#i love him but he’s literally destroyed my parents life in so many ways and i’m left to deal with all of it

[emily-rambles]

don’t look i’m ranting

[venerawrites]

helloo! back to humbly ask for more content for him hehe but this time I wanna add for his brother as well!💜

how they'd react to their s/o sacrificing themselves to save them/for their sake? how they are in their last moments together and how they handle the aftermath? I love the Uchiha boys being soft but i cant resist the angst sometimes 🫣

thank you again! adore your work as always!

author's note: I am in an angsty mood right now, so I literally RUSHED to my drafts, so I can finish this request! Thank you so much for sending it and I really hope I did it justice! <3

➤ Sasuke

The death of his s/o would be one of the two things: either the birth of the greatest villain to ever exist or the end of the 'ninja path' for Sasuke Uchiha.

It really depends on WHY did they sacrificed themselves for him or more importantly WHO took their life.

I think no matter when Sasuke has met them (before or after the war), he would take them as granted. He didn't even want to think about a scenario where they would not exist or be part of his life, let alone accept it.

So when they fell in front of him, a giant hole in their chest, his immediate reaction was shock.

This could not be happening... This should NOT be hapenning!

His whole body would be frozen and he would stay in place for at least a few minutes, till your weak attempt to mutter his name brings him back to reality. He immediately rush by their side, cradling their face in his hands while he kept muttering the same words over and over again.

"No, no, no... Don't close your eyes, you are fine! Don't... don't do this! Please!"

(the first and last time he ever said the word "please" to his s/o)

Once the realisation that there was still a battle going on hits him, his rage would erupt like a volcano. He would make sure that whoever is responsible for his s/o being gone would suffer not only painful, but also a gruesome death.

Now like I said above, why did his s/o sacrifice themselves for him and who was on the other side of the attack would be KEY details in shaping Sasuke's future.

I think if it happens way after the war (let's say 10 years+) and his s/o sacrifices themselves for him during mission or during an attack by foreign ninjas, he would most likely retire as a shinobi and seek quiet life somewhere outside Konoha.

(he not only looks like John Wick, but he also follows a similar path... 👀)

He would no doubt contribute their death to him being a ninja and I don't think he can accept the idea of continuing being one, knowing it has costed him so much. He lost EVERYTHING to that lifestyle and now all he had left were memories.

If his s/o, however, died during the war or shortly after, and have the fate to be killed by a Leaf Shinobi there is NO GOING BACK for Sasuke.

Full 100% Villain Mode!

I have no doubt that he will put all his effort, time and energy in avenging his s/o or even worse - try everything to bring them back to life!

Would wage a fifth and even a sixth world war if it means that he will finally find a way to destroy the villages, especially Konoha once and for all.

➤ Itachi

The idea of death never scared Itachi.

He was responsible for countless deaths, including the ones of his own parents, and he himself was clearly seeing the upcoming end of his own life.

Yet the idea of his s/o dying was not one that ever crossed his mind. He has always imagined that they would live many, many years after him, having a beautiful family with someone who can give them everything he could not.

I imagine his s/o would die either during the fight with Sasuke or shortly after.

Just like Sasuke he would be in disbelief and shock at first, but instead of just staying frozen to the place, he would rush toward his s/o and catch them before they hit the ground.

"No... What have you done? You should've stayed away, you should've listened to me!"

Itachi is usually calm and collected, but this may be one of the few times he actually loses control (or maybe even the only one?).

If his s/o was killed before that battle by some other enemy, he would kill his enemy the same way as Sasuke - slow and gruesome, leaving the battlefield a bloody reminder of what an Uchiha is capable of in the name of love.

If Sasuke was the one that took his s/o life, he would not hold back and unleash all his power, despite his weakened state.

He would forget all his initial goals and feelings when it comes to his little brother, and would use every attack in his arsenal with the sole purpose to kill.

However, in that instance, I do think there will be a moment where he will get some clarity before the end of the fight and he is immediately filled with guilt.

If his s/o has never met him, they would still be alive. The fault was not Sasuke's - it was only his.

This would be the key moment when he loses all determination to fight and let's his younger brother take his life.

With his s/o gone, he actually looks forward death. Because maybe someday, somewhere, in another life, he would have a chance to make things right.

That moment when Zabuza died next to Haku... yep, that is Itachi next to his s/o.

He would use the last remaining energy in his body to crawl over to them and slip his hand in their cold one.

(I think I may have made myself accidentally cry with this one... :( )

cc artwork: Karine Vilette

[luneemeritus]

I was thinking about how I would imagine Husk's life before Hell... taking a lot of canon information as inspiration but still keeping my personal headcanons.

Ok so his name was Henry Oscar. A black-american man. To me, he died with 55 years old. Born in 1920, Los Angeles, and died in 1975. His parents were very neglectful and he had a special problem with his dad, that raised him with the typical abusive and sexist behaviour. Husk (or Henry) was a man, so he needed to be tough and hide all of his feelings, which as very difficult not only because of his human nature but also the world around him. Life was NOT easy for a black man in the 20's America. Still, he managed to be independent since youth and started his life working in casinos. So yes, he developed gambling addiction since he was young, but at first it didn't seem dangerous. He was just a lonely boy engaging in arts and games. Husk was a very talented man that became a great musician, magician and gambler, but he also had the inclination to be selfish and greedy due to how he was raised.

I also love to imagine him having a family. Meeting some girl in LA, marrying her and having a kid — a precious and beautiful little girl that he loved deeply. But the gambling, that was first one of his many talents and ways to have fun, was becoming a worse and worse addiction. He started to lose money, SO MUCH money, and damaged his family's financial stability. He also engaged with cheating and dangerous activities with not-so-good people. Loan sharks, mobsters, and criminals in general. He frequently engaged in violent fights with dangerous people, ending up either in jail for some days/weeks, or being chased and coerced by them — literally bringing danger to his family.

One day, obviously, his wife had enough. She was tired of loosing financial stability, having hers and her daughter's safety threatened by her husband's reckless behaviour. She also believed Husk was supposed to be strong and perfect all the time — typical-period sexism —, which led her to ask a divorce. The divorce process was painful to Husk; he truly loved his family, so much, but he knew it was his fault. Worse, his ex-wife did her best to keep him away from their daughter, because he was a lost cause in her eyes, and it didn't take too long for her to get married with another man. Husk was abandoned, replaced and pushed away from his daughter. And it was all his fault... his mental health only got worse and worse.

Now he was alone again. He saw no other choice but to continue that life style, now the alcohol took a great part of his routine and became a new addiction. His life was attached to the casinos, his only way of earning the minimal gain to pay his bills. So he fucked around — with women AND men — and gambled more and more, now that he had only himself to care about. His life wasn't entirely terrible, he traveled a lot because of the money he earned, but still, he missed his family. A lot. He couldn't see his precious daughter again, and yeah he did try to meet other people and love again... but it always failed. Everyone thought he was too damaged, too broken to be loved. A waste of time, always unsafe and unworthy. He couldn't get proper mental health treatment nor get over his addictions, so he started to believe that, indeed, it was all true, he was unworthy.

All of this destroyed Husk completely. But specially, his guilt. The guilt of what his reckless behaviour did to his family, the guilt of never being able to let go of his addictions, let go of his past... guilt of never being able to be a good partner for anyone. He thought it was all his fault, and that his fate was to be alone. Unfortunately, in 1973, he discovered he had cirrhosis. He didn't have money enough to pay the treatment. Then, Husk decided to just... give up. Give up of trying to be better, trying to be something he isn't, trying to have a normal and peaceful life. He went to a small hospital in LA and stayed there for the next two years, when he died. Alone and forgotten. No one ever cared to visit him, and he was burried as indigent because no one identified his body.

Now some other details about my headcanon: Husk/Henry was surprisingly open minded. He was basically raised in casinos, he met a lot of sex workers and queer, gender-non-confirming people. It didn't take him too long to realize he was queer himself, and to be fair, he was actually fine with that (as long as, you know, it was in secret because it WAS extremely dangerous to be openly queer at that time). Also, I've seen a lot of people commenting the fact that Husk hated cats when he was alive... and I really want to know if this is canon or not. Because I genuinely don't know, either way I don't headcanon him as hating cats.

