#it was unreal. praying on her downfall

[doveposting]

ivypool design concept sketch.....

[hurremsultanns]

To me, specifically for the way they are portrayed on MC and I Claudius (not speaking about their real life historical counterparts), Livia and Hurrem are kinda opposites.

• Livia works with the system. She puts on the facade of the dutiful, obedient, subservient, and supportive Roman matron but she’s actually really ambitious and ruthless. For better or worse, she leads with her head not her heart (even when it results in those closest to her struggling to feel any real affection for her). She wants what she wants and she won’t stop no matter who gets in her way, even her family. She’s the threat no one sees coming until it’s too late.

• Hurrem actively fights against the system. She’s ambitious and ruthless but she’s also kind and empathetic. She does what good she can (via charity and public works and by rewarding those loyal to her) when she can. For better or worse, she leads with her heart (even when it causes her to make a huge mistake or to lash out in anger in a way that she’ll later regret). She only wants 2 things: 1) for her family and loved ones to be safe and 2) to never be powerless or at the mercy of other’s again. She’s the one who gets blamed for everything even when (sometimes especially) when she’s not the one at fault.

I think the biggest difference they have is their empathy. Hurrem always remembers where she came from and what she’s been through (she remembers her homeland and her native language and keeps it alive by singing lullabies to her children, she cries for her mother and father and sister, she frees Sumbul after he “unintentionally” betrays her and chides her daughter for her privilege when she doesn’t understand, etc.). She is able to be kind and understanding and respectful to the people who have caused her the most harm even when they wouldn’t do the same to her. She asks Mahidevran, the woman who once beat her to a bloody pulp, for forgiveness. She tells Valide Sultan, who tried for years to make her fall out of favor with the Sultan and to remove her from the harem, on her deathbed how much she respects and looks up to her. She prays over Ibrahim’s grave, the man who forced her to poison her childhood sweetheart. Following this cruelty, she remains a true and genuine friend to his wife Hatice for many years. She tells Mustafa to his face the unfair truth and explains to him that it is their circumstances and situations that make them enemies and she genuinely mourns his and his son’s death despite orchestrating his downfall for years. In stark contrast, there’s Livia. She pretends to nurse a man on his deathbed while spoon feeding him poison. She drives her husband nearly mad with paranoia to the point that he’ll only eat figs which she poisons. She tricks a priestess in order to manipulate the contents of a will to her own favor. She gets a loving son to rat out his mother’s scandalous affairs. She constantly berates and humiliates her grandson for his disability. She arranges for her son to divorce a woman he genuinely loves. She gets her granddaughter to accuse her lover of rape and much, much worse.

However, I think the biggest thing they have in common though is their almost unreal capacity to be able to play the long game. They knew what they wanted and they schemed and plotted to get it even though it took years or even decades. The commitment they had to their goals and their willingness to follow through is almost unparalleled in other characters. They also both have a good understanding of other people’s motives and characters and use it to their own advantage. Whether others are aware of it or not, they puppet master a lot of things behind the scenes.

Both are amazing characters that are absolutely captivating on screen. There’s a quote about Anne Boleyn that I think applies to both characters: “perhaps a figure to be more admired than liked”

All of this yes!

I will say that Hürrem's form of rebellion against the system is very interesting and I think is the key as to what makes her different from Livia.

She doesn't foment revolution. She doesn't oppose Süleyman (at least overtly). She uses her loyalty as a shield. It's more subtle than that. She asserts her humanity and refuses to give up that side of herself. She always remembers where she came from and what her motivations and goals are (love and family). And for someone who was enslaved and brought into this system, the fact that she fights for humanity against those dehumanising circumstances to me is the key. One of her first lines after arriving in Topkapi is 'We aren't animals' after all. She always sees herself and everyone else regardless of status as a person in spite of how cruel and ruthless she eventually becomes.

They are absolutely both brilliant at playing the long game. It's just that Livia is cold where Hürrem is hot.

