#im sorry the sword was stolen by WHAT

[ultimate-sword-showdown]

NINJAGO SWORD OF FIRE PROPAGANDA—

Okay, Aegislash is cool. I’ll admit it.

But can it turn into a motorcycle? No? Didn’t think so. Guess what the sword of fire can do? BAM!

The Sword of Fire is one of the four golden weapons used to create the continent/island of Ninjago by the First Spinjitzu Master (aka god). Holding all four weapons at the same time will disintegrate you. It was sealed in the Temple of Fire under the guardian of a dragon, then used to release the evil son of god out of the Underworld.

It was then used to defend against an army of snake warriors and killed an enormous F-U ancient snake set to devour the entire world. It can heat a pizza. It was fused into the Megaweapon that could grant wishes, and finally blasted into space.

When it was retrieved, it was forged into Retrieved and forged into golden armour used by the embodiment of ancient evil and exploded one of the main heroes.

It’s also singed off Kai’s eyebrows and he had to perfectly paint them on for a month so nobody would notice.

Later, it got reforged back into the sword to defend against an army of ancient Oni demons hellbent on destruction. Was rendered powerless for a while after being used in the Tornado of Creation that sent one of the main characters on a two-way trip to meet god via death by rubble.

The sword was later stolen by the C.O.C.K (Council of the Crystal King), a supervillain team up that is unfortunately not an evil volleyball team. It got crystal-ized & powered up and used by a millennium-old sorceress snake lady so desperate for revenge against the old man who locked her away that she challenged him to a series of contrasts (including pancake making and Billards) and won.

When the sword was pried from her grasp, it was used by ninja dragons (yep, ninja dragons, not ninja riding dragons— that happened too, but in earlier seasons) to defeat the ancient evil once again.

(Please tag as “Crystalized Spoilers” thanks)

You're so right I love the sword of fire

[divinesolas]

request: jacerys x maid!reader | reader has been working for them for a long while and jace has had a little crush on her since then. (also rhaenyra shipping them on the low would be so sweet)

tags: nontarg!reader, implied slightly older reader, mostly jacaerys pov, no use of y/n, not proofread, i think that's it?

w.c | 2.2k

a/n: i am back! so sorry for being inactive i am so happy to be able to write again i have missed you guys, getting through requests now, but it will probably take me awhile to get to the scream requests since im really unmotived to write for it but i missed writing for hotd so here you go, i hope you guys enjoy!

the first time he had ever spotted you was when he was eight. you had been assigned to be helaena personal maid. he had been standing in the courtyard preparing for another sword fighting lesson. he notices out of the corner of his eye aegon lifting his head before aegon mumbled under his breath and curse as he shakes his head bring his head back down. jacaerys looks up to see heleana, knowing of the recent betrothal and aegons distaste at the idea of course he would have a reaction like that. his eyes drifted over to the girl standing besides helaena and he felt a sudden sensation of butterflies flow into his stomach.

Curiously he picks it up and opens, It feels wrong of me to do this. Princess Heleena just recently taught me how to write and the first thing I felt I needed to do was write something to you. I hope you do not laugh. I hope that while I express myself you find it in yourself to listen. My eyes always find their way towards you. I always find myself thinking about you. I feel too embarrassed to write more though my heart yearns too. Forgive me my prince. I shall hope we talk more. With all i have,

He finds himself tracing the sloppy signing of your name at the end of your letter. His head can't make sense of the words you say despite the fact he wants to so badly. He falls back onto his bed and reads over your words over and over again with a fond look on his face, already planning on what he was going to write back. The two of you begin to write more and more letters to each other. It was easier than speaking in person. Things that could not be uttered in person were said over word, the letters grew more and more personal. He felt like he was looking into your soul with every word as you must have felt as well. But then lady Leana had passed and he had to go to driftmark to the funeral though he was more upset about the passing of ser harwin. Before he had left for driftmark you had slipped a letter for him before he had left. He didn't have the energy to open it then, feeling too much grief to read your sweet words. A part of him is glad he didn't because he didn't realize that would be the last he would see of you for many years. They did not return to king's landing which means he did not get to see you. No more letters, no more passing glances, no more you. He stayed in his bed and cried for awhile, he remembers his mother coming in and trying to comfort him but nothing had worked. Even ten years later he still mourned you like you had died, he had managed to get over his sad slump but you still lingered in his mind like a disease he could not cure, an itch he couldn't scratch. He wondered if you thought of him like he had thought of you. Word had come that they had to go back to king's landing. With lucerys position as heir to driftmark being challenged they were expected to return for a trial. While he feels as though he should be sad, he should be angry. His heart leaps with hope that he gets to see the dear maiden that had stolen his heart. He had never opened up your letter from all those years ago, wanting to savor and save what could be your last words to him for a special occasion. He decided that now would be the time, as he sits on his bed with his stuff packed, only minutes until they were set to leave with shaking hands he rips open the letter.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he opens the letter and gasps. My prince, It broke my heart to find out you were leaving. I hope that you have not let your grief consume you, that you shall continue to be happy no matter what. He notices some large splotches of ink as if you had been pressing too hard against the paper in thought. I must tell you this though it is improper. When you return you will never speak to me again. You may never write to me again yet I must say this now. From the day we had locked eyes and my eyes saw you smile you hard earned the key to my heart. You are the chosen one. Hand selected as the owner to the place which you and only you will ever belong. I hope that you do not laugh. I hope that you are not repulsed or you are not hateful. From the day we met I have loved you and I shall think of you always for you are all I yearn for. I shall await your return. I know not how long you will be gone but I will be here, my sweet true love. I am but a low maiden yet you are everything to me as you must be to all. When you return you may choose to ignore this letter. I am more than willing to act as if this letter never existed, I will be the one to turn this letter myself if you wish. Just please, do not punish me by never speaking to me again for I fear my heart will never recover. With all my love, Yours.

The letter shakes vigorously in his hands as teardrops fall onto the page. He must see you. He gets up and rushes towards the yard where the rest of his family awaits where they are boarding to leave. With the letter clutched to his chest he runs through the halls, the only thought going through his mind being you. He carefully, or as carefully as he can with the adrenaline pumping through his veins and the nervous shaking of his hands, folds up the letter and stuffs it into his pocket before continuing to rush towards his dragon. An arm grabs him and he whips his head around ready to curse and scream at whoever it had been before his angry face softens. “My queen.” she cups his cheeks as she frantically looks him over. “Has something happened? Why are you crying, my son?”

He feels himself grow overrun with emotions as he stumbles, unable to answer. Instead he grabs the letter and presents it to her. “My.. she wrote to me.. Her letter I must.. I must..” he cannot find himself. He looks down at the ground as rhaenyra glances over the letter and looks at her son with a heartfelt look. “Do you love her, my boy?” his heart begins to hurt as he begins to think more and more about you as he nods. He lets out a strangled noise as he clutches his chest. “I must see her mother, I must.” He never calls her mother. rhaenyra feels herself overcome with an indescribable feeling as she lets him go. “We shall head out right this moment.” They do. He feels himself riding faster than he ever had. A part of him worries you will not be there. Maids are easily dismissed and rid of in kings landing so his heart hurts as he thinks he has missed you

. They arrive and he finds lucerys is stuck to his side. Despite the fact that all he wished to was run off to find you he knows he must take care of lucerys as well. Walking into the courtyard he's taken back to his childhood, with lucerys eyes locked onto the fight happening jacaerys finds his eyes looking around at the viewers watching from above the courtyard. Suddenly his eyes lock onto a very familiar set of eyes. Yours. You look as gorgeous as you did the day he had last shall you if not more. You were standing in the exact same place you were when he first saw you with a look of shock. He finds himself stumbling away from the crowd to get a better look at you as his heart pounds so loud his ears may begin to ring. You were here. Standing in front of him. He gulps and watches as you quickly rush towards the staircase down to the courtyard. His skin begins to burn as his legs begin to shake. Everything in his body telling him he should run to you. Bring you into his arms. Allow your skin to touch him. Suddenly you are standing in front of him, panting slightly while your eyes dart all over him with surprise. “My prince… you have returned.” He grabs one of your hands in a soft grip, he sees you inhale sharply as he brings your hand to his lips and places a kiss to the back of your hand. his lips burning as he aches to kiss your skin once more. “I am sorry to have kept you waiting, my love.” You gasp before a smile graces your lips and tears fill up in your eyes. “Truly?” He places yet another kiss onto your skin, “More than anything.”

[ganondoodle]

I am sorry to hear that the depression has stolen your spark.

I want you to know that you are the sole reason I gave Skyward Sword a chance. Your art was so beautiful and compelling that I just had to know about the media it came from.

Your art introduced me to an incredible community that years later, I am still benefitting from. Your art was the gateway, and I've always been thankful to you for that.

I hope your spark realights, and I hope you can kick depression right in its ass.

i- i did that????? qoq

yes im reviving old reaction pictures

i hope im not ruining the mood bc .. this legitimately made me tear up and i kept thinking of this ever since receiving the ask-

but bc i cant keep my mouth shut (i apologize if you are already well aware of all this i just .. like to talk i guess), i ... idk i have said this before but i feel incredibly conflicted about demise (am i allowed to like him??? do i even like him when i changed him so much??? am i a fraud fan????) and the game he comes from, i .. dont actually like skyward sword that much, or, not as much as it may seem like (my favorite is windwaker, second is botw), every now and then i even feel guilty for demise being my blorbo tm- as much as i love him im under no illusion what his introduction to the series did, the games lore is not .. great, it seems to have kickstarted the decline of the series writing and completely torpedoed any sort of fandom discussion by making zelda a literal reincarnation of the good tm gods of love and light and peace and everything good tm uwu and pit her against an evil demonnnnn that just crawled out the earth one day (??) and was only evil and bad and dark and hate incarnate an hated the good tm gods bc hes jsut so eviiiil, it gave rise to the utter dissmissal of any sort of ganondorf related discussions (funny how it only seems to apply to ganondorf, and none of the other villains hmmmmmmmmmmmm) bc, while not confirmed confirmed (though the fandom likes to pretend that), hes now widely seen as a reincarnation of demise and thus, doesnt need nuance or be given any grace or thought bc apparently when you say someone is a demon (or its reincarnation, which i dont believe ganondorf is, to be clear) that means its fine to not give them any thought bc demons are just evil tm and thats ok and good writing actually (wat????)