Husk kinda made friends during his lifetime, but they were only interested in him when he had money. He was often earning a lot of money, and loosing all of it in like, one night of gambling. So his life was always unstable. The last he saw his daughter, she was nine years old. The feeling to be replaced as husband AND father was basically what fucked up his mental health the most. The problem of Husk's life was that he would always lose everything, even when he was close to true happiness. He lost his family, lost his mental and physical health, and even his soul. Obviously, someone so used to feel unworthy, to be lonely and not cared for, became a selfish and greedy person as an Overlord who didn't care about the consequences of his actions. He had power, therefore he had everything... until he didn't, until he lost everything again.

The Hotel is a new start for him. Finally, the chance to be that passionate man again, and maybe, even start a new family.

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Catching up on My Stand In episode 6, and I gotta say - I understand Joe.

I'm not talking about whether he's made all the right decisions or not, there's a lot to consider on all sides, but I do understand why he would take the deal with Ming.

It would be lovely to live in a world where it's possible to borrow money from friends & family without strings, but we don't. The nature of our society's relationship to money doesn't allow it.

There's a reason so many marriages fail due to money. There's a reason groups of siblings will stop talking after their parents' estates are distributed. There's a reason friends will fall out over 50 bucks, much less thousands. Money changes relationships.

Because it's never just money.

Sometimes the strings are ones of love, and guilt, and shame, worries that you are letting someone down, or holding someone back.

Look at the relationship between Joe and his new mom - absolutely one of unconditional love. And they are both utterly wracked with guilt about the financial cost the other one incurred due to their illnesses. His mom was ready to fucking die! Over money!

Taking money he doesn't feel like he's earned causes pain for Joe, because it is a huge fucking deal and he knows it. There will be strings. And it will change things.

And I know Joe is a trusting dude and only consciously thinking of not being a burden, not bringing his problem to people he wants to keep as friends, but also, subconsciously, it makes sense there would be hesitance with them.

Wut has been helpful to new Joe, yes, but when old Joe revealed he had been literally kidnapped, what was Wut's response? Sorry, can't help. He didn't even try to talk to anyone, didn't try to problem-solve, come up with a way for Joe to still work - maybe he doesn't go to sets, maybe he trains the new crop of stuntmen, maybe he learns to do something else. The point is, Wut just shrugged and said sorry. That's when old Joe decided to take the dangerous job. And sure Wut feels guilty now, and is trying to make up for it, but - but what would he do when the chips are down? What would he do if Joe struggled to pay him back? If it impacted his wife, his kid?

And sure, Sol may generally be a "good guy", but he still didn't give a shit about knocking Joe to the ground while fighting Ming. He's not entirely selfless. And what happens if he decides he likes new Joe? Wants to date him? You think Joe would feel like he could say no? Striiiiings.

Those relationships would never be the same.

But with Ming - Ming already destroyed his life. There's no guilt in taking from Ming. Joe sees it as going to work, to once again being a stand in. The strings are laid out upfront, he knows just who Ming is, and thinks he can manage it (which of course we know is not true, but he's trying to believe it!)

So yeah, I get it Joe.

[dragoncatprism]

Welcome to "Prism 2/3am brainrot they make instead of sleeping or actually writing cause they got too many ideas in the head"

Literally had that thought not a second ago and I missed babbling about things I like soooo much and Aventurine and Ratio are just the best to inspire

So.

Imagine.

Nous putting their gaze towards Aventurine.

I know he's not "book smart" but there are a looot of different sides of knowledge, plus the fact that he's almost completely detached from the world ??? That he doesn't care about his life and everything and everyone he loved disappeared and now he can't form meaningful relationships by fear of killing them ? His luck that is so curious but also terrible and immediately puts him apart from others ?

Also the VeriVasha angst...

Ratio, in my point of vue, did have the dream of becoming a Genius. Maybe his parents had big expectations (linking that to the name Veritas can also build looots of angst), maybe he just viewed them as perfect and like we say "Never meet your heroes", maybe he wanted to prove something... Either way, he realised that most of Genuises are truly terrible people because they are ready to make gruesome sacrifices in the name of knowledge.

And Ratio will never be gazed by Nous because he cares so much. His humanity and kindness are the things that make him so lovable but also that are hindering a "great possibility", it's Greek tragedy at this point : the hero that wants to attain their goal but the very nature of themselves is in contradiction with this goal and so they will always chase but never catch. Ratio also learned that he cared and after raging and many questions as to why, he manages to get out of this embellishment about the Genuis Society. After all, he doesn't need to be a Genius to gain knowledge, and he feels like he helps much better bringing knowledge to people instead of stealing it or weaponizing it. He considers himself a fool because for him, it's humanity at it's finest : a bit of knowledge but also silliness and care. He doesn't see himself above the others much than what is facts : he knows he's smart by many worlds standards, that he's beautiful but he doesn't think of himself as flawless or completely above others. (The people that say he does clearly haven't read the same things I read cause this man is so soft and kind and just wants to help how he can and he's also very autistic)

When Aventurine is gazed by Nous, Ratio first feels a tiny bit of jealousy -even if he isn't desperate to be recognised, he still feels envy and longing- but it's quickly, too quickly erased by a wave of worry.

He knows now some conditions to be a Genius and it terrifies him to see his partner (together or not at this point, whichever brings the most angst ooor they could have a thing on and off and Aventurine doesn't dare crossing the line by fear of losing Ratio and Ratio doesn't want to cross any boundaries) being in such a state that an Aeon that is promoting a sort of apathy and detachment of humanity

I think he would be so scared even just to lose Aventurine, he already seem so far most of tge time and this newfound recognition might be a tipping point or just the sign that he is already gone.

Nihility is scary with the nothingness but I think each Paths can be terrible and I am already trying to imagine them both following each Path and seeing what it would make them

Elation Ratio... I see you a lot, same with Destruction Aventurine cause his whole thing is protecting, but what if he decided to just destroy.

They truly have so many possibilities and I promise to myself one day I will actually write instead of babbling

It might've turned into a Ratio post pffft

I love them both so much they live in my head non stop and I love just reading sooo many theories and fic

[sobasluuurp]

Ok. About Tenko.

I understand why so many people are angry that he's dead. I really do. I would've loved for him to live as well. I cried when he died.

However.

Just because he's dead doesn't mean his character has been handled poorly. In fact, all things considered, this ending (even though it makes me real fucking sad) makes the most sense for both his character and his story. Let me explain.

First and foremost, there's the matter of Shigaraki's characterization and arc. It goes without saying, but he's an angry, used, and abused child who grew up into an adult who wants nothing more than for everything to end. His goals have always been destructive to an extreme and honestly, the logical end to "let's destroy it all" is LITERALLY everything, including himself. He's also had absolutely zero agency since the moment his parents even thought of conceiving him, and has been struggling to become his own person since the beginning of his arc. He, against his abuser, who covets immortality and eternity.

What better a way for a person such as himself to assert his agency is there than to go out the way he did? To shift his focus away from the faceless masses and to the (similarly faceless, lol) abuser who caused his pain in the first place? To destroy the control AFO has held over him and prove to him that he was always his own person? To say, this is who you molded me into. And because I am who I am, I will now kill you, and take myself down with you, and be glad for it.

(and in the process, destroy the worldview AFO showed us in the Star and Stripe arc, that the ones who survive are the victors. AFO has completely and eternally lost, but Shigaraki is victorious to his last.)

It's his first moment of complete agency in his life -- acting entirely against anyone else's wishes for himself or his actions. And he uses it to do the one thing he's been itching for his whole life -- to destroy the source of his pain.

It's a negative character arc, in a way. It's not what any of us would've wanted for him. In a perfect world, he would be able to recover and readjust, building a life for himself and his found family in peace. He'd be able to experience life fully for the first time, and see that the world is not so bleak after all.

(I'm choking up just thinking about what's been lost. It's a fucking tragedy.)

