#its midnight and thundering and i am inspired

[wisteriagoesvroom]

🎤your 'lightning strikes', if you will!🎤

ahaha thank you. (context: xiaoluclair and i were talking about lightning strike moments for fic and where inspiration comes from:

- schools of thought: wanted to tackle a multimedia / epistolary fic and it was fun to do landoscar a college age setting. nostalgic for me!

- foudre seche was from those sun and thunder midnight rain lestappen edits! and it’s kind of an amalgamation / ode to the great lestappen canon verse fics i’ve read (and am probably trying not to copy too much.)

- and honestly most of my other mini fics so far has been from other people’s prompts 🤝

- girl!lando (a wip) has my attention at the moment and is one that i can’t even remember how i started, but it feels very real and lived-in to me so far. it probably it came from the idea of “hmm landoscar is a great dynamic. what would happen if lando’s chaos and ambition and big personality was the same, but told in the context of being a girl in f1?” and i went from there. it started out with a largely vibes based outline (as does most of my writing tbh) , and it’s now taken on a life of its own. girl!lando feels very personal to be atm and because the story will be told from oscar’s pov, she’s not necessarily an easy character to get a read on per se. but at the same time she feels incredibly clear and multidimensional to me. i kinda like that complexity about her. & i hope that readers will like her as much as i’ve fought for her in this story if that makes sense.

[mastermicd-arch]

i would like cliche thunderstorm threads

[raayllum]

Partially inspired by there being roughly 8-9 falling stars in the new S4 intro as well as this quote (the closest thing we have to a current season synopsis) enclosed down below:

After more than a millennium of careful planning, moving and manipulating generations of humans and elves like pieces on some cosmic chess board, the machinations of the Midnight Star known as Aaravos are finally coming to bear. But where did this enigmatic Startouch elf come from? What does he want? And what price will our heroes have to pay to stop him?

Anyway let’s talk about TDP and Chess Symbolism.

Now, I’ve talked in a fluffier, more fun way about TDP and chess (namely headcanon wise / prompts for a possible oneshot) before, and I’ve written a fic alongside my co-writer all about the five kiddos paired with all sorts of chess symbolism. It has been one of my great loves ever since I was a kid, and I am accordingly biased. I am also going to do my best to break down my thoughts / the pieces in a way that is clear and understandable, but I am also not an expert on chess or its symbolism, I could get things wrong. So consider that my official disclaimer, feel free to add your own thoughts and ideas, and that this is just a theory like any other.

The reason why all of this is relevant, you may ask, is because chess has sixteen pieces — eight pawns, who are pretty interchangeable, and eight more defined pieces: two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen, and the king. There are also eight pieces, one for each of the main cast, in the Dragon Prince game, Battlecharged (and TDP has alluded to this relationship before, with Aaravos being the DM in the Zoom Into Xadia’s DND skit back in 2020).

All of this is a long winded to say each of the main cast may match up with a star (particularly if the one that illuminates Aaravos’ name is his star), indicating that he will be all of their downfalls at one time or another, and that each of the characters may have a little chess symbolism woven in going forward. This is also supported by some of the similarities TDP’s magic has with tarot cards associations (death as literal transformation, lightning strike tower like the tower in 1x03 and lightning/thunder as peril, etc) so they’re not beyond bringing in other associations.

[ Because this is somewhat research and definitively speculation heavy, everywhere I’m getting my information is linked because we love questioning and checking for verifiable sources. ]

And with that let’s dig in, overseeing the main eight characters from Battlecharged and in TDP in general: Viren, Ezran, Claudia, Callum, Rayla, Soren, Amaya, and Janai. (Other one offs might also factor in, like Opeli or Corvus, as possibilities). Starting from the end of the row and working our way in, let’s start by talking about

The Rooks

The rook, typically portrayed now as a castle, is a very straightforward piece. It can move up and down or left and right, and move any number of squares, black or white, in a play. It cannot move diagonally.

Rooks are often the most powerful near the end of a game, where they can more easily move unencumbered by a landmine of pawns. They are not great at removing enemy pawns from advancing. Symbolically, the Rook is seen as a Fortress and is there to protect members of the royal family, specifically the bishops, king, and queen. 

It is for these reasons that I believe Janai and Amaya are both rooks, now just on the same team rather than being opposed the way they were in S2. Even with the way they are not able to protect Lux Aurea from Viren, but end up arguably playing the biggest role in defeating his army in S3.

It speaks to all the parallels between them: sisters to the queen, respected and feared rival generals, etc. They were in charge of defending either side of the Breach, fought over outposts (a fortress), and Amaya kept the throne safe from corruption from within. The first time they engage in something as a team is to try to protect Lux Aurea from Viren, as Janai was her sister’s sworn defender (and why I don’t think she’s a knight, I’ll get to in a minute). They both have a very hands on, “I’ll tackle you outright and smash into things” fighting style.

One of the reasons I have also paired them together is because they are very much two halves of a single, complementary warrior of sword and shield, and Janai’s fortress in Lux Aurea has notably fallen in S3. Trying to restore it will be her (and presumably Amaya’s) main plot line in S4, even now that Janai is queen.