[chenlesfavorite]

mona…..why you gotta put me in this position i can NAWT be out here related to haechan 😫 (…..i’m still gonna read it…..i just might pretend we besties)

i’m so excited for the story i know you’re going to do such a great job and i can’t wait to see what evil plans you have in store for us — just read the first chapter and never apologize for being unhinged we embrace that shit

i hope you’re doing well! as you can tell i did not die and i also didn’t cry (i almost did) so my mom can SUCK IT (that woman is praying on my downfall-my biggest hater fr) yeah you should see her reenact me crying she thinks she’s REAL funny a big heehee haha moment for her

i wish you were able to see them :( honestly i hope everyone who loves them gets to experience that at least once i’m so very grateful to my parents who bought me the ticket for my birthday and i’m so grateful to nct dream who have helped me through the darkest times in my life

they were all so beautiful and oh my god chenle bias wrecked that entire arena i swear he was eating up the attention gah it was incredible i just wish renjun could have been there (so so happy he’s healing privately and at his own pace i wish him nothing but the best) i had such a fun time but now we back and locked in for this story ☀️

p.s- nct edit account you say (i’ll be waiting for this info…even if i have to wait my lifetime)👂but thank you for being the only one who enjoys the unhinged stories of my homie hopping agenda (we’ve mellowed a little haechan has me in a chokehold)

SORRY HEHEEEE😭😭😭 but have no fear!! bc in my next smau, u won’t be related to hyuck!! ☺️ he’ll end up as ur bf!!! (Is it too early to say that i already have my next smau planned out…)

OOHHH I don’t think I have any evil plans for ts one 🤔 besides a lil angst that’s not even angst tbh it’s just [redacted] … no spoilers yet heh… I shall embrace the unhingedness 🙌

UR ALIVE!! WE CHEERED!! IDK HOW U DIDNT CRY, I TOTALLY WOULD’VE😭 LMAAOAOSJ UR MOM IS SUCH A TROLL I LOVE HERRR

someday in the future i will see them🙏🙏🕯️🕯️ SOO HAPPY YOU SAW THEM THOOOO, i can’t imagine how unreal the experience is😭

the chenle effect makes its appearance 🙏🙏 HES TOO FINE AUQIOEOWKDKWKDKDN like the concert clips ive seen of him omg… don’t get me started

hopefully renjun comes back soon all healthy and happy and everything is sunshine and smiles again 😋 NOW WE LOCKING IN!!

gonna def be waiting… for a while… but who knows maybe ill share some of my edits on here 👀

U ARE SOO WELCOME, i was so entertained reading that ask😭

HAVE A GREAT REST OF UR DAY/NIGHT ☀️ ANONNN

[http-alexademie]

your jack harlow post was really good! can you do another of him and another singer

i love jack so i had to do this again😫 also tysm<3

and if anyone wants to see something particular just send me and request and i’ll be happy to do it!!

y/nupdates

liked by tylerthecreatorfan9 and 3,902 others

y/nupdates y/n opening for Tyler The Creators call me if you get lost concert last night in phoenix,arizona 😫

view all 627 comments

y/nfan0 last night was crazy

y/nfan46 she looked sooooo hot last night

tylerfan6 i ship y/n and tyler so hard

y/nfan1 pretty sure she’s dating jack harlow, but idk

y/nfan72 okay i’m ngl the chemistry her and tyler have is unreal

y/nfan29 wish i was there so bad 🙄

tylerthecreatorfan129 never listend to y/n in my life until now and let me just say…she changed my life for the better

y/nfan7294 I LITERALLY CRIED WHEN I SAW HER LAST NIGHT BRO 😭

tylerfan5 i was bricked up the whole time she was on

y/nfan39 oh lord-

y/i/nfan69 that’s our mommy y’all 🙌

tylerfan20 godamm jack harlow is so lucky

randomfan5 they together?

tylerfan20 yuh pretty sure

y/i/n

liked by badgalriri and 2,159,515 others

y/i/n call me if you get lost hoe

view all 11,158 comments

y/nfan62 ur dog fine asf

y/nfan you and tyler make me horny

tylerfan729 why does no one have a filter these days

y/nfan729 if any of y’all saw her live last night, i’m praying on your downfall

jackmanfan509 wonder if jack was there last night?

y/i/nfan728 I WANT HER SO BAD

tylerfan672 r her and tyler together cus all they do is post eachother

y/nfan109 nah she’s with jack harlow

feliciathegoat love u mf

y/i/n love u too bitch

jackfan60 she’s so beautiful, i’m obsessed with her 😫

tyler&y/n09 i love them

y/nfan2728 last night was a fever dream

jackharlow your doggy looks so cool

y/i/n takes after his daddy

jackharlow added to their story!

vanityfair

liked by jackharlow and 21,691 others

vanityfair y/f/n is quickly becoming 2022’s MVP. Going from 2021s top 5 singer of the year to being Diors number one icon, how much more iconic can this girl get!

view all 349 comments

y/nfan728 happy to say i’m her fan

randomfan790 why don’t we also acknowledge that she’s dating jack fucking harlow

y/nfan5 ikr u can’t beat that

y/nfan075 she’s all i wanna be in life

jackfan50 she rlly ate

jackmanfan2782 she’s a fucking dream

y/nfan49 fr i’m jealous of jack😭

jackmanfan190 only person i like with jack

y/i/nfan789 omg i literally met her in this dog park yesterday, hands down best moment of my whole life

y/nfan10 omg rlly was she with jack

y/i/nfan789 yea and OMG there both so nice😭😭😭

randomfan03 idek her yet she still gives me life

y/nfan38 idk what just happened but my back started to arch

y/nfan628 my eyes be blessed

*liked by jackharlow

y/i/n added to their story!

[moon-yean]

harlots; 2x06

This episode was everything. I’m still at a bit of a loss for words but I thought I might try to sort through some of my thoughts, in no particular order:

When Amelia was stabbed, I was almost convinced that she would actually die because she is honestly too pure for this world. She literally took a bullet knife for Rasselas, when will your faves 😭 (Now that she lived to the end of the episode, I’m fairly certain that she’s going to live and testify against Lord Fallon. And this near death experience will prompt Violet to reconsider what she said earlier. I pray that there will be a good solution to all of this.)

Run, Rasselas, run! When Lydia sicced Lord Fallon on him, I almost bit my fist because the tension was unreal.

I’m 50:50 on whether Margaret is going to hang. On the one hand, she did murder Sir George and confessed to it, so there seems to be little in the way of saving her. On the other hand, there are still two episodes left. So I see three scenarios, 1) she hangs, 2) she doesn’t hang but dies another way, 3) she doesn’t die. Samantha Morton has been cast on TWD which suggests that, unlike her fellow cast members, she knows that she won’t be in season 3, no matter whether the show will be renewed or not. That would suggest that Margaret dies. But wait, I have another crazy theory: What if Justice Hunt helps her escape. I’m thinking of a scenario here where she’s lead into a cellar or some other dark and secluded place to be executed (she did specifically ask him not to make a spectacle out of it). And so we think that he’s honoring her request and giving her a swift ending. But instead of the killing blow/noose awaiting her, Justice Hunt is like “quick, let’s get you out of here” and spirits her away under the guise of night and she leaves the city and sails away with William and Jacob to live her best life somewhere else. Charlotte becomes the new bawd of Greek Street, Justice Hunt has his big character moment where he breaks the law but upholds it in another place (by, let’s say, convicting Lydia Quigley... I doubt Lord Fallon will survive the season, even if he’s arrested), the last girl Lydia abducted will play a vital role in her downfall, Hunt will release Amelia from her promise to marry him and she’ll be happy with Violet, hopefully not in penury, and Lucy will be without a keeper again and, idk, become a lady of society under the guidance of Lady Isabella. Okay, that last one’s unrealistic. Probably all of it is unrealistic. But that’s just a bit theorizing about a best case scenario. Ideally, I would want Charlotte to get out of the profession as well but there has to be an element of circulus vitiosus to it, I suppose.

There will be so much egg of my face if they just hang Margaret. And if Lord Fallon survives. And if Amelia marries Justice Hunt.

Do we think that any of the Spartans will survive the season? Harcourt is a goner for sure. You can’t introduce an utterly odious character like that and let him get away with his villainy (and he’s not the type of character who you can just incarcerate). I feel like Lord Fallon is also a goner and that Lucy will deliver the killing blow, as I have also theorized in my thoughts after 2x04, but I don’t find that storyline wholly predictable. Lord Lidington... well, he might just end up in jail.

Maybe they will end the season with a hint at the remaining members of the Spartans. I hope they don’t. Cutting the head off the snake might not kill it but cutting off their means of supply (Lydia) should, hopefully.

Emily and Charles will inherit Golden Square once Lydia is dead or in prison. Harriet will become the bawd of the House of the Exotic. And if Charlotte does become the bawd of Greek Street, it’d be like the next gen of bawds. I hope that doesn’t mean that they think they won’t be renewed. Since the story of the first two seasons was a continuous story, they’d have to come up with something new. I hope they do because it’d be a damn shame if they end it there.

Charlotte and Margaret. I don’t even know what to say. So many feelings, it’s overwhelming. I almost cry again just thinking about that scene. It was just... so much relief and sadness and pain and love rolled all into one.