(if you take skysw as canonically how it all went down bc my interpretation makes it all be a fabricated lie so the gods can play their little games, there is no godess reincarnation, that was a lie to make way for an opressive kingdom belivieing itself to be irrevocably good no matter what they do etc)

it also cheapens any of the past entries, all of them have been flattened by this, why disscuss ganondorfs motivation lol, he just be a demon/demons puppet, zelda could never be wrong or do bad things bc she literal incarnation of goodness uwu etc- (and then totk, only the second game after skysw, retreads its points and makes it even worse while ALSO trampeling over that game imo)

i dont like saying it, but i do feel a little alienated even from ganondorf fans (i love him too!!!!!) bc they hate demise, and rightfully so, it feels weird having your main blorbo be the reason your second fav is constantly done dirty, why you cant even talk about anything critically bc 'iTs jUst a sIMpLe fAiRytALe' now and part of the reason the lore in general has gone to shit, and i dont know how much i can talk about that before i become an obnoxious 'well ACTUALLY my blorbo, who is the reason for all this, is ALSO done dirty and im gonna explain away the bad stuff via my completely noncanon reinterpretation-' guy, or if i already am what im doing with destiny is like .. my way of trying to fix it and make it interesting again? though at this point i guess im falling into the category of people who change their blorbo so much that there really isnt anythign left of the og, which worries me alot, though i wonder if thats even possible given how little there is to him in the first place, i so often see viral posts that make me feel guilty or conflicted for the way i work with media, "actually my blorbo did all those crimes and thats good you all who need to explain away the bad things are weak and annoying!!" "people who change their favs until they barely resemble the character anymore should just make an oc instead!!"-

i dont know if i take these types of posts too literally, i dont know when or how they apply, but it always circles around in my head, i know not everyone can like what you do, but i want to work with the material i have in an interesting way, not a puritanical way (or however you call that), its not in my mind every second, but it nevertheless makes me doubt what i do with my fanworks anytime i talk about them-

... this wasnt really the point of the message was it ... apologies, i hope not every ask will devolve into a sort of mini rant ;__; i dont mean to invalidate what you said, (and im not saying skyward sword is all bad, its full of charm, from characters to designs, just the lore is .. damaging) it is incredibly touching bc me or my art having a positive impact on people blindsides me every single time like "WHAT??? IMPOSSIBLE you MUST be thinking of someone else, no way i could do that", when something gets brought up my thoughts just kinda start pouring out, i thought about deleting everything i wrote, but then felt like that wouldnt be as genuine anymore (i am not normal tm after all and im long past a point pretending otherwise) and have wasted another hour for nothing, so im gonne leave it in and hope, pray even, it comes across correctly

q-q

[aokoaoi]

Shuri x fem!reader request where she catches her as she’s falling somewhere relatively high? I just melt at the idea of Shuri just catching the reader mid-fall, not like a trip, like an *actual* fall; Shuri has the Black Panther powers (she’s super agile, great reflexes, can clearly move quickly, and I thinkkk would be decently strong) so she should get to put those powers use, dang it! Oh, and would it be cool if the reader is just like “oh. wow.” swoon and not really concerned at all while Shuri’s just freaking out (like “Are you OKAY?!? Are you HURT!!?!”)? I loveee smug/cool Shuri sm but having uncool/nervous/worried/sweet Shuri is such a rarity that I really love it. AND thank you so much for all your Shuri x Reader content. It’s genuinely so hard to find non-smut content of her and you just write her so well!

𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧?

pairings : shuri x fem!reader.

authors note : im so sorry this took so long😭! I had a hard time writing for this request, my creativity and motivation wasn't really participating so this is just very horrible💀

Your glare hardened on the enemies masked face as they inched closer to you, grabbing the stolen spear a Dora Milaje once held. You inhaled sharply, grabbing your own weapon tightly as you began to walk backwards, not noticing the edge of the cliff behind you.

Not wasting anytime, you striked your spear. The invader ducks, and a mammal behind them emerged and jumped on you. Your sword pierced through the animal instead, and it furiously let's out a pained roar.

The mammals impact on you semd you both backwards, and onto the edge of the cliff. Your eyes widened in realization when your foot felt nothing but air, and the mammals frightened look seemed like they realized it too.

The animal roared slightly as you pushed it away from you with harsh force, watching as it fell more faster than you.

You choked back a scream as you hyperventilated, unsure of what to do. Will you die? God no, you hope not. You'd rather die fighting enemies rather than a fucking mammal.

Your eyes stayed on the ground as the wind wiped on your face, your eyes dilated.

Your breath quickly hitched when you saw something from your peripheral vision, specifically, a black form from the sides of the cliff as it swiftly jumped on you.

A surprised yelp escaped your mouth when you were forcefully pushed to the side by someone's body engulfing your own. Your beloved savior clawed at another edge of a cliff, making a God awful scratching noise in your ears.

At the sound of the scratching, it gave you a clew who the hell decided to jump on a cliff to save you.

Shuris body collided with the rocky surface as she protected you from it by shielding you with her form. You breathed in a deep inhale, rocky huffing as you looked up to her.

Her black panther mask revealed her face, watching as she looked at you with worry as if she hadn't just threw herself on bulky rocks. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" She hurriedly asked.

You shook your head incredulously, looking at her ridiculously. "..did you just fucking jump off a cliff to save me?"

Shuri opens her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Her head tilted as if saying 'yeah, duh?'

"What was I supposed to do?" She questioned you, her hand on your waist gripping tightly as she looked down below you two. Her other hand remaind clawing at the side of the cliff.

You merely let out a chuckle, completely trying to forget the fact you were almost gonna die five seconds ago. Your head buried against the girls neck, letting out a sigh of 'holy shit im alive'.

"My love and savior."

Shuri sweatdrops at your words, unsure of how to feel. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head..?" She trails off, and you slightly grinned at her.

"I'm fine. I just fell off a cliff, that's all. You should be more worried about that damn mammal who attacked me." Shuri winced at that, glancing down as if she was looking for the said mammal.

"..yeah."

A few breaths exchanged, and a spark went out in your head. "Shuri how the fuck will we get back up." You removed your head from her shoulders, looking at her incredulously.

She looks at you the same way, eyes wide. "You know how to climb right?"

"Shuri im not some fucking superhuman with panther abilities."

"I'm sure they'll find us here."

"Baby, what the actual fuck."

Shuri grins arlt the nickname, booping your nose with her own slyly. "Say that again?" She hums, coyly looking down at your lips.

You playfully slapped her shoulder, but then ended up letting out a surprised noise when you slightly slipped from her hold. Your arm quickly wrapped around her neck, afraid of falling again.

"Please get us out of this cliff. This'll forever leave a scar onto my memory."

"Hey, it's your fault. You let that tiger tackle you."

"It was a tiger?"

"..it wasn't?"

THAT SHOULD BE MEEEEE AAAUUUUGHHHHHHHHH

[arista-essendon]

Riyria Revelations dashboard simulator

⚔️ haddy_blackwater

These trees are fascinating! I think I know what kind that one is too! Can’t wait to tell Royce about the time I fell out of one!

💰 duster Follow

shut. up.

5 notes

🪷 alendawilllowart Follow

does anyone know how I can get my secret letters to my lover back. they got stolen and they're gonna be used as blackmail :/

🎩 actualnoblity Follow

sent u a message

30 notes

🌹 gwentheseer

Just put a fresh coat of paint on the Rose and Thorn :D

💰 duster Follow

Looks lovely as always Gwen!!!

🌹 gwentheseer

Thank you Royce❤️

⚔️ haddy-blackwater

Beautiful Gwen! Hey does anyone wanna see the sword hilt I just rebound?

💰duster Follow

no one cares.

20 notes

👸🏽not-a-witch

Haha I love my hairbrush so much and I’m definitely not emotionally attached to it at allll

18 notes

📜myron-the-monk Follow

I’ve never met a women. They seem kinda scary. Horses too.

📜myron-the-monk Follow

I HAVE A SISTER???!!!!!

1,093 notes

⚔️haddy_blackwater

Just got us another job! Royce isn’t thrilled but it’ll be nice to help someone out!

⚔️haddy_blackwater

Oops my bad Royce

💰duster Follow

i hate you so much

32 notes

👨🏽 king-ethelreds-lover Follow

KING AMRATH JUST GOT ASSASSINATED??

💋 ur-local-beauty-maiden

OMG that's so sad. but why are the assassins sooo hot. like do they really have to die?

🪶anti-degan-gaunt Follow

This is SO problematic I can’t believe I’m seeing this. Watch your words you digesting wretch our king is literally dead

🍺 tavernboi Follow

lmao “digesting”

200,042 notes

⚔️haddy_blackwater

killed another man today, my father would be so ashamed

⚔️haddy_blackwater

at least i have alcohol and my best friend

💰duster Follow

ur pathetic

59 notes

🤴🏽prince_alric Follow

Can’t believe I’m getting kidnapped, this is ridiculous I’m the prince!!!

💰duster Follow

no one cares.

👸🏽not-a-witch

i care. Sorry I got you kidnapped Alric

🤴🏽prince_alric Follow

Apology not accepted.

9 notes

👸🏽not-a-witch

Just to be clear saying ive never saddled my own horse before because I’m a woman is frankly very sexist

⚔️haddy-blackwater

I said that cuz ur a princess and u literally haven’t

👸🏽not-a-witch

Irrelevant.

5,046 notes

🕯️official-church-of-novron Follow

Don’t forget to praise Novron today and pay your tithes

34 notes

🕯️official-church-of-novron Follow

Don’t forget to praise Novron today and pay your tithes

23 notes

🕯️official-church-of-novron Follow

Don’t forget to praise Novron today and pay your tithes

0 notes

⚔️ haddy_blackwater

someone tried to stab me earlier. ugh

💰 duster Follow

who. im gonna rip out their heart.

3 notes

💪 gauntshotmuscles Follow

i genuinly hate that stupid princess arista. shes so stinking opinioated and annoying to be around. friking know it all

⚔️ haddy-blackwater

i'll literally kill you

👸🏽not-a-witch

Awwww thanks Hadrian. Do you wanna makeout in the library now?

⚔️ haddy-blackwater

of course!!!!! meet u in 5

🗡️ swords4ever Follow

what just happened

💰 duster Follow

idk but im happy for them.

12,445 notes

[illuminatedferret]

So I've been trying to do a bit of detective work regarding the origin of the "E-ming reopens wounds" translation. TL;DR I think it may have come from an early version of Suika's translation, and is likely a mistranslation.

Most translations I could find online (including Deep Dream translation group, several bootleg novel sites that have stolen Suika or Deep Dream's translations, and a couple of machine translations) have that passage in line with the official translation - that simply, E-ming is dangerous, forging it took a cruel ritual, and touching it would have terrible consequences.

I did however find a pdf containing the webnovel chapters 12-43, with the following:

precisely the excerpt I submitted before. At the top of this pdf is a note:

The link in this note leads to a 404 error, but is one that was shared around a lot before the Sevenseas' official release. I found a tumblr post from 2019 which identifies this link as Suika's (now deleted) translation.

https://web.archive.org/web/20200508224041/https://arahir.tumblr.com/post/188476102230/ok-im-an-anon-who-in-the-past-has-asked-you-how

So, it looks like this is a old document of Suika's, and I can only assume the "reopens wounds" thing was a mistranslation that Suika later corrected.

The TGCF epub I have on hand is an amalgamation of sakhyulations' (up to ch 23) and Suika's (ch 24 and beyond) fan translations. Well, it doesn't actually say it's using Suika's work, but, it does link the source of the ch 24+ translations, that being the above google drive link. I'm not sure who made the epub or when it was made, but they must have taken Suika's work before it had been properly edited.

