, but seriously, that was so very intentional and a visual representation of Style being both stripped and, most importantly, freed from the lies he felt compelled to tell Fadel) and this means he has nothing holding him back.

And Fadel can wield his gun and his words and his anger and his hurt, but Style will die on the hill of the truth that he knew and understood and chose to love Fadel anyway, and saved this last confession for when he knew he could tell Fadel the truth without any lingering deception; and when the time is right, when Fadel is finally ready, Style will be there to welcome him back with open arms and, without any hesitation, an open heart.

[solxamber]

Hello, happy holidays! May I ask for scarabia, with number 5 and hurt/comfort! :D

i cannot come up with good titles please ignore how cringe they are

Beyond Compare || Kalim Al-Asim

For the Holiday Event! || Prompt: "It's always been you" ; Genre: Hurt/Comfort

The Golden Hour painted Scarabia’s halls in soft, warm light, but the mood was anything but tranquil. You were pacing back and forth, trying to keep your temper in check while Kalim watched, his expression somewhere between concerned and obliviously cheerful.

��You’ve been doing it again, Kalim,” you finally said, stopping mid-step to face him.

“Doing what?” he asked, tilting his head with the kind of innocent curiosity that only Kalim could manage.

“Trying to set me up with Jamil,” you clarified, crossing your arms. “Do you not see how weird that is?”

“Oh!” His eyes lit up like he’d just remembered something important. “But Jamil’s so dependable! He’s smart, responsible, and—”

“And not the person I like,” you interrupted, your voice sharper than intended.

Kalim blinked at you, his smile faltering. “...He’s not?”

“No, Kalim,” you said, exhaling deeply. “He’s not. You are.”

For a moment, he just stared at you, his usual radiance dimmed by pure confusion. “Me?” he asked, his voice quiet and tentative, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.

“Yes, you,” you said, stepping closer to him. “It has always been you, Kalim.”

His eyes widened, the realization hitting him like a tidal wave. But instead of celebrating, his brows furrowed, and he glanced away. “I just… I thought Jamil would be better for you. He’s got everything together, and I…” He trailed off, his usual energy replaced with rare self-doubt.

“Kalim,” you said gently, reaching to cup his face and forcing him to meet your gaze. “I don’t care about all that. I care about you. Your kindness, your laughter, the way you make me feel like the world is a brighter place just because you’re in it.”

His cheeks flushed a deep red, and he opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. So, instead, you leaned forward and kissed him—a sweet, soft kiss meant to convey everything you felt.

When you pulled back, his face was practically glowing, his expression equal parts elated and stunned.

“It’ll always be you, Kalim,” you whispered.

Finally finding his voice, he broke into the biggest, most radiant smile you’d ever seen. “Really?!” he asked, his tone full of disbelief and joy.

“Really,” you confirmed, laughing at how adorable he looked.

He threw his arms around you, nearly lifting you off the ground in his excitement. “You have no idea how happy that makes me!” he said, his usual exuberance back in full force. “I was so worried you’d think I wasn’t enough for you!”

“You’re more than enough,” you assured him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

His smile softened into something more tender, his crimson eyes sparkling with affection. “I’ll make you the happiest person in the world, I promise.”

“You already do, Kalim,” you said, resting your forehead against his.

In that moment, you could tell he believed you—and the love shining in his eyes was all the proof you needed that you’d made the right choice.

Masterlist

[just-null]

*gives null his favorite things in hopes of thinking about this*

What if, from all the stalking the Hantengu clones had done to their darling, their darling develops a lot of paranoia and doesn't let anyone near anymore?

Or maybe their darling has a lot of trauma from man going awful, unspeakable things to them?

((I don't know if I should refer to their darling as female or male and that's my first time ever asking a favorite creator of mine, please don't judge me))

((the Darling can be whatever you want them to be, but I'll always be as neutral as possible, so don't worry! 🐸💖))

Considering that these men are also horrible, it's not surprising at all to find yourself going insane! I wasn't sure whether not letting anyone close included the boys or not, so I did both!

[Cw! Yandere behavior, unhealthy dynamics, obsession, manipulation]

Your sudden shift was wonderful at first! They finally had you all to themselves, and it gave them so much more time to evenly spread your attention between themselves without getting into usual fights.

When finding out about your paranoia, they feed into it, affirming your fears about others just to have you rely on them further. Never stray too far, not like you can, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Do you want to go out but you're too scared? Wait, right there, they need to decide who goes first to clear the way while the others stay close by!! that way no one will bother you!

Their favorite hobby is stealing—er—borrowing! so you don't even need to worry about something as silly as money or finance to get what you want again!! All you need to do is ask, and it's yours.

Their bias is prominent. Where hantengu would yelp and shout, they'd laugh and scold, but if you were to do the same, they'd comfort and coo. It's cute.. do you want them to get rid of something for you? Hold you? Comfort you?