Charlotte and Lydia. That was so powerful. Lydia has got to be one of the greatest villains ever. You can’t help but pity her because you just know that the world (the cruelty of MEN) made her who she is. Once more the hint that it was her father who first abused her. But we also know of the kind of evil she inflicts on others. It’s so warped and I was with Charlotte when she was screaming at her how she hated her and it was so visceral and did you see that vein on Charlotte’s forehead as she was ready to burst?! Jessica Brown Findlay deserves all the awards! In fact, she, Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton all deserve all the awards. (There is not one weak link in the whole cast but these three just get to play the meatiest parts and they knock it out of the damn park every week. This week was beyond though. Just beyond.)

I’m not here for any hate on Lucy. I think the writing for her this week was amazing, so layered even though she did not have many scenes. Just her scene back in Greek Street said so much in so little words, I could write a whole essay about her character. Before this episode, I had the theory that maybe she was playing Lord Fallon all along but this is so much better and makes so much more sense and it’s so much more realistic. She is young and in desperate need of validation.

Lord Fallon was hilariously inept at being a predatory murderer but to be fair, he was put under a lot of stress so it’s no wonder he underperformed. That plus the whole daylight thing and having to actually chase his victim made it a lot more difficult for the poor guy. How creepy was his scene with the servants btw? It was short but it showed exactly the type of guy that he is: controlling, abusive and quick to anger. I think that he does have a lot of, let’s say, appreciation for Lucy but there are just some people you don’t want to be liked by. It’s just poor Lucy’s luck that the only person who ever happened to show a great interest in her happens to be him.

I liked what the episode did to develop minor characters like Anne Pettifer. We don’t know a lot about her but we can certainly infer some things. Clearly, she is intelligent because she figured out that the best way to survive in Quigley’s house is to ingratiate yourself with her. Too bad that this makes her an accomplice to such a foul person. But imagine that she was an innocent girl once and it all becomes too clear.

That’s what the show does so well at its best and it was at its best this week: It shows this great variety of women and how none of them are purely good or purely evil but all victims of their circumstances. And the most perverse effect of them all: To make them complicit in the victimization of others in the hope that this might elevate their own status out of victimhood. This is even true for Margaret. She only ever wanted the best for her girls but she also profited off of them. It’s all very mixed up and conflicted and heartbreaking.

There are, however, degrees to this and Charlotte recognizes that. She recognizes that there are different ways to be in their world and that there are certain things you don’t have to do (and, more importantly, when she tells Lydia that “that’s not the way to be a bawd”, it comes with the realization that her mother was never like that and it clears the way for their reunion and her forgiveness).

I think the show did well to have that one scene earlier in the season where Violet explains to Justice Hunt just how exactly running a bawdy house works. And what benefits this has for the women as opposed to working on the street. (Except for the freedom that they have to give up, although they have only a small measure to begin with. This is even more true for Violet. I cannot imagine that the season will end with her still in servitude, that would be awful. Amelia teaching her how to read must have been good for something. Maybe Justice Hunt can employ them as the world’s first social workers.)

Charlotte and Isabella. I won’t waste words on Harcourt although it was as we all had expected. The scene between Charlotte and Isabella was lovely, however. I don’t see the problems with it that others are seeing. But I’m too tired to go into details now. I hope we see some more affection between them in the next episode, although I think that’s all that it is, an understanding and a kinship and an intimacy, not a love story per se. Doesn’t make it any less touching and I’m sure Lady Isabella will play a crucial role in bringing down her brother and Lydia for good.

So, yeah. Lots of thoughts. I can’t wait for next week.

[biasedwriting]

Variety is the Spice of Life [VIXX, Hongbin]

AU - Fanboys!AU Genre - Fluff/Comedy Warnings - None

Word Count - 2290

Summary - In which Hongbin meets his bias and ‘Hormoneys’ unite.

This work is a part of the  Glowsticks And Music Notes series by @vixxscifiwritings​ . I had been asked to write this part for her as a part of an agreement that I don’t entirely remember the details of ( a.k.a she loves Hongbin too much to write about him)

Find all parts here

Hongbin grumbled as he shoved the cafe door open. He had been in the middle of editing a mood-board when his sister had intruded with her boyfriend and had promptly thrown him out of the house in the need for “privacy”. Not that he really wanted to hear what would take place after his exit.

He adjusted the strap of his backpack when he heard the bell jingle as the door slammed shut. Still fuming about his interrupted editing session, he looked around the cafe for a seat which was isolated enough to not be disrupted again. Jaehwan had requested a mood-board for Ara and Bora inspired by one of Wonshik’s angsty fics. Plus he had been working on a gif set for the new release (secretly spending time on perfecting Miya’s gif, not that he would admit it). Of course he had also said he’d help Sanghyuk who had recently joined the fandom with some video editing. Hongbin sighed, being technologically sound had its downfalls.

“Welcome! Would you like to place an order?” he heard a voice calling to him, breaking him out of his stupor as his searching eyes shifted to the counter. He gawked as his gaze fixed themselves on the woman standing behind the cash machine. His bias, Miya smiled back at him brightly, he was sure he choked a little bit on his saliva.

Miya tilted her head, looking at the new entrant gaping at her, completely unaware of the cameras trained on him. He was handsome, nearly looking unreal, she was certain this part would be broadcast. She could hear Haneul’s voice in the little earpiece wedged in her ear squeal about how handsome he was.

“Our youngest has gotten such a handsome customer!”

“Makes sense, visual meets another visual,” Ara’s voice crackled “make him say that you’re pretty.”

“That’s a good mission, yes.” Minah’s voice piped up as Miya tried her best to fight the embarrassed blush from creeping up her cheeks.

“Yeah, if he says it, you need to do the key point from Summer Love.” Bora called out. The rest of her group had been monitoring her every move, giving her missions for their variety show. Right before her shift in the cafe, Bora had been sent down to serenade a group of high school boys and dance for a pair of old ladies. But here she was, face to face with this very handsome man who seemed to be gawking right back at her, not making a move to place an order.

“Sir?” she called as he balked, blinking before approaching the counter. He looked a little bit like a lost bunny rabbit and Miya couldn’t help but smile to herself. Shuffling awkwardly, Hongbin tried to form the right words to tell his bias. This was exactly why he had avoided going for fan meets, because he knew the moment he saw Miya in person, all logical ability of speech was out of the window.

“I’ll uh...have uh…” Hongbin frantically looked at the menu.

“Hmmm, are you a tea or coffee person? Maybe I could suggest something for you?”  Miya offered helpfully, wondering if there was some way to make the man speak.

“Uh, I’m so sorry about this... I don’t mind either? I’ll just have a cappuccino please.” he sighed out, internally pleased that he managed to get a sentence out. Miya smiled, he had a pleasant voice.

“Would you like some cake or pastry with that? I’d highly recommend the fruit tart.” Miya rattled off just like she had been asked to. Hongbin paused to consider it.

“Yes, I would like a fruit tart as well.”

“Okay! One cappuccino and fruit tart for the handsome customer!” Miya chirped, trying her best not to cringe at how honest she was being  as Hongbin’s breath caught in his throat. He reached to his arm to pinch himself to make sure that this wasn’t a dream. Clearing his throat, he could feel his cheeks flush. Miya tried to ignore the teasing hoots from her group loud in her earpiece.

“I’m....” Hongbin fumbled for words “a Harmony!”

Miya’s eyes widened as the cheering in her ear piece resounded. Harmony was the name of their fanbase and it was a pleasant surprise to find a fan entering the cafe. Hongbin twiddled his thumbs nervously. Miya’s confidence was now boosted. Handsome man was a fan and she could definitely use this to her advantage.

“Oh! That’s fantastic! Who is your favourite member?” She asked, ringing up his order, sending him a blinding smile. Hongbin could feel his pulse pick up as he stammered. Here he was standing in a cafe he visited regularly having his bias taking his order while casually asking him who his bias was.

“It’s…you…” he mumbled and Miya could feel her attempts to ask him who he thinks is the prettiest being thwarted “you’re very pretty and talented.” Miya could barely hear him over Haneul and Minah screeching into the microphone. She shook her head, trying to deal with the ringing in her ears.

“Ah,” she bowed “thank you so much, I will bring your drink and tart to you.”

Hongbin’s ears turned red as he hurried to a seat, quickly pulling his phone out of his pocket and clicking open the Kakao Talk application. Tapping on “Hormoney” (he blames Jaehwan for this group chat name) he glanced at the chat between Hakyeon and Wonshik about some plot. Ignoring most of it, he took a deep breath.

“GUys.”

Jajajaehwan : “Henlo Redbean. How goes it.”

“Who is anywhere near Autumn Cafe?”

Hakyeon: “Taekwoon said he was somewhere in the area. Why?”

Jajajaehwan :“TAEKWOON STOP PUTTING THE GROUP ON MUTE YOU ASS.”

“6Keys’ Miya is here. By the looks of it they’re filming a variety show.”

Shikkizzle : “You’re dead.”

Hakyeon : “Stop texting and go talk to her! Miya is the friendliest! Plus I'm trying to call ㅇㅅㅇ but he isn't picking up.”

jajajaehwan : stupid man. I hope he misses out. Go talk to her Bean!

Shikkizzle : Live for us!

“shut up, I'm going to casually open my laptop and continue my work.”

Shikkizzle :why are you such a loser

Jajajaehwan: boo

Hakyeon: you're crazy

Taekwoon : omw

Jajajaehwan: taekwoon you shady fuck

Hakyeon : so much for ‘I am not that into them’

Shikkizzle : taekwoon is a liar we all know that

Taekwoon : this is why I have this group on mute

Hakyeon : I hope you don’t get to meet Minah loser

Jajajaehwan : I’m catching a cab there, my precious Ara will be there!

Hakyeon : i’m heading to the metro station lol, wonder what my mum will say to seeing me on national tv

Shikkizzle : that you’re a dumbass

Hakyeon : you’re heading to autumn cafe too aren’t you?

Shikkizzle : 

Hongbin sighed as the bickering went on in the group. Praying that this wouldn’t descent into chaos,  he set his mobile phone aside and picked up his laptop from his bag. Opening the lid, the squinted at the screen as his previous work popped up.

“That’s really pretty,” Miya’s voice piped up as Hongbin nearly slammed the lid of his laptop down. Thankfully he had been working on editing a photoset of the different sets that the Summer Love music video had been shot in “I didn’t catch your name though, could you please tell me?” she asked as Hongbin spluttered out his name. Miya quickly set the tray holding the coffee and tart down on his table before stepping back to take a deep breath “if you don’t mind, I need to complete a mission, so may I please take up some of your time?”

Hongbin gaped as Miya burst into the choreography of the chorus of Summer Love, humming along with the tune of the song. She halted as Hongbin continued to gape at her before applauding softly as she bowed “Thank you so much for your time! I signed your napkin, I hope to see you at a fansign soon! Thank you for supporting 6Keys!” she quickly greeted before hurrying away.

Hongbin looked at the spot Miya had previous occupied, wondering yet again if he was dreaming. He realized he was nearly burning a hole into the spot when his eyes began watering. Averting his gaze to the coffee tray, he looked at the napkin which had Miya’s elegant handwriting curving over it in in.

“To Mr. Handsome,

Thank you for supporting us!

💓

Miya”

Shakily, he reached for the precious piece of tissue, carefully placing it in his wallet. He picked up the coffee, taking a sip, soothing this nerves. He took a deep breath, before looking back at the cash counter to find it unmanned and Miya, missing. Instead, by the counter stands a tall lanky man suspiciously looking at the pastry. The door flew open as Hakyeon walked in nudged the tall lanky man. Hongbin squints, he’d met Hakyeon before. The tall man turned to glare at Hakyeon who grinned back, and Hongbin realized that he had been looking at Taekwoon.

“Are you waiting for Minah, you creep?” Hakyeon grinned as the bell of the door jingled again and Wonshik and Jaehwan walked into the cafe. Jaehwan’s curious gaze turned to fix itself on Hongbin as he waved frantically, thereby getting the group’s attention on Hongbin. A member of the cafe staff approached them to assist them as they shook their heads and Hakyeon looked visibly upset. Hongbin gaped at the group of men approaching his table.

“They left.” Jaehwan mourned as he plopped himself down beside Hongbin.

“Hi! Yes, they left after Miya’s shoot apparently.” Hakyeon greeted him.

“What was it like meeting Miya?” Wonshik asked as he dragged a chair from the table next to Hongbin’s.

“Are you going to eat that tart?” Taekwoon asked softly as he took a seat beside Hakyeon. Hongbin sighed, pushing the tart towards him. Taekwoon began devouring the tart silently completely ignoring the rest of the conversation. Everyone at the table nearly missed the young man hovering around their table. It was Jaehwan who spotted the tall man-child looking person before turning to the Hakyeon who was immersed in Hongbin’s story.

“There’s a dude who's eavesdropping.” he hissed, attracting the attention of the rest of the group, excluding Taekwoon who was still guzzling the tart. The young man approached.

“Hi, I heard you guys talking about 6Keys and I was wondering if you guys were interesting in some merch and a photo card swap for Summer Love? I got Minah and I really wanted Haru. My name is Sanghyuk by the way!”

“...like crack Sanghyuk?” Wonshik deadpanned.

“Uhh...crack videos, not drugs…” Sanghyuk blinked.

“Taekwoon would like to swap cards with you. He’s consistently gotten everyone except Minah.” Hakyeon butted in as Hongbin nudged him.

“Sanghyuk the same Sanghyuk who wants me to help with his crack video?” he gaped at the tall man.

“Are you RedBeans with the awesome edits?” Sanghyuk’s eyes widened as Hongbin nodded before waving at everyone “this is Hakyeon, you may know him as FlytoSky on Twitter and Tumblr.”

“One of the biggest Haneul fansites!” Sanghyuk gaped.

“Taekwoon...who isn’t really active, but maybe you know his blog Beautiful-Harmony?”

“Or his lesser known side-blog fairy-goddess-minah?” Hakyeon added, trying to avoid Taekwoon’s murderous glare as he nearly stabbed him with a fork.

“Stop exposing me!” Taekwoon hissed as Sanghyuk laughed.

“I actually happen to follow that blog, good content for Minah there.”

“Jaehwan here runs Twitter, Insta and Tumblr accounts Ara-sso.” Hongbin continued, undeterred by the violence that was being displayed by Taekwoon. Jaehwan grinned and waved.

“I commented on all your videos!”

“Yes! I noticed! Thank you so much! I loved the ideas you commented,” Sanghyuk returned Jaehwan’s grin before turning to Wonshik.

“This must be Wonshik, I think I saw a picture of yours in a bias x you selfie tag. You made me nearly cry with ‘Clandestine’. One of my favourite fics man.”

Wonshik visibly blushed as Hakyeon suddenly shot up, waving a photocard as Taekwoon now fought the murderous rage of killing his friend who stole his wallet.

“Trading Haru for Minah!”

“Oh yes! Hold on” Sanghyuk fished around in his backpack.

“Hakyeon!” Taekwoon hissed.

“You literally brought this card here to see if someone would swap because you were hoping there would be a hoard of fans.” Hakyeon deadpanned causing Jaehwan to snort as he attempted to control his laughter.

“I’ll throw in a set of Minah lomo cards for fifteen hundred won.” Sanghyuk reemerged from his backpack, with the photocard and a set of pictures.”

“He’ll take it, do you have any Haneul lomo cards?” Hakyeon continued as Taekwoon protested.

“Don’t you mean Bora?” Jaehwan wiggled his eyebrows at Hakyeon.

“Shut up.”

“Yes, I do, but for you I’ll give it to you for a cheaper price of fourteen hundred and fifty only!” Sanghyuk waved another set of cards.

“I’m adding him to our KKT group.” Hongbin declared over the noise, Sanghyuk was getting increasingly cooler and Hongbin knew that he would add some sanity to the group, even if he brought the rest of the group to the brink of insanity.

“This is daylight robbery!” Wonshik exclaimed, eyes still fixed on the set of lomo cards in front of him.

“Gotta pay the bills my bro.” Sanghyuk shrugged “what’s the point of being in a fandom if you can’t make some money.”

“This is exploitation of sentiment.” Jaehwan grumbled, pulling his wallet out. Sanghyuk grinned as he pulled a seat and sat down beside the group, counting the bills in his hands as the rest of them stared at the lomo cards with shiny eyes.

And that's how the first Hormoney meeting came to be.

[pernatius]

The Forbidden Blade Ch 22

Ch 21

“Why would you want me — the descendant of the very same man who had put you in his sword, and left you there for hundreds of years?”

“To free me.”

“And what makes you think I,” I swing my arms in the air and can feel my eyebrows etch together, “am stupid enough to ever do such a thing.”

“Arthus, I didn’t mean to offend you. I earnestly don’t think you’re ignorant in any way. No. I, as I was hinting to previously, think you’re a very intelligent kid. Being so, I know you understand my stance. Do,” he places his hand on my shoulder, “you really feel inclined to fight for how things are right now? There are thousands, as we speak, crying out in pain. Whether from famine or war, it’s the power of the little that makes those problems a reality. You can be their savior by ending that.”

“I’m supposed to believe you’re the angel people have been praying for? Huh? Like you’re the hero in this hundreds of year old story?”

“Of course, I’m not asking you to believe as such. Frankly, the ‘hero’ title doesn’t suit me. I won’t excuse myself for those I have killed even if they were for the sake of the many.”

“Why are you really doing this?”

“Excuse me? I already told you everything-”

“Quit it. This is sounding all too good to be true, but unless I’m missing something you’re still a demon.”