But not every character arc gets to end happily. Sometimes people do slip through the cracks. That's always been what Shigaraki's character is about.

....and what every other member of the League's characters have been about.

Because here's the thing. The story of Shigaraki's life and death would be incomplete without his relationship to his found family. He's their leader. Their symbol. Their All Might.

Shigaraki's death is not the grimdark, fuck-the-audience, senseless kind of tragedy. He is a martyr, yes, but the people he stood for will in all likelihood survive. He died for the League. His life -- his existence -- brought them together, gave them purpose, and showed them a bright future. It is my steadfast belief that he will be the only death among the main villains. Because this is a story about saving to win, after all. And given that My Hero doesn't like to kill characters off too often and each one of them still has a path to recovery, I think it's a safe assumption to make. Especially since (especially in Toya's and Toga's cases) each of them had a moment of reconciliation at the end of their fights -- the kind of thing that can help them move forward.

And to be honest, we've known for a very, very long time that BNHA is the kind of anime that likes to turn old cliches on their heads. Kacchan did not become a villain during Kamino. La Brava's literal power of love was not enough to win the battle. Deku fought tirelessly to talk-no-jutsu Shigaraki into redemption, and while he did get through to him, he still couldn't save him after everything that happened. It's nuanced and messy in a way that I've come to expect from BNHA.

So yea, Shigaraki died. But Shigaraki also lived. Despite everything that AFO and Kotoro wanted from him (despite the fact that he was never meant to really be alive in the first place), he lived on his own terms and fought so that the people he cared about would be seen. Because he lived, the old world was destroyed, and from his ashes, a better one can be built. He achieved everything that no one thought he could, and reclaimed his life in the process. What better ending could you ask for a tragic character?

[stu-dyingstudent]

Sakura Haruno fic recs: Akatsuki/missing-nin

Okay, so I actually love the akatsuki so much. They were genuinely such good characters with really interesting storylines and powers. The whole akatsuki arc/repression was quite rushed imo and many of the wins from the fights felt a little unwarranted, but that's not too unusual in Naruto...

Anyway, this list is set to include fics where Sakura is either in the akatsuki or akatsuki members (excluding itachi bc that's literally any non-mass) play a large role in the story or Sakura just somehow lands herself being a missing-nin. From my experience, it's hard to find fics of this type without it being some sort of harem, which is not what I'm interested in, so here are some that I recommend!

Started: 2024.09.28

Last Updated: 2025.01.02

note: feel free to check out my master list which has a bunch of Sakura Haruno fic recs (all organized)!

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Vertigo - Cynchick || ffn || M || deisaku || akatsuki AU || complete

Sakura accepts the most critical and dangerous mission of her life, but the price of success may very well be her soul. When your entire world turns upside down, how do you keep from going under? DeiSaku.

I made this list literally just so I could recommend this fic lmao. Sakura takes on the mission to infiltrate the akatsuki, ruining her reputation and destroying her friendships in the process. Due to a brief encounter she had with Deidara, Sakura is allowed into the ranks and joins as his new partner. Their relationship is actually quite sweet and I think it's interesting to see things from Deidara's perspective as although he was very explosive (haha) in Naruto, he is also quite intelligent and a very capable shinobi.

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A Second Chance - Invisibleninja12 || ao3 || T || sasosaku || time travel AU || ongoing

A 15 year old Sasori turns up in the Leaf Village almost one year after Sakura defeats him (in canon). Not knowing what to do with this young, (semi) innocent Sasori, Sakura hides him from the world.

A teenage Sasori somehow manages to land himself 20 years in the future and he isn't quite sure what to make of it. Sakura feels she owes it to Lady Chiyo to help out (a bratty and emotional constipated) Sasori and ropes Sai into assisting. I've really been enjoying A Second Chance so far and I really love that Sai has a large role!

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Ankle Biter - a_pastel_edgelord || ao3 || E || gen || missing-nin AU || ongoing

“Pinkie, attack.” Sakura's teeth tear through skin and tendons until they meet. Her mouth fills with blood but she doesn't let go. The screaming of her victim washes over her like water. “Sorry about her.” Haku shrugs. “She's always been a bit feral.” The only family Sakura has are Zabuza and Haku.

Sakura is just another orphan picked up by Zabuza. With him and Haku being all she has, it results in her dependance and desperation to prove herself to them, but now that they're in wave it opens her eyes to something new. I really like how the relationship they have is portrayed as even though they are her family, it is obvious that Zabuza isn't as hung up on the matter, which feels quite realistic to his character.

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New Day Dawning - IncompleteSentanc (Erava) || ao3 || narusaku || T || canon divergence || complete

One day, while visiting the grave of Nohara Rin, Obito stumbles across a young girl terrifyingly like her. He decides to ensure she doesn’t meet the same fate.As for Sakura? Sakura had no idea what she was awakening the day she went to visit her parents graves - but she never looked back. One way or another.(Feat. Sakura raised by Obito and the Akatsuki, and her eventual return to Konoha and all those she left behind)

Sakura is brainwashed and manipulated, but loved by notorious killers nonetheless. Incredibly well written and I won't lie when I say that the ending took me a bit by surprise. Just read it

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One Change in the Story - Aingeal98 || ffn || T || gen || time travel AU || incomplete

It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was only supposed to go back five minutes in time. Instead, Sakura wakes up in a dark room surrounded by people wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them. The worst part? She doesn't have a clue who she is.

Praying for One Change in the Story to be completed!! Sakura lands herself back in time with the mind and body of her four year old self. With Pein being the first one to find her, Sakura's new life purpose is to be the Akatsuki's weapon. Sakura slowly loses herself to her new roll and in a sense becomes the embodiment of a ROOT agent. It was interesting to see Itachi's internal battle with the situation and Konan's guilt. However, even with Sakura bound to Ame, there are children back in Konoha who have an itch that a pink-haired girl named Sakura is someone important.

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Old Man by the Bar - Varmint || ao3 || T || gen || academy AU || complete

All it took was one school teacher's decision for the reality of Konoha to be altered in a way that no one could have imagined. Follow Kiba Inuzuka, Sakura Haruno, and Chouji Akimichi as they grow as individuals, friends, and ninja. All with the help of that grumpy old man with all of the cool war stories.

AHHHH READ THIS!!! For some reason I thought this fic was a school AU for the longest time and only got around to reading it recently and I'm so glad I did. It's set back in the academy where Sakura, Choji, and Kiba get grouped together for a project on the shinobi wars. The three misfits end up encountering Kakuzu who tells them a tale of his time fighting. They have so much character development and although they weren't originally happy about their predicament, they grow to look past each other's fronts and form a close bond.

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Expedient - SwiftKick || ffn || T || canon AU || complete

Konoha and Iwa sign a truce and agree to an Exchange Program between recently promoted genin to "bolster village relations." Fortunately, if anything were to go wrong, Haruno Sakura was just average enough to risk losing.

Sakura gets sent on an exchange to train in Iwa just to find out her sensei is only a few years older and a bit obsessed with his explosive art... It's interesting to see how she struggles both in Iwa and back in Konoha as Sakura is as good as an outsider in both villages. Expedient is an all time favorite of mine and I didn't have high expectations going into it, but this fic is truly great. Deidara is such a fun character and I really enjoyed Sakura's growth.

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Stumble - writer168 || ao3/ffn || gen || T || time travel AU || complete

Sakura wanted to die.Sasori was fine with staying dead.But it seemed fate had other plans for them, because when they both wake up younger with blood pulsing through their veins, they had to remember how to live again.Time Travel AU

Sasori and Sakura are both sent back in time and they try to make a difference in their respective villages. Told in the perspective of both characters, but primarily Sakura. She ends up forming a pretty sweet bond with Ibiki and Genma (which I love) and they help her through some things. Sakura has a rough time

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Will of Fire - Cynchick || ffn || M || kakasaku || missing-nin AU || complete

Forced to flee their village and the new regime, the loyal shinobi of Konoha must find a way to preserve their way of life and take back their home. As they fight for their future, Team Seven struggles to overcome the past. KakaSaku

When Danzo overthrows konoha, shinobi fled in hopes of escaping their death and the cruel reign. Sakura and many others go into hiding as missing-nin and plan on how they will reclaim their village. I love this author, and they actually have many fics that would fit on this list, but trust me when I say the writing is truly great. Sakura grows a lot as a shinobi and broadens her fighting style out of desperation for survival and I love it. The characters are all really well done, so just give it a go!

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Dirt and Ashes, or: The One-and-a-Half Body Problem - Tozette || captured || gen || M || canon divergent || complete

The invasion of Konoha during the chuunin exam didn't fail. Team seven is broken, people are dead, and Sakura is hurt and frightened and a very long way from home.Alternative summary: In which Sakura carries half of Hidan across two countries, leaving a trail of blood, bodies, and other people's legs.

Super gory story about Sakura's journey with the cranky and absent legged Hidan. Dirt and Ashes is very popular and it's for good reason.

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final exams coming up! - waterpllar || ao3 || gen || M || captured || complete

Kakuzu can name numerous reasons why Hatake Kakashi could make him an excellent profit, most of which involve the numerous organizations he's sabotaged. Specific figures would certainly be willing to pay very well for free reign to relieve their violent frustrations on one of the most notorious jounin in the Bingo books.Such a business would only function with a healer on hand, but it just so happens that a vast majority of shinobi teams have a healer, and there is a pink-haired genin without a bloodline limit or bijuu on the team.What he did not anticipate is that the Copy-nin's teaching might be so remiss that he hadn't trained said genin in any iryo-ninjutsu whatsoever. Kakuzu does not like making oversights, and he decides to remedy this fact immediately (unluckily for sakura).

Kakuzu captured Sakura and Kakashi in an attempt to make money (of course) off of Kakashi's many enemies and Sakura is forced to learn medical ninjutsu in order to keep him alive. Although this is marked as complete and could be considered that to those who read it, the ending is not very conclusive tbh (I wanted more).

Edit: ok this actually just got updated even though it’s marked as complete, so ig it’s still ongoing?? Maybe???

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Your childhood home is just powder-white bones (and you'll never find your way back) - Dovey || ao3 || gen || M || captured || complete

Sasuke is not the only one who worries he's getting too comfortable in his genin life. Itachi decides to add another motivator to Sasuke's revenge plans by kidnapping the teammate who wasn't a charismatic Jinchuriki. Sakura is used to being an objective for those around her, not a person, but even for her this is a little much.In which Sakura is held captive and learns what a genjutsu specialist can do to a person's mind, that sharks can actually make great friends, joins a dying clan, and gets regifted multiple times before she's finally strong enough to fight back.*while this fic contains explicit and graphic torture, there's no sexual assault.

Okay, this was actually a really hard read for me. We truly see Sakura's decline in this as she slowly loses her mind and it is very frustrating to see what has happened to her. Nonetheless, it is extremely well written and great is you want something dark.

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Shinra Tensei - multifandom_fanfic_writer || ao3 || T || itasaku || akatsuki AU || complete

With renewed determination, Sakura stepped forward. She passed the guards, who waved at her absently. She smiled, filled with elation as her foot crossed the threshold of Konoha’s gate. She would no longer blindly follow orders. She would no longer be part of the corrupted system. Sakura felt no grief, nor regret. As of today, the old Haruno Sakura didn’t exist anymore. She would be a new person. And she would be one of the greatest. - The world of shinobi is a harsh one, filled with blood and death. Sasuke dies, and Team 7 is left scattered. Sakura’s loyalty to Konoha wavers until it breaks. Determined to find a better purpose, Sakura sets out to figure out how to live in a world where morality is merely a line in the sand. But her path is soon changed when she is summoned – by the leader of the Akatsuki.

I actually have not read Shinra Tensei, but it is quite popular, so I thought I would recommend it if any of you are interested.

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Hoshigaki - writer168 || ao3 || M || gen || sakura is kisame's daughter AU || complete

When Sakura was three, her father told her he was a criminal. When she was seven, the last thing she saw of him was the sword on his back. When she was eight, she had a friend named Kiba. When they were twelve, they met Shino. And when they were genin, they began to fight for the truth because they could no longer fight for the sake of Konoha.

Perhaps one of the more interesting AUs out there as Sakura is actually the daughter of Kisame! Definitely shines a different light on the village and is such a great story (even has a sequel).

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life goal: punch a god in the face - itsthechocopuff || ao3 || T || gen || time travel AU || incomplete

Fist poised to punch a goddess. A glare from opalescent eyes. A flicker of chakra. Sakura’s fist met Kaguya’s face at the same time her vision went black. When she woke up, it was to find herself twenty years in the past, with a pair of eyes she’d personally helped shut staring down at her.

Sakura dies and wakes up in Wind country with a young Sasori watching her. Somehow, she ends up agreeing to help him kill the kazekage once he's strong enough and sets off to Konoha where she befriends Kakashi's team.

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A Curious Kind of Atonement - Katlou303 || ao3 || M || itasaku || mentor!itachi AU || complete

Just after the Uchiha Massacre, a guilt-stricken Itachi wants to make Sasuke's life better. He meets a pink-haired little girl who seems to adore his little brother. He decides he can atone for his crimes by keeping her alive, and so decides to train her in secret. ItaSaku.

Fair warning, I have not finished reading this fic nor have I gotten to the romance. However, I do think it is very well written and I appreciate that the author doesn't waste time with a bunch of random scenes that are unnecessary to the story. Sakura is unknowingly trained by Itachi Uchiha for six years before the truth comes out resulting in the village losing trust in her. She faces a lot of harsh criticism because of this and her relationship with her former mentor is quite strained. Unhealthy relationship

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Psychopaths - jokergirl2001 || ffn || M || gen || Sakura knows Hidan AU || incomplete

Everyone knew about how Hidan slaughtered his neighbors before heading off to join the Akatsuki. What most didn't know was that just like Itachi Uchiha, Hidan had someone he just couldn't kill. A little girl who was founded and taken in by the Village Hidden in the Leaves. A girl who would be placed on Team Seven. A girl named Sakura Haruno.

I've really enjoyed a lot of this author's works! Psychopaths is a super interesting AU and Sakura is definitely a bit morally questionable. I mean, Hidan is kind of her friend, so what do you expect?

---

I love when y'all send recs! cheers

[camilla-mikaelson]

My Twilight DR!

PLS NOTE I'M STILL WORKING ON IT BUT THIS IS ALL I HAVE SO FAR!!

My Name: Sophie Swan.

Age: 18.

Species: Human to Siren.

Birthday: December 15th, 1986.

Skills / Hobbies: Baking, and Danicng.

Family:

The Swan's: My Adoptive Family.

I’m the older adoptive sister of Bella Swan. I was about two months old when Charlie and Renee adopted me. It was a very normal-ish childhood.

I've always had a necklace with me since I was a baby. It's a silver chain with a pink amethyst. I always thought Renee or Charlie had given me it. (But eventually I find out that it's from my birth mother. She had a witch spell it to keep my mermaid side from coming out.)

Although Renee doesn’t really like me cause she always wanted to have a boy and a girl but instead got stuck with two girls. She also didn't like that I was 17 when I had Jaxson. He's about six-months-old from where I'm shifting.

I’ve always been way closer to Charlie to be honest. I always wanted to live with Charlie but Renee insisted I stay with Bella.

But unlike Bella I visited Charlie every single summer up until we move to Forks.

Me and Bella have a love hate relationship. We're complete polar opposites which makes it hard for us to bond over quite literally anything. Plus I think she's been told things from Renee making her kinda resent me.

It doesn't help that the Cullens automatically click with me unlike they did with her.

The Quinnell's: My Biological Family.

My biological sister is actually one of the Cullens. Her names Iris Cullen she’s the youngest Cullen as she was only turned a couple years before I moved to forks and was taken in by the Cullens. She’s Emmett’s Mate.

I don't find out she's my sister until about half way through the school year. I only find out after I found out their vampires. I think it's a lot of shock to me.

I don't believe them at first. Not about the Vampire part but the sibling part.

But eventually I accept it and me and Iris become extremely close. Thankfully Jaxson got attached to her too fairly quickly.