Nothing really annoys them (aside from each other) now that you fully rely on them. Be as clingy and jumpy as you want, and they'll coddle you. Being spoiled rotten is the goal as long as you continue to cower at the sight of another soul or the thought of being alone.

They almost seem like decent lovers at some point, solely focusing on you and your needs. Jealousy is at an all time low now that they don't have to worry about anyone else. They even begin to hide their violent tendencies, too happy that you're with them to care.

It gets to the point where THEY had to be the ones to leave for important tasks lest they be.. "scolded" by a man you don't need to stress over.

It's devastating when they separate from you.. When they fight, their attacks are ruthless. Brutal. Bloody.. Even Urogi and Karaku are more productive because the image of their beloved all alone and trembling has their unbeating hearts aching.

Even with all this, they're still scummy rats who work together to make sure things go their way.

Sekido doesn't rile up your paranoia unless you insist on going somewhere alone. "Be careful, don't wander off. Yell and I'll go get you, who knows what's out there." He's content with your fears already. In fact, he's.. sweeter. He doesn't get as mad as he used to, only slightly irritated.

Seeking him out to protect you from something small gets the most blissed out expression from him momentarily. His hold is still as firm as ever, but he doesn't insult you as harshly. Quiet grumbles like "Such a baby.. what is it this time?" are frequent, yet he does whatever you want.

Karaku is NOT helping at all. Ever since he noticed you got jumpier, he thought it'd be fun to make you squirm, though he probably teases too much and makes you cry.. Pointing and gasping at nothing, making noises from other rooms, asking, "Did you hear that?" until you're visibly shaking from every little creak.

But it's okay. He opens his arms every time and pets your head, cooing at you, "D'aww, don't start the waterworks, c'mere. I'll knock it off, I was just playing..! Even if I wasn't, you really think I'd let something get you? Never!"

Urogi probably will give you terrifying heart attacks. Because you're so dependent on them now, he can't contain his love for you the second he sees you. One second, you're conversing with one of the boys, then the next a blur of feathers and glowing yellow eyes barrels towards you, toppling you to the floor.

He can hear your heart beating through your chest as he presses his ear against it. He loves the sound!! "Did I scare you again? Hahaha!! You know it's only me who does this to you!! Anybody else would be dead before they even made contact. I love how warm you are, the thump of your heart, the feel of your skin, everything about you makes me too happy!!"

Aizetsu is your worst enemy.. He needs a damn bell! Each step is too quiet, and he knows this. it's purposeful. You need to remember why you're paranoid in the first place, so he lurks around, letting you find him if he's feeling kind or giving you that feeling of being watched if he's not. He doesn't do it for long, preferring to be the one you hold instead of watching the others make an opportunity out of his methods.

When he lets you find him, he pouts, tilting his head as if you're the one who intruded on him. "Dont mind me, I'm making sure everywhere is safe. Did you need something..? Or did you feel how much i missed you? Oh, you're so nice to me.."

———

But then.. you began growing distant towards them.

They're not sure what happened. Honestly, they might take it as rejection at first and double down until they notice you're TERRIFIED. They pause and regroup, planning their next course of action.

They're not as aggressive, just confused and hurt. Attempts to be considerate come off very stiff, but they're trying. They can tell you're not faking it. The terror in your eyes is undeniable.

They do a 180 and fight often when alone, blaming others, then each other for being too much on you. Their muffled yelling and thumping from fighting are loud enough that you hear, though they try making it up to you later.

Even if they're extremely upset about it, they put their feelings aside for you. There's no use talking to someone who won't listen.

Their attitudes get a lot more cautious but desperate. They've dealt with Hantengu's jumpiness and constant crying before, but being the cause in your case makes this more complicated..

They attempt to give you your space, and insist you stay home. Don't like the home you have? They'll find you a new one, a better one, and promise not to get too close. Give them some time. After that, they get rid of any external factors that could be harmful to you.

Unsurprisingly, they can't help themselves and will try to approach and speak to you, even if behind a wall or at a distance. Probably set up a wall divider just so you don't feel as scared to speak to them.

They're desperate and want what they once had with you.. please don't shut them out. this wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Emotional reassurance isn't their strong suit (ironically). They never comfort anybody, not even Hantengu. Combat is their expertise! In their mind, fixing the problem outside will fix the problem inside ..At least, fingers crossed that they do.

It's because of those villains out there that you're so scared in the first place. What kind of disgusting shameless bastards assume they get the privilege to think of you, much less be near you?! The second they know what these "men's" faces look like, their insides will decorate the ground and-!

Ahem—

Let's just say they took a page from Akaza's book and treat men a little meaner than women. As in, making sure at least one bone of theirs is broken if they so much as breathe in your direction.

During the attempt at rehabilitation, they fall into roles according to how they handle you.

Sekido is your bodyguard that makes sure the others behave and you're taking care of yourself. His once long fuse shortened since he began blaming the others for your paranoia. He can't help but be protective. As much as he hates it, he won't focus on anything if he knows you're unwell. He doesn't say much aside from grunts and scoffs in hopes of not scaring you further.

Karaku tries to lighten the mood and fills the silence with stories about what he's seen throughout his life, excluding the violent and aggressive details. Maybe even random stories he's heard, just to try and get your mind off of whatever is troubling you. He doesn't speak directly to you but around you so that you'll probably overhear.

Urogi is the material comfort, bringing you gifts that the others check before they get left outside your room. The gifts aren't as ripped or scratched as they would usually be, but that's because he's trying extra hard to give you something that'll hopefully make you feel better! With his talons and excitement, Urogi doesn't see you as much anymore unless it's through the window when you're asleep.

Aizetsu is the one who frequently speaks to you. He loves gathering information about you and hearing you speak in general. It's a pity you speak less, and when you do, there's a slight tremble.. it's cute, but you sound so miserable.. His airy, soft voice and gentle attitude grow sweeter when announcing himself, "How are you feeling? it kills me to see you like this.. please, tell me what to do to make everything better.”

The eyes you feel get worse since they're overprotective of you. At least they're not as secretive about it! They're insistent and happy that you avoid other people all together, though it'd be much better if they were an exception!

[battlefrankies]

saw ur tags, wanted to give some context because you do bring up some interesting points!

newkama as a term is a combination of okama (a reclaimed pejorative that refers to drag queens/transvestites, who don't always identify as women) and newhalf (a term some trans women celebrities used to refer to themselves in the 90s, but today i've seen most trans women prefer to just be called women) (and the word for trans people in japan today is just english loanwords, literally just 'trans' and 'transgender', so the terminology has evolved)

the newkama and especially iva-chan's impel down group see themselves not as specifically drag queens or trans women, but as people who've transcended the restrictions of gender entirely. they do tap into that campy drag aesthetic though, like you can clearly see the rocky horror influence on ivankov's designs. i think it's a mistake to try and apply concrete labels that we see constantly online to this group (and also, lgbt people in general). oda isn't on twitter reading about how gen Z kids on tiktok want to be portrayed, he's talking to real-life people he meets, but also mostly he's drawing one piece and playing gacha games.

even on momoiro island when they were trying to put sanji in a dress, i think it's important to point out that sanji agreed to that training regimen and discussed it with iva-chan in order to get stronger; he could've left at any time. imo the optics for that section weren't ideal, but it emphasizes the freedom of expression for the newkama who live on that island. there's no pressure to conform to rigid standards of femininity when they're safe and comfortable having body hair and square jaws, but they just wanna wear a frilly dress too. ivankov could (and would) physically alter anyone's body at any point they wanted, but the newkama of the kamabakka kingdom felt no need for that.

are there better ways to portray that? for sure! i'm not mad about oda imperfectly supporting the lgbt community in a time & media environment that was either dismissive or downright hostile to trans people though. it was, again, head and shoulders above pretty much any shonen that was being published at the time. personally, i like that there's such a diversity of trans experiences being depicted in the series with so much affection, to the point where each time sanji said or did anything transphobic, he'd get punished for it. you can truly tell that oda thinks it's dope as fuck that people can just trans their genders, and to me that matters more than optically perfect trans women.

giselle gewelle from bleach, for example, being a really cute trans girl who is also evil, and whose trans identity is openly insulted by a protagonist and also she dies, in 2013. oda having the newkama not just be empowered, heroic characters but also living and thriving on their own island was basically unheard of at a time when 'bury your gays' was so prevalent it's got a tvtropes page. and it's not just that these heroic characters happen to be trans, their establishment of a supportive community in impel down is the REASON luffy could be saved.

i think a lot of people criticize the trans representation in OP in bad faith without context or any intention of trying to understand the context, but i don't take them seriously. the reason we're even talking about the supportive but flawed 2009 trans rep in one piece is because OP has so much staying power and influence in the cultural consciousness. i think it's fair to be uncomfortable with aspects of it, and that speaks to how far we've come since then, which is a good thing. i think the intent of these characters & oda's stance on trans rights couldn't be more clear though.

the trans representation in one piece is phenomenal actually

[aishangotome]

Nokto Klein: Chapter 2 Premium Story (The Fox King's Lewd Way of Comforting)

Chapter 2

Nokto: How long are you planning to stay dressed like that?

I was sitting in the chair by the window, facing Nokto, but before I knew it, I was lost in thought...

Nokto waved a hand in front of my face, and I came to my senses with a start.

Emma: Oh, right, I need to change...

I've been sitting in the chair ever since the welcome party ended, and the tea that was steaming is now completely cold.

Emma: Sorry, I was just lost in thought.

Nokto: It's fine. I like looking at you in your dress.

Neither of us has changed clothes, nor have we even taken a bath yet.

(Nokto might have been waiting for me to finish thinking... I feel even more sorry now.)

To quickly prepare for a bath, I take off the earrings and choker I was wearing and put them in the jewelry box on the table.

Nokto gave me this box as a present before we went to Benitoite.

(It's the perfect size for carrying around, so he must have prepared it for this inspection trip.)

Thinking about Nokto's feelings when he gave it to me warms my heart.

Nokto: You were frowning so much, mind if I ask what you were thinking about?

Emma: Um, it's nothing important. I was just nervous thinking about tomorrow's anniversary party.

Nokto: Oh, that's what it was.

Nokto: I thought you were frowning because of the welcome party earlier, but I guess I was wrong.

Emma: Ugh... There was no point in trying to hide it.

Nokto: Did you really think you could fool me?

Emma: I thought you might let me.

Nokto: I thought about it, but I changed my mind when I saw your face.

(That means I was that dissatisfied with today's party, huh?)

Nokto gently strokes my furrowed brow with his long fingers, as if to ease the tension.

*flashback*

Silvio: But, be a little prepared.

Nokto: Hmm?

Silvio: You're not popular in my country, King Nokto.

*flashback over*

(No matter how much time passes, I can't escape from that.)

(-- I felt like I was faced with reality.)

*Flashback to the Party*

(Ah...)

Looking around, I realized the answer to the indescribable discomfort I felt during the welcome party.

The Benitoite nobles were either glancing at Nokto or whispering something to each other.

If that was all, I could have thought that they were just paying attention to Nokto because this was his first time visiting Benitoite Castle as king.

But their eyes, filled with a mixture of anxiety and wariness, told me that wasn't the case--

(Why does Nokto have to be subjected to such looks?)

The lack of an answer made my chest tighten with unease, and I fell into deep thought.

Suddenly, Nokto put his arm around my waist and brought his lips close to my ear.

Nokto: One moment you're looking around restlessly, and the next you're looking down with a hundred different expressions? What's wrong?

Emma: No, I'm sorry. It's nothing.

(I can't worry him. I have to pull myself together.)

As I shook my head, a nobleman called out to me.

Benitoite Noble: Your Majesty Nokto, Lady Emma, how are you enjoying your night in Benitoite?

(I think he was a patron of the painter...)

I pull up the information on the participants that I had crammed into my head before attending the party.

Nokto kept his arm around my waist, a diplomatic smile plastered on his lips.

Nokto: Thank you. Thanks to you, we are having a wonderful time.

Benitoite Noble: I'm glad to hear that... But the atmosphere tonight seems somewhat unsettled.

His words seemed to contain a thorn, and my heart pounded unpleasantly.

The nobleman continued, lowering his voice as if to share a secret.

Benitoite Noble: Everyone is worried about "that."

Benitoite Noble: Is the legend of the Rhodolite court actually true?

"Twins bring both good and bad fortune"---

The moment I heard the words "court legend," my heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an eagle.

(I can't believe he would ask Nokto such a thing...)

I've seen nobles bring up the legend even before I started dating Nokto, but now that Nokto is king, this is the first time I've seen someone try to ask him about it directly.

Nokto: Even you, a resident of Benitoite, know about the legend of our royal court?

Benitoite Noble: Yes. Among some of the nobles of Benitoite, there are those who harbor concerns.

Benitoite Noble: If the legend passed down in the Rhodolite court is true, and the "calamity" is you, King Nokto...

Benitoite Noble: If we continue to be allied with Rhodolite, will disaster befall Benitoite as well...?

(So this is what Silvio meant by "unpopular.")

(Certainly, there will always be people who think this way. But...)

Anger wells up inside me, and I naturally clench my fists.

Nokto, whose demeanor doesn't change in the slightest, interlaces his fingers with mine as if to loosen my grip, and maintains his beautiful smile.

Nokto: Well, which is it?

Nokto: By the way, what kind of calamity do you imagine the twins will bring?

Benitoite Noble: Well...

Nokto: Yes, for example, a prolonged drought could lead to a poor harvest, causing hardship for the people and impoverishing the country itself—no,

Nokto: In Benitoite's case, it would be more realistic for continuous storms to rage, making the seas rough and difficult to sail, disrupting trade and weakening the national power—

Nokto: Would that be more fitting?

Perhaps not expecting such a response, the nobleman's face paled as he took Nokto's words seriously.

The same went for the other nobles who were with him, and as the atmosphere grew heavier and heavier—

Nokto gave a mischievous smile and said jokingly,

Nokto: If such events were to occur, the legend would spread as truth, wouldn't it?

Nokto: However, a legend is just a legend, after all. Our country has not fallen into such a state, and I'm just joking.

The nobles, while giving somewhat strained smiles, showed a hint of relief.

I also desperately tried to smile to match the atmosphere...

But I was filled with the urge to glare at the noble who had just asked Nokto about the legend.

*Back to present*

Nokto: You have a deep wrinkle between your eyebrows again. Aren't you going to get stuck like that soon?

Emma: ...I was just remembering what happened earlier.