“That is the reality, yes. Well, I suppose I can’t keep this facade for long. You’re one smart kid, I must say. Dieus is my main goal. To be more specific, I hope to get his attention when I become the catalyst to crumble everything he had worked so hard to make.

“Your true colors have finally been shown. Though, it surprises me how easy it was to get you to talk. Well, I guess now the villain in this story has been made official.”

“The world, Arthus, isn’t as black and white as you think. This romanticism of good and evil are tall tales passed down from the previous generation to the next.”

“Is this the part where you’re going to tell me why you want Dieus?”

“You catch on quickly. Good. Dieus is the reason why things are like it is. The human need for hierarchy was made possible because of him. It’s he who chose the Vancaster family and many others to be where they stand today. He knows of their treachery among other humans, but he fails to do anything. When he does interfere with it, it’s because he fears losing his grip on those he had created. Belief is the strongest, yet most cursed feeling a human has. It has caused the downfall of many, and will be for those to come. I want him because of this selfish desire.”

“What do you plan to do to him?”

“Like those of similar character as I, someone of his status cannot be killed. Trapping him like a slave won’t do. He’s too powerful for such. What I plan to do is to use his own source of power against him.”

“If you’re successful what happens to Dieus?”

“He will no longer exist. His touch on both the mortal and immortal world will cease. Dieus will simply be gone.”

Dieus, the creator of us all, no longer existing from something seemingly so simple is too unreal. It makes my heart drop and my body tingle in disgust. All of it, not existing at all, is something I can’t comprehend. How is it possible to not exist?

“And you think I’m a fool to let some demon take his place?”

“Am I really that different from Dieus? We both have varying ideals, yes, yet he is quite similar to me. The blood of many is stained on our hands. Though, unlike him, I am not entertained by that fact. I ask you, Arthus, how can you continue to worship him while he keeps Xyetius on a leash? That teacher of yours may be immortal, but he still succumbs to age. He may age much slower than most humans, but his state is not without the effects of getting old. His body is deteriorating. The eye of his left is already losing sight, his spine is on the verge of snapping, and oftentimes he can taste blood in his mouth. Do you not think it’s all too much?”

I grip my wrist, close my eyes, and remember the torment he had put me through for so many years: the tears, shouting, blood spilling, and night terrors. All of which I can never forget no matter how many times I try. Though, as of recently, I haven’t seen that side of him. He has become considerate throughout these past few days. No, I do not excuse him for his previous actions. The scars all over my body will never vanish, and because of this my feelings won’t be so easily faltered. Though, do I truly believe his predicament right now is what he truly deserves? Am I so wrong as to agree? No. No, it’s only natural for me to do so. He didn’t give me any mercy, so why should I ask for his? But how long has he felt all of that? Did he feel all of that when he whipped me? If so, why has he yet to tell me any of it?

Zelous then stares blankly at me, the very same facial expression Xyetius always gave me throughout his teachings. Immediately, his hand slips from my grip. His once calm demeanor shifts to him screaming in agony. The demon twists and turns his body, as saliva flings everywhere. Where there was once nails are now claws that clasp the sides of his head. Blood then spills from their puncture.

“What’s happening to you?”

“It’s Xyetius. He’s trying to regain back control.”

“What? Wait. Where have we been all this time?”

“In a place where both your minds can be in one place. Ah!”

“Zelous?”

“I’m not asking for you to make a choice you don’t want to make. I want you to make the choice that you believe is right. My ability to talk with you is ceasing. Until I can be freed my power will be limited. Tied up I will be forever, as I remain within him.”

“If I do choose to help you how would you be freed?”

“Mirrors and liquids show you reflections. Though, they don’t reflect the world you see before you. They reflect another world,” he gets on his knees and grits his fangs together, “When you are ready I’ll officially greet you in person.”The ground rumbles, my footing swivels. Above us, the torches incinerate by the very flames they had been grasping. I can feel my body grow limp and see my vision begin to blur. The voice in my head silences, as the demon fades out of sight.

“Arthus, speak to me. Arthus!”

Reess sits at my left side next to a man that must’ve been two decades younger than her from his less prominent white hair with a bowl of a green liquid in both his hands. Off in a dimly lit corner, the cloak I had been wearing now lays far from my reach. Seeing this, I finally noticed the sweat that had been pouring out of my body. To which, I shiver.

“Arthus, what happened?”

I opened my mouth, nearly spilling out everything that had just happened. But, instead of doing so, I lie by saying I didn’t know.