The Knights

The Knight is an interesting piece, as it hops one square up — either up or down, or side to side — and then must also move diagonally as well. 

Due to this ability to leap over pieces, it means that they are the only piece capable of starting a game other than a pawn. Additionally, this unconventional way of movement makes it a pro at sneaking behind enemy lines and staging interesting attacks. It is also one of the more famous chess pieces with clear ties to Medieval history (even if Chess originated in India centuries before it made its way to India) which TDP takes plenty of inspiration for.

Historical knights were almost always highborn sons and lords who wanted to improve their standing further / enjoyed a bit of swagger, even if they were also the first line of real defense in specifically protecting the king. It is for all of these reasons that I am placing Viren and Soren as the knights.

Soren is obvious just from everything about him, his place as a crownguard, his loyalty to Harrow and his deep bond with Ezran. He is also the only member to do active work behind enemy lines, seeking out the elves first hand in 1x01, protecting Callum and Harrow in 1x03, freeing Ezran in 3x05, orchestrating to get the other members of the council out safely, and defecting with crucial information.

Viren, likewise, does work behind enemy lines - first in trying to get the throne through dishonest means, then through manipulating Amaya and Gren, sneaking into Lux Aurea, using the other soldiers (literal pawns) as a distraction. His actions also ultimately serve a force greater than himself. For many years, he was seen as Harrow’s first line of defense, as Marcos runs to him first after being attacked by Rayla, and Viren is the one who notified Harrow. Now, Viren (knowingly or unknowingly) serves Aaravos’ will. 

A symbol of stealth, strength, and following orders, Viren and Soren safely feel as the knights to me, even as they exchange places and Viren falls further (and further) from ‘grace.’ 

Honourary knight mention / addition: good boy Corvus. Love him!

The Bishops

The Bishop is an interesting piece. There’s all the religious symbolism (hi Opeli) wrapped up into it and the political history of it as well, particularly in Europe 600s-1700s. The Bishop is also the only piece that can never move onto a square that’s a different colour than the one it originated on, as it moves diagonally. Thus, there is a black square bishop and a white square bishop. 

Maybe unsurprisingly, if you’ve been following me long enough, I think that Ezran and Claudia are the bishops (although Opeli could definitely constitute a substitute, for example). 

The bishop is representation of the royal court. While Ezran holds office as a literal king, engaging in court politics is his mainstay, even over leading armies into battle. The bishop also serves as a close advisor and member of the royal family, which we can see in Claudia’s devotion to her father. 

Because of the bishops limited movements, they can both be deadly and easily backed into corners, and are particularly susceptible to pawns (Councilman Saleer), as pawns can only capture players diagonally to begin with. 

Claudia and Ezran’s shared sense of duty and devotion even in the face of great deterrence or loss — leaving their brothers or letting their brothers leave for example; Claudia being self sacrificial with dark magic and Ezran with the crown; their differing but steadfast view of elves and magical creatures — and thus, they don’t evolve the same way other characters on the board / in the show do. Their circumstances change, and Ezran definitely matures, but largely they just become more of who they already were, rather than someone utterly new. 

Additionally, unlike all other pieces, which can move between black-white squares at will, the bishops being trapped to their singular colour means that they, more than other pieces, are a matched set, at their most effective when played together. Make of that what you will. 

The Queen

You probably know what’s coming — although truthfully, much of this was speculated as I went along. I considered Ezran for king, of course; debated Janai as a knight, and Rayla too, for their senses of duty — but ultimately, at least in how I’m interpreting the pieces, the symbolism I could find, and the likeliest season four plot lines moving ahead... 

Rayla is the Queen, for a number of reasons. The first is that the queen is the Powerhouse piece on the board, able to move up or down or diagonally at will, combining alone the skills of the rook and the bishop into one piece. Just like the Queen, Rayla is a powerhouse fighter, able to hold off multiple opponents at once and who can attack almost anyone and typically hold her own. She also has a great amount of freedom and agility in how she moves and fights. 

The Queen’s movement style is also reflected in Rayla’s early S1 arc, as she starts off largely as a pawn — and then, once she reaches the other side of the board (Katolis) she is transformed to be a much more powerful, important player in protecting future kings and current princes. This is reminiscent of how, in most matches, if you manage to get a pawn to the other side of the board, you will exchange it for one of your lost pieces, and will always pick your Queen if you have already lost her. 

The Queen’s aggression and flexibility make her a strong piece, able to move all over the board, and this is reflected in how Rayla can go back and forth between Xadia and the Pentarchy. Since she now lives in exile from the Silvergrove and from her temporary home in Katolis, she can go wherever the action takes her with little fuss. 

However, the queen’s tendency to go far from home and the safety of other pieces also means she is susceptible to being captured (or having her ‘light’ stolen in Rayla’s case) and it is a mighty blow if you lose your queen. Many players will sacrifice anything (myself included) in order to keep it. Yet again, make of that what you will. 