Contrary to my brooding, Nokto seems somewhat pleased.

Emma: Doesn't it bother you, Nokto?

(I wonder if he's not hurt by being told such things... Thinking about Nokto's past, I'm worried.)

Nokto: Not at all.

Nokto shakes his head and gently strokes my cheek.

Nokto: Because you're brooding and getting angry on my behalf.

Nokto: If I say it can't be helped, it sounds like I'm giving up, but worrisome people will be anxious about the legend.

Nokto: It's always been that way.

Nokto: I expected that once I became king, even people who hadn't thought anything of it before would have concerns and doubts for that reason.

Nokto: But those voices arising just means that I'm not yet recognized as king.

Nokto: Even if it takes time, I'll steadily gain their trust. I don't want to make you uneasy.

Emma: Nokto...

(Since becoming king, Nokto has been attending to his official duties for the sake of the people even more than when I met him.)

(...Sometimes to the point where I worry.)

(That's why I'm so bothered by the looks and words directed at him at the party.)

Because of the legend of the royal court, the love from his mother became a blood-soaked, crimson lie, and Nokto could no longer believe in love.

Even so, he's trying to believe again, facing his past and loving me, and it makes my heart ache unbearably.

Emma: There may not be much I can do, but I want to do my best to improve the impression people have of Nokto.

Before I knew it, my heart was filled with more motivation than before our visit to Benitoite.

Nokto: Well then, let me see that motivation.

Emma: Yes...! Wait, Nokto!?

Suddenly, Nokto, with a mischievous smile on his face, swept me up into his arms—

-

Emma: Ah, whoa...!

(He said he wanted to see my motivation, so why am I in this situation...?)

(That's not what I meant by motivation!?)

Nokto places me on his lap while in the bathtub, and he begins to touch my breasts while teasing me by sliding his tongue over my neck.

No matter how much I writhed in the sweet sensation, all that resulted was the sound of splashing water, and Nokto didn't seem like he would let me escape.

Nokto: Rather than improving my impression, I want to love and be loved by you so much that you can't even think about such things.

Nokto whispered, his lips trailing up my neck to tickle my earlobe.

Emma: Hmm, but...

Nokto: If they see us overflowing with happiness,

Nokto: Surely those around us will stop paying attention to the legend of the royal court, thinking it's a lie, right?

(Since Nokto has suffered because of the legend of the royal court,)

(Even if those are his true feelings, it must hurt him.)

(He's probably saying this partly because he doesn't want to worry me any further...)

Thinking about Nokto's feelings, my chest tightens with sadness.

While truly hoping that Nokto's words will one day come true, I was effortlessly brought to the peak by fingers that knew all my weaknesses.

As I lose my strength, he softly kisses the spot between my eyebrows where I had been frowning and brushes my wet hair behind my ear.

Nokto: The long journey to Benitoite and tonight's party...

Nokto: Even you must be tired both physically and mentally, right?

Emma: You must be too, Nokto, right?

Nokto: Not really. I'm tireless because you were by my side the whole time.

Nokto: ...Though it was a miscalculation that our plans went a little awry.

Emma: Huh? -- Mmh, Nokto...

His murmured words were snatched away by the renewed pleasure he gave me.

As he plays with me with his long fingers and presses a hot, wet kiss to my lips, completely different from the one he gave my forehead, a sweet numbness spreads through my head.

The intense exchange that steals even my breath is enough to reawaken the heat in my recently satisfied body, and a throbbing ache, centered in my lower abdomen, spreads through me.

Nokto pulls away, and with a seductive smile, licks the glistening strand that connects our lips.

Nokto: I'll heal your fatigue.

Emma: I'm happy, but won't you get tired this time, Nokto?

Nokto: Being by your side makes me tireless, so there's no way I'll get tired from interacting with you.

Nokto: Besides, this place has been looking eager again, hasn't it?

In the bathwater, Nokto repeatedly stroked between my legs as if savoring the sensation.

He would graze my sensitive spots but never touch them firmly, and the frustration built up.

Emma: Ah, nn, why...?

Nokto: Hmm? What is it?

Aware that my hips were starting to sway, I could feel the heat rising to my ears as Nokto deliberately didn't proceed any further until I verbalized my desire.

Emma: …I want you to touch me properly.

Nokto: Well said.

Nokto: As you wish, I'll touch you properly and make you feel good.

Nokto had me sit on the edge of the bathtub, and then he buried his face between my wide-open legs.

With his pointed tongue stimulating my sensitive bud and his fingers stirring me up inside, I was quickly nearing my limit.

Emma: Nn, ah...!

Nokto: You're so soft and wet here. It's cute how eager you are.

Nokto, who had risen, wiped away the tears welling up in my eyes with his lips, but even then, he never stopped the fingers writhing inside me—

After shivering repeatedly and nearly losing consciousness, he finally penetrated me.

As I wrapped my arms around Nokto's neck, I had a feeling that I would be ravished endlessly again tonight.

.

.

.

Chapter 2 Premium Story

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[sysig]

Those wacky skeletons ♥ (Patreon)

[willes-stolensweater]

Ok so... its been two years now. WHAT?

Okay first, when i first decided to finally watch yr I truly never imagined it would become this important to me. Little did I know that it would become an immense form of comfort and that it would still be present in my life after two years. I'll admit that i have to certain extent grown apart from the show. I read less fanfiction and check tumblr less often. But every time that i need a laugh i log on to see all the amazing works this fandom puts so much effort to, and it truly makes my days better.

Just like any other, this fandom isn't perfect and it has its negative aspects, but i truly can not express how much it has done for me on an emotional level. Despite not being that active, this fandom has made me feel seen and understood when i felt lonely. It made me feel like i belonged. Because really, i have never been this passionate about anything. This show has made my sad, happy, angry, exited, anxious and so much more. I think this shows that it truly meant something to me, and knowing there are other people behind a screen that feel the same way that i do about my silly show is really comforting.

I know eventually i will part ways with both the fandom and the show, but i will forever keep young royals in my heart.

This is just my little yr/ yr fandom appreciation rant.There is so much more i could say but Im gonna leave it till there. I really am so grateful for everything.

It’s been a year since I first watched Young Royals! And honestly, I never thought this show would have such a big impact on my life. I really thought I’d be over it after a few months, but here I am, a year later.

This show has made me feel all type of emotions. And I think I would even consider it as one of the things that has made me the happiest on this past year.

And I know that I’m really new to tumblr but ever since I arrived everyone has been really nice. So i would really like to thank everyone for everything they have done in the fandom. You all are very nice and talented people. Even if we don’t know each other, your posts make me smile and giggle every day.

So thank you to the young royals fandom in general for being a safe space.

Here’s a hug for everyone <3

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

See, I think Charles’ annoyance and frustration with the Cat King really was just pure protectiveness and not any kind of jealousy - it’s understandable, because Edwin is not telling him what happened even though something clearly did, which is not typical for them. Edwin doesn’t usually hide things like this! Of course he’s worried!

Charles’ reaction to Monty, on the other hand, is difficult to explain in a way that isn’t jealousy. You could say he’s being protective again, but Charles shows no sign of distrust in Monty, and had no idea of who Monty was or that he might betray them - he was actually very chill with him, except in a select few specific scenes. You could say he just doesn’t like him because he got brushed off during their first meeting, but not only does that not seem like Charles at all, it also doesn’t make sense, since, again, in most instances, Charles is genuinely friendly and is happy when Monty compliments him and seems to have come around to liking him (it completely flies over his head that this is a petty jab at Edwin on Monty’s part but oh well hahaha). You could say it changes up their status quo a bit and that bothers Charles. I do think this bothers him a bit, but I think, unlike Edwin, Charles’ fear and frustration here is directed more at situations (the Cat King whisking him away for several hours, as an example) than others. He’s sociable and likes being able to talk to new people. There’s absolutely no way he’d begrudge Edwin doing the same - and he doesn’t… with Niko. Edwin and Niko hit it off and become very close and that never bothers Charles at all. He’s incredibly endeared to her, just like the rest, and for the most part, he’s chill with Monty too, and smiles pretty knowingly when Edwin confesses to him having awakened some feelings. The only exceptions, where he shows definite annoyance, are when Monty first shows up and gets really in Edwin’s personal space to show him the astrology chart he made, and when Edwin is so sucked into the book Monty gave him that he doesn’t hear that Charles is talking to him, to which he annoyedly says that they seem to have been “spending a lot of time together”.

You could say he’s unused to having anyone get in Edwin’s personal space like that, but, again, Niko. She’s very tactile with him and he doesn’t seem to mind all that much; they spend time together watching things. If it was just someone getting close with Edwin in general, not only would that be weirdly possessive for the character, but it would also mean he would show discomfort with anyone getting close, I think. Does Charles see Monty as more of a potential threat than Niko, seeing as he knows her and her personality and doesn’t know Monty? Well, maybe, but again, Charles shows no sign of distrusting Monty at all.

Monty is a boy. Okay. So something about seeing Edwin so close to a boy that is not him, getting lost in thought over something this boy gave him, really rubs Charles the wrong way. Charles appears to catch on just as quickly as anyone else that there is something (or it looks like something) between Edwin and Monty. He is not surprised when Edwin comes out to him in episode 6, and in fact, seems to have just been waiting for him to verbalize it. He smiles and is not bothered at all by Edwin showing (what he thinks is) a romantic interest in Monty - he just doesn’t like it when Monty clearly shows a romantic interest in Edwin. Um. Well. Well.

Charles is jealous. I really don’t know what else to say.

Look, when I first watched this show, I actually didn’t want them to end up together romantically - I love the idea of one having fallen in love with another who does not reciprocate and the two of them still loving each other just as much. That Edwin’s confession made them closer instead of making things awkward is such a beautiful outcome to this build up and I absolutely love it. However. On my two rewatches, I caught a lot more little details, and I think it would be very strange if the show did not follow up on this. That, plus the deliberate quality of these “jealousy” moments where the camera focuses on him, Charles’ Orpheus coding throughout the show, the fact that Edwin’s arc was far more about realizing his feelings for Charles specifically than just coming to terms with his sexuality, and that even the actors admit that Charles’ response to the confession kind of left things open, it really seems to me like the path leads to a romantic endgame for them, or at the very least, that this possibility will be explored in more depth.

**This is just my reading of it. Please do not use this post as a gotcha for anyone who loves them as a platonic duo or people who really love Crystal and Charles together (because let’s face it, they’re super cute too). I’m just doing my rambles. As per usual.

[theokusgallery]

Hiiii I saw you say you have Notes on your Remus and Janus designs 👀👀?

Could we see/hear some tidbits?

FOR SURE !! Here's what the original doodles for their designs look like, first off, (I know you didn't ask for Virgil but I did these three at the same time)

When I drew this I had just finished an exam and had to wait another hour until I could leave the classroom, so I wrote down enough notes that I had to flip the page instead:

Virgil:

- Virgil has light brown hair that he dyes black (badly). It is essential that the dye job look like shit. It looks artificial, his roots are showing, there's patches where the color didn't take, etc etc.

- He also has blue eyes, which I decided on mostly because it makes it even more clear that his hair isn't naturally black.

- He wears earrings, but his ears aren't actually pierced — they're fake little little clip-on things.

- He wears black nail polish at all times, but it's always chipped because he gets the cheapest stuff he can get his hands on.

- His hair (especially his bangs) get very long at times because he gets too socially anxious to go to the hairdresser. Back in middle school, he used to have Janus cut them for him (Remus could have done a better job but trusting him with scissors would have been a mistake). Now he mostly cuts it off by himself — it looks about as good as his dye job.

- Virgil's purple hoodie is a leftover from Remus' fashion design endeavors that Remus thought didn't look weird enough.

Janus:

- He has naturally strawberry blonde hair. The length is very important to him — he started growing it towards the end of middle school. (He allows Remus to experiment with hairdos sometimes as long as he doesn't cut anything off. I need to draw that sometime)

- I'm not entirely settled on his eye color. I know at least one of his eyes is a very pretty brown, but I have half a mind to give him a yellow glass eye for his left side — I'm not sure it'd make any logistic sense for his situation, though

- He got his ears actually pierced when he was 16.

- He also may or may not have a forked tongue. Not sure how I'd ever be able to show that off — but if he does have one, then Remus definitely was the one to encourage him to do it.

- His fashion style was definitely influenced by being around Remus (who may have used him as a mannequin/dummy because he's small.) so much. Remus also attempted to make clothes for him, but Janus is very fancy and picky, so he doesn't wear those clothes very often (though he might accessorize with stuff Remus made for him occasionally).

Remus:

- He has naturally very dark hair. He uses temporary/surface level dyes a lot, but if he's using permanent or semi-permanent dyes, he's usually limiting himself to the grey streak — it's kind of a sample strand, since it's already bleached. He 100% copied his hairstyle from Roman's.

- He (and Roman, of course) has greenish blue eyes.

- Janus paid for him to get his ears (and eyebrows) professionally pierced because otherwise he was just going to do it himself with a sewing needle.

- He has a lot of very shitty stick-and-poke tattoos he made/makes on himself. They're almost always hidden by his outfits.

- Speaking of which, Remus makes most of his outfits costumes himself. The quality of the work may vary, but they are always way too over-the-top for casual wear, because he stands out anyway, so... in for a penny, right. (As I said in the tags of a post: he is very creative and has no shame or social anxiety at all, so he had his whole aesthetic ("overdramatic green") figured out by the time he was 13)

- He also has SH scars, but, again — they're hidden by his outfits 99% of the time. He's a slut who never shows an inch of skin

[moeblob]

What Deacon thinks: what did that mean? did he want me to wear a collar too? why else would he mention my neck? i mean, if he /asked/ me i would wear one but he didn't so would wearing one be weird?

What Ymber meant: It's nice to be near someone who isn't tethered to this world to serve it with a physical reminder for all to see.

[icarianncarrionn]

“No.” Tisha shakes her head. There’s something much softer about her expression now, something that’s smoothed out the lines around her mouth and made fresh ones along her brow. “You didn’t. I did, though.“ she cracks open the door. "Hari, come over here. I can't keep stubbing my smoke out." Her brother comes to the door, slipping out and closing it behind him, and Tisha offers him her pack. They have a silent conversation: he frowns, she shakes the cigarettes, he cocks an eyebrow, she tilts her head forward, and finally he takes one and lets her light it.

“Rafa’s been taking heat for me all night, and I don’t love how this shook out, but I can’t just let that sit.”