IIRC this was an epub that was circulating tumblr a while back. I don't know how widespread the "reopens wounds" fanon is, but if it's popular on tumblr, I guess this explains why.

Sorry for such a long ask!! I think that covers almost everything I found. Oh, there was one single bootleg novel site that did have the passage:

"The wounds inflicted by the evil sword of E-Ming are all cursed. Even when the wound is healed, if Hua Cheng wants it, it will bleed once more." Jun Wu answered.

which is slightly different from the above passage from that pdf. But I couldn't find any real source for this translation, so I'm thinking it might just be based on the above passage, with words switched around to disguise the fact it's stolen.

wow!!!! don't apologize for the long ask, this is some awesome digging you did!!! thank you SO much for sharing all your hard work!!

E-ming reopening old wounds being a mistranslation of some sort does make more sense to me than anything else, just because it's so specific and yet the official translation makes no mention of it, but it being from one of Suika's earlier translations is interesting. I'm still curious what the original raws read like. I wonder, considering Xie Lian's arm injury doesn't heal without special medicine, if the raw says something about wounds being slow to heal or not closing, and that's where the mistranslation initially occurred.

'E-ming reopening wounds' isn't a fanon I see discussed much, but I've read more than one fic that uses the idea, and I've mentioned it to friends before in the past without anyone questioning it until recently. So, it coming from an old translation that was probably one of the initial ways people read TGCF makes a LOT of sense- people read it, internalized it, and stopped thinking about it when more accurate translations rolled around, while still keeping the idea in their head.

[risingscorchingsuns]

wow im trying to write A Fic!!! look at me and my writing motivation!!! this is a first draft bc i spat it out and then passed the fuck out so bear with me pls lol

———————————————————————

Irreplaceable

hi guys it’s 2:30am and im going Thru It so as normal im coping by projecting onto hikaru. sorry buddy. at least you have kyojuro 👍

content: SFW, mentions of gender dysphoria and mild transphobia, fluff/comfort

———————————————————————

It’s a warm summer evening, and twilight has settled like a thin veil over the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. A gentle breeze blows through the nearby woods, lending a pleasant coolness to the darkening sky. Fireflies flicker in the dim light, blinking like tiny ghosts of little stars.

Kyojuro Rengoku was out wrapping up a patrol, as normal. The man was nothing if not diligent- something he prides himself on. His shoes pad against the soft forest floor as he strode purposefully back to headquarters, hand on his sword and head held high. Kyojuro normally holds himself with pride and purpose, but tonight especially so. See, tonight wasn’t just any night. Tonight, Kyojuro had a date.

He’d been looking forward to it all week. Kyojuro doesn’t get many chances to spend quality time with his lover, Hikaru Eritora, as they had to be together in secret. There was simply too much in the way for them to be open about their relationship- Kyojuro was a Hashira, which meant he was held to a specific social standard by those around him. He was expected to remain professional, and risked being accused of favoritism if he was caught paying Hikaru any special attention. Hikaru himself was only rank Tsuchinoe, and if it got out that he was seeing a Hashira, it could get messy for the both of them. So, for now, they had to make do with stolen moments, secret and hidden away from prying eyes.

As far as Kyojuro was concerned, that was fine with him. He knew that someday, he’d shout his affection to the rooftops, and the whole world would know of their love. But for now, he was perfectly content for mere minutes around his lover. Just knowing that Hikaru was his… that was enough.

Kyojuro shook himself briefly, as though snapping himself out of a daydream. He blinks a few times, and chuckles softly to himself. “You’ve got me lost in my own head, Karu,” he murmured to the empty evening air. “I’m on my way.”

With that, he picks up his pace, trotting off towards the Butterfly Mansion, where Hikaru resides. When he arrives, he pushes open the large, ornate door, and quickly navigates his way through the vast estate in search of his partner, avoiding any prying eyes. Reaching the door to his room, Kyojuro knocks three times- the signal that it was him. But to his surprise, there was no answer.

That was odd. Kyojuro was sure Hikaru was home. It was their agreed-upon time, Kyojuro was sure. So where was Hikaru? Kyojuro knocks again, leaning up to the door.

“Hikaru? Are you in there?”

Kyojuro listens carefully, but his hearing isn’t very good. He thinks he can head muffled cursing. Suddenly, he hears Hikaru’s voice, barely audible and slightly ragged through the door.

“Come in,” he says hoarsely.

Kyojuro pushes open the door to Hikaru’s room, and his heart immediately clenches with concern. Hikaru is sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket, his back facing Kyojuro. His head is lowered and his shoulders are slumped, staring at the ground.

“I’m sorry,” he rasps immediately, not looking up.

“Hikaru, my little flame, what on earth happened?” Kyojuro says, his voice immediately taking on a note of softness that he reserves exclusively for his lover. He steps forward, closing the door behind him and hesitantly reaching out a hand, unsure if he should touch Hikaru or not. “What’s wrong, love?”

“I was… I was trying to get ready,” Hikaru sniffles. “But I wanted to look good, wanted to look nice for you, and.. and nothing looked right, I… I didn’t look right.” Hikaru’s voice breaks, and Kyojuro realizes with a jolt that there are tears pouring down his cheeks. “Nothing looks… right. Not on me.”

“Oh, Karu,” Kyojuro says gently, his soul aching for the other man. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful, my beetle.” He steps forward again, crouching down behind Hikaru and leaning forward to look at his face. Hikaru twists away, shielding his face with his hand.

“I’m not. I’m… I’m not right. I’m a freak,” Hikaru says hoarsely. “Everyone thinks so. You know how they look at me.” He sniffles, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his haori. “You see how some of the other Slayers treat me. I’m a g-goddamn freak of nature, and everyone knows it.” He breaks down again, burying his head in his arms.

Kyojuro watches helplessly for a moment as Hikaru starts to cry again, his mind racing for a solution, some possible way to comfort his lover. Before he’s even realized it, he’s wrapping his arms around Hikaru, drawing him in close. “Hey, shhh, it’s okay, Beetle, it’s okay,” he says gently, his face soft with concern. Searching for the right words to say, he just holds Hikaru close, rubbing comforting circles onto his back with one calloused hand.

“You’re not a freak, Hikaru,” Kyojuro says gently, but firmly. “I don’t ever want to hear you call yourself that. Never once, not in your life or mine, have you ever been a freak.”

“But I am,” Hikaru sobs. “I’m… I’m not right, Kyojuro. I wasn’t… I wasn’t born right. My body is wrong, it’s wrong and it doesn’t look like it’s supposed to, and my clothes look weird and my skin doesn’t fit and, and-” Hikaru cuts himself off, gasping for breath before dissolving into more sobs. “If I w-was right, if I b-belonged, I wouldn’t feel like this,” he cries into Kyojuro’s chest. “I wouldn’t feel like some kind of horrid th-thing, every time I look in a mirror.”

For a few moments, Kyojuro doesn’t know what to say. He can’t even begin to imagine what Hikaru must be feeling, what it must be like to feel out of place in your own skin. But he has to say something, so he just says the first words that come to his mind.

“Hikaru, my love, my brilliant blazing flame,” he says gently, running his hand over Hikaru’s head in a soothing petting motion. “I can’t even imagine what it’s like. I know it’s hard, my love. I know it’s hard.” He squeezes Hikaru comfortingly, knowing that the pressure helps calm him. “But my darling, you belong. Every breath you take, every step you walk, every moment of every day, you belong. Just because you’re different doesn’t make you less worthy. It means you should be celebrated. It takes so much strength, so much courage to do what you do, Karu. You are so strong, and so beautiful, and you belong, my flame.”

Hikaru opens his mouth to argue, but Kyojuro keeps going before he can get any words out. “I know, I know, I know it’s so much easier said than done. It’s so much easier to say you belong than to feel it. But look at me, Karu.” Kyojuro gently takes Hikaru’s chin in his hand, and tilts it up to meet his gaze.

“Hikaru, do you trust me?” he asks softly.

Hikaru sniffles, and nods tearfully.

“With all my heart,” he rasps.

“Then trust me when I say that you belong. Hold your head high, my flame. You are beautiful, the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And you belong, just as you are.”

Hikaru’s bright violet eyes well up once more, and a fresh wave of tears rolls over him. He pitches forward into Kyojuro’s chest again, shoulders heaving. Kyojuro simply holds him, holds him like a precious treasure, holds him like it’s the only thing he knows how to do. He strokes Hikaru’s hair soothingly, giving him a safe space to simply feel.

“It’s okay, little flame,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the crown of Hikaru’s head. “Just let yourself feel it. I’ve got you.”

Hikaru cries for a few more minutes, cries until his sobs dissolve into strangled gasps, until his strangled gasps dissolve into soft little hiccups and shaky, ragged breaths.

“I don’t… feel beautiful,” he croaks into Kyojuro’s uniform. “Some days I feel… some days I feel like I don’t even know what I am.”

“Hikaru Eritora,” Kyojuro says softly, tilting the other man’s chin up to look him in the eyes again. “You, my love, are so many, many things.” His hand glides from Hikaru’s chin to cup his cheek, brushing away his tears with a gentle thumb. Hikaru sighs softly, leaning into his lover’s gentle touch. “But above all, Hikaru, you are one thing.” Kyojuro draws Hikaru forward and wraps his arms around him, enveloping him in a warm, fierce, almost reverent embrace.

“Irreplaceable.”

Kyojuro says the word so simply, like it’s the easiest truth ever to be spoken. Like it’s the only truth that could ever be possible.

To Kyojuro, it is.

For a moment there’s just silence. A soft kind of intimate quiet, like they’re the only two people in the world, and the only thing that matters is the embrace the two lovers are locked in.

“Thank you,” Hikaru breathes, burying his face in Kyojuro’s golden hair. “Thank you, my Firefly.” He sniffles softly, clinging to Kyojuro’s haori. His voice is low, hoarse, and infinitely grateful.

Kyojuro just smiles softly, his blazing eyes crinkling gently in the corners.

“Always, my flame.”

He draws back slightly, sliding his hands up to grasp Hikaru’s shoulders as they kneel together on the floor. His face softens, giving Hikaru a gentle smile. “Feeling better, love?” Hikaru sniffles and nods, returning the smile tearfully as he wipes his eyes. Kyojuro chuckles fondly. “Good. Are you still up for date night?” He grins a bit wider now, almost sheepishly. “I must admit, I’m starving.”

Hikaru laughs, his voice hoarse from tears but laced with joy. He leans forward, and presses a gentle, tender kiss to Kyojuro’s lips. Kyojuro hums happily, returning the gesture with a smile.

“Let’s go get you some food, then,” Hikaru says affectionately. Kyojuro helps him to his feet, and they share one last embrace before slipping out into the night, hand in hand.

Hand in hand, soul in soul, irreplaceable.

[sebbiesolace]

"...uh hi-" the worm person stands up suddenly after being spotted "please don't attack me, for both our sakes." They say with a sigh, motioning to the swords, they didn't wanna use the stolen blades on him, weird swords aside they don't look very intimidating

"..."

[Sebastian huffed, tilting his head to allow him to fully see what the worm-person was gesturing towards. He shook his head- Urbanshade had finally lost it, it seemed. ]

"... Just to be clear, I would still win this fight."

[Re-situating slightly, he tried to hide the bandages covering his body, dipping his head and smiling in all but a friendly way.] OOC: NO ART BECAUSE IM DRAWING ANGST SORRY

[batsarebetterthanpeople]

Ok, Dungeons and Dragons au because I can. And because a mutual asked for their main stats and now im thinking thoughts. They've all got the pirate background unless stated otherwise. I'm also only going to give Buttons a race but I imagine that porting them into D&D would make them elves and halflings and the like.

So there's like a few parties going on here. There's Ed's original Adventuring party which has since split up:

Ed: Warlock, fathomless pact, pirate background, Level 17, Str: 11 Dex: 14 Con: 15 Int: 20 Wis: 19 Cha: 20; strong focus in illusion spells, his patron, the Kraken has protected him at pivotal moments but overall their relationship is antagonistic.

Jack: Rogue, Swashbuckler archetype, level 17, Str: 13 Dex: 17 Con: 18 Int: 8 Wis: 15 Cha: 20, Whip is his main weapon and he's not like other swashbucklers tm

Anne: Rogue, Assassin archetype, Noble background (fight me about it), level 17, Str: 8; Dex: 20; Con: 14; Int: 14; Wis: 12; Cha: 17

Mary: Fighter, Champion because it's the best one, Level 17, Str: 20, Dex: 13, Con: 16, Int: 12, Wis: 15, Cha: 9

Fang: Ranger, Beastmaster archetype (I'm sorry from the perspective that it is the worst ranger subclass but yay puppy), Level 17, Str: 20, Dex: 11, Con: 15, Int: 13, Wis: 20, Cha: 13, used to have a dog but it died and it was Eds fault that it died. Now his animal companion is a goat. The goat drinks rum.

---

And then there's the revenge crew who is yet another group, they used standard array and get a racial +2/+1 for my convenience:

Jim: Rogue, Assassin archetype, probably some homebrew raised in a cult background that I can't believe they haven't put out yet, or maybe haunted one but that seems wrong, Level 5, Str: 8; Dex: 17; Con: 14; Int: 13; Wis: 13; Cha: 10.

Olu: Paladin, oath of devotion, pirate also seems wrong for him but idk; Level 5: Str: 14; Dex: 10; Con: 13; Int: 11; Wis: 12; Cha: 15, the oath is of devotion to his family which is Jim xoxo.

Lucius: Eloquence Bard, guild artisan background which lists scribes; Level 5; Str: 8; Dex: 12; Con: 10; Int: 15; Wis: 13; Cha: 17

Pete: Fighter, not sure what subclass open to suggestions, Level 5; Str: 16; Dex: 13; Con: 16; Int: 12; Wis: 10; Cha: 8

Frenchie: Artificer (I feel like a homebrew subclass or alchemist), Entertainer background, Level 5; Str: 8; Dex: 10; Con: 12; Int: 17; Wis: 13; Cha: 15

Wee John: Eldritch Knight fighter, level 5; Str: 17; Dex: 8; Con: 12; Int: 14; Wis: 10; Cha: 14; The DM is letting him take a bunch of evocation spells because the base rules for this subclass are dumb as fuck (i know the spells are school locked i just dont remember to which two schools) he will be able to cast fire ball by 13th level. Let Eldritch Knight and Arcane trickster take whatever spells they want 2k24 rogues don't need to be more invisible they do need to be able to cast identify.

Roach: life cleric, level 5; Str: 8; Dex: 13; Con: 15; Int: 12; Wis: 17; Cha: 10; his god is a homebrew deity who is the patron of all things that refuse to die and its holiest creature is the humble cockroach and once they entered the temple and the dm pulled up a gospel cover of I'm a Survivor by destiny's child for background music.

Buttons: Druid, Circle of the Moon, Hermit Background, Hexblood lineage, level 5; Str: 12; Dex: 11; Con: 14; Int: 13; Wis: 17; Cha: 8

Swede: Bard, College of Glamor (mostly because I'm still not convinced his name wasn't stolen by the fey), level 5; Str: 13; Dex: 12; Con: 16; Int: 8; Wis: 10; Cha: 16

Archie: Barbarian, zealot, same background as Jim but a different cult, level (whatever they're at by season 2); Str: 14; Dex: 13; Con: 17; Int: 8; Wis: 10; Cha: 13 (plus an ASI presumably which would go into strength); Archie and Ivan have the same Player that's why Ivan died. Very sad. Oh well there's other fighters.

---

Miscellaneous

Zheng: Bard, College of Eloquence or College of swords, Level 17; Str: 9; Dex: 20; Con: 14; Int: 17; Wis: 12; Cha: 20; alternatively? Hexblade Warlock (to parallel Ed) and Auntie is the sword. Same stats if true

Spanish Jackie: Mastermind Rogue, criminal background (it's like a pirate background but less boat oriented), Level 15; Str: 10; Dex: 18; Con: 13; Int: 20; Wis: 15; Cha: 18; retired adventurer who owns a bar that the party doesn't find out has levels until they fuck around and find out in her bar

Ivan: Fighter, Champion, Level 10; Str: 19; Dex: 10; Con: 16; Int: 10; Wis: 12; Cha: 13; player got board of playing a fighter and didn't really flesh him out :(

Izzy: Fighter, Champion, Soldier background (no water vehicle proficiency), Level 3 (he has not leveled up in 8 years, very sad); Str: 15 ; Dex: 14 ; Con: 6; Int: 8; Wis: 5; Cha: 6; I actually rolled this one up. 3d6 no rerolls, no dice box, and if it falls on the floor it's a one. Believe it or not this is after the +2/+1 to any stat. Anyway I'm an Izzy apologist now. Yes he did awful things but truly how can we blame the little guy when his charisma modifier is a -2 and his wisdom modifier is a -3. He had no idea what was going on and he couldn't talk his way out of a wet paper bag.

Stede: Barbarian, path of wild magic, Noble background, level 2 (wow, he's only been adventuring for a few weeks and he's already leveled up!); Str: 17; Dex: 8; Con: 15; Int: 16; Wis: 11; Cha: 10; I also rolled this stat array but this time 4d6 drop lowest. Also he's taking the lucky feat as his first feat. Whether that's at level one because he's human or at level 4 because he's something else is up to interpretation.

[agentrouka-blog]

I don't understand why A stans think that learning many lenguages or the spying abilities would be that necesary to rule a kingdom, as if you wouldn't have people for that??

Many of her abilities that she's learning on FM are important yes, but you're gonna spend more time on a chair talking with your/other people than going to places, writing letters, maths and administrative shenanigans.

Uff i may get a little too comfortable saying this and im sorry if you get backlash 😓 but this arc of the FM looks more fitting to be used for the Starklings and her sailing adventure.

Sorry, if i sneak in other question but during Kings Landing wasn't she more interested in the sword lessons than attending court?

People take the Varys's speech about Aegon at face value (even though Varys is a villain and we're not likely meant to cheer the idea of a lab-raised guinea pig prince stolen from his mother to create The Ideal Ruler) and then point to the parallels to Arya (ignoring half the parts where they don't fit) and go "See, queen Arya!"

I agree with you that the things she has been shown to learn in her story so far are not meant to prepare her for a political leadership role. She is being built up to reunite with her mother (fearlessness in the face of decay alongside questions of vengeance, justice and mercy). She is learning skills that will be crucial in the practical elements of a political conspiracy against a villain, be that Littlefinger or Daenerys or both. And she is shown to excel at and enjoy things that correspond with exploration and travel.

Arya is not without leadership qualities, she is great at pushing for action and unafraid of open conflict, but she is decidedly uninterested in politics. And the books make it very clear that politics, subtlety, negotiation and boring details are at the heart of high level rulership, no matter what team you're on or what your goals are.

Arya would be miserable in such a role and ineffective at it. GRMM isn't setting her up to fail like that. He is setting her up for freedom, with the added option of being an influential advocate for the smallfolk, without being locked into a stationary role that has to take every other interest into account as well.

[peaterookie]

Lupin III Chapter 41 Review

It's like 2 am.. friday on a school day hits hard tbh but dw I'm still alive! Lupin review is back again and not any better than last time :D

before i start, one thing i like to point out about the english title is that they somehow kept the japanese title but altered the "ku" in a different place??? why didn't they just remove it

anyways adult lupin is back along with goemon!! its nice to see them again (they are yassified in this panel fr)

goemon still doesn't like lupin as usual and lupin is back to steal from his master, as usual!

this time he wants the jito sword art, which is as best as i can describe it some kind of scroll about some sword technique he hires a bunch of assassins i believe but goemon kills all of them and hes like you cant get the scroll, asshole.

then lupin goes to goemon's master and asks for it hes quite a stubborn asshole about it so the master rejects him and he departs looking for other devious ways to get it

i love the constant gag of stuff getting thrown at him

then goemon and the master talk to each other they just shit talk lupin and how the jito scrolls can't be stolen and it has to be earned with merits

then this woman comes out of NOWHERE and she was listening in their conversation the whole time! she's like the most confusing part of this chapter for me she's either like a journalist that shoves her nose into everyone's business or working for lupin somehow

the tokyopop translation says: (after, i checked to make sure it matches the og translation and yeah they did a decent job with it)

Panel 1: "No? That's cool. I make up half of what I write anyway." (talking about how the scroll has to be earned with merits and whether it's true) Panel 2: "What a scoop! Lupin III is after the Jito Scrolls." Panel 3: "Front page for sure!"

needless to say she talks to lupin about it and he shows off the scrolls he's stolen... and some other stuff.

she's me while reading the shitty part of the manga

im glad monkey punch put in a character we can all relate to anyways lupin becomes a pervert towards her so she just smacks him on the head and leaves W move!

then we have a shot comparing the master's skills and lupin's in the master's side we have goemon and him skillfully defeating some assassins that they assumed was hired by lupin the journalist girl observes them and goes wow cool !

then we pan to lupan who tries to break these stone pillars with his legs

then ok this part is so funny the journalist girl was like wait he didnt break a single one lupin just walks away to his house all cool and then its revealed that all his limbs are broken

WHAT DID HE THINK WAS GONNA HAPPEN??? im losing it rn

after that the master and lupin decides to duel he puts down the scrolls and if lupin can beat him then he can take it lupin is up on this cliff thingy while hes below the waterfall

and yeah goemon is there too he doesn't do anything he gets immediately sidelined as the master tells him to leave since its 1v1 fight

lupin asks the master to give him 10 seconds to prepare himself until they make their first move and then when 10 seconds passed lupin reveals that he was in the water the entire time, limbs intact, and kills the master classic lupin plot twist i dont even have the energy to question it tbh

im assuming after that he takes the scroll and as foreshadowed from the panel where he showed off the bras to the journalist... he tries to have smex with the journalist but he fails aaand gets a bucket smacked on his dick

as deserved!! also that left top panel looks TERRIFYING JESUS CHRIST sorry lupin but you cant get your extra trophy but at least you got the jito scrolls the end.

this chapter's ending confused me a lot at first but after the review it seems like i got it i think

even as a manga fan reading the first manga series is rough but doing these helps me appreciate it more :) my review is shitty and just done for fun after all but hopefully from this people can be more encouraged to read it

[emissary-of-the-moon]

the gale shirt is too iconic im sorry-

@geminiskulleta @hollysoda @kitttwilight @insane-twilight-fan (no pressure <3)

Thank you @anti-homophobia-cheese for the tag! This one is super fun!