Me and Iris don't go hunting for our parents until after the "battle". But when we do everyone's in full support in it. We end up finding out that our mother is Queen of the Sea named Aurora Hart-Quinnell. While our dad is a Vampire named Oliver Quinnell.

Aurora Hart is the queen of the sea. She is a mermaid queen who lives on the land. She goes back and forth between the kingdom and the house she lives on land.

While Oliver Quinnell is the Prince of Vampires. (Way before the Volturi became a thing.) He ruled for many many years before the Volturi overpowered him forcing him to step down. The Volturi took over because they found out about the affair between Oliver and Aurora.

Once the Volturi took over they made it their mission to try to destroy the mermaid kingdom. That's all happening as Aurora finds out she's pregnant with Twins.

That's the reason they had put us up for adoption because there was a war brewing between the two kingdoms/species. They thought we'd have the best luck at life far away from them and the kingdoms.

They also knew we'd find them eventually when the time was right. Thankfully we did. After the war our parents ended up getting married and they we're slowly trying to combine the two kingdoms.

My S/O:

My S/O or in this case my mate in my DR is Pansy Cullen.

Me and her meet on my first day at Forks and even though she was hesitant me and her instantly clicked becoming friends.

Eventually after a few days I introduce her to Jaxson and she instantly falls in love with him. And then by October me and Pansy we're together.

I found out she's a vampire around mid September. At first I didn't know how to feel but eventually I knew that if she wanted to hurt me she had plenty of chances to do so before and she didn't.

Unlike Edward and Bella me and Pansy don't break up one time once we get together. That was because I got turned into a vampire before they went to Alaska so me and Jaxson got to go to Alaska with them. (Yes we ditched Bella.)

Alaska was amazing though we had a lot of firsts with Jaxson. He got to see his first snow. And got to help put the tree up.

Carlisle and Esme had given me and Pansy an ornament with me, her, and Jaxson together with the year 2005 a crossed it.

We eventually get marries but I never like scripting proposals or anything like that because I like letting that part happen by itself. (But I might script it I don’t know yet if I do I’ll make a post about it!)

Species in my DR:

There's six main species in my DR not including Humans.

Vampires:

They don’t shine or burn in the sun. (The suns just very uncomfortable.)

They can sleep.

Their hair grows.

They can eat human food.

They stay a live as long as they have some type of blood. (Rather that be animal or human.)

In order to turn into a vampire you have to be injected with venom from one.

Steak to the heart is the only way to kill them!

They can heal humans with their blood but most of the time they don’t. Vampire blood can give a human temporary vampire abilities. Also having to much vampire blood can make them trip out making it seem like their drunk.

They’re not marble they’re skin is as normal as a humans just slightly paler.

They can compel humans.

They have fangs but they only show when they feed.

Werewolfs:

Becoming a werewolf is mainly hereditary but in some cases it's caused by a curse.

They can turn whenever they want.

They have a peace treaty with just about every species besides human because humans don't know they exist. (Yet.)

They can be really powerful and closed off to others.

They're extremely warm.

Mermaids:

There's two different types. One type chooses to live solely in the ocean. Where as the second type goes back and forth.

They can all go on land whenever they please though!

Their hair grows rarely quickly.

They can eat human food.

They stay a live as long as they have some type of blood. (Rather that be animal or human.).

Being a Mermaid is only hereditary.

Unlike most theories they're immortality.

Only a witch could actually fully kill them. Unless the king/queen kills them! So basically they can only die by the king/queen or the witches.

Most Mermaids and witches are best friends.

Sirens:

Sirens are hybrids. They're half Vampire Half Mermaid.

They can stay either on land or in the ocean.

Sirens are only born! They are not made. But they only show their vampire side if they were to get bit. (It's kinda confusing but think of how Tyler Lockwood from The Vampire Diaries only triggered his werewolf genes if he killed someone. Basically the same thing but instead of killing to trigger it you have to be bitten.)

They're very rare as Mermaids and Vampires don't really ever cross paths.

They stay alive as long as they have some type of blood. (Rather that be animal or human.) And they go into the water for a couples days each week.

They only way to not show a mermaid side is to have a witch make a certain necklace stopping the transformation from happening.

The transformation can hurt at first but sometimes it doesn't

Steak to the heart is the only way to kill them!

Since they're half vampire they can heal humans with their blood but most of the time they don’t. Vampire blood can give a human temporary vampire abilities. Also having to much vampire blood can make them trip out making it seem like their drunk.

They can compel humans. Either by having them look into their eyes and demanding them or by just their voice.

They have fangs but they only show when they feed.

Fairies:

They live within the forests.

They aren't really small unless they're flying then all the are is a speck of light.

Most of them are pure evil. There some good ones though.

If you go into a forest and run into one don't say 'thank you'. They'll think you owe them something and we'll be forced to do as many tasks for them as they please.

They love pranking humans. Like they live for that.

They only trust the witches.

They are not immortal but they live in large groups so if you kill one of them you'll have the whole group onto you!

They can heal humans but the choose not too.

They can compel humans.

Most come into town and they live like normal people but they don't at the same time.

Witches:

They're mainly friends with only the fairies and mermaids.

They can do spells for just literally everything.

They love nature as most of them use it for their potions and spells.

They can help Vampires with the sun being uncomfortable but the usually don't. They don't really trust vampires that includes Sirens.

Being a witch can be learned but it's mostly Hereditary.

Some actually have wands but most the time it's rare.

They live all around humans, the humans just don't realize it.

If you have any questions please ask I'll gladly answer them!

[trekkele]

Patriach!!!!!! I love that fic it's so good and it really made me think about Bruce's relationship with Leslie

*spoilers*

So many Fics have Bruce not liking going to Leslie and I never really thought about it because that's how it's always been

But when Dick starts to point out that Bruce would rather bleed in an alleyway then face one of her lectures and I just sat there

Because kids really want to be accepted!!! And hearing only criticisms all the way well into adulthood will 100% destroy your mental health, and when you think about how much effort and sacrifices Bruce probably had to make to train under the best of the best, only for Leslie (who had an impact on him growing up but also was his dad coworker/friend) to dismiss all of it and tell him that violence is not the answer*.... It must of hurt

(*which is bull, we've been spilling blood for every freedom for as long as we've been around, open a history book Leslie)

I said this once (I think in dms with @wanderintofics) but I think it's very funny how Alfred has been cast into this overbearing mother role and Leslie has been cast as the distant and disappointed father role. Because where Alfred will relentlessly criticize Bruce, and withold care or affection if he feels Bruce doesn't deserve it, he will also always, always come back to Bruces side. It's a whole thing! Meanwhile Leslie will never whithold care, she's a doctor, she's a good doctor, but she will absolutely side with those criticizing Bruce whenever possible.

I think the fact that Leslie has been criticizing him this way since he's a kid influences it the most. Because hearing that your choices are a disappointment and your dead parents would be ashamed of you is. Not great!! Ever!! And since Alfred is literally an employee of the estate, Leslie is technically the only person in his life who gets nothing from him and isn't interested in pleasing or pacifying him. Alfred's criticism would hurt, of course, but there's also a level of "he's meant to be raising me into the perfect heir". Leslie has no such responsibilities, and that means her criticism is entirely personal.

There are two ways to write Leslie, and one is Watsonian (she represents an in universe belief) and the other is Doylest (she represents Batman critics in our universe). And my problem with her as a Doylest criticism is you cannot apply our universe rules to a universe with superheroes. The entire argument against capes falls apart with the first alien invasion. More then that, it simply isn't an interesting critique of the genre, because it inevitably falls into doomerisms and nihilism and I am supremely uninterested of that view of the world.

The Watsonian critique is slightly more interesting, because it at least has Leslie (reasonably!) acknowledge that she lives in a universe where superheros do exist, she is just personally against them. And my issue there is that Leslie is a militant pacifist, which boils down to "she believes you should also die for her beliefs". And. No.

