#if anything he���d blame them for literally lack of skill

[siera-knightwalker]

... if this is the only time you're noticing JC stupidity not have I got news for you...

Well, firstly, he's v stupid in that he never thinks about any political recriminations of anything he does. He doesn't know how to stand his ground at all. I don't remember him doing that...Ever.

He's also got very shitty critical thinking skills.

Exhibit A: JC's decision to IGNORE WLJ SENDING UP A FLARE FOR THE WEN ARMY to run to his very capable mother fighting against WZL.

Exhibit B: in Guanyin Temple, JC's first instinct when JGY holds a string to JL's throat is to yell and blame WWX

Exhibit C: Xuanwu Cave

Exhibit D: he asks WWX if he's too drunk to control his spiritual energy

Exhibit E: he literally never asked WWX if he was all right, just assuming WWX was even when he was stupid thin, flinched from people touching him, used demonic cultivation when it HARMED YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND SPIRIT

Exhibit F: I'm pretty sure WWX would have found a method to escape if it was him who was being chased by the Wens, even with his back.

Exhibit G: he fought against Zidian so violently, WWX was scared they would flip the boat over and they would drown. When YZY tied the two up and sent them away.

....I don't know how many I should be tagging. Honestly, I'm sure there are more, but I don't currently remember the other stupid JC moments. There were other moments of JC being deliberately malicious or lacking morals but let's not go into that. Oh, another stupid moment would be letting WWX go I guess. Exhibit H then.🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't feel like being nice:

Jiang Cheng is actually horrendously stupid upon another reread because he was there when Wen Qing and Wen Ning's supposed ashes are scattered in front of him for the clan and sect Leaders to feel high and mighty. Yet thirteen years later when Wen Ning surfaces he doesn't think to question the Jins "hey why is the corpse you said was destroyed and burned actually not" he goes on a rampage of wanting to burn and kill Wen Ning himself with no actual thought of the political upheaval that entails and the lies Jin Guangyao was covering and omissions. Goes along with the clan and sect banquet not bothering to again question any of this discrepancy in front of his face now. As if it wasn't actually anything to do with the honor, care and protection of his family and clan that he was raging about to Wei Wuxian constantly.

[exchangestudentmicha]

I know not a lot of people probably think about this, but do you think any of the brothers that are capable of flight (Lucifer, Mammon mainly- I don't know if Asmo or Beel could logically fly) would be willing to bang Mc in the air? Idk it's just a thought I've had. No one has ever written anything for it.

Could you do headcannons or shorts for something like that with an Afab (or gn) mc?

Sure!

Obey me Flying Sex???????

Thank god this is finally done I have no idea why this took me so long, but enjoy!

I’m sorry for the weird search history Google, blame Tumblr

I know too much about birds and bugs

It turns out that almost nothing mates while in the air, and the ones that do are usually bugs that are literally stuck together for hours or D A Y S while mating. Also found out that birds usually either have no penis or A L L the penis (If you’re going to ask if I’m ok or not due to researching this stuff, the answer is no, I am scarred for life. Also why the fUCK can you find out peacock mating rituals on MARTHA STEWART’S blog of all places I’m scared)

I think that all of the characters that have wings would be able to fly, even while carrying MC, whether it be through their own wings or through magic to help them due to their lack of wingspan or whatever.

So yeah, I’d say it would be possible, but definitely not easy, with Lucifer having the easiest time due to having two sets of wings, the widest wingspan of his brothers, and being incredibly skilled in magic. Although he’s also the brother that occupies their shared braincell most of the time, and would probably ask why in the hell you would want to do that.

Beel would have the second easiest time out of the brothers in my opinion due to bug wings just giving him the ability to hover. With the main backside being that his wings are loud as shit. He would be much easier to convince than Lucifer however, especially if you bribe him with food. But in honesty he’d rather just take you against the ceiling. (Yeah Beel in his various demon forms is weird as shit, and can climb up walls)

Now Asmo would probably be the easiest to convince (hell he’d probably come to you about it) Although, due to his smaller wings, even if he has two sets like Lucifer, it wouldn’t be as easy for him. But thankfully he’s pretty well versed in magic, so that would keep y’all from falling (also the fact that he’s probably done this before)

Mammon would probably have the hardest time doing this (and to be honest has the highest chance of dropping you, don’t worry he’ll catch you) mainly due to his lack of magical skill.

AFAB MC

Warning: NSFW

Lucifer

Dude nearly choked on his drink when you asked him (honestly it was kinda funny seeing him sputter and flush like he did)

“What in the Devildom’s name made you come up with that?!”

You shrugged in response and just said that it sounded fun to you, and pointed out the fact that he probably needs a break

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, he swears that you’re gonna give him more gray hair than mammon already gives him. But even if you do, he can’t deny how absolutely smitten he is with you

So one day you find a letter on your bed, telling you to meet him on the roof of the House of Lamentation

You went up to the roof to find Lucifer in his demon form, waiting to take you into the perpetual night sky to bring your crazy ideas to life

“There you are MC, are you ready to head out?”

You watched as the lights from the buildings below grew smaller and smaller as Lucifer flew you both high up in the air. Your grip tightened against his shirt as you looked down, only looking away when you heard Lucifer chuckle at you. “Are you scared MC?” “No!” You shot back as he finally slowed down and leveled out with his flying. “So… How are we gonna do this? I mean… It looks like even just undressing will be a pain in the ass.” You half joked before seeing him smirk and then snap his fingers. You covered your bare chest when you felt the breeze against you, realizing that he just poofed away your clothes with magic. “I don’t think it’ll be much of an issue darling.” He purred as he magically removed his own clothes and brought you into his lap. You feel your face heat up as he grinds his cock against your pussy, trying to lube it up a bit with your slick before entering you. You sighed out of pleasure as he rocked his hips into yours, slowly going faster and faster as you both got used to the midair fucking. You moaned louder as you felt your climax coming, “L-Lucifer… I’m close…” He wrapped his arm around your back, pushing you against his chest as you wrapped your arms around his neck, and his free hand slid between your bodies to find your clit. You yelled out his name from the stimulation on your clit before reaching your climax with Lucifer slowly following. You both panted as y’all came down from your climaxes, “We should probably start heading back huh?” You asked, while still clinging to his chest, “Are you sure you don’t want to take in the view first?” He asked as you looked around to see the city in the distance, “I think we can stay out here a little longer.”

Mammon

The definition of “That’s a crazy idea. Insane. It doesn’t make sense.” “You’ll do it?” “Of Course.”

Even he knows its a stupid idea, but that doesn’t mean he’s against it, I mean, he’s still banging you in the process

So he dragged you to the roof of the House of Lamentation to try out your crazy idea and to maybe fly both of you to a more secluded location

“Don’t worry I won’t drop you, and umm… even if I do, I’ll make sure to catch you. What kind of first man would I be if I let you get hurt?”

“H-Hey, you’ve been getting better at your spells right?” Mammon asked as he flew you both farther into the sky, “You really didn’t plan any of this out did you?” You laughed. “You know I like to play things by ear!” “Yeah, but this isn’t gambling or one of your schemes you dork!” He scoffed in response before finally leveling out his flying. “So… How are we gonna do this?” You asked as he wrapped your legs around his waist. “Well, I have an idea.” He smirked before reaching his hand under your skirt and rubbing your slit through your underwear. You gasped in pleasure as he rubbed your pussy before he spoke up again, “You mind helping me out of these?” You chuckled a bit before undoing his pants and pulling them down just enough to pull out his cock and rub it, causing him to groan in response. He moved your panties to the side and inserted two fingers and started to rub on your clit with his thumb. “Gotta get you nice and ready for me babe…” He muttered as he kissed your neck before taking off your underwear altogether. He brought you closer and rubbed his cock on your pussy, lubing it up before he finally entered you. He groaned out as he rocked his hips into yours faster and faster. “F-Fuck… MC… I-I’m getting close!” He moaned out as you got closer to yours as well. “Come on babe, cum with me!” He groaned with one final thrust and released inside of you, with your climax shortly following. You both panted as you came down, with Mammon chuckling a bit and putting his head against yours, “We should do this more often.” You chuckled in response, “As long as you plan this out better next time.”

Asmo

“…How did I not come up with that first?”

He was astonished that you could come up with something that was just so perverted and wild before he could, but was still very eager to try it out. But first he had to make some preparations so he shoved you out of his room and told you to keep an eye on your DDD for when he was ready

Now what was he doing? Who knows. Probably trying to find the perfect spot to do it or trying to shake down Solomon for some spells that would be useful during the mid flight fucking

And a couple days later came the text to meet him on the roof

“I figured this would be a bit easier to do if you could fly as well.” he said before casting a spell that caused you to start floating

“Well… I couldn’t find one that let you fly, but levitating works just as well, after all, I can guide us with my wings.”

You yelped out in fear as you floated farther from the ground, but then felt Asmo grasp your wrist as he flew up beside you. “I can’t have you floating off away from me, now can I?” You quickly grasped onto him in fear of floating away again, Asmo giggled as you clung to him and wrapped his arms around you as he brought you higher into the air. Once you both reached a height that he deemed high enough, he let you go, minus one of your hands, to let you float around a bit beside him. You looked around to see the Devildom’s city’s skyline before feeling Asmo pressing up against your back and his head in your neck, “So how do you want to do this darling?~” “I don’t know, I’m the one who’s just actively trying not to float away.” You laughed. “That’s fair” He giggled into your ear before his hand slithered down to your crotch. “How about we start here? Hmm?” You gasped as you felt the tips of his fingers rubbing circles on your clit and his erection starting to press into your backside. You pressed back the best as you could while floating as he ground into you from behind, “Nnnn… Stop teasing me Asmo…” You whined before you finally felt him undoing your pants so that he could pull them down, “Getting impatient, are we?~” “Says the one pulling off my pants.” “Fair enough.” He said as he finally finished removing both of your clothing. “Are you ready darling?” You nodded quickly in response before finally feeling his cock slide into your entrance, you sighed out in pleasure as he rocked his hips into yours, quickly increasing his speed as you both got used to the feeling. “Ahh MC you’re so tight.” He moaned out as you neared your climax, “Ngggg… A-Asmo… I’m close…” You whined as you felt him pick up his pace, “Me too, MC… Just let go, I’ll take care of you…” You listened, letting your orgasm wash over you as you moaned out his name. Asmo turned you around to face him before kissing you, “We should do this more often.” He giggled.

Beel

“…Why?

He doesn’t have anything against doing that, he’s just confused on why you would want to do that

Now once you explain that you’re mainly just curious and it sounds like fun he agrees, as long as you can go by Madame Scream’s afterwards since y’all will already be out. (Honestly even if you said no to Madame Scream’s he’d still go with you anyways)

You say sure and ya’ll go out to the roof and he goes into his demon form

“My wings tend to be pretty loud when I’m flying so I hope you don’t mind.”

His wings buzzed to life as he began to hover off of the roof, he wasn’t kidding when he said they were loud, they almost sounded like a goddamn helicopter except not as deafening. “Sorry if they’re too loud.” He said as he picked you up off the roof, “It’s fine, it’s not that bad anyways.” You said as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He smiled and nuzzled into your neck before flying higher in the sky. You looked around a bit before feeling Beel start to nibble on your neck, “You hungry big boy?” You chuckled as you leaned into him, “I’m always hungry, especially when there’s a tasty snack right here.” He purred before finally taking a proper bite into your neck. You tried to hold back your moan as he licked on the bite mark he gave you and tugged your legs around his waist. You felt his erection grind into you before you pushed on his chest a bit, he pulled back with a confused look before your hands went down to his pants. You took off his pants with his help before he took off yours as well. He pressed his cock up against you, “Are you ready MC?” He asked, to which you immediately nodded in response. He slid his cock against your pussy to lube it up before entering you with a low groan, with you softly moaning as well. He slowly rocked his hips into yours, careful not to hurt you with his size, “Nghhhh, Beel, faster…” you whined before Beel shifted his grip on your thighs and started to go faster. You moaned into his chest as you felt him start to nip into your neck once again. You grasped his hair as you started to near your climax, “B-Beel… I’m close…” you moaned out, hearing him hum in agreement as he kept fucking into you, finally letting you reach your climax with Beel shortly following. You both hovered there in silence as you came down from both of your climaxes before you finally broke the silence, “So, do you wanna head off to Madam Screams?” He shook his head as he started to fly back to the House of Lamentation, “I want something else for dessert.” He said as you felt your face heat up.

[scoups4lyfe]

Hebi Anon

"They don't get to do that"

There's a concept I think about every single time a concept of a "higher power" or "superior species" shows up in works and puts themselves as "leaders" or "guardians" of imperfect humanity.

While they may objectively be better, proper leadership requires understanding of those you are trying to lead. What colors their decisions, why they will think in certain ways. However, how would a "perfect" being ever hope to understand imperfect people? How could those born with incredible power understand the normal person? They may have qualifications to lead or make important decisions, but can they actually be fit to lead people they can't understand?

Of course, this could also apply to Mr. Perfect Taro...

mmm <333

But Taro is also imperfect because of his lack of social understanding/awareness. I don't even know if he knows what it means **to** actually be a leader.

So far every time he enters battle he calls it a festival and a contest. Like it's all a fun game, even if there ARE real-world terrible terrible consequences involved in said 'game'

Which I think is a particularly nice callback to the apartment protest flashback.

'A fun festival’s happening, Jin'

Tarou didn't understand the nuance of the situation. That these people weren't having fun or celebrating. But instead gathering together in hate because they didn't want him around.

I really like how you highlighted the lack of understanding on both sides. Because essentially that's one of humanities fatal flaws.

We always like to choose binaries. What we understand, what we don't understand. Right, wrong. Normal, abnormal. But a binary doesn't accurately represent real life.

Momoi is flawed because equivalent exchange is too real. He's good at everything, therefore he must lack in something as well.

I remember learning in Psychology that people who can remember things perfectly, literally never forgetting anything --lack the ability to live a normal life. What people see as 'basic human functioning skills' are the exact things they take critical hits in.

But this 'lack of understanding' is what hurts those kinds of people the most.

I didn't go to a psychiatrist/seek professional help when I would only be able to sleep about 4 hours a day for a week straight, or when I would then crash and not be able to get out of my bed for an entire month because I didn't realize that was weird.

I thought everybody got like that.

I never could've thought I had ADHD because I wasn't super hyperactive unless I was in social situations with friends. I thought everyone just got really obsessed about certain things and then procrastinated and panicked. I blamed my 'one-track mind' on being an inherited trait from my mother.

"Guess I'm just spacey"

But like poison this idea of a normalcy I could never quite hit spread through my system like battery acid and choked me till even the idea of breathing without drowning felt like a far-off dream

My lack of social understanding made me the audience in a play I should be a part of. My sophomore year of high school I took the entire persona of KPOP idol I really liked because of the choking terror I had at the idea of spending another year sitting by myself with my thoughts as everyone else made friends.

When I was a child I lost a library book and my parents yelled at and punished me for it. The next time I got any library books I kept them inside my backpack always, because if I didn't then I'd lose them, and that t e r r i f i e d me

So seeing Momoi be told he's not normal (to his face) and that 'he needs to understand other people better' is truly a smack in the face.

That's like asking a colorblind person to put together a 3,056 piece rainbow puzzle, and then asking them to explain the nuance of each one of the colors

,,,,anyways, I really like the way Donbrother's is exploring this concept. Truly there is nothing harder in this world than understanding somebody else.

Also W O W Hebi Anon spitting fkin PHILOSOPHY yo.

[salemorbit]

Between Bookshelves

[Izuku Midoriya x genderneutral!Reader]

warnings: none! just cute shit hehe

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in which you meet midoriya by chance in the library before midterms, and thus blossoms some romance ;)

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note: aw omg 50 followers?? in only two weeks??? thank u so much i'm glad y'all like my content enough to follow!! :D

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It was the middle of the semester, a busy time for any student who was looking to do well before finals and then break. It was integral that one studied for the midterms at UA, mainly because they were that much more grueling than those at a regular high school

Which was why you had been holed up in the library for nearly three days straight, only leaving for bathroom breaks or the occasional snack. You had two classes that you needed to do well in for midterms, and you weren't about to take any chances with them.

Being in the support course was barely any different than being in the hero course. The only notable difference was the lack of real-world fighting that anyone in the hero course did compared to the support course, but the classes were just as tough.

You were near the top of your class, but being near the top wasn't enough. You often strived for perfection only to fall short just by a small margin and get beat out by the best of your peers. This frustrated you, so you aimed to get the top marks during midterms and really skyrocket to the front of your class.

Izuku Midoriya was similar to you in mindset, but he knew he wouldn't get to the very top of his class. There were plenty of smart kids in his homeroom, but he still wanted to get at least top five in his specific class.

Which was why he was also holed up in the library, though not as much as you had been. He kept it as casual as he could, studying here and there but not necessarily learning anything new about the topics. The boy took scrupulous notes.

One particular day, blame it on the burnout if you will, you just couldn't keep your focus on the notes and books in front of you. It was nearly the end of day three of living in the library at UA, and you were starting to feel it. The weight under your eyes, the burning feeling from barely blinking, your stomach rumbling at the thought of a late dinner. You couldn't do the best on your tests if you didn't take care of yourself first, so you had to get up to stretch and grab something from the vending machine.

Being the only other person in the room, Midoriya couldn't help it when his eyes caught onto your movements as you left the immediate library space. His gaze traveled to your table just across the room from him.

Midoriya had seen you around before. You were in the support course, number three overall. And that was impressive to him. Many kids were in the support course, so being in the top three was quite the accomplishment.

He had never spoken to you directly, but he wasn't a stranger to who you were: [Y/N] [Y/L/N]. Third best in support, amazing strategic skills, outstanding marks in the entrance exam, charismatic personality. What's not to admire?

You came back into the room and plopped down in your chair, opening up a bag of a snack Midoriya couldn't see from this distance and popping a piece in your mouth. You settled yourself in again to read entries from the textbook in front of you, but you felt eyes on you.

Looking up, you locked gazes with the boy across the room. He hadn't seemed to notice he was staring, so you sheepishly smiled and gave a small wave. Almost immediately he snapped out of it, going red and burying his nose back into the book on his own table. You smiled gently to yourself, still looking at him.

You knew him; everyone in UA did. If you didn't, you weren't paying attention to literally anything going on. Izuku Midoriya wasn't someone to scoff at when it came to hero work. You understood the difference between you and him, maintaining your distance pretty well over the last year. He wasn't someone you for sure wanted to know, but he had his fair share of secrets you were interested in.

You looked around the room and confirmed no one else was there but the two of you. What was the need to be quiet, then?

"Midoriya, right?" You spoke up. He looked up, surprised at your sudden voice. After a second, he cleared his throat and nodded, face going slightly pink.

"Y-Yeah. [Y/L/N], isn't it?" He replied. You would be lying if you said you weren't shocked he even knew your name. You nodded, closing the textbook in front of you having lost all interest in midterms for the time being.

"It is," you smiled. "What brings you here for the second time in a row?"

"Midterms," Midoriya chuckled, shifting his attention to you as well. "You?"

"Same boat," you shrugged. There was a beat of silence. "How do you know me?"

"Well-Well I don't, really," Midoriya rubbed the back of his neck, looking off to the side, "but I've heard of you. In the support course. Top three."

"Amazing observation," you said, actually impressed. "I'd be stupid not to know who you are. Everyone knows who you are."

"Apparently so," Midoriya said. Another beat of silence.

"What are you studying?" He asked. You glanced at your textbook and piles of paper.

"Costume mechanics. Boring shit."

"Sounds fun, actually."

"What are you studying?"

"Emergency strategies."

"God, talk about a snooze-fest," you laughed out. Midoriya cracked a smile. Another beat.

"What's, uh, what's your quirk?" Midoriya cleared his throat a second time.

"Breaking up machines and melding them into whatever I can visualize," you explained. "Cool enough to get into UA, but not cool enough to get into the hero course. I've come to terms with it, though."

"That's pretty useful," Midoriya replied thoughtfully. "It makes sense why you excel so much in support. That's a really cool quirk."

"Thanks," you felt your ears warm. "Yours is super cool, too. Really unique."

"Thank you," he smiled. Your heart skipped a beat at his lopsided grin, but you chalked it up to the exhaustion playing with your mind.

The two of you fell into a bout of silence for another hour until Midoriya packed up his things and bid you goodnight. You kept studying after he left, but your mind wouldn't stop wandering to thoughts of a certain green-haired boy...

•••

Meeting in that small study room in the back corner of the library became ritual for you and Midoriya, even after midterms. When he had a break or wasn't busy, Midoriya would pop his head into your usual room to see if you were there.

And you typically were, though you weren't there to study most of the time. You rarely actually studied for tests, using your time in class lectures to absorb information, so at this point spending time in the study room and doing nothing of substance was more to stall for time that anything else. You would wait for Midoriya to catch a break, enticed by your first interaction.

And the two of you bonded over the weeks, hanging out in the study room to both study and talk about whatever. You had conversations about all the different heroes you idolized, villains he had faced, and hopes for the future of both of your heroic careers. The two of you became fast friends, and it wasn't a secret that perhaps you wished for something more.

You noticed that you began to see Midoriya a little more frequently in the hallways or on breaks. He would pass by and always smile and say hi, cheeks almost always flushing whenever he did so. You also noticed the small things like when he started to sit next to you at your table in the study room, or when he started to bring you books he thought you'd like to read. The way his knees knocked into yours mid conversation, or how he always asked how your day went. All of this just made you fall harder for the boy.

One day, you were in the study room and looking at the shelves of books lining the walls, looking for a particular research study about the effectiveness of aesthetic in costume design. You were assigned a paper on it earlier in the day and wanted to get a head start on it.

Midoriya popped his head into your usual spot, initially frowning at your absence but then brightening up when he saw your bag and books set at your table. He set his own down next to it and scanned the room for you.

Seeing movement behind some shelves, Midoriya trotted over to the tall shelves and pulled out a book in front of you, revealing his smiling face. You jumped slightly, but sighed in relief when you saw who it was.

"Thank you for scaring the crap out of me, Midoriya," you shook your head, continuing to look for the book. "Gimme a second, I'll be over soon."

"What are you looking for?" Midoriya asked, gliding around the corner and joining you on the other side of the bookshelf. His eyes scanned over your profile, noticing the way your fingers tapped your chin as you searched.

"A book for my research paper," you mumbled. "I had one in mind and it should be- Damn," you sighed, "it's on the top shelf."

"Oh, here," Midoriya craned his neck to look at the top. "Which one?"

"The one with the blue binding," you pointed. Midoriya wasn't too much taller than you, but he had some reach. He steadied himself on the shelf and stretched to the top, grabbing the book and handing it down to you.

When he grounded himself, he was closer than before. Close enough that you caught a whiff of his cologne and could see the flecks of color in his eyes. Close enough that you could reach out and run your fingers along his freckles--

"Here," he breathed out, holding the book to you. "Got it."

"Thanks," you said softly, taking it from him and glancing down shyly. Your eyes made their way back to his, him looking at you intently.

"We should, um--" Midoriya started, but broke off and cleared his throat. "You should get started...on your paper."

"I should," you said, with no intention of moving. You felt your heart pounding in your chest and realized that you were now close enough to hear his own heartbeat over the sound of yours. Midoriya swallowed thickly, face gradually turning red.

"Your eyes are really nice," he said. You smiled at his shy compliment, setting the book in your hands on an empty spot in the shelf next to you.

"You're one to talk," you grinned. This just made Midoriya's face go brighter as he looked away nervously.

"I-I don't want to sound too forward or anything, so stop me if I am, but..."

There were a few seconds of silence between the two of you, Midoriya looking like he was turning an idea over and over in his mind. Intense silence that only grew as your heartbeat got faster. You started to lean in, looking at his eyes then his lips, then his eyes again and--

"[Y/N]?"

You jumped back, peering through the books to see one of your friends looking around the study room. Frowning, you looked at Midoriya apologetically before popping your head around the corner and smiling at your friend.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"You forgot one of your textbooks in class," she said, producing it from behind her back. "Thought I'd drop it off."

"Oh, thank you," you smiled. "Just leave it by my stuff."

When you turned back around, Midoriya was gone. Your heart dropped at the sight, worried that you had frightened him off. Had you read the room wrong? Were you just that desperate that you had overstepped a boundary? Did he hate you now? Think you were overbearing?

You sighed and picked your book back off the shelf next to you, walking forward to round the bookshelf and get back to your studying. Just as you stepped into the aisle, a hand grabbed your forearm and twirled you around so your back was up against the wall.

Blinking up, you saw those familiar flecked eyes and freckles of Midoriya staring down at you, a new confidence in them that wasn't there before. Your racing heart started up again, hands coming to your side free of the book you were holding before.

"Before we get interrupted again, can I..." he trailed off, searching your eyes and flicking down to your lips. "Can I kiss you?"

Your breath hitched in your throat as you smiled, nodding.

"I thought you'd never ask," you said, leaning up and meeting him halfway.

It was soft and sweet as Midoriya slid his hands around your waist and secured you against him. His lips were soft and knew what they were doing. Your back arched off the flat of the wall as you wrapped your hands around his neck, moving with him.

He didn't overstep anything without asking, being tentative with each hand placement and going slow if you had a point in which you wanted to stop. His fingertips grazed the edges of your shirt as his hands moved to your hips, dancing over slivers of skin. Your hands found their way into the mess of green hair atop his head, curling your fingers into the soft locks as he chuckled against your lips.

It was bliss; soft and reassuring and comfortable. Your chest warmed at his thoughtfulness and care, causing you to push into him a little harder. He reciprocated easily, keeping you close to the wall while also having a tight hold on you himself.

With one last twist of your fingers in his hair, you pulled away. Midoriya, eyes half-open as you ended it, chased after your lips, smiling.

"You have no idea how long I wanted to do that for," he muttered, eyes widened now and looking into yours with a softness that just made your heart melt.

"I'm glad you finally did," you smirked, nuzzling your nose against his, "or else I would've had to have a serious intervention."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He pulled away further, a playful look in his eye. You just laughed and pulled yourself toward him, pecking him on the lips again.

"You worry too much."

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AHDLFISHWBELDPSHWHDKF

requests are welcome!

[ahsxual]

Perfect Day

Pairing: Arthur Fleck x Reader

Summary: You and Arthur are excited for your first date, since it's an essencial key for your relationship.

Genre: Fluff

Warning: sexual harassment (literally one sentence, nothing too serious)

Word count: 2,7k

A/N: I don't know how to feel about this one... I wanted it to be romantic and cute, yet I feel this isn't enough to express my feelings for him... anyways, I really hope your opinion is different! :)

Gif Credits: @arthurflecc <33

Today is the day I will finally find true happiness, Arthur thought. Last day, you invited him to have dinner at your place, since none of you could afford an actual date, and that way you could spend some time alone. You work with him as female clown for a couple weeks now and that's where you met him: he, besides Gary, was the only one who's truly kind and respectful, not some jerk like Randall who would always make some unwanted comments on how pretty you are. With that, Arthur got the courage to defend you, a gesture you noticed and really appreciated. That's when you decided to invite him as a thank you gift for what he has done (and maybe because you thought he was really cute and a real gentleman).

To Arthur, that morning seemed brighter than any other he had lived: he could swear that the birds were singing to him, like it was a sign from nature and destiny telling everything was going to finally be ok... as long as he was by your side. This time, the sky wasn't covered by depressive and heavy gray clouds like every other day: instead, it was replaced by the sweet scalding yellow sun and the gorgeous shade of baby-blue. Even the stairs weren't painful to walk anymore and the runs to the bus weren't as stressed and tiring as they used to be. He came down the stairs bouncing with joy, like he was a kid who just got his favorite ice-cream flavor for free. People even looked at him awkwardly, but he couldn't care less. Nothing could ruin this day to him.

Once he entered Haha's, his heart started to beat way too fast once he realized he would see you in a matter of seconds. He couldn't wait any longer, so he quickly ran to the room of clowns, hoping for you to be the first thing he would lay his eyes on once he got there.

"Hi, Arthur!" you happily said as soon as you saw him, realizing that he had been standing there for a while, staring sweetly at you. However you didn't mind: you knew his intentions were utterly good.

"H-hi Y/n! You... you are very... b-beautiful today." he finally got the courage to praise you, to speak his mind out loud, even if he stuttered meanwhile. He was with his red waistcoat and pants, and a white social shirt, an outfit that suits him just perfectly.

"Oh, thank you, you look really good too! And I'm glad you liked it, I want to look good for our tonight's date." you teased him, just to see his cheeks turn redder than they already were. You were with your date's outfit on, because you were planning to go home right after you left Haha's. You wanted to surprise him, however he arrived sooner than you expected, so you didn't have the time to change into your clown's work outfit.

"A date??" he seemed surprised for you considering your meeting an actually date.

"Yeah, sure. Don't you want to call it that way?"

"Yes!! I mean, i-if you want to..." he correct himself, after realizing he sounded too excited than he should.

"Ok, great! Can't wait for tonight." you said gladly, earning a sweet tooth wide smile from him.

"Me too Y/n, me too..." after sharing an intense and intimate exchange of glances, you decided to break the reconforting silence between you. That silence told and shared way more emotions than any possible spoken word, but you couldn't risk any other coworker complain about you two to Hoyt.

"Well, I'm going to get ready now. Talk to you later, ok?"

"Uh... sure." he understood, giving you once again a thin, shy smile.

You both did your work for the rest of the day, not wanting your secret love to interfere and prejudice your professional life. Both of you knew how demanding your boss could be, so you better not test his limits.

The day was finally near to its end, so you went to your locker to collect your belongings and then change into your clothes, before joining Arthur who was already waiting for you outside.

"Are you ready?" you asked once you got near him.

"Absolutely." he calmly, yet enthusiastic answered. You wanted to overcome your shyness, so you slowly interlocked your arms with his. You could tell that he was a little hesitant by the sudden affectionate gesture and seemed to paralyzed, looking intensely at the spot where your arms found each other.

"Arthur? Are you ok?" you were scared that you crossed the line without meaning it.

"Y-yeah! I'm sorry, I'm just... not used to being touched..." he got upset, remembering how miserable and lonely his life was... but not anymore. That's the past, and now you are more then willing to change radically his and your future as well, putting all that suffering and intense pain far far away behind him.

"It's ok Art, you are safe with me, I promise you that. But if I do something that makes you uncomfortable, please let me know." before your lovely night started, you needed to make sure that he would be comfortable: you wouldn't forgive yourself if anything bad happened to the man who supported you and made you feel like the only beautiful woman alive, and you being the responsible for it.

"Thank you, Y/n. That's really nice of you... I really appreciate that." he made that sweet stare towards you, one that makes you melt right away every time.

"Come on Art, my stomach is already complaining." he happily laughed, and you acknowledged his smile.

When you arrived home, it was impossible for you not to notice: he was quiet, yet so observant with everything: sometimes he would even touch so softly your belongings, and you would just smile, feeling nothing but comfort and acceptance. How can anyone consider me as someone so essential and special in their lives?, you deeply thought. But that's just how Arthur was: he always manages to feel like it's only you and him against the world, the rest being irrelevant.

"What do you want to eat? I can make your favorite plate... or at least I can try." you softly laughed, feeling a little nervous by your kitchen skills. You really wanted to impress Arthur... especially on your first of many dates. He then looked at you with wide eyes, swallowing his dry throat from growing anxiety. "What's the matter? Did I do anything wrong?" you started to get even more nervous than you already were, now being you having your mouth and throat dry.

"No, no, you didn't do anything wrong! I-I just..." he paused for a moment, not being able to look at you since he felt very ashamed. "I'm not hungry... I'm sorry..." he said slowly with a low voice, derived from his embarrassment.

"Oh..." you felt a little sad if you were honest: you bought a bunch of food so he could choose freely what he wanted to eat and make this day special by making him a surprise... but you couldn't blame him: you knew about the secondary effects from the meds he takes, the lack of hunger being one of them. "It's fine, don't worry about it." you tried to relax him, which you did since he offered you a kind smile right after, just like his big, yet fragile heart. You tried to think of something else: you couldn't miss this opportunity to be with him, both of you being so busy with your lives that the time you spend together is absolutely rare and precious, being as valuable as gold, or diamonds, or even more. "I got an idea!" a cliche, yet romantic idea came to your mind. "What about... seeing a movie? Or a tv show that you really like? While eating popcorn, obviously." you winked at him.

"Sounds like fun." he smiled. "But... I-I never... ate popcorn. Never had the chance to try it..." he shyly said. You felt bad for him... in our childhood, it's the most delicious thing to eat, a sweet that brings us joy, happiness and even peace, for some. But now, him being in his middle 30's, how has he never eaten or at least tried it?

"Then seems like you're going to have this delicious experience with me instead!" you gently laughed, trying to make him more comfortable. This time he gave you a toothy grin, staring at you like he was in heaven and you were the only pure angel in it. You blushed at his staring, so you decided to look away and do the popcorns instead. "Make yourself at home! You can sit on the sofa if you want." you offered while pointing to the most comfortable furniture you had. He instantly obeyed you, sitting on it awkwardly since he was afraid of doing something wrong that could annoy you. Yup, that was definitely the last thing he wanted to do... mainly on this special day.

Once you finish the popcorn, you sat right next to him, being way closer than he expected. Not that he minded, no no, not at all, but he couldn't help but to shake unstoppably by the complex emotions he was feeling from the warm and soft human contact... from the most perfect human being in his eyes.

"Before we watch it, I want you to prove this delight first. But you have to close your eyes! It will taste better, I promise." you grabbed one popcorn kernel and signaled him to open his mouth. He instantly felt tenser and his frail heart started to beat furiously because of your gesture. If someone had told him when he first saw you, that he would come to your house and spend these moments with you, he would've laughed by the immense unlikelyhood. But here he is: in your house, with you. He shakingly opened his mouth, slowly closing his big ocean eyes right after. When he tasted it, it was like he was 7 again, living his lost happy childhood: it was sweet, crunchy and tasted like happiness, this feeling amplified with you by his side. "How is it?" you curiously asked while smiling by his reaction.

"This is so... wow." that's all he could say.

"You want more? This bowl can be just for you, I will do more for myself." the moment you got up, you felt your arm being gently, yet firmly grabbed.

"Wait!" he suddenly said, removing his hand from your arm right after, not wanting to scare you away. "I-I'd rather share them with you... i-if that's ok..." His shyness was something you could never be tired of: it's one of the words that describe him the best, making him look immensely cute to your eyes. You felt genuinely happy because he was making a move on you: as little or even insignificant that gesture was to everyone else, it meant the world to you.

"Sure, sharing is always better, right?" you shared a glare that spoke the untold love for each other, yet not unknown. "So... what do you want to see?" you finally asked.

"I don't know... maybe-" suddenly he noticed the tv, that was already on, presented the Murray Franklin show, catching immediately his attention. "Murray!!" once he saw it, it was like his shyness was never there: the carefree and excited Arthur who you never had the chance to meet, was now shown. You even felt jealous for a moment, seeing all his attention was now in the show.

"Oh, you like Murray? I watch him from time to time, the show is really funny." he turned his attention to you again, seeming surprised by your answer.

"You do...?" his grin shined even more once he discovered you had more things in common, one of them being something he admires and even considers as a dream, the main goal in his professional life.

"Of course! Who doesn't like to laugh and relax after a tiring day of work? Laughing is the best medicine for happiness." his smile broke, slowly decreasing into nothing. "I mean, when you really want to laugh, not when you have to." you remembered his condition, so you corrected yourself.

"I heard that my whole life, so I guess you're right..." he seemed mindful, looking and playing with his own worn hands. You gently grabbed his hand into yours.

"Don't worry Arthur, I'll make sure you really laugh, not just because you can't control it or because you forcely have to. I promise you... I will do my best to make you happy everyday." these moments and words were unforgettable to him. He couldn't see his life without you anymore: the only way he could be truly happy is by your side, the only way he could survive... is only by your side.

"Thank you, Y/n. I... I-I really enjoy these moments I spend with you. They're the only thing that make me feel happy and alive. You make me feel like... like I'm real and seen... and you have no idea how much that is important to me." you felt so proud of him for being able to speak from his mind and heart without hesitance, and utterly special for being the only one who entirely owned his trust.

"You don't need to thank me, Art. It's my pleasure to be with you, a man who's so kind and respectful like you. If others can't see it, it's not your fault. Like I use to say, it's their loss for not seeing someone so good in front of them. But I can see it... and we all only need the ones who really care about us in our lives, the rest is just the rest. They don't matter." now was your turn to speak the honest truth. He didn't have to say anything for you to understand how right and perfect he thought you were: it was like destiny was telling him to not let you escape... because you are his soulmate, his one and only person who came to this world with the purpose of filling him, to fill his heart with pure love, compassion and comprehension. "Oh, the show has already started!" both of you were so distracted or, should I say, so concentrated on each other, that you didn't even notice what was happening around you: the world always stops when you are together.

Once you decided to see the show, you shared the made popcorn and some laughs, Arthur always making sure you would laugh when he would. Every time Murray made a joke, Arthur looked at you, concentrated on your expressions while admiring your beauty. It was an incredible spent night: you laughed, ate popcorn together, supported each other... with time, you even hugged him softly, only for him to gladly return it, yet shyly, as predicted. If you two were honest, you would admit that you wanted so badly to share a sweet, passionate and meaningful first kiss... but that has to be preserved for your future dates, since the respect you have for one another it's incomparable to any other: you want things to happen naturally, without hurry, because what begins fast... ends quickly as well, and that's the last thing you want to happen, for sure.

This was the last piece of the puzzle that was needed to finally go forward your relationship: you belong to each other, like your hearts are attached and only function correctly when you are together, like the universe had and still has wonderful plans for you... and both of you are so glad to finally be able to be by your soulmate's side... forever.

[shouta-aizawow]

Long BNHA-related rant ahead, but imma organize my thoughts :)

Bakugou should not have failed the provisional licensing exam.

Katsuki failed this exam because he spoke roughly to the “victims”.

If this is enough to not get a hero license, then every single hero at the scene during the sludge villain incident, at the sports festival and/or that got to Katsuki during the kidnapping should have their licenses revoked.

None of these heroes comforted Katsuki, and none of these heroes tried to get the villain to safety. They watched or they were the cause of his suffering. Katsuki was just doing what had been done to him time and time again.

Not to mention, during the rescue portion of the exam, he able to prioritize. Getting to the most injured victims is more important than comforting someone that has a broken arm. Sure, they might think it’s a big deal, but even with doctors, they don’t sit there and comfort everyone in an accident. They go find the person that’s hurt the most. Katsuki was not wrong. Sure, he could’ve worded it better, but to fail?

Side note: This reminds me of the rescue training OVA. Everyone was standing around chatting, and Bakugou decided to leave them and walk into the building to find the dummy, and Ochako calls him self-centered? When he was the one that knew that chatting wasn’t doing anything in their favor? He really can’t win...

(I’ll keep silent on the people I believe should have failed/come close to failing)

Bakugou is treated poorly by nearly everyone in BNHA.

Katsuki is angry. He’s angry a lot.

Katsuki was canonically raised by violence (from what we’ve seen and heard him say).

Katsuki has been in the center of numerous traumatic events.

But he’s angry, right? He’s angry a lot.

He’s angry a lot, so people seem to think that it’s not valid every single time. He’s angry a lot, so he’s not taken seriously. He’s angry a lot, so people treat him like they know him more than he knows himself.

He’s angry a lot, and the characters and the antis never ask why. They never look at all the facts that contribute to his feelings. They never put themselves in his shoes.

They see an angry child, and they stop there. (Sometimes they stop after angry, forgetting that Katsuki is a child.)

This is apparent both in and out of BNHA, and it’s so frustrating how if people perceive anger to be your most felt emotion/if you feel angry a lot, then it’s not valid each and every time.

People care about the cookie cutter kind kids, not the angry ones, and this causes people to not feel heard and to be disregarded.

Looking/being kind doesn’t automatically make you the best.

Looking/being mean doesn’t automatically make you the worst.

I’d argue that Katsuki has PTSD from these events, or, if not, we canonically know that the kidnapping has impacted him immensely.

But he’s angry a lot, so people don’t care.

He gets blamed for things he can’t control and hit by his mother, but “he shouts back! It’s part of his culture! It’s part of his culture and he shouts back, so it’s fine!”

1) Being a part of someone’s culture doesn’t make it right. Yes, I like good parents Mitsuki and Masaru just as much as the next guy, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to overlook what’s right in front of me and what I hear (remember: he said he was raised in violence). A kid isn’t born angry. Either a chemical imbalance, their environment, or both plays a role. Don’t ignore it because anger isn’t validated in the eyes of others.

2) So what if he yells back? Being hit, being called names, and being blamed for something I can’t control has happened to me, and almost always I shouted back. That does not mean that it hasn’t affected my mental health and self worth. I am always labeled as the angry child. Because of this, when I’m sad or when I’m angry, no one cares unless they’re equally impacted.

Me not being listened to? Doesn’t matter.

Be getting hurt by someone physically or emotionally? Doesn’t matter.

Me being in a bad mood? Doesn’t matter.

But it does matter if it impacts someone else.

It does matter if I don’t listen in return. It does matter if I tell someone and interrupt whatever they’re doing. It does matter if I don’t want to talk to someone and they want to talk to/bother me.

It does matter, but not the fact that I’m feeling this way.

All they know is that I’m angry and it’s affecting them.

But they don’t help me, no. They don’t ask why, they don’t want to hear why.

They just see a child that feels anger a lot and tell them everything that’s wrong with them, because “you’re feeling this way, but I don’t like it”.

This is exactly how it is with Katsuki.

Katsuki’s emotions are extremely valid, but it’s ignored because every other character he interacts with seems so optimistic.

Yeah, they’ve been in traumatic events, but in the span of about a year, Katsuki has suffered, and no one looks past the angry appearance to ask the real questions of why he feels that way.

Being angry doesn’t make you a bad person, but no one in BNHA seems to understand that. (And almost no one in real life does either).

Okay, so I’m gonna briefly mention what I don’t like about other characters (All Might and Deku), so skip this and go to the 🛑 if you don’t want to see it!

Midoriya Izuku

Honestly, I find that with Deku, Hori does a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Like we’re told he’s kind and we’re told he’s analytical. In reality, so many characters have basically dumped their trauma on Deku and he just replies with “yeah that sucks” or he doesn’t reply at all. With his analytical skills, sure he comes up with plans, but they’re really basic plans. (And extremely reckless at that.)

One thing that I cannot wrap my head around is how every character automatically trusts Deku without any complaints.

Deku is given everything, and I get that he’s the protagonist, but it’s like he has no struggles to reach the top. Like, sure he had that bone breaky thing, but he hears Gran Torino talk about some food not heating up all the way and all of a sudden he’s almost mastered AFO?

Deku should not have gotten so high on the entrance exam, and he should not be at the top of his class in terms of quirk use.

Deku is not 100% innocent in his and Katsuki’s relationship. Bnha is from Deku’s pov, so of course things would look all innocent of his side (especially with his lack of introspection as he only changes when someone else says something, but that’s a rant for another time)

Deku is not good at being inspirational, in my opinion, and I think that his hero-worshipping self should not have been the type of comfort that Eri and Kota needed.

Not a bad thing, but Deku doesn’t even mind Katsuki’s “you might as well take a swan dive off of the roof” comment (that people blow way out of proportion, but sure), so I don’t understand why people are so angry about that scene.

All Might

I don’t like how All Might knocks out Katsuki for pushing himself even if he breaks and whatnot, because Midoriya does that literally every fight, and All Might stays silent.

All Might told Katsuki that he was at a level 50 and Deku was at a level 1 and that was why he’s catching up so quickly as if he didn’t just give Deku the quirk of the number one hero as well as about 6 other quirks.

All Might is a terrible mentor and should not be a teacher. He only cares about his students (especially with Katsuki) when it affects Deku directly, and he doesn’t teach Deku any skills that would help him live longer and actually save people. (Noted in Deku’s highkey terrible handling of the fight during the Eri and Kota situation).

🛑

Okay, before I end this, I have some final things I want to say.

Everyone talks to Bakugou like they know him more than he knows himself.

I don’t understand when people say that Bakugou tormented and “suicide baited” Deku all his life, because we only got, like, 1.5 scenes of him being mean to Deku, everything else was just them hanging out, and he didn’t suicide bait Deku at all, please learn what that means before you use it.

Some of the same people bashing Katsuki are the ones stanning villains and saying that they should get off scot free or comparing him to Endeavor. I don’t understand this. How are you excusing serial killers and comparing an abuser to a child that was mean a couple times? Make it make sense, because right now, the double standards are real.

Done! (For now >:D)

There’s a lot of things that I could’ve said, but we’d be here all week if I mentioned everything, so, please settle with this long post!

Note: I don’t hate Deku nor All Might. I just relate to Katsuki a lot more, and I highkey dislike a lot of aspects of those twos’ characters.

[dragonrebelrose]

TROS Reaction 12-20-19. AKA my 6 page long dissertation about why I really disliked TROS.

I didn’t think it would be this bad. I truly thought there would be some gleaming moments of redeemability, but no. It’s one...giant...shit-show. What a horrible blow to the end of not only the sequel trilogy and these characters but to everything that came before. It really takes skill to mess up this badly.

A little something nice though, was the guy I sat next to. Really nice (and cute too ^-^ ) and he offered me some of his candy (Buncha Crunch! My favorite!) before the film started and then throughout the film because he said, “Well this is consolation for having to sit next to me.” Aw I couldn’t have asked for a better seat partner, I didn’t even know him! And then when the film ended he knew I didn’t take it well and I cried and shook through many moments and he offered the rest of his candy and I said, “Thanks, I think I need it.” I asked him what he thought overall and he said, “C-3P0 was pretty funny.” I said, “Yeah I agree. I actually knew everything that happened before I saw it, and I thought it was a mess.” He chuckled and said, “Me too, but I didn’t want to say anything in case you liked it.” I said, “Oh, no, I didn’t really like it. But I gotta be honest, Ben Solo didn’t deserve to die. That’s just my opinion.” I think he was surprised by that but didn’t disagree. He just kinda nodded or something and then we said goodbye and he left with his buddies, who also seemed pretty unenthused by the whole movie. Hopefully I gave him something to think about with my comment, but he was really nice and I’m glad he sat next to me.

Pessimism aside for now, I’ll start by listing the things I liked. I gotta be honest, there’s not much here.

Reylo is canon! But, in my opinion, it was handled pretty badly. Ben’s death is only the start of the problems for it, but more on that later.

C-3P0 is funny I guess. Yes he is annoying sometimes like usual, but not more so than other times.

D-O is freaking adorable. Out of everything good I’ve listed I have no qualms with this one. His manner is cute, his speaking is very funny, and his actions are just precious.

Babu Frik is very cute too, just perfect! Lovely little puppet! Don’t know why he was shoehorned in at the end battle but whatever. We never saw him again.

Maz is a puppet now? Okay, cool. Wish that would’ve been the case since the beginning. You had the technology JJ.

The music is good, when it’s given its own time to shine and be noticed. I feel like I barely noticed it was there because sound effects just drowned it out. Really wasted, but still good nonetheless.

Leia’s death and how it affected Ben. Wow. This was the first moment I truly cried. This was handled very well by Adam Driver, and then Maz saying “Goodbye, Princess.” Ouch, that got me.

Ben talking to the memory of his father! This is something I did not know was in the movie and boy am I glad I wasn’t spoiled for it! THIS is where the really hard tears and sobbing came. I was literally shaking and shivering trying to keep it in so as not to disturb everyone else. This. Part. Was. Perfect. Ben looks at him like he wants to say “I love you,” and Han says out loud “I know.” *crazy screaming and crying* Out of all the things they got wrong for Ben in this film, THIS they got right!

Ben Solo is the Solo boy we always wanted. Running in with a t-shirt, gun slinging, blasting opponents without even looking. THIS is a true son of Solo! But of course they give him no lines except “Ow.” THAT was a bad idea.

And that’s it. Yes those are the only things I even remotely liked, but I have to be honest, each one of these has some kind of problem attached to it which sours the real enjoyment.

On to what I disliked. Strap in lads, this is going to be a long ride.

1. The pacing. OH. MY. GOSH. SLOW. THE. FUCK. DOWN. For fucks sake I couldn’t even process what the hell was happening before we were on to the next thing! This was the biggest problem with the movie, BY FAR. Yes I know the story is terrible, we’ll get to that, but the pacing just completely took me out of the movie. I couldn’t feel invested in anything because it was all in one ear and out the other like ten-fold!

And this is part of the issue I have with how Reylo was handled. It. Felt. So. Rushed. And. Unfinished. There weren’t enough scenes with them and the scenes we did get were so fast and then over with that it felt like no progress was being made at all! It felt, for lack of a better word, unearned. And I know, that’s not really the case since they’ve had plenty of build-up in the last 2 films, but there wasn’t enough time with them spent NOT fighting and hating each other and opposing each other. Yes, I know, Kylo kept trying to get Rey to take his hand, but it doesn’t feel genuine because even Kylo feels out of character, and Rey too, big time. Now this isn’t the actor’s faults, they did what they could with the shitty story they were given, so I put all this blame at JJ’s desk.

In any case the overall film pacing was too fast, too much, too soon, too many things onscreen, too many things happening at once, not enough character, not enough motivation, not enough letting scenes breathe and just play out naturally. Everything felt forced for the sake of the “plot.” Oh we gotta get this thing, and then that thing, to get this thing, so we can defeat these guys! LET. US. BREATHE.

2. The story. My gosh, they couldn’t have picked a worse storyline to follow. Everything truly felt like it was written by a fanboy who wanted to retcon everything in TLJ, even down to the dialogue. Everyone keeps saying to Rey “You’re a Palpatine.” But it sounds SO strange, like nobody says things like this. I get it, it’s a space fantasy, they talk weird mumbo jumbo but it just sounds like a fanboy ghost wrote this. Like we gotta have everyone know now she’s a Palpatine! You’re a Palpatine! You’re a Palpatine! Palpatine heir! All bow down to the Palpatine! Give me a break.

3. Yeah, let’s talk about Palps. The old raisin himself. You know, I never really liked ROTS, but Palps was always a great thing about it. He was sinister, diabolical, he had a plan and knew what to do with it. But this Palps. *le heavy sigh* What a waste this was. For one thing, the lightning effects that lights up his face is really annoying, even for someone who doesn’t get seizures, I can’t even imagine what it’s like for those who do, I’m so sorry. And like, he has this whole legion of Sith followers? The fuck? Where the hell were these guys before? I’m sure they existed BEFORE the last Sith Lord died, right?

I digress. I have a question though: why does he want Rey so much? Why didn’t he try to get his son to take over? Wouldn’t that have been easier? Also, WHO DID HE FUCK TO GET A SON?? HOW DID HIS SON GET AWAY FROM HIM?? WHY DID HIS SON APPARENTLY TURN TO THE LIGHT?? THERE’S TOO MANY QUESTIONS HERE AND NO GOOD EXPLANATIONS. AND NO DISNEY, I DON’T WANT A 10-PART COMIC ON THIS. GO FUCK YOURSELVES.

The only interesting thing about Palps in this film is that his face gets melted off like a Raiders of the Lost Ark knock-off. He better not be coming back. Ever again.

4. And hey, while we’re on the subject, let’s talk about Rey’s parents. So apparently they’re both good people. *le sigh* But what kind of good people leave their daughter alone on a harsh and unforgiving planet with a blubber guy? And don’t tell me they didn’t know he was an abusive asshole, they LIVED on Jakku, they HAD to have known him, ESPECIALLY if they truly were junk traders, they would have DEALT with him. Oh, and apparently the “I’ll come back for you sweetheart, I promise” line is changed up a bit and given to her father after all. No. Screw that. That line was meant for Ben, I don’t care how petty this sounds, this is terrible. So yeah, fuck Rey’s parents, I don’t care how “good” you try to make their intentions, they’re badly shoehorned in and they screw up anyway. Next.

5. Ben’s story and his fate. So yeah, obviously I hate that Ben died, but more than that I hate how his story was handled here. It was so rushed, it didn’t feel as natural as it should have. It needed time to BREATHE. A lot of time! And I feel like they really shafted Kylo/Ben’s story off to the side to give more time to the hereby named GoldenTrio. (You know who I mean...we’ll get to them.) It really seemed like JJ didn’t even care about Ben’s fate anymore, and just kind of put it in as an afterthought. His death scene? Not even given a fucking minute to process because WE GOT TO PARTAY. All in all, his whole story is so terribly sad that I don’t even know if I can watch TFA or TLJ anymore, knowing how it ends.

6. The GoldenTrio. Oh for fucks sake, JJ, you should have killed Poe off when you had the chance, because now the story is all about THEM. Boom! They’re literally front and center in the movie. I don’t even think Reylo gets as much screen time as them. I mean really, Ben’s death scene and Rey’s grieving gets 1.5 minutes, tops. GoldenTrio reunion and threesome hugging? 5 fucking minutes of nothing but them hugging. I’m not even exaggerating. (Okay maybe I am, but it’s given more focus and time to “breathe” than Ben Solo’s fucking death. I’m getting a headache remembering it.)

Hey, remember in ESB and ROTJ where the trio got split up and had their own story lines and own purposes to fulfill without each other hanging around (apart from Han and Leia because their story lines are interconnected)? Yeah, I miss that too.

Also, Rey keeps wandering off being “pulled” to something, and every...single...time, Finn is like “Rey, wait! Poe we gotta get her! rEy CoMe BaCk!!” This happens at least 5 times, pretty consecutively too. It gets old real fast. Boy do I miss the days of TLJ where people got to be away from each other to discover new things without interference.

Which leads me to another point: They tried to shove FinnRey in here while shitting on FinnRose quite literally. What. A. Slap. To. The. Face. This is horrible treatment, and I hope Kelly will never do another interview for Lucasfilm again. She doesn’t deserve this.

7. The Ending™. Wow. What a way to show that your characters haven’t progressed at all by showing them in the same environment that they started in. Let’s do an overview: Rey starts out alone on a desert planet and meets a droid that isn’t hers. Rey ends up alone on a desert planet with a droid that still isn’t hers. PROGRESSION 101!! *slaps forehead* I mean, don’t even get me started on the fact that Ben isn’t there with her and that literally one half of her soul is gone (how is she not in agony right now??), but then to add more salt to the wound she’s just like “oh yeah I must be the rightful successor to the Skywalker name, even tho I’m a Palps...makes sense to me!” Fuck off. You don’t deserve that title after hating Luke for not doing what you wanted him to do and for hating Ben for most of this movie too.

Can we also acknowledge that this is THE ABSOLUTE WORST POSSIBLE WAY TO END A 40 YEAR SAGA AND FAMILY LEGACY? So, Palps had a kid who had a kid. This kid is then deemed a-okay by the family that was affected most by Palps and they welcome her like the sunshine child she is, yet shun their own offspring for being damaged goods because he was being manipulated by said Palps. Okay, it’s official now, everyone’s an asshole...except Ben. He seemed to be the only one to understand his faults and right his wrongs and not be an idiot. Then the kid who was abused and manipulated is killed because “reasons” or “problematic” or whatever and the offspring of Palps lives while the family that Palps manipulated is ultimately gone forever because it’s last descendant wanted to save the offspring of Palps out of the goodness of his heart. Now the offspring of Palps doesn’t even give a flipping thank you and steals their name. wHaT a SaTiSfYiNg EnDiNg!!! Someone gag me.

8. Luke’s X-Wing being raised out of the water and it’s in perfect working condition. What. The. Fuck. I don’t know if you guys realize this, but this completely undermines Luke’s arc in TLJ. That X-Wing was sunk and dead to show that he had no desire to return to the outside world. He was staying on the island. For good. And he buried that thing in water to make sure he couldn’t use it ever again, but it was still visible to him to remind him of his conviction if ever he questioned it. But no. That thing is a-okay and ready to fly. No need for parts, there’s no rust or any sea salt corrosion, ready to go skipper! This was just added for easy call-backs to ESB but boy this had absolutely 0 weight to it. I literally yawned or looked at my watch around this part thinking “oh my gosh isn’t it over yet?” Pretty much sums up my entire experience.

9. Rose got shafted to appease the fanboys. This one needs no further explanation or analysis, it just sucks and has no real reason to exist.

10. Luke was barely in it and offered not that great advice. Poor Mark. His performance really peaked with TLJ and never went back up.

11. Rey is suddenly the Avatar now? You can now talk to all previous Jedi’s who existed? What buffoonery is this? Oh, but Ben doesn’t get a single. fucking. word. from Anakin, the man he looked up to. I’m so tired right now. What’s left?

12. The message changed from “it doesn’t matter if you’re a nobody, you’re a somebody to me” to “you’re a somebody with a bad bloodline, but that doesn’t define you (except when it totally does)”. That sort of message would be fine if it had been the message since TFA, but it wasn’t. The message since TFA was “I’m a nobody, but I can become a somebody regardless of my lineage or my childhood.” Why change the message in the 11th hour? To appease fanboys. Literally anything that makes no sense in this movie can be attributed to fanboys. There’s so much contradiction and hypocrisy in this film from both the narrative and the characters that it’s insulting.

13. Hux was utterly shafted too. What a waste of a well built up and conniving little bastard who in the end gets shot for shock value and laughs. It’s like what TLJ did but way worse because he’s actually killed. Hux as the spy? Just no.

14. Jannah was kind of wasted too, not enough screen time. I get her and Finn kind of bonding over being ex-stormtroopers, but it’s not really delved into. Also the whole “nature vs. machinery” thing kinda briefly shows up at the big battle and feels unearned too, because there was nothing before in this movie or others to suggest there was a war between the two.

15. Poe is treated more as the heir to Leia than Ben is. Poe gets to fly the falcon and gets to wreck it up (dishonoring who it belonged to before), gets to be by Leia’s deathbed, etc. Not earned at all.

16. The pointlessness of random cameos or thrown in references. Not a single person in my theater noticed John Williams as the bartender, nobody pointed out or said anything about any reference from previous movies, it was silent.

17. What the hell was even the point of the whole “Dark Rey” vision? Oh, she shows her scary pointy teeth ala Bilbo style. No thank you.

18. Why the hell does it feel like these characters aren’t the characters from TFA and TLJ? They feel so different and it’s noticeable.

19. Finn is Force sensitive. Literally tacked on like nobody wouldn’t notice. We noticed JJ. We notice everything.

20. Rey and Kylo/Ben fighting for way too much of the film and their interactions. Not enough caring or understanding, not enough longing looks, it feels like their romance was almost cut from the film entirely.

21. Oh yeah, Rey floating at the beginning? Looked stupid as hell. And the “Be with me” line? I thought maybe, just maybe, she meant Ben, but no. She’s trying to reach “her past selves” like the fucking Avatar and she’s even floating rocks around like Aang did. Ugh.

22. Anything else? Oh yeah, this movie sucks completely and wholly...FOR NOT GIVING ONE FUCKING LINE OF DIALOGUE TO BEN SOLO AFTER HE HAD BEEN REDEEMED. HOW HEARTLESS CAN YOU BE THAT YOU LET HIM DIE WITHOUT SAYING ONE FINAL THING?!?! DAMN J.J. YOU’RE STUPID.

And that’s it. Kudos if you read the whole thing. I ramble a lot.

[justasparkwritings]

Codename Cupid: Chapter 19

Previous: Harboring Hoseok 

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x OFC

Genre: Secret AgentAU, Government AgentAU

Rating: PG15

Word Count: 1.5K

Warnings: Swearing

Summary: Codename Miss Cuttlefish plays double agent OR OT7 begins revealing their next plan. 

Codename: Miss Cuttlefish, If Ya Nasty

Present Day

           Sitting around the conference table at OT7 headquarters, the six agents listen and watch as Codename Miss Cuttlefish née Genevieve Yang, does her own song and dance. Daughter of operative Cuttlefish, she is trained in field work, and was pulled as a CI over three years ago when Codename Arrow joined the scope of the investigation. Hating to disappoint her mother, she reluctantly joined the mission and just prayed Codename Bow and Codename Arrow never said anything worthy of reporting.

           “She’s not an idiot, she has to know this is connected,” Yoongi remarks, eyes staring at Miss Cuttlefish as she engages with Codename Black Panther.

           “She hasn’t made the connection yet,” Namjoon answers.

           “Black Panther is starting to see a pattern, that’s the first step,” Hoseok adds.

           “I can’t believe you think we can keep this up,” Tiredly, Yoongi sighs.

           “Who said I thought we could keep this up? We cannot, in any realm, keep this going any longer. That’s part of the plan,” Namjoon responds.

           “How many steps are there to this plan?” Yoongi asks, he’s beyond burned out, drinking coffee by the liter, eating whatever fast food he could grab on his way home, knowing full well his roommates were riding the same bus. This is how Namjoon works, he reminds himself, to plan and over plan every step of a mission, only keying them in when necessary. This mission, it’s length, it’s breadth, had begun to wear them thin. You don’t spend half a decade on a project, and not count the months, weeks and days until you turn in your final paperwork. Yoongi, and the rest of OT7 could see the light at the end of the tunnel, the problem for Yoongi, was whether that light was hope, or the train itself.

           “It’s not like we’re withdrawing from Iran,” Seokjin states. “We just need to position her correctly in order for the rest of this to fall into place.”

           “Do you want me to actually give her the intel?” Miss Cuttlefish asks, muting the call while Black Panther speaks.

           “Tell her you’ll ask,” Namjoon directs.

           “Then what?”

           “Lie,” Yoongi shrugs.

           “She’s moving to search through his followers,” Seokjin says, changing the screen to a live shot of Black Panther’s computer screen. In his years with OT7, he’d picked up a few new skills, including coding. Though he preferred the monotony of financial records, tracing bank accounts and calling foreign ops, there was something a little thrilling about cloning a computer and observing the movements of its owner.

           “Everything’s in place?”

           “Yes,” Hoseok answers.

           “You made the right call,” Jimin tells Namjoon, his voice low as he looks at his leader.

           “Did I?” Namjoon asks softly, his uncertainty written in the dark bags decorating his under eye.

           “You’re exhausted, you can’t see the forest through the trees,” Jimin offers. “But you did, Taehyung and I know it wasn’t an easy decision to make.”

           “He already resents me.”

           “Why are you talking about Maknae?” Taehyung asks.

           Glancing over at him, Jimin answers, “RM’s worried about him,”

           “He’s at headquarters for the week?” Hoseok inquires.

           “Yes, some training,” Namjoon responds.

           “Hasn’t he perfected everything?” Yoongi snaps.

           “Sug-

           Miss Cuttlefish hangs up the phone abruptly and stares at the six men. “Did I get what you wanted?”

           “You did,” Namjoon snaps his attention away from his hyung, “we’ll monitor Black Panther over the next few days, thank you Miss Cuttlefish.”

           Genevieve stands, Taehyung following suit. “I’ll walk you out.”

           “You sure that’s all?” Jimin snickers. Taehyung’s cheeks flush, Miss Cuttlefish pinches them lightly before pressing her lips gently against the warm skin.

           “Do you want me to post more photos?” She asks Namjoon, eyes still on Taehyung’s.

           “Black Panther requested J-Hope, correct?”

           “Yes,” Jimin refreshes Hoseok’s page and stares at the pending follow.

           “What do we do?” Hoseok asks.  

           “We accept,” Yoongi answers.

           “Then what?”

           “We wait,” The finality of his words is met with his actions, and Namjoon doesn’t want any misinterpretation of his movements. He stands from the conference table before retreating into his office and closing the door. Dimming the lights and turning on low music, he tends to his Bonsais and other greenery, giving them a little attention before he extends on his couch. Namjoon wasn’t sure he was making the right decision; wasn’t sure he would be able to salvage whatever would be left after Codename Black Panther came to a head, or if he’d judged accurately. That’s the job of the boss though, isn’t it? He had to make the impossible decisions, the calls that no one else wanted to or could, the ones that decided the fate of a mission.

           Some decisions were easy, Taehyung ending his relationship and mission with Cupid had been a no brainer, a decision he knew the minute Tae scheduled the meeting. Using Hoseok in this pedestrian mission was a child’s play, Hobi had the charisma and added bonus of never being seen. He easily could’ve taken Jimin’s role, deftly swaying anyone he came in contact with into falling in love with him. He was precious, intelligent, compassionate and brilliant. Hoseok was always sidelined though because he couldn’t lie, couldn’t withhold, couldn’t tell when someone else was pulling the wool over his exuberant irises. In their early years, it made him a terrible mission lead, but in his forgery work, it made his attention to detail flawless. He had to be so careful, so delicate and exacting otherwise anyone would recognize the faux docs.

          Hoseok didn’t have to lie much when he was with Miss Cuttlefish, he could easily weave a tale of working in the fraud department of the FBI, craft old missions into new stories because Codename Bow had never heard them. Playing pretend with another operative was the only time Hoseok felt okay being in the field, he preferred to engage with his group of brothers and his CI’s, collaborating on best practices, creating new protocols for faking passports and White House Stationary.

          Other groups within the larger structure of OT7 often wondered why Hoseok and Jimin couldn’t trade, didn’t they have similar skill sets? The nuance of their performances, often lacking the pizazz older, retired agents recognized as skill, set the two apart. Both cunning and sly, charming and friendly, the two men knew they could never trade places, most importantly, Namjoon knew.  

           The problem arising in this mission, was the sole focus of the project itself. Black Panther presents an element none of them expected, or planned for, or even recognized was part of her personality. Black Panther is deft in her skills, easily adjusting to meet the demand, rising to every occasion and slightly careless in her protections. She’s easy to find, easy to follow, easy to gain access to in every way she boasts not to be. Namjoon couldn’t blame her, everyone was powerless to OT7, after all, that was their goal. No one was out of their reach, no one too far from their grasp regardless of their efforts. He knew it, and soon, she would too.

           The complications Black Panther brings to the table are unchallenged, a mountain none of them have yet climbed. Laying in his office, Namjoon wonders if it’s all worth it. If manipulating her will get them where they need to be, or if she’s better off being a casualty none of them blinks an eye over. He could always send Agust D to clean up the mess, but what would that solve? It’d just create another headache for him to manage and another member of his team to be angry with him. Breeding contempt was not his strong suit, but solving it was near impossible.

           “Joonie?” Hoseok asks, hand gently rapping the door.

           “Hm?” He offers in return.

           Poking his head in, Hoseok’s smile relaxes. “Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?”

           “Depends, what are you making?”

           “Your favorite,” Hoseok chuckles, a welcome sound against the dull lull of the piano.

           “You won’t burn it?”

           “Seokjin’s going to help,”

           “What can go wrong? The two Seok’s battle it out, one too intense, the other too much of a culinary genius,”

           “I hope I’m the genius,” Hoseok says sitting down. “You’re welcome to stay the night too, I know how you get,”

           “I live in the apartment across from you, Hobi,” Namjoon’s eyes remain closed, his body moving on the couch to accommodate Hoseok.

           “I know,”

           “With Yoongi and Taehyung,”

           “I know,” Hoseok repeats.

           “I’m not lonely,”        

           “You can be in a crowded room and still feel isolated,”

           “I’m not isolated with Yoongi, we shared a room for years before moving across the hall,” Fluttering his eyes open, he stares at Hoseok’s worried expression.

           “Namjoon,” Hoseok’s eyes give way to the concern beating in his heart. “You’re stressed about something, you don’t have to tell me what, just walk the five paces from your place to ours and spend some time with us. We can watch whatever movie you want.”

           “You’re too good to me,” Namjoon offers a soft smile.

           “That’s because we’re family, Joonie,” Hoseok gives his hand a squeeze before walking towards the door. “Oh, and if you have Sprite, bring it.”

           “You have millions of dollars, buy more,” Namjoon laughs, eyes closing as he settles into the warmth of Hoseok’s generosity. “Will you wake me in twenty, please?”

           “Of course, Joon,” Hoseok gently shuts the door, leaving Namjoon to rest in the silence.

Next: Codename Black Panther

[salenakingston]

Another bit of backstory. I’ve really been enjoying writing these snippets. Prompt submissions are still open!

Prompt: None

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Death, Corpses/Bodies (minor), Cannibalism (minor)

Timeline of Events: Whitegale Estate (Backstory)

Total Word Count: 4,273 words

“I’m surprised you saw someone so new to the complex.”

“It is rare indeed, but there’s something peculiar about him.”

“Yes, I noticed that too.”

“And your thoughts?”

“He isn’t a greater risk than any of the other agents.”

“This won’t be the only time he appears.”

“I know, but because he is not a threat, or has proven what he is capable of, it is left to simpler decisions for now.”

“If I may interject.”

“Yes?”

“I might be able to help.”

“You have a plan? Why the interest in him?”

“It’s part of my job to assess new agents. Besides, you’ve never seen anyone connected to me before. I’ve noticed some quirks of my own. This plan is not without consequence, but may be an efficient way to learn more about him.”

“Very well. Let’s hear it.”

----

Malceum paced his small room, his mind racing ever since he had returned. He hated that she had been right in her own assessment. He had insisted she allowed him to give her a ‘proper’ physical, checking how her body was currently against everything that was listed in her records. He wondered if it was to prove a point, or for entertainment, that she granted his request. She had been compliant through the entire process, obeying every instruction he offered.

Part of him wondered why she changed her tune so quickly, when she had the confidence to mouth off to him before. How was it that the mention of one woman could make her flip a switch? It didn’t make any sense, just like her own assessment. Everything matched up with her records.

A body that was functioning, but only just enough. Every piece of her seemed to have some kind of problem. The beast seemed to entertain him further, having taken a seat next to her bed so they could discuss some treatment options. Mistake number one was suggesting options of a magic-based nature. Since the moment he’d walked into her room, she never raised his voice to him. Sure, she offered him plenty of sass, but not anything above her acceptive tone. The animal finally began to show its fangs, quite literally. Her tone grew sharp, growling echoed in her voice.

“Absolutely not,” she had said. Why? Even though the surgeon was confident in his skills, he knew based solely on facts that magic could offer more than just his bare hands. Who would want traditional means over something like that? Ok, if she was going to make such a fuss about it, then best not to revisit the subject. Either that or press her another time.

There had to be some kind of solution. That’s what he kept telling himself.

Mistake number two was trying to negotiate a further treatment plan. Anything he tried to prescribe to her was something she had already tried, or was shot down. “I already make use of the oxygen tank whenever I am in here or on down time. Too many drugs will either mess with my senses, or make it so I will have to take an extended leave from my work. Neither I am willing to accept,” she had said then. She was so damn stubborn.

He had half a mind to discharge her from work anyways, but he feared her. And he feared his employer. She didn’t seem like someone who would lash out at him, but her short temper and growing frustration could fester, putting him in the line of fire.

He had to save his own hide, even though he didn’t know why he bothered.

In the end, he cleared her just like the rest of them.

And that left him here, pacing, wondering if he had made the right decision.

His racing mind wasn’t doing the headache he had developed any favors. His lack of sleep was nothing new, but extended sessions always took a toll on him. Whenever he did sleep, nightmares were there to greet him. There was no safe haven for him, not even in a place as protected as the Whitegale Estate.

A knocking at his door guided him back to reality, “Y-Yes?”

He couldn’t see who was on the other side, as he kept his door locked. It was one of the reasons that kept him from getting close to the other personnel he worked with. It kept him from being a danger to those around him, and kept them from seeing the mess of a human being he had become. It was a gentle voice, probably one of the nurses. She had given another knock on the door, probably just to make sure he knew she was still there, “Mr. Whitegale is looking for you.”

Again? So soon? Why? Had Salena blabbed to him about their discussion? One hand moved to his head, the pounding growing worse from the onslaught of questions. He won’t know until he gets there, and he could not keep his employer waiting, “T-Than-nk y-you. I’ll be t-the-ere so-oon.” He could hear her footsteps leaving the door, leaving him alone once more.

Well, as alone as he could ever be. He would never be truly alone.

He wasn’t entirely sure how long he was standing still before he found the will to make his way to the door. The halls were empty, and one look outside the window showed why. Night blanketed the sky, the only light coming from the moon and stars. This just made him question more. He couldn’t have been isolating himself for that long. Why would his employer want to see him at such a late hour? Had someone been brought in late? Then why single him out?

And why allow him to come on his own time? No one else had come to bring his attention back towards the summon.

Malceum’s eyes fell on the door standing between him and the man on the other side. He had done his best to get his trembling hands to calm, swallowing down his nervousness. Alexander had not been unfair to him so far, in fact the man had been rather generous. There was no reason to believe that would change now. Hand grasped at the knob, turning, and then he stepped into the office.

Alexander sat behind a paper filled desk, two chairs sitting at the far side of where he was. Their eyes met upon his entrance, door closing behind him. He moved his hands together, doing his best to mask the shaking that he couldn’t seem to get rid of. If it wasn’t out of nervousness, then it had something to do with him.

“Malceum. Thank you for coming. I know this seems rather sudden. I wanted to start with thanking you for taking care of Salena. I know she can be hard to handle, but she means well.”

“N-No pr-robl-lem. I-It’s my j-job-b to t-tak-ke ca-are of th-hos-se y-you s-sen-nd to me.”

“Yes, I am aware, but she updated me on the talk you had.” Of course she had. Why would he have expected otherwise? He couldn’t help the way his eyes lowered at that statement, Alexander noticing the change in expression. If he wasn’t so tired, he was sure the older man would have given a chuckle, “You have nothing to worry about. A lot of this is new for you, and she’s a rather special case. Just give her some time, she’ll grow on you.”

D-Doub-bt it-t.

“Anyways, the reason I called for you is because something has come up.”

“D-Did y-you-ur w-wif-fe see me a-ag-gain?”

“Not this time.” No? Then why him? Was this some kind of medical emergency? He could hear the shuffling sound of more papers, a few laid out in front of him, as if he were looking over some kind of list. He looked up to the surgeon soon after, “I have a mission that I would like for you to go on.”

“Me? A-Are y-yo-ou s-sur-re?”

“I know it’s outside of your job requirements, but you were asked for specifically.” Asked for? What? Who would want him to come along for anything? Was this something that would need someone of his medical skills? The questions wouldn’t stop coming every time the older man spoke. He couldn’t seem to comprehend why anyone would want him. He didn’t even know anybody, as he had purposefully isolated himself.

He couldn’t keep silent, “W-Who a-ask-ked for m-me?”

“I did.”

Both men turned their heads to the leftmost chair sitting in front of the desk. A familiar figure stood up from where it was sitting, moving so that Malceum could see. Her.

Salena Kingston.

Why?

She was dressed, not in a gown like he had seen when they were in her medical room. This time, she wore something that he could only describe as something out of a fantasy book. He could tell the material was made of leather, sticking tightly against her skin? Fur? She was far too complicated for him to make coherent thoughts.

Salena moved her arm against the top of the chair, leaning against it slightly. He couldn’t help but notice how relaxed compared to when they were in the medical wing. Did she hate it there? He couldn’t blame her, especially with how many times she seemed to wind up there. Her gaze was fixated on him, causing a small shiver to move down his spine, “I am going out hunting. I wanted to see if you would like to come along.”

“H-Hun-nt-ting?”

“I do it every now and then. Sometimes they are prompted by Alexander, but that is not the case. I thought you might like to get out of the estate for a bit.”

Yes.. but why him? He just couldn’t understand it.

He did. Clever little mutt. She knew there was something wrong with his host. This was an attempt to draw him out. That had to be the only reason. He wouldn’t allow it. The headache seemed to grow worse at that moment, a voice in the back of Malceum’s mind being the only thing that kept him from moving his hands to cradle his head, “Don’t you dare. It’s a trick. I will not have you expose me more than you already have. You’re going to go right back to your room, unless you want me to make you suffer more.”

“I-I d-don’t-t th-hin-nk I wo-oul-ld be th-he b-bes-st ch-hoic-ce for s-som-meth-hing-g l-lik-ke t-this-s.”

“I’d be willing to make a deal with you, Sorrowgrave. All I ask is that you come on this one hunt with me. I know Alexander pays you, as he does everyone else. I can pool part of your earnings to the same place my money goes. I can have small shipments of dreamless sleep potions sent to you with this. You wouldn’t have to rely on me if you want them.”

This bitch. She knows what he wants, and he truly does want this relief. He can’t even remember the last time he slept without having a nightmare. He knew either way he was going to suffer. The hollow wouldn’t ever stop until he agreed to surrender his being. The only way he would continue on was getting any small mercy that he could.

“A-Alr-righ-ht.”

Both Salena and Alexander gave a nod, the older man turning his attention to the wolf, “Do you have a place you’ll be going?”

“Yes.” Strange that she mentioned no specifics. Was it not necessary to tell her employer where she was taking them? Guess not giving the accepting nod from Alexander. She moved past him, one hand moving up. It was that same magic she had used before, bigger this time. The opening was large enough for the two of them to move through it. Her head turned enough to catch him in view, “Follow me. This portal is going to put a strain on your body, but you’ll be fine shortly after we arrive on the other side.”

He nods.

She takes the first step through, followed by him. He could feel the strain she was talking about. When he stepped out, it took everything in him not to buckle down under the weight. When his vision refocused, he could see Salena not too far ahead of him. She didn’t have the same strength he did, find her form against the earth. It looked almost as if the very air around her was pushing her down. He should have guessed that if this magic put a strain on the body, then of course she would have it worse than him. But then why travel by these portals in the first place? What was the point?

While she recovered, his eyes moved around the land. He didn’t travel much, but where they came to looked like no place he’d ever seen before. The grass under them looked washed out, bits of dirt poking through in patches. There were trees, though few given it seemed they were along hills. Even this seemed like it was devoid of life. Near death was a good way to describe it.

Finally he could hear Salena getting up onto her feet. She dropped the portal they had come through, pushing towards the top of the hill. It would be best for him to follow her. Her eyes peered over the top, looking down at the base of their hiding place. He could see a stone tower in the distance, small patrols and camps around it. Both men and women were patrolling. Their clothing was rather strange. It was a mixture of white and red. They looked like how crusaders would have been dressed in human history.

Surely they hadn’t gone back in time somehow.

Malceum had barely noticed that Salena had begun sneaking ahead without him. Wait, what was she doing? Why were they here? Why did it look like she was stalking them?

Wait…

Wait!

He only just seemed to notice the sheen of a blade resting at her side. No, not just one blade, two of them. One of her hands was gripping on. Her eyes narrowed creeping closer. He wanted to yell at her, call her back and demand to know what she was planning to do. There was nothing he could do as red bagan to cloud his vision. Blood spilled from the crusaders, her blade, claws, or even her teeth finding ways to ravage them. This wasn’t hunting, it was slaughter.

OH? Seems she’s a murderer just like you are. I’ve changed my mind. Maybe you should go down there and join her.

No. He couldn’t do this. He could say that this time. He wouldn’t risk drawing himself to the surface with her around. He had to do something other than let her continue.

She had been careful up to this point, picking them off one by one. Blood stained her mouth and clothes. She could see him moving down the hill, not paying too much attention to his surroundings. Eyes narrowed as she noticed a scarlet moving behind him. He must have been spotted. Deal with the threat themselves rather than raise the alarm. He watched as she stomped her foot down, but nothing seemed to happen.

Then a gurgling noise rang out behind him. He turned around to see the crusader… impaled on a spike of thick ice, blood dripping down onto him. His body was shaking again, that feeling of a thrill he was missing out on wracking around in his brain. She moved over to him, trying to get his attention, but he couldn’t pay attention. He could see that she looked to the side, voices crying out.

They were calling out one thing.

‘Death Knight.’

What did that mean? He wasn’t whatever that was.

He seemed to come back into focus, seeing that Salena had turned on the growing mass. Was she ready to take them all on by herself? Just how much blood was she willing to spill? Taking a tight grip of her wrist, he began to drag her away. She seemed to give him a surprised look, snarling as her lips turned up. He could see another string of magic leave from her hand, the other reaching for a loose part of his duster. She had taken him into her arms, fleeing to the hills.

They managed to lose their attackers, the trembling in his body stopping as they did. He hated that he could still smell iron in the air. Once she was sure the crusaders were gone, he was set down, a bloody corpse being tossed at his feet. Had her magic grabbed one of them? Just what the hell was she playing at? Just what kind of life had he actually landed in joining up with this lot?

He couldn’t stand it any longer.

“W-Wha-at t-the fuck wa-as th-hat?”

“I told you we were going hunting. You weren’t paying attention to what was going on around you. You gave us away.”

“I-I m-mad-de it cle-ear I wa-as not-t t-the b-bes-st for th-his. Y-You j-jus-st mur-rde-ered t-them-m.”

“They deserve it.”

“W-Who a-are-e you to j-jud-dge t-the-em?”

“Someone who has first hand experience with them. I’m far from the first person who despises them.”

“T-Tha-at’s b-bes-side th-he p-poin-nt!” Why couldn’t she seem to get it through her thick skull?

“Then you would rather I kill someone that doesn’t deserve it?”

What?! Was she serious?

“K-Kil-ll no o-one!”

“I can’t do that.” She… She what?

“W-Wha-at are you t-talk-king a-abo-out? Y-Yes you c-can-n!”

He noticed her eyes narrow down again. There was that shiver again. How was it that both women he interacted with seemed to have eyes that bore down past his skin? He almost felt himself take a step back, “No. I can’t. If I stopped killing, I would drive myself insane.” Had she really killed that much? Was she so much like him that she got a thrill out of it? He hated this. He hated her. He hated that she bribed him into coming along on this.

“I don’t see why you are making a fuss with me. I thought you would need something like this.”

Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes back at her. It didn’t seem to have the same effect that her’s did on him, “Y-You d-don-n’t kn-now me.”

“You’re right Sorrowgrave, I don’t. However, it’s part of my job to keep tabs on the new recruits, and that includes you. You have little ticks. You obviously don’t get enough sleep, someone with a stutter is not too worrisome, but you’re constantly twitching. I know you’re not nervous, otherwise you wouldn’t have stood up to me like you did. You’re acting more like an addict that hasn’t had his fix in a long time.”

“H-How-w w-woul-ld y-you kn-now?”

“Because I was just like you, Sorrowgrave. You will drive yourself crazy if you continue on like this.”

He wasn’t sure if it was humor in a fighter trying to give medical advice to a surgeon, or her lack of logic that made him relax slightly, “Y-You-u’re s-supp-pose-ed to d-dis-scour-rage ad-ddic-cts f-fro-om th-heir-r v-vic-ces.”

“My own vice, unnatural as it is, can not be fixed. I have to hunt. I’m sorry you don’t see it the same way. I thought feeding your’s would be a temporary fix until I could figure out a better solution.”

“W-Why-y do you c-car-re?”

“Everyone can see that something is wrong with you. No one knows to what extent, but they can see the signs.” He could feel her hands reaching for the mask he wore across his mouth. His hands shot up, covering her own to keep her from removing it. She almost seemed to be smirking as he did this, “You see? I stand a good chance of helping you, all you have to do is let me.”

“Y-You w-won-n’t let-t me do th-he s-sam-me.”

“You did help me though. Your stitching is far better than my own, and I have no doubt you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. I’m one of Alexander’s best for a reason, but that means a greater risk. I’ll need someone like you.”

He hated this. He just wanted to go back to the estate. He wasn’t supposed to bond with anyone. They were a weakness, or even a target. The hollow made it clear he already had an interest in her, and this was certainly not helping. If he had control of his host, Malceum had no doubt he would be jittering with joy.

Was it worth trusting her though?

No one had ever shown him this sort of backwards kindness. She offered him mercy, and now here he was in her position, spitting it back in her face. Why?

Why did it have to be like this?

In his mental crisis, he had barely noticed that Salena was trying to remove his mask again. He honestly wasn’t sure why he felt his hands go lax, allowing her to do so. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary on first glance, but a spike in his headache made his lips curl up. Nothing but sharp teeth, just like her own. Her hands moved up again, forcing his mouth open. It was almost as if she could tell this was unnatural.

There was nothing special about him. He was as human as they come. Someone else had forced him to do this to himself.

And he didn’t take kindly to the impromptu investigation of his host. The pain in his head grew worse. It was as if the hollow was unwinding himself in his host’s mind, sticking thousands of wires through his brain. Mouth shut down along the beast’s arm, head pulling back to tear at the flesh.

Her head moved down, staring at him. There was that flicker she had seen before. Her arm raised in his grip, not allowing the shade or hair to block her view, “Caught you.”

Shit.

Why was she so still? Why wasn’t she bothered? He was a freak. He was trying to peel her own flesh away from her body. Why wasn’t she trying to stop him? Why didn’t she kill him like she was doing just a few moments ago? Why couldn’t he just let go? Let me go!

And he listened. Teeth removed themselves, his form staggering away from her. All she was trying to do was help him, and he had bitten her. She stepped closer to him, her hands moving to grip his arms. She lowered themselves down to the grass. He could hear her speaking, but couldn’t bring his eyes up to meet her own, “Sorrowgrave, let me help you. Feed the demon as it were, and let’s go back.”

She knew about him, but not what he was. How was it that she was on point? His eyes moved over to the body she dragged along with them. That trembling came back, and his stomach suddenly felt so empty. He scooted closer to the body, teeth sinking in. He could feel a hand moving along his back as he ate, hating himself every moment that passed.

Another portal opened, the familiar halls of the estate greeting them.

Again she fell to the floor, but this time he moved over to help her up.

Their bloody hands met one another.

They seemed to be standing in front of a door, one he had seen briefly in passing. He could see the halls leading to the medical wing from where they were standing. Wait… why were they here instead of heading to his room? He found his gaze up at her, a small portal at her side. Like before, she reached in, pulling out a familiar green vial. No. Don’t.

He will just break it again.

“I promised you I would get you a steady shipment of these, and I plan to keep that deal. You came with me. Start with this one for now.”

He reached out to take it from her, knowing what the outcome would be. If he didn’t try to take it, he would take over and do it for him. As his hand drew closer, she took a firm grip of his wrist. What the hell was she doing now? Her mouth lowered to the top of the vial, popping the opening with her teeth. The hand gripping his wrist moved up, forcing his mouth open again, the other hand pouring the liquid down his throat.

She knew. She knew what he would do, and acted accordingly. If he wasn’t suddenly feeling so tired, he would have thanked her.

He could vaguely feel her taking him into his arms. She adjusted him so she could open the door they were standing near. It was a furnished room, one that he couldn’t see very well with the darkness of night. One thing he could make out was a bed, one that he was being lowered into. This wasn’t his bed… so where were they? He would have to ask her when he woke. His mind began to fade, growing blank for the first time in years.

She watched him drift, finding her hand moving through his gray hairs before turning to leave. He’s had it rough, so sleeping in her bed would probably do him some good rather than the sub quality of the ones the medical personnel use. She quietly shut the door behind her, moving down the hall to a very familiar room.

The new door swung open, Alexander still sitting at his desk. Shutting the door behind her, she took a seat in front of him, “We have much to discuss.”

[trauma-13]

All the asks 😈

Who hurt you the most?

My dad. He essentially walked out of my life when I was 12-13, and blames me for our lack of relationship and refuses to acknowledge his part in it. 

Who have you hurt the most?

Oh hell. Uh, I really don’t know. 

Who do you miss the most?

My mom, and my friends that I don’t see on a regular basis. @car-one-responding i’m looking at you. 

Who do you want out of your life the most?

Happiness and to feel like I’ve made a difference in someones life. If that’s a stranger, a friend, my son, my husband, doesn’t matter. I like helping people. (I misread, I thought this said WHAT do you want out of life, not WHO. So to answer the original question, I wouldn’t mind my dads wife wandering off somewhere and never returning.)

Who had the biggest positive impact on you?

There’s been quite a few people. My mom and two of my nursing mentors are the first ones who come to mind. My mom taught me to never give up on your goals, no matter how hard it is and how much you may struggle. She taught me to what a good mother is, and was always present in my life no matter how busy she was in her own life. She gave me my love of nursing and helping others from a very young age, and continued to inspire me to join the nursing profession. She continues to inspire me to further my dream within this career. My nursing mentors are a married couple I used to work with, who I still speak to on a fairly regular basis. They’re the epitome of amazing nurses. D is the kindest person, she gives every patient a piece of her heart and cares for them like they’re her own family (even the frustrating ones). She’s so loving to her friends and family as well and goes above and beyond to help them anyway she can. M is also an incredibly caring nurse, who is the smartest human I’ve ever met. Not just in nursing, but in every aspect. He’s continued his education into his 60s to further his career and his knowledge to provide the best care for his patients. When I first met M, I had just started at my prior job, I was fairly quiet just because I didn’t really know anyone yet. I had worked there maybe a week or two, he put an arm around my shoulders and said “You’re kind of quiet, do you want to be friends?” and immediately he was my favorite person. Of all the people I’ve worked with through my 10 yrs in health care, D and M are the ones I miss the absolute most. 

Who had the biggest negative impact on you?

Again, my dad. I have very good and fun memories with him when I was little, like 10 and under. However, he decided his wife and her children were more important than his own and he walked out of my life. It took a VERY long time (probably 10 yrs) for me to get over his abandonment, and accept that it wasn’t my fault and there is nothing wrong with me as a person that caused it. 

Who do you wish you could be honest with?

I’m a pretty fuckin honest person, and I tell people like it is. There aren’t many people I don’t just speak my mind to. 

Who have you harbored (any kind of!) secret feelings towards?

I’m sure I have in the past, but there isn’t anyone who comes to mind specifically. 

Who would the world be better off without?

The cheeto in charge of our country. Sorry, not even a little bit sorry. 

Who do you wish you’d treated differently?

I was a dick in high school to a lot of people, and I don’t really think I had any reason. 

What was the worst day of your life?

The day I got kicked out of nursing school. I obviously got back in, but it was a horrible experience. 

What’s your greatest fear?

Failure. 

What’s your biggest insecurity?

My knowledge level. I feel like I’m not as smart as I should/could be. 

What’s your biggest regret?

Staying in my past relationship for as long as I did, and ignore all the red flags that were there since day one. 

Describe your ideal world.

Cleaner air, less crime, less pollution (across the whole world), more green/renewable energy use, a safer world for my kid to grow up in. Married to my hubby, raising our son and possible a #2, to have the financial ability to help foster rescue dogs. 

Describe your personal hell.

The current world we’re in. 

What’s a hopeless dream you’re still holding on to?

Hmm. I feel like I’ve always had very realistic dreams. So probably the slim chance that I’ll win the lottery haha! 

What’s the most embarrassed you’ve ever been?

Probably when my douche bag ex got shitfaced, the PD called on him, they called fire for an evaluation because he had a lac on his hand due to punching glass, they wanted to take him to the ER and because he was absolutely obliterated he couldn’t refuse annnnd they took him to the ER I worked at. When I got there he was in full on 4 pt restrains and had been given the magical vitamin H. I shoulda turned and walked out then (or one of the many red flags before....)

What’s the angriest you’ve ever been?

When said ex threatened to hurt my dogs because I told him I was done and to pack his shit and get out. He pulled a knife on me and said he would kill me and the dogs if I tried to leave him. I figured I could probably keep myself alive if he did attack me, but if he hurt my dogs I’d have gone to jail that day. 

What’s the saddest you’ve ever been?

Honestly? this last week. motherhood is hard. breastfeeding is fucking hard. I was having such a difficult time with breast feeding and postpartum depression that I had legitimate suicidal thoughts with a vague plan of what I would do. I’m fine now, don’t go calling for a welfare check. 

What’s the most scared you’ve ever been?

Again when douchey ex threatened my dogs. They’re my world and I would do anything to keep my kids (2 and 4 legged) safe. 

What’s the most hopeless you’ve ever felt?

Also this week. 

What’s the most frantic you’ve ever felt?

Frantic?? uh fuck, the most recent time I can think of was the day before my son was born, my OB told me I had to go to the OB triage at my hospital because my BP was high and she needed to monitor JTD and make sure he was okay. 

What’s the bravest you’ve ever felt?

When I stood up to my douche ex as he had a knife pulled on me.

What’s the best case scenario for your future?

I’m a trauma nurse at a level 1 trauma center, hubby is done with nursing school working in his dream unit (either ED or ICU, he changes his mind daily), our son is happy and healthy, if we choose to have a second kiddo that they’re happy and healthy. We own a nice house, with a good sized yard for the 2 and 4 legged babies. 

What’s the worst case scenario for you future?

Uh, I lose my rights to my son, and lose my license. 

What’s the most physical pain you’ve ever felt?

Tie between labor contractions when i was complete/ready to pop the kid out, or when I had nasal surgery and they accidentally “forgot” to give me any pain medication through the whole surgery. Honestly probably the nasal surgery, it was constant, the contractions came and went, frequently, but there was a little break in between. 

What’s the most emotional pain you’ve ever felt?

I’m going to go with when I found out my ex cheated on me and knocked up the girl he cheated with. 

Describe a time you felt like a hypocrite.

I try really hard not to be a hypocrite, I’m sure there’s times it’s happened but I genuinely can’t think of a time off hand. 

Describe a time you felt like a traitor.

I really don’t know. Again, i’m sure there’s been times, but I don’t remember any. 

Describe a time you felt like a hero.

I wouldn’t necessarily say “hero” but when I’m able to help people at work, and when my knowledge and skills benefits them. 

Describe a time you felt inhuman.

This last week. It’s easily one of the hardest things I’ve been through. I felt so detached from my family and I just didn’t care. 

Describe a time you felt like a failure.

This last week. I felt like I was failing as a mom, and that I couldn’t do anything right because I couldn’t even feed my son in the natural way I’m meant to as a female with mammary glands. 

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

Uh. Honestly the only thing that comes to mind is when i skipped a lease with my college roommate (the first time I went to college). It’s genuinely not that bad, but I can’t think of anything else hah. 

What are you proudest of?

My son, my husband, my degree/license. 

What’s your relationship with your family like?

With my husband and son, it’s great (now). With my moms side of the family it’s great as well, I talk to my mom every day, and my gramma and grampa every couple days. I’m also fairly close with my Uncle. My in-laws are pretty good too, my mother in law can get on my nerves but who’s doesn't, honestly hah! I have a decent relationship with my half-brother, Aunt and gramma (Nana) on my dads side, and my cousins. Literally the only one I have issues with is my father and his wife. 

What’s your relationship with religion like?

I think organized religion is a joke. I’m completely against it. I don’t personally believe in God/Jesus/whatever, but I do believe in afterlife and that there is such a thing as past lives and reincarnation. 

Talk about someone you’ve lost.

My grampy died when I was in 4th grade. He was an amazing man. He was very stoic and didn’t show his emotions much, but he always included me in whatever he was doing (fishing, camping, working in the yard, whatever it was). He showed his love in different ways, more with his actions than words. 

Talk about someone who abandoned you.

I think i’ve talked about my dad enough hah 

Talk about a desire you have that scares you.

To become a trauma nurse. 

What’s something you wish you were capable of?

I wish I was able to do more first-responder stuff. I have the ability, just not the time currently. 

What’s something you’re afraid that you’re capable of?

Becoming a trauma nurse hahah 

Describe the kind of life you wish you’d been born into.

Doesn’t everyone wish they had been born into money?? 

Describe your worst heartbreak.

When my dads wife texted me and told me “youre a selfish bitch, and he would be better without you in his life” and he told me I was lying, even with the text proof. I was 14-15ish. That was the final straw, and when I stopped trying to have a relationship with him. 

Describe your worst disappointment.

When I was in nursing school and I failed the full body assessment the first time. I was anxious as fuck and over thinking everything. I technically passed based on points, but was asked to come back and re-do it once I had time to clear my head. 

Have you ever taken a fall for someone?

Taken the blame? No. Own up to your own damn mistakes. 

Have you ever forced or let someone take a fall for you?

No, I take the blame for my own mistakes. 

Have you ever done serious physical harm to someone?

I don’t think so?? 

Have you ever done serious emotional harm to someone?

I hope not, but maybe. 

Have you ever self-harmed?

It’s been about 5 years since, but yes. 

Have you ever attempted suicide?

Attempted no, but had a plan, yes. 

Have you ever stolen something?

On accident when I was like 5 hahah We were in line at the grocery store, an you know they have all the little toys and candy and wtf ever at the check out lanes. Well I was looking at something and mom told me lets go, so I continued looking at it and followed her off. Mom realized, took me back inside to return it and apologize and the manager ripped my ass in front of the check outs. 

Have you ever cheated on someone?

No. 

Have you ever been cheated on?

Yes. 

Have you ever taken revenge on someone?

Nah, people have a way of ruining their own lives. 

Have you ever seriously considered killing someone?

Not had a plan to, but remember my ex threatening my dogs? Had he done it, i’d have attacked him. 

Have you ever betrayed someone who trusted you?

I don’t think so? 

Have you ever experienced something supernatural or unexplainable?

Yeah, I regularly experience things all the time. 

[ah-maa-zing]

Unmasked (Arrow 7.08)

Hmmm. I had to reflect for a while on what I think of this episode. 

On the one hand, my expectations were sky-high in anticipation of Oliver and Felicity’s reunion, after 7 episodes and 7 months apart, and there was no way the show would ever be able to live up to those expectations (Unless it gave us 40 solid minutes of Oliver and Felicity of getting reacquainted with each other, obviously). So any disappointment is clearly of my own making, in part at least.

On the other hand, after 7 episodes and 7 months apart, you’d have thought they could dedicate at least one episode – one episode! – to fully unravelling the fallout of Oliver’s imprisonment, and dealing with how it affected both him and his wife, rather than just rushing headlong into the next thing.

I’m fully cognisant that most of my ire is directed towards the fact that this doesn’t get picked back up next week – thanks a lot, crossover literally no one asked for – and then we head off into hiatus, effectively making this episode our mid-season finale. That’s unsatisfying, especially because the Oliver and Felicity storyline seems to hang on a dramatic cliffhanger (ZOMG WILL THEIR MARRIAGE SURVIVE?!?!?) in a way it wouldn’t have done if the next episode actually followed through on this. It’s the television equivalent of clickbait.

Side rant – generally speaking, I don’t have as much hate for the crossovers as a lot of people; I find them fun diversions for the most part. But I do resent the formulaic structure we’ve developed around them – they’re always at mid-season, they mostly ignore the main SLs of the individual shows (last year was probably the exception), they usually involve alternate earths or magic or shapeshifting or body swapping or whatever the heck is going on this year, and given that this year, Arrow gets one less episode overall than usual anyway, I do feel short changed and quite irked by the whole crossover shebang. Imagine if we could have allowed the events of this episode to percolate and develop in the next one, so that the storylines would have some time to breathe.

I think that’s my general disposition regarding the episode – there’s so much happening and not a lot of it is given time to breathe. One of the great things about the prison arc was that there were two arcs running in parallel – Oliver in prison, and Felicity trying to get Oliver out of prison. There were C and D and E storylines too, of course, but those two were the primary thrust that moved the story forward. Each episode advanced those SLs forward in a way that brought progress.

It's a bit like the weapon the Silencer uses – 701-707 felt a little like when the device is on, and all extraneous sound is extinguished. There is only the fight, the main purpose, and everything else is muted. Episode 8, then, feels a bit like that moment when the Silencer’s device is switched off, and all sound comes rushing back in, and everything is muddled and chaotic and you have no idea how many people have entered the room, limbs flying everywhere.

‘Unmasked’ feels like a transition episode, and for that, I can’t fault it. It gets most people to where they need to be, or at least somewhere along that path. It seems to want to draw a direct line from the events in the present to what happens and is happening in the future. It’s just that, for all that it is a place-setting episode, it loses a bit of the focus and quiet intensity of the episodes that came before it.

In true Arrow fashion, the party was fun for approximately 30 seconds before it all went to shit. Can I just say, I cannot believe that of all people, Laurel was the only one who acknowledged that Felicity was the one who did everything she could to bring Oliver home; nobody else in that group of people seems to have that awareness, to the point that Rene is actually complaining that no one threw him a party when “we” captured Diaz? Sorry, Rene, but as I remember it, Felicity had to fight you all tooth and nail to get you to help her even one step of the way. If anyone deserves credit for taking Diaz it’s not you and it’s certainly not the others. This lack of self-awareness from the former team really bugs me, but what bugs me more is that I don’t think the writers see it that way, which means we won’t ever get a resolution to this.

The Oliver and Felicity storyline was, unsurprisingly, my favourite and also the most affecting. They have spent so much of the first year of their marriage apart – the fact that Felicity is surprised he even remembers is testament to how much shit they’ve had overtake their lives over the course of the year. So their reunion felt a little bit muted – not because they suddenly don’t love each other, but because they both appeared to be so drained by what has happened to them. Felicity softly telling Oliver that she’s missed him, or Oliver talking about how he thought of her and William every day in prison – both show us in quiet ways how much of a toll this ordeal has taken on them. Oliver’s hesitation to join the world, to talk to people, to put the hood back on again (not wanting to risk being separated from his family again, as he tells Rene) was an interesting way to show his anxiety about being back in the world manifesting, and I liked that Felicity ran interference for him on that aspect, coaxing him to go to the party, dealing with the media and fobbing off Max Fuller, who was a joy to see returned. I had hoped that Max would meet Felicity and that he would bring up Oliver sleeping with his fiancée (then wife, then ex-wife), and both of these things happened and it was glorious. Then Felicity essentially rolled her eyes at him and waltzed past with her husband, and I appreciated that also.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I loved the scene in their apartment where Felicity pulls out a gun – when she’s had time to practise her shooting skills I don’t know – and the disbelief on Oliver’s face that she would a) have a gun and b) actually use it really tickled me for some reason. I recognise that Oliver not believing Felicity would go as far as she has seems a little inconsistent with what we know of their relationship – Felicity has crossed lines in the past and Oliver has been there to witness it – but I do think it is in character for him to be shocked by that particular moment. Every time he’s seen her with a gun, which is very rarely, he’s been shocked by it; in the past she’s also declared her distaste for them. So the idea that she now not only carries a weapon but is willing to use it is, of course, surprising to him. He also hasn’t seen her the way we have the past few episodes, and he doesn’t know what she’s had to go through to get to here, and how little support she’s had from her so-called friends. 

Oliver has also been influenced by all that “circle of violence” talk that was drummed into him by the Level Two doctor. He’d been worried about passing it on to William and hadn’t even considered that it would be Felicity who would be most affected by it. To me, part of this feels like Oliver, in the past 7 months, has put her on a bit of a pedestal; he’s stared at a picture of her every day since his imprisonment, but a picture is not a person, and I think he’s lost sight of how his imprisonment has also been her imprisonment. This is highlighted when he tells her that he’s apologised endlessly for his decision at the end of S6, and she (thankfully, rightly) tells him that she can’t do anything with apologies. When she tells him what she’s had to go through in the last few months his instinct is to cringe and apologise – that’s what he’s always done, he’s always blamed himself for the actions others have been forced to take in his name – and she tells him that it’s not on him. It’s just a fact that her life has been upended because of this, and she’s had to re-form the person she is out of the debris.

I also believe that, in the heat of that conversation, they misunderstand each other – she calls her old self weak, and Oliver is horrified, telling her that he fell in love with that person. Felicity sees this as him re-affirming her claim that she used to be weak and judging who she is now, whereas I think Oliver was trying to say that he never saw her that way, and that in fact he fell in love with a woman who was already strong. We know that he believes this – he’s said it countless times over the years. In many ways she’s stronger than he is, and perhaps his dismay is that she suddenly doesn’t see it. Felicity, to my mind, seems to have lost sight of herself. I don’t think she is particularly “dark”, like the show is trying to present (in order to link it to the future where she’s apparently evil), or no more so than Oliver has been at various points over the years – but given that everyone around her has been telling her she’s “losing herself” or is on the path to not being a hero anymore (thanks, Diggle), she’s started to believe it. Felicity has always had a little bit of grey within her, from her days as a hacktivist to her dealings with Helix. Just because she’s chosen over the years to “find another way” does not mean she’s not capable of making the difficult choices.

But right now, Felicity is starting to believe that, so perhaps she sees Oliver’s incredulity as him also telling her that she’s losing her way, so she becomes defensive and tells him that version of her is gone for good. To their credit, they both do talk about this in a mature way later, by recognising that they’ve  grown in ways the other hasn’t yet seen or had time to reconcile with. That reconciliation of their new selves is key to their relationship and it will be hard work they have to do as a couple. I have no doubts they’ll do it, and I’m excited to see them do it; I just wish it didn’t have to be presented in this shock-horror kind of way. FYI I don’t think Felicity is suggesting a separation and I don’t think they’re going to get divorced, but like I say, the clickbaity nature of it all bugs me.

As for the rest of the episode –

I’m not sure why John and Lyla “need” Diaz to help them with whatever the heck Dante is, other than the fact that it plays into an already widening separation between Diggle and Oliver/Felicity. It’s the kind of action that is pretty much a betrayal of everything the latter have been through, and though John acknowledges that he hates lying to them, it’s not clear why he does. Perhaps if he’d told them what was going on, they might even be okay with it. It feels like John’s arc is leading somewhere, and perhaps he has to walk this path before he can come back to the man we know and love; they’ve told us time and time again that the theme of the season is redemption, for everyone, so maybe this is part of it. Either way, that storyline is still not interesting enough to me.

I liked the brief moment between him and Oliver in the old bunker, but really only because of what Oliver says about accountability – it was a truly heroic moment for Oliver to accept that if the city wants to hate the Green Arrow, they also have to hate him; the “new Green Arrow” may be borrowing his name and hood, but Oliver was the “OG”, and it’s him the city has loved and loathed over the years. It’s his legacy, so the accountability is his. Seeing him in the suit without the mask is weird, and him working for the SCPD is even weirder. I’m not sure who the Green Arrow is without Overwatch, but I guess we’ll find out.

I haven’t even touched on the flashforwards (and this is already overlong) -- to be honest, I don’t know what to make of them at this point. The introduction of Blackstar (Maya?) was great -- she seems to be an intriguing character and clearly has a lot of secrets yet to be discovered. It was interesting that her base seems to be Max Fuller’s new club, but what it means, I don’t know. Also interesting that Roy didn’t go along to see her -- is this because he knows her? I’m not sure what to make of her involvement in the bomb plot, or why Zoe is so apprehensive about going to see her father in the Glades. The mention of Oliver was nice although it did seem like they were implying that he, too, is long gone. Interesting to find out about the Mark of Four -- that Oliver created it as some kind of vigilante call to action -- I wonder how many people it applies to. I also wonder how William has no idea about it -- when exactly did Oliver and Felicity leave him? 

I also have to say this -- lately I’ve been beginning to see Dinah as a bit of a personality black hole. She’s just so dour all the time, both in the present day and future, and it’s really becoming tiresome. Her scenes just aren’t that interesting to me at the moment, which doesn’t bode well considering Oliver’s just started working at the SCPD. I don’t know -- I feel like Dinah’s become a bit lost as a character since 6B, and hasn’t recovered as well as perhaps Rene has. Who, incidentally, hasn’t used the word hoss even once this season. Miracle. 

Finally -- new Green Arrow. Emiko, I assume. She wasn’t as much of a presence as I was expecting her to be considering the title of the episode, but I enjoyed her two bookend scenes. She clearly knows who Robert is, so I want to know a) how, b) who her mother is, c) how long she’s known, d) why she’s in town dressed like Oliver, e) does she have a list too?, f) is she technically working against Oliver?, g) why? So...basically everything. 

The addition of Maya and Emiko to the roster, as great as they were this ep, is yet more proof at how bloated this cast has become. We don’t need 90 million members of Former Team Arrow hanging around doing nothing (seriously, was it necessary to have Curtis dress up and come in for one line that could have been delivered by someone else?). I can only hope that 7B takes a lean approach to their character roster -- between the present day and the future, I’m beginning to get lost in the noise. 

I don’t expect the crossover to address any of the SLs brought up in this episode, so I suppose the next time we find out anything more on Emiko, Maya or how Oliver and Felicity reconcile will be after the new year, which...is a depressing thought, but c’est la vie. 

I enjoyed Oliver and Felicity’s scene at the top of the ep, but really, I need more. These are two super hot people in their first year of marriage who’ve been separated for 7 months -- give them some happiness!

That said, I laughed out loud at Oliver’s face when Curtis asked what his first meal as a free man had been. I don’t think you want to know the answer to that, Curtis, so good on Felicity for jumping in.

I love Oliver’s reaction every time Felicity tells him she loves him. His face just lights up. 

Oh, and the red pen callback! Ohhhh that one hurt. 

Oliver’s reticence to re-enter the world was really well done.

Good to see that finally Oliver and Felicity’s place has a proper security system even if it was breached. But it does seem like the new flat is just the old flat re-dressed up. Sigh. I wish they would refurbish the Queen Mansion, especially since apparently nobody’s bothered clearing all that debris away from the fire??? 

Wasn’t it odd how Curtis asked Felicity “what will you do now?” as if he’s totally forgotten they had planned a start-up together and even had angel investors at one point. It looks like the writers have abandoned Helix Dynamics in favour of Smoak Tech, so I’ll take that and run. 

I don’t care for the new mayor. 

Wasn’t there supposed to be another party, one Oliver and Felicity don’t make it to?

I guess they’ve decided to keep William in boarding school. Which means it’s unlikely we’ll see him for a while (boo), seeing as we’ll bypass Christmas on the show thanks to certain other events. 

Speaking of, ughhhh crossover. 

[iveonlyeverseenliketwoanimes]

How Horikoshi treats his female characters (Feat. How his ‘Fans’ treat him): A Rant

Something that has recently been popping up a lot in the BNHA tags, for me at least, is this idea that Hori is a “Lazy/Bad Writer”. It’s a topic that’s genuinely interesting to me and I would love to discuss it! After the reaction i got to my last post on discussing the fandom, i feel like this is a really fun topic for me to look into and i love having an open discussion with people. So just to let you know before we start, everything here is my opinion - feel free to respond with your own thoughts and i’d happily have a conversation with you about anything and everything! If you disagree with me then that's fine, if you agree with me then that's fine too! I'm just a person with a keyboard and an opinion and so are you! :)

So today i would love to discuss how people treat Hori in regards to his female characters and i hope you enjoy this 1500 word essay/ramble i did. (PS if you came from my last lil essay then this one is a lot less sarcastic because its a more serious topic and i don’t want to come across as too rude also i actually got sleep today)

Now, this was actually the first topic I came across when looking into the Hori tags. At first, I was on board with the general theme of what was happening. I saw some lovely artwork of Momo where people had redesigned her costume, they were very creative in how they did it and overall, I had no complaints – if the whole topic of this tag was about how people wanted to be creative and redraw characters in their own design then I’d 100% support it, but the more you look into it, the more…. Nasty is gets.

So, the overall theme of what I gathered from this little tag is that idea that Hori is some sort of [Word I really don’t want to type out but im sure you can guess what it is] because of how he draws his females, most of which are underage. So if you, as a consumer, are, well, consuming something, such as a TV show, film, anime, Manga etc. and you see something that makes you go “This is disgusting – I need to write a Tumblr post about this to warn other people about what's happening here” then I fully support you – please keep on doing what you’re doing. 

However, this isn’t what I see, what I see are posts going “F*CK HORI HE’S A [Nasty word] AND I HOPE HE D*ES – HERE EVERYONE I MADE AN ANTI FLAG, SHARE IT EVERYWHERE AND LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN SEND MY D*ATH THR*AT TO” Meanwhile, when you go on this same persons page it’s all reposts of the characters and screenshots of the show, posts of them saying “Yo did you guys see the new BNHA episode last night?!?” and overall just very fandom-y stuff. I truly cannot comprehend this type of behaviour – you are so set in this belief that Hori is a [Nasty Word] and yet here you are, on the very same blog you use to slander his name, actively supporting him! Listen, if one of you Anti’s were to sit there and say “I wholeheartedly think Hori is a [Nasty word] and therefore I am no longer going to participate in this fandom or with supporting his creations” then, while I don’t agree with you, I support you in your decision as you have made a clear stance on something with both your words and your actions and I can truly respect that, and hell you would actually get my attention and I might read into what it is you’re talking about. I’m not, however, going to waste my time reading a piece of material written by someone who does all that nasty stuff I previously mentioned and take any of what they say seriously. Let me put it this way; you think Hori is a [Nasty word], you are supporting the show, you are therefore supporting a [nasty word], so why should I take anything you say seriously? I don’t want to see any more of this ‘One minute we love him, one minute we hate him’ attitude because when you hate him the things you are saying are some of the worst things you could possibly say to another person and its childish, disgusting and you’re giving this fandom a bad name.

Now back to the girls, I personally do find certain characters outfits a little distasteful, especially with how they’re done in the anime and how they zoom in on certain body parts, i also dislike how it’s ‘funny’ for characters like Mineta to get away with such disgusting behaviour. I do think that’s the biggest flaw I can find in this show – I don’t however 100% blame Hori for this. Now obviously at the end of the day, it is down to Hori what happens in his show, but can we all stop pretending that it’s just him that does this? When I think of anime the first thing that comes to mind is anime girls and their… attributes. It’s an industry issue and Hori is one of many people that partakes in it – so im not saying he’s not to blame, im just saying some of you are a little dramatic and need to realise if you truly want this behaviour to stop then you need to go after the industry and not just one guy.

Now this next point I want to make is something im sure might be a little confusing for most of you and something I can 100% see the other side of better than some other points ive made. It’s also kinda hard for me to put into words so please bear with me here.

I don’t think its necessary for Hori to develop his female characters as much as their male counterparts – now im sure that’s an odd concept but let me explain. As a child growing up in the age of great TV shows such as Hannah Montana, iCarly, Wizards of Waverly Place etc. I think ive spent a fair amount of time watching TV, my personal favourites as a child were Winx Club, BRATZ and W.I.T.C.H (Im from the UK so apologies if you have no idea what they are). Now all of these shows were ‘for girls’, they all revolve around a group of girls and their adventures in their respective worlds, they learn things along the way, because, even if you don’t realise it, these kids shows have hidden messages in them that are like ‘we should be kind’ ‘we should treat others with respect’ and all that jazz you need to know to be a decent human being. However, the one thing that these shows always lacked was any form of male presence. Now im not saying these shows had no males in them, that would be weird, but what I am saying is that the males in these shows were very one dimensional and they were always the love interest of one of the characters, or you might get the odd parental figure that would show up for one episode to be a motivation for a character. However with BNHA, a show that is specifically aimed at teenage boys, I don’t feel like they do such a disservice to females (AKA the ‘men’ equivalent of my other shows), sure they’re not treated great in certain aspects that I've already discussed, but look at their actual characters, Uraraka is the main girl, sure she very much has the same role as many of the men did in my childhood shows of the ‘love interest’ but her character is more than that and we see it in the sports festival as well as some of the more recent chapters (213-215 to be specific). Her character isn't just some airhead and neither are the other girls, Momo is literally top of the class in terms of written ability and she had her own little mini-arc around gaining confidence (which is still ongoing because guess what – people don’t change overnight), Mina has had some spotlight on her and is seen to be a very confident and skilled fighter, Tsu was literally described as the ‘perfect student with no flaws’ and is shown to be a badass on multiple occasions, Midoriya’s mum is even a character that’s had some form of arc with her learning to believe in her son and she's not some faceless character we hear about every so often when they need a plot device.

Now im not saying the female representation is perfect and it’s certainly not 100% equal to that of the men, but im saying it doesn’t need to be. This is a show for boys, sure girls can watch and enjoy it, but its made for boys in the same way my shows were made for girls, and the average boy isn’t going to want to watch a bunch of fairy princesses run around saving their fluffy little pets like I did (im sure a some of them will – and good for them, in the same way that some girls might want to watch superhero films, it’s not something im saying is bad, its just most people raise children into predetermined stereotypes of what gender roles they should fill and the media caters to that).

So what im saying is that taking a show aimed at boys and comparing it to shows aimed at girls and how each handles the opposite sex (we’re not going into gender here, that’s a whole other topic of diversity), I don’t think BNHA is all that bad. I guess if I want to be a little harsher in my approach, why is it okay to have a near-all female cast and not a near-all male cast? I understand a need for diversity, truly I do, but sometimes having a token character for each ‘type’ of person takes away from what the show is actually trying to convey – and in BNHAs case I think its trying to teach young boys that it’s okay to be emotional or vulnerable when you’re in situations that other shows teach you to ‘man up’ in. Not every show can solve racism, sexism and homophobia, I’m sorry to break it to you, but some shows are a little more basic in their approach to what it is they want to show and I think BNHA is a perfect example of that, it’s showing boys that you can cry, you can go through struggles in life, you can even come back from being a terrible person through growth and development, and I think that’s something boys need. A lot of people in this day and age want men to change (and I agree that there are a lot of things all groups of people can work on) and BNHA is showing boys how to grow up in a way that’s not this ‘tough guy that has no feelings’ and at the end of the day isn’t that something we want?

I do believe there are areas that BNHA really needs to improve in when it comes to it’s female cast, but can we stop with this awful hate? This fandom had such potential to be an amazing community of people who are skilled with art, writing, storytelling, cosplay, etc. but it seems like half of you just want to tear each other down and it’s sad to see such potential wasted because you can’t handle someone having a different opinion or view to you.

[jcmcisvu]

◤♛◢ — I N T R O D U C T I O N S. ✧ 

we’re back on our bullshit, laid ease ! lets mf GO !

ASTRAEUS ZOSIA.

crown prince of the dragons !

dragons have been hunted for centuries, almost to the point of extinction, due to the value and magical qualities of their scales ( or, in human form, their hair ! ), their wings, and, for some dragons, their horns.

it is because of this that the dragons are a very closed off, reclusive species. they tend to keep solely to themselves and each other --- they’re untrusting of most non-dragons, unless one has proven themselves to be worthy of their trust.

it is for this reason that astraeus is also perceived to be reclusive --- no one outside of the dragon society has ever seen the crown prince ( or so people think ! ) and, thus, no one knows what he looks like or who he is.

it is for this reason that astraeus is able to sneak out into normal society, concealing his identity by going only by “astra” and never mentioning his species, let alone his title.

he is very pampered, a bit of a spoiled brat, the prized possession of the dragons since he’s the heir.

on that note, he’s expected to be perfect --- prim and proper, absolutely captivating, and he is supposed to remain hidden away from the entirety of the remainder of the world ( the crown prince of the dragons is by far the most valuable, after all ! ).

thus, him venturing out into normal society is absolutely forbidden and he could get into worlds of trouble if he was ever found out.

when he does go out into normal society, amongst all of the other creatures and species, he takes on the persona of a witch, seeing as he practises both white and black magic in his free time.

his general persona and overall aesthetic, especially when he’s out in the world, is very soft, he has a very magical air to him, easily described as ethereal --- twinkerbell !

despite being so pampered and spoiled in the dragon society, all he truly wishes is to be treated as someone’s equal, as opposed to being praised and put on a pedestal for every little thing he does. he simply wants a companion ( dragons are intended to be very needy, affectionate creatures, after all ).

as much as he prides himself on being the treasure of the dragons, he also finds himself wishing that he and his subjects didn’t have to hide, but he knows how dangerous it may be for them to come out of hiding, so he doesn’t question it.

thus, he tends to live an extremely lonely life.

his scales are an iridescent purple !

his hair is an iridescent purple !

his left eye is gold and his right eye is purple !

ZARIN SEASONAIRE.

y’all know this b*tch !

crown prince of the demons !

he is half-demon/half-fae, which is an absolutely messy and dangerous combination ! he’s entirely op, uses his magic/powers for evil brought on my misplaced trust and ignorance !

he was brought up under the impression that he’s far better than everybody, including his siblings, in every possible way. thus, this caused a divide between him and pretty much everyone he could have possibly had a relationship with.

as much as his father insisted that he was important, a prized possession because he was the heir to the throne, zarin was also ... somewhat neglected for a lot of his life. he was raised solely to be the heir, solely to take the throne and to be exactly as his father is, so he lacks a lot of humane skills that he should otherwise obtain; proper morals, empathy for most people, a conscience.

his siblings died, his father didn’t care and insisted that he shouldn’t care either. thus, as upset as he was by the entire occurrence, he convinced himself that it was fine, that it happened for a reason, that he didn’t care.

he’s a bit ... fucked in the head due both to his upbringing as a whole and the death of his siblings. the years of trauma he’s gone through has absolutely done a number on him.

on that note, he’s chaotic evil ! but don’t worry ! literally someone just needs to ... convince him that he’s more than his father and that his title doesn’t define him ! and then he will be a soft pouty, but still chaotic babie !

he’s a bit forced to stay in ... whatever we’re calling the land of the demons, though he is occasionally allowed up to the surface to scope out whatever’s going on up ton per his father’s orders, and he sneaks up to the surface for his own enjoyment sometimes, as well.

he treats everyone like they’re his servants & playthings ! he’s the worst !

he’s the embodiment of sin !

in reality, though, he ... genuinely just craves affection, just wants to loved and cared for for real, but he would never admit that ! because hot take: he doesn’t believe he can love ! doesn’t even think he has emotions or feelings at all !

he’s ... messy. love him at your own risk !

he’ll bite you if you call him anything other than “zazzy” !

he teleports via smoke-travel !

his smoke is gold !

his hair is dark brown !

his eyes are bright gold !

AMBROSE SEASONAIRE.

y’all know this babie !

when he was alive, he was half-demon/half-fae ! now, he’s a ghost !

when the argenti first invaded, he and hestia went out to fight, thinking that they would be able to defeat them since they were op as hell demon/fae and all, but, alas, they were killed and now reside in the afterlife as ghosts !

it wasn’t surprising that ambrose died in the fight, seeing as he has never been all too keen on controlling his magic/powers.

while growing up, he was neglected by his father due to not being the heir to the throne ! he wasn’t necessarily treated badly by his father, but ... he wasn’t treated great by any means, either.

thus, due to the way he was brought up, he’s very ... messy, but in a soft way !

he has a stutter, he’s very shy and reluctant about everything, very awkward, overall an antisocial crybaby.

he was bullied when he was alive, ever since he was a child, due to his awkward and oversensitive tendencies. he was even bullied by his own identical twin brother at times !

he kind of ... tends to cling to his twin sister, which he feels bad for and does his best to stop doing, but he just ... feels safest and most comfortable when around her.

now that he’s dead, he simply tries to blend into the background as much as possible. he doesn’t want to be noticed, doesn’t want attention on him anymore; he seldom ever talks to anyone, especially people who are still alive.

he doesn’t see himself as anything special --- he’s not magnificent and popular like his sister is, he’s not powerful and important like his brother is; he can’t even control the way he speaks, let alone his own magic. there’s nothing special about him.

it’s because of this view of himself that he is ... a bit sad. he unintentionally takes on a melancholic air.

he doesn’t think he’s worthy of love or affection, he doesn’t think he’s worthy of much --- he somewhat feels like he deserved to die, just so that he wouldn’t be in people’s way anymore.

he’s just ... a lonely, messy, soft kid !

he’s also a gay lil twink ! doesn’t know he’s gay, though !

he just wants to be called “rosie” !

his hair is dark brown !

his eyes are a dull gold !

PARISA EAE.

a fallen angel !

angels are winged sky nymphs, formed from the fluffiest pieces of clouds and brought to life by the first light of day that the sun shines upon them on the morning of their creation, made with the intention of watching over earth and inspiring good and beauty.

parisa, however, was brought to life not by the light of a sunrise, but instead by the life of a sunset mixed with moonlight. this, unfortunately, skewed with the light and purity that she, as an angel, was intended to obtain.

despite her skewed purity, the other angels decided to make an attempt at teaching her the ways of the sky.

throughout her childhood and adolescence, she would try her best to follow the other angels in their good deeds, aiming to spread the love and light and beauty that she knew she was meant to spread and inspire.

all of her attempted good deeds, however, tended to end in disaster. if she tried to inspire love, it would result in hate. if she tried to inspire beauty, it would result in fear.

she never understood what was so wrong with her compared to all of the other angels, but she did her absolute best to be as akin to them as she possibly could.

when she turned eighteen, however, and her ability to inspire beauty and good still had yet to change, the angels decided that they could not afford to have her tainting all of their purity and hard work.

thus, they cast her out of the sky, deeming her a fallen angel.

ever since she has fallen, she has grown rather bitter about her fall, yet she also blames herself for it, as she still doesn’t know that her anatomy and dna was entirely skewed upon her creation.

she tends to be a bit reticent, not wanting to get close to people for fear of causing misfortune to them, as well.

since her fall, though, she has taken a love for modelling and fashion, taking on both modelling and fashion designing as her careers.

even though she knows she can do no true good, she still tries her hardest to inspire people through her modelling and designing and influence in whatever ways she possibly can.

she strives to know why she is so different from all of the other angels, but has long since stopped trying to find out.

she is ... vain, because she’s pretty and she knows it !

her hair is a peach/strawberry blonde colour !

her eyes are a silvery sky blue !

KINGSLEY LEVANE.

witch boy who spends all of his freetime on alchemy !

his mother died upon his birth.

upon the invasion, despite his father explicitly warning him not to get involved or go anywhere near the aliens or their infection, kingsley took an interest in the argenti, wanting to study them to find out more about their anatomy, their powers, their intentions, everything about them.

thus, he started collecting as much information on them as he could --- he even took samples of their slime when he came across it to do experiments on.

as a result of a chemical experiment with the slime gone wrong, kingsley nearly died in his laboratory one night, but, fortunately and unfortunately, his father entered the room just in time to shove kingsley out of the way before the slime could touch him and, in turn, took his place.

kingsley’s father died that night do to being overcome by the chemically altered alien infection, leaving kingsley an orphan.

on the same night as this occurrence, kingsley rushed out into the city, pleading for someone, anyone, to come help him save his dad.

everyone just thought he was a crazy kid, insisted that there were bigger issues at hand than some kid’s silly, little games and tall-tales.

thus, while, logically, kingsley knows that he was truly the one to blame for his father’s death, he is entirely in denial of the fact that he caused it and he can’t help but feel bitter and angry not only at the aliens for killing his father and all of the people who refused to help him on that night.

thus, he seeks revenge on both the aliens and on all of the people who he feels wrong him.

he spends most of his days cooped up in his lab, trying out different chemical compounds and mixtures in an attempt to find something that could even just harm the aliens and that he could use against those who refused him.

the only time he really ever leaves his lab is to try and collect more information and data on the argenti as a whole.

he trades potions and his inventions and such for information that anyone might have on the argenti !

essentially, he is just looking to get revenge on all who he believes took part in killing his father, even if he gets himself killed in the process, which he knows is entirely likely.

he is also looking for a way to resurrect his father, though he knows that, even if he is a witch, his magic is far too weak for such spells.

it is because of both his vengeful tendencies and his reclusive tendencies that he doesn’t have many friends. he insists that he doesn’t have time for close friendships and relationships, that he only has time for his alchemy and research..

truly, though, hidden beneath all of the anger and vengeance, he is just a sad and lonely kid. he never knew his mom, he essentially killed his dad, he has near no one to turn to for any type of comfort; he’s just sad !

before his father died, he was really sweet and bubbly, very soft, so that side of him is still buried down deep beneath the anger !

he ... wants friends lowkey, but he doesn’t know how to go about making them !

his hair is black !

his eyes are turquoise !

TOTO FLORENT.

imaginary friend ! boy with the horns !

he was the imaginary friend of a human boy who was absolutely obsessed with all of the magical creatures that there were around him. as a result of his obsession with all of these things, toto was imagined as a boy with magical horns.

toto’s horns are made of gold with magical qualities that even he, himself, isn’t quite sure about.

it was because of toto’s horns that he started getting made fun of upon the human boy telling his other human friends of his creation --- even if the kids who were making fun of him couldn’t actually even see him.

the endless teasing and taunting by these boys that his human boy called his friends eventually started getting to toto, making him feel discouraged, strange, like he was weird, an outcast.

it was for this reason that toto ran away from his human boy, even if he knew that, once he left, no one would ever be able to see him again so long as the human boy lived.

shortly after toto ran away, living his imaginary life wandering the suburbs and downtown areas, he found that people could see him, which he knew could only mean one thing.

the human boy had died. he had perished at the hands of the argenti no longer than a month after toto had fled from him.

this revelation absolutely devastated toto. knowing that his creator and best friend are gone, dead, and knowing that he hadn’t had said goodbye to him when he left ... it took a toll on him.

thus, the imaginary friend is a bit more melancholic than he once was.

he used to run about with his human, happy as could be and excited about absolutely everything, but now he has a sad air to him. he is no longer so happy nor excitable, but more depressed and despondent.

as an imaginary friend without a human or creature to be linked to, his existence is constantly wavering, even if more people are able to see him now. since there is no one (1) person who believes in his existence without doubt, he could cease to exist at any moment.

thus, he is on a quest for a new human/creature to be linked to ! all he asks is that they believe in him and do not make fun of or try to steal his horns !

as per usual, he is sad ... he just wants love and affection ... please ... love and affection him ...

his horns are gold !

his hair is dark brown !

his eyes are baby pink !

the rest of my muses will be added to this post tomorrow !

[sawamura-daichis-thighs]

genesis

My fic for the Beyond!! zine; unfortunately it was canceled, but you can find the free pdf ezine here! :D

Fandom: Haikyuu!! Character: Oikawa Tooru Rating: G Words: 1,573

Summary: There’s a thrumming in his chest, electric and tingling, though he’s unsure whether to attribute it to nerves or excitement. Maybe both; tomorrow marks the start to the rest of his life, after all. Well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but still. College isn’t exactly a walk in the park—he doesn’t expect to breeze through four years relying on just his charm and pretty face to get him onto the World Court. Tooru’s earnings have never been handed to him and he doesn’t plan to expect it now.

Tooru can’t sleep.

He could blame it on the bed—too firm, less giving than the one he’d slept in for fifteen years, and a bit too short for his long legs—or the stuffy air of the room (he’ll have to remember to buy a fan soon). It’s possible that the streetlamps’ light trickling in from under the blinds is distracting (or that the lack of glowing stars above his head is unsettling) or that Bokuto is snoring away in his own bed just a few feet away—or the unfamiliar drone of a restless city outside of his window rather than the soft cadence of cricket-song to lull him into dreams.

He could list a plethora of reasons, really, but overall it comes down to an overwhelming sense of new, of beginnings.

There’s a thrumming in his chest, electric and tingling, though he’s unsure whether to attribute it to nerves or excitement. Maybe both; tomorrow marks the start to the rest of his life, after all.

Well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but still. College isn’t exactly a walk in the park—he doesn’t expect to breeze through four years relying on just his charm and pretty face to get him onto the World Court.

Tooru’s earnings have never been handed to him and he doesn’t plan to expect it now.

Sighing, he flips onto his side, closes his eyes, and reviews all the necessities for tomorrow, hoping it’ll mimic the effects of counting sheep. Maybe if he knows he’s one-hundred percent prepared, sleep will finally grace him with it’s precious presence (nevermind that he double-checked everything an hour before he laid down to begin with).

He pictures everything in his mind’s eye as he makes a conscious effort to gradually relax his muscles. His class schedule is sitting on his desk, detailed with each respective building name, room, number, and floor level; there’s a second copy tucked away in his backpack, just in case he forgets or loses the first, accompanied by a map of campus (he’s fairly certain his exploration on move-in day was thorough but he’ll be damned if he’s late to any class on the first day). He even added a shorthand version to the notes app on his laptop as a backup measure.

His notebooks are all in order, each with their own syllabus, and he’s filled his trusty Star Wars pencil case with pens (pencils are for quitters), highlighters, and various other supplies he might need. His books for morning classes are packed while the others wait their turn, stacked according to subject, on his desk next to his favorite photo of the Seijoh third years and the Godzilla keychain hanging on the edge of it’s frame.

A smile tilts his lips at the memory that image brings to mind. A candid shot, courtesy of Yahaba, of all four of them in a semi-circle shooting the breeze as usual. Makki’s leering suggestively at him, Mattsun leaning casually on Makki’s shoulder as he grins; Oikawa’s expression is, in his opinion, appropriately offended, one hand over his heart as he defended his honor. Iwaizumi stands to Oikawa’s right, openly laughing at their antics.

Thinking of them sends a brief pain shooting through his chest, so he flips onto his back and catalogues whether he has his volleyball gear prepared for tomorrow’s afternoon practice. He knows it’s all sitting in a sports bag at the foot of his bed, though he’ll have to remind Bokuto to grab his water bottle from their mini-fridge before they go. He knows he’ll have no problem finding the gym thanks to both his first tour with his parents and Iwa-chan, plus his and Bo’s exploration a few days ago.

He’s rehearsed his introduction to himself at least twenty times now, knows it’s a perfect mix of respectful, determined, and just a little cheeky, but butterflies still swarm stubbornly in his stomach. He circles his palm over it in an attempt to calm down—it’s silly to get anxious over something like this, he was scouted for this team and was literally Captain of Seijoh just a few months ago when they used to practice with university players—but, unsurprisingly, not even logic can convince his heart to leave it’s current residence in his throat.

That’s just it—he was scouted, this university sought him out, he has to do well. There is no other option; he must succeed. Of course, he doesn’t expect to become a starter immediately, but he’ll have to work just as hard, no, twice as hard as he did in high school just to make sure his coaches notice his resolve, his skills—

A faint buzzing near his head jars him from spiraling any further into a panic. Blowing out a shaky breath, Tooru flips onto his stomach to retrieve his phone from it’s place charging on his nightstand; the timing is impeccable and there’s only one person who could pull that off.

‘oi dumbass u better be asleep’ ‘8ams come early u know’

Tooru has to muffle his giggle into his pillow (though a small sound like that is unlikely to rouse Bokuto in the slightest, honestly) and types back impishly, ‘Iwa-chan shouldn’t you worry about yourself? You need all the beauty sleep you can get or you’ll scare off your classmates tomorrow.’

‘don’t make me skip my 1st class just to come sock u 1’

‘Aww Iwa-chan, I didn’t realize you missed me so much already! (´▽`ʃƪ)’ Tooru replies, grinning. His previously thundering heartbeat has already begun to slow.

Iwaizumi’s retort is immediate and predictable: ‘as if’

His grin softens into a knowing smile and he hums to himself thoughtfully. Iwaizumi wouldn’t be awake at this hour if he weren’t experiencing his own bout of nerves; medical school is kind of a big deal, after all.

Tooru teases his friend for a while, falling into a familiar rhythm as easily as he breathes, as he contemplates asking the question that’s really on his mind. He’s probably—definitely—overthinking all of this but it just feels so important. He wants to stand on The Court, wants to set to teammates sporting his nation’s colors, wants it so badly it physically hurts sometimes, and tomorrow marks the start to getting there. He doesn’t even want to think about thinking of failure lest it jinx him.

He can’t be the only one, right?

‘Are you nervous?’ he finally sends, biting his lip as he waits for the reply.

‘ofc i am, what kinda question is that??’ is Iwaizumi’s near immediate answer. ‘not like we’re starting our futures or anything’

The reassurance courses through him, palpable in its effect; the tension in his shoulders melts away, breathing feels less constricted than it has all day. The smile that curves his lips is soft as Tooru cradles his phone gently, reading the words again. Leave it to Iwaizumi to ground him in only a couple of gruff sentences.

‘u’ll be fine so go to sleep alrdy’ is the next text, sent in response to the radio silence Tooru accidently created in his moment of relief. He laughs quietly to himself. Iwa-chan knows me too well.

‘Of course I will be! I’ll have the entire Uni swooning over me before the day ends (•̀⌄•́)و✧’

‘ugh. gnite dumbass’

‘Sweet dreams Iwa-chan!’

Heart light in his chest, Tooru plugs his phone back into it’s charger, rolls over and falls asleep with a smile, warmth lulling any remaining butterflies to rest.

***

Roughly fourteen hours later, Tooru steps into the gym and basks in the familiar air, letting the encouraging calls of “nice receive!” paired with the squeaking of sneakers and scent of salonpas wash over him. The rhythmic slam of volleyballs against the court floor sounds like home.

He’s jittery with excitement, anticipation, and, admittedly, nerves. He’s back to being a first-year, after all.

Bokuto shows no such hesitation, bouncing on his toes at Tooru’s side as they enter the gym together. He tugs on Tooru’s arm, nearly vibrating with restrained enthusiasm, and points in various directions as he babbles happily about everything he sees. Tooru nods along at appropriate moments, knowing Bo will repeat himself later about half a dozen times, while they make their way towards the sideline where other first-years have gathered to watch the practice match currently in session. Tooru inhales sharply at the sight of them.

There are more than he predicted; apprehension churns his stomach briefly and the unwanted feeling of competition slides into focus.

But just as quickly a stern voice lectures, ‘These are your new teammates. Strongest six, remember?’ and Tooru thinks it sounds suspiciously like Iwa-chan. A phantom pain flares in the bridge of his nose, four years past and quick as a blink, and he grins to himself.

The practice match concludes and the captain calls for the first-years to gather around for new member introductions. They perk up, jogging eagerly across the gym to fall in line before their new senpai. Bokuto takes off at full tilt (with a holler that sounds like a cross between a war cry and an owl hoot, much to Tooru’s dismay) leaving Tooru to catch up on his own.

He takes a moment to watch everyone move ahead and the electric tingling from last night thrums through his chest anew.

This is it, something echoes within him. The beginning of the rest of your life.

How frightening.

How exhilarating.

Tooru takes his first step forward.

[angstmongertina]

13. Foolish (Inktober 2017)

It was raining for most of today, and I just HAD to. I’m just so weak for cute romance tropes. :D

Again, this is very different from my original idea, but I blame the weather for messing with me, haha.

.....I’m late. Again. DAMMIT.

AO3 Link || Masterpost

The summer breeze is warm today, pulling at her skirt and tugging strands of hair out of her braid as she waits, casting her eyes out over the field. Her hands fiddle with the camera that Jihyun has gifted her “so you can save memories with more than just your phone.”

From behind her, a quiet click makes her jump and she turns around to find Jihyun grinning at her from behind a camera of his own.

“You scared me!”

He laughs then, warm and open, and she can’t help but stare. It’s been nearly a year since he’s returned to Korea, nearly a year of their relationship, and she still can’t quite get used to how much he’s changed from the man he was, how absolutely beautiful he is like this, smiling and in love with life and himself.

Then again, she’s not entirely sure she wants to.

“I’m sorry,” he says, though he doesn’t look nearly as repentant as his words would imply. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You just looked so natural that I needed to take a picture.”

His words melt her heart, and she holds out her hand eagerly. “Can I see?”

He shakes his head, still smiling, though it’s softened, more tender than amused. “Maybe later, but let’s get some pictures before the clouds come in.”

She looks up. The morning promised a beautiful day, with warmth and soft clouds floating in a sea of blue, but the summer wind has blown in darker ones, slowly approaching from the horizon. “That’s probably a good idea,” she agrees.

Arms reaching around her waist, he shows her the basics of changing the lenses and how to adjust them properly, of how to decide the best angle and where to stand. His breath tickles her ear, and she finds herself actively having to focus on his words instead of the feeling of his arms around her.

Her first photos with the camera are mediocre at best, especially considering the time she spends on them, but Jihyun’s beaming nonetheless, and she doesn’t miss the quiet click from him whenever she’s meandering around looking for a new subject, or focusing on getting the perfect angle. Besides, she isn’t the only one; it seems he can’t resist the call of nature’s splendor and wanders off on occasion, absorbed by a flower or a tree’s silhouette or a bird soaring across the sky.

To her immense satisfaction, her own subtle photos of him turn out much better, though she’s not sure if it’s her own skill improving or simply his natural beauty at work, making up for her considerable lack of talent. Regardless, she’ll take it.

Entranced in her attempts to sneak photos of him, she doesn’t notice how much the sky has darkened above them until the first drops fall on her head. “Jihyun! It’s raining!”

He looks up from his focus on a flowering mugunghwa with surprise, just as the few droplets become a downpour. Utter shock crosses his face for a second before he shakes himself, figuratively and literally, darting towards her and grabbing her hand. “The cameras! They shouldn't get too wet.”

They run, hand-in-hand, back towards her car, slipping slightly in the tall grass, now slick with rain. In spite of the fact that she’s already drenched, she can’t help but laugh as she bends over her camera, shielding it as best she can. Luckily, they haven’t wandered too far, and they stumble over a short while later, carefully putting their equipment down in the backseat, she still laughing as she tilts her face towards the sky.

“You’re soaked through,” Jihyun murmurs as he turns to her. “We should get back.”

She grins, lowering her gaze to meet his. “And you’re not? Besides, we’re already wet enough now. A little longer won’t hurt us.”

“And if we get sick?” he counters, and she can’t help but shake her head with affection. With his brow furrowed with concern, his once styled hair now plastered by rivulets to his forehead, and clothes absolutely dripping, Jihyun is the most endearing she has ever seen him, especially when his eyes widen as she steps closer, wrapping her arms around him.

“You’ll just have to keep me warm then,” she whispers before, heedless to the pouring rain, she stretches up and kisses him.

“Foolish woman.” She feels more than hears his reply over the deluge around them, but then he is kissing her back, warm and passionate, and, just as she suspected, she is anything but cold.

[snow-okki]

Messiah Akatsuki ‘LIVE’ reaction Conclusion

Part one

Part two

Part three

Part four

So. 

Uh...

Where to begin.

I feel like I’ve just rode a roller coaster, which during the ride I got splashed in the face, jumpscared by a ghost, jumpscared by a clown, spun 360 degrees and got free thrown to the air.

When Akatsuki’s casts were announced in November, one of my biggest worry was that the pacing will be all over the place given the large number of new characters. Thankfully, it wasn’t, or at least not really. Messiah managed to make me care about every single one of the new characters, from my biased Gen3 to Salyut to Checker and puppy Guen and even that one ensemble cast.

But in return, I feel like the buildup for Mamoru-Kaito is sacrificed. There was no flashback, not much explanation on their previous relationships besides the bit on Mamoru’s final outburst. The only hint as to how close Mamoru-Kaito really are is how unhinged Mamoru is throughout the stage. It’s not a huge issue for returning fans and fans who follow Mamoru-Kaito pair closely. Even so it takes away this feeling of ‘bond’. Many times I end up questioning whether it’s in character for Mamoru to become that unstable, because afaik it’s Kaito who is super dependent on Mamoru but not so much the other way around.

I can justify Mamoru’s unstable state due to him having to endure his partner being missing for 6 months already, but this fact was only briefly flashed on the screen once, never even stated out loud. It’s still sad though, Tomoru pulled off the final heartfelt conversation really well, and their freaking theme song...their freaking...*sobs*

But my literature side is not satisfied by their development.

Happening simultaneously with Mamoru-Kaito’s story is Ariga-Kagami story which I feel it’s...cliched. The execution is good, from the beginning where their distance is highlighted, the middle funny adlib part, and that final confrontation at the end. It was sweet. But this whole idea of first name basis it’s...idk I just don’t see it as that huge of a thing. Sure, I get that it’s a huge thing in Japanese culture, but I’ve always thought of it as ‘May I call you by your first name instead of your last name so that I can feel closer to you’ rather than ‘Can you call me by my first name so that I can affirm the fact that you care about me’. The last one just feels...selfish. Like forcing someone to confess to you kind of selfish. It’s not my cup of tea for a relationship.

Also it doesn’t help that the chemistry between Izawa-Sugie is not really there, there was the still-going-strong previously established Ariga-Mamiya, and Izawa-Tomoru is probably an actual thing irl. To me seeing Ariga bidding farewell to Tomoru is actually the most heartbreaking scene in the entire stage, which I believe it’s not even supposed to be a sad scene XD

Then there’s the introduction of Gen3 and development of Ichijima and Kuroko. Whoo boy the fun part starts here :D

Gen 3 really gets the short end of the stick. Compared to Gen2, where Mamoru-Kaito gets to star a stage to develop their characters and then an episodic drama for all four of them, Gen 3 is introduced as side characters, meaning, you have to ignore the main plot and scrutinize every single thing that they do just to get to know them. It’s doesn’t help that this is Mamoru’s graduation, and then Polor Night was Misu-Amane’s graduation, and then Yuukyuu will be Ariga-Kagami’s graduation AND introduction of a new cadet AND several more new characters. It can’t be helped that as of now it’s hard to see Gen 3 as anything but side characters in similar vein to Kuroko/Ichijima.

Character wise... here’s what I got:

Miike: Whimsical and very unstable, which is reflected in his fighting stance/style. Supposedly he’s been very sheltered, which justifies his lack of empathy towards others. Likes to complain/comment about everything, and to laugh derisively (it’s been a while since we get a character that laughs :D). Has unexplainable attachment towards Kotaro, has some issues with living. Doesn’t take anything seriously, as if he or anyone can always do something about it and therefore there’s no need to be serious. He’s Italy from HetaOni, no joke.

Yugi: This guy should work as Power Ranger instead. Fighting stance is very firm, and as a person he is also very firm in his values. Likes to visibly react to every single thing, and definitely an ‘act before thinking’ kind of person. Might have slight hair-trigger temper. For some reason he decided halfway that he didn’t want to be paired with Miike, probably so that Yugi has a plot point and not just some cadet who likes to fight ‘for justice!’ or something like that. So far, he’s your everyday Jock, with all the jerkassness directed towards Miike.

Kogure: THIS ADORBS KID--I mean, supposedly has some issue with emotions, despite having no trouble panicking shouting member’s names and even expressing slight anger at Ichijima. Has issue with moving his upper body separately from his lower body sometimes, and doesn’t understand that standing still with legs closed is never a good fighting stance. Always ready to serve as backup (help) others, but whether it’s because of his pragmatism or because he likes to be praised.... His plot point is with Ichijima, interestingly enough. He’s the actual butt monkey chew toy damsel in distress in this gen.

Yes Gen3 are so precious they must get their own separate character analysis :D

Moving on, the character development for Ichijima and Kuroko is...interesting. Kuroko is somewhat expected, it’s been hinted multiple times that this kid’s somewhat batshit crazy. Though Akatsuki ended up introducing his weaknesses, with regards to both his fighting skill and also his mental strength as we found out that he hasn’t fully recovered from whatever his past was.  Y’know, if Kogure is tied to Ichijima instead of the upcoming 4th cadet...Could the 4th cadet be tied to Kuroko? :D

Meanwhile, Ichijima’s development is...again, very interesting. We get the ‘we used to be friends in human experimentation’ thing with Dr THREE and ‘we started this project together’ with Checker, both who thankfully will be returning for Yuukyuu. We get to see more of his human side, the things with Mamoru, and whatever that tissue and slipper scene was with Kuroko. Also we found that Ichijima will never break his promise (doesn’t mean he won’t have someone break it for him). Still a mentor role, but hopefully with this and whatever his deal was with Kogure, his character can be more fleshed out, and maybe SOME INFO ON KAMIKITA I MEAN HE’S HIS MESSIAH GODDAMIT.

Ahem. The non SAKURA people. Their roles are still mysterious so not much can be said about that. Character wise...Salyut is VERY charming (and seem to be unhinged at times), Dr TEN is your bishounen mad scientist, Guen is a puppy, and Checker is so hammy but I love him <3

I think that’s all for the characters. It’s kinda hard for me to talk about the viewing experience since I watched it with spoilers in mind AND watched it in segments freaking internet, but at the end of it I feel spent. Akatsuki ain’t something that I’ll watch again for fun. But I’ll rewatch it to analyze all the tiny bits of things that happened. And probably to see more of Ariga yanking Kogure back because that adlib is hillarious XD

Some afternotes. I feel like the story of Mamoru-Kaito, and Ariga-Kagami is a story of salvaging the remains of a disaster. See, had they stayed with the temporary Messiah pairing, things could have gone so much better: Ariga-Mamoru has chemistry irl, and Yuuri-Mamiya might work. The Mamoru-Kaito and Ariga-Mamiya story can still work without pairing them directly as Messiahs, even with added bonus of the other Gen2 being able to help in. 

Things could have gone so much better and yet...Kamikita did what he did at the end of Eisei, Hagane the destruction happened, and now Ariga’s trying to make do with Kagami and Mamoru has to make do with whatever circumstances that made Akatsuki a thing. 

I’m conflicted whether Akatsuki can be called a happy ending even; Mamoru hasn’t really come to terms with living without Kaito. It’s like Kaito back in Shibi, and how he coped with Haruto’s death. Kaito has that hologram, Mamoru has Kaito being an AI that accompanies him everywhere. Even the ending is like ‘we’re always be together!’, which while it is sweet, Mamoru hasn’t truly overcome his dependency issue. What happens if Necromancer is eliminated for good?

Also Imma slide in this theory of mine as to how Messiah Project will end, since it’s kinda brought up here. I’d say either dissolution, or Section 5 becomes a public organization (so merge with KINDER). Because I doubt the whole human experimentation thing will go well in the public eyes, and it seems like the government is ready to pin the blame on Section 5 should they fail to protect the country (they really should fix that Section 4 of theirs first before touching Section 5. Remember what nearly happened to Mamoru in Shibi?)

TL;DR: So after watching it I’m actually not as hung up on it as compared to after Hisui, even Shinku made me speculate more than this. But oh man I’m hook line and sinker for Kogure. And Checker. And maybe puppy Guen. I even go back to their Fresh TV LIVE thing and Shinchan’s presence is so overlooked and everyone agrees that Ito Kotaro is a bit ‘liddat’ and Araken (Yamaken XD) is so chill as expected of one of the oldest but Araken’s voice is super nice! Ito also has a pretty nice voice~ And his ‘liddat’ (aka he came from another planet) personality is so adorable!! And I love Shinchan’s oversized shirt <3 What was Akatsuki about again? XD

Extra: The screenshots that I took for lulz

^ le slipper

^ See? Super long finger!

^ This is so precious <3

^ Kogure literally flew

^ asdfghjkldfghjkl!!!

^ This is the best shot I can get out of this scene. I’m sad :(

^ Okki going into labour

^ do I really need to caption this