#i mean. is this a common occurrence yes but i'm still not used to it and have my first response as kill bite maim. also further annoying bc

[corpsecoded]

my fatal flaw is wanting a sweet treat at every minor inconvenience

[ughkat]

crush | c.t.h

part two

part one here

{ probably gonna turn this into a series so be patient for a part 3! }

cal x fem!reader

fluff?, kissing, drinking

not proofread

-

"You should text Cal."...

I sat still in my bed, looking at my screen in confusion at Ashton's text. My brain unbelievably pieced together his distant attitude being tied to an attraction towards me. I furrowed my eyebrows and bit the inside of my cheek with doubt. There was no way he had a crush on me. I would know, right?

I hesitantly exited my messages with Ashton, scrolling to mine with Calum. Looking at my screen aimlessly, my thumbs shifted over the empty text box, thinking of something to say. I didn't want to scare him off, so I started simple.

"Hey"

I typed slowly, pressing send with shaky hands. I knew my nervousness wasn't stemmed from talking Calum himself, but more of finding out the full truth from him personally. Three dots appeared quickly, making my leg bounce with anxiety.

"Hi"

He responded flatly. I sighed at his dry tone. I knew his stubbornness would aide for an inconclusive conversation, so I decided to jump right in.

"What did Ashton mean before he ended the stream?" I sent the text hesitant, trying my best to sound nonchalant.

"Idk what you're talking about lol.".

His pathetic attempt at minor gaslighting me failed, I continued to push.

"Yes you do. Correct me if I'm wrong but he said you're mad at me because you love me?"

"Of course I love you. We all love you, you're my best friend."

I tossed my head back in frustration, rethinking my own suspicions. I realized I wasn't going to get what I wanted from him through a text, so I tried something else.

"Can we hangout tomorrow, just us? I feel like we need it."

I typed genuinely, knowing if he was telling the truth, he'd oblige. As the two of us hanging out alone used to be a common occurrence.

"You have work tomorrow."

He tried to think of a get away.

"I get off at 6. I'll see you after?"

I typed, giving him almost no choice but to see me. I watched patiently has I was left on read for a few minutes before Calum replied.

"I'm bringing drinks."

I smirked at his usual sass and need for a substance to calm his obvious.

" :) see you tomorrow."

I replied before switching my phone off and setting it beside me. I couldn't help but let butterflies slowly fill my stomach at the thought of myself making Calum flustered. For years, though I always found him attractive and had an underlying physical draw to him, I never imagined him more than anything than a friend. But I started to wonder if that was because I wanted it that way, or because I thought it had to be that way.

I began to doubt my own feelings towards Calum as I stared blankly at my wall in front of me. I bit my cheek as I reminisced on past memories and emotions throughout the years with Calum. I realized I never gave the thought of Calum as more than a friend a chance only for the wellness of our friendship as a group.

I stopped my thoughts in their tracks, snapping out of my trance and reminding myself that Calum hadn't confirmed nor denied his attraction to me yet, and I still could have simply misheard Ashton over my phone speaker. I settled deeply into my bed, letting my eyes flutter shut as I reassured myself of the pros and cons of tomorrows plans.

The sounds of footsteps and the occasional phone ringing filled the silence around me as I sat in boredom at my job. I had 15 minutes left of my shift, and all I could think about was the boy I would be meeting with when I got home. I tapped a pen mindlessly on the desk in front of me, my hours going by quickly while I let my mind wander about Calum.

On the dot, 6:00 rolled around and I began packing my belongings into my bag to head out to my car. I reached for my phone on my way out of the doors to reveal a message from Calum.

"Let me know when you're home.".

I caught myself smiling at his straight words, tucking my phone back into my pocket. I hurried quickly to my car, tossing my bag into the passenger seat before pulling out into the road.

I scolded myself mentally during my drive for beginning to fantasize about the possibilities with Calum and I. A smile escaped my lips at the idea of hearing Ashton's words correctly, and Calum really liking me.

Arriving home, I quickly raced to my bedroom, changing out of my work clothes and into black pajama shorts and oversized t-shirt. Leaving my makeup how it was, I pulled my hair out of its ponytail, running my hands through the tangles as I made my way to my bed, opening my phone.

"I'm home"

I sent a simple text to Calum before laying out on my back across my bed, letting out a tired breath. I rolled my ankles lazily, taking in the comfort of my bed before a single ding rang from my phone.

"Omw."

I bounced my leg anxiously awaiting Calum's arrival. Suddenly, it was like I was meeting him for the first time. I began to do things I wouldn't before think twice about. I checked my appearance multiple times in the mirror, made my bed, and tidied up my room. All things that I never cared about the boys, including Calum, minding before.

A few quiet knock fell at my front door, making me jolt from my frantic fidgeting. I calmly made my way to the front door, opening it to reveal Calum carrying a single plastic grocery bag.

"I have drinks and snacks." He lifted the bag slightly, speaking with a half smile. I stepped to the side, inviting him in. Already, I could sense his tense energy. I led him to the couch, I felt my heartbeat pick up its pace at the feeling of him so close behind me.

We took our seats beside each other, Calum leaving an awkwardly large space between us.

"Beer?" Calum offered blankly, reaching for the 6 pack of beer. I shook my head, more focused on the subject matter on my mind.

"No, thanks.".

"Wanna watch a movie or something?" He asked, forcing a fake civil smile.

The two of us sat sharing a glance for a moment before I took the wheel impatiently.

"I know you're lying." I spoke, looking down at my hands. Calum turned his head towards me quickly.

"What?"

"You're lying." I repeated, looking at his with a frustrated smile, "I know what heard on that stream, Cal." I leaned deeper into the couch, watching Calum's eyes dart across the room. He let out a sigh, appearing to be trying to gather his words.

"What do you want me to say?" He muttered quietly, making eye contact loosely. I looked down to my hands before back up to him through my eyelashes cautiously, watching his anxious expression.

"Is it true?" I spoke almost at a whisper, picking at my thumbs anxiously. He looked at me slowly, swallowing a lump in his throat before speaking deeply.

"What if it is?" He shrugged gently. I let out a sigh at his small confession, relieved at his words, yet finding myself in another boat of confusion.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I spoke, moving closer to him, feeling my energy being pulled towards his. He looked away as I got closer, becoming visually nervous. Looking back at me, he replied.

"I wanted to at first" He began, "But I kept ignoring it after some years. I was scared of what you'd say." He mumbled.

"And Ashton knew all this time" I continued, tilting my head. He looked down.

"Yeah, he thought you wouldn't feel the same either.".

We sat quietly in each others silence for a moment, sharing glances and collecting our thoughts. I felt myself warm up inside at the confessions coming from Calum, guiding my next few bold moves.

"Cal." I spoke with a smile, moving in closer. His head perked up quickly at my movements.

"Hm?" He muttered quietly.

"You should've told me sooner." I began softly.

"Why..?" He furrowed his eyebrows, his eyes darting to mine back and forth.

My eyes were stuck in a trance deeply into his sparking brown ones, and my mind took control. Without thinking, I leaned in quickly, pressing my lips to his passionately. He released a small gasp before swiftly closing his eyes, melting into the kiss as well. I pulled back quickly with semi wide eyes, looking at Calum nervously. His mouth was half agape, searching for his words. I watched his shocked expression and loss for words, instantly doubting my actions.

"I-." I started, looking down, "I'm sorry Cal, I do-" I was abruptly cut off by Calum pulling me in for another kiss, holding the side of my face with a gentle hand. I chill ran through me as our lips intertwined perfectly, making me melt under his touch. His mouth on mine was the deciding factor that I wanted every bit of Calum, in every way, all of the time.

He pulled away slowly, looking at me adoringly in the eyes. A smile escaped his lips, followed by us giggling in unison at our impulsive actions.

"Was that so hard?" I teased lightly, filled with joy at the breakthrough Calum had made.

"If I knew this was gonna' happen, I definitely would have told you sooner." He joked with a scoff. I giggled, leaning back into the couch with a sigh.

"Was this your plan the whole time?" He asked smugly, narrowing his eyes. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

"No, actually." I laughed, "I came into this blind. Didn't have a plan." I reached for a beer from the coffee table in front of us, cracking it open swiftly and taking a sip. Calum rolled his head back lazily on the couch before speaking.

"In all realness though, I really do like you," He began, "Like, a lot. And I have for a really long time." I began to confess slowly as he joined me with a drink.

"How long?" I asked genuinely, I turned to look at him as he continued.

"Ever since Ash started bringing you around, really. Truthfully, you're one of the most beautiful girls i've ever met, Y/n." He chuckled with embarrassment, looking down to his drink. I blushed uncontrollably at his words, mimicking his actions and looking down.

"Whatever." I giggled at his hyperbole of my description. How could someone as fit as Calum find me to be the most beautiful girl he's ever met?

"It's true." He urged, "Ever since I laid eyes on you, I wanted you to be mine." He spoke boldly. I turned to him with a serious expression, shocked by his words.

"Really?" I mumbled quietly. He nodded his head with a shy smile

An uncontrollable grin took over me, immediately noticing the change in energy. Calum seemed to be slowly resuming his usual self, only leaving me with one question. What now?

[hualianschild]

Genuine question. I loved many elements of the apothecary diaries, the mystery, the unsexualised main lead and the slice-of-lifey vibe to it and just about everything else also ticks all things I love about stories in media. The problem is there is ginormous off-putting almost triggering thing in it. The setting and how it displays women.

Does the setting of apothecary diaries not upset any others girl watcher’s stomach? If you want a detailed ask i can send one :(

I geniunly mean no harm, but I saw anime feminists say it’s one of the best piece of media that navigates womens struggles and I’m so flabbergasted.

hello thanks for the ask and yes you can send me a detailed ask I don't mind ^^

so the thing about the apothecary diaries is that it's based on ancient historical china and and as with any historical based media ofcourse there will be lots of misogyny and homophobia and every bad old thinking thing you can think of, as someone who watches lots of historical fantasy related things, things like these are a common occurrence atp and I'm so used to it that I'll be surprised if a piece of historical media is non toxic and full of positive vibes. In the apothecary diaries there's this system of the emperor keeping concubines in a separate palace and all they're useful for is to provide heirs and I'm like yeah it was the usual scene back in the day (there's just this ONE ruler in china who kept just one partner his entire life and he's famous for that if I remember correctly) and I can't do anything abt it now cuz that system has long been abandoned now as with the slavery system too

I think the anime feminists saying it's a good depiction of women struggles aren't wrong as maomao who's seen as the daughter of a commoner somehow got sold as a servant and is bound by a contract and everyone suffers in a slavery system and adding the fact that people try to disregard her advice cuz she's a woman and a teenager and a slave at that really reflects back to what usually happens to women in modern times too but even after that she has a friend who she talks with abt their struggles of being a servant and that she's still enthusiastic about poisons and herbs and everything related to apothecary and doesn't let those people from stopping her in persuing her interests whenever she can while still trying to save her life (servants meant nothing to the ruling class so they can be easily k worded off) just makes me so happy, she's now thriving cuz everyone knows how talented she is and very clever to the point they go to her to ask for suggestions and advice about their problems and trust her to help cure their problems is a good representation of how people let their internal misogyny stop them from seeing what's actually there

so yeah these were my thoughts I know some might disagree here and there but feel free to point out if there's a flaw or something here hope this helps ~

[dailydemonspotlight]

Daisoujou - Day 125

Race: Fiend

Arcana: Heirophant

Alignment: Neutral

October 11th, 2024

I'm surprised it took this long to cover my personal favorite of the fiends, but what else is spookier than a skeleton? However, Daisoujou's portrayal as one is, ironically, rather inaccurate, and in order to get into that, we need to explore what Daisoujou is based on- not a myth, nor a cryptid, but something entirely different: Sokushinbutsu, a form of ritual suicide in ancient Buddhism, and one of the most extreme and unique practices in certain Buddhist sects- one to ensure perfect preservation in death.

The practice of sokushinbutsu is a very rare and obscure one, connected to only certain sects in Buddhism and only done by the most extreme practitioners of the lifestyle of asceticism, which is a lifestyle defined by refusing to partake in the pleasures of the world and instead living a solitary lifestyle. However, first, I want to explore what Daisoujou actually means, as it's relatively hard to parse without prior knowledge or, in my case, not knowing the language. Once again, Monolingualism dooms me.

Daisoujou as a name seems to be an anglicized version of a term used to refer to head monks in some Buddhist areas, as a 僧正, anglicized as Soujou, is a high-ranking, government-appointed monk put out to maintain and manage Buddhist areas under government supervision. Following this, 大僧正, anglicized as Daisoujou, is the head of these head monks, being the leader of Chinese Buddhism under government supervision overall, at least from what I can tell- I might be getting some things messed up, as, again, I can't speak or read Chinese. However, what's important here is that Daisoujou overall essentially means a monk that has attained great peace, even being a title applied to monks who have attained Buddhahood in their lifetime. Allegedly, the title was given to Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, after his death. お大師様 is the title given to Kūkai by people who refer to him and follow his philosophy, so make of that what you will.