Also, I couldn’t find anything else that aided this turn of phrase, but one source did use it and I would be remiss not to include it because it made me holler at 2am, so there: The Queen may be the ‘Moon’. 

The King

Like I said, I considered many different characters for king. Ezran and Rayla were both options for me, due to their literal and metaphorical importance, even Zym or Avizandum (or Harrow) as well. I also considered Callum for Queen, due to the way he will likely master all primal sources in the future, similar to how the Queen can move in many different ways. But ultimately, for all the reasons:

Last but not least, Callum is the King. 

While he has no concrete crown the way Ezran does, or the flexibility to move the way Rayla does, Callum is arguably the most important character going forward due to the ramifications his magic has for the rest of the world. After all, if humans can access / create their own arcanums, if Callum can teach them how, they will be able to give up dark magic and pave another path forward, for good. Additionally, Callum’s ‘crown’ in some way is the Key of Aaravos. It is clearly going to be important and is the only object other than the mirror prison that is connected to Aaravos in some manner. 

The King is a piece of limited means, only able to move on square at a time — but in any direction, a unique quality it shares with the queen. Perhaps this can be a reflection of Callum’s currently limited but powerful arsenal of spells, or the way he will get more arcanums steadily, one at a time. It may also refer to the way Callum’s hands are tied in S4 if he goes after Rayla (and if his queen is captured). Callum and Rayla’s bond, with the way she often directly advises him (1x04, 2x04) and seeks to protect him above herself — the way every piece prioritizes protecting the king above all else — also factored into this decision.

Our mage is a very special boy.

Conclusion

So this meta has taken its time (I got terminated twice while writing it) but we have finally reached the end, which is where I turn things over to you. Do you agree with my chess assessment? Do you think my speculation has grounds, or do you think a different character should be a different piece? Let me know in my askbox and/or in the replies!

As a final note, I will leave this quote from a paper I came across in my research phase (published in 1969): 

“‘by calculations based on the chess-board, the march of time and the cycles, the superior influences which are exerted on this world, and the bonds which attach them to the human soul ...’ The cyclical symbolism of the chess-board was known to King Alphonsus the Wise [...] At each stage of the game, the player is free to choose between several possibilities, but each movement will entail a series of unavoidable consequences, so that necessity increasingly limits free choice, the end of the game being seen, not as the fruit of hazard, but as the result of rigorous laws. It is here that we see not only the relationship between will and fate, but likewise between liberty and knowledge; except in the case of in-advertence on the part of his opponent, the player will only safeguard his liberty of action when his decisions correspond with the nature of the game, that is to say with the possibilities that the game implies. In other words, freedom of action is here in complete solidarity with foresight and knowledge of the possibilities; contrariwise, blind impulse, however free and spontaneous it may appear at first sight, is revealed in the final outcome as a non-liberty.”

[girlucifer]

"what's love...

if not a waiting to be seen?" camille norton - corruption poems

below are little blurbs regarding simeon/solomon/diavolo + undressing because y'know, i am feeling down! so what better remedy than vague excerpts to project onto as a means of intimacy. thanks for reading :)

simeon: they promised luke with a golden smile and clasped pinkies that they'd sleep over with him in purgatory hall- he had been particularly upset that the brothers seemed to eat up all of the human's time. as they held his hands and with the chandelier lights a halo above the human's head, he excitedly made plans to have a tea party at midnight and eat cookies under the stars! the human must've been so tired- simeon knew it with their stifled yawns and heavy eyelids as they danced with brother after brother. but they'd crucify themselves for just one smile from someone they loved- they accepted luke's invitation with stars in their eyes. a part of simeon hated the holiness that emanated from them- he couldn't escape god if he tried. they almost seem unattainable. tucked away in the land of milk and honey as he remains tempted in the desert, left to turn to dust. luke runs inside the house, exclaiming all the things they'll do- play that game leviathan was recommending, make celestial-inspired honeyed cookies with lavender tea, and oh, don't forget--- within a moment he falls asleep upon the couch and with a laugh, solomon takes him in his arms and leaves with the dozing child, leaving the two alone. the air is suffocating- he looks over to the human who almost seems to be sleeping while upright. a touch upon their shoulder jolts them awake and the two share a laugh in the softened light of the hall's lamps. starlight spills from the window from the moonless sky- simeon watches as the human looks through the window, their lips always fixed with a small smile. eternally blissful. 'you must be tired- i'll fix up the guest room for you.' the human follows as he walks towards the end of the hall. the room was small- it isn't very often used except during nights where mammon hides from debt collectors or asmodeus needs to store a delicate dress- and maybe even nights like these where the human finds themselves alone with simeon, who suddenly finds it hard to breathe. 'this stupid outfit- lucifer chose it. i don't very much like it- he claims it's devildom-styled formal attire. to me, it's just a nightmare to take off. do you mind?' they turn around, tilting their head to reveal a small zipper near the back of their neck. suddenly everything becomes so slow as simeon takes off his gloves, his bare fingers finding their warm skin in the dim room. temptation is a dirty thing and he finds the taste of their skin like liquid gold, almost suffocating in it.

solomon: lightning struck as rain drummