#it's been marinating in the brain. for a while.

[mrskyler]

Helloo, I hope ur having a nice day today:33!!! I wanna request for boyfriend Sung Jinwoo ueueueu. Jinwoo with a reader that is artistic and has tons of hyperfixations. They like to do art, tarot readings, are heavily invested in marine biology and mushrooms, and makes crochet stuffed toys^^!!! Reader is also very fluffy and cute bebi, they are very bubnly and bright like a lil sunshine:DD

🧡🌙 " If I am the Moon, you are the Sun. " ✨☀️

ᯓ★ 「 Sung Jin-Woo x Artist! Male reader 」 𖹭⭑.ᐟ

Versão em português.

「 I used Google Translate to translate this work, so I apologize for any spelling mistakes! 」

⋆｡‧˚ʚ☀️ɞ˚‧｡⋆

ᯓ★ A/N:

╰┈➤ Helloo, Jellykyunnie ! Thanks for the request. I hope you are having a great day! If you're having a bad time, I hope this post makes you fell better! ‹𝟹 ( I'm so sorry, it took me so long to make your request!! 😭😭💔 )

╰┈➤ Also, i don't have much knowledge about hyperfocus / Hyperfixation or tarot reading so I read some articles about it and made this post based on that. So i'm sorry if something is wrong!

╰┈➤ It's been over two years since I last read Solo Leveling, so it's quite likely that the characters are OOC. ( I haven't finished reading the manhwa and I've never read the novel. )

╰┈➤ I'm trying to change my writing. So the style will be quite different compared to my last post. ( I'm really sorry for not posting anything in a year, 2024 was one of the worst years of my life and I barely had time to do anything. And i also suffer from some things that prevent me from posting. )

╰┈➤ No beta reader, we die like all my comfort characters.

𖹭 ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ

₊˚⊹♡🌙♡⊹˚₊

M/n is known for having a large circle of friends, which he has won over with his cheerful personality and a great presence in the room – one that could easily rival the Sun itself.

While Jin-Woo only has three or four friends – whom he met over time in his work environment as a hunter.

But, honestly, he doesn't really care about the small number.

Satisfied only with the company of his few friends; his mother, younger sister, and last but not least – his boyfriend.

M/n and Jin-Woo already knew that there was a phrase that was very common to be spoken among their circle of friends.

Which they always used to refer to the couple – as a little inside joke.

To the point that whenever M/n made a new friend and they heard that phrase coming from others, they would definitely agree with the rest.

As if it were an absolute truth.

"If M/n is the Sun, Sung Jin-Woo is the Moon."

And Jin-Woo definitely agrees with that.

–

Jin-Woo is not the type of person who has an interest in art, and even if he did, he couldn't and wouldn't be able to go to a museum.

After all, before receiving the system, he had always been extremely busy entering the portals – only to come out with a measly crystal that wouldn't even be enough to pay half of his mother's hospital bills; and as a gift, numerous serious injuries all over his body that would cause him to have to spend the next entire week in the hospital.

Thus, further increasing his debt as the only man in the house.

And even if he didn't want to, he still remembers that fateful day that completely changed the course of his life.

He doesn't know how many times he replayed that day in his mind, over and over again – the number was probably already in the triple digits.

How many times he replayed dialogues in his mind like an old cassette tape.

It was certainly a way his brain found to react to the trauma – making him have to relive that nightmare countless times.

Maybe that's why he remembers the events so vividly: how the weather was slightly sunny that particular afternoon; the people whispering behind his back and the looks of superiority in his direction; the feel of the almost-healed bruises beneath his Band-Aids; the feeling of the portal consuming him.

But, without a doubt, the worst part of this memory is when he steps into that room full of statues.

Even if he tried to forget them, they would still be there – following him until the end of his eternity.

He vividly remembers the state of utter terror he felt when those golden-bright eyes looked at him, along with the sickening smell of burning human flesh that followed; the blood painting his hands, clothes, and the soles of his shoes; the pain of the spear piercing his body, the stone pillar crashing into his head and back – the strange rectangular blue glow.

Player...

But even after all this, he still felt this urge to venture into the portals.

With the system in his favor, Jin-Woo managed to obtain immense power – one that he could only imagine having in his wildest dreams.

But, as people always say: "Nothing in this life is free."

As long as he did everything the system told him to do, he wouldn't have to worry about whether he would earn enough money to survive another day.

Even if it meant killing other people.

So imagine Jin-Woo's surprise when his sister, Sung Jin-Ah, asked him to go to the museum.

He didn't even know his sister was interested in art. Don't teenagers usually enjoy art, only online? So did she like these types of art – made centuries ago – or did she just want to spend time with him?

That's how Jin-Woo finally realized that he was never very present in his sister's life.

After all, while she was studying, he was fighting for his life in a dungeon to be able to pay the countless things he was responsible for – like the medical bills for his mother in a coma; his sister's school fees; the rent for his apartment, along with the water, electricity and internet bills; calculating how much money he could spend on groceries that would be enough to last the entire month; and a small allowance for his younger sister, so she could buy something on her own – thus feeling somewhat independent of his brother, even though the money was originally his.