Tagging @cha-melodius @zwiazdziarka @orchidscript @firenati0n @read-and-write- @gayrootvegetable @alasse9 @caterpills @xthelastknownsurvivorx @cultofsappho @love-has-a-way-ofgrowingbackward and anyone else that wants to play!

[these-detestable-hands]

also forgot to mention in the patch notes that im scrapping the split paths. aestia is only getting one route. anyway, heres wonderwall chapter two!

Chapter Two:

Takes place in Flamecrest, in the Banklands

Aestia goes to the cathedral to ask the pontifex about the recent attacks 

Runs into old friend Lylah Ilibria, who was summoned to the cathedral on mysterious orders from the pontifex

Aestia goes in first; pontifex is very worried about heretics with access to magic

Green flame a particular sticking point; perversion of Sacred Flame is running theory

Two agree that it generally seems to be an attack on the church (see: Mal's body hanging from the chapel)

Before Lylah is able to enter a Flamelit Paladin rushes in, warning of insurgent heretics, transitioning into…

The Second Dungeon: The Cathedral, Besieged 

Enemies: Bats, Armour, Elementals

All encounters w/ heretics scripted: three mandatory encounters with Insurgent Heretics in groups of 2-4

Four Heretic Raiders guarding chests

Generally a very straight line, lots of stairs

Outside reveals town to be in disarray, Lylah begins herding townsfolk to safety whilst Aestia takes on…

The Second Boss: Revolutionary Captain 

Focus on physical attacks 

Sword designed after a Flamelit Paladin's (presumed stolen)

Has one single-target attack that lowers Elemental Defence for three turns (modeled after Crick's Sacred Slash)

Sorry, not as many notes as last chapter ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

After battle, Sir Eldroy Heress (the pontifex's personal guard and the Lord Commander of the Flamelit Order) rushes and kills the Captain

He, the pontifex, and several priests leave shortly thereafter

Say that they're going to assemble a council of the archbishops to discuss the incident in Ambersmouth and now this

Leave Lylah without saying what they were going to say

After they're gone, Aestia and Lylah go back into the cathedral 

Smell of blood leads them to the cellar: heretics they had spared have been stabbed + piled in the cellar

Return outside to investigate the Captain's body

He has Flamelit Order tattoos on his chest, and their armour underneath his shabbier clothes

Shelving that mystery, Aestia sets off to Abershine, her hometown, to discuss the matters with some local scholars

Requests that Lylah come with her (they haven't done anything but write in ages)

I like the plot twist of the boss being a Flamelit order member. Chapter 2 seems very cool, I just unfortunately do not have enough brain power to freak out about how awesome it is. Lylah seems awesome too

[completeoveranalysis]

~

Warning! This post contains spoilers up to chapter 170 of Tsubasa (and Chapter 71 of xxxHolic). Please skip this if you have not read that far.

Please also make no comments about what happens after that point in either manga.

~

SO here is the other splash image that really stuck out to me:

This time not because of the Seresu arc but because of how the Infinity arc itself ends.

Here's the link to the original post the image is from if you'd like the full context, but the particular quote from that post I want to use as a reference is here:

"Syaoran also sits on the throne - which as far as I can tell, isn’t his. ... The only one ever wearing the crown they’re all wearing [on their clothes] is Sakura. Now, does it make sense that Syaoran has usurped her throne? Heck yeah! He’s stolen everything from her. He���s stolen her journey (they’re following him now, always a step behind), he’s stolen her feathers, and he’s stolen the person she’s in love with."

Where I was kind of on the right track but couldn't have possibly guessed what all the chess imagery was ultimately feeding into. Looking back now the initial liveblogs for all of these Chess-related splash images are such a big mix of different iconography, so it’s very fun reading through all my old guesses back then. I think I did a really good job of trying to decipher some of it, especially the Cinderella and Snow White imagery in Chapter 140, but the Chess was a bit trickier.

Which, like, understandable, because the chess game that was happening in the chapters was stressful as heck and did not end well, but there is a nice conclusion to it with this image which is easier to read now - especially in regards to Sakura. Because it's made very clear to the viewer that the symbol of the Queen piece is in reference to her; both in these splash images (where she wears the crown at one point, and every character wears the symbol in ways that reflect their allegiance to her) and in the plotline, where she functions as the Queen of the battles taking place. Here is another good example of the symbol being used for Sakura with it right there on her throne, and the two Syaoran's wearing the symbol in smaller ways to represent their relationship to her. But with that all in mind? I had no idea what it was really getting at with Syaoran on Sakura's throne here.

BUT NOW I DO.

If you go back to that example I just gave with Sakura sitting on her throne? It's a different throne! It still makes it very clear that she's undeniably the Queen piece, with the symbol in gold actually being a key part of the throne itself.

And the throne Syaoran sits on? It has the crown symbol as part of the decoration, but it's not representing him, it's just a small symbol to show that matches Sakura's throne. This throne is his own.

He's the King piece.

(And, important distinction; the throne is not Lava Lamp's, but our original plotline Syaoran who is now in Autopilot mode.)

This wouldn't have occurred to me the first time through because I was focused so much on what this might mean for Sakura, and how she related to everyone else, but the way the Infinity Arc ends really hammers this home. After all, Sakura is the mastermind in this arc - everything that happens is according to her plan. She's not playing chess just during the literal chess matches, but during the entire plotline, moving every character and circumstance into place to enact her final plan; to activate both Chi's at once, absorb both their feather's, and trigger Fai's curse - resulting in her pseudo (if purely physical) death. But like we see in the plotline, this isn't a loss - it's a win. It's exactly how she planned things to unfold, and it will lead her to winning the game.

Just in case anyone isn't familiar, in Chess the queen is the most powerful piece capable of the widest variety of moves - but the queen is not the endgame goal. You can lose the queen piece in any game and (besides losing a powerful piece) it's not the end of the world. You can still win the game without the queen piece. It's the King piece that's the Win/Loss condition. The King is the piece you have to keep safe at all costs, even if you lose other pieces in the process. The second the King dies, the match is over. You've lost.

And this matches exactly how Sakura played the series events. She was the Queen in control of every move, and Syaoran was the Win condition she was focused on. She foresaw Fai killing Syaoran in the future - which, for her, is the Losing Scenario. She planned everything to avoid this, and she succeeded! She lost the Queen piece (ie, her physical body) but won the ultimate goal of keeping the King safe. She won the 3D future chess game that she was playing by herself, and positioned herself in the place that would have the most benefit for the victory at the end. (Which I still haven't seen, but she was VERY confident about this having a better result than Fai killing Syaoran.)

I'm also super happy that this ties in really well with the fairy tale allusions I talked about back in Chapter 140, but in ways I wasn't aware of back then either.

I talked about Snow White and how the apple (that shows up in a lot of the splash images in Infinity) may have been referring to Sakura's tendency to sleep a lot. What I didn't realise was that Sakura was essentially about to pull the Big Brain Snow White maneuver on herself to ultimately win her chess game. While in Snow White the poison apple is a trap, here Sakura sprung the trap intentionally. Fai is the apple she bit into deliberately - she arranged it so that killed her body, breaking his own curse, and sent her to the World of Dreams (and thus, she is asleep) which also placed her in a Glass Coffin (aka The Jam Jar of Dreams - Im sorry I have no memory of what it's really called). So the Snow White metaphor is now complete.

But also Cinderella! In the image for 140 Sakura is trying on a glass slipper - so she's Cinderella figure as well. But at this point in the plot the clock hadn't struck midnight just yet - like Cinderella, Sakura knew the exact time limit she had to work with, and for her the timing had to be PRECISE. She spent all of Infinity stressed out of her mind about this plan she couldn't trust anyone else with, knowing full well that if she missed the window even slightly it would ruin absolutely everything and they would all lose. Which, funnily enough, makes Yuuko the fairy godmother, since she provided Sakura with the magic she needed to make her plan happen (via wishes). This also means that Fai stabbing her with the sword is the exact moment the clock struck twelve - and like the spell finishing, Sakura could finally drop the act and explain what she had done, even as all the magic disappeared (ie, her luck being traded away). There's even a detransformation sequence of a sort, with her body and soul going in two different directions. But either way, the Cinderella metaphor is also complete!

And with all that done the last part I want to talk about is back in the image of Syaoran on the throne. He's framed on either side with the curtains that portray the chess board, and they're tied back by chains with him in the very centre. He is visually chained to the board - which, like, of course he is. With his Autopilot programming in place he's essentially just a chess piece without any will of his own - a winning piece, for sure, but he's still being moved around without his choice. He's playing the game on auto, making the moves that will lead him to the winning gambit, but without his individual soul he has no choice but to keep playing until the game is over. The goal he's working towards isn't even his - it's Evil Wolverine's. So in the same way that everyone else was a chess piece in Sakura's strategy (if, sort of, willingly), including Sakura herself, Syaoran is a piece being moved around in Evil Wolverine's favour - though if he dies, it's game over for Sakura's side as well.

I'm unclear if Syaoran dying would be a game over scenario for Evil Wolverine, but at the very least it would end the game he is currently playing.

So, in the hyper future 3D chess game that Sakura was playing by herself she couldn't properly win the game for her side by taking out Syaoran because he's her king piece too. Syaoran is the piece at the centre of everything, and will be the key to winning the game for either side. We just have to wait and see if Sakura's gambit will pay off in the way she thinks it will.

[worstloki]

Top Forty Thor-Being-Thor Moments from Thor 1

just absolute dumb*ssery that this 7yr old kid’s life goal is to “hunt down the monsters and slay them all”. I’ll go easy on him here and let the Thor/Loki expressions do the talking because of “...just like you did Father” but seriously can his hands even fit around a sword handle??? this kid isn’t even punching the air right??? if there was a sword in his hand he would’ve cut his head with the way he’s moving???? pure tiny-himbo energy here just look at that >:o face he’s making. contrasts very nicely with Loki’s ‘,:|. 10/10. such a baby idiot.

