#i would give in depth explanations about each and every one of these

[hotdogcabbagesausage]

i AM trying to cut back on mitski for my health but. voltron characters as mitski songs YIPPEEEEE

Lance- Remember My Name/My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars

Keith- Cop Car/Real Men

Pidge- Two Slow Dancers

Hunk- I Will

Shiro- Working for the Knife

Allura- Door

Romelle- Star

Krolia- Heat Lightning

Bonus

Krolia & Keith’s dad- I Guess

Shiro & Adam- Heaven/Francis Forever

Keith leaving Voltron- Why Didn’t You Stop Me?

Pre-Kerberos Keith & Shiro- Geyser (PLATONIC)

Coran after S8- Once More to See You

Allura and Lotor- Eric/I Don’t Smoke

Keith & Lance- I Want You

Post-Canon Lance & Keith- Circle

Pre-Shiro Keith- Nobody

[neteyamsilly]

i will soften every edge, hold the world to its best | 2

summary ;; Your burning determination to prove your father wrong and Jake's wish to teach you a lesson both end up in a pyrrhic victory. PART 1 | PART 3 pairings ;; dad!jake sully x reader, mom!neytiri x reader, sully family x reader genre ;; pure angst and family feels notes / explanations ;; im speechlessly overwhelmed at the sheer amount of love you guys showed me these past couple of days. like. literally never had something like this happen to me before. i got too excited to finish this chapter to give back to yall, there was an attempt to proofread but... i hope it's not too bad, please enjoy! as always, if you see any mistakes, im sorry!

The path further into the floating mountains was all the worse to navigate thanks to the lack of light, the only useful guides you had were the faintly flickering bioluminescent lights from the forest deep below. The branches twisting around each other to create a naturally built bridge from mountain to mountain benefited from this, contrasting as a clear obscured line to your eyes against the glow underneath. 

The easiest part of your journey, in hindsight, was just skipping along this line. 

You weren’t exactly happy about this.  

The more you left behind, the more you were freaked out that Neteyam or anyone else was onto your intentions already and hot on your trail right this moment. Imagining father making a beeline to you in the air with Bob, a cruel, merciless whistling arrow, made you all jittery and almost puking kind of nervous, pulling at the depths of your stomach. 

Your rationality told you that it was a half an hour walk to your spot from the tent, and Neteyam would be hurrying the more he thought he wasn’t able to catch up with you along the way, so you had around twenty minutes until the whole family was panicking and raising the clan to look for you. 

Tuk had gone missing once thanks to some hide and seek game with Lo’ak (she’d hidden so well and was waiting for her siblings to find her already, blindly sticking to the game for an entire day, not out of stubbornness but childish purity), and this was exactly what had gone down —

the resentful part of you questioned if father thinks of you highly enough to resort to that. 

If something happened to you, he would maybe urge your brothers to search for you for a while, and drop it then — leaving you to your own devices happily. 

Maybe. 

Were you even worth it in his eyes for a search party? You wondered if he cared enough that you disappeared. 

But that was a stupid, childish thought you knew you fantasized about a lot — perhaps this was why he’d called you immature. This was no mindset for a strong, independent, confident hunter. The thought father was right, even a miniscule bit was bitter on your tongue, worse than what he called black coffee. 

Disappearing so you’d find out just how much he cared was unfair to mom, for one. 

She had lost so much in such a short amount of time, the stories she sang poignantly about were hard to listen to without tearing up. Her home. The trees of voices, all the lost ancestors. Her father. Uncle Tsu’tey. Her first ikran, Seze. Loss upon loss you think there’d be nothing left to give anymore, but sky people’s fire was always hungry, always willing to waste more to grow bigger. 

You wouldn’t forgive yourself for making her cry in your pursuit to punish father. Never. 

You weren’t a child.

Just wanted to be one, sometimes.

Wanted father to babytalk you, pet your head longer than a passing touch as he walked away hurriedly to attend to other matters, make beads for your braids the way he always did from pretty stones he found on ponds, carve you little trinkets when you graciously had to give up your toys to Lo’ak and Kiri’s greed. 

Your neck piece was all them in fact, he’d see it if he ever paid enough attention, or perhaps it was all insignificant to him, five kids meant countless belongings for each individual child had been passed down from his hands, it would be a miracle for father to recognize you still wore his clumsy creations. But again, it had been too long since he’d even looked at you affectionately, he wouldn’t See. 

He’d transferred those habits entirely to Neteyam at one point in time. 

Your older brother would always ruffle Lo’ak’s hair and tease him the way father used to, comfort him in his own playful way, and even though the younger looked discontent at being babied, you knew he was happy Neteyam was quite literally his shadow to look after him through tough times — including shielding from father’s line of fire. In return, he was suffering from being a foil to the older son, you understood the struggle because you were going through the same comparison, you just weren’t obsessed with catching and living up to father as much as Lo’ak did. 

Win some, lose some, I guess.

Plus, Neteyam was trembling under the massive planet-weight pressure, he had to set the standard, he had to live up to the older brother title. He was becoming more of a father figure to Tuk as days passed and the Olo’eyktan became more transparent from his family’s life as a dad to five. 

Besides, Lo’ak made trouble enough for two people to go around that you felt bad for your big brother, Kiri was thankfully more mellow (despite frequently hanging out together with him and Spider) compared to him that Neteyam could breathe, not having to divide his attention. 

You were in awe of her about how disconnected she was from all the changing dynamics. She had her own problems you could never understand, more spiritual than your grandmother, and ever the ethereal soul who you thought would disappear into Eywa if flesh wasn’t holding her down to Eywa’eveng.

You were the teeniest, tiniest bit jealous of her (and Tuk) holding the softer sides of father, the boys thought he was deliberately softer because they were girls — but you were also a girl, so why weren’t you allowed in?   

Well, thanks to that, you’d gotten closer with Neteyam and known him better after the whole clan had settled on High Camp, so it wasn’t all that bad. You could badmouth father all day long sitting on some rock and make him laugh abashedly, guilty that he was smiling along with the trashing of the father’s name he respected so much — it was therapy, as Norm had taught humans frequently sought back on earth. It got you trying some things with Neteyam, becoming more of a companion and ranting buddy for him who he could be honest and open with, so that he didn’t have to worry about taking up a larger role in your life to fill father’s missing presence. You were concerned about him more than he could be concerned about you. 

That got you contemplating if father had noticed how comfortable his two oldest children were with each other that it was always Neteyam who he sent after you. A girl could dream, no? For one moment, it wasn’t because it was Neteyam’s responsibility, but because father was paying attention to how his kids got along.

The image of him pushed you to be frantically fast to reach your destination as the fear returned with might. If he caught you right now when you had no ikran to prove him wrong, the punishment he was sure to give would be way more humiliating, you at least wanted something in your name to taunt him with if you were going down anyways. 

A smile crept up your face at imagining him discombobulated and speechless, unable to pick out one thing that you did wrong. 

The carelessness that came with your speed combined with how dark it was to see where to clutch and put your feet on caused you to slip up countless times when climbing, the sharp rocks scraping the insides of your palms and insides of your forearms, lifting your skin up. What you cared about more than the pain was that the blood was now tracking material for your family to sniff you out — you couldn’t exactly wipe the rocks clean, so you carried on with a hammering heart, more afraid of father ruining your perfect moment than whatever ikran that would soon be going straight for your throat. 

At least you were able to wash the blood off your hands in the waterfall. 

Downside? You couldn’t see shit. With your bare back flushed straight to the wall of rock and your feet feeling out the thin edge, the shrill cry of ikrans and the roaring of water was about to overwhelm your senses too much to pay attention — 

and you slipped. 

The shriek that ripped out of you at the sensation of falling and the drop of your stomach alone almost made you pass out, and for a split second it was a good thing that you wouldn’t feel the moment you died, but your body, once again, was one step ahead of you, it twisted in the air the last second and your hands gripped the ledge. 

The wet rock and your blood made all that your life was hanging on slippery as you dangled into the abyss, swaying with the strong winds at this height. 

You didn’t know if it was the adrenaline or the nervousness, but something made you laugh out loud, and the bubbling laughter continued until you were able to pull yourself up safely at the ikran rookery, finally. 

Looking around like a fish out of water, how you hadn’t cracked your skull open shooting down to the forest below was a total miracle. 

You’d made it?  

No one was there to witness what you just pulled off in total darkness. Your whole body was shaking, and you weren’t even chosen by an ikran yet. This was happening. Shit. This was totally happening! 

Your excited and terrified, “Hell yeah!” went unheard apart from your aerial crowd. 

But. 

One among them answered your holler with its own that cut into the night like a battle horn. It was the closest one to you that was apparently watching you the whole time, starting to roar at you and twitching on its feet, shadow in the night informing you of its movements.

You’d seen from Neteyam and Lo’ak’s iknimayas that you only had a few seconds to pull your shit together until it attacked, this was meant to be dangerous, serious, you could end up as a late night snack to them if things went wrong, but you couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear that it had chosen you.

You were chosen. 

It wanted you as its rider. 

If only father could see you now. The sensation of being the one — being special was unmatched. Now you could somehow get the fraction of the high he must have felt as Toruk Makto.  

The, “Let’s fucking go!” that left you kept echoing into the night as you lunged at it, dodging to the left when it snapped at your head, hooking one arm around the ikran’s slender neck and clamping your legs around it the moment it started thrashing around wildly. 

You didn’t know why father had made a big deal out of it. You formed tsaheylu in no time, breaking Neteyam’s record — and you didn’t even have the rope to hoop around its neck and jaw. 

Firstborn daughter excellence. 

Confidence restored and triumphing wildly to the pulse of your heart, the flickering smile on your face in wonder turned into a full-fledged smirk. At that moment, nothing mattered. It was just you and your victory. Proving father wrong. 

Feeling the ikran’s lifeforce through the bond, a shiver went down your back as his beady eye looked up at you, pupil shrinking and expanding rapidly while you both took a minute to catch your breaths after the fierce wrestling. 

“Gotcha,” you panted. “You’re mine now.”

The adrenaline made everything sparkle and shine, your spirits soaring high and unbothered about literally anything else in the world, and for one glorious moment, lost in the memories of your brothers’ iknimayas boasting with cheers from the clan and sometimes encouraging, sometimes fearful screams of your parents, your spirit sought them out to be soaked in the same pride — forgetting that it was night and nobody was there to celebrate you. 

You were all alone. 

The smile dropped from your face and crashed down like paper thin porcelain upon the slightest movement. 

Right. 

You’d forgotten you were doing this out of spite. It snuffed every twinkle of magic away from the previously shimmering milestone of your life. 

Your ikran felt the crushing disappointment through your connection and chirped at you, almost like an excited sibling pulling on your arm to show you something, weirdly comforting. Mom’s ikran was a spitfire, but also nurturing — this one felt different somehow, you felt him bouncing from wall to wall in your head, hyperactive and cheerful.

Flying! He wanted to fly! 

The first flight sealed the bond, after all. 

You weren’t alone even if none of your family members were here to share the joy — you had your new buddy. And the drop of gravity was thrilling this time, not the terrifying chaos that had your asshole shriveling up as it was when you’d missed your step. 

The flights with mom were something you looked forward to, drying up in frequency as you aged, you’d missed the wind on your body and the greenery dancing below as you maneuvered in the air — but mom reserved nighttime rides for father only, and after the move to High Camp, the skimpering chance you could get your way if you begged cutely enough was gone too. You’d never flown at night. 

The sight was out of this world. The stars leaving a glowing trail above you, the forest pulsing with faint purple, green and blue lights underneath, everything was elevated in beauty because darkness let them shine. 

You made loops in the air with your ikran, got as high in the air as you could before your breath thinned, and scraped at the tips of trees before shooting up again, all the while laughter you’ve never screamed before bubbled out of you. 

And you were all alone. There was no mom to gleefully taunt your ikran with hers to get both of you dancing in the air. There was no father to watch on with a small smile he was fighting. There was no Neteyam to stop you from dipping too close to the ground, and no Lo’ak to challenge you to get closer to race with him — no Kiri to complain how all of you were being so childish, how stupid this was all the while she was the worst of you all, instigating all the chaos. 

No Tuk in your mom’s lap whining about you guys leaving her off the fun. 

Instead, there was the scent of a bogey in the air, snapping you out of the haze of sorrow.

When had you ventured out further into unprotected territory? 

Linked with your thought process, the ikran stopped advancing forward and started beating his wings downward to stay unmoving, you observed the surroundings to get a better feeling of where you were, and noticed this was around the old shack, artificial lights were gliding between the leaves and branches that obscured your view of just who was roaming the grounds at night, definitely not a natural part of the forest’s flora.    

Father’s voice materialized in your head, drilled into you and your siblings’ heads over and over again. If you come across any threat at all, do not engage, fall back and inform me. Got it? You call for me first.

And that split second of being afraid was your death sentence — that father would be so angry at you for your ignorance, amateurism, carelessness and idiocy that he could throw you out of the family for almost leading the demons to base simply by being there that they could figure out what direction you’d come from. That moment of weakness was enough for someone to snipe you out, and get you falling down from your ikran straight into the forest below, the cries of your new friend falling silent on your ears as you did your best to hug giant leaves to cushion your fall to the best of your ability. . 

 Barely any time was left for you to shake the disorienting motion sickness off, you couldn’t even attempt to run into the accepting, protective hands of the forest before whoever just shot at you was onto you, harshly gripping your arms and raising you up. 

Father’s gonna be so mad if he finds out. Shit, I gotta get out of this. 

But… Avatars? In full camo, armored, even. You hadn’t heard of this from anybody in camp!