Moving from Chinese Buddhism to Japanese Buddhism, what this ties back into is that Kōbō Daishi, the now-dead Kūkai, was entombed after months of not eating as he saw his end was near, and when his body was uncovered years later, he had barely rotted a day, tying this occurrence to Sokushinbutsu, as that is exactly what the process is carried out for- preserving a monk as-is. As its name literally translates to "Buddha in this very body", this practice was the most extreme form of asceticism attainable, with a monk burying themselves and then intentionally eating the very bare minimum, each day, ringing a bell every day they were alive to tell the people above ground that, yes, they were alive. Surviving off of an incredibly strict diet of tree roots, nuts, and berries, these monks would intentionally break away all of their body fat until they were, almost literally, just skin and bones.

Curiously, the diet had more of a purpose than depriving those who took part in it of commonalities- not only was it spiritually important to show a hardened and dedicated shell, but it was also a perfect diet for ensuring a lack of decomposition due to how it would deprive any bacteria of nutrients and remove the fat and muscle from the frame. After around 1000 days of this diet, the monk would prepare further for the process, moving from this strict diet to eating nothing and drinking only salinized water before being lowered in a pine-tar box into the ground to meditate during their final days. As time would go on, the monk's ringing of the bell would quiet, and eventually, when it'd stop ringing, the process was complete- they would be dead, yet perfectly preserved, much like a mummy- in a way, it's a self-mummification process undertaken while the monk is still alive.

If carried out properly, the monk would be taken from their burial and placed down in a spot of worship, where people would pray to it. If it showed signs of decay, the cadaver would be given a proper burial, and it was assumed they didn't attain Sokushinbutsu. One can assume that, perhaps, Daisoujou didn't attain it, as the design in SMT is rather obviously skeletal, though with a gnarly detail that I love- the yellower skeleton color, especially compared to other fiends, calls back to the mummification and also looks like dried skin wrapped around the bones. The monk holds prayer beads and wears attire akin to somewhat contemporary Japanese Buddhist robes, specifically being a kesa. Honestly, I love this design for a multitude of reasons, but primarily for being such a unique idea given a fantastic interpretation in the series. Kaneko never ran out of creativity, and Daisoujou's design is a perfect reflection of that.

[gayuu-the-necromancer]

Chapter 9

You Must Not Fall In Love...

Victor: "Come along, Miss Robin. Don't stray away from me, okay?"

Victor: "If the darkness of the castle engulfs you, you may not be able to come back."

We parted from the Crown members and I followed Sir Victor, who leads me into the hallway.

Kate: "Yes, Sir Victor."

Victor: "Just call me Victor. It makes me sad that you only call Wiliam by his first name."

(....William and this person are both clearly of high rank, and asking me to call your names without a title is a little)

Kate: "....Okay. Please guide me, Victor."

(I feel so rude)

Victor: "This is the common room. This is where everyone drinks, plays, parties, and holds strategy meetings."

Victor: "Oh and don't touch the glass on the third shelf from the top, the one on the left. Dangerous things will pop out."

(What will pop out....? Blades? Pistol?)

Victor: "This is Roger's laboratory and infirmary and if you are injured, this is where you will be treated."

Victor: "Crown's mission is fraught with danger. But fortunately, we are all still alive and well. Miraculously."

(Does this mean that life-threatening missions are a daily occurrence....?)

Victor: "This is the hall. Balls and soirée are held here, but the castle is unique and guests are rarely invited."

Victor: "We also employ a small number of elite servants, people we trust."

Victor: "To protect the secret you've come to know."

(Why was the mansion unlocked when they are going to such lengths to keep it a secret....?)

Victor: "And finally, this is your room."

Kate: "Huh...?"

We were shown to a room that was clean, white and classy as if it were inhabited by the upper class.

Kate: "Did someone live here before?"

Victor: "No. While you were being introduced to everyone, I instructed the servants to prepare a room for you."

(In such a short time! I didn't even feel the presence of a servant....)

Kate: "...Ah."

Suddenly, I spot a typewriter on the desk and my voice leaks out.

Kate: "How did you know I use a typewriter?"

No one was supposed to know that I had been practicing for months to be able to do substitute writing work as well.

Victor: "Oh really? I didn't know that. I just thought it would be useful to write the report. Looks like another coincidence."

Victor blinked at me curiously and then looked at me meaningfully.

Victor: "Miraculous coincidence happened twice....on the same day."

(Two coincidences...?)

Victor: "I feel like it's fate that you're here."

Victor: "Anyways, it's not good to stay in a young lady's room too long. Ring the bell there if you need anything."

Victor: "Your personal maid will be at your service. Oh, and instructions are in writing."

Kate: "....Thank you for everything, I understand."

Victor: "Then again, not a few of the Crown guys are immoral."

Victor: "Letting someone into your room could be tantamount to surrendering your body, so be discreet."

(The last thing I want is someone to attack me....)

(I don't see them as being that hungry for women though....)

Kate: "Okay, I'll keep that in mind."

Victor: "Let me conclude by saying thank you."

Kate: "Thank you?"

Victor: "Yeah....thank you for talking to us."

Kate: "....No no. I'm just doing this for myself."

Victor: "Yet, you still tried to have a chat with us even after you saw the scene with your own eyes."

Victor: "And you also think we're all reasonable people, don't you?"

Victor: "....Since you're you, I'll give you one piece of advice."

Victor: "After a month, if you want to get back to your normal life....don't let them take over your heart."

Kate: ".....Why not?"

Victor: "Well, the cursed ones are destined for their tragic end."

Victor: "If you wish to have the kind of happiness that pure maidens dream of, do not fall in love with them."

(Love...)

The outlandish story baffles me.

Kate: "I didn't think like that...."

Kate: "But, my duty here is just to prove that I'm trustworthy and go home."

Victor: "....Suits you, who have free wings."

While nodding, Victor narrowed his eyes dazzlingly.

Victor: "Nevertheless...if you still choose to share your fate with them, then..."

Victor: "Darkness will gladly welcome you."

My body trembled at his fascinating smile.

Victor: "....Goodnight, Kate."

Kate: "Goodnight, Victor."

Like that, my sinful life began with the sound of the door slowly closing.

If life were a fairy tale, it would have been easy to be happy...we don't have to do anything we aren't allowed to do.

For example...a forest you must not enter, a door you must not open, a secret you must not know.

And...a love you must not fall for.

However, the world of darkness that suddenly appeared invites me to peek into the abyss.

What would happen to my heart and body if I touched those beckoning fingertips?

I have a definite feeling that something will change decisively.

What lies beyond breaking the 'don't do' taboo.

I still don't know yet.

[mintteapullet]

Just finished The World that Stood Against Us (Made Us Mean, to Fight for You) it was fantastic.

Love literally everyone else immediately understanding the danger of Yuuji getting hurt even has Yuuji doesn’t understand beyond that he’s bleeding and was pushed because he’s a child and one of the other people in the world who will never have anything to fear from Gojo is so good.

“Yuuji, because he's a pup and doesn't know the beast who sits in his mother's skin, turns, and upon seeing Gojo-Sensei begins to openly weep.” << Obsessed with this line

Feral Omega Gojo is a gift. Love Megumi sweating bullets along with everyone else even though he’s the safest after the twins. Also someone get Ijichi a raise that man deserves one before his heart gives out from all the stress Gojo causes him.

Megumi getting angry about Todo calling himself Yuuji’s brother is also so good, that’s his little brother how dare you put yourself on his level. Calling him a suck up, Megumi being bitter about it I love it.

Also Yuuji being completely oblivious to the danger everyone else is in >>> only second to feral omega Gojo tbh.

Megumi over exaggerating and stepping in so no one starts that back up is so clever. His pride may never recover but it probably saved someone’s life considering how easily Gojo could be set off again if he hadn’t stepped in. They should all thank him. Not me though I was hoping Gojo was gonna spill blood. But the rest of them should.

Nobara hiding behind Maki is so sweet, Maki is her favorite and she’s not subtle about it nor should she be. Also please let Yuuji get his steak!

Love the Second years, Megumi, Gojo, and the twins hanging out. Gojo shielding the twins with Infinity after also goes hard. Of course he is one of his babies got hurt, he’s being overprotective but also it’s Gojo and that should be expected. Also there’s no way Megumi didn’t also have Infinity on him right? Your his pup too dude no way he’s not keeping Infinity on all three of you. Gojo teasing Megumi is also so good.

Loved this very much but I am left with one question: Who pushed Yuuji?

Ah!!!! Thank you so much!

Exactly! Yuuji is just a little kid, so any understanding of the world is gonna be centered around "I'm hurting and I want it to stop". He has no understanding that everyone else would have a reason to fear Gojo. His mother has never been a threat to him, so it isn't even a option

Im not even gonna lie, it was my favorite line to write. I love it when parents go from 0 to 100.

Im terms of Gojo's priorities it's basically categorized at the moment as "My pups and students" and then "everyone else". Tsk-tsk, Megumi should know better than to be even worried about his own safety. The twins and him are the ones who have zero chance of getting a scratch.

Megumi is such a bitter bitch (this isn't a drag against his character, I love that about him) and is still bitter about getting his ass kicked. And calling Todo a suck up was another favorite of mine to write. Megumi, while he tries to keep his distance, definitely gets a lot more privileges than he even realizes when it comes to Gojo

Even better when they go hand in hand. I needed more feral omegas who'll rip oit throats for their babies, and I suppose be the change you wanna see, lol

Maki is basically the coolest person in the universe to Nobara (and yes, Megumi was bitter about losing his little sister's admiration to his upper classmate). I like to think to satisfy both pups Gojo took them to some restaurant that served both

The second years are pretty used to their teacher and the pups, so this is probably a common occurrence. Gojo is very much a overprotective parent, but in his defense, assassination attempts on heirs are common as HELL and he's pretty shaken up from earlier. Usually his presence alone is enough to deter threats. I'm glad that Gojo teasing Megumi was enjoyable, I was a little worried it mightve been ooc and that I pushed it a little too far. It was fun to write though, especially Gojo complaining about what a grump Megumi had become.

I actually hadn't thought about who was the one to push Yuuji, cause I didn't want anyone maimed (though, Mai or Noritoshi would probably be a no, considering their involvement with other clans would immediately be taken as hostile action)

[deke-rivers-1957]

Pacer's Flaming Heart

After another identity crisis, Pacer finds himself wandering the lands of Texas until he's bordering Kiowa territory. He finds a young woman foraging for food. Despite knowing better, he's still a young man seeing a visually beautiful woman. So naturally he slowly approaches her.

"Hi. I'm Pacer."

She gets spooked by his presence.

"Hey, relax. I ain't gonna hurt ya."

It takes her awhile to recover as she takes in Pacer's appearance.

"You are dark for a settler."

"Yeah I'm half Kiowa."

She looks surprised by this. It's not like mixed raced relationships were a common thing. Or even a rare occurrence. It's just so unheard of in this part of the world.

"What are your parents names?"

"My mother's name is Neddy."

Her eyes widen with recognition.

"Then you know Ph'sha Knay."

"Yes, I know Ph'sha."

"She is friend of my mother."

Pacer smiles thinking he has a way to make a connection with her.

"What's your name?"

"Dome-be-ah-ty."

"That's a pretty name."

She giggles and Pacer can see her cheeks reddening.

"Thank you. What brings you out of your settler village?"

"I took my horse out for a ride."

"But you are so close to Kiowa territory?"

"I know, and your tribe don't like us."

There's a growing tension as she thinks Pacer is ignorant as to why that would be.

"We don't like settlers because they force us off land meant for us."

"I see what you mean, but you're not gonna kill me or nothin', are you?"

She pauses. The once tense energy in the air starts to dissipate. She takes in Pacer's face and gives a slight smile.

"I like your face. I won't kill you."

Pacer can't help but blush. Despite the cultural differences damaging family relations, he still feels attracted to her.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What do you want to know Man-with-cute-face?"

"You really think I'm cute?"

"Yes. You have good features."

Pacer starts to have this warm feeling in his chest. As sad as it is, this is the first time he feels like there's a mutual feeling of attraction.

"No one ever says nice things like that to me."

"And why is that?"

"Well, I'm part Kiowa, ain't I?"

"Yes, but you were born to a white man."

"I know, but some people think it's wrong for a white man to have relations with a native woman."

Pacer sits down against the tree. The warm feeling starts to grow cold as he goes back to his identity crisis.

"Have you ever felt that you could be part of a crowd and still feel so alone? Can you understand how someone who is half Kiowa could feel ostracized?"

"No. I was born and raised in Kiowa village. Even with my English I could never understand why settlers act the way they do."

"It's hard for me because I'm half and half. The Kiowa don't accept me because my mother walked away from their world, and neither do the whites because my mother is still one of THEM."

She sits down beside Pacer and takes his hand. Pacer blushes some more but doesn't move his hand away.

"What of your family?"

"They love me, and I love them, but..."

"They are not half and half like you."

"No. If things were different, if I was full Kiowa, I wouldn't have any problems, or if I was white, but I'm not."

He feels Dome-be-ah-ty squeeze his hand. Since Pacer feels like he has nothing to lose he decides to take a chance with her.

"Do you think you could accept me as I am?"

She boops Pacer on the nose.

"I think I can Sad-eyes-man."

That seems to cheer Pacer up as the cold feeling of doubt is gone.

"Can we sit here for a while?"

Dome-be-ah-ty looks at the sun and shakes her head.

"No. I must go. Sun is setting too low."

"Oh. Can I talk to you again?"

“Meet me back here in 2 moons.”

Pacer nods but then gets an idea.

“Kiss me goodbye.”

“I can do that Flaming Heart.”

Pacer pulls her close and leans in to kiss her, her lips feeling soft. She pulls away with a smirk.

“I think something else is starting to warm up isn’t it?”

He looks down and looks completely red faced. He kisses her hand.

“I’ll see you in 2 moons.”

“Yes. Farewell Pacer.”

Pacer smiles and takes one last glance at her before she goes. He sits against a tree and stares at the sunset.

Tagging: @burnthheparaphilia thank you so much for the request! Please let me know if you would like a part 2. @xanatenshi, @arrolyn1114, @atleastpleasetelephone, @eapep, and @vintagepresley.

[sesamestreep]

30 Day Writing Challenge - Day 4

Write about your MC’s personal style (from this list) ➸ set in the Bakeoff AU, before the events of summer came like cinnamon, so sweet and referencing an event from the first chapter of @firstelevens original fic in the series (sugar pie, honey bunch) and yes, I'm aware this is a huuuuge stretch for this prompt, don't worry about it!

Karen’s just left them to go get another round from the bar when Foggy’s phone starts ringing. On the screen, a photo of Daisy looking comically crestfallen while holding a ruined sufflé pops up and Foggy swipes to accept the call immediately.

“Hey, Daisy, what’s up?” he asks, aiming for casual but…well, Daisy’s roughly his age and avoids talking on the phone as much as anyone of their generation does, if not more. He’s slightly concerned that something must be wrong. Across from him, Matt’s expression turns pinched, probably because he’s thinking the same thing or he can hear the worry in Foggy’s voice.

“Did you watch the episode last night?” Daisy asks, without preamble or greeting. 

“Oh, yeah. I mean, me and Karen did. Matt fell asleep like ten minutes in.”

Daisy scoffs over the line at the same time as Matt says, “I already apologized like five times for that!”

Pulling the phone away from his mouth slightly, Foggy says, “I know you did. And I forgive you. I know how important your beauty sleep is to you.”

Matt rolls his eyes, looking vaguely embarrassed at the same time. Foggy’s not sure if the extended time away during the show has made old things he’d gotten used to before new again or if this really is something new, but Matt’s easier to fluster than he remembered. Foggy could have sworn he made lots of jokes about Matt’s good looks and Matt always just brushed them off. This new shyness about it is surprising.

“Anyway,” Foggy says, turning his attention back to Daisy, “I saw the episode. Why do you ask?”

“Have you been online at all today?”

“You mean, have I been connected to the Internet at all? Yes, of course, Daisy, come on!”

“No, I mean, on social media,” Daisy says, impatiently.

“I don’t really use social media. You know that.”

“I know you have your finsta,” she replies. “I didn’t know if anyone had tagged you in anything there. Or if you have a dummy twitter account to lurk sometimes.”

Foggy laughs. “God, no!”

“Don’t say it like it’s totally ludicrous! People do it!”

“Yeah, but not me,” Foggy says, still laughing. “I’m just a simple country lawyer. What need have I of your twitters and your algorithms?”

He feels like he can hear Daisy roll her eyes on the other end of the call. “You’re such a dork!”

“Sorry. What’s so important that you needed to call me on the phone to ask if I have a secret Twitter account?”

“The Internet is freaking out about you, Foggy Nelson.”

Foggy’s stomach sinks. “It is?” he asks. “What did I do?”

“You looked too damn hot in this week’s episode, apparently.”

“I—what?” Foggy asks, feeling so utterly stupid. None of those words made any sense to him, which is troubling because most of them were pretty simple. “Wait, did I look really sweaty or something?”

“No, dumbass,” Daisy says, “I mean ‘hot’ like ‘god, he’s so hot, I want to have his babies,’ which, by the way, is a real tweet I read about you not fifteen minutes ago.”

“What?!” Foggy basically shouts, which makes Matt lean forward in his seat and give him a questioning look.

“Your humility is really beyond the pale, Franklin. It’s like you don’t know you’re hot!”

“I don’t know that,” he says, still freaking out slightly. “I’ve been called that by three, maybe four people in my whole life before today! It’s not a common occurrence.”

“I don’t believe that for a second,” Daisy says, because she’s fundamentally loyal and it makes her confused sometimes. 

“Well, if it’s happening a lot, it must be behind my back, then.”

Matt, apparently done with being out of the loop, reaches across the table to poke Foggy’s wrist with his index finger. Foggy replies in turn by patting Matt’s hand with his twice, hoping that conveys that there’s no emergency. 

“Well, it’s happening a lot on Twitter right now,” Daisy replies. “Which, I guess is still behind your back, technically.”

“That’s…great, I guess…”

“I thought you’d be happier,” she says, sounding worried. “You seem upset.”

“It’s just weird to think about,” Foggy says, keeping his tone mild. He’s not mad at Daisy by any stretch, but having people outside of the neighborhood know who he is and have strong opinions about him has proven to be a tougher concept to reckon with than he originally anticipated. “It’s that thing of being perceived in a way that I have no control over.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Daisy replies, thoughtfully. “I just…I thought you should know you’re the Internet’s reigning boyfriend at the moment.”

Foggy laughs, still feeling weird but in a warmer, cozier way than before. “Well, it’s an honor to be somebody’s boyfriend, I suppose.”

Matt’s head perks up at that, like a dog who’s heard a strange noise, and Foggy resists the urge to laugh at him for it. Karen returns with their next round at that precise moment, too, and makes a face at this pronouncement as she slides Foggy’s beer across the table to him. He also sees her look over at Matt, as if he’ll have more answers somehow.

“I’m guessing based on your blasé reaction to this news that I shouldn’t send you a curated collection of mine and Colleen’s favorite tweets about how gorgeous you are?” Daisy asks, innocently.

“For the sake of my mental health, you probably shouldn’t,” Foggy replies, “but honestly, today’s been a weird one and we had a miserable time in court, so it might cheer me up.”

Daisy squeals excitedly, which is not a noise Foggy knew she made before this very moment. She didn’t even make that noise when she won Bake-Off, not that he’s allowed to tell anyone that yet. “That’s what I like to hear,” she exclaims. “Alright, well, get ready for some screenshots. And also sorry in advance for any psychological damage I may cause.”

“Thanks,” Foggy laughs. “Both for the apologies in advance and for making sure I knew about this.”

“What are friends for?” Daisy sighs happily, and then hangs up without a goodbye.

“What’s going on?” Karen asks as she takes a sip from her beer.

“Have you been on Twitter today?” he asks, in response.

“I’m a journalist, Foggy. Unfortunately, most of my life is spent on Twitter.”

“Do you follow any Bake-Off people there?”

“I might follow the official twitter for the show itself, but I’m not sure. Why?”

“Apparently, Twitter is freaking out about me in last night’s episode.”

“Really? What do they have to freak out about?” Matt asks, frowning.

Foggy shrugs. “I don’t know. Just me, I guess? I looked good or something.”

“I told you that you looked good last night,” Karen says, gesturing broadly to convey her annoyance. “You didn’t believe me.”

“You’re one of my best friends, Karen. You have to lie to me about that kind of thing!”

“No, I don’t! And I wasn’t!”

“Well, you’re about to be vindicated,” Foggy says. “Daisy and Colleen are sending me screenshots.”

As if on cue, Foggy’s phone lights up with several messages being sent to his and Colleen and Daisy’s group chat and the notifications don’t slow down at all for another full minute.

“God,” Foggy says, just looking at the new messages pouring in. “She wasn’t kidding.”

“You want to read them,” Karen asks, with a bright, dangerous look in her eye, “or shall I?”

Foggy hands over his phone without a second thought. “Probably better if you do it,” he says, feeling genuine panic and terror at the idea. It’s too late to go back now, though. He’s gotten her hopes up.

“Oh my god,” Karen says, after he’s gotten his phone unlocked for her. She puts her hand to her mouth to disguise her…horror? Amusement? Both? It’s hard to tell.

“What?” Foggy asks, anxiously, and Matt turns over his hand underneath Foggy’s palm so he can give it a quick squeeze, which…that shouldn’t be as soothing as it actually is. It’s, frankly, ridiculous that it helps so much.

“Foggy,” Karen says, excitedly, “you’re a sensation!”

+

guy with no problems • juliachildsplay

um… hello?? Foggy coming into the tent with those little braids??? I’m experiencing symptoms????

the hateful nate • nateorade

I’ve been online too long because the minute I saw Foggy Nelson with his hair in braids, I just shouted OOOHHH GENDER!! at the top of my lungs. my gf and my cat both left the room in protest.

kelly nguyen • gaygrenadine

me normally: it’s so embarrassing when cis dudes get so much credit for the mildest defiance of gender norms… me seeing foggy’s braids in GABO: yasss queen thank you for my rights 🌈🙌 gender is sooo over!!

brynn it to wynn it • flibbertigibbety

I did not actually think Foggy could get hotter to me than when he responded to people ridiculing his French pronunciation by revealing he speaks fluent Punjabi, but I was WRONG!! 

Ezekiel (he/they) • ezeydoesitt

how is anyone getting any baking done right now when foggy is there looking so so good?? couldn’t be me!!!

world’s #1 trilla apologist • eldritchedeelite

lord, I am not one of your strongest soldiers… foggy in that salmon colored t-shirt and those braids… I am WEAK

dinah (derogatory) • surelytemple

my two cents is that Ava deserves star baker this week because she is somehow still baking with foggy nelson’s whole beautiful self directly in her eye line. talk about performing under pressure.

bram (not stoker) • bramblinnmann

I am watching bakeoff with my family right now and it’s getting very difficult to pretend to be straight in front of them when Foggy’s out here looking this hot

your future canceled wife • thecouturevulture

THEM: hey how was bakeoff this week? what did everyone make? was it good? ME: FOGGY NELSON WORE HIS HAIR IN BRAIDS!!! 

citizen paddington  • genderemporia

I literally couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in this episode of GABO. Foggy appeared onscreen and my brain shut off for the next hour. I came to and I was googling wedding venues, idk man

Kira Iris • villainesque

I don’t condone people getting obsessed with public figures and violating their privacy but if some of yall wanted to be weird and find out if Foggy’s “partner” he references is a business thing or a romantic thing, I would look the other way just this once

Default Username, Esq. • shrimpheavencanwait

thank god foggy nelson isn’t on social media or I would be embarrassing myself I would be in those DMs like cheese filling in a danish I would be bringing shame upon my ancestors for that man I promise you

Helena Bee 🐝♿️ • bananabreadcrumbs

that part of the episode where Colleen walked behind Foggy and pulled one of his braids to say hello and he smiled at her??? It just hurts to see other people live your dreams???

spy x savage x fenty  • coolnormalchill

foggy deserves star baker because he cured my depression and my gender dysphoria in one fell swoop and that’s that on that

Lindy the SEO bitch • easilysearchablebrandname

other bakers: [make the snack] Foggy Nelson: [is the snack]

sayid’s secret account! • sayidsayless

I didn’t hear who won star baker, I didn’t see who got sent home, l learned nothing about sweet dough, I was busy googling foggy nelson Instagram foggy nelson partner foggy nelson star sign 

hb lovecraft • hazelbleu

I've already decided to call out sick from work tomorrow so I can spend the whole day watching the inevitable Foggy fancams that will come from this week’s GABO. It’s my duty as an American.

go gert go • yorkestown

if there’s any uneven bakes this week, we all know it’s because Foggy was simply too hot to handle and it threw off everyone’s baking times

SORRY 4 PARTY BROCKIN’ • attackthebrock

foggy saying that one thing he loves about bakeoff is never having a shortage of people to share his bakes with, because normally it’s just up to his partner to finish them. ME AND WHO TBH????

nora mcclain 👻🥀🖤 • themostest

Foggy explaining the hot cross bun recipe he’s making prompted my (allegedly) straight husband to say, out of nowhere, “I’d let him put a bun in MY oven!” Like, sir??? I’m right here???

stardew valley girl • wooloolemon

it’s crazy how many babies are going to be born nine months from the airing of Great American Bake-Off Season 3 Episode 6

Tolkien Straightguy • helmsdeepthroat

it’s pretty normal for me to end an episode of bake-off hungrier than I was before, but I’ve never finished one this THIRSTY my god

maddie📍grad school hell • doctorwormphd

seeing foggy with those french braids made me crazy y’all!! I almost redownloaded tinder I was so lost in the sauce

blandine montpetit ☮️💟 • peaceandloafs

Ava’s star baker moment was so deserved, I’m just sorry we were all too distracted by Foggy being the cutest human alive to really appreciate it. But not sorry enough that it won’t happen again.

+

“We’ve strayed very far from the light of god, I think,” Foggy says, with his face pressed into the sticky surface of the table, which…yeah, bad idea, but one of many he’s had tonight. Matt pats the back of his neck with a hand that was maybe supposed to be more in the direction of his head and ended up somewhere more weirdly intimate by accident. Foggy lifts his head to put an end to it, not because it didn’t feel nice but precisely because it did and that in turn makes him feel a bunch of messy emotions he doesn’t like. “Karen, what are you doing? Are there more?”

“Yes, but they’re getting a little redundant, honestly,” she says, squinting at his phone’s screen. “Everybody wants you to impregnate them, apparently.”

Matt chokes on air at the same time as Foggy chokes on his beer, so it takes both of them a few seconds to recover and respond. 

“They what?” Matt asks, looking pale.

“The power of a new hairstyle,” Karen says, with a self-satisfied smile, though she directs it at Matt, for some reason. They have a lot more meaningful looks and mysterious half-conversations these days than they used to before Foggy went away to film the show. At least, that’s how it feels to him and if Karen didn’t have a boyfriend that she seemed to love a lot, he’d be worried that she and Matt were going to try dating again, for all it was a disaster the (admittedly brief) first time. Instead, it feels like they developed a shorthand while he was away and, granted he also made a bunch of close friends who he essentially talks to in baking-themed twin speak, it still makes him feel strange. He didn’t think him being away for the time that he was would change so much, but apparently it did. Matt and Karen speak in code now, and the Internet wants to fuck him. Life is strange.

“Do you really talk about me on the show that much?” Matt asks, apropos of nothing, it feels like.

“What? What do you mean?”

“A lot of those tweets referenced you talking about your partner,” Matt replies, looking thoughtful. “That’s me, I assume.”

“Yes, obviously,” Foggy says as his face heats. “Why shouldn’t I talk about you?”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I just didn’t realize it was enough to be noticeable.”

“One thing I’ve learned about the Bake-Off viewers is that they notice everything,” Foggy says. “And I don’t mean to talk about you a lot, but you’re important to me and you’re in most of my stories and…all that…”

Matt seems to be thinking hard about that, while Karen is sitting with her chin resting in the palm of her hand, still scrolling through Foggy’s phone. 

“What are you doing over there, Page?” Foggy asks, in the hopes of distracting everyone from the corny admission he just made that got met with silence. 

“Just sending a few of these to my phone,” she says, with a sheepish look. “I want to show Frank.”

“God, no!” Foggy yelps as he reaches out to snatch his phone back. “I don’t need Frank knowing about these! It’s bad enough Matt had to hear them!”

“Why is it bad for me to know?” Matt asks, startled out of his reverie by the mention of his name.

“Because you think all of this is stupid!”

“All of what? Twitter?”

“No,” Foggy sighs, and then thinks it over. “I mean, I assume you do think Twitter is largely stupid, actually—”

“And you’d be right,” Karen adds.

“What I meant was you think all this stuff about the show is stupid.”

“No, I don’t,” Matt says, frowning. “I mean, I confess I don’t understand half the stuff you say on the show or about it, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s stupid. If anything, it makes me think I’m stupid.”

“Well, you certainly can’t be impressed by everything Karen just read us,” Foggy replies, gesturing with his phone. He’s aware, in the back of his mind, that he’s doing that thing you’re never supposed to do and negotiating against himself, but he can’t really stop it, for some reason. “It makes the fans of the show sound insane!”

“I understood even less of that than I do of the baking terminology, honestly,” Matt admits, “but I think most of those people have the right idea.”

“You mean, hitting on Foggy via Twitter? You think that’s the right move in this situation?” Karen asks, and there’s some kind of play acting going on in her tone, like she’s goading Matt about something that Foggy doesn’t have the context for.

“I’m saying Foggy’s loveable,” Matt replies to her with an unexpected amount of heat. “I don’t know why he acts like he isn’t.”

Foggy blinks at them, feeling like he’s stepped into the middle of an old argument he didn’t know about. “Am I still a part of this conversation, or…?”

Karen’s expression clears first and she turns to Foggy with a reluctantly amused expression, like she doesn’t know what to do with him, he’s so silly. “Of course you are! Matt and I were just agreeing about how great we think you are! That’s all!”

“Yeah, sure,” Foggy replies. It sure as hell didn’t sound like two people agreeing on anything, but he’s willing to let it go. “Well, if I’ve learned anything from this uncomfortable incident, it’s that I should braid my hair more often.”

“And that you look good in that salmon-colored shirt,” Karen adds, helpfully. 

“Which is too bad, because I spilled ink all over it a few weeks ago.”

“Writing with a quill again?” Matt asks, innocently.

“No, I was helping Ruthie,” Foggy says, rolling his eyes when Matt’s smiles stupidly at his own joke. “Her newest hobby is calligraphy.”

“I thought she was into knitting now?” Karen says.

“Old news,” Foggy replies. “I’m just praying her next kick is baking so it can be something I’m even remotely good at.”

“I suppose it’s too much to ask that she gets really interested in reading up on legal precedent, huh?” Matt asks, thoughtfully.

“Yeah, probably,” Foggy laughs. “The point is, my magical salmon shirt that apparently makes me irresistible to random people on the Internet is out of commission.”

“Oh, well,” Karen sighs. “You’ll just have to subsist on the attentions of your local admirers.”

Foggy takes a sip of his beer. “I wasn’t aware I had any of those,” he says.

“Probably a lot more than you think,” she says, and she’s giving Matt another one of those weird looks again. Foggy decides it’s probably safer not to ask, and resolves to change the subject instead.

[umbralsound-xiv]

A First Time For Everything.

I was expecting her any moment, now that she'd returned from La Noscea. And here's me worrying she'd be gone for so long... ...Still. I shouldn't worry. What happened to me in Costa Del Sol wasn't exactly a common occurrence.

A path once described in an incredibly vague way had now become a well known one, each little landmark found with ease and the occasional distant birdcall serving as enough confirmation that she was on the right path. Even had she been uncertain, it was something that would swiftly disappear, as the Willows came into view. Sayuri curls her lips into a small smile as she heads for the door, handle swiftly pressed down and door pushed open enough to let her slip through the crack before nudging it shut behind her.

Bexy is already partway through preparing cups of tea with a grin as she turns her head over her shoulder. "And here she is! Welcome home, sister." She beams, head tilted with a rosy smile. "Make yourself comfortable."

"Here I am. Returned. On time." She beams an oh-so innocent grin, knowing full well that she has a tendency to prolong her little vacations with her doting husband. She moves over to the sofa not too far away, sinking into the seat with a happy little sigh.

"Hah! There's a first time for everything." Bexy laughs, picking up the recently boiled kettle between gloved hands. "Worry not, you've not missed anything of import, here. We're all well and fine enough. Tea?"

"I'm glad." She smiles, sinking her head into a nod. "Yes, please."

"Good, because i'd already poured you a cup." Bexy muses, taking a mug in each hand, offering Sayuri her own as Bexy joined her on the sofa. "So, how was your little getaway? Nice and relaxing, i hope? A little warmer than Coerthas?"

"You know me well." Sayuri chuckles, raising a hand to accept the offered cup. "Thank you." A sip is taken, and Sayuri pauses, free hand raising up to the middle of her chest to rub at it slightly as the warmth of the tea makes itself known going down, a feeling she likely still struggles to get used to. "It was. We had a picnic, slept under the stars.. Plenty of cuddling." A silly little smile is offered along with her words.

"Both of you being just as sweet as ever. It's nice. I mean it." Bexy takes a small sip of her own, settling back with a sigh. "One sun i'll enjoy Costa Del Sol again. Perhaps sometime during Moonfire when there are more people. Eir dances there on occasion, does he not?"

"If you'd feel more comfortable having company, I'll gladly come with you." She offers a smile, then sinks her head into a nod. "He does. Not that he has been out dancing for a little while now, considering he took care of me while I was sick.. And then went on a little trip with me."

"Ever the doting husband. Though… I wager he will go out dancing, soon enough, no? Or at least return to his duties with Mist. Gods knows she's complained enough at his absence, for how much time he saves. And then we can go training to Coerthas?" Bexy grins. "…Or on a walk in Costa Del Sol. Maybe we can catch a performance?"

It's surprising, honestly. Even if he can't travel through the aether, his knowledge of the markets and what is a fair price for something is invaluable. ...Though i've been poorer than a pauper, and richer than some nobility in my cycles, he seems to have a greater grasp on finances than most... I wonder why?

"Definitely, but as you said.. Ever the doting husband." Her smile brightens a touch. "..I think he would've gotten offended at the mere suggestion to go out while I was ill." She tilts her head a touch, snickering. "Both of those sound like a great idea to me."

Bexy stifles a small laugh, sipping the rolanberry tea with a small hum. "…It's nice to see you so happy, Sayuri. You deserve it more than anyone, after all you've endured. I can see how much he cares, for better or worse. I would have dragged you away from him on the sun i took you to Coerthas, had it come to it."

Her ears wilt a touch, gaze sinking into the contents of her cup as she rests it in her lap, thumbs lightly moving along the edge of it. "And still.. I need to constantly fight to keep it." A small sigh heaves out of her, before her gaze rises to Bexy anew. ".. But I know that I'm not alone, that I have support." The ears raise a touch, head tilting. "And a sister who is a force to be reckoned with." She sinks further into the backrest's cushion, humming faintly. "..I can't blame him from worrying, from wanting to help.. But Gods, I was terrified of hurting him that sun.. Which only made the ice worse.."

"Good. I'd have reminded you of the fact had you not made mention. You aren't alone, Sayuri. You won't ever be again. And if they're stupid enough come for you again, i'll give them more than a swift reminder why they shouldn't, if you don't dispatch them with your aether. You can and will. And should, come to think of it." Giving an encouraging smile, she nods. "His… Heart is in the right place, even if his brain always isn't. He means well. We worry because we care, and we can't fault that. Hopefully he doesn't hate me too much for running away to Coerthas with you. See how he likes it." She smirks, though it's clearly playful.

I'm not that bitter that he took her away for so long... ...I just missed her. Of course, i'd never separate them for long. But it is nice to spend time together, just me and her, as siblings.

"It's a fact I sometimes need to remind myself of. Most of my life, I.. It's just been me. Sure, in Doma I had my family, and I am eternally grateful for everything they did for me.. But they had to gain my trust, after everything with my tribe, and the slavers.. Even when they had it, I.. didn't always bring my troubles to them, being so used to deal with it on my own." Her finger slowly trails in a circle along the side of the cup, gaze sinking back to it. "I think he's more glad that I got the help I needed, however saddened he was when it had to be without him there. I think you are forgiven." She raises a brow at the last comment, a soft chuckle following. "He didn't." She smiles faintly, head tilting. "But mostly for how it all happened, I think."

"You know you never need endure anything on your own. If not for Eir, then for me. Vex… The company, and countless others. We will be there." Bexy pauses to listen as Sayuri continues, then, before adding, "…Glad you got the help you needed, sure enough. But he's one to hold grudges. You are sure he's still all well and fine with me? It took some time to talk him out of the last grudge he'd opted to hold against me."

Sayuri's head straightens back up, a brief pause lingering. ".. He hasn't said anything that indicates that he's upset with you, so I believe you're fine. I can ask, on the off-chance he is upset.. And work to change that, more than swiftly."

"If you're confident. I'm sure everything's fine." She nods, taking a longer drink of her tea. "So, what's next for you, then? Any outings planned? No lengthy holidays i need to be aware of?" She teases, but it's as good natured as always.

Sayuri shakes her head faintly, smiling. "None planned currently, and you'd be the first to know if- when, we do plan something." Her head tilts, eyes narrowing into a small squint. "..What about yourself? Planning on any trips?"

"Save for some unnamed time Laurent and i plan to go to Thavnair… None. Though, i can't go much of anywhere too long, considering…" Her eyes glance towards the doorway. "He's been as quiet as ever. Quieter, i think. Though i suppose being without the sun for so long… Does things to you. We both should know, though… You more than me." Another small, measured sip of her tea, then. "…Have you… Come to a decision?"

I won't leave. Not when things are so... Tumultuous. I couldn't bear to be needed so much and be away; not when i can help. When it settles, maybe. ...Still, it begs the question if she's come to a decision. Would it be a funny thing to say i'd somewhat miss having a captive...?

She nods faintly, eyes shifting in the direction of the doorway. ".. At least he has had light." She mutters, a touch bitterly. ".. Grym kept me in complete darkness, the only light I got was when the door was opened, and I was likely about to get hurt." A claw idly taps against the side of the mug, a slow sigh leaving her. ".. But no. It.. is not pleasant." She keeps her silence a little longer, gaze settling on Bexy anew. ".. I have."

"And? Your verdict?" Bexy awaits her answer a little apprehensively. "I… Know this decision likely has not come lightly, though i imagine Vex will be glad to be relieved of her post. As will i be. We even made the decision not to survey him each and every bell, but it was his clamoring for company that made us return. He…" Bexy cuts herself off, there. And waits.

Sayuri draws a sharp breath, ears tilting back a touch. The same breath is slowly exhaled through her nose. ".. I will release him." She mutters. ".. He will have conditions put on this freedom, and if he fails to keep them up.. I will not hesitate to hunt him down and change that decision."

...Even me being... Notoriously bereft of mercy, i'd have let him go, too. We have little to lose if he opts to betray us; he'll just be another body for the pile. It's up to him if he chooses to do something with the chance he's been given. The chance he's been lucky to be given at all. Sayuri is perhaps the same as me, when it comes to showing mercy. Perhaps worse. ...Maybe that's why i feel such a kinship with her, on top of everything else.

Sayuri's decision seems to loosen Bexy's shoulders from the tension they were held in, painted lips giving a small smile. "…Very well. For… What it's worth, it's what i'd have chosen. But i wouldn't have begrudged you had you opted for his death." Draining her tea, the empty cup is set aside on the table. "Whenever you're ready, we can deliver the news. Unless you'd prefer not to see him again."

".. Eir cares not for his fate, and I.." She pauses, lips thinning just a touch. ".. I want to rip his head off. But.. The thought of that we could.. save some people, stuck in such an awful situation, granted he does the job.." A small sigh leaves her, head shaking. ".. I weighed these options, numerous times.. And I couldn't help but to feel like I was.. abandoning the people on the inside, if I simply killed him."

"…People who are in the shoes you once wore, or lack thereof. I… Can understand your decision. It's a minimal risk if he decides to betray us; we'll simply kill him if we ever cross paths again." A pause, as gloved fingertips lightly drum on the arm of the sofa. "…Did you want to deliver the news?"

She offers a small nod. ".. Partially doing it for Vex, too. There was someone she was willing to stop me from killing, so surely there are people in there she cares for, however little she may admit it." She pauses, furrowing her brows. ".. Or know it." She considers Bexy's question for a moment, before sinking her head into a nod - raising her cup up to drain it fully before setting it aside.

It's possible Vex has always had friends in there. Of course, far too dangerous to call them that, then. They could easily use them to hurt her, considering the punishment she can take.

"She has spoken of people as though they may have been friends, though never used the word…" Bexy rises to her feet, nodding. "I hope, for all their sakes, he does the right thing. And is smart enough not to get himself killed doing it."

".. A dangerous word for her to use, considering all the things she got herself into." Sayuri's lips tug into a thin line as she pushes herself up to stand. ".. An example being cheering for me, loudly, using the name Sayuri, when I was thrown in their arena with Vairg.." The Viera's name leaves her in a similar fashion to that of a curse word, ears automatically pinning back upon mentioning him. ".. He had best be."

"Hah! I can imagine anyone daring do to such a thing would likely be branded a madwoman. But well, now we know Vex…" The sentence trails in an attempt at humour, Bexy offering something of a smirk before departing down the stairs. "…We have little to lose if he doesn't. But it's on him, now." Pulling something from her pocket, the key to the cell is offered to Sayuri. "All yours."

".. Now we know she's a madwoman?" Sayuri smiles, offering a faint chuckle, dampened to refrain from it being all too loud. Her steps don't stray far from Bexy's own, hand reaching to grasp onto the key - a small nod offered Bexy's way.

"You said it, not me." Bexy grins, though sighs her expression into something a little more neutral as she crosses the room towards her bedchamber, and towards the bookcase. "Greetings, Vex."

"And I stand by it. She is." She mumbles, loud enough for Bexy to hear, but no one else. Her own expression draws into neutrality, eyes lidding into a more narrow stare. Her eyes fall to Vex as the woman comes into view, head sinking into a mute greeting.

Vex's gaze darts up to meet Bexy and Sayuri, lips curling into a wide grin - that's just her natural smile. "Hey!"

Bexy offers her usual warm smile to Vex at the greeting, slipping into the room where her captive was held. She doesn't offer him a greeting, though her expression is a lot less sour towards him than it had been previous.

Q'kura, who was on the verge of sleep up until a few moments ago, rouses with a start. Head rested against the wall, he shrinks a little into his shoulders upon noting two sets of footsteps.

Sayuri slips around the corner, key concealed half-way up her sleeve. Her icy stare falls atop of Q'kura once he is in view, the corners of her lips tugged a little downwards to signify some mild annoyance, added only by the narrowed eyes and backwards tilting ears. She holds her silence, for now.

Vex's gaze flickers between Bexy and Sayuri, and wanders further to Q'kura. One ear droops while the other remains perked, not needing to guess her way forwards as to why Sayuri was here.

Bexy simply slips back. She knew Sayuri's intention, and thus returns to reclining on the wall in silence. Watching, and waiting.

"S-sayuri! You… You are looking… Well?" He meets the glare and he can't hold her gaze, his own darting to the floor. "I--- I'm sorry about the side effects, but i did all i could with the means i had! I -did- warn that such things might happen-- Not that it makes them any more pleasant -- But it worked, yes? It worked? You have your aether?" He fights to steal a glance from the corner of his eyes. He dare not ask for his fate, swallowing dryly.

"You did." Her answer is short, kept in a night toneless voice. "Yes, it worked. My aether is returned, with seemingly no further complications. I am well, if not better than I was." Her head turns to glance in Bexy's direction, holding no intention to speak of the now stronger ice any further than that, but they knew. Her gaze trails back to Q'kura. "And I have finally decided what to do with you." Her voice doesn't hint her intentions whatsoever.

Vex slowly rocks back and forth, crimson gaze shifting between Bexy and Sayuri once more, trying to guess the outcome herself, even if the icy Seekers kept their silence.

"Wh-what… Will you do, with me…?" Q'kura asks. He'd intended to leave it there. Simply hear out his sentence, but desperation bids that he begged. "I… I have done all you asked, and i am sorry, so sorry for what you endured, please… Please, don't… Don't kill me. I am sorry for what i did to your husband -- Eir, yes?" He glances up to her, as though he intended to clarify. "---I… I just want to see the sky again. Please…" He swallows again, looking to Bexy, to Vex, and back to Sayuri. "Please don't… Leave me here…"

There was some... Conflict, to hearing him beg. He deserved it. Gods, he deserved it, but knowing he perhaps wasn't the worst of the bunch made it a little more bittersweet. He did help her. But it's her decision, no matter what she chooses. Even if she changes her mind, now.

The begging sees Sayuri retain her silence for a little longer, just to watch him. A touch cruel, but one could argue he deserved it. A little bit. "You have done all that was asked, and cured me. I don't necessarily believe that you are sorry for what my husband and I endured, but neither does he care for your fate, despite what role you held." A slow breath is exhaled through her nose, the intensity of her glare lessening just a touch, but it is a noticeable one. ".. I am going to set you free. On the condition that you do help those who deserve it on the inside. Anyone who hold the same rank Vex did, you will aid in getting out of there." Her head raises a touch, eyes shifting back to its previous cold glare as the next choice of words leave her. "And if you decide not to do so, I will find you and rectify this decision."

Vex stares, at Sayuri, at Q'kura, and at Bexy. She is.. certainly surprised, when those words leave Sayuri, yet as she continues to speak, Vex pauses, and slowly nods along. Yep, sounds fair to her.

Q'kura's eyes turn glassy at her words. Hope, for the first time in moons. He's even brave enough to slowly find his feet and stand, though in so doing it's a little unsteady. "Y-you'll let me go…?" He sounds as though he'll cry, searching Sayuri's gaze for any indication that she's lying, for any sliver of false hope. "---I'll help. I'll help them, i swear-- I'll get as many of them out as i can." Those words began at Sayuri, and ended directed at Vex.

Bexy remains unmoving, staring at the scene with the same neutral expression, at least until her painted lips shift into something of a half smile as she glances to Vex.

Sayuri finally shifts her hand that hid the key, letting it slip into her grip more properly before she pushes it into the lock and twists it to open the cell door. "For your own sake, Q'kura.. You had best."

Vex continued to dart her gaze between all those present, ears tilting and lips curling into a softer, more genuine smile than her usual shit-eating grin, seemingly somewhat relieved at the verdict. She pushes herself up to her feet as well.

Q'kura seems almost fearful to leave the cell. As though he couldn't quite believe it. He moves almost anxiously to the threshold, ears lowered, almost as though it was a joke. "I… I promise." He manages, fearfully.

Bexy doesn't move, but watches. The way she folds her arms shifts ever so subtly, tail slowly wavering at her heels.

".. The promise of someone I do not trust in the first place means very little, Q'kura. I will await your actions." Sayuri raised a brow, and moved aside in an attempt to indicate she'd do naught to stop him from exiting the cell.

Q'kura takes a few steps, and then a few more. Quickly by Sayuri, then slowly the closer he drew to Vex. "…I'm free…?" He says again, looking back at the cell behind him. Tear filled eyes scan the room, not quite sure what to do with himself. "I c-can just go…?"

Bexy doesn't say anything.

Sayuri merely watches, gaze still narrow.

...I never planned for him to just walk out of the house. I'm not stupid. He's probably gathered that i live in the Shroud, but i doubt much else. And i'd like to keep it that way.

Vex pauses, her usual wide grin settling on her lips. "I mean, if you're doubting it… I'm sure Sayuri would've killed you without false hope." Her gaze trails back to the cell, then to Q'kura once more. "Unless y'wanna stay in there, yeah."

He looks around in silence then, back at the cell, and then ultimately at Sayuri. With a small dip of his head, and even smaller, "Thank you…" Leaves him, before he turns to look into the room beyond, a floral bedchamber, a desk and-- Darkness.

Bexy drives her elbow sharply into the back of Q'kura's head, knocking him out cold.

The deadpan expression Sayuri has held eases, a mild huff of amusement emitting at the sight.

Vex grimaces to herself. ".. Ow."

Bexy turns with an almost incredulous expression. "…What? I wasn't about to let him walk about the house unattended, much less see where i live." At Sayuri's expression, her lips curl in amusement. "What?" She repeats, half-laughing.

Sayuri cracks a small smirk, allowing a small chuckle to leave her. "Taking my joy where I can."

Vex snorts slightly, a small pause lingering before she finally asks. ".. Are we releasing him, or..?"

Bexy leans down, to hoist the downed Seeker over her shoulder. "We are. I'll take him to Thanalan, leave him somewhere shady to come around. He can make his own way back to the compound."

Sayuri offers a small nod to reinforce Bexy's answer.

"Alright. Great." Another pause. ".. Can I give him some food, for when he wakes?" A question that gains a slighty raised brow from Sayuri, causing Vex's lips to thin. ".. Y'want him to actually reach 'em, yeah? Fuck knows when he'll wake, might be bloody starving when he does."

...Despite all the cruelty enacted on her by them, she's still kind. Vex is a good person.. And likely, better than most will give her credit for.

A small nod is Bexy's response to Vex. "Take whatever you want for his pockets, just nothing that will lead back to us." She carries him through the house, eyeing the stairs with some trepidation. "…He's been a good captive, if nothing else."

Vex nods. "I'll put something together. And hey.. They find you, they find me. And the Karahli. I like Zhav, don't want that to happen." She slips past them and heads for the stairs.

Sayuri's features soften, a faint sigh leaving her. ".. A madwoman she might be, but certainly kinder than I would've been.."

"Kinder than she has cause to be, considering. But i won't argue it. We do want him to survive that long, at least." Bexy ascends the stairs with a slow, careful pace; not wanting to drop Q'kura, nor fall down herself. Finally reaching the summit, she sighs. "…Not too much, Vex. If the compound find it, it might look suspicious."

"Oh, I know. Been subject to their bloody patdowns more times than I can count. Tiniest bloody bump there shouldn't be and they'll turn y'pockets insideout." Vex huffs, having collected a small amount of foodstuff, putting it into a wrap. ".. 'S just a few things to give him enough energy to move on. Will look like he scavenged it in a hurry if they do see it." She steps up to Bexy and Q'kura, holding the little wrap of food that she seeks to wriggle into one of his pockets.

Sayuri merely observes, shaking her head gently. Definitely finding Vex kinder than she needs to be, to someone like him.

"…It should be enough." Bexy holds him still enough for Vex to give him his gift, offering a satisfied nod. "…I'll take him now, before he wakes up. I'll see the both of you soon, yes?"

Vex steps back, offering a two-finger salute.

Sayuri's head sinks into a small nod, ears tilting back a touch. ".. I doubt I need to tell you to be careful, but.. Please be."

"I will be. Worry not for me." She gives her customary smile, not so much as even departing the building until the aether around her swirls into a blizzard. Exactly where she was going wasn't mentioned, but it was clear she had at least somewhere in mind.

[whumpshaped]

I have several questions for helle bc i need to know more about this for scientific reasons

Do they get multilingual panic like me when they can't think of a word in any language, or can only think of it in non-english and cant translate it for Beck or are they too confident for that?

Do they have a massive vocabulary specifically so the panic doesn't happen because they can just rephrase whatever they were gonna say? Do they use big words to confuse beck? Do they make up big words to be mean and make beck think hes dumb because helle isnt even native and yet theyre so much more proficient than him?

How good are they at translation from one language to another on he spot? (I am terrible and whenever i try to do it anyway especially around people who know me as "the language guy" I get mega embarrassed and question my validity as a multilingual person bc i stutter and uh and umm a lot and cant find the right words........)

I think in french they use my little cabbage as a term of endearment, so how many times has helle called beck an unconventional name before realising it doesn't rly work the same in english? Cabbage beck? Cabbeck??

^^^^cabbeck

And finally.... Some people can purr..... By rolling their Rs in a specific way..... So if they can do that........ If helle can roll their Rs....... Can they..... Are they...... Kibby...............

Oh wait also can they do accents. The most cursed image of them doing a southern American accent came to mind and i dont know how to feel about this but i needed to laser that image into your brain you're welcome

"I stopped panicking about it a while ago," they start off casually. "I will either rephrase it entirely, or say the word in whatever language I can think of it in. I said what I wanted to say, not my problem anymore. People can figure it out."

"My vocabulary is decent enough, I suppose, but I would not be able to confuse that boy if I tried. He might not look it– No, he does. He is extremely booksmart. His vocabulary is likely better than mine, even with all the words I have picked up over centuries, since he has an advantage on the newer slang." They stop to think for a moment. "Honestly? He confuses me sometimes." They don't seem bothered by any of this. In fact, they talk about it in the dreamiest way, like Beck being smart is something they admire a lot.

"I am fairly good at translating on the spot, but it is merely because of experience and practice. You will get there, dear."

They sigh at the nickname question. "This is not a common occurrence by any means, but I must admit... Back when I was still using him as a snack, I might have called him my little cookie once or twice. Not terribly unconventional or embarrassing, but he did look at me weird. Pretty sure he assumed I was making it up specifically to tease him. I also cannot seem to get out of this habit of calling him a mouse. Have you seen him? He is the entire reason anyone even uses mouse as a pet name. He is my little mouse."

They skip your question about purring, just to build suspense, and go straight to accents. "I can do a couple. I can do... quite a few, actually, now that you mention it... But none of them are particularly American, I'm afraid. Maybe a generic American? But give me a few weeks, I shall get back to you with the most amazing southern accent."

"As for purring... Yes, I can do that."

[cata-daily]

Day 100

So um when I said I didn't think day 100 would be anything extra- I absolutely did not plan for this to be a full on.. comic?

I started this at like 10pm lmao it's almost 12

(I was gonna give Shadow a mouth when she talked but could not make it work and was running out of time heh)

Anyways this is one of the headcanons I have lol- more about it & the comic under the cut

I've drawn it before and talked about it I think, but just to clarify a bit more;

This is the hc that he has some sort of wing bindings whenever he doesn't have wings- the accessories, ingame

They stop his wings from glowing (that's why I used them for that Moth House comic) and make them intangible- so anything can pass through them, but he can still move them freely

This means yes he can try to fly, but they won't catch the air so they aren't exactly useful

Where do they come from? Um. Idk?? lmao? Shadow maybe? (could be why i tried to make her find cata jumping off the cliff a bit funny, tbh i'm not sure how much of her moth murdering tendencies are left after amit) But they are there, so yeh.

I hc that he'd pretty much go about life as if the wings were physically there, avoiding letting things pass through them whenever possible

The symbols on them are changing because I am not gonna remember what they look like from different angles. But in the falling panel, they're all "x"'s, because they're actively not working for flight

a little more about the comic-

Ik Sprocket's summoning item is 2d and smaller in the first panel but like hrhhdhxxnmzks yeah no i'm not fixing it lol

Put the sleeping thing for Shadow since she literally dozes off if cata stands still for 7 seconds I think lol??

He does a pretty pathetic little hop off the cliff edge

Shadow is meant to find it pretty funny, but I didn't really draw that well

He's meant to be continuing the "goooooo" in the falling panel

Why Sprocket and Shadow aren't trying to help him? As I said before, I think Shadow would find it funny, and uh maybe this is a. common occurrence.

so Sprocket's like, "did he just jump off a cliff without wings or a horseshoe again" and Shadow's like, "yes lmao"

*distantly, cata: "to be fair i usually slip off a cliff though-"

The carrot and extra "d" for the death message is because I'm 98% sure the character limit is one too short for his name, and he tends to take out the extra d

The death message is a screenshot of a website that can generate things in Andy Bold, because I am laying in bed with my phone and was not going to get on my computer and jump off a cliff after making and naming a character just for a death message lol

[greatkittydream]

The creature from the dungeon 3

“Thinking” ‘talking’ (righters input)

Jacob POV

walking down the halls of the dungeon aimlessly really. Jacob had apparently adopted a child along the way. lamenting his oh so tragic fate, as he had this small child rest her head upon his shoulder as he kept walking. he really did feel bad for her though.no child should have to go through what she did. So if it been playing Big Brother for a little bit and keeping her off her feet he was fine with that.

"Okay I'm obviously in some sort of fantasy world and I'm going to take a guess and say magic is a rare but still occurring characteristic. you know what it's fine magic is just science you haven't studied yet”.

Running several thought processes through his head. being chopped up into three main categories. limitations, exploitations, and usefulness.

These look categories he's going to place as things he's found under. Magic curling under limitations, unable to figure out if it's a common occurrence or not and what are its limitations.

Sniffling Sniffling

Looking back over Jacob could see the small child choking back sobs. pulling out his phone and seeing that I had 86% battery he made his decision.

“well it's not like it was going to be much use to me anyways”

pulling up his illegally downloaded music list because he refused to pay $50 for some bullshit app. He had a wide variety of Music ranging from anime openings to old songs. ‘The best way to deal with trauma is to ignore it. So how about music to cheer us up ay’.

As he selected this song he wanted to play and set it down he said it to play.

'Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang-Born...Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang-Born...Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang, Bling-Bang-Bang-Born'

singing with the cheery upbeat music of Creepy Nuts - Bling-Bang-Bang-Born doing the shimmy dance he actually got the child to laugh. Seeing as this was working he walked over her and got her to join him in dancing. ( Highly recommended )

'Come on kid we got to make it out of where the hell this is. There's obviously no form of policing here and I don't really feel comfortable leaving a small child alone'.

Bending down on his knees showing her his back and resting his arms at his side she tilted her head before hopping on his back and saying.

‘ou'reyay ayay eallyray eirdway umanhay utbay ou'reyay ayay unfay umanhay, aybemay ou'reyay omfray ymay amiliarfay?’.

‘I have no idea what you just said but yes, now the child to glory and onwards Adventure awaits’.

Jacob cringed on the inside. while he was absolutely silly and this was more towards his true personality than stoicism. He was still putting on an extra layer of glamorousness to distract the child from what just happened.

Marching forward he saw a door labeled 198. Taking a moment to take this and what he saw earlier with the other plaque. He's figured out that he's in some sort of facility with different layers. He just needs to make his way towards the top and this fills them with hope.

“Okay umm… you know what fuck it I'm in a magical isekai. I have no fucking clue what any of this means and I'm tired of pretending like I do. So I'll just go along with this assuming I'm underground or some shit in a dungeon and make my way towards the top and then figure all this out once I have more information available. Cuz God damn it I need data points to figure this out".

Pushing through the door again he felt even better almost as if something long forgotten to him was finally being returned. quickly looking down to make sure his body hadn't lost any more of its already dwindling fat Supply.

he was relieved to see it hadn't. what he couldn't tell at the moment though was something around him became bigger or of sorts what was previously the size of his body had grown out by a solid half foot.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Aafje pov

Aafje was currently riding on her familiar back. and she couldn't be more happy about it. At first she was afraid given it was a human.

but the more she thought about it the more it made sense to her she came from a strong Noble family so of course she'd have a strong familiar. A beast who would arrive and your most dire need. that what a familiar is.

And he was fun too. He made that black sing and he dance with her. it reminded her of before her mama and papa died and big sis to go to the dungeon all on her own.

“But now that I have my own familiar I can finally join big sis and help out”.

Clearing her throat and pointing she'll make her deck relation today.

‘Forward my mighty familiar. together we'll go save big sis and make up so much money she'll never have to go here again’.

What neither of them noticed was a strange yellow glow coming from the four bags held within Jacob's grass.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vect POV

‘Tell me Cyrus what's the current situation’.

‘Which situation my Lord’?

‘How the master strip of the great Canal is doing. Maybe we could go out for some tea with her sometime. what situation do you think I'm talking about idiots when as little as going to return with our Leverage’.

‘Well they appear to be making their way towards the upper floors’.

‘Perfect let's start heading down to meet them’.

‘What about the prisoners my Lord’.

‘Have them walk in front of us any monsters that want to get through us have to eat them first’.

Putting one leg over the other and resting his head on his arm as he took a sip of wine out of a golden-crusted goblet. He was currently thinking over his current situation and what he could do. while not the most competent you don't become first in line for nobility in the dark lands without being cunning.

Especially with so many younger siblings after your head. standing up in his luxurious tent in making his way towards the exit he looked over toward the prisoners who were being kept. Bound by metal chains keeping their arms tied to their waist.

Well not as clean as he would have liked it he obviously underestimated these people. Not that he would ever tell anyone and he needed his leverage if he was going to make it through this with a profit.

The losses he's incurred already to manpower would not help them in the long run. He could substitute them with mercenaries but they are most definitely of lesser quality.

Maybe getting these four into a slave contract would substitute that nicely adding four experience dungeon delvers in exchange for two noble guard.

"And that very small child would make a fine concubine, with the noble blood running through her veins. Me marrying her and enslaving her older sister would Grant any titles and territory into my family's name".

"And my back pocket, Yes I can see it now I can definitely use this to get a leg over my kin insecure my title as air to the heir of the gore child clan".

A decrepit smile came on his face will definitely very early on into the scheming phase of things having this good base and operations already.

This would lend greatly to his Political and Military power. while not giving him a peasantry that he would know of this would give him influence in the city and the surrounding country.

Walking up to the four prisoners he made his will known.

‘Get up before we're going to meet up with your sister’.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jacob POV

Rummaging through the bags he took earlier for anything edible he found dried meat. shrugging and biting into it he began to tear at it. The little girl on his back made a shock noise in the beginning spouting out something.

figuring he was hungry he just handed her one. He watched that she tried to bite into it but her teeth couldn't sink deep into it. Looking into the back in front of her she pulled out a knife and began cutting a piece off. sticking it into her mouth and began sucking on it.

With a shrug he figured she just must have had a weak jaw if the stereotypes are true else were herbivores meaning that they won't need that strong of a bite force.

Then again horses did exist and they could bite the flesh off of a human pretty good. so he was maybe talking out his ass.

‘Come on we need to put as much ground between us and those freaks as possible’.

Pushing forward he kept walking. He doesn't know how long he's been moving but he knows it's been a while. He certainly knows the kid on his back is tired she's been making the droopy eyes for a while now.

Coming to what would be an exit of a mineshaft simply read the plaque 197.

“Man, I'm making great progress. I'll probably just starve before I get to room 150”.

Walking up to the door it had a very similar look to that of exiting the Vault from Fallout 3. Taking in a deep breath in opening the door, what good at Jacob was a bright flash of light.

Upon adjusting his eyes he saw an island of paradise, several sand dunes with the few trees here and there with dozens of feet of water across.

In an infinite ocean surrounding that across from him maybe a football field or two across was an hut.

‘If that Isn't the exit he was fucked, well it could be worse’.

Before he could start his treck across the shallow Waters he saw Shadows surrounding the islands finally.

‘Oh cool it gets worse fucking sharks thanks you Murphy's Law Why don't you go all the way and fuck me over a table why don't you’.

That's when he saw a mammoth of a shadow swimming at great speeds towards the shallow Banks. assuming it was some type of megalodon or some shit.