Because of this, he finds himself sitting on a bench with his arms crossed, staring at a painting he's not even sure what it is. 'Is this really a renowned painting, or a drawing by a five-year-old that accidentally ended up in a museum?' Jin-Woo thought in confusion.

Wanting to get a better look, he squinted and leaned forward a little—similar to those older people who wear glasses; who for some reason decide to lift them up in a failed attempt to see better.

Giving up on deciphering those countless confusing colors and not wanting to waste any more time, Jin-Woo looks around for his sister.

Spotting Jin-Ah a little in the distance walking towards a specific area of the museum, he decides to stand up and put his hands in his coat pocket before starting to follow her.

Meanwhile, in the back of his mind and beneath his feet, Jin-Woo could hear his shadow army discussing what shape that enigmatic painting was.

"Dog!"

"Bunny!!"

"Duck!"

"An ant."

"HORSE!!!"

Jin-Woo stopped walking.

'A horse?' Jin-Woo wondered mentally as he broke out in a cold sweat.

To tell the truth, he didn't even know some of those shadows could talk. After all, some of them just grunted or something like that.

The shadow that spoke more than one word was definitely Igris. Was he referring to Beru?

"I wasn't, your majesty."

This made Jin-Woo shiver a little. He completely forgot that the shadows could read his mind.

Already able to feel the people around staring at him, he starts walking again.

But they weren't confused faces, or the superior ones he was so used to.

But, impressed – eyebrows raised, mouths slightly open, eyes wide, faces slightly reddened.

Not being a narcissist or anything, but if he saw someone who looked like he does now, he definitely wouldn't be able to take his eyes off them. What if he became a model for extra income? After all, a little extra money never hurt anyone.

Getting closer to his sister, who was looking at a painting with her back turned, he called out to her: "Jin-Ah!"

Hearing her name called by a familiar voice, she turned toward the person. Her face lit up slightly when she spotted her brother in the distance. "Oppa!" she called, waving her arm.

Stopping in front of her, Jin-Woo gives a slight smile of recognition, and looks at the painting behind Jin-Ah – which she was observing just seconds ago.

"Did you find this painting interesting?" He asked as he pointed with his finger – mildly interested in what his sister found.

"Ah." She turns, and stares at the painting again – which stares back at her.

The painting looked more like a photograph than art that was made by human hands.

The painting depicted the seabed and its stunning creatures – consisting of brushstrokes in various shades of blue, along with other lighter hues such as white, yellow, purple, pink, and green. Jin-Woo doesn't have much knowledge of marine life, but with what he does know, he can recognize some of the animals.

But what really stood out was the enormous jellyfish that was in the middle of the painting – as if it were the main star.

Jin-Woo didn't realize he had been staring at the painting for so long until his sister tugged on his coat sleeve.

"Hey Oppa, look!" Blinking his eyes a little in an attempt to get out of the slight trance he was in, he looks at what his sister was pointing at with her finger.

It was a small golden rectangle right below the painting – probably telling the name of the artist and the date the painting was placed in the museum.

Leaning in slightly, and trying not to touch the thick red rope that protected the perimeter of the board, he analyzed the information.

"M/n, right? That's a nice name." Jin-Woo compliments.

'Was that a foreign name? It sounds like one.' If it was a Korean name, he had never heard of it before.

Jin-Woo's eyes lower slightly, reading the next piece of information – which causes him to make a slight noise of surprise and confusion.

Okay, that really surprised him. "Was this painting put here today?"

Jin-Ah smiles and turns slightly toward her brother. "Yes! I wanted to come here today because I heard some girls in my class talking about a cool event happening at the museum." She replies, before placing her hand on her chin and looking away – as if trying to remember the rest of the information. "As far as I remember, the event's focus is on exhibiting some artwork by the best students at that art college near our house, you know?" Jin-Ah asks while looking at him, hoping her brother knows what she's talking about.

Jin-Woo nodded – his eyebrows were slightly raised at the information. 'The best students, right?' He looks again at the work of art in front of him.

'Yes. The person who did this definitely knew what they were doing.'

While Jin-Woo was deep in thought, Jin-Ah started looking around a bit – as if she was looking for something specific.

Seeing something moving out of the corner of his eye, Jin-Woo turns his head towards his sister again.

Seeing what she was doing, he asked curiously, "What are you looking for?" This caused her to turn her attention back to him.

"Oh, I'm just looking for more paintings made by him." She replies with a slight smile on her face.

Jin-Woo raises an eyebrow – curious about his sister's new interest in this specific artist.

"Did you really like this painting that much?" She just nodded excitedly – it reminded him of when she was a child and was so happy about something.

That memory brought a faint smile to his face.

He turns fully toward her. "Okay then, I'll help you look for more of his paintings." Hearing this, Jin-Ah's smile widened even more.

She really look happy.

Jin-Woo wouldn't admit it out loud, but this was an excuse for him to also look for more works by this artist named M/n.

He didn't know why, but something about that painting grabbed him, and now he needed more of that unknown feeling – perhaps to satisfy this new interest that had blossomed within him.

After walking around the exhibition area for a while, the two brothers found more of the artist's works – all of them paintings depicting marine life, or the most diverse types of mushrooms.