She also believes that all violence is equal, when it clearly isn't and has never been, and insisting that it be treated as if it is is disingenuous and unhelpful. Its how we get people in prison for killing their abusers even in the most clear cut of cases. I disagree with her philosophy in the real world, and not even in a way that means I can agree in the fictional world, if that makes sense.

Leslie is a great character and I think she's very interesting even when I disagree with everything she's saying. I wish she had more screentime as n antagonist. Steph, for one, should not trust her ever again.

[lilith-is-off]

Promised Llorumi rant (based on that one voice message that i sent my friend (would tag him but he doesn't have an account as much as I'm aware)) (it all literally started when i got into an argument on reddit with someone about Harumi changing into a better person and she was selfish with her choices just like Garmadon or Morro that fans love, may uploade the whole thread later)

So basically we all know how Harumi litterally hated Lloyd throught the whole Oni Trylogy(until her death ofc), while Lloyd somehow tried to reason with her bc he belived that there is something good still in her that can be saved.

Season 16 - this is where their relationship changes completly. At first Harumi hates Lloyd even more bc she thinks that he left her alone after a building collapsed onto her - that's how their first interaction since S9. Lloyd is suprised that she is alive and tries to explain to her that he did came back for her (with Garmadon trying to get rid of him and the image of DB with other ninjas begin destroyed still in his head) but he was unable to find her. It was clearly that it was the first stage to change between them. Another episodes roll out and now Lloyd stands in front of OL. The Big Bad GuyTM wants to kil Lloyd but then Harumi panicks and ask for permission to reason with him (literally showing that she doesn't wants to kill him anymore and acctualy wants to put him in better position since she doesn't belive that OL can be defeated)

Lloyd manages to escape and OL sends the council after him but she stays and tries to find a way to get to him first to talk with him since she doesn't belive that he can somehow escape. Once she gets to him she orders rest of th court to stay away and tries th talk Lloyd into joining the OL and joining HER bc he won't survive jumping from the castle. He drags her with him and says that she's laying and jumps with her. When they are falling down Harumi not only doesn't push Lloyd from her but also hugs him harder - she belives that he can save her. They go throught the jungle together they bicker a lot bc it's the first time that they are alone since s8.

After a while Harumi is taken back by the Crystal King Court, and OL mentions how he knows that she still has feelings for Lloyd- she tries to deny it but is stopped by OL. By now it's clear how Harumi doesn't trust OL anymore but it's too far in all of it to back out (she is probably still somhow gratefull to OL for resurecting her).

Lloyd and Harumi doesn't interact till the final battle. She appears at the same place as OL, Garmadon and Lloyd. At first she only stays in the back and watches as she is no match againts them - no matter which side she chooses. Once she realizes that OL is responsible for her parents death, for taking everything from he, she attacks him (mind you she doesn't have any powers and only has a katana with herself). After the battle she wonders during the conversation with Lloyd how she would make up for all she has done and he reassure her that she has her whole life to do so. They are seen during rebulding of the Monastery when she passes him and is the first to wave to him and he does the same and smiles.

Their realtionship was firstly build on Harumi's lies, but during the events of S16, it changes. There are many moments when Lloyd still belives that she can change and back out from the mess she got herself into bc how much he acctually cares and worries about her(he's fully aware about her reasons and is convinced that once she gets help, she can become good).

Harumi hates Lloyd at first and blames him for her parents death (she's unavare about Pythor's acctions and puts Lloyd to blame due his fate of the green ninja). During S16 she despises him even more bc she belives that he left her alone under the bulding to die. When Lloyd reveales that he actually came back for her - something clearly changes in her. She realizes that somebody does actually care for her and she isn't on her own. At the time it's not enough to convince her, but it was the perfect start. After he parents died she felt that she was on her own, her adopted parents were extremly strict with her and didn't properly deal with her trauma. She though that she was on her own, so Lloyd showing her how he cares for her chnged her whole world wiew.

Their realtionishp doesn't come even remotely close to the healthy one, but they were on the good path of making it better. It's clear in S16 how actually they feel about eachother - how little sides that they took matter in their feelings for eachother. After S16 they surely spend a lot of time together and maybe Harumi recived some sort of lessons from Lloyd like Garmadon got his from Vinny.

So yeah, Llorumi is not everyones cup of tea but you can't deny that they care for eachother - no matter if they are enemies, allies, friends or lovers

[tumb1rprincess]

SCREAMING CRYING FOAMING AT THE MOUTH AT THE NEW HELLUVA BOSS EPISODE OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

Sorry, had to get that out of the way first. God, what an amazing, funny, beautiful finale. Highlights for me:

Blitz being so fucking tender with Stolas. Trying to help him adjust to his new situation, trying to make him happy, comforting him whenever he can. Oh, it was so sweet.

So many moments made me laugh. The call about the extended pony warranty, Stolas failing to flip over the desk, Andrealphus's insults to Stolas getting bleeped out, oh, I laughed so much.

VIA SONG, VIA SONG, VIA SONG! Oh, the poor baby. We know why she's feeling the way she is, but it still hurts. Her thinking she’s the reason Stolas was depressed and needs pills, oh, that was just so sad. She doesn’t realize that Stolas stayed because he loves her, not out of obligation. And Stolas weeping after she left was just heartbreaking. Although her destroying Andrealphus’s dragon was fucking great. She may hate Stolas, but she doesn’t exactly like Andrealphus either.

Stolas seeing himself in the cheating husband that woman wanted killed, Blitz getting sad at seeing how happy the family is and imagining them as himself, Stolas, Loona, and Via. Oh I hope they get to be a family someday.

Literally screamed when Andrealphus summoned a dragon and Blitz was riding Loona like a horse, holding a lance like a knight. It was literally like a fairytale, the knight battling the dragon to save the prince. And that kiss after Blitz saves Stolas, easily one of the most romantic moments in the series.

The ending, THE ENDING! Stolas looking shell shocked after what happened with Via, people at the party trying to include him, Millie finding out she's pregnant, Blitz getting up on the railing and dancing with Stolas. And even though Stolas is kind of happy right now, he's not going to get over Octavia like that. He's going to be carrying that grief with him, and I think Blitz is going to feel like Stolas's life got ruined because of him. He's taking care of him and defending him for now, but I feel like that's something him and Stolas have to talk about eventually. They still have a ways to go with their relationship. And Millie seemed very distraught over finding out she was pregnant. Is it because she can't work if she has a kid? Or is she worried she and Moxxie would have to give up their jobs because it's pretty dangerous and they don't want their kid to lose their parents? Or maybe it's just the unexpectedness of it all, I don't know. Hopefully, we'll get some more light shed on that next season.

[unqualified-therapist]

Why Charlie Slimecicle for QSMP president:

1. He is a very dedicated man

Ex: Did a whole court case to get back his daughter from the dead, went into exile and built a shrine to bring back Tilín (or Juanaflippa), edited and recorded a whole cover about how much he loves his daughter

2. He is a great person

Charlie had a very troubled past, with an abusive father who killed his seven siblings. He did not know how to be the best spouse or parent, but he still loved Juanaflippa so fiercely. He literally killed for her, performed/wrote multiple songs for her, exploded places for her. He cares for all the eggs.

3. Gegg

Gegg says vote for Slimecicle

-Gegg

Not to mention, since Charlie signed off on his most recent stream, there has been no signs of Gegg. An egg going missing is extremely worrying, and if Charlie returns, it would make sense that everyone’s favorite egg with soft spots would return as well.

4. Juanaflippa

Juanaflippa was Charlie’s egg daughter, who unfortunately lived the shortest life of all eggs on the server. She died once to neglect, and twice to misclicks. Not to mention, she is owed at least one life by Little J/Angel Rubius. If we make Charlie the president, we can return a little girl who did not deserve her fate to the land of the living.

5. EL BACKFLIPO

LOOK AT HIM. HE IS THE GREAT AND POWERFUL EL BACKFLIPO.

6. silly funky guy

Charlie is arguably one of the funniest people on the server. No matter who he is speaking with, or what language barriers there are, he finds a way to make it entertaining for the other content creators, and everyone watching. If Charlie was elected as president, he would have to come back to the server, bringing light back to everyone.