“Tisha, it’s fine-”

“It’s not, actually. Because even if you guys decide you’re cool, I don’t want you to be cool with something that isn’t even true. There’s a lot of things I haven’t told you, and I will, but we need a lot more time than we have. I have a lot of shit going on, Hari. That’s why we went on that trip. I haven’t been doing well, and Rafa knew that. I didn’t just run off after him, he took me to make me happy. So we could have some time together. And he did make me happy, and… did a ton of other shit I can’t even tell you about yet because there’s too much background, but it was really impressive. And any barrier to… what did you say? Having a future?”

“Something like that.” Hari nods.

“That’s actually me, and my shit. Not him, or his age, and definitely not his kids, who I absolutely love, for the record. They're amazing. And he wouldn’t admit it, I don’t even know if he believes it, but I am… a hundred times safer in his world than he is in mine. He is… he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, Hari. My best friend. I’ve never been more inspired, or happy, or excited about the future, or terrified of how important someone is to me. Okay? So… just, you needed to know that.”

Hari taps the end of his cigarette with his thumb to knock off some of the ash, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I probably did. Some more things to add to the apology." He jokes, voice soft. "I haven't had enough liquor to smoke this, Tisha."

"It's the principle." Tisha shrugs. “Sorry for fucking up your smoke break again, Nick.”

Nick shakes his head slowly, the slight frown yielding a smile. "You don't have to tell me, because I know. You show me every day." He takes a deep breath, trying to replay the scene in his head. It doesn't make sense and yet it does. A little uncomfortably so, but eventually he chuckles, if purely to express his disbelief, not because the two people he loved acting like assholes was suddenly funny to him.

"I'm pretty sure Rafa didn't want you to defend yourself either." He quickly raises his hand as to stop Hari from adding his tuppence, because one thing Nick needs to make clear: "It wasn't fair. He has no right to test you. And while I think it's..." he swallows any and all negative adjectives that come to mind and just shakes his head for a place holder instead, "It probably made sense in Rafa's weird brain and he didn't mean ill, even if he was being exceptionally... provocative..." The last word is almost whispered. Realisation hits and Nick bites his lower lip, frown back in place. "I know you wanted to leave and I'm not going to stop you, if you still want to. But if you're still here when I get back, that'd be nice. I just need to...", he picks up his half-smoked rollie and wiggles it about, before he gets up and places a brief kiss on Hari's hair.

Outside, Rafael's fingernails dig into his palm but he keeps himself firmly locked in place, not giving into the desire to pace and throw his arms around in wild gestures while trying to explain himself. He has a thousand things on the tip of his tongue but he swallows them all, for they were knives rather than shields. Eventually he just settles on an almost too neutral elucidation for someone so clearly passionate and governed by emotions: "The question was if he would break Nico's heart, not if his wife would. And if someone would ask me if I would cheat on you and they would name all the women I'm friends with, my colleagues, everyone I ever dated and, yes, my ex-wife included, I would still say 'no, I would not cheat on you and I have no romantic feelings for any of these people mentioned.' This has never been an attack towards his ex-wife nor him having an ex-wife in the first place." And he looks the other way before he gives in to a 'but you keep making it into something I never said.'

Still he mutters: "And I don't hate him."

"Good. I would still love him if you did," Nick could see Rafa being taken aback by Nick's sudden appearance, so he uses the brief moment of his older brother trying to wrap his head around the new situation to walk up to him and wrap his arms around him: "Cê não precisa esconder que tá magoado."

"I'm not."

"Tisha, can you please punch my brother in the shoulder. I'd do it myself but I don't feel like driving anyone to the hospital tonight." He lets go of Rafael and lights his smoke and finally, finally gets to enjoy it. "You don't give people a chance to treat you right, Rafa, and you think I'm the same. But I actually say if something bothers me. And you know what? Hari listens. And he can accept a no. But you think you gotta save everyone and be a martyr in the process. That's hurting people too, you know?! And I bet Tisha and I could tell you for hours and days how wonderful Hari is, but I want you to go back inside and see for yourself. And this time, when you apologise, make it sound less estúpido, yeah? And can you also try to forgive him too? Tisha, did I forget something?"

[nullians]

It’s actually insane how fandom in general has become so scared of making weird and dark and ugly works. Like I look at myself and see how I have also subconsciously adapted this instinct to self censor and make things “marketable” and it’s making me want to crawl out of my skin. I need to get weirder and worse and more off-putting hello

[sodaspringz]

i just wrote a longass post about ccwlbr and everything that has improved for me since disengaging from that man and im NOT posting it and ruining the dash but i just want everyone to know. i am less active now because i am happier to face my life and all the small things in it. and it's the absence of that man that's made it possible for me. amen <3

[hestiadoesstuff]

Short hair Kris short hair Kris short hair Kr---

[mer-se]

please pick friends u can argue or have misunderstandings with and actually communicate with immediately after like, it’s so fucking important