One characteristic that Jin-Woo found quite interesting in relation to these two types of paintings that M/n made, was that when the painting depicted aquatic animals; cold colors were used, and when it was about small fungi; they were replaced by warm colors – with the sun's rays always present.

When they both stopped in front of a painting, they would spend a few minutes analyzing and discussing what that particular painting wanted to tell them – Jin-Ah believed that the meaning was hidden among the brushstrokes and the animals or fungi chosen; while Jin-Woo believed that the artist just really liked the sea and mushrooms.

Analyzing one of the latest works by the brother and sister duo's new favorite artist, Jin-Ah looks at her brother, causing him to look back at her.

"Do you think there's a bathroom here?" She asks genuinely.

Jin-Woo remains silent for 5 seconds, mentally wondering if his sister was serious or not.

Jin-Ah's eyebrows furrowed.

"What?" This caused a slightly mocking smile to slowly appear on Jin-Woo's face.

"Obviously they do," he says in a slight mocking tone.

Her eyebrow twitched.

"I was just asking!" She says irritated and embarrassed, her voice rising as she turns fully towards her brother.

Seeing this reaction, Jin-Woo gave a small, genuine laugh – which caused Jin-Ah to stop talking immediately.

When was the last time she saw her brother laugh?

This reminded her of the countless nights she spent awake waiting for her brother to return from a dungeon. Only to wake up to a call from the hospital, and be informed that Jin-Woo was, once again, hospitalized with serious injuries – or even on the verge of death.

When he woke up the next day, Jin-Woo felt very guilty for making her miss class because of him. But while ignoring her own feelings, she assured him that it was her choice to miss it, and that he should focus on resting and recovering.

But he was released from the hospital a few days later – even though doctors recommended he stay a little longer to fully recover. But, as always, Jin-Woo said everything was fine.

But Jin-Ah noticed the way he limped as he said goodbye to her before heading towards yet another dungeon.

Noticing his sister's strange behavior, he called out to her as he extended his arm toward her shoulder. "Jin-Ah-"

Jin-Ah snorted, causing Jin-Woo to stop moving. "I don't need your help, Oppa." She said pouting and crossing her arms. "I'll go find the bathroom myself!"

Jin-Woo noticed the way she deflected the subject, so he decided to do the same – not wanting to pressure her into saying what was bothering her.

Jin-Woo sighed as he lowered his arm. "Okay. You can go and I'll wait here for you."

"Right!" She confirmed and started walking away. But she stopped after a few steps, causing Jin-Woo to raise an eyebrow.

She turned and looked at her brother. "Don't go anywhere! I don't want to have to look for you all over the museum!" She shouted into the distance, causing a few people to look in her direction.

Jin-Woo just smiled slightly and waved his hand for her to quickly go find the bathroom.

Seeing this, she walked on until she was out of his sight.

Looking around a bit, he spotted a bench in front of a painting he hadn't seen before. This was enough to pique his curiosity, causing him to walk over to the bench and sit down.

Analyzing the painting, he realized that it was the largest painting he had seen so far by this painter. The painting was divided in half – one side was the sea animals painted in bluish tones, and the other, the mushrooms and sunbeams painted in yellowish tones.

While Jin-Woo was deep in thought, he noticed a person sitting next to him.

He didn't care much about the stranger's presence, until he asked him a question:

"What do you think of this painting?"

This causes Jin-Woo to have his attention taken away from the painting.

He glances slightly in the direction of the person – who was already looking at him with a small smile on his face. Without realizing it, as if it were something automatic, his body immediately went on guard and his eyes slowly scanned the stranger from top to bottom. 'A young man, probably in his twenties. Doesn't appear to be a hunter, but I can't let appearances deceive me.'

Jin-Woo gives a businesslike smile. "It's a good painting," he answers honestly. "What about you? What do you think of it?" He shoots back.

"Hmmmm" the man thinks as he places a hand on his chin and turns towards the painting.

A few seconds pass.

"I think it could be better."

Jin-Woo's eyebrows rose slightly at the answer. "Really?"

The man nods – still with a smile on his face.

Jin-Woo looked at the painting again, and for some unknown reason, decided to be really honest with his opinion.

He began to explain how this particular artist's various paintings made him feel; how he could see every brushstroke he made; how the artist seemed to really enjoy what he painted, just by seeing and analyzing some of his paintings. The more Jin-Woo talked, the more immersed in the feeling he became.

To the point that it seemed like he was talking more to himself than to the unknown man beside him – who had turned completely towards him and seemed to have his smile growing bigger by the second.

After a few minutes, Jin-Woo realized what he was doing – which caused him to immediately shut up.

Placing his hand lightly over his mouth, he turned toward the man. "Sorry about that. I ended up saying too much." He apologized through a cold sweat.

The man shook his head. "It's okay! I enjoyed listening to you talk. It seems like you really like this artist." Jin-Woo gave a dry laugh as he scratched his cheek.

His body felt more relaxed now.

"To tell you the truth, I discovered his work today."

The man's eyebrows raise. "Really? The way you talked about his work with such passion, I thought you were his number one fan!" The man teases playfully.

The two spend a few more minutes talking about a variety of subjects, until a young woman starts walking towards them.

"Oppa!" Jin-Ah calls as she approaches, waving her arm – causing Jin-Woo to look in her direction and smile.

When she stops in front of the two, she notices someone sitting next to her brother – who is almost invading his personal space.

Jin-Ah raises an eyebrow at the stranger. From the way they seemed so relaxed in each other's presence, she would say they were very close friends. But she'd never seen this person before in Jin-Woo's small group of friends. But she smiles and greets him.

"Oh, hello! Sorry, I hadn't seen you before." She apologizes as she clasps her hands together and bows slightly.

The man quickly waves his hands away in embarrassment. "It's okay! Don't worry about it."

She composes herself and turns to her brother. "Oppa, you should introduce me to your friend!" Jin-Woo looks at the man beside him and then at his sister.

He chuckles slightly as he looks away from the two.

This seems to turn on a light bulb in the man's head – he quickly stands up, causing both of them to look in his direction.

He laughs as he scratches his head. "Haha, sorry about that, I forgot to introduce myself!" He says, apologizing for his carelessness.

The next words spoken make the two brothers' eyes widen:

"You can call me M/n!"

"?!!"

–

At the end of that day, M/n insisted so much that Jin-Woo gave in his number, that he ended up giving in out of pure pressure – Jin-Woo wouldn't say it out loud, but he also wanted to get the number of his new favorite artist.

After a few months of talking, they slowly began to develop romantic feelings for each other.

Having two extremely proactive people in the relationship meant that whoever took the initiative first to ask the other out on a date varied greatly. – sometimes it was M/n, with his outgoing, Golden Retriever-like personality, or Jin-Woo with his confident, slightly flirtatious personality.

And Jin-Woo loves how M/n seems to have all kinds of hobbies.

One of the things he never imagined was someone like M/n, a walking ray of sunshine, doing tarot readings – he had in mind a stereotypical appearance of people who did this kind of thing.

So imagine his surprise when, after returning from another day of work, find his apartment completely dark; his boyfriend sitting at the dining table that was covered with a dark blanket while having an innocent smile on his face and professionally shuffling a deck of strange cards.

When he asked what he was doing, M/n just responded with a quick kiss on his lips while laughing like a child. "Go take a shower and then come back here. I want to do something with you."

Following what his boyfriend said, he soon found himself sitting in the chair opposite M/n while drying his wet hair with a towel.

After a while with M/n explaining the situation and his intentions, Jin-Woo follows every command asked – like shuffling the cards while thinking about what he wanted.

"Okay, which card do you want to see first?" M/n asks as he refers to the three cards placed in front of the two.

Jin-Woo spends a few seconds thinking before pointing to the middle one. "My present."

M/n whistles. "That's an interesting choice! " He slowly extends his arm and finally turns the card over.

'Death.'

A few seconds pass with the two of them just staring at those words.

Jin-Woo seemed slightly surprised. After all, he never told him about his death-related powers.

Yes, he kept Igris in his shadow all the time. But he highly doubted that a normal person like him, who wasn't a hunter, could sense the presence of his shadows.

So there was only one concrete answer to this.

Him was very good at reading people with these tarot cards.

M/n smiles.

"Don't worry about it! It might sound scary, but the death card doesn't mean you're actually going to die." He quickly explains while waving his arm. "But, transformations and the closing of cycles. A need to leave behind old patterns, habits, or relationships that no longer serve you, making room for something new. " As he finished explaining the meaning of the letter that usually terrifies the people who pick it up, the doorbell rang.

Jin-Woo raises an eyebrow, wondering who would be at his apartment door so late at night.

But before he could get up, M/n had already jumped up and almost knocked over the chair and table together. "Finally! " He screams with joy as he runs towards the door.

After witnessing this, Jin-Woo finally gets up from his chair and follows his boyfriend.

When he stopped behind him, Jin-Woo saw him closing the door while holding a pizza box. "Did you order pizza? "

When he heard his voice, he quickly turned around and jumped. "Aah! You scared me!" This drew a hearty laugh from Jin-Woo.

"Sorry about that." Sometimes he forgets that people can't hear his footsteps.

After recovering, M/n answered his boyfriend's question: "Yes, I ordered while you were taking a shower." He explained before walking past Jin-Woo, who soon began following him towards the living room.

"I ordered half of my favorite flavor, and the other half of yours." He said as he placed the box on the table and threw himself onto the couch.

Jin-Woo sat beside him, gently cupped his face, and kissed his soft lips as a way of thanking for the food. "Thank you, love." He said with a sincere smile on his face.

Which you return with a big smile – so bright it momentarily blinds him.

The two of you soon settled in, turned on the TV to a fun show, grabbed a slice of pizza, and enjoyed the rest of the evening in the comfort of your apartment.

Another hobby M/n has is crocheting animals – which Jin-Woo thinks is really cute that he does.

Because of his hyperfixation, M/n could sometimes clean the entire house in a matter of hours or quickly master a new hobby.

But sometimes, he didn't realize he spent hours just locked in his office painting pictures or crocheting stuffed animals – unable to do the basics, like showering or eating.

And since Jin-Woo spent the whole afternoon in the portals, he couldn't stop him from doing that kind of thing.