“Damn! Didn’t actually think you’d be able to land the shot from all of that tree, man! Up-top!”

Two of them high-fived, you were actually going to be sick. 

Thumb between his belt and stomach, another Avatar strutted towards you. The saunter and confidence meant that he was their leader. “Now, now… What do we have here?”

“A native.” You were being pushed down on your knees, one hand being grabbed and shown like a trophy. Just how many were there? You couldn't calm yourself enough to focus! “Four fingers.”

The speaker this time was a woman. “How unusual. Those monkeys don’t leave their coven at night.” 

“Where were you flying, little bird?” The leader, a sleazy smirk on his face, leaned down to take a good look at you. “Leading away from the nest, perhaps?”

“She don’t understand, Colonel, don’t bother. Ya think Sully could ever manage teaching one word of English to those?”

“Watch how she learns in three seconds.” He yanked on your queue so hard you saw white light in this hour of darkness — and when your vision came back, a screen with your father’s face was being shoved to your face. “Jake Sully. Toruc Mactoe. Where is he?”

You screamed when he pulled with increasing strength, keeping up with the act you didn’t understand. And the state of pain and terror massively helped, contributing to you looking frantic and lost, only knowing that you were being zapped to your core. 

“Seems like I don’t need to ask you.” His fingers snapped your head back to get a good look at your earpiece, late to notice you had it on at all because of the dark. “Can directly ask the man himself.” 

All you could form to think was, ‘Father’s gonna kill me for this. He’s actually gonna kill me this time.’

You weren't terrified of what the Avatars would do to you. You were afraid of him.

One empty shell from the reloaded machine gun flew away, tinkling hollow when it fell down, and rolled until it stopped in a small pool of water that had formed on the jagged ground of the cave systems. In the scarlet and orange glow of the campfire he’d haphazardly put together right outside of their home out of impatience after Neytiri had basically thrown him out, Jake almost mistook the liquid for blood. 

An ominous cloud of dread settled on his shoulders, a paranoia every father tended to go through.

“Big Brother, this is Devil Dog. State your status, over.”

Neteyam didn’t miss a beat to answer, thankfully. “Devil Dog, this is Big Brother. I’m still en route to Foxcove, over.”

“How much longer?”

“Ten minutes at best, sir. Over.”

What he wanted to say was how come he hadn’t met you halfway, but it was empty talk. No need to stress the boy out. “Devil Dog signing out.”

This girl was half the reason for the wrinkles on his forehead, Jesus Christ. He was basically waiting you out like a father sitting in the dark to ambush his daughter who had snuck out at night, for that single glorious moment of yeah that’s right, you got caught, after the light would come on to ruin that moment of relief of successfully making it back in. 

His mate had scolded him to be nice and understanding, a Marine was anything but, the closest he could compromise was not being as mean to you than he had to be. Sassing, “So how was your Iknimaya?” like he planned was out the window — Neytiri was spot-on to say the girl would simply give the same mean energy right back at him, and that could only mean another erupting volcano of a fight and a good night’s sleep ruined for him, overthinking where he went wrong and how else he could have salvaged the situation. 

He’d just make you tend to the ikrans for a week for some patience practice, cleaning shit for hours on a daily basis would certainly throw the temporary whim of the rite of passage hyperfixation out of your system. The possibility of you shouting you hated him was unavoidable, but Jake had to get his point across, no matter how terribly it nauseated him to hear something like that from his child. 

It was strange to remember he couldn’t care less for what people thought of him in the past. Some shithead he wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about hated Jake’s guts? Good. He was living in their head rent free, it was fun even — Neytiri too, Jake absolutely enjoyed her hating game at first. 

Being legitimately resented by his very own child, though, was a heartbreak he didn’t expect to hurt him the way it did, knocking air off his lungs the first time he heard it. A burning stab right in his heart that wouldn’t go away until he had to hear it for himself you hadn’t meant any of what you said.

Because that said hate actually stemmed from hurt Jake must have inflicted. Because you could actually despise him, and never allow him to reconnect with you again if he could ever manage to garner the courage to reach out to you — a mightier challenge than hunting Toruk in the sense it actually scared him.   

His teenage daughter. Scared him. 

Jake didn’t know what to do about it, he couldn’t even show what exactly this made him feel, too ashamed and proud for it in the first place. 

The growing distance between you and him was an uneasy, frightened bird he tried to shush and calm in his heart in favor of other pressing matters that drilled small holes in the depths of his stomach, and over time, those little holes had fused together to create one big pit with greater gravitational pull than the sun — until Jake didn’t know how to stitch them back together anymore. 

He told himself he would talk to you later, for sure. The morning after every argument, every fight, every jab from you he snapped at he would try to make amends for, definitely. 

And then he didn’t. 

“What is this, are you palulukan ambushing prey? I told you to make up with her, not prepare for hunting.”

Jake shook his head, dropping the machine gun back inside the crate. The warmed metal was some sort of consolation to his nerves. Marine habit. Always felt safer with a gun near. (Or was it the American in him?) “Neytiri,” he acknowledged, bobbing his head. “I’m just passing time.”

“What do you think will happen when she comes back and sees you waiting for her like this?”

Ah, like the old times when Jake couldn’t do one thing right in her eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” he said playfully, but with no mirth behind it, closing the crate with a muffled thunk. With nothing to do with them, one elbow went to his knee and the other hand’s fingers started a rhythm on the lid he’d just shut. 

His mate’s hand gingerly came down on his shoulder, kneading the nerves. “Just talk to her, Ma’Jake.”

“I don’t know how to,” he admitted, he covered her fingers on her shoulder with his, and she immediately held his hand back. “Don’t know what to even tell her.” He gave an exhale from the deeper, tired parts of his soul, gazing at the path leading away from their tent. “With Neteyam and Lo’ak, it’s easy. I tell ‘em what to do and they—”

Neytiri took a seat next to him, gathering their hands together. “Suffer just the same.” Jake was about to brush her off, but she didn’t relent. “What you’re doing is hurting them.”

This now was about all of their children rather than you, specifically. Neytiri was trying to get him to see the bigger picture first before moving to cover what he did wrong with each child of his, they had had this conversation countless times before. 

Here we go again, Jake thought.

“Doesn’t matter if that’s what it takes to keep them safe.”

“Does it?” Neytiri leaned in, and calmness washed over him despite the disturbing nature of what she was saying. “Does it keep them safe? Or push them to act out more, get in worse situations?”

He grimaced. “I have to—”

“You feel like you have to.” His mate shook their clasped hands, rattling his bones. “I keep my children safe with trust and honesty. Transparence, Ma’Jake. So that they listen to me when I mean it because they See me. You shut them out.” Her lips bared to show her pearly teeth as she was practically beseeching him. “You don’t get your children’s trust by treating them like a squad.”

“They trust me plenty.”

“They trust Olo’eyktan. Toruk Makto. What about their father?”

“I make sure they’re safe.” Neytiri dropped his hands with an agitated snarl, she thought they were back at the beginning again, he couldn’t make her truly understand no matter what he did. He poured his heart out through their tsaheylu everytime, but her values and beliefs were wired so differently from his at the end of the day. “I make sure they stay where I want them to stay for their own good.” Jake shook his head, his voice soft, hushed. No force behind it when Neytiri was heated in return. “One day they’ll understand.”

“They won’t if you never tell them.”

“Tell them what?” Jake asked. “That I’m being harsh on them to prepare them for war? You think they’ll take it seriously after this?”

“Na’vi were in war long before you. There will be wars after you. No parent sullied his child’s happiness for the price of becoming a warrior. You still don’t get our ways even after all these years.” 

“The sky people’s way,” Jake emphasized with his arms. “I have to teach them how they think, what they go through, so they know what they’ll be facing, okay? I can’t simply teach them by telling them.”

“You’re deluding yourself, Jake. Contradicting.” Neytiri was gentle in her cruelty, the flickering flames burned less than her amber eyes. “Tuk and Kiri are getting none of this. I know your heart isn’t allowing you. Why can’t you do the same for your other children?”

Because he had gone too far already with the older three. 

Trial and error. 

He couldn’t take back the things he did and say back — and quite honestly? Jake was being pulled from all sides to sit down and rethink his parenting. All he thought anymore was how to protect his family, frequent nightmares of losing his children in gruesome ways were haunting his every step. 

A father protects his children, that’s what gives him meaning. 

Jake had his own desperate ways to do so.  

He opened his mouth to say something back, anything, but was interrupted by the communication line coming on. “Dad.” 

Jake immediately knew something was wrong, body sitting ramrod straight. If the frantic breathing and barely controlled voice wasn’t any indication of it, his eldest’s behavior was. Neteyam didn’t slip up in the codenames like Lo’ak did, dropped all formalities only when he was borderline panicking.  

“Dad. I’m sorry, dad, sir, I can’t find her, dad, I’ve looked everywhere around here, I thought maybe she was hiding underwater, behind rocks—but I can’t, I can’t—.”

“Slow down.” Jake could barely contain his own panic rising from the state his son was in. The boy wasn’t able to see it, but he couldn’t stop himself from leaning in as if Neteyam was right in front of him, and started gesturing with his hand. “Slow down, son.”

“Dad—”

Jake tsk-ed. “Neteyam, slow. Slow.”

Neytiri took his elbow. “What is it?”

He told her to wait with his gaze, and turned his attention back to Neteyam. This could only mean one thing, he was praying to be wrong — needed clarification. “Now tell me calmer. What’s going on?”

“She’s never been here. She never came here in the first place. There’s no sign of her. No trace. I’ve tracked.”

Jake’s instant response was fear. Domineering, ice-cold, cutting fear. Bodily and emotionally both. You were clockwork, similar to him in having unchanging routines and patterns. Angry? Went for a walk. Depressed? No talking to anyone until it passed. Happy? Wanted to go to the forest to spend time with your siblings and always craved sweet fruit. Didn’t want to be around anyone? Hid in the little bioluminescent cove with a pond two little mountains away, always. Always.  

Neytiri sensed this, observing the change of demeanor in him.“Ma’Jake?”

“Okay, son.” He seized back control. One missing child was enough. “Stay right there and don’t move. I’ll contact you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Jake,” Neytiri hissed finally, at the end of her ropes.

“She didn’t go to the cove,” he said, face icy neutral as always, but his eyes showed dizzying concern. Neytiri put a hand on her mouth as Jake wasted no time in changing channels. “Night Owl, this is Devil Dog. Come in.” He couldn’t even wait two seconds before trying again. “Night Owl, what is your status? Where are you?” 

Silence.

The more fear dug deeper into his skin, the more his anger and annoyance soared up, his tail was whipping the air erratically, the finger on the earpiece could send the metal right into his brain with how hard he was pressing on it. “I know you can hear me. This is no time for playing games. You know what you did to your brother? Do you know how panicked he was, not being able to find you—” 

Then Jake remembered what Neytiri advised, he didn’t change strategies because she was right next to him to dig his eyes out, but because his heart was picking up its pace by the second. “Tell me where you are, I’ll leave you alone, I promise, alright? If you’re somewhere open, get to safety, I’m only asking this from you. Or else—”

“Don’t.” Neytiri raised a warning finger at him, voice just above a whisper so they could hear their daughter if she decided to cut in. “Threaten her.”

He couldn’t stop her from snatching the communication device off of him. “Ma’ite, it’s mom. Can you talk to me at least?”

His ears twitched at picking up on you responding, not quite making out the words.  

Jake’s eyes shut close for a long time as his whole eyebrow line migrated upwards, he physically had to get a few steps between him and the earpiece so the obliviating worry that’d almost blinded him wouldn’t cause him to say something he’d greatly regret later. He could feel himself deflating. A migraine could be coming anytime soon.

You wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence but the moment your mother interrupted, you did? Fine. Fine. He didn’t care. Jake could live with it. At least you were alive.

A rippling shudder shook him the moment that thought hit him, an image of you lying dead in a ditch, pale blue, flashing in his mind, he had to run a hand down his face. 

When Jake looked back, irked by the silence, he found Neytiri standing completely stock-still. And all of a sudden, her petrifying glare was on him, ears pinned all the way back, hands gradually starting to tremble. 

“Neytiri?” 

She wordlessly handed him the device, and with a deep frown, Jake put it back in his ear. 

“Hi there Corporal, you hear me? Yeah, I know you do. As much as I’m charmed by the fatherly love I could give you a big old sloppy wet kiss, we have unfinished business.”

And the ground disappeared right under Jake’s feet, plunging him into hell itself.

taglist: @ihonestlydontknowwhattonamethis @alohastitch0626 @jackiehollanderr @lucciera @qvrcll @iloveavatar @velvtcherie @ssc7514 @goldenmoonbeam @neteyamforlife @itsluludoll @jakesullys-bitch @blubrryy @sully-stick-together @arminsgfloll @alice121804 @noname2246 @justthingzsblog @eywamygoddess @m-1234 @ellabellabus07 @hellok1ttycake @dakotali @bluefire12348 @abbersreads @yellooaaa @aimsro @octavias-next-meat-bite @nikqdn @nao-cchi @spicycloudsalad @yeosxxx @heybiatchz @winxschester @elegantkidfansoul @eichenhouseproperty @kakimakiloh @dueiosy @liyahsocorro @dimplesxx @tigresslily

[noideasforausername]

crumpled letter.

description: sirius black x literally whoever (self-insert or existing character, anything works)

word count: 0.7k

warnings: angst? (basically all I write is angst are we even surprised at this point)

───────────

Sirius was used to being on the receiving end of an absurd number of letters – written confessions – on the regular. It had been admittedly entertaining at first, grown rapidly concerning and ended up becoming quite bothersome. By his sixth year, he’d taken the habit of simply throwing them away: the dizzying shades of pink an eyesore, particularly first thing in the morning.  

Blue, black, red and occasionally gold ink, all conveying one clear message through their various deviations from the boring “I like you” (that is, of course, with one singular and minuscule heart over each individual i). 

That particular morning, things were about as outwardly ordinary as possible: the nauseatingly colourful pile dropped next to Sirius’ goblet a testament to this statement.  

It seemed that the owls’ brief period of strike was over – for Hogwarts had seen this rare phenomenon earlier that year, the animals having reached abnormally high levels of annoyance with the repetitive act of carrying the garish mail to a less-than-grateful black-haired student. 

Sirius had half a mind to leave them there. Maybe that would give his faceless – and nameless in some cases – admirers a hint. But he didn’t. Instead, he crumpled them all up with a flick of his wand, a motion he knew by heart, and stuffed them in his pocket (the waiting room before they’d inevitably find their home in the depths of the nearest trash can.)

Amongst them, a white envelope. One so ordinary it should have stood out from the pile. Black ink on a standard piece of parchment.

 

“Here it goes. I have tried writing this with flourish and charm, but this is my last piece of parchment and I fear I will chicken out if I do not send this now. 

I’m aware the chances of you reading this are slim. Perhaps that’s why I decided to write you in the first place. But I have tried everything. And being a small speck in the sandstorm that causes that frown to appear on your forehead every morning seemed a fair price to pay.  

Let me start, or better yet continue, by clarifying one thing: this is not a love letter. I am not writing to beg for a chance of your eyes meeting mine in anything more than a passing coincidence. Instead, I hope that this will end up at the bottom of your pocket, and that the rage I hold will burn a hole right through that expensive black silk, setting the rest of the letters aflame and silencing the voices you crush daily with the barest swish of the wrist. 

You, Sirius Orion Black, are infuriating. Your face is irksome. Your grin is positively maddening. The curve of your cheekbones, the angle of your jawline, the glint in your eyes, the way you so effortlessly carry yourself – as if taking up space is what you were born to do. I’ve come to believe that you are taunting me indirectly.  

And I wish you would stop. Or maybe what’s even more aggravating is that I can’t picture a life in which you do. It is unfair, that we are unable to look at the sun for too long without being blinded, and yet no matter how long my eyes rest on you, my vision stays intact.  

I have made it my mission to ignore you. But not only has this proven impossible, my stubborn nature has blown this situation out of proportions, resulting in a pair of invisible, unmovable binoculars that constantly seek you out having replaced my eyes.  

I have no explanation, no enchantment ever recorded matches the effect you seem to have on me. This slow, torturous, pit in my stomach knowing that somewhere between these walls, your chest is rising and falling in rhythm with my own.  

I have many more insults to throw your way, but I am running out of paper. All that to say, though you may believe you dispose only of devoted admirers, there is someone in this very castle whose life has been thrown off its axis for no apparent reason other than your very existence. I hope that getting this off my chest and sending it your way will break this unbearable cycle. If not, this is my formal way of telling you to fuck off Sirius Black. Fuck off and put my life back the way it was.” 

[ninadove]

Hi Nina! Why transmask Felix and not transfem? Or you are fine with transfem too?

Hi Anon! Hope you’re having a wonderful day! 💖

I do like transfem Felix! In fact, I originally leaned more towards this option. The Senti-lore is extremely queer by nature, and I think it’s wonderful so many people can see themselves in the kids.

Really, it comes down to personal interpretation. Some notes below:

1. Colt Fathom is a massive douchebag.

Nothing groundbreaking here. We been knew. At first glance, you’d assume he would want a male heir for Toxic Masculinity Reasons™; but I think he would prefer a daughter, also for Toxic Masculinity Reasons™.

Colt is the kind of person who wants to elevate his own status in the world, and the solution he resorted to is marriage. This kind of alliances is frequent in the spheres he navigates, as seen in S5 with the Adrigami plot: as such, he would likely see his child not as an heir, like the GDV lineage would, but rather as something he could trade for even more power. A daughter of noble pedigree and born into considerable wealth would undoubtedly be a catch, and give him a leg up in his race against other rich jerks.

Additionally, we’ve seen how he acts around Felix — how he perceives him as a threat and a reminder of his own mortality. Peacock curse or not, asking for a son would have forced him to face the prospect of eventually being overpowered by his own progeniture every single day; but a little girl? Surely, there’s no threat there, right?

2. Felix’s first appearance gives us lots to think about.

Firstly, when it comes to Adrien’s reaction. When Amelie explains that she decided to drop by “so [they] could all be together” on the anniversary of Emilie’s fridging, this is the (adorable) face he makes:

Because he understands! If his aunt is here, surely his cousin must be here too. ���All together” means all together.

Yet, when Felix actually appears, draped in dramatic lighting like the theatre kid he is, Adrien still looks strangely surprised:

Which Amelie immediately follows up by highlighting that they look “just like twins”. The characters should not need this comment — they were here the whole time the kids were growing up! Of course, there’s a doylist explanation to this line: we, the public, must understand that Identity Shenanigans Will Ensue (and they did). But what could this mean in-world?

I propose that the cousins did not always look exactly like each other — that they were perfect twins as young kids, but became more and more different as time went by. Perhaps one developed more feminine features, while the other grew up to look more masculine. If the Agrestes did not witness the early stages of Felix’s transition (probably started right after Colt’s death, so only a few months before canon), it makes sense they would be taken aback by the newly recovered resemblance between the kids.

And, of course, it adds some depth to the Identity Shenanigans. Especially if you read Adrien as genderqueer or transfem.

3. Felix exhibits stereotypically masculine behaviours every chance he gets.

This goes from wearing what is basically the Official Rich Boy Uniform (waistcoat, tie, black and white palette):

To certain mannerisms, like putting his feet on Gabriel’s desk to assert dominance against the guy who could literally snap him out of existence:

To the way he perceives himself: a cursed prince from a twisted fairytale, who systematically places himself in the role of the protector (even if it’s not always appreciated by the people in his life).

To me, this sliiightly over-the-top behaviour is very reminiscent of a child who just figured out something huge about their identity and is exploring it to the fullest — to find out what it truly means to them, and which aspects they want to incorporate into their life.

Which leads me to the most important point:

4. The Peacock Miraculous! 💜🦚

Deeply associated with Felix’s reclamation of his safety, freedom and bodily autonomy. And when we think about peacocks, what do we think about?

Colourful feathers. Panache. Ostentation (this is literally what groups of peafowls are called). A conception of masculinity that is different from social standards in most of the Western world, but is there and bold and unapologetic.

We don’t get to see Felix using the brooch for the first time — even his mum, who he trusts with everything, is absent. He needs this privacy to come to terms with his powers and make them his.

But then, when we do get to see him transform — everybody else witnesses it too. Felix goes from hiding behind Adrien’s face, ergo disguising as someone he is not, to revealing his identity to both the audience and the entirety of Paris.

This is Argos embracing who he truly is, even if the world might call him monstrous.

And finally, one more point:

5. Why would Tomoe prefer a model over a quasi-prince as a potential match for her daughter?

I get it — she has a partnership going on with Gabriel. But the woman is leagues smarter than him (What? Like it’s hard?) and could most likely find another way to turn the world into her own little dystopian dream, should she want to. Not to mention, even if Adrien is a catch by most people’s standards, he is still the bane of the GDV lineage.

Felix is the heir. Felix is just as wealthy, if not wealthier than the Agrestes. Felix is the best at everything he does (chess, horse-riding, karate) and as such should be a perfect fit for Kagami, even by Tomoe’s insanely high standards.

Yet, she keeps referring to him as this corrupting influence: not because he is a supervillain (she hangs out with them on the regular), but because he might whisper dangerous ideas about ✨ freedom ✨ and ✨ bodily autonomy ✨ in her sweet daughter’s ear while they make out dressed as Adrien’s parents. We know how important femininity is to the Tsurugi lineage: Duusu forbid this monster talks Kagami into rejecting it in any form.

So, there you have it, Anon. I’m sure there’s a lot of evidence to support other interpretations, but this is the one that resonates most with my brain! 💜🦚🏳️‍⚧️

Can’t believe I almost forgot:

“Felix” literally means happiness and luck: a weird choice from Colt, and it’s unlikely Amelie had any say in the matter. So when Argos says:

“Isn’t it great? We have everything we need to be happy!”

It very much sounds like his first name could be a conscious reclamation on his end!

[eiilese]

Love the designs and descriptions you did for the straw hats!! I do want to ask, since they all have different roles and skills do they meet the crew at different points in the story? Like, since Robin is the shipwright would she have met the crew at Water 7 or would it still be Alabasta but under different circumstances? Since she’s not an archeologist she wouldn’t have been raised on O’Hara, right?

Just curious to see what your thoughts are😊 - thanks.

thank you so much for the ask!! sorry this took so long to answer it took awhile to gather my ideas. i’m so happy with how well this au thing was received ;u; TY to people who left tags and replies!! i read everything 🫶

here is the original post for role swap! this post has explanations for backstories! i really did try to have drawings to go with everything but i burned out as this month went on so not every character has doodles :(

—

i kept everything mostly the same in terms of when the strawhats meet each person. i didn’t want to change too much to avoid changing important character moments that happen in canon

this isn’t a super heavy rewrite, there’s a lot of backstory to juggle and i’m not equipped to write such an in-depth au rn 😭 but i might make separate posts for arcs like water 7 or wci!! though i kept a lot of backstory the same theres a lot of rewrite potential for those sagas

i hope these are fun to read about nonetheless ^_^ i included some stuff from @flute-of-pan pan and @onethousandsunnies because they left tags on the original post that were cool ideas

nami, vice capt.

not much changes!! instead of forcing her to chart maps, arlong might just have her around as a servant girl. regardless, the deal to buy back cocoyashi village still stands and nami works hard for it

generally i think her selflessness and loyalty to her village makes her fit to be a vice captain. she looks out for people at her own detriment and was willing to take the fall for such much ahhh

in my opinion she’s good vice captain material!! perhaps a cowardly one but still reliable. also a good treasurer for the crew as always

zoro, cook

zoro grew up training to be a swordsman and competes against kuina, but he also has a knack for cooking as a hobby. he’s mostly the same but sanji’s “stuck on a rock in the middle of the ocean with zeff” happens to him instead (flute-of-pan suggested the cook always suffers the fate of starvation)

kuina decides to run away and zoro is roped into her plans. it goes wrong and they get stranded on a rock, eventually arguing and ending up on opposite sides of the rock with the little food they brought

zoro finds out kuina gave him everything they had soon after she stops replying to him. he’s rescued thanks to kuina’s dad, who tracked them down with vivre cards. kuina’s had long since burned up

similar to canon, zoro continues striving to become the world’s strongest after her death. i think this backstory coupled with him eating those stomped riceballs at the very beginning of the story is so….(GESTURE) it’s very reminiscent of sanji’s no-waste-policy which he would absolutely also have

sanji, sniper

germa 66 has a mafia aesthetic now 👍i only have the willpower to draw reiju here she ended up kind of cluttered but i like my vision

sanji’s backstory is mostly the same: he and his siblings are genetically modified to be the perfect soldiers, but he had a kind nature that made him the target of abuse. after reiju helps him escape, he ends up with zeff and worked as a janitor. zeff loses his leg while trying to save sanji in a maritime accident; though they don’t get stranded anywhere, sanji has to be indebted to him somehow

when the baratie is opened, he works as a busser/guard against unruly guests. flute-of-pan mentioned that he could fire the canons of the ship

when the strawhats meet him on the baratie, sanji still gives don krieg’s crew food. i don’t think his kindness around that would disappear just bc he doesn’t have a whole starving incident

usopp, navigator

on top of bluffing about being the leader of a huge pirate army, he would create fake maps and brag to everyone in syrup village (especially kaya) about these places he so evidently visited. kaya loved his drawings even if the places weren’t real

his dream is to create a Real map of the whole world, not a fake map that he makes up out of stories. drafting the real world makes him a brave explorer of the seas, which he also wants to become :)

when the strawhats meet him, they were basically relying on nami’s limited sailing skills to get around. not only do they get the going merry but they have a real, reliable navigator now! AND he’s multitalented B)

chopper, helmsman

from a young age he set his sights on sailing the seas to escape from the isolation he faced on drum island. he would routinely make little boats for himself to escape the island on, failing each time, and hiriluk would always nurse him back to health

instead of studying to be a doctor, chopper has a general desire to be helpful and acted as an assistant to hiriluk’s medical endeavors

both flute-of-pan and onethousandsunnies pitched that chopper studied stuff like ocean currents!! overall he studied the ocean real hard but would never leave the island without hiriluk

hiriluk’s death would glue him to doctor kureha’s side and it isn’t until the strawhats come that he has the courage to embark on a new journey

franky, muscian

bro grew up running around water 7 trying to get people to join his band. tom and iceberg are still his family. his shipbuilding skills don’t go past an amateur level in this au. he would develop a line of dinky guitars (or instruments in general) that also had lasers/canons/confetti in them. his dream is A FRANKY WORLD TOUR 🤞FREE ADMISSION

many of his weaponized instruments littered the shipyard, spandam uses them in his attack

after the whole tom/spandam situation unfolds, iceberg is the one to find and reconstruct franky into a cyborg after getting run over by the sea train. but he won’t implement piano key abs no matter how much franky asks 🙄

the newly formed franky family protect the city and throw unsolicited concerts in the middle of the street B)

robin, shipwright

though she’s not an archeologist, she still grew up on ohara! instead of archeology, she’s a gifted engineer. her devil fruit made her an outcast and her strange, misunderstood inventions did not help her case

when jaguar d saul gets stranded on ohara, robin constructs the raft for him :) the buster call unfolds the same as canon except this time, everyone’s actually not lying when they say robin can’t read poneglyphs! she never learned!! again flute-of-pan had the cool idea that she is wrongly accused. still, she’s pursued and branded as a devil child

she ends up with crocodile, who believes she can read poneglyphs. she takes advantage of this and earns his protection from the government but her ruse is uncovered when she lies to croc about what alabasta’s poneglyph says (girl cannot read that!)

robin dreams of creating a ship that can carry her and the friends she wishes to have. after meeting robin in alabasta she joins the strawhats!!

brook, doctor

he was the doctor of the rumbar pirates. an injured laboon came to like brook after he nursed him back to health!! when yorki became sick from disease brook tried his hardest to cure him, but failed :(

he was doomed to watch his crewmates die to poison that he cannot hope to cure because he himself was also dying. when he came back thru his fruit it was already too late :( the rumbar pirates Do record a song for laboon though this event cannot be edited ���

met in thriller bark; ik that’s a long ass time to go without a real doctor on board

by the time they meet brook everyone’s already so battered that he has to go to town on them with gauze and stitches. the company delights him ^_^

jinbei, archeologist

i mentioned this in the first post abt this au but his interest in history sparked thanks to the history of joyboy and fishman island being so intertwined. at some point in his youth, jinbei frequently visited ohara (prior to the buster call) and grew a strong relationship with the scholars there (i’m just assuming they wouldn’t be racists 🤪) he runs into robin a handful of times

he secretly learns how to read poneglyphs here leading up to the buster call. he wasn’t on the island when it happened so he managed to avoid robin’s fate

his story proceeds the same from there with the neptune army, joining fisher tiger, meeting koala, etc…

i enjoy the idea of getting invited to be a warlord by the government while simultaneously being one of the most wanted people in the world for knowing poneglyph secrets

—

also i’m sorry if there are things i forgot about or details that don’t make sense >—>o

the anime’s pacing has ruined my enthusiasm for awhile lol and i’ve consumed a lot of media since catching up!! everyone’s backstories/canon events aren’t too fresh in my memory but i did some researching to remedy it 🫡

[firefirefruit]

Steel in Her Veins, Chapter: Thirty-One

Read On: AO3 | Table of Contents | Next Chapter

Characters: Fem!Reader x Roronoa Zoro

Chapter Thirty-One: Rubber

A myriad of packeted rubbers lay scattered across the table.

Chopper, usually the picture of innocence, squirms uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes fixed on the desk before him as he embarks on what is undoubtedly the most awkward conversation of his young life.

“So… when a male and a female engage in intimate intercourse…” Chopper quickly squeaks, his eyes firmly glued to his desk. “At the height of their stimulation, there’s something that occurs, called ‘ejaculat—’”

“Please. Please make it stop.” Raya’s stricken voice comes out in restrained muffles through the air-locked seal of her hands, whirls of hot steam continuously needling out from the gaps of her fingers.  

“Ch-Chopper, it’s not what you think,” Zoro blurts out, squirming uncomfortably in his undersized chair. “W-we were just... training. Yeah – yeah, we… we were sparring.”

Raya’s mouth gives way to a miserable moan, shooting the samurai a withering glare from between her blackened fingers. “No. You’re stupid. You’re actually stupid. I think it’s finally hit me.”

Zoro’s eyes narrow as he turns his head, his expression forming a menacing snarl. He’s about to unleash a sharp retort when Chopper, sensing the tension mounting between the two, quickly intervenes. The little doctor knows all too well what’s coming next - another pointless squabble that would only serve to further strain their already fraught relationship. 

With a quick dart of his furry little frame, Chopper positions himself squarely between the two, effectively diffusing the situation before it can escalate any further.

“Zoro. Training?” Chopper repeats, his tone sceptical. “C-completely naked?”

Zoro pauses. Slowly, almost comedically, red begins to colour the samurai’s face as he splutters for an explanation, something – anything – to get out of this Gods awful sex-talk with Chopper.

“Uh... well, yeah, you know...” he stammers, his words faltering under both Raya and Chopper’s unwavering scrutiny. “Sword-fighting… Cardio… Practicing… You know…”

“Just stop,” Raya whispers, looking wholly ashen.

Chopper sighs and takes his little red hat off from his head.

“Guys, it’s not like I’m enjoying having to do this,” he began, his voice tinged with exasperation. “But as your doctor, it’s my responsibility to see that you’re both being… safe.”

The room falls into a suffocating silence, each word from Chopper hanging in the air like an impending storm. Zoro and Raya avoid each other’s eyes, the tension between them thickening with every passing moment. 

Chopper clears his throat, his eyes darting between the two. “Are either of you… o-on any sort of contraceptive, by—”

“No!” Raya instantly interjects, growing redder by the second. She fumes in her seat, never thinking she’d be asked these questions by the one crewmate she could only see as an innocent baby boy. 

Chopper’s eyes widen in disbelief as he realises the weight of her answer. 

“B-But you both know how babies happen… right?” he chokes out.

And in an instant, Zoro’s throat tightens as he chokes on his own saliva, his eye bulging comically wide in sheer shock. Meanwhile, Raya buries her face deeper into her palms, as if trying to conceal herself from the embarrassment that engulfs the room. Thick, chugging clouds of smoke rise above her head, practically begging her to hop aboard the humility train.

“Chopper… Last night was really… irresponsible, I know. We drank too much, it was a really weird moment for us… and I know you mean well with these but…” Raya hesitantly nudges the condom packets toward Chopper, her movements betraying her discomfort. “What we did was a one-time thing. A mistake. A disaster. A poor—”

Zoro’s teeth grind together audibly, a deep growl bubbling up from the depths of his throat like a menacing animal. With a swift motion, he jerks his head to the side, fixing the awkward girl with a piercing glare that could rival the intensity of a thousand suns. 

Insulting his prowess in the bedroom? He won’t let that slide. 

“Funny. ’Cause I saw otherwise - when I had your lips wrapped tightly around my finger,” Zoro retorts through clenched teeth, his words dripping with pure bitterness. The following few words rumble out quieter from his lips, his body angling towards the warmth of her body. “Or did we forget that little moment?”

Raya’s eyes widen in horror as Zoro’s words hang heavy in the air, the heat of embarrassment consuming her hair like wildfire. Her mind races to comprehend what Zoro just said, struggling to grasp the reality of their drunken escapade.

“I-I don’t think we remembered last night quite too clearly, then,” Raya chokes out, her voice barely above a whisper as she stares straight ahead, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. “We were very intoxicated. We didn’t do such a thing.”

He crosses his arms, tilting his head at an angle as a smirk plays at the corners of his lips. 

“Didn’t stop you from locking your legs around me so desperately,” he lowly whispers.

Chopper’s choked surprise fills the room, his tongue nearly rolling out of his mouth in disbelief, while Raya’s face flushes with rage at Zoro’s audacity. Her fists clench at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she struggles to contain her fury.

“You’re despicable,” she hisses, her voice dripping with venom.

Zoro’s smirk widens, his eyes glinting with amusement as he revels in their verbal sparring. “Oh, am I? Or are you just too ashamed to admit the truth?”

Chopper watches the exchange with growing concern, his brow furrowing as he searches for a way to diffuse the escalating tension between the two.

“Guys, come on,” he interjects weakly, his voice barely audible over the simmering hostility in the room. “Let’s-“

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Raya screams, sparks of fire engulfing her brows in menacing stabs. “You—you’re so… insufferable!”

Zoro shrugs nonchalantly, edging himself closer to her, his smirk never faltering in the face of her fury. 

“And yet, you can’t seem to stay away.”

“Fuck you,” she spits out.

“Fuck you, too,” Zoro smirks, his tone mocking as he relishes in their verbal exchange. “How'd it go again after that? ‘Fuck m-’”

With a screech of a chair toppling over, Raya storms out of the medic cabin, her exit abrupt and final, leaving Zoro with his unfinished sentence hanging in the air.

But Raya’s fury is far from quenched. Like a hurricane flown from the burning hells, she lunges towards her smithing equipment in one smooth movement before hurtling down the deck, running away from anyone in her line of sight - until, she realises, that there seems to be virtually no other person on the deck.

She stands there aloof, looking around in complete silence.

No one's here. The Sunny, for once, creaks silently across the sea, with no trail of voices echoing against its lumber.

She looks around, scanning for clues and then suddenly, warmth spreads across her chest as the realisation kicks in.

She stares at the anchor that's lodged into the depths of the sea.

They’ve finally reached an island.

While she was in there, bickering with the stupid asshole, they were in the midst of anchoring. Law’s ship floats behind the Sunny, anchored to its tail like a sodden trail of misfortune, but the sand that brushes against its metal is undeniable. 

It’s an island. A temporary escape. From... him.

And just as suddenly, she takes a flying leap out of the ship.

Her feet sink into warm, golden sand, enveloping her ankles in a soft embrace. The sensation is pure bliss, and for a moment, she forgets about everything else. The sun beats down on her skin, its intense heat offering a welcome respite from the cold, sterile walls of the ship. 

And with a war cry, she begins running.

She runs so hard across the landscape that her lungs breathe fire, and her metals screech in desperation. Her legs kick from beneath her like a stallion in the midst of overgrown fields.

Everything’s a blur; the world spins, and her thoughts are all jumbled in a mess of unorganised breaths. For one moment, for one instant, she lets go. 

For one moment, for one instant, she allows herself to forget everything. 

She breathes in the saltiness of the air and lets her feet feel the warmth of the ground as it slowly paves its way into the corners of her pumping heart. 

She lets go until she no longer can, when her legs can’t keep up with her anger, and her heart begs for respite, and all her metals go crashing against the dense ground.

The world is silent except for her loud breaths, and Raya stands there, staring helplessly at the glimmering sword.

She feels a sharp prickle behind her eyes, an unwelcome sensation threatening to spill over into tears. 

What was she thinking?

Her chest heaves intensely.

What was she thinking, allowing herself to succumb to her wants, to desecrate a dynamic with a person that did not need meddling with?

What is she doing, enjoying herself? Grinning, and drinking, and talking, and tinkering away in her beautiful little workshop on the top of a beautiful ship; meanwhile, Suki is hanging onto his life by a thread. 

She clenches her fists, the sand slipping through her fingers as she struggles to contain herself.

And why him? She could’ve chosen anyone… anyone except for him. And for some reason, she let her, what, lust take over?

Instantly, she shakes her head. She does not lust for Zoro. No. She won’t let that happen.

She falls into the warmth of the sand, the sun casting a golden glow over her skin, the waves lapping so warmly from a faraway distance. It’s been an eternity since she last felt the solid earth beneath her feet, an eternity spent adrift on the boundless sea. But this, she realises, is her reality now—a life suspended between sky and sea, all for the sake of him. For Suki.

All for the sake of Suki.

Her gaze drifts to the sword cradled in her lap, Suki’s sword, a silent testament to her unwavering belief in his survival. She’s avoided it until now, afraid of what its touch might awaken within her.

Today, however, she reaches out to it, her fingers tracing the contours of its hilt with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. She understands now that avoiding his belongings only serves to betray her dwindling resolve. And she won’t allow herself to do that. She’ll let anything else to break inside of her except for her faith in that old man’s life. 

So she sets about her task with a determination born of desperation, each stroke of the blade a whispered prayer, a vow to keep it sharp and ready for Suki’s inevitable return. With each pass of the whetstone, she imbues it with her unwavering faith, willing it to serve as a promise to seeing him again.

She ignores the searing pain in her arm, the steady drip of blood from her wounded fingers, focusing solely on the task at hand. Raya ignores the blood that tears through the skin of her fingers as she ruthlessly continues to sharpen and refine the blade.

The world fades away, replaced by the rhythmic scrape of steel against stone, the only sound that matters in her universe of silver.

A sharp jab to her arm breaks her trance, the syringe containing Chopper’s temporary cure dully tumbling to the ground. But she hardly notices, her mind consumed by the singular purpose of her work. She presses on, her wounds growing bigger, her movements fuelled by determination and devotion, until the blade gleams with an otherworldly brilliance. 

A pair of sandy footsteps soon break that trance.

As their eyes meet, countless emotions flicker across Raya’s face - a mixture of surprise, heated resignation, and a hint of vulnerability. Zoro stands before her, a stalwart figure against the backdrop of the sinking sun. His typically steely gaze softens, revealing a trace of concern that simmers beneath the surface.

Raya’s exhale is heavy with weariness as she leans her sword against her thigh, the weight of her exhaustion and frustration palpable in the air. “I’m really not up for a fight right now,” she mutters, her voice carrying the burden of her fatigue. She raises a hand to shoo him away. “Off you go.”

Zoro’s response is swift, a shake of his head accompanied by a determined expression. “That’s not why I’m here.”

With deliberate steps, he closes the distance between them, his eyes narrowing as he notices the subtle tremor in her hands. His chest tightens with a mixture of concern and guilt as he observes the way her fingers clench and unclench, a silent testament to the turmoil raging within her.

And then he sees them – the raw wounds that mar her delicate skin, stark against the soft sand beneath their feet. His breath catches in his throat, a pang of distress coursing through him as he takes in the sight.

Clamping his teeth together, he suppresses the urge to voice his concern, his jaw tightening with resolve as he reaches for the worn bandana wrapped around his own arm. With practised movements, he unravels the cloth, his fingers tracing the frayed edges with reverence and regret.

Each fold of the fabric ruffles as his skin kisses hers. He wraps the bandana around her injured fingers with gentle yet purposeful movements, his touch tentative and uncharacteristically soft.

They sit in a cocoon of silence, the rhythmic melody of the waves crashing against the shore the only sound between them. Zoro’s gaze remains fixed on the ground, his fingers intertwined with hers in a silent symphony of solidarity.

Finally, breaking the stillness, Zoro’s voice cuts through the quiet like a gentle breeze. 

“I went too far,” he confesses, his words barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

Raya’s response is equally soft, tinged with exhaustion and resignation. “S’okay. Me too.”

The silence stretches on, punctuated only by the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore. The salty scent of the sea fills the air, mingling with the fading warmth of the setting sun. Neither Zoro nor Raya feels the need to fill the void with words; simply being next to each other, sharing in the quiet peace of the moment, is enough for now.

Time seems to slow as they sit side by side, watching as the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant colours, painted with orange, pink, and gold streaks. The horizon blurs, the boundary between sea and sky merging into an indistinct line.

Then, as the last remnants of daylight fade into dusk, Raya turns to Zoro, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The weight of her question hangs heavy in the air, the gravity of her words palpable even in the fading light.

“Can I ask you a serious question?” she whispers, her voice barely audible above the gentle rustle of the breeze. Zoro meets her gaze, his expression softening with concern and curiosity. He nods, wordlessly encouraging her to continue.

The tension between them crackles like electricity, a palpable energy charging the air around them. Raya’s heart pounds in her chest, and the anticipation of Zoro’s response causes her breath to catch in her throat. She searches his face for any sign of his feelings, but his expression remains inscrutable, his eyes betraying nothing.

“How did you feel, really? Having to force yourself not to help Suki?” Her voice trembles with emotion, the vulnerability in her question laying bare the depths of her turmoil.

Instinctively, Zoro’s finger rises to brush away a stray tear from her cheek, his touch gentle and comforting. His gaze lingers on her lips for a moment, a fleeting and inexplicable hesitation flickering in his eyes.

He exhales heavily, his breath mingling with the salty air. “Haunted,” he admits, his voice weighted with a sense of heaviness. “I’m haunted by it.”

Raya’s chest tightens at his words, the weight of his confession sinking in like an anchor dragging her down. She feels a surge of emotion welling up inside her, but she suppresses it, unwilling to let herself unravel in front of him.

Silence envelops them once more, thick and palpable, as if it were a living, breathing entity settling between them. Raya’s nod is almost imperceptible, a subtle acknowledgement of the truth that lingers between them, a fragile bridge spanning the chasm of their unspoken words. It’s not an apology, but in that moment, it’s enough.

Zoro grunts softly, the sound breaking through the stillness like a stone cast into a placid pond. His gaze drifts to the sword nestled in Raya’s lap, a relic of a haunted past. 

“Is that your old man’s?”

Raya’s eyes follow his, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of her lips. 

“Yeah,” she replies quietly, her voice a whisper carried by the breeze. “Just freshening her up before she reunites with her owner.” 

Zoro nods, his fingers inching closer to the gleaming metal as if drawn by an invisible force. 

“How... how do you get it so sharp?” he asks, his curiosity piqued by the intricacies of blade maintenance. There’s a genuine fascination in his voice, a hunger for knowledge tempered by a deep-seated respect for the craftsmanship before him.

A faint smirk dances across Raya’s lips, her eyes alight with a mischievous glint. “Wow, Roronoa. You wanna learn? From me?” she teases. “Are you sure? I might stab you in the back once I catch you off-guard.” 

Zoro shrugs nonchalantly, though his eyes betray a hint of genuine interest. “You do that, I’ll cut your equipment in half again.”

Raya’s laughter dances on the breeze, a melody of warmth amidst the cooling evening air. “Fair warning, then. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she quips, her eyes alight with playful mischief as they lock with Zoro’s.

With a gentle touch, Raya guides Zoro’s hands, each movement purposeful and sure. She demonstrates the art of blade maintenance with practiced precision, her guidance a testament to her skill and expertise.

Their proximity grows intimate as they work together, a silent understanding passing between them with each shared moment. It’s a dance of mentorship and camaraderie, their movements fluid and harmonious.

From behind, their silhouettes merge into one—a small bear embracing a larger one. Raya’s slender form nestles against Zoro’s broad shoulders, her breath soft against his skin as she leans in to inspect the sword. Zoro’s heart quickens at the closeness, his senses heightened by her presence.

Their hands, a study in contrast, find a natural rhythm as they interlace. Zoro’s rough, calloused palms envelop Raya’s calloused fingers, their touch a symphony of strength and grace. 

“So what you gotta do first, is hold her like this...” 

For a brief instant, time seems to stand still as they linger in the quiet intimacy of the moment. The gentle rhythm of their breaths mingles with the soft scrape of metal against stone, creating a symphony of sound that fills the air around them.

“So,” Zoro clears his throat, breaking the tranquil silence, “When’s my last sword gonna be fixed?”

The question hangs in the air, and Raya feels the air go out of her lungs. “Soon, I think,” she manages to force out, her voice strained with the weight of unspoken emotions.

Zoro’s brow furrows slightly at her response, a flicker of concern dancing in his eyes. “You know,” he murmurs almost to himself, his gaze distant as if lost in thought, “I wish you fixed that one first.”

Raya’s curiosity is piqued, her gaze narrowing slightly as she meets his eyes. “Why’s that?” she questions, her voice tinged with suspicion.

“Nothing, really. It… belonged to someone I knew,” Zoro replies cryptically, his voice barely above a whisper - as if sharing a secret too precious to speak aloud.

A surge of surprise courses through Raya, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected revelation. “Who?” she demands, her voice trembling. “W-who? What was their name?”

Zoro pauses, turning to face her fully. His breath lays warmly against her skin, lips barely millimetres apart as he regards her with a questioning frown. 

“Why d’ya wanna know so bad?” 

Raya shakes her head, her eyes locked with his. “Tell me,” she implores, her voice barely above a whisper. “Her name. Tell me her name.”

Zoro’s eyes narrow at her persistence, but he leans closer, curiosity evident in his gaze.

“Kuina,” he answers quietly.

Before Raya can process the significance of his words, a sudden, sharp jolt runs through Zoro’s body, causing her to gasp in shock. Zoro recoils, his hand jerking back as if stung by unseen forces. His eyes widen in shock, accusingly locking with Raya’s.

She looks down, her heart pounding in panic. Blood seeps through Zoro’s palms, a gaping wound tearing through his skin.

Her hands come into view, and for a second, it feels like her body has stopped functioning.

She stares at her blackened palm, slightly tilting it under the light to see it… shining.

Silver adorns her skin like scales, glittering in what could only be called a menacing set of sharp steel.

“Raya! Raya!” Nami cries as she hurtles towards them from the forest, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “There’s a lead! I found a lead – I-I…  Raya…?”

[themundanemudperson]

Power Rangers Dino Charge: End of Season Review

So I thought making reviews for every Power Rangers season that I've seen would be fun! (And I'm ignoring the physics lab report I have to do lmao)

Don't really expect anyone to read this but eh this is for fun

Fave Character: Prince Phillip III of Zandar. He's my little bitch babygirl <3

Fave Ship: Chiley!!! Green/black ships my beloved. My fave rarepair is Phillip/Ivan. The gay devotion in knight/prince ships is peak

Fave Non-Romantic Relationship: Kendall, James, and Phillip. Auxillary Rangers ftw!! (fuck Zenowing)

Fave Episode: The Tooth Hurts! Chiley ep of all time

General Thoughts:

Dino Charge was the first season of Power Rangers that I'd ever seen, and was the thing that got me into the fandom, so I'll always have a soft spot for it. But even rewatching it recently has it hold up.

The characters in this show are what I think makes it one of the best Power Rangers seasons, and the best Neo Saban. All of them are so great, and while they never got too much depth (curse you adults that think kids can't handle complicated things) but they're still such interesting people. Dino Charge had a large cast, and they didn't always handle that many people that well (the auxiliary Rangers unfortunately get little to no attention), but the cast, in my opinion, is what made it so great.

The main cast is so lovable. Tyler, while he can be a little bland at times, is a little cutie so he's great. Chase is an interesting character that's very fun to watch. Koda is the heart of the team and he's a perfect little angel. Riley is our canonically gay (via the actor) overachiever representation. Shelby is also overachiever representation, with academic pressure from parents too! Then you have Ivan. Our loyal and chivalrous knight out of time. The gay devotion is real with this one.

I'm going to cut myself off here, because you probably get the point. I love the cast of Dino Charge. Barring Zenowing and Keeper. They're just useless to me

And because these characters are interesting people, they also have such fun dynamics with each other. I love that the Rangers really feel like a found family. You can examine any relationship between the Rangers and have something to talk about. I mentioned Kendall, Phillip and James earlier as my fave platonic dynamic, but there are a lot more to look at. Tyler and Chase as himbo bros, Riley and Shelby as gay besties , Koda, Kendall and Chase with their familial bond as they were the first Rangers together... they're all great.

And the villain situation in Dino Charge was.... interesting.

The concept of fighting a bounty hunter that captures his monsters from all over the universe is cool, especially because it gives an explanation as to why the monster of the week fights so hard - they'd win their freedom if they brought back an energem. But Sledge himself was kind of a boring villain to me. He never actually has any kind of motivation for getting the energems - we don't know if he wants them for universal domination or to sell them to the highest bidder. So he felt kind of flat to me. I did love Poisandra, Curio, Wrench and Fury though. I liked that they had more personality. And Poisandra is my girl and I love her. She should've gotten a redemption arc. Fury was also an interesting character because of his rivalry with Ivan. I do wish they explored it more, but what we did get was cool.

And after Sledge was defeated, we got Heckyl and Snide! Quite obviously a Jeckyll and Hyde reference, these two were much more interesting to me than Sledge. Heckyl's backstory is so sad 😭 and I love him more for it. The concept of a villain infiltrating the Rangers place of work and pretending to be their friend was so awesome. I wish he was a double agent for longer (and that they didn't wipe his memory of their base) but I liked it.

Then you had Arcanon for a little bit. This was so fucking stupid. Dino Charge made an original villain in Sledge, so I think they shouldn't have bothered with trying to work Arcanon in there (his Sentai counterpart was the head villain). It felt too rushed and they could've introduced the dark energem with something else.

And then surprise! Sledge again! Also hated that to be honest. They defeated him the first time. Why bring him back.

We don't talk about that finale. We don't

Technically I have to if I want to talk about Dino Charge (unfortunately) so all I'm going to say is that it's stupid and I hate it. Ivan and Koda never leave and they never fuck up the timeline with that dumbfuck idea thanks <3

(Genuinely there's a discussion to be had about the character assassination that was committed by making Koda and Ivan - who had accepted that they were men out of time and living lives with their new family - went back in time for some fucking reason, but that's for another post)

Now! Onto something I actually want to talk about! The Sentai adaptation vs the Power Rangers. I've seen both, so y'all are getting my thoughts as to how well they adapted it. I think Dino Charge did an amazing job. They didn't take what happened in Kyoryuger and copy that exactly (cough cough Samurai cough cough). They made their own story and used the footage well

I also want to talk about the thing that makes Power Rangers iconic - the actual Ranger bit. I'm talking about the power source, the suits, the zords, and the Super mode.

I really liked the energems as a power source. The idea of ancient stones created at the dawn of the universe that bonded to dinosaurs, then people, is really cool. I have issues with the "energems give them immortality" bit (because I'm sad that they have to watch their friends and family die) but it really does make sense. They are bonded to something that is ancient and powerful, and there should be some side effects from that.

Now for the suits! (One could argue that the suits are more of the Sentai's influence but I'm treating them as solely Dino Charge right now). I really love the Dino Charge suits. They already get points in my book for not having fucking lips (which I hate with a burning passion), but they do look cool on their own. I love solidly coloured suits that don't have white or black pants. The helmets are also really cool, and I love the dinosaur heads incorporated in them. So the DIno Charge suits are great to me

The zords in Dino Charge are also awesome. They look really cool. I wish they could be small to hang out with their Rangers, but alas, we can't have everything 😔

The Super mode in Dino Charge was a pretty solid one. I liked that Rexy could be small to fight alongside Tyler. Don't love the white on the suit, but at least his normal suit is a nice, solid red.

So yeah! That's my Dino Charge review. Thanks for sticking around after that word vomit lol. I love this season so fucking much

[princesssarisa]

Characters ask: 12 dancing princesses

Favorite thing about them: The beautiful, romantic imagery of all the princesses venturing into a magical subterranean land where the trees are made of silver, gold, and diamonds, and then dancing through the night with mysterious handsome princes. I like the imagery better than the story itself.

Least favorite thing about them: That they let all the princes who try to discover their secret be beheaded. It's no wonder that retellings tend to omit this part and just have the failed princes either sent away in disgrace or imprisoned instead.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I like parties and music.

*I tend to be a freedom-seeker.

*I'm in no hurry to marry.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I'm not a very good dancer.

*I would never let even one man be beheaded just so I could attend secret parties, let alone many men.

*I don't have any sisters, let alone eleven.

Favorite line:

From the Faerie Tale Theatre version, these quotes from the eldest princess Jeanetta:

"I have no patience for hearts and flowers and young men who brag about this victory and that. There's more to life than romance."

“The man of my dreams is a prince among men.”

brOTP: Each other.

OTP: Well, I hope the eldest sister will be happy in her marriage to the soldier, and I hope the others eventually find the right princes.

nOTP: Their father.

Random headcanon: For the Faerie Tale Theatre version, where all the characters are more sympathetic than in the Grimms' tale, I like @ariel-seagull-wings' headcanon that the princesses' parents were Cinderella and her Prince, now King. The eldest princess looks especially like their mother – since in this version she's played by Lesley Ann Warren, the 1965 Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderella – and they've all inherited her love of ballroom dancing. But since Cinderella died, her grieving husband has become overprotective of his daughters, leading to the plot.

Unpopular opinion: I don't mind the fact that this tale is so rarely adapted, because it's not a particular favorite of mine, mainly because the ending falls flat. We never learn who the mysterious dancing princes were; there's just a vague statement at the end implying that they're under a curse, and that it's extended as their punishment for having danced with the princesses, but with no explanation of who cursed them or how they suffer from it. The princesses never redeem themselves for having caused so many men's deaths – at least in other stories with similar plot points, like Turandot, the princess has a transformative "learning to love" moment which is missing here. The eldest princess is married to the soldier as his reward, with no choice for her and no sense of romance, and this is portrayed as a happy ending, even though she and her sisters were willing to kill him rather than be forced to marry him.

So far, every adaptation I've seen has been an improvement, IMHO. First and foremost by removing the "every man who fails to learn the princesses' secret is beheaded" plot point, secondly by giving the soldier an actual romance arc with the eldest princess, and thirdly by changing the ending or at least giving it more depth. My introduction to the story was the anime Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics, where the princes turn out to be disguised demons luring the princesses to their doom, and the soldier fights them off and helps the princesses escape, earning the eldest princess's love by doing so. That twist might be melodramatic, but at least it gives the story a proper climax and emotional payoff. Then there's the Faerie Tale Theatre version, where the princes are dream figures created by the princesses in a magic ritual, and where the princesses' nightly outings are sympathetic, because their overprotective father needs to learn to let them grow up, go dancing, and meet young men in their own world. That's a good alternative too. (I don't have anything to say about the Barbie version because I've never seen it.) Basically, I think it's a story with great potential, but which needs adaptation expansion.

Song I associate with them: None.

Favorite picture of them:

This illustration by Elenore Abbott:

This illustration by Kay Nielsen:

These illustrations by Erroll Le Cain:

This illustration by P.J. Lynch:

These illustrations by Ruth Sanderson:

These illustrations by Kinuko Craft:

[cicidarkarts]

Can you list your favorite characters in order? (Aside from Idrees) and explain why you that way about them? Like an explanation on how you feel about them? It’s nice to know there’s other people in the fandom of the breadwinner still talking about it. 💜💙 You fanart is always slaying!

D… Don't talk about Idrees?? fangirl brain short-circuits

Okay but yeah, I do have thoughts on the other characters as well, just not as crazy in-depth headcanons (mostly). I can't really say that any of these characters are in order because I haven't thought to number them.

WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

Shauzia??? ;0; Gurl, can we just talk about how much I love this chaos gremlin? She's the type of mf who is like "have I ever steered you wrong?" knowing 100% she fuckin has. She's somehow even more of a chaotic demon in the book. omg Parvana do you want to be a grave digger?? omg Parvana let's sell our wares in this totally not bizarre arena full of very angry men and then be traumatized when we see another man's hands get cut off.

I love this girl. On one of those Alignment Charts, she would be Chaotic Neutral. Also she's adorable?? Like how, that's illegal.

I do have a headcanon about the girls that involves Shauzia dragging Parvana into the underbelly of Afghanistan where all the debauchery secretly takes place and stumbling upon the metalhead anarchist society. Unfortunately, my headcanons end there because brain is obsessed with Idrees so that's what I'm forced to follow.

(me right before I sneeze)

But yes, Shauzia is my second favorite character. I love that she's so assertive where she can be, despite her circumstances. She really had Parvana's back no matter what, and it pained me that the movie just kinda left her hanging at the end. We truly did NOT have enough time to wrap everything up.

Parvana had some of the greatest parts in the entire movie.

Parvana is a strong character who wants to do what's right. Witnessing the horrors around her could've broken her, but she didn't let it. She didn't let it taint her views of right and wrong, she didn't let it break down her spirit. She fought every day to get what she needed and wanted. Parvana went from shut down and trying to avoid confrontation to confident and independent over the course of this movie. She lost sight of herself a few times but always came back around due to her strong moral compass.

Parvana is a fascinating character, proactive and powerful, and much better in the movie than in the book imo. She was the Mom Friend. She just wanted to comfort people and make them feel better, kiss their wounds where she could, and she would give you the shirt off her back if it didn't reveal that she's actually a girl. She's brave and an amazing MC to follow.

Underrated Queen, hello??? Can we talk about how Fattema was a badass for most of this movie? Her husband was taken away, she had no idea if she would ever see him again, she risked her life going out to try and appeal his case, and then after she got the absolute shit beaten out of her, she still managed to escort Parvana back to the "safety" of their house.

The realism of her depression after this was so sad to witness. How she wanted so badly to be there for her children whom she loves so much but was literally and figuratively beaten down by the system at every turn. Her worry over her daughters and son, how she fought so many times. The end of her arc? Where she stood up for herself and her family, asserted her dominance by proving that she was "insane" to this shitty man, and WON?? Oh my god, I was going feral. What an absolute badass.

(yeah that's right, fafo; this guy is fucking terrified of her I'm dead)

Okay I'm ngl Parvana's sister Soraya was like not even on my radar most of the time, I'm sorry ;-; I feel bad because she was a sweet older sister who supported Parvana. They had a lovely sibling relationship that was full of teasing and affection. But they didn't take the time to give her more than that. So she's more of a footnote in the characters to me, which sucks. :( I didn't even remember her name, I had to look it up, I'm so sorry 😭

If you go into the dictionary and look up the word sweetie pie, you'll find a picture of this man. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Nurullah lived his life considering women as his equals. People who deserved love and respect and education just as much as any man. He's a soft-spoken sweetheart who just wanted to teach his daughters how to think for themselves so they could grow up as strong women (as much as they could be in this environment). He risked his life lying to a member of the Taliban and unfortunately paid the price dearly. His state at the end of the movie was heartbreaking to witness and I can't even imagine the abuse he endured while in Pul-e-Charkhi.

Yet this man still smiles when he is reunited with his family. This man still has his spirit despite the abuse and neglect and the wars he's been through. We don't give him the credit he deserves for being a sweet, kindhearted person in spite of everything this world threw at him. Fattema is a lucky woman to have gotten with this cinnamon bun of a man.

(Zaki) ghiagahiohhrklh;nklj HE'S ADORABLE I'M LITERALLY SHAKING AND CRYING RN 😭😭😭😭 But also he's like 2 years old so there's not much to say about him but holy fuck he's soooo cute I'm gonna cry

Who is this man he's ADORABLE???

how the fuck 😭😭 HOW DID HE GET HERE?? He teleported dude, I'm scared

If you go into the dictionary and look up the word teddy-

Razaq is one of the more interesting characters in this movie. He's very complex and-- what if I just immediately moved onto the next character that would be so

LOOK AT THIS SWEETHEART CINNAMON BUN CUTIE PATOOTIE THERE ARE NO THOUGHTS BEHIND THESE EYES HE HAS TO RUB TWO BRAIN CELLS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HOME BECAUSE HIS THOUGHTS ARE ONLY CANDY WHO ARE YOU UNNAMED CANDY MAN I NEED TO KNOW

Okay I'll be serious, I'm sorry. I actually really enjoy Razaq. He's a jaded man who doesn't seem like he really wants to be serving the Taliban. I wish we could've gotten more into why he's doing it, because he seems like the antithesis of everything the Taliban stands for. I'd like to believe he's only here to stop the young people (like Idrees) from doing extremely stupid things and getting themselves or other people hurt. But we're never given an explanation.

That scene in which Parvana reads him that letter about his wife's death, and he leaves without another word, was a heart-wrenching scene. He was trying so hard not to cry. LOOK AT HIM ;-; Nooooo

Razaq shows us that not every man in Afghanistan wants to beat and oppress women, even though these types of man aren't exactly in the majority, or are perhaps just silent for fear of retaliation (which we see a lot as well). It's such a mind-fuck that Parvana reflects upon it in confusion. "Up until then, she had seen Talibs only as men who beat women and arrested her father. Could they have feelings of sorrow, like other human beings?"

Razaq puts himself in grave danger for Parvana, a young girl he barely knows and owes nothing. This ends up with him getting into a physical altercation with one of the guards at Pul-e-Charkhi, in which Razaq gets shot but survives (as far as we know). He pulled Nurullah out of there to fulfill his promise to Parvana. He lost everything but still gave it his all for this little girl just to see some hope in her eyes.

My name is Suleiman. My mother is a writer. My father is a teacher. And my sisters always fight each other. One day I found a toy on the street. I picked it up. It exploded. I don't remember what happened after that… Because it was the end.

[rainintheevening]

Okay, as per this poll I will now explain...

Yes, I ship Reylo (Rey/Ben Solo[Kylo Ren]), but...

In an AU.

To be clear up front, this is not a hard and fast ship, even in the circumstances of my AU. Sometimes I like them as a ship, sometimes I like them better as platonic soulmates. It all depends on what mood I'm in, and if I made the sequel trilogy my way, I would make it ambiguous. Maybe. Unless the actors felt it should be otherwise.

ANYWAY, after seeing a bunch of sweet Reylo fanart, I wished for a way I could ship them, and also a better explanation for Rey's unexplained ability to use the Force. So I thought, what if Rey was one of Luke's students, and she and Ben were super close, but somehow her memories got messed with, and what if that happened with Ben too, and that's why he turned to the Dark Side?

So I rewrote the entire sequel trilogy in my head, and have only written one part of it down, (go read it here), but basically the gist is: Rey's memories only got pasted over, while Ben's got rewritten (think Peeta and the highjacking). That's why Ben thinks Luke tried to kill him, and that he tried to kill the other padawans, and that Rey is dangerous.

Rey was an orphan, found and brought in by Luke, who became as a father to her. She and Ben were inseparable from the get-go, and he taught her how to fly the Falcon, how to do all her katas. He was like a big brother to her, her hero, and he promised to be her master when he got knighted.

Everyone thinks Ben Solo is dead, but after they discover he's not ("You killed my son!" "No. I was your son."), that he and Kylo Ren are actually the same person, Rey is dead set on saving him. So is Luke, as he feels certain it's his fault for leaving Ben to fight off so many, even though it was Ben who told him to take Rey and run.

Luke hopes to restore Ben's memories the way he did Rey's, but in his face-off with Kylo Ren, he takes a mortal strike to get close enough to reach his nephew. Rey witnesses this. The shock cracks through Kylo/Ben's memories, and he realizes what he has done, killing Luke. He flees, while Rey stays with Luke, who gives her his lightsaber, tells her to save Ben, tells her he was proud to have a padawan like her, maybe even says the 'you were as a daughter to me' bit out loud?

Anyway, after Ben flees, he has a total breakdown, off on some planet somewhere. But his grandfather shows up to give him some advice, yes! Anakin would be there!

Rey and Ben find each other, go off to kill Snoke and end the war (but it's Leia who gets to shoot Snoke: "That's for my son!")

Yes, Rey and Ben would have a particularly strong connection in the Force, but that wouldn't be the main point. That wouldn't be her 'superpower'. No, that would be her love for her family, which even when her memories were hidden, she missed, and it's her mission to piece her family back together again—helping Luke and Han reconcile, fighting to save Ben and the other Knights of Ren, who all turn out to be Luke's former students, making new family out of Finn and Poe. It's her love and determination that save the day, not her 'bringing balance to the Force'.

Yes, Ben will have to face consequences for his actions, even with the caveat of having his memory twisted. But Rey, and his parents, and Chewey are all with him.

Just... Rey remembering everything kind about him when they were kids, every time he apologized for the dark moods that sometime took him, how loving and careful he always was with her, and believing to the depths of her heart that that man was still in there somewhere, and that man could be restored... and Ben choosing to accept her forgiveness, to trust her when she says she'll go with him to find the truth, finding the strength to fight down the warped memories and the idea that he should kill her, and letting her lead him back into the light! Arghhh, yes.

Yeah, there is an age gap, but as they would be both adults by this time, I could 100% ship it, and am doing so right now. (Aka imagining them kissing in the last scene of the last movie...)

[bobacupcake]

For the shader thing, I was curious about what you think of the fake volumetric ground fog in TotK. I couldn't find a screenshot of it, but it's very prominent in the ancestor cutscenes, I'm sure you're familiar with it

you are so right that i am familliar with them i fixated on them every time i got this cutscene aghjfbgjh

im not sure!!! i have a few guesses though but nothing is super pointing me towards them

for starters, i imagine the thing driving it is some kind of noise/cloud heightmap texture, along with something masking out areas where they should be and shouldnt be (both of these textures are moving & distorting)

but as for how theyre actually doing it.. houghh.. there is definitely a Height to it, if you look at their legs you can see that much, so its not just a really cleverly lit plane.......

mario odyssey has a kind of similar thing in cap kingdom, but im not 100% convinced these are using the same technique

talked with @krisp-xyz about this and she pointed out the mario one definitely seems more mesh-based, with the alpha being set based on how far objects in back of it are (so if the fog is right in front of a solid surface, its very transparent, but if its further away, its more solid!!)

another thing that i'm not 100% sure about, but the fog in totk seems lower resolution, compared to everything else? so my two guesses are either its just a very fancy mesh-based approach, with the general "shape" of the clouds being blocked out and pushed around by the textures, and then the textures & normal maps being used to give it convincing lighting + transparency (along with what theyre doing in mario odyssey, transparency based on the depth of the objects behind it). and then on top of that it definitely seems like it would be blurred a little bit with a post-processing effect to hide the fact that its a mesh even further, and placed onto the scene based on the depth information. this is kind of similar to what the clouds in sea of thieves do. if this explanation sounds kind of vague thats because it is it looks soo good if theyre doing it like this i cant begin to imagine the specific calculations theyre doing to get it looking so natural from different angles

which is why my second theory is from, and its that, they are doing raymarching??? it LOOKS raymarched, but i didnt jump to it because, raymarching is expensive!! essentially when you hit a mesh, you then start taking little tiny steps through it, and after a certain number of steps, you add all the values you got together, and divide it by the number of steps, and thats the average for that point ! you can also do a lighting calculation for each point but the more things you add onto a raymarched shader the performance very quickly adds up, since if say your step count is 64, every operation you do on a pixel will be done 64 times

here's a very old gif of me messing around with it .. in like ..... 2017......

but again i hesitate on this because, its a switch!! and raymarching is expensive!! though like i said it does look like its scaled up and possibly blurred, so if they were doing the raymarching calculations at like 4x the screen size, and only needed a few steps because it is only taking up a little bit of the ground and they can blur it, and also marking the areas where they Dont have to do raymarching by the mask texture. then maybe????? unless someone has access to the rendering frames for this though i would not be able to say for sure. but those are my two theories!!!

[yunogf]

lmao i asked bc, as you said in your tags, there was a certain way that it comes across as with how you’re talking about it, so i genuinely wondered bc i was gonna listen to it as well. i’ve been reading plenty of comments about it as well that mostly just lean on “aoty” “soty” “best album ever” and i get that these are (hopefully) exaggerated claims by stans, but i was seriously yet to see a decent comment about its musicality. it’s either about his face in the mv or his voice or the aesthetic of the mv. nothing on the lyricism or the instrumentations or its creativity or depth, so i was hesitant. i get liking it, but i doubt its being “the best”, so when i saw that your comments were the same, i began to wonder if this is another case of exaggerated praises and it’s just... meh at best. nothing new and all that. i am still gonna listen to it on my own ofc but, i guess, since i’m not really his fan, i’m not all excited. amazing debuts usually create tractions of their own, and i don’t hear much for this, but i ain’t judging based on that ofc. anyway, no need to feel attacked. as i said, i was genuinely curious so i asked. i’m well aware that i have ears. i was just genuinely curious about what you actually thought about it, what with your unhinged tags and whatnot. that’s all.

hard to gain traction when ur company announces ur album 2 weeks before it drops!

i was thrown by your wording and i still kind of am but i don't listen to music i don't enjoy and that's across the board for any artist bc....why would i do that lol and maybe ur not in the right circle being a casual fan/non-fan bc I've seen most ppl talk abt the musicality along with everything else 🤔

ik u said u were genuinely asking and i appreciate the explanation but im picking up on an overall unimpressed tone ("hopefully exaggerated" "doubt it being the best" ?) and it feels like u've made up ur mind about jaehyun and his music and ur asking me to give u a reason to change ur mind/care/be impressed but that's not my job ur free to make ur own opinion to me it seems ur going in with a half formed one already but it's music so like it or leave it either way is okay! ur under no obligation!

I'm sorry if being a kpop stan (im assuming...?) has made u feel disillusioned by solo releases tho i understand bc ppl are often overhyped by fans but jaehyun is a music enjoyer who did his homework and worked with artists he himself is a fan of and the payoff is really good music

overall ur ask is very uninformed which if ur not a fan is understandable but as a native english speaker myself listening to an album that is almost entirely in english from a nonnative speaker i have to say the lyrics are very well done they make sense create good metaphor and aren't superficially about balling or making a lot of money (i loathe to hear this often in eng versions of kpop songs lol) and jaehyun is credited as a lyricist on almost every song afaik

the production value is solid "can't get you" has an entire band accompaniment (the trumpet >>>>>) he wrote/worked on "flamin hot lemon" with emotional oranges (one of my fave artists actually <3) so that one is Excellent in every regard esp for a song inspired by cheetos lmao I've said numerous times that none of the songs sound like they were created with the intent of 30 secs going viral on tiktok (a very important differentiation for me) and one of my favorites parts about the title track "smoke" is the outro it's soooo good there's an unexpected bit of piano that he adlibs along with >>>> and the ballad "completely" has a Gorgeous piano backing to it (the lyrics on this one are also so beautiful)

my excitement about the release may have overwhelmed me so i might not have broken down each song beat by beat but rest assured i'm not wasting time on music i don't enjoy

in summation the album is good and on a separate unrelated note he just happens to be really hot ❤️

[artdivadej]

Survivor's Remorse (XIX)

Part One | Part 11+

Peeta

After 30 minutes of more of his time wasted, Peeta let out a sigh so loud and deep, it shook the large table his cheek rested on.

"You brought me out of my room.... for this? Can I have my morphling and go back to my nightmares in peace now?"

"Peeta, is there something you'd like to add?", Plutarch asked chipperly.

Peeta turned his head so that his right cheek rested on the table and he was looking over the military and diplomatic officials of 13. All of which were looking at him with differing expressions., none of which he cared to decipher.

"No. Which is why I want to know why I'm here. I have no reason to be at another war mongering table, as it makes its plans, to do just what it was made to. So again....why am I here?"

"We would like to bring you in and involve you in the taking back of the Districts. Haymitch has informed us that you've agreed to become a part of the rebellion", Plutarch explains gesturing between Peeta's slumped form and Haymitch sitting directly across from him, trying not to appear as though he was sleeping for half the meeting.

"If Haymitch led you to believe I wanted any part in the planning of killing innocents, he lied", Peeta scoffed still refusing to lift his cheek from the table. "I've had my fill and unlike all of you, with your guns and bombs, it's a bit bloody and personal for my taste"

"War is never personal", the snow haired woman he'd come to know as Coin, spoke coolly.

Now Peeta was enraged and repulsed, his head lifted quickly from the table, eyes locking with the cunning leader. He hated how both she and Snow had such bright white hair, though hers had streaks of deep grey that matched her name. Peeta did not like this woman or her callous attitude towards life in the slightest.

"Murder is always personal", Peeta rumbled so lowly, it was practically a growl as his eyes held hers, refusing to break contact with their soulless depths. They were such a light grey they were almost as light as her snow-white hair. Even her lifeless eyes irritated him. "Just because you have the luxury of commanding other people to do it for you, doesn't mean it isn't personal. People aren't just numbers. Every. Single. Life. It was someone with hopes, dreams, family and love to give. You clearly have been underground with your perfect little soldier fucking fantasy world where everyone falls in line, living the life you designed for them. Come topside and join us in the real world, where the children are forced to kill each other and watch the life leave their eyes as your hands are covered in their blood, clawing at you to get just one more breath. Not with guns. Not a bomb that you can drop from miles away, to reap the fruits of your deadly gifts with no guilt as you watch it melt the flesh from women and children! No! We are forced to murder each other with our bare hands, while all of you sit here in your cozy little fuckin pods ordering us to do it for you!", Peeta roared now on his feet, having thrown his chair at the wall opposite him, Haymitch having long since ducked seeing this outburst coming.

When it hit the wall, Peeta pushed away from the table and stormed out of the room without a backwards glance, one hand in his pocket and the other tugging at his hair.

"I told you", Haymitch shrugs at the rest of the diplomats who were looking to him for an explanation. "A teenager he may be in age, but that is a man on the brink. And he is ready to burn the world to match the flames of pain it's dished out to him from day one. He doesn't give a shit about your battle plans. If it doesn't involve a way to get her, he could truly not give a damn"

"So, what do you propose we do to make him more amicable?"

"Stop wasting his time. It's only pissing him off. You want a voice for the rebellion that the people resonate with, you have it and you're wasting his time with strategy meetings about things he'll never need to know about. Use his voice. His intellect. Peeta isn't the type of person that revels in the killing of others. He wants peace, to be able to love and live free. That's all he's ever wanted for himself and everyone else. If it's not about that, he just Does. Not. Care", Haymitch shrugs, chewing on his lollipop and doodling on the paper in front of him, still not looking at the rest of the room. He was annoyed that he had to be at the meetings, he couldn't imagine what the pointless chatter did to Peeta.

"A voice. You want us to let him talk directly to the people? You think that would work?"

"He's had it with the bureaucratic politics. All a Victor cares about is action. Words have meant very little to any of us", Finnick tacked on, popping a sugar cube in his mouth, adding his own doodles to Haymitch's paper. "If you want all our cooperation, give us yours"

"Here, here", Beetee slapped his hand to the table in agreement.

"Then, what would you all suggest?"

****

Peeta sat on his bed and rolled the pearl he'd given you on the beach across his lips. He remembered with a deep sadness your last words to him when you'd placed it back into his hands that night of the Quarter Quell.

"Give it back to me when I come back. Remember, we protect each other?"

"Always" Peeta nodded, his hand on your hip and forehead resting against yours.

-Excerpt from

Survivor's Remorse

Chapter 19. Damn Diplomacy!

Available on Wattpad: MADDINK0318

[seventeenlovesthree]

If you were chosen to continue the Digimon Adventure 2020 story, what headcanon theories or ideas would do you have for the series going forward?

What you want the Digidestineds next great adventure to be? How would you want them to grow and develop as characters? And how would their relations evolve? Especially how do you imagine Tai's relation with Sora and Izzy would develop? (I love the three of them soooooo much in the 2020 series!)

If it were to take place right after the end of Digimon 2020?

Oh, if only I HAD that power...! I had already outlined a few aspects here before, but for completion's sake, I can elaborate again, because there are several possible scenarios I would like to see:

1.) Give me a slice-of-life-anime with the 8 being somewhere between 12 and 17 and have them go through some Tamers/Ghost Game-esque adventures in the real world. I had written a love letter for how much I adore episode 31 of OG Adventure structurally the other day and I would really love a series with the same vibe. Since the first season of the reboot was more plot-driven, this second season would primarily focus on their personal stories/backgrounds/family lives with Digimon-related shenanigans affecting technology and their everyday lives in the process. Giving every single character time and space to bloom. We would also learn more about the Crests and how each kid was chosen in the first place - I don't NEED reincarnation theory to be confirmed, but I would really like some more breadcrumbs into a satisfying explanation as for WHY THEY were chosen specifically in "this timeline" and how exactly the Crests came to be.

2.) I also had an idea based on a dream I once had, additionally furthered by the last episode or rather the "epilogue" that was presented there: I had outlined the idea here as well, but basically, it'd be about dividing the cast into primary and secondary squad (to allow more focus on singular characters in a shorter number of episodes) and have the former actually go gate-hopping and exploring the different worlds out there. It's a more self-indulgent idea, as it mainly focuses on the dynamics between Taichi, Koushirou, Sora and Mimi, but I couldn't keep the others away completely either. So I haven't fully utilized the idea yet...

3.) An interesting idea that was brought to my attention recently was the idea of making a season revolve around Taichi disappearing due to the gate-hopping. Since the first season basically revolved around typical Shounen protagonist Taichi Yagami, the second season would be about the others gate-hopping as well to find him. I haven't thought this one through yet either though...

In terms of general character development and relationship dynamics, I would be happy to actually see more about their individual selves, their flaws and worries and how they get along - or don't. It's really difficult to put a finger on how exactly that would look like, because I absolutely cannot blame the creators of the reboot for being "careful" on how to depict the characters beyond some general tropes. We've known these guys for TWENTY FIVE years and Tri already tried to tackle some things that were different, while still resorting to predictable outcomes without much depth we had already seen several times over - without intending to change the status quo too much. I obviously don't want to see perfect happy endings for everyone, but things were missing in the reboot so far that made the original characters so charming - and the reboot HAD the chance to elaborate on different outcomes here.

We already saw Jyou going for a more leadership-esque route, which his OG self actively didn't choose. So how would that affect his relationship with Taichi, who naturally got the leadership role again? How about Sora having a semi-peaceful relationship with her mother this time, so she can actually be experimental AND also choose to be a vital part of the group? What about Mimi coming from a rich family that provides technological gadgets - how would her knowledge on that influence the way she communicates with Koushirou? Would she try to be competitive for example? Show me more insecurities, show me how they'd actually challenge their Crest meanings? Show me a Hikari who rebels against her brother, show me a Takeru who takes charge, show me Koushirou being honest about his back story to the others (LET US KNOW IF HE IS EVEN ADOPTED IN THIS TIMELINE OR NOT), show me Yamato being vulnerable or try to be more humorous and failing at that! Show me Taichi having flaws! Again, I don't NEED him to be depressed AGAIN, but he has to have something he is insecure or unsure about.

As for Taikoura's relationship, once again, there are several ideas I could see, all shipping aside. One of them is the very self-indulgent "Team Light are actually connected mentally now and can sense and feel when the others are in danger" soulmate scenario that may affect how they interact with each other...

... In more general terms, I do need them all to spend more time together. If you take the ideas 1 I outlined above, they would go through their daily lives together, visiting the same school, etc. So of course Taichi and Sora would focus more on their passion for football as they promised in season 1 and, as mentioned above, Sora might still feel weird about "growing into herself", but she would be more comfortable about experimenting. Combining her tomboy-ness with a more feminine side and exploring that further (and in an ideal scenario deepening her relationship with Mimi in the process, because the reboot did NOT focus on that yet AT ALL). And I want Taichi to be supportive of her in this!

Taichi also made a promise to Koushirou that they would explore the other worlds together - which may also apply to idea 2 I outlined, because I need them to have an OWG-esque partners-in-crime relationship in which they go on cyber adventures together. And in both idea 1 and 2, they would have to balance their daily lives and responsibilities with that. Meaning, this would be a great opportunity to actually see Taichi and Sora learn about Koushirou's home life - he might still try to hide it from them, but I'd want a huge chunk of the story to focus on them trying to get something out of him (gently of course!), having him explore his own identity in the process as well. Showing him that the bond he developed with these two (and the others too) does not just exist because he is "useful" to them, but because he really means something to them.

I obviously also want Koura to bond more with each other - not only over their shared affections for Taichi and because they want to figure out if he is actually hiding something behind that unshattered mask of positivity... Maybe in this timeline, I can finally get them to become canonical fashion buddies, who knows?

Edit: A very important aspect I forgot is that I want and need new Jogress and branch evolutions between the different characters! BE EXPERIMENTAL, TOEI, IT'S GOOD FOR MERCH AND SHIPPING.

[girl-next-door-writes]

Bittersweet Memories

Characters: Crowley x reader

Summary: Crowley makes the ultimate sacrifice, but not before discovering just how much of a sacrifice it actually is.

Word Count: 1022 words

Prompt: Mutual pining, a gentle kiss, blurted out confession under stress.

A/N: This little bit of angst is for the lovely @roseblue373  It’s been a hot minute since I wrote my favourite demon, and I can say that I have missed him.  There will not be a part two unless you want to go write one, and if you do then please tag me in it because I would love to see it.

If there was one thing Crowley was absolutely certain of, it was that life was rarely fair. The odds were always stacked. The house always won. In the incredibly long time, he had been on this planet, he had observed that fact over and over again. Yet, standing here in this moment, he couldn’t help but wish that wasn’t the case, that a demon in love could prove to be the exception to the rule.

He had known he was in love for years now, he wasn’t completely oblivious. At first, he had tried to deny it. The thought of a demon feeling such an emotion was ludicrous, but there was no other explanation for his feelings towards you. His desire to protect you, to be near you, to be the reason for your smile, was so overwhelming that he sometimes sat on his throne down in hell with an ache in his chest. Of course, he could never tell you any of this. Aside from the intense humiliation the whole situation would cause when you inevitably rejected him, it would not be fair to ask you to join him; wouldn’t be fair to ask you to give up your life for him.

The irony of that thought made the corners of his lips curl upwards slightly. The two of you would never have worked out anyway. It would be like asking a tree to blossom in the depths of winter, or for the sun to shine at midnight. There were a million reasons for him to love you, but he could not find a single one why you should love him. Loving you from the shadows was all he could do, and that had been enough. Now he had to hope that you could do this without him.

You stood beside Dean, eyes focused on Lucifer. Surely your favourite demon had a plan, that was the only reason you could think of for him antagonizing the former archangel. His snarky comments usually made you laugh, but right now all you could hear was the pounding of your heart.  In the back of your mind, it felt like there was a ticking clock, a countdown to something that would change everything forever. Your gaze flitted to Crowley, trying to memorize every detail of him as if you knew this would be the last time.

Crowley turned his head slightly, feeling you watching him. If he stayed, if he wavered in this moment, then he would only be in your way and he refused to be yet another obstacle for you to navigate. Better to go out swinging, right? This was for you. Everything he did was for you. Memories of the time spent by your side floated through his mind. Every time he had made you smile, each time his sarcasm had made you laugh, made a warmth bloom in his chest. He had no idea where he would go after this, was uncertain about the void he was about to willingly fall into, but he hoped that he could hold onto these memories, no matter how bittersweet they may be.

His eyes met yours, and he saw the moment you realised what he was doing. Your eyes clouded with tears he felt guilty you would shed for him. Who cries for a demon? You could do so much better than him, he was never what you needed, if anything, his friendship probably held you back. You moved to take a step towards him, and he shook his head, just a fraction, causing you to pause. He didn’t want you any closer to the psychopath than you already were. This was it. His last great sacrifice. His last time saving you.

Lucifer was taunting him, but Crowley couldn’t hear a single thing he said. His heart was torn between getting this over with and having that one last moment with you. He was reminded of all those stupid films you had made him sit through, the ones that made you cry, and it dawned on him that you needed a real goodbye. If he didn’t give you that then you would never forgive him, and he selfishly couldn’t allow that.

Turning his back on Lucifer, a dangerous move but one he felt apathetic about, Crowley strode over to you and cupped your face as a single tear escaped your eye. Wiping it away with his thumb, he gave you a soft smile.

“It’s time, kitten.” He whispered, maintaining eye contact even though his heart was breaking.

“No.” You whimpered, clinging to his jacket.

“That’s the thing about the good old days, you don’t realise you’re in them until they are over. It’s time for you to go get your happy ever after.”

“Not without you I can’t.” The tears were freely flowing now as you tried to hold yourself together, practically begging him not to do what the both of you knew he was going to. “I love you, you infuriating demon.”

Your confession hit him like a truck. You loved him. He was worthy of your love. The realization that this changed nothing, was like an ice cube dropped down the back of his shirt. You loved him, and he was leaving you forever.

Crowley had no idea how long he had stood there just gaping at you. A thousand thoughts sprinted through his mind and yet words escaped him, like early morning mist. Instead, he let out a soft sigh and pulled you close, his thumb grazing over your bottom lip before he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss there. Everything in his being suddenly felt at peace, and a smile grew as he pulled back.

“You have been the great love of my life. I want you to go find yours. Goodbye, kitten.”

He was vaguely aware of you screaming, of Dean moving to grab you as Crowley quickly made his way over to Lucifer, raising the dagger. His final thought, before the void took him, was how soft your lips caressed his and how completely human he had felt in that moment. His final thought was love.

[scarycranegame]

here's part 2 of my 50 follower special!! for people who've just joined us here, i present to you...

MY BEEFY DIE FANDOM OPINIONS MEME!! ft. an in-depth explanation of each entry

sorry for slightly off-model drawings, it was my first time drawing a lot of these guys so. bear with me LMAO

explanations under the cut!

favorite character:

okay you probably saw this one coming but. yes. the rumor come out. i enjoy yellow face immensely. and it's not just because hes a silly goober guy (even though he is that too); it's mostly because i think he fits my personal favorite character archetype of "morally dubious business guy who's at least a little bit mentally unstable" particularly well, specifically in the sense that he does it in a way that isn't the stereotypical "sophisticated mastermind bad-boy sexyman" schtick... like. he's weird. he's unapologetically weird. he's a very non-standard character design in a world of already unorthodox characters, and he manages to give off an ominous yet innocuous vibe without being too on-the-nose about it; and on top of that, the show doesn't even really take it too seriously, so it doesn't really overstay its welcome for me :) also i just think hes really cute lol

liked by everyone but me:

alright this is a really unpopular opinion.. i get why people like them, but i just. don't, personally. since x is in another entry i'm just gonna cover four here. for starters, i really don't like four's voice; it's the one "annoying" voice in the series that i just can't look past.. besides that, though, i feel like his redemption arc & sympathetic portrayal in post-split doesn't really make sense for his character? because he doesn't really seem to feel bad, and the rest of the characters just. instantly forgive him without any notion that he actually intends to improve as a person... and then he doesn't, because in tpo.t, he goes right back to hurting people the exact same way with absolutely no consequences or remorse; basically making that whole arc irrelevant. like.. something's not adding up here. either post split or tpo.t's portrayal is incorrect.

didn't like at first:

this one was kind of a tough choice for me because i don't remember ever genuinely disliking a contestant when i initially got into this show? but i can say that i did find gelatin to be kind of. annoying. and the best part is that it's for a really silly reason that, in retrospect, doesn't even make too much sense? like. okay i first got into this show in middle school, and my first ever season was b.fb, and when i first saw it i was a HUGE donut stan (part of me still is LOL); so when i saw him yelling at gelatin all the time i just sort of. inexplicably started disliking gelatin for absolutely no reason. literally that's it that's the whole reason i initially didn't like gelatin. anyways hes one of my favorite characters now and honestly i couldn't tell you why (also sorry hes. very poorly drawn in this image. it was my first time drawing a lot of these characters)

would like to know more about:

golfie!! i like her a lot; i related to her a bunch when i first watched the show (especially since my best friend at the time was basically a carbon copy of tennis ball), and i'm really intrigued by her need for constant control over everyone on any given team she's part of, and how she began her career in science/inventing! it seems interesting that more recent bfd.ia seems to make this dichotomy between her and tennis ball, suggesting that she's more skilled than he is and/or has been inventing things for longer than he has.. also ofcourse there's the whole science museum "bozo" debacle from i.dfb, which shouldn't come as a surprise in that it intrigues me just as much as everything else about her character... maybe that's why she's so obsessed with being in control? also who the hell was after her in that scene?

least favorite character

people are really not gonna like me for this, but i genuinely hate x with every fiber of my being LMAO.. while it is mostly for personal reasons, it's also because 1. much like four, i find his voice really annoying, and 2. he kind of. never really does anything. he's sort of just a plot device at best, and at worst he literally just stands there and does nothing. even when he's the host in b.fb 9, he's tragically inept and does nothing of note at all. he's barely a character without four around (he literally sits down and gives up in the last few episodes of b.fb), and it's really disappointing because he could've been an interesting character foil to four! but he just. wasn't. all he really was is a "cute uwu cinnamon roll".

like the design, dislike the character

okay this one's a little biased because i'm still mad that bomby was partially why yellow face got eliminated in bfd.ia 9, but besides that, i think a bomb character is a really good concept!! a contestant that's both useful in a practical sense and useful in terms of themselves as an individual!! ...too bad bomby is basically just 2 running jokes in a bomb-shaped trenchcoat. literally, as far as i'm concerned, the only time he's ever actually done anything is when he explodes; and besides that he's just sort of. there to fill up empty space (and also get yellow face eliminated that one time in the stupidest possible way). i get it, it's an object show, but i really would've enjoyed bomby a lot more if he had a distinct personality instead of being. well. little more than an object.

like the character, dislike the design

this one i also struggled with but i eventually settled on naily! in terms of her character, i think she's an absolute delight to watch, and she's one of the rare instances of a running joke not overstaying it's welcome and actually seeming charming and witty!! i think she's a good example of a quirky and cute yet mischievous character, which i see a lot of people attempting to do with characters of their own and missing the mark just a little bit. in short, she really does nail it in terms of characterization!! the only gripe i have though is her design.. something about how her legs are kind of. behind each other. and how her face/head is just. flat. it really doesn't sit right with me.. and i don't even really know how i would change it! it's just.. slightly offputting to me.

similar personality

ironically (due to my previous entry), i think that the character i'm most like in terms of personality is price tag!! i consider myself to be pretty expressive and upbeat (or at least, i try to be a lot of the time; if i get too stoic i tend to get sad and that kinda results in a Not Great Time™), and as you might've been able to tell by the things i do here on this blog, i'm just a bit mischievous. a little bit silly. one might even say devious. but what you don't know is that in most situations where there's a bit of a problem, i tend to try and think of the most creative but rational solution (doing so, as far as i'm aware, results in a higher chance of compromise among others)! (also, yes, i can indeed do the :3 face)

fav ship

i've been a fries/puffball enjoyer since day 1, i'm not even gonna lie here LMAO.. to be fair, i enjoy a lot of other ships very immensely, too, but something about the fact that they seem to respect each other as equals and be on the same page a lot of the time just really gets me... like. they give power couple vibes; instead of trying to gain some sort of leverage over the other or reveling in the leverage they might already have over the other, they seem to decide to be strong together and sort of. combine their strength. and yeah i know people are gonna argue "b-but c.oinpin!!" well what about the bfd.ia thing from tpo.t 2. they never actually resolved that. dont even get me started on f.ireafy (someone else made a really good post on them) or t.engolf ("gb always said it was handy to treat your friend like a tool!!!") p.uffries forever lol

least fav ship

oh this one's biased as hell because. you know how i am about yellow face. but i actually have a legitimate reason to dislike y.ellowclock besides that!! okay so i made an analysis document that i've never released here regarding yellow face as a character, and while making that document i noticed that. during tpo.t 2, when clock is bitching about winner leaving to go recover bottle, yellow face backs away, which, to me, implies that he's. kinda sick of clock's shit. he doesn't wanna deal with his and winner's drama. and then in tpo.t 3 he straight up says clock is a boring person. and yeah people cite that episode as like. y.ellowclock genesis or whatever. but then if that was true then what the hell is up with yellow face in tpo.t 10? he still doesn't seem to care about clock and winner!! honestly it just never made any sense to me..

would befriend irl

okay im gonna be honest. i really like two as a host.. i liked them from the beginning!! even when they were kinda snarky and condescending, they were a lot nicer than four, and were even willing to give up their power as a prize for a silly little contest!! and that's not even mentioning their dynamic with gaty and their sympathy towards clock in tpo.t 7.. just. they genuinely seem really generous and caring and i think they'd be really cool to hang out with and talk to... coincidentally they're also one of my favorite characters (and my favorite host as well) so that's a plus also; 10/10 would help them plan the next beefy die season

would never befriend irl

even though i love blocky with all my heart as a character, i don't think i wanna be involved in potentially lethal pranks... it would either end in him killing me or both of us going to jail forever.. or, alternatively, if i tried to go the "i can fix him" route, i'd end up paying an ungodly amount of money for his therapy bill (i doubt he'd pay with his own money, even though his show probably makes a lot of money lmao) and then just never get paid back... or, alternatively, i'd end up in the same boat as woody when he joined the blocky corporate conglomerate (at least, prior to b.fb 29.. actually i feel like i should mention that i'm talking specifically about blocky pre-split and back, he actually seems pretty okay in post-split)

...and that's it!!

it's been a wild ride (and a pretty long one too) but i really hope you enjoyed reading this, even if you have different opinions from mine! again, thank you all so much for getting me to 50 followers; i'm so grateful that all of you have decided to tune in to the nonsense words that i post every so often, and i hope you'll stick around long enough to see the next milestone special!! <3