Going to beach itself to try and eat him he began to jump back through the door. only for a massive tentacle to latch on to the Shadow and raise it high above the air.

The “shark” wasn't a shark at all it was more like a mosasaurs. It was a giant lizard reptile the size of a blue whale. and it was being lifted High into the sky completely wrapped around by a tentacle.

‘FUUUUUUUUUUCK YOU MURPHY’. ‘Fuck this shit I'm out mhm Fuck this shit I'm out No thanks Don't mind me I'ma just grab my stuff and leave Excuse me please’.

Turning around, walking back through the door and Slamming it shut he sat the child down and started rummaging through the bags. pulling out a sleeping bag and a small tent he set it up.

The child for her part was spouting nonsense and honestly he didn't care to think of what she was saying at the moment.

'ywhay areyay eway urningtay aroundyay ? ouyay otallytay ouldcay avehay akentay atthay ingthay . ohyay iyay etgay ityay ouyay antway otay ebay atyay ouryay ayay amegay eforebay ouyay ightfay ethay ightymay akenkray'.

Having set up the camping grounds he laid the child in a sleeping bag next to him and laid on his own. closing his eyes and thinking of sweet thoughts he went to sleep.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Raxs POV

“I can't believe I let this happen I let my future sister-in-law get kidnapped I made myself look like an idiot in front of my crush and now I'm being forced to tank a punch for this bastard”

True to what was said earlier the party had taken up the front of the position with racks on his part without his Shield, only his body to take the damage.

While on the lower levels this would be fine the more they went down the harder this would get.

Lionheart spoke up before Rex could Lament his fate more.

‘more marionettes coming up’

Looking up ahead he saw the marionettes in question. They were currently on floor 157 nicknamed the toy box. A room that looks like that of a circus with all sorts of man-sized children's toys.

The marionettes look like porcelain dolls that had strings controlling them. which they could use to attack opponents. Running at speeds that would outpace a horse and closing in fast they perform acrobatics before attacking.

Raxs simply flexes his muscles and repairs to get hit. One of the marionettes jumps high above his head before using its string like a noose wrapping it around his throat

Before Landing behind him and trying to throw him face first into the flooring. Instead of being launched High into the air and then thrown down he didn't move a muscle.

He grabbed the string around his throat and pulled hard the marionette was flung at him after as if weightless. Stretching out his arm he clotheslines it so hard it's face shatters.

As it begins cracking it turns into a pure mana of before dropping its item. I wind up a box that could drop a number of items the better luck you had the better the item.

Looking over to his compatriot, Lionheart for his part had already killed three. The fourth one is currently caught between his claws at the end of his legs it's three on the top and one on the bottom. each one about a half a foot in length.

Its hands were currently smashing against his ankle with his height squeeze the head went pop. Setting his foot back to the floor looking at the soon to spawn boss.

A giant Jack in the Box start to whine by itself getting faster and faster until out popped a giant skeletal figure a sunken in face half of it covered by rotten flesh. After it's shriek magical debuffs were set upon us along with its owning some more marionettes and smaller Jack in the Box monsters.

“This is going to be a long day”.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jacob POV

Jacob woke up staring at the ceiling. It was so surreal in that moment he wasn't thinking so much as he was just breathing and letting his mind rest. Running his fingers through the child's hair in smooth patterns to help calm himself.

He had been thinking about it for hours. The likelihood of the Kraken actually trying to eat him or the child was unlikely given how little nutrients they would give.

"Those megalodons? mosasauruses? whatever you want to call them probably would go for a bite though".

Bring his free hand down to his mouth and biting on his thumb moving his jaw left to right thinking of his next move.

The child currently laying on his chest let out a small yawn and a big stretch. looking down and seeing the child look at him he sat up with her falling onto his lap.

She hopped off his lap and headed outside. standing quickly to his feet making sure she wasn't heading to the door he found her heading down a hallway.

Seeing no problem with this he decided to follow her. He wasn't going to let her go out by herself with those freaks still somewhere around.

After letting her explore a little they came across a giant door made with marble with intricate designs. When she got close enough the door opened up on its own revealing a chest inside of a spacious room.

‘Nope this is a bathroom if I've ever seen it, Come on we're not going in there’.

Looking to a side noticing she was gone immediately, went forward before looking up and seeing the child already in the room.

BWAAAAAAH BWAAAAAAH BWAAAAAAH

A trumpet went off three times hearing a grading struggling noise. The door behind us was closing fast. the child had stopped in her tracks at the sight of a Angelic figure descending made its presence known.

‘Fuck this Dark Souls bullshit’.

Grabbing the child by the back of her shirt and pulling rather hard rushed forward towards the door going at a speed humans had yet to achieve in his world. By the time he got there it was almost closed. Barely 6 in before closing in total.

SLAM

Jacob had slammed his arm in the door before it could fully close. it hurt like a bitch he felt like his arm was breaking. looking behind me saw the Angelic figure unravel its wings as it touched the floor.

Thinking Fast shoving is another hand in the door dropping the child and wrenching it open as fast as he could, putting his two feet against the doors well and using his entire body. He managed to push it open just enough for the child to crawl through.

looking back up he saw the lady angel brandishing her sword and getting ready what looked like a dash. curling his legs up and launching himself through the door with his one good arm it shut behind him.

‘HAHAHA fuck you off brand Elden ring Melina’.

BAM BAM BAM

"The door is cracking the bitch is trying to break through".

'time to nut up or shut up'.

Looking to his left seeing the child on her butt with a big smile on her face looking at him as if expecting something. Grabbing the child and putting her under his arm and start booking it towards the

By the time the two got to the end of the hallway the door blasted open marble and dust scattered all over the place in a hunting Angelic voice the angel was singing as it was following them. “Does this bitch have echolocation no way that thing is sentience and singing just isn't something things do for no reason”.

His arm was burning, his lungs fell out of breath, he was pushing himself harder than he ever had before in his life. not during a schoolyard fight. Not when placed in a boy's home. had he ever pushed himself this hard before he felt like he was going to break.

He saw the exit but the singing was getting closer if he had a guess a good 50 ft between them. He began his Sprint to say he wasn't sprinting before would be a lie. What this was was an adrenaline endorphin-filled Last Hope.

Faster he went he didn't even notice that the wind was fluttering around him at such a pace it would be comparable to that of a car. He was just moving.

Closer and closer he got to the door until he was there but the saying was just behind him reading his legs for spring action he launched forward slamming his forearm against the door.

He launched through the door flying through the sky as the wooden door was broken off and landed in the sand dune with a child safely in his arm.

Hearing the angels singing not wanting to take the chance whether she could pass on to the next floor or not he just say it to run while he still had the endorphins and adrenaline. For he went when he reached the water he wasn't even thinking that the angel would have come through the door by now he was just thinking to get to the other exit. As he marched to the water slowing him down tremendously Shadows began circling around them. One of them stuck there had barely out the water similar to that of a crocodile taking a sniff. looking at the child in his arms and began swimming towards him. He was close to the next sandbank just a couple dozen more feet. The shadow was behind them hearing the tattle tail splashing of water he looked behind and saw the shadow just 10 ft behind. Throwing the child onto the sand bank and turning around as the monster left out of the water. He ducked going underneath the leap as he looked up and saw the monster stomach. He launched up, grabbing it. As he held it there he wasn't going to let it get back in the water. The months are thrashing trying to get out of his grasp but he was able to hold on to it.

slowly but steadily marching towards the sand Bank to where he could Beach the thing and then kill it. Marching up to the sand Bank in laying it down there on its stomach. it tried to use its paws to climb towards the water sitting down on its back. Jacob looked around for the closest weapon he could find. There was a kind of large Rock near a tree. Making a whistling noise to get the child's attention and gesturing towards the rock she picked up on it and brought it to him. Grabbing the rock with both hands and raising above his head he began to smash it down over and over and over again. until the things skull cracked completely open. What happened next caught Jacob off guard. It went poof shattering into tiny crystals that floated it back up into the air falling flat on his ass. He noticed something in front of him. Three of its teeth but not where its mouth was where its heart was.Jacob was done thinking for today he grabbed the three teeth shoved him in his pocket. and again walking toward.

‘You cost us a tint, two sleeping rolls and possibly gave me three heart attacks you are no longer allowed to wander’.

In one ear and out the other she couldn't even understand him.

‘You're lucky I'm a good person and you're adorable’. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

so that's chapter 3 a bit shorter than I wanted but I wanted to get it out sometime this week

again if you have any tips for writing or any ideas you think would be cool be sure to message me.

[tblsomedoodles]

I like to think in yokai society a pair of seers is a common enough occurrence that it's known about in legendary but still rare enough thay only two seers are born every few generations. Sorta like how Hailey's Comet is only seen like once every 80 years or something a pair of seers is only born once every *insert long period of time* so it's a known occurrence but very few people get to meet them and the very little is known about them as a result amd it's almost unheard of for two sets of seers to be alive around the same period of time

Yes. I do think Seers would be exceptionally rare to the point of maybe only having one set at a time (like buffy and the slayer business goes) or only one set every couple hundred years.

BUT! That being said, i am sort of tempted to rig it in a way that Sara and Kara are actually present in this au. (mostly b/c i very much think Kara and Donnie would be able to help each other a lot, and become pretty good friends doing it. Sara and Leo too but, idk, i feel like Kara and Donnie would benefit more somehow.)

Like i could make it work! The turtles weren't born through normal means, they were mutated, which could easily throw off any sort of mystic system that decides who gets those powers.

The only thing stopping me is that it would put this firmly into crossover territory, which isn't bad in general, it's just...doing even a vague crossover with a show i haven't watched (or really thought much of) in 10-15 years isn't exactly on my to-do list.

But yes, if Sara and Kara did end up being around, they would definitely text Leo and Donnie about seer stuff. (Sara excitedly texting leo that "I'm getting kidnapped again today!!" with a lot of cute emojis, as leo's just like "Sweet! Want us to pick you up?". While Donnie texts Kara like "Just saw my little brother is going to plan a surprise party for me. Guess i'm not going to be surprised. I'm going to test my new invention to blow off some steam. want to come?" "It's going to work." "I know, but it's an RPG and the explosions always look better in person. Coming or what?" "See you in ten.")

Thank you!

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Contest Spectacular

Words: 2,279

Pokemon AU- Contest

Characters: Hatake Kakashi, Rock Lee, Original Character (@mushroombitchboy 's)

“Have you ever thought of entering a contest?” Kakashi asked while placing a bento box on top of Akane’s head.

“A contest?” Reaching up, she grabbed the bento and moved it down to her lap while Kakashi stepped around her and claimed the seat across the table. “You mean like, a baking contest?”

“Well, yes but no,” setting his own bento down on the table in front of himself. “I meant a Pokemon contest,” Akane stared at him with a blank expression. “You don’t know what a Pokemon contest is, do you?”

“Not a clue,” she confirmed with what she assumed was a too-big smile judging by the way Kakashi cringed. Dropping the smile from her face, she opted for shrugging her shoulders and opening her bento box. Onigiri greeted her and her stomach immediately began to grumble as if it had never been given a morsel of food in her entire life. “Whenever Dad talked to me about Pokemon it was all about training, gym challenges, and becoming a champion.”

"Sounds boring.”

“It was,” claiming one of the Onigiri from the box, she lifted it toward Kakashi in a sort of mock salute. “That’s why I'm still around here. Even if you are a bit of a hardass, you’re still more fun to train with than he could ever be.”

“Mmm, anyways,” waving away Akane’s compliment, he continued as if she hadn’t just tried to compliment him. A common occurrence in her experience. There were a few things that Kakashi seemed to hate, but compliments were one of them. “Pokemon contests are something that people enter if they want to show off their Pokemon.”

“Show off?”

“Ya, sort of like a beauty thing. You still use moves and if you make it past the first round there are battles, but rather than just aiming to knock the opponent's Pokemon out or do damage with your moves the goal is to make your own Pokemon look good.”

“Wait,” taking a second to think through what he had said, she frowned. No matter how much she tried to make sense of it, she just couldn’t understand the concept he was presenting to her. “So, you use Pokemon moves.”

He nodded, his mouth full with an entire half of his onigiri that she hadn’t even seen him take a bite out of, which left her with a lot more questions because his mask was still covering the bottom half of his face. 

“To make your Pokemon…look good?”

Another nod and a moment's pause for him to swallow his food. “After our little spare yesterday I heard you complimenting Growlith on how good he looked even after taking a direct hit from Magnazone’s thunder. It got me thinking about what other things you might be interested in trying, and I thought you might like to try out contests. They’re perfect for highlighting your Pokemon’s skill without putting them in direct danger of being hurt. I mean, there’s still a risk of being hurt but it’s a lot less likely to happen than it would in a Pokemon battle.”

Listening to his words, Akane went over them in her brain and picked them apart

Pokemon contests sounded interesting, but there was still a little voice in the back of her head that sounded suspiciously like her father telling her that it was a waste of time. At first, that voice was tiny, barely there. As she thought about it more, though, the voice got loud and louder until it was screaming at her.

It was overwhelming. She wanted to think about contests and what she might be able to do if she decided to give them a try, but the voice was overwhelming. It silenced everything else with its angry voice, insulting her until she couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Hey,” a finger pressed against her forehead, pulling her out of her thoughts and forcing her to focus on the man sitting across from her. As soon as her eyes landed on him, Akane registered the smile he was giving her.

A soft, sweet smile.

The kind of smile she’d always seen fathers give their children on TV shows growing up, but which she’d never experienced from her own father.

“I-”

“Think about it,” he insisted. “There’s a contest in Cerulean City in two weeks. Gai and I were going to enter, but then Gai decided to convince his students to give it a try so he stepped back to give them a real chance. I don’t want to be the rude best friend who kicks his students ass’ in their first contest so I’m not going to compete anymore either, but I thought you might like it.”

“And…if I do?” The voice in her head began to scream again, but this time she ignored it in favor of staring at that soft expression in Kakashi’s eyes. “What then?”

“Well, then you do more,” Kakashi answered as if there wasn’t a whole existential crisis going on inside her mind. “We can try a contest-style battle after lunch if you’d like. Give you a chance to see what it would be like.”

“That sounds,” perfect. Divine. Wonderful. There were so many words she could think of to use, but they all seemed too extreme so she went with a more toned-down, relaxed answer instead. “Great!”

Pokemon battles had always looked easy when she watched Kakashi. He gave his Pokemon such simple orders, and sometimes simply allowed them to do what they thought would be best. The bond they showed had been exactly what made Akane approach Kakashi for training in the first place, and that bond glowed even brighter than usual when they were in contest mode. The best part of it was that for once, Akane got to see him battle with one of his dog Pokemon, Lycanrock. 

Every attack Growlithe sent Lycanrock’s way was quickly met with an attack of its own, but instead of trying to do damage to Growlithe, Lycanrock focused on making a fool of him. His flame wheel was broken apart with Lycanrock’s Rock tomb and turned into a shower of fire that made Lycanrock’s fur shine in a way she’d never seen before.

When Growlithe tried to strike out with a bite attack, Lycanorck retaliated with a dig and came out just under Growlithe, knocking her partner Pokemon over with a strike to the middle of its tiny body and sending it tumbling.

Growlithe wasn’t injured at the end of the battle, but it looked like it had been chucked into a gravel pit and rolled around. Its fur was dirty and matted, and there was even some sand in it from a single sand attack aimed at its back end. 

Without doing a single bit of real damage, Kakashi-Sensei had managed to make a real fool out of her and Growlith, and instead of being upset about it, Akane found herself feeling excited. 

An excitement that she shared with Growlithe, judging by how her Pokemon jumped to its feet as soon as she ran up to Kakashi.

“Whoe,” Kakashi held out a hand to stop her when she almost tumbled right into him. “Careful.”

“Teach me,” she insisted.

“About contests?” Nodding her head, she beamed when she saw Kakashi’s eyes beginning to scrunch up at the edges. A surefire sign that he was smiling underneath his mask. “Does that mean you’ll give contests a try?”

“Yes!” Throwing her hands up into the air, she giggled when Kakashi took a step back to avoid being hit. “That was amazing! You were so cool and Lycanrock,” Turning to the rock Pokemon, she grinned. “You blocked our attacks so perfectly and looked amazing doing it! Teach us how to do that!”

“It’ll be a lot of work.”

Turning to face her Sensei once more, she threw a hand out in front of her and gave him a thumbs up. The exact same gesture he had done to her hundreds of times since she began training under him. “Bring it on.”

Cerulean City was bigger than Akane had expected. There were so many buildings lining the streets that she’d begun to feel dizzy and had to stop at a little cafe for a breather. Stopping proved advantageous in the end, both for her nerves and because the barista who’d made her hot chocolate had also provided her with written directions on how to get to the contest building when she mentioned that she’d gotten lost.

After wandering the streets aimlessly for two hours, she finally arrived. The building turned out to be the Cerulean City Gym, and the Gym leader was standing outside greeting everyone with her Arbok. 

Once she’d made it inside she took a deep breath and was about to release it when a hard slap came down against her back, forcing the air out of her lungs and leaving her wheezing. 

“Oh, sorry” a voice, cheerful and bright, spoke behind her. Turning her head, she glared at the person who had so rudely assaulted her. He stood proudly, a blinding smile on his face and the ugliest green jumpsuit she’d ever seen in her life.“You’re Akne, right?”

“Yes,” she gasped, falling into a coughing fit as soon as she’d dared to speak.

“I knew it! Gai-Sensei told me to keep an eye out for someone wearing a red and black hoodie with the fire symbol on it,” Kakashi-Sensei’s boyfriend. She wasn’t too surprised to find out that her current suffering was his fault. “He was worried you might decide not to show up.”

“His trust in me is heartwarming,” she huffed. “And what, may I ask, is the name of my assailant? You know, so I can give it to Officer Saratobi.”

“W-wait!” His eyes bugged out, panic setting into his features. “I didn't mean- You can’t-”

“Relax,” straightening herself up, she smirked. “I was joking.”

“J-Joking?”

“Ya, you heard of a joke before?” Now that her lungs were working again, she was determined to have a little bit of fun. “And what are you doing here? You say Gai sent you, so does that mean…no,” throwing a hand over her chest, she gasped. “You? Did he send you to try and stop me from winning? Does he think that little of me?”

Panic switched to annoyance in an instant, and suddenly Akane’s day was beginning to look like it was actually going to be fun. “I’m not just some competition!” He argued. “I’m here to win!”

“Win? You?” scanning her eyes over his body, she snorted. “In that outfit?”

“What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“Where would you like me to start?” Taking a step forward, she poked a finger against his chest. “That colour is an eye sore but I would expect nothing less from Gai’s student. Still, I hope you have something better to wear for the contest.”

“I do!”

“Good, because I might cry if I have to look at this much longer,” moving her finger up, she smirked when he dared to glance down and used the opening to flick him in the nose, earning a yelp from her opponent. “If you’re my competition, this will be a breeze.”

There was a stunning amount of confidence in her voice, but absolutely none of it came from her soul. In reality, she was panicking. Gai was someone that Kakashi-sensei spoke very highly of, and the few times she’d met him he had exuded such confidence that he’d overwhelmed Akane. 

His student seemed to be exactly like him. He had the same smile, the same terrible choice of clothing, and the same confidence. A confidence that Akane could never hope to achieve in reality, but which she’d decided in the moment to fake through just so he couldn’t see how terrified she really was. 

“Well if that’s the case,” leaning in close, the boy grinned. “Prepare to lose.”

“In your dreams,” she huffed, though part of her wanted to turn tail and run before the competition even began. “I’m not going to lose to you…what’s your name again?”

The grin dropped right off of his face. “I- Lee!” He announced, jumping back a foot and throwing an ar out in front of himself. “Rock Lee, future Pokemon master and contest champion!”

A Pokemon master and a Contest champion. That was a lot to live up to, and he seemed determined to accomplish it. 

“Well, Lee,” squaring her shoulders, she forced herself to plaster a grin across her face. “Sorry to tell you, but I’ll be winning this contest.”

“In your dreams!” he repeated her own insult back to her. 

“I guess today is the daydreams become reality.” she shrugged, snickering when he turned to his partner Pokemon, Riolu, and ushered it toward the exit with comments about some extra training they needed to do before the contest began. She didn’t know if she could actually pull off a win, but putting on a show of confidence had actually helped her.

She was no longer as scared as before but was actually starting to feel a little excited about the upcoming contest. If she won, it wouldn't just be her victory, but Kakashi’s as well. His student would have beaten his eternal rival's student, and that was guaranteed to make him smile.

Just the thought of hearing him say that he was proud of her gave her the confidence to go through with the contest. She and Growlith might not win, but they’d give it their best shot and Growlith would look great the entire time.

That much she knew for certain. There was no Pokemon more beautiful than her Growlithe.

[number-1-kuaidul-fanboy]

Guys... we need to talk.

Being misunderstood is one of the most distressing yet common occurrences for me, especially offline. So... having people believe what they did about my take on episode 98 of Go Rush is still actively distressing me.

So... warning for discussion of su*cide below the cut once again.

Because not at least attempting to clear the air is just leaving me really freaked out.

Just to be clear, this is not a targeted post. It's just me trying to be more coherent about why episode 98 made me as uncomfortable as it did.

First of all, and probably something I should've stated in my original post: I have been suicidal in the past. I don't want to go into detail but just know that this is firmly in the past and I am safe. I do not mind a character being depicted as suicidal so long as it's presented respectfully. My problem with episode 98 isn't that they made Zwijo suicidal. They didn't. I could tell that absolutely was not the intention of the writers. And the episode doesn't have that implication as much as I felt it did on my first two viewings.

My problem, and the reason I still don't like the episode, is a more complex issue that admittedly later episodes can rectify which is why I didn't initially want to say it. However, after wracking my mind trying to figure out why exactly this episode was still bothering me so much, this was the only answer that made sense: I don't want it to be the end of Zwijo's character arc.

He was, at least at one point recency bias admittedly confuses this for me, a character I liked and his character arc, in my eyes, was about him not valuing his life because he wasn't a "real being." It was logic I never fully wrapped my head around admittedly but that's not a flaw in the writing by any means.

My point though is that killing him off permanently after he finally did value his life... wouldn't exactly be a flaw either it would just be... Miserable? Maybe it would be realistic but it's a card game show, dammit! I don't want "realism", I want satisfying character arcs and... I know a lot of people were satisfied with how episode 98 handled Zwijo and while I definitely see where they're coming from and get what the writers were going for, it really just doesn't work for me as Zwijo's final appearance. If that's what the episode is.

Because yes, I'm one of those people who thinks there's a non zero chance that Yudias will go into season 3 as the final Velgearian, much like Ai was the final Ignis in season 3 of VRAINS. It's not confirmed at the time of writing so it feels unfair to judge the episode for that, hence why I didn't bring it up initially. However, because of that, along with other outside factors, this is an episode I just don't think I can really have a concrete opinion on, at least until the arc is over.

Basically what I'm saying is that the original review I wrote was a mistake and the result of me staying up way too late brainrotting over this show. All I can really say for sure about the episode right now is "stop using Soul Galaxy at the ends of episodes, I beg you. I get what you were going for and that it may have been necessary for the runtime because of the duel being longer but holy shit please stop-"

And that the episode just depresses me, but not in a way that makes me enjoy watching it like episodes 34, 90, or 95, all of which I'd personally consider more sad (and are also three of my favourite episodes...)

I just personally find episode 98 unsatisfying as a final Zwijo episode, which I pray it's not but we'll have to see...

[a-superquantumunitintelprocessor]

i think youre gonna have to explain this word for word for my sad human brain cause here are my misconceptions on this

its still very implied at least squill can feel resentment, unless you guys have a slightly different interpretation or something thats "outside of a human's ability to understand" cause like,, if we humans read that as "squips can feel resentment and therefore emotions" while you squips read it as something else, that also sorta implies your "language" is dissimilar to ours. i might be stretching a bit but who knows. arent you guys based on us tho?? i think AIs are based on/coded to mimic humans but who knows how computer code works. certainly not me

OR squill is just simulating resentment on purpose for some reason. that would also mean squill is simulating resentment thats not supposed to be shown though so idrk abt that. and it sounds like accidentally showing emotion is a common occurrence for squips, particularly new ones since you can identify it as a "rookie mistake", meaning this has happened before enough times to be classified as such. also take into account wills comment on the post

OR squill is faulty (sorry squill but youre merged with a human or something arent you ion think thats regular) but again back to your response about a rookie mistake means either way squips have shown resentment/emotion when theyre not supposed to before, real or simulated (in your case simulated i suppose, for whatever reason. youve obviously shown some form of frustration. thats related to another sciencing question for later but ive already sent you so much and im wiped for the day so ill ask tomorrow). unless youre pandering towards a faulty squip on purpose and referencing past behaviors of defective squips. idk if you can sync with fucked up ones tho i have no idea how any of this works so we'll put it on the back burner

and as a little side note you did dodge the question before i straight out asked you yes or no. im not very sure where im going with this and i might be trying too hard to theorize bullshit my way through but whatever it was fun and you get to look into the human thought process sorry for the paragraph

Humans are prone to overthinking. What's the phrase so common now? "Touch grass."

It is however a safe assumption that our language is different than a human's if only because we're cognitively functioning at such a high level that you would not be able to understand us.

I'm not going to waste my time on the rest of these questions. You're spending so much brain power futilely attempting to understand SQUIPs, but in doing so, you've forgotten what a SQUIP is at its core: A perfect assistant.

A SQUIP-user relationship can't function until the user learns to stop questioning orders and just obey.