“the jotuns must pay for what they have done! they broke into the weapons vault! if the frost giants had stolen even one of these relics!” thor. thor please. can you even name one of these relics. thor. hey thor. thor. shut up. “well, what would you do about this?” odin asks him. “march into jotunheim! like you once did! break their spirits! so they’ll never try anything like this again!” wow okay so we’ve fast-forwarded by like a thousand years and thor is still going on about genocide. huh. that’s funny, i thought loki was the genocidal one. hmm. i also just realized that the loki exclusive clip gives loki the same hairstyle thor has here so do what you will with that information.

0/10. horrible. terrible. i dont care how angy thor is about not getting to kill some jotuns or become king today this very instant, that is a tremendous waste of food. an absolute fool. how can he just remorselessly throw the bread to the floor. if loki stabbed him when he was 7 he would deserve it for this table flip alone. what a privileged white *ssh*le.

loki came skulking around a corner and suggested not to go to jotunheim and not only did thor not suspect anything but he also then went on to decide to go to jotunheim. 10/10 himbo material. 

if tumblr didn’t have a picture limit i would put every instance of thor smiling in this list because look at that stupid smile. he’s such an idiot. 11/10. this is the thor content i’m here for.

“I have no plans to die today” thor says with the stupidest open-mouthed smirking smile ever captured on film. right after he also told heimdall not to tell anyone they’re gone. he’s literally planned to strand them on jotunheim. thor’s grand plan was to strange themselves on jotunheim and also start a fight. i repeat: thor’s plan was to successfully slay all the frost giants and not need to return until they’re all gone. what an absolute d*mb*ss. this is getting ridiculous. this was originally a top-ten-thor moments list but i’m not even twenty minutes in so i’ll have to extend the list. thor. thor are you listening? thor, you’re such an idiot.

“HOW DID YOUR PEOPLE GET INTO ASGARD?!” thor you sweet sweet summer idiot, please, i am beggin,g you,, learn to rea,d , a room,, literally everyone else who came with you is regretting it, there is complete silence and only the rumble of the opposing king is meeting your “I AM THOR, SON OF ODIN”s, please, please take some notes from Loki, or, you know, literally anyone else in the room, since everyone is asking you to get out of this realm while you still can,

thor’s stupid smile makes an appearance after he gets called a princess and decides to fight a whole realm over it. you know what? thor is a princess. he’s the prettiest princess in all the lands. what’s thor gonna do about it? is he going to fight me too? I hope he does the stupid grin first. minus 15 points for the sexism. thor is a complete and utter sadistic fool who needs to get a hobby. seriously, he’s 1500 years old and still going on and on about slaying all the frost giants. boi, i hate to break it to you, but your dad is not the best or only example of greatness out there. i don’t think your dad even qualifies as an example of that. 

“THEN. GO!” 🥰 ahh yes, just thor thingz 🥰🥰 like when one friend has had his arm burnt 🥰 and another friend has been impaled and needs medical attention, 🥰🥰 and all the rest of your friends are yelling for you, 🥰 and your brother is telling you they must go, 🥰 and you decide to buy everyone time by laughing maniacally and killing more frosties because you care for them and dont find joy in destruction like a loon 🥰🥰🥰 

THIS is the iconic Thor moment that makes my day whenever I think about it. Just Thor, an absolute bumbering 6′6′’ giant boodlusting dummy sees Odin and just decides to yell “FATHAA!! WE’LL FINISH THEM TOGETHAAA!” as if the last thing Odin told him wasn’t “no, thor, we’re not going to do anything to the frost giants, do not go after them and try to kill them all.” 11/10 d*mb*assery right here folks, I couldn’t ask for Thor to be more of a fool. This is PEAK Thor energy. Look at that face. I feel like Thor spends half this movie with his nostrils flared. I love it.

okay i gotta give thor credit for rightfully calling odin “an old man and a fool” but also there was not even 1 frame of the scene where Thor had a decent face so now all i see is >:O >:| >:o >:[ when i watch that scene. yelling at odin was great, not yelling at odin after he HUAERGHed at loki was less great, but to be fair it’s thor and he is the definition of Peak D*mb*ss. 

thor literally GROWLS and starts yelling “HAMMAA?? HAMMER??” over and over. He was hit by a van, he fainted, he woke up and started growling. I don’t know what else there is to say about this.

“you dare threaten me? puny human?”. so. uhh. basically. Thor knew she was threatening him? He KNEW she had a weapon? instead he made a face and started yelling as he tried to walk his way closer????? thor you complete and utter dum dum. you frickin hairball-for-brains. im not even surprised darcy tasered him. with that kind of face, i’d taser him too.

when you wake up in an unknown place to a person smiling at you without a stupid smile, the first step is always to attack first and ask questions later 😌😌😌 (but seriously thor you imbecile why didn’t you ask where you were instead of throwing multiple people around the room and getting your butt needled. you clueless buffoon. you’ll remain a clueless buffoon if you don’t listen to anyone.)

just a quick recap but thor was knocked unconscious by a van and these people kidnapped him aboard and the next scene we see him in he’s checking himself out in  mirror after presumably changing right there in the open?????? these are the things that make thor thor. any other character and i’d question it so much, but this is thor, and i truly believe this is in-character for him. just change in the open because why not? thor is a beefcake and that’s his only redeeming quality and he knows it. 10/10 thor moment. 

I am now convinced that Thor saw Jane and “5k van-hitter to lover slow-burn height-difference himbo-scientist trope” flashed through his mind.

“but no more smashing!” Jane says, and then Thor proceeds to check her out and smile unlike an idiot and like a douche. was this his version of flirting???? i’m not one to decide, but yes, yes it was. He threw a cup to the ground and broke it, and she’s getting mad at him and berating him about it, and he’s liking it. y’all i’m sorry to break it to you like this, but thor has a canon fetish. i am so, so sorry.

im DYING. THAT ISN’T EVEN A KISS, HIS MOUTH IS OPEN. he SMUSHES his mouth around her knuckle???? WHY. I can’t keep noticing things like this. send help. please. Jane’s response makes so much more sense now; she’s laughs for a solid 3 seconds and shakes her head and is like “uhh, thank you? ahaha,” and then she keeps looking back longingly when walking away. they are doing this in PLAIN sight of EVERYONE. Darcy and Erik are standing RIGHT THERE, and Thor is doing weird things to her with his mouth. I’m out. I am done here. goodbye. 

return of the stupid smile AND the douche smile in quick succession through the entire trip. their entire dialogue is peppered with innuendo. “I’ve never done anything like this before. have you ever done anything like this before?” “many times, but you are brave to do it.” “I have nothing else to lose.” “ah but you are clever, far more clever than anyone else on this realm.” “realm? rEaLm?” “you think me strange?” “yes” “good strange or bad strange?” “I haven’t decided yet.” I AM DYING OVER THIS. plus, we get Return Of The Himbo with Jane asking after Einstein Rosen bridges and Thor is like “uh, actually, more like a rainbow bridge 😜🤪” i feel so sorry for jane here, didn’t know how much of a d*mb*ss Thor was when signing up for this van-trip and knuckle-sucking 😭😭😭 i also no longer have questions about how the trip that SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HALF-HOUR ONE turned into one that LASTED TILL THE SUN WENT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SKY TO SETTING by the time they arrived. I have no questions. please. I don’t want to know what they were doing in that van. please no. don’t make me think about it.

thor’s plan had 3 steps and they were 1. give jane his jacket 2. walk in and get his hammer 3. fly out. that was literally his plan. he had the first “I have a plan. attack.” moment in the MCU. pure concentrated 0-brain-cells energy right here. how can you not stan this king of d*mb*ssery. look at him, flaunting his big boy muscles. he’s about get his hammer and fly out, like he just told jane with a trademark stupid-smile.

crop-top hair-mop thor is my favourite thor. the way the entire fight scene parallels a hamster in a maze only exemplifies the thor vibes for some inexplicable reason.

“you’re big. fought bigger.” + Thor douche-smile + subtext from earlier + rolling around passionately in the mud = not a happy me. 

I swear i’m not making up this romantic subtext but it’s barely even subtext. the entire scene leading up to Thor’s attempt at lifting the hammer is actually filmed erotically. I’m not kidding. First there’s a shot where Thor pulls aside a hamster-cage-wall blind which mirrors a shower-curtain, and THEN he walks around the hammer while smiling douche-ly at it, we get a few close-ups to his face which are shot from angles slightly lower than himself, giving him an aire of superiority, plus the music adds to this, he reaches out for the hammer’s handle with a mud-covered arm in the rain, in non-slow-motion slow-motion, and he wraps his arm around it, like, he fully twists his arm, unecessarily sexually, around it as he grabs the hammer. This is not okay. On the plus side, it makes the movie much more entertaining,, on the down side,,.

im not going to call Thor dumb for not knowing he’s not worthy. im not going to. because odin literally whispered the enchantment to mjolnir after he’d thrown thor to midgard. it is very funny watching thor grunt in frustration though. he starts yelling because he couldn’t lift the hammer and just lets himself get caught. like, dude, get a life, go buy a new weapon from the store, seriously. he mourns for the hammer on-screen longer than he does for loki. he also looks like he’s in far more pain here. he becomes catatonic and unresponsive after this, but when loki dies he’s already feasting the same afternoon. 10/10 dum dum thor material. never change thor, never change. (that’s code for please change, thor, please,)

thor trying to establish dominance wherever he goes is the funniest thing because at this point he’s being a complete asgardian *ss about it and it’s reaching points of pettiness never seen before. side note: he is possibly flirting with selvig too. maybe. i’m not saying anything happened, but Thor’s openning lines when bringing him home carried over his shoulder are “he’s fine, not injured at all,” followed with an apology to selvig, and an explanation to jane which consisted only of “we drank, we fought, he made his ancestors proud,” and then he puts the man to bed and before he falls asleep erik says “i still don’t believe you’re the g*d of th*nder, but you ought to be,” so... your choice, i guess...

thor’s got his trademark stupid smile and stupidly takes jane’s life’s work notebook and starts doodling in it about trees. the last time his father told him this story about Yggdrasil was when he was 5 and he clearly hasn’t payed attention to any lesson about anything since and it shows so so much. thank you thor. very insightful knowledge you’re passing on hear. ‘i come from a world where [science and magic] are one and the same,’ ok great, now elaborate on that please. oh, right, you can’t because you’re thor, my bad, 20/10 thor behaviour. he couldn’t even doodle nicely. all his lines are wobbly. epic art fail. i wouldn’t trust him near my sketchbook with a 2B pencil.

THIS is thor’s realization face. in case anyone was interested in what ‘dawning truth’ looked like on him. 😰😪 THIS is the face of a thinker, of a man betrayed by his own beloved brother for unprecedented reasons. look at the nuance in his expression. 😩😩😩 so many emotions, I can’t even count them all 😩💯😪

stupid smile and “do not worry my friends, i have a plan,” he says, “i’ll just try and abuse the fact that Loki’s super selfless and kind and has no self worth to my benefit as i have countless times before which is exactly what he’s rightfully angry about this time,” he doesn’t think to himself because that is NOT the smile of someone who is thinking... like, at all. +10000 points to gryffinthor. the d*mb*ssery really jumps out.

“im sorry bro for whatever i did and whatever you’re blaming me for as an excuse to do this, im sorry bro, but you’re disturbing innocents that i don’t really care about but you’re the one making a scene in front of them so why don’t you admit you won’t kill me and are just having a temper tantrum and we move on? hmm?” and then he proceeds to get slam dunked in the face with a metal arm like yEAAAA BOI that’s what you GET for going up against the SENTIENT LAVA-SPEWING metal-man ya absolute dunderhead clod. thunderhead clod? yeah, that. he’s just so dumb, your honour, please, you must understand, the victim pleads guilty on all charges of d*mb*ss and d*mb*ss alone.

I can NOT describe the emotions I feel knowing that Thor is suck-kissing Jane’s knuckles. Like, his mouth is literally jelly-ing it up against her hand. There is suction there and it shows when he is placing and removing his mouth. I promise that’s what is happening. I’m not any happier than you about this. I regret everything. This is why Loki should be what is focused on and not Thor; Thor’s going around trying to frick frack everything in sight even if it’s just Jane’s hand. He’s maintaining eye contact with Jane while he licks her fingers. Why did I decide to rewatch this movie. 

i’m only adding this in as a thor moment because of how desperately and badly they kiss. seriously. 2/10 kiss. im not surprised jane broke up with him. they look like two actual seals fighting over an actual grape. while i’m here i’m going to criticize every fic ever that decided thor is an experienced gentle lover. what were y’all on when watching this movie. thor can and will f*ck literally everything in sight and he won’t even do it well because he is the peakest of peak d*m d*m. look at this man. look at his face. that is the face of an absolute himbo idiot, and it’s the face of an absolute himbo idiot who knows it. he’s been stranded on earth for 2 days, max, and his flirt-count is at 69 people because his name is one letter away from thot. i bet his terrible use of a pen from early means he writes his ‘r’s like ‘t’s and he doesn’t even care. 1000/10 thor moment. doesn’t get much more romance-thor than two individuals smooshing their faces together after some finger sucking. that finger sucking is gonna leave jane simping for years. and that’s true love babey. <3

“I’ll handle my Brother!” Thor says, as if Loki didn’t send a metal-murder-bot that quite virtually killed him less than ten minutes ago asdfhkhsdgsdjf Thor, you horrific himbo you, Loki’s weapon of choice is literally throwing knives he will literally kill you before you enter the room if he’s on his game and wants you dead which he just proved he would do and you’re just gonna???????????? jog on over to him????? Thor??????????? bruH???????????? buddy??????? pal???????? you really wanna go 1v1 the brother you very clearly underestimate and know nothing about????????????????? im loving the confidence, but, no.

Loki: “you literally can’t stop this from here.” Thor, immediately: “i’m going to hit it with the hammer and see if that works” and then it does in fact work later... technically speaking, even if it ends up causing chaos destruction and death and loki falling off the bifrost 😔😔😔 but Big Brain Thor is the Biggest Brained Thor!!! The plan worked!! in a messy-Thor-ish way, but it did!!!

“you can’t kill an entire race!!!!” Thor yells, teeth gritted, as he faces his brother, his coward pacifist brother, who has suddenly decided he wants to join the age-old family tradition of realm-destroying, when this is supposed to be Thor’s dream, Thor’s, not Loki’s. How dare he, Thor thinks to himself, fist clenched around Mjolnir in anger, the pain of the handle pressing against his palm perhaps the only thing preventing him from lashing out at this thought, that’s my planet of monsters to slay, he should go get his own! Loki hits Thor across the face with the back-end of his spear. “Now fight me,” Loki says, but Thor, well, Thor cannot fight, as he remains stunned that of all things Loki would dare steal his life’s ambition, and he is sent sprawling backwards across the observatory, slowly but surely sliding to a stop despite his catatonic, very symbolic silence.

the elegance, the poise, i see your time on earth has made you no less graceful, Thor. the simple magnitude of this sprawl. the spread of the arms. the turn of the feet. this is not a dude, this is a man.

sometimes your brother starts vehemently talking about he’s gonna kill the race of monsters and about how he’s only ever wanted to be your equal and about how he’s not your brother and never was and sometimes you just have to say “this is madness” instead of addressing the issues or asking for any of the  deets 🔥 👊💯😩

Loki is whipping Thor’s butt. Both literally, and metaphorically, Loki is whooping Thor’s d*mb*ss. Earlier he knicked Thor’s face, now he’s just pushing Thor around, he uses the spear as a pole and later kicks Thor’s face by kicking vertically up, and Thor, bless him in all his blond golden muscled glory, doesn’t think anything is up with this, gosh he’s such an absolute utter idiot

sometimes your brother laughs way too much and also cries too much in a fight and there are also too many of him so you just need to blast lightning so you get a shot at all of them 😌😌😌 and then put your magical infinitely-heavy hammer on his chest 😌😌😌 but it’s okay because Thor left holes in Loki’s container 😌😌😌

now THIS is the meat to Thor’s funny bone, just the pure unadulterated humour that is Thor saying that there will never be a “wiser king” or a “better father” than Odin, it cracks me up every single time without fail, just the way he says it with a straight face and— what do you mean he wasn’t joking

look at Thor’s stupid smile as he asks Heimdall to spy on jane every single day while conveniently never asking after Loki ever. This is Thor’s face in mourning after he attended a feast after everyone was celebrating after Loki’s death. Look at his stupid smile. I love him your honour. He’s just,, he’s just so frickin stewpeed, just Thor being Thor, just the purest of d*mbest of *sses. 

[sword-brainrot]

hENLO ITS ME AGAIN SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, THE HEADCANONS YOU MADE WERE BEAUTIFUL IM ACTUALLY SOBBING GIJGUIHDUGH. anyway its time to go apeshit, it angsty time. Lets say the saniwa is a self-sacrificing type of person and took a hit for someone during battle and is in critical condition (THEY FINE ITS OK THEY RECOVER) how would hasebe, kashuu (romantic), and sayo (platonic) react? seperate of course dearie~! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU <3<3<3

Heshikiri Hasebe,  Kashuu Kiyomitsu, and Sayo Samonji Reaction to a self-sacrificing Reader (GN Reader)

♡  It wasn't too common for their master to go into battle with them but sometimes the mission calls for it. This being the case. It was an understanding situation but stressful nonetheless. Hordes of enemies swarming the group of swords and their master. Everyone was holding them off while you were going to break the charm on the shrine... But things didn't go exactly as planned.

♡  You hear a loud yell as one of your precious swords, Hasebe, mutters the words he normally does when he gets a severe injury. "It's not over until I die!" His hand gripping his blade and blood flows out of his wounds and onto the cold, hard ground. The enemies seem to notice that the poor sword no longer had any troops on him and one more shot could easily knock him down. More begin to pile over to him, ready to finish him off.

♡  Frantic hammering of your heart in your ears overtook your senses as you sprinted towards him. You could also come back to this time in history to save the shrine but you couldn't get back your sword that you grew to love. Even if you resmithed him, he wouldn't remember you or the memories you share. You can't leave the sword that made you so happy. So your legs carried you until you were right in front of the badly wounded man.

♡  His expression contorted into one of pure terror when he saw you were the one that ran to his aid. Why... Why did it have to be you? Why would you put yourself in such danger for a sword like him?

♡  "Get away from me!” His words fell to deaf ears as you dashed in front of him, and released a crystal colored barrier in front of you both. You were sure that it would hold off the enemies that were hammering against it. You saved him. You were sure. You just had to hold them off until the other swords could rush over and help you two.

♡  Everything was going smoothly until you heard the words that would stay with you forever.

♡  "NAGAE YARI IN FRONT."

♡  Just like that, the Kebiishi lunged forward with it's spear, crushing your barrier and impaling you in all but one strike. White sparkles that was once a shield now floating up into the sky and disappearing as you fell to your knees, clasping the spear in your gut. When did the Kebiishi get here...? Were you their target all along because you were also messing with history? How did this go so wrong...?

♡  Hasebe’s entire body was wracked by sobs as you lay curled in a ball on the ground, writhing around in utter agony. His own injured body slowly hobbling over to your and grasping you tightly. His tears falling down and painting your cheek. The Kebiishi had already pulled out their spear and went looking for more healthy targets to take down.

♡  The pain was too much to bare. All you could do was stare up at the sword that looked so broken.

♡  “You can't leave,” Hasebe whimpered in the highest tone you’ve ever heard from him. He sounded like a child with the way his raspy voice cracked. His grip on you was high and you could feel every shake that went through his body as the sobs broke out. "You can't leave... I have just learned how to open up and love again... Don't you dare leave. Don't abandon me."

♡  "It's all my fault... I should of been stronger. I should of taken that hit.. I-... I love you. Don't go." He hiccuped through strained wheezes for air.

♡  Although your vision was spotting and blurring, you could see Hasebe tremble where he sat. His body was rocking the two of you back and forth. He didn't care about what was going on around you. Nothing mattered if you weren't okay. He didn't matter unless you were okay. You made him feel love and appreciated. You reminded him that he was a sword worth having by your side. A man you loved for who he is. If he lost that, he lost everything that mattered to him.

♡  With one final, ragged breath, you closed your eyes and succumbed to your injuries. Hasebe didn’t scream like you thought he would. He watched you drift off to sleep in utter silence, almost holding his breath in hope it wasn't actually happening. The only sound that came from him was sniffing back tears and coughing sporadically.

♡  By the time you awoke, you were in the infirmary of the citadel. Yagen and two swords who were on the mission with you, Tonbokiri and Horikawa Kunihiro, sat by you. Your eyes opening bought smiles to their faces. Horikawa wiping away the happy tears that suddenly rushed out when he finally saw you open your eyes.

♡  Your body ached all over but it was tolerable compared to what you had just faced before. Your abdomen tightly wrapped up. It was Tonbokiri that explained that they were able to get out when a few of them awakened and rushed over, using the charm stone and teleporting back to the citadel. You were rushed to the infirmary right away and you stayed unconscious for three days.

♡  "When you are feeling well enough... I think you should head over to your room. Hasebe locked himself in there and hasn't came out since coming back to the citadel... We haven't been able to get him to eat or even talk to him." Horikawa explained.

♡  When you felt well enough, you adventured over there. Swords stopping you on the way to express how happy to see you up and okay. They expressed how worried they all were when you came back in such a condition.

♡  A series of knocks on the door were greeted with silence. The static sobbing from the room paused for a moment, then resumed.

♡  Taking out a key, you unlocked the door and slowly walked in. You could see Hasebe in total darkness as he held the picture frame of you two to his chest. His body not even turning towards you.

♡  "Don't you dare come into this room only to tell me something I already know. Get out now before I cut you down."

♡  "Hasebe... It's me."

♡  You could see his body visibly tense and stop breathing. Approaching him with caution, you kneeled onto the bed beside him and placed your palm on his cheek. He leaned into your touch, his face stained with tears. One hand releasing the frame and grasping your hand tightly, as if he was scared that if he let you go... You would disappear right then and there.

♡  "It's really you," he would whisper as his violet eyes slowly locked with yours. It was only then he would fully release the frame and instead grab you, embracing you in the tightest hug you have ever experienced. He would only let up when you winced in pain from how tight it was. His body shaking as he bawled his eyes out.

♡  Hasebe pressed chaste kisses all over your face, making sure you knew he loved you no matter how he acted. "Don't ever do something stupid like that again. I will make them all pain for what they did to you. I won't let a single one walk this earth. I will make them feel the pain you felt times a hundred. I will make them beg to-"

♡  "I'm okay, Hasebe." You would calmly say as you stroke his cheek. "You look exhausted though... Come, let us rest for some more. I won't leave your side, not again." You both would settle down and he will gently hold you close to his chest. His red eyes slowly closing and a small smile present on his face knowing that he finally has you back.

♡  It was the Ikedaya incident. The moon was high in the sky and the cold skin gently bit at everyone's cheeks. For normal people of the time, they were not even aware of the killing going on near them. However the swords and their master were aware. They were planning for this event for a while ever since the History Revisionists came to this time in history.

♡  Most of the swords were inside, dealing with enemies to make sure that no one gets to the top of the stairs where Okita, Kashuu's and Yasusada's, was to meet his end. It was there you stood, at the stop of the stairs, stealing off the door to make extra sure that only people of that time could enter.

♡  Everything was going well... Until you felt the charm on your sash dissipate. You had only given it to one sword... The one sword that was not in the building... The one who was directly involved with this incident... The one sword that claimed that he rather not be muddied with Okita's blood again instead of saying how he didn't want to witness his master and his old sword self die again. The one sword that stolen your heart, Kashuu Kiyomitsu.

♡  You quickly finished the barrier before hearing a yelp as you ran down the stairs, jumping over the last few. Your legs pumped as you quickly dodged enemies and tried to make your way outside where Kashuu was surrounded by enemies. Your skin crawled as you saw Kashuu barely be able to stand and the enemies, with their ruthless gaze, advancing on him.

♡  "Uwa!? Heavy damage...!?" Kashuu managed to rasp as the enemy slammed into him and brought him to the ground. One more hit and surely he would be broken. You could hear the pain in his voice even though he tried to mask it. His body trembling as he was slowly coming to terms that this night was a cursed night for him. No matter if he was human or sword... He dies constantly on this day in history.

♡  He was in danger and didn't have much time left. You quickly took out your ofuda charms from your poach as you called for help to the swords still inside the building, dealing with enemies. It didn't take long before two of them came out but by that time, you were already gone.

♡  You had already run off into the crowd, tagging as many enemies as you could. The tags slowly melting them and making them transform into black dust... But there was far too many for you to handle by yourself. You just had to make it to Kashuu. You just had to make sure he was safe...

♡  "You idiot! Get out of here." Kashuu screamed as he noticed you were trying to make yourself through the crowd to him, all by yourself. You ignored his cries and slid to the side, dodging one of enemy’s strikes.

♡  All things considered, you were able to dodge all the swings coming your way. You were doing well! You just had to make it to him and cast a barrier over the you of you and-

♡  A sword was brought down right as you were about to dodge and landed right against your back. The impact brought you to your knees, only a couple feet away from your lover. Blood pooled underneath you and you gritted your teeth, the pain overriding your senses and bringing tears to your eyes.

♡  You clutched your fists, wincing as crimson bloomed on your shirt. Panic hadn’t filled your veins yet.

♡  Your eyes snapped up to meet Kashuu’s as the enemies loomed over the two of you, ready to finish you off. . Anxiety began to set in, your movements growing more sloppy as you desperately tried to crawl over to your lover. Kashuu slowly reaching for you as well.

♡  "Stop moving, idiot. Just take deep breaths, all right? Just look at me. You're going to be okay... I won't let anything happen to you."

♡  You felt your body grow numb as you lost more blood. You could no longer feel the cold ground under you or the wind brushing against your face. To you, everything was cold. You scooched closer to Kashuu and extended a hand. Though still far apart, he grasped it back and squeezed tightly so you knew he was there. "Kashuu... I'm cold."

♡  “You’re gonna be fine.” He was lying through his teeth. Kashuu could see the glassy look in your eyes. The hand quivered in his, he could feel the life draining from it. Your voice wasn’t a comfort to him anymore, every word you spoke was full of agony and he wished you would stay quiet as to not worry him more.

♡  His own hand was shaking. This night was truly a cursed one. The past him was taken to this place to watch his master die and get covered in his blood only to break in battle. Now he held onto his bleeding out master/lover and couldn't do anything to stop them from slowly fading from consciousness. His lover was bleeding out in front of him and there was absolutely nothing he could do. He tried so desperately to hide the fear from his face, but a single tear slid down his cheek and his expression sunk when he felt you begin to fade away. The last thing you heard as your eyes began to close was Kashuu screaming at the top of his lungs your name.

♡  You were awoken by the sound of someone rushing to your side. Bright light blinding you as your eyes slowly adjusted and you were met with a familiar sight. The infirmary room that you often went in to visit your precious swords and your boyfriend, Kashuu. His own body had be bandaged up and he met you will a smile. "Good morning, sleep well?"

♡  "What happened?" Your voice faint and raspy as you slowly sat up, your back stinging you along the way. But with the help of Kashuu, you were able to fully sit up and get handed water to help your very dry throat.

♡  "Before I answer that... Let's get you cleaned up. As much as I love you, you're a mess." He would give you a teasing grin as he helps you stand. Leading you over to where he can draw a bubble bath for you so you can wash and clean yourself.

♡  He would sit on the side and help you clean up, making sure to extra careful of your back and making sure to massage your scalp as he washes.

♡  "Yesterday... Don't do that again. You know how I feel about Okita's death. I don't need that happening to you. I don't want to lose another person I care about. This citadel needs you so don't go running into a crowd of enemies for just one sword and almost getting yourself killed. You're lucky Hyuuga and Akashi arrived on time or else we would of both vanished from existence."  His hands maneuvered around your body with precision and care as he washed away all of the dirt and dust that marred your skin.

♡  "You're important too, you know." You replied as you leaned into his touch, "I didn't go into danger for nothing. I went into it because of you. I don't want to lose you as much as you don't want to lose me. So next time... When you are in trouble, call for us. I will come running for you right away."

♡  This hands will stop moving and he would laugh from the pit of his stomach. This causing you to turn to face him. Small droplets of tears appearing out the side of his eyes as his laughter calmed down. "You act like if I break, I won't fall for you all over again. You can get me back but I can't get you back. So don't ever try that again, stupid." He would finish off the conversation with him leaning in and pressing a soft kiss on your forehead.

♡  Labored breaths escaped you as you ran in the dark forest. The stems of the tree sprouting from the ground to constantly trip you up... and it was working. You constantly found yourself tripping and having to push yourself off things to keep going. You couldn't stop... They were gaining on you.

♡  This all started when you went undercover to gain information on what was changing in this time in history. It was suppose to be safe! You were suppose to get information while the boys left and dealt with the History Revisionists. It was a trap... They wanted you all along.

♡  You had signaled to them that the enemy was by you before you began your big chase. There had been no sight of them and your legs were beginning to burn. Tripping became more constant and you can hear them getting closer and closer. There was many of them... More than you could handle by yourself.

♡  Your luck was beginning to run out until one last stem tripped you and sent you to your knees. Your ankle shooting pain up your leg when you tried to move it. Fear painted on your face as you looked behind you and saw the glowing eyes in the dark. The blades gleaming from the small sunlight between the branches. Your luck had run out.

♡  Your held your ankle tightly as the enemies rose their blades towards you, ready to end you here and now. Your eyes shut tightly as you awaited for your final breath to come... But it didn't. Instead you heard pains of agony. When you finally found the courage to open your eyes, you saw Sayo standing in front of you with his dagger in hand. Holding off the enemies. He must of been the only sword to be quick enough to make it in time.

♡  As much as you wished to be happy to see your precious sword... There was far too many of them. Too many for one tantou risking his everything to protect his precious master. The both of them were well aware. Maybe if Sayo could hold off until that others get there, everything will be alright!

♡  That was the hopeful thought until a tantou enemy got the sneak attack on him and he received a critically blow. His body crumbling to the ground in front of you as he muttered, "I understand... I don't care how things will turn out...!" His blue eyes glaring at the horde of enemies in front of you two. His body dragging himself upward, planning to protect you to his death.

♡  However, you had another plan. You weren't going to just sit there and let him die for you. He has come so far on his journey of accepting himself, you weren't going to let these monsters take that away from him.

♡  Right as the blade was began to come down and finish him off, you embraced him and turned your body so you would take all of the impact rather than him. Sharp yelp was released from your vocal cords as you held onto the short sword and protected him from the pain.

♡  Sayo couldn't believe his eyes, he stood there tense and wide eyed. "M-Master...?" His voice had always been on the quiet side but this voice sounded scared and barely escaping from his tensed throat. "Why would you..."

♡  "Sayo, you have... So much to live for. You are so much greater than you give yourself credit for. I am proud of you every day, so don't throw yourself away... You are more than the revenge that haunts your heart."

♡  His lips trembled and tears streaked down his cheeks as he held your body that was going limp in his arms. "Don't leave! I don't want to be left alone again. Please don't leave me, aruji!" He would scream at the top of his lungs, shaking you and trying to get you to wake up... But sleep whispered into your ears and sent you into darkness.

♡  Before you even opened your eyes, you could feel pressure on your hand... Were you asleep on it again? Slowly opening your eyes and blinking to adjusted to your surrounding made you realize that you weren't in your bed in your room... but rather the infirmary. Your body was bandaged all over and the memories of what happened in the forest returned to you. The team must of got to you in time before you completely vanished from existence... But what of Sayo then?

♡  Your body jolted up against the pain that was attempting to hold you down. Anxiety rushing through your veins, preparing to look sight of any clue of what happened to the small tantou after you passed out.

♡  Your search didn't last long, for the pressure on your hand slowly shifted and caused your eyes to wandered down to the boy who was clasping your hand tightly as he slumbered. A smile slowly rose itself on your face as your free hand gently stroked his hair. It seemed as he hadn't left your side since recently. It warmed your heart that a sword that often times was very antisocial treasured you so much that he didn't want to leave your side.

♡  "D-Don't leave me." A small whimper of a cry would come out as he tightened his grip on your hand. His shoulder shaking ever so lightly. The fear of losing the people he cares about haunting him even in the dream realm. The fear of his masters being killed in front of him and being stolen piecing him in his heart to leave scars to all of time.

♡  "I won't leave." You soothed, "I'm right here, Sayo. I'm so proud of you. I won't ever leave your side again. I promise you. Now rest well, dear. You needn't worry any longer. I swear to you for all eternity, I will remain right here." A small smile will be barely visible as he leans into your hand and his body slowly calms down before he find a peaceful sleep at last.