He could make Igris, who is in M/n's shadow, ask him to take a break, and if he refused, Igris would easily throw you over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes and carry you out by force.

But since Jin-Woo didn't want M/n to know about his powers, one day he bought an alarm clock of his favorite sea animal to remind him to take a break.

Most of the time this works, but sometimes M/n is so focused on something that he completely ignores the sound of the alarm clock ringing for several minutes, or just turns it off.

When this happens, Igris immediately warns Jin-Woo – who is currently coming out of a portal.

He quickly takes out his cell phone and calls M/n. After a few failed attempts, he realizes that M/n is so focused on what he's doing that he's not answering his calls.

He immediately switches places with one of his shadows, which he keeps in his apartment for emergencies.

Jin-Woo goes to his office and finds him surrounded by a variety of penguins. 'Looks like this is his new focus,' he thinks while looks around.

"Love." M/n doesn't respond.

Jin-Woo sighs, already knowing what he has to do.

This is how he spends the next few minutes trying to get M/n's attention, and then trying to convince him to leave his office.

When he finally does, he realizes how tired his boyfriend is. He quickly takes him to the bathroom and takes a hot bath together.

Jin-Woo smiles when he feels his boyfriend's body relaxing against his.

Jin-Woo also loves the part that M/n cares deeply for the people around him.

Usually, when his friends are going through hard times or crying, they go to M/n, saying that just his warm presence is enough to calm them down.

But M/n does more than that.

If they were both in a public place, M/n would immediately notice something was wrong – just by observing their behavior, or how their friend seems more withdrawn than the others.

He would quickly take them to a more private and quiet place. This way, he can ask what was wrong and get his friend to calm down enough to get it off their chest.

M/n would make an excuse for the rest of the group of friends, and take his friend to some coffee shop or just for a walk in the park.

While doing all this, he would hold their hands and walk beside them.

If this happened in his apartment, he would make his friend sit on the couch and quickly bring a fluffy pillow and soft blankets.

M/n would soon professionally roll them into a burrito and leave them lying on the couch. He would run to the kitchen, make them something to drink, and grab some cookies and chips.

He would then return to the living room at the same speed while holding a pile of food in his arms, and spend the rest of the afternoon trying to calm them down as much as he could.

But the funniest part of all this, regardless of whether this kind of thing happened in public or in the comfort of your home, while his friend was distracted, m/n would just take a crocheted animal off his back and shove it in their face.

""Aah! What is that?! " His friend would scream in confusion as they tried to get the plush out of their faces.

M/n laughed. "He's here to help you calm down! "

This situation has happened so many times, and with different people in the group, that his friends ended up noticing that it was never the same animal.

When they asked M/n why he carried crocheted stuffed animals and why they were always different animals; and adding the fact that he just pulled them off his back out of complete nowhere, M/n just shrugged with a smile on his face.

"Who knows? Sometimes I don't even know which animal will come out."

After hearing this, his friends just accepted this fact and started calling every animal that came out of his back "Mr. Comfort."

–

At the end of the day, Jin-Woo and M/n lay in bed together.

But Jin-Woo felt like there were more figures inside their room than usual.

He gave a tired smile. "Oh yeah. Me. My boyfriend. And his collection of 500 crocheted stuffed animals he made."

This drew a hearty laugh from M/n. "Here." he said as he turned around and placed something on Jin-Woo's chest.

Looking down, he met a pair of tired eyes the same color as his own.

"I made it thinking of you." M/n said, referring to the small black cat plush he was holding.

Jin-Woo chuckled lightly. "I loved it." He said as he placed his hand on top of M/n's.

Turning towards him, he gently kissed his lips.

"Good night, my love."

M/n smiled at the nickname.

"Good night, kitten."

╰┈➤ A meme about this fanfic:

[kizykoolors]

This was inspired by the many silly and funny posts of Athena freaking out about Odysseus being "pregnant" with Telemachus, but with my own spin!

The King and Queen of Ithaca are waiting by the sea shores, with their son in the queen's arms. They seemed to be concentrated.

Penelope: Alright, love.. Remember what we practiced?

Odysseus, nodding: Yes. We tell her the truth before she starts panicking the moment the idea gets in her mind!

Penelope: Good. When is she going to appear?

Odysseus: If my senses are correct, she must be arriving... Now!

Penelope and Odysseus are now standing in front of Athena who flew down to them, divinity on full display with her spear in hand. Athena looks quite confused as to why she had been called and seeing the delighted looks on the Royal couple as she sees the Queen carrying a bundle of.. something.

Odysseus, stepping closer: Athena, we wish to have you meet our son... Telemachus!

Penelope passed their son to Odysseus and he held out Telemachus to the Goddess of Wisdom. Athena holds Telemachus carefully with a curious hoot.

Athena: Telemachus?

Odysseus: Yes, that is the name we chose for him. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DID NOT CARRY-

Athena: Odysseus, i am aware that Penelope was the one who carried your son.

Odysseus: And he absolutely did come out of my head- Huh?

Athena: I am perfectly aware that mortal women are the ones who bears the child. Did you assume that i would think your son was born out of your head because i was?

Odysseus: ....Yes?

Athena: I am quite offended, Odysseus of Ithaca. I'll remind you that my father is the King of the Gods, Zeus himself. I have witnessed many births from mortal and even the weirder ones.

Odysseus: I, I apologize for assuming you didn't know, Athena...

Athena: Hmph, That is alright, for now. Next time, don't assume such a thing. It was an honor to meet the Prince of your Kingdom, by the way.

She gives baby Telemachus back to Odysseus and she flies off to Olympus, maybe

Penelope: I was sure she would've thought it was you who carried Telemachus.. It would have been quite funny to watch.

Odysseus: So did i... But i guess we were wrong, huh? She probably must have seen weirder things, anyways.

Later, back in Olympus. Zeus is peacefully sipping some nectar from his cup when suddenly-

Athena: Father, you have lied to me.

[moonsglare]

as the world caves in. || multiple x reader

AND HERE IT IS / OUR FINAL NIGHT ALIVE / AND AS THE EARTH BURNS TO THE GROUND / OH GIRL IT’S YOU THAT I LIE WITH / AS THE ATOM BOMB LOCKS IN / OH GIRL IT’S YOU / I WATCH TV WITH / AS THE WORLD CAVES IN

cw. major character death

notes. felt silly

arlecchino

You find her against a broken pillar.

Her once pristine suit is in tatters. You can’t even discern anymore where red fabric ends and blood begins. The black feather-like horn in her hair has cracked, revealing crimson enamel, pulsing in tune with the balemoon above both your heads. Her curse, once up to her elbows, has creeped up to her shoulders, her neck, and just below her jaw. Each breath she takes is labored, pained. One of her wings lies uselessly by her side, while the other is just a stump.

She will die here.

But that’s fine, because you plan on dying right along with her.

Arlecchino’s head snaps up as you hobble over to her. The second coming of the cataclysm hadn’t exactly spared you either; a rifthound’s cursed teeth had sunk deep into your thigh. The wound is likely fatal on its own, though the abyssal corruption spreading through you at an alarming rate only solidifies your death sentence. Still, it doesn’t stop Arlecchino from snapping at you as you approach, brows furrowed, her clawed hands digging into dead soil.

“What are you doing here?” she hisses. You really know the extent of her injuries and exhaustion now—if she was in even slightly better condition, she’d have picked you up and flown you right back somewhere safe. But she isn’t, so you let yourself slide down the pillar next to her with a snort.

“What does it look like?” you huff. “I’m here for you, idiot.”

She gives you a look between incredulity and despair. “You—“

“If you think I’d ever leave you behind, I’m going to smack you.”

Arlecchino quiets at that briefly. You lean your head back against the pillar, a remnant of a building ravaged by the angry surge of the Abyss, and shut your eyes. You can feel Arlecchino’s eyes bore into the side of your face, tracing the line of your jaw, the swell of your cheek, then the shape of your lips, as if to memorize you. When she speaks again, her voice is remarkably soft.

“You’ll die,” she whispers, and you turn your head to her with a smile, meeting her eyes. You take her larger hand in your own—your wedding bands meet with a soft clink of metal.

“I’d follow you to oblivion and back, Peruere.”

Something in her expression shutters, and Peruere leans down to press her forehead against your own. She’s so close, like this. Close enough for you to see the way the veins and arteries in her neck pulse under curse-marked skin to a beat that mirrors your own; close enough for you to feel the way her breath fans over your cheek; close enough for you to kiss her.

And you do, free hand cradling her cheek while the other cups the nape of her neck. Peruere returns the kiss like she’s trying to press her soul against your lips. To give it to you instead of whatever higher power will claim it in the end. Her hand in yours squeezes gently, her thumb brushing over your knuckles. Her remaining wing rises, a little shakily, and wraps around you, pulling you closer. You smile into the kiss, even as wetness gathers in your lashes.

Peruere wipes them away with her thumb. Draws back just enough to look you in the eyes one last time, selfishly. The earth wails in the distance, cracking and splintering, and the wind howls above your heads. The crimson balemoon shines impassively down as the herald of the apocalypse, cold and unfeeling. But Peruere’s wing around you is warm, and her palm caressing your cheek feels like being at home.

“To oblivion and back,” Peruere whispers, and then the world ends—

—but at least for you and her, it ends in love.

shalom

Shalom has always known you would meet a solitary end. She had said as much to you, back in the bureau when she had first met you—or rather, when you had first met her, in your fragmented memory. And some part of her was content with the fact. She’s smart, diligent. A HUSH. She could learn you utterly and completely, dive into and discover the depths of your heart before her time runs out.

She does achieve her goal, in the end. But she also falls terribly in love with you, and now the thought of being without you makes her unbroken heart constrict in her chest.

Now here she stands, in this field of lillies she once haunted. This realm of Mania, deceptively beautiful, with a cloudless blue sky stretching on endlessly. She can feel the gaze of the Illusory Moon crawl up her spine, but that is not her concern. No, her concern is you, standing off into the distance, alone—a solitary figure of grey against the blinding white. And somehow, you just know she’s there; like Orpheus for Eurydice, like something bone deep in you compels you to turn around and look.