7. ElMariana

Mariana is Charlie’s wife: the man who he was partnered up with to care for an egg. A duo known as the Misclick Duo, they are extremely entertaining for everyone. Along with this, all fans of these two spending time together has been in a drought. Not only this, but both streamers have mentioned that they like hanging out in the game. If Charlie is elected as the president, these two will be online again, making the server even more fruity- they are the ORIGINAL gay QSMP sex duo.

8. The French & The Brazilians

They have only heard stories of Charlie Slimecicle, of El Backflipo. The man who destroyed for his daughter, the man who brings smiles to all faces. If Charlie is made president, they will be able to meet him. This will not only create more content for Charlie, but all your favorite Portugese and French-speaking streamers may gain even more love.

For all these reasons, and many more which have probably left my feeble brain, for El Backflipo's greatness is too much for my mind to comprehend, Charlie Slimecicle should be elected as president of the QSMP.

EVERYONE! AT THE REVELATION THAT CHARLIE WILL NOT BE RUNNING, BUT GEGG WILL, I MUST PUSH YOU TO VOTE FOR GEGG!!! HE IS LITTLE, HE IS NEITHER MAN NOR EGG. HE IS THE GREAT AND POWERFUL GEGG.

[baiwu-jinji]

I'm so very late to the party but finally finished listening to TGCF audio drama season 1, love how intense the last two episodes are :3 Here are some incoherent thoughts about some of the episodes I haven't talked about:

Episode 12: It occurred to me when I'm listening to this episode that the ghosts of Ghost City are always so lively and bubbly, always laughing and flirting and teasing, when most of them must've had a tragic life story with unresolved misfortunes that caused them to turn into ghosts in the first place. Their high spirits feels incongruous with their tragic past, but maybe it's because they're happier as ghosts than as humans?

There's a ghost called 红粉骷髅 (literally "skeleton of beautiful woman") in this episode that finds afterlife much more liberating and satisfying than life itself, as she recites the following poem when she's dancing: "I danced for others in life, nobody buried my bones when I died; I sing for myself after death, my beauty moves the netherworld."

(The name 红粉骷髅 actually comes from a Buddhist story where the Bodhisattva Guanyin turns into a beautiful woman to make love to men but would suddenly turn into a skeleton in the process, scaring the men into realising that the most alluring beauty in the world is but ashes and bones and ghastly in death, and that they shouldn't give in to temptations.)

Episode 13: Hua Cheng tells Xie Lian that he doesn't look at the wishes of his believers and just throws them away because he doesn't care about being worshipped. This just shows the difference between Hua Cheng and Jun Wu: although they both desire power, Hua Cheng only wants power in himself and over his own fate, while Jun Wu wants power over others. The conversation between HC and XL is as follows:

HC: It's better to help yourself than ask the help of others. If you want to climb out of the abyss, what use is it to look to others? Others won't come to save you every time.

XL: That's why you need gods.

HC: But if everyone counts on the god, what about the god? Wouldn't the god get tired?

XL: But you must have many believers. If you turn a blind eye to their prayers, won't they consider you to be ineffectual?

HC: I didn't ask them to worship me, they kneeled before me without my permission. Besides, only those who happen to have their wishes granted would dare to talk about it - those who don't wouldn't dare to complain.

Episode 17: Xie Lian tells Lang Qianqiu that he named his sword technique which he uses to break up a clash by diverting all the harm to himself "wuming" (meaning "nameless") - a fitting name because the technique is about the negation of the self, and sacrificing oneself to endure it all. "Wuming" is also the name Hua Cheng took when he followed Xie Lian after the fall of Xianle and eventually sacrificed himself to protect Xie Lian.

Episode 18: When Xie Lian worries that telling Lang Qianqiu the truth would make Lang Qianqiu question everything XL taught him and cease to be the courageous and honourable person that he is, Hua Cheng asks XL to trust in LQQ's innate moral strength. I like what HC said to XL about LQQ:

"If you value him so much, then why can't you trust him? Trust that since he's the one you chose, he won't lose himself in hatred and will eventually do what he should do, even though he once wanted to destroy the whole world out of hate."

HC is asking XL to have faith in LQQ the same way that HC has always had faith in XL.

There's also something I wonder about the situation between Xie Lian and Lang Qianqiu. LQQ's parents were murdered by the resentful ghosts of the people of Xianle, and XL took the blame for the Gilded Banquet massacre because he didn't want LQQ to think that he tried to save those resentful ghosts in vain, that LQQ's good will towards the resentful ghosts was met with hatred and revenge. But has it occurred to XL that his own supposed "betrayal" would've hurt LQQ equally much? Would LQQ really feel better if instead of the resentful ghosts, it's his teacher whom he admired and respected so much that had betrayed him?

[rivetgoth]

OCs that are monsters:

Ennui Man — Monster in the most traditional sense that stands at 7’6” and is made of thrifted towels and blankets and animated by a magician with the power to manipulate floral spirits by capturing the essence of a Disneyland palm tree. Said floral magician was detached from all social dogma and chose a Disneyland palm tree because he wanted to give him childlike wonder. Ennui Man is a chronic pyromaniac who loves to destroy things for fun / “to see what will happen” but is also a big softie (literally) who loves bugs and cuddling and sunshine. He eventually got abandoned by his creator in the Santa Monica mountains and achieves sort of local cryptid status. Due to the nature of his creation he’s functionally immortal and eventually becomes the mother of plant life in the far future. He or she pronouns I just usually default to he.

Truffle Pig — 8 foot tall super soldier created by the military out of ground up pork parts and blown up soldiers and all wrapped up in black leather. Can crawl up walls. Meant to be a prototype for an easily recyclable dispensable soldier in a future war. Like Ennui Man he was created by a magician who has the power to manipulate meat essence. She kinda accidentally gave him a soul (sort of) though it’s fragmented and buried deep beneath AI programming. After the nuclear apocalypse he escapes his confines with the AI chip damaged and wanders aimlessly across barren radioactive wasteland landscapes until meeting his best friend forever and wife Ennui Man (in a Ren & Stimpy kind of way.) and becoming the father of meat life in the far future. He or it pronouns.

Posey — Former celebrity heartthrob who made the mistake of speaking out against human atrocities committed by Dr. Giorgio Marcello and Himmel Medicine and ended up captured lobotomized and genetically and surgically body modified into a Minotaur man for Giorgio to take his anger out on. Giorgio’s last couple of human experiments turned against him and Posey is unfortunately like the child a parent has after their oldest dies who will never be able to be enough to replace the first. Posey’s life is a psychedelic nightmare he’s trapped in like a greenhouse full of the bugs Giorgio does the least humane experiments on because they have the least amount of legal protections until he’s eventually rescued. Posey is my newest OC and my current baby tbh. 

Sterling Penthouse — Glamorous televangelist who is secretly a werewolf. I don’t think he really believes any of the things he says but when he eats people during the full moon he uses their tragic deaths to manipulate people to turn to God or whatever. Yknow as a cover for eating people. He’s the least developed OC here but he does rattle around in the back of my head so he deserves a mention.

OCs that are genuinely just evil:

Dr. Giorgio Marcello — Celebrity plastic surgeon mad scientist son of billionaire CEO. He’s the head of Himmel Medicine’s Experimental Plastics division and he helms all these twisted experimental cosmetic surgery projects. His earliest experiments were on genetically modifying dogs to make the perfect police dog for his police officer brother. My OCs Angel Steele, Leatherette, and (most relevantly here) Posey are all creations of his. He just has no regard whatsoever for other people and sees humans as like, potential artworks/blank canvasses over actual living things with like feelings and shit and of couuuurse he fucks all of his creations (most depraved bisexual of all time). In front of cameras he’s very glamorous and charismatic. He’s kinda got like a Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar vibe.

Guy Broiler — My slasher OC who works at a semi-abandoned McDonald’s in rural Pennsylvania. He kills tourists who get lost and turns them into meat for the McDonald’s since the parent company doesn’t send many supplies anymore and the restaurant is like his baby. He’s an old libertarian conspiracy theorist who lives in a little house with his pet pig Pigball that he rescued from a meat truck. He’s gay but he doesn’t know it and is a virgin at 55 because he’s too busy with work. He exists independently of this but he also was kinda written to fit into the Scream Park universe to ship with Iggy (Ogre’s character LMAO). He’s kinda based on Ronald McDonald and kinda based (demeanor/personality wise) on Paul Barker but also kinda based on my grandma who also is a redhead conspiracy theorist in the Pennsylvanian backwoods.

[dangermousie]

I confess that the narrative of TTJ in the sect learning how to be a human properly was always my favorite part of the novel even if it wasn’t a romantic portion of the story. So I am so excited the drama kept it (with bits of the Cang Jiumin dream storyline, they meld seamlessly.) 

(I love that he actually gets a name chosen with care and not one that is expression of hatred and bad luck!)

Look at how shocked he is the master is all “the sword is yours, keep it.” He is so not used to care and kindness.

Honestly, it’s little things that get me, like how he’s so awkward being hugged by the blind lady and you realize he’s still not used to being touched in gentleness and love.

It’s just such a pleasure watching TTJ find acceptance and care in the sect - finally a decent parental figure in his master and then also the sect brothers who just accept and like him, do not view him as a monstrosity (he didn’t have such matter-of-fact acceptance even during his emperor days for obvious reasons.) This is the longest stretch of normalcy he’s ever had and he needed it so badly (and the fact that it comes from sect master and brothers he destroyed in past timeline is extra glorious; it does show that we are our choices, we are not doomed to do the same thing over and over.) The fact that he probably got it because Susu broke his fate/curse and so he is not being pushed by literally the Universe into more and more suffering as a goad to turn him into devil god, is an extra bonus. And the thing that gets me so hard is - TTJ aka Cang Jiumin, thrives. He repays kindness with kindness - you watch him be a good student and kind to the old lady and practice well. 

It makes me think of the scene in an early ep flashback where older nanny tells younger nanny that the reason TTJ has difficulty processing or understanding emotions and people is because of his fucked up existence. And she is proven right - he is clearly always an introvert but living a nice life full of physical and emotional caring (he does not go hungry, he is liked, he is taught, he is valued), he adjusts more and more. He soaks normalcy as a sponge and I think learns as much or more from this stretch as he did from Susu. Susu opened up the gate but it’s this time that really puts the seal on it (yes, I am mixing my metaphor.) He needed to love and be loved by at least one person to give the world a chance, but he now has demonstration that not the whole world is awful. Before he hated the world but refrained from damage because Susu loved it, but now perhaps he can learn to love it a little on his own behalf. (And it makes sense his fate was nonstop horror before - if you want someone to turn into a demon god who is in so much pain he wants to erase the universe into nothingness, you can’t give him a glimmer of hope or a positive outlet. You don’t want your would-be world destructor to go “I don’t want to end the Universe because I have a sect dinner on Thursday, and my wife and I are going on a vacay the following weekend, how about we check back in a few millennia.”)

He is so gentle with this random old lady and he’s able to analogize the two of them - that is empathy, really, something impossible for a person they claimed was devoid of feelings; he’s come so far all because he’s had normalcy and care.

And he tries to make her withered tree bloom because she wants it, tries so hard even tho he just met her (and that he tries with the help of charms Susu taught him - he really is a memorial to her in so many ways, a living breathing memorial.)

I love his conversation with the old lady btw, it is my favorite scene in the episode, where they talk about why people live. In some ways, despite his age he is pitifully young since he’s had so little normal experience. This isn’t just a mission to help and old lady, it is a mission to help him too.

The way it turns out she knew and yet still took it, because kindness is rare and precious...

I love his opening up, responding to honesty with honesty, care to care. He is like a mirror to the world, in so many ways, and when all it gave him was pain he dealt pain back, but he is slowly healing, slowly climbing out of his well of misery and abuse and seeing humanity in others and in the process finding humanity in himself.

It’s so interesting how he answers about people, not home, because he doesn’t have a home, not really. Nowhere where people are glad to see him and so there is no home for him because without care it’s just rocks and dirt and why does he care where he is.

Oh God, this killed me.

The way he ponders that!

The way this is written - it’s as if Susu translates the world to him and him to the world and without her as the conduit, he cannot judge his success or his worth or his morality. I am incoherent!!!

It is gutting that all he needed was a little push - a little choice, a little happiness. Look how quickly he learns - like when he talks about his wife to the old lady and old lady asks if he could get his wife back by becoming evil, would he, and he thinks and is tempted but says no because Susu would not have liked it. He has learned to put what she wants above what he wants (a change even from “hate me as long as you are here.”)

The way he figures out how to fulfill the old lady’s wish with his white lie and her response just...

Here he is with the old lady who passed away. I am verklempt....

It really is nature/nurture debate and the answer is pretty clear - if he was brought up with love and care instead of constant trauma and suffering - he would have been just lovely; he is climbing out of that abyss even after all the torment and without it he’d have been there so much sooner. Devil God actually is a manifestation the world’s cruelty creating its own monsters and seeds of its own destruction and I love that.

PS Devil God voice is proof that you can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good (or evil in this case.) He should have taken the body/soul when TTJ didn’t care and was offering but he wanted to wait for the perfect host as opposed to 98% compatible and now he’s living (undying?) proof of the old adage of “you snooze you lose!”

[greenerteacups]

Hi GT, I have a confession to make: I read all of the Harry Potter books and didn't like them, to the point that I cannot remember anything from canon. But reading your fic feels like I am getting to experience the magic everyone else felt when they read the OG series, so thank you for that!

I wanted to say that I especially appreciate your treatment of the female characters. Obviously you are getting rid of the weird misogyny and competitiveness of the books in regard to Hermione, Fleur, Molly, etc (I especially love your Molly, and the respect she gets from the other Order members is delightful) but I really appreciate it when it comes to the "reminiscing" parts of the story. It always bothered the hell out of me that Lily seems to have nobody who really remembers her? Like she was clever and pretty and nice and yet all anybody talks about is how cool James is and he has all these bros who would die for him while Lily had ... No friends? Apparently? Anyway sorry this is so long but I really really really appreciated that Molly, Lupin, Sirius, etc. don't just forget about her in your version, and talk her up to Harry as much as they do his dad.

This is a really incredible compliment. Thank you! It makes me incredibly happy to hear you're having that experience. It was one of the foundational moments of my childhood, and to share it with someone else is a magical privilege.

Lily is so dear to me, even though the source gives us rather little about her. I think it's a great shame that Harry in canon grows up mostly around his father's former friends, who happened to survive the war, whereas Lily's friends (we imagine probably the Gryffindor girls, so... Marlene, Dorcas, etc.?) are all dead or missing when the story starts. There's something grotesquely tragic about that, upon reflection: Harry is robbed of knowledge of his mother because of how the war destroyed her living memory. It's such an insidious remark on what death takes away — not just one life, but the memories and love that the life represented.

I was endlessly inspired by that one throwaway remark Lupin makes about being friends with Lily. It's really odd, in the context of Lupin's setup as a Marauder, that when he finally gets a one-on-one with Harry about his parents, his first move isn't to talk about James, but Lily. (Of course, this is on the heels of a comment about Lily's eyes, but like — Harry is said by many people to look like James, and if Lupin was James's friend first, shouldn't that have been the thing that struck him? Wouldn't it be "you so resemble your father, one of my dearest friends on this earth"?) And what was that kindness Lily showed to Remus? Especially since James literally altered his own biochemistry and risked his life in order to support him on full moons? I'm not saying Lily wasn't a true friend to Remus, but like — that's kind of a hard gesture to top, Lils!!

Between that and the goldfish story with Slughorn, Lily gets a phantom characterization as this intensely selfless, giving person. Problem being: that's not a personality, that's a character value. And we don't talk about people we miss that way! We don't go "damn, I'm missing my friend Lily, a noble heart capable of great kindness," we go "oh damn, Lily would have loved that joke," or "those were her favorite kind of pickles," or "I bet she'd have hated that guy." It's the ephemera of knowing someone that we use to feed their memory, and it's that ephemera Harry will never get.