But Shalom doesn’t disappear like Eurydice. Instead, she steps forward and slots herself into your arms instead with a hum, her hands splaying on your shoulder blades, holding you close. She buries her head in your neck, breathes in your scent—lillies, always lillies—and speaks.

“This is it, then.”

You nod. Card your fingers through her wine-red hair. “This is it.”

“It’s quite peaceful,” she muses, shifting to rest her ear against your chest. Your heartbeat thuds, calm and powerful, and Shalom lets her eyes flutter shut at the rhythm. You manage a small chuckle.

“For now. It’ll get quite ugly soon, at least on the outside,” you murmur. Your lips press a kiss to the top of her head. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She laughs at that. “There are many things I shouldn’t be, and yet, here we are. Mostly because of you, you know.”

“You know what I mean,” you huff, and she smiles. Of course she does. This is your solitary end, the cold calculus of the universe that demands your life in exchange for the world. If she was still HUSH, she’d see it as a bargain. But she’s not HUSH anymore, just Shalom, and suddenly the price is too high, too unacceptable.

“I know.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I’m selfish,” she admits, voice barely above the breeze rustling the flowers by your feet. “I don’t want to be in a world without you.”

Not when you are the one who gives it meaning.

You’re silent for a moment, before a rueful expression pulls at your lips. You shake your head with an affectionate sigh, resting your forehead against hers. You know better than to argue with her. Your hand finds hers, intertwining your fingers and squeezing gently. No words are exchanged between you, but no words are necessary. Her hand squeezes back, and then you’re turning, facing the growing light at the end of the horizon. You’re her Orpheus amidst the flowers, leading her forward step by step until the light devours you both. To life, or to death, she doesn’t know. She doesn’t quite care.

For like Eurydice, what else mattered besides the hand in her own, the proof that she was loved?

kujou sara

Sara once thought she knew pain. Cuts and bruises, arrowheads and sword slashes—none of these are new to her. Her body is a canvas of scars from her time as a warrior, some pale and faded, while others are pink and freshly healed. Pain is inevitable, in a profession such as hers. Sara once thought she knew pain, but nothing could have ever prepared her for the agony of seeing tears paint your soft cheeks as you lie in her arms, staining the burnt soil below you red with your blood.

It feels like someone has reached into her chest, fingers curling around her heart and squeezing tight. Everything else has faded to a dull sensation; the arrows lodged in her wings as she shields you both from the world; the gash in her side from an axe-wielding hilichurl; the throb in her skull from when an Abyss Herald had managed to get a lucky hit in. The war around you both is now an afterthought, even as the skies rage and the Abyss spills forth like a hellish tide. No, the only thing she can focus on is you, as your lips painted red part and whisper to her brokenly.

“Sara,” you choke out, “I love you.”

Sara leans down, pressing her forehead to yours. Her golden eyes meet yours, and she hopes you can see the sincerity within. “I love you too, dearest.”

Your breathing rattles ominously in your chest, and Sara holds you tighter. Closer. A small comfort as death approaches you both on silent feet, ready to collect. Your fingers grip the front of her uniform tightly, staining her white uniform red. “Promise me,” you rasp, and Sara exhales shakily.

“Anything.”

“Find me again,” you plead, your voice so small she would not have heard you, were it not for her tengu senses. “In the next life, promise you’ll find me again—“

She grips your hand tightly. “I promise. I promise, my love, so wait for me.”

She doesn’t even know what awaits either of you beyond this. Is there even such thing as a next life? Heaven? Hell? She doesn’t know, but she doesn’t care. If there is a next life, she will find you, over and over again until the end of time. If heaven doesn’t exist, she’ll build it with her own hands for you. It it does, she’ll meet you there. If hell exists, she’ll carry you out on her back herself. Sara would do anything for you—all you have to do is ask. She kisses you as your breathing slows, your final breath mingling with hers. As death’s shroud settles on her shoulders, she memorises every line on your face, the set of your jaw, the arch of your brows like they’re her north star, to shine forever in her sky and lead her home. Home, wherever you are.

(In another universe, a pair of crows roost on a powerline. In another, a black obi is tied around a beautiful kimono. In another, a museum’s display katana rests peacefully in its delicate sheathe.

In another, she stands hand in hand with you again, looking at them all.)

[ruija]

How many Turtles and Goongala-guys does it take to change a Battleshell tire?

[goldensunset]

life in hisui has to be so incredibly bizarre for the protagonist if you choose to imagine them as being from modern sinnoh without amnesia. for all the usual reasons but also because like. to them ‘sinnoh’ is just the name of the region they live in but everyone else here keeps referring to this ‘almighty sinnoh’ being that they worship. maybe this is just me as an american but. if i stumbled upon a place where a bunch of people praised ‘the great god america’ i would assume them to be a freakishly patriotic nationalistic cult and nope out of there so fast. like imagine how that would sound without context

[eviiaa]

yk the more I rewatch monstrosities and relisten(for the hundredth time) to EPIC the more I realize that Odysseus & Kai are two sides of the same coin. The similarities are obvious—both getting separated from their loved ones and desperately trying to get home, to see them once more—but every time they get into similar situations (the lake/sirens and the “whether to kill or spare an infant”) they ALWAYS go the opposite path.

In the lake/sirens situation, Odysseus had enough of their bs and just wants to get home, so he covers his ears with bees wax(or doesn't fall for the sirens out of sheer will power in the og) and plays along so he can get him and his men to his island. He plays strategically out of desperation—immediately killing the sirens once he revealed that he knew all along. Kai on the other hand IMMEDIATELY FOLDS. He goes into the lake out of desperation—and then kills the creature once he sees that it was bs. Same ending but different ways of doing it.

For the infant, the two of them take VERY different approaches. They are told that the infant will grow up and cause more destruction across the land. That kid, if not neutralized will cause more grief to themselves and to others.

“The beast that ravaged my homelands and devoured my future so I'm here to bring it to the same fate, to destroy its future.”

“So you know it's wrong. It's just an egg, not a monster.”

“Yet!“

“Know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger

One fueled with rage as you're consumed by age

If you don't end him now, you'll have no one left to save”

Odysseus yeets that infant to secure that kid won't kill him and his family to avenge his father and kingdom. He did it to save his family, he didn't want to but there was no way of stopping that prophecy. Kai tho spared that kid, he knows from experience that not every kid follows in their parents' footsteps. He has faith that maybe even if it’s a slim chance but a chance nonetheless that it won't become a beast.

They eventfully escape, not the same man that once sat on the throne or the one who was spared in the monastery but can we really say that both became monsters, or one more a monster than the other because were they really? Would you consider them a monster if they were attacked first? Would you consider them a monster if they were just trying to survive in a land that wants them dead? Did they become a monster because they killed? Did they become a monster because they did not spare those who would not spare them?

When does a man become a monster?

[bugsinshoes]

"HEYA ROMEO"

[sparrownnax]

hm.... considering writing an Arvio & Amirah fic.... post-Desert Rose.... they're in their chairs and just yapping. yay or nay

[evanescentdawn]

AHAHAH I totally was gonna do something for Lucifer ship month. I didn’t end finishing this one sadly. sharing a fav bit. well. it shares fav with another part. it was really fun n interesting to write this ^^

Saburouta walks further into the dim hallway, door creeking close behind him and further encapsulating him into the dark. There is barely any brightness to make out the place but there's no need. It's a bare hallway. Just him now, and the walls surrounding him. It seems to go on forever. Saburouta knows it doesn't though.

He walks. The echoes of footsteps fill the hallway, keeping him company in the almost-dark.

He reaches the end of the hallway, stepping into another place. A large room that feels exceedingly larger than life too. Just as empty, but more well-lit despite the contining lack of source. Saburouta smiles. He soon comes to a stop at middle, the echoes of his footsteps ceasing. He's in complete silence now.

Just him and this room.

[mosttrusted]

I've finally requested to step down from my Coordinator role in the Corps cos I'm legit just beyond sick of it... I never wanted it in the first place and was left with no help and made to find my own way. But I'm still an instructor for two Senior ranks, Divisional Officer for both my unit's Divisions ( meaning all 49 seniors ), Unit Training Officer, joint Boating Officer and have been recommended as 1st Lieutenant. I think that's more than enough. 😫 And I'm going on the course to hopefully be my unit's Physical Training Instructor, so again, they can't say I'm not doing anything. 😂

[transannabeth]

much to consider about jordan not drinking alcohol but liking something in her hand. about her calling nick an accessory as well. therefore heavily implying her preference for woman and lack of romantic and sexual interest in men

and then after myrtle is killed and she invites nick in for a birthday drink, he says ‘you don’t drink’ and she replies ‘well maybe i should start!’

interesting

[shellbuddies]

Go for the knees

[savage-rhi]

Magenta kinda?

[phantamic-moriori]

Is Bashe’s sash a Shen Gong Wu?

Yes, kinda... Maybe?

See, the story behind her sash is connected to her family's history. Thousands of years ago, her family had the curse of being able to turn into giant snake demons; however, the power was very hard to control. Her family was nortorious for stealing Shen Gong Wu and keeping it for themselves, daring anyone to try and take what they had. When Dashe came along, he defeated the head of the demon clan: Èdú. After facing a humiliating defeat through a Xiaolin Showdown, he realized his errors and pleaded for Dashe's forgiveness.

Dashe was... Confused, to say the least. He told Èdú that the thought was nice, but he needed not to do that (to him at least). As a sign of friendship, Dashe gave Èdú The Sash Of Purity. This sash would allow their clan to control their demonic powers throughout future generations. The sash would grow with them as they learned to right their wrongs. Once that has been done, Dashe appointed them as guardians of whatever Shen Gon Wu is needed to be protected.

So I guess I would say that it is, but it's only something that can be used by Bashe's family.

[drop--pop--candy]

kicking my feet and giggling. i love having synthesasia im out here unlocking Shrimp Friendship

[the-prince-rambles]

Thinking about some of my old writing projects I want to restart, namely a one act play I wrote (about two best friends in love, and quite possibly one of the cutest confessions ever), and a short story about an eldritch library thats very Welcome to Nightvale - esque. (sort of--)

Anyways I might rewrite those, or start making more solid concepts once I figure it out. (or perhaps I'll add the library to an already existing universe I have, it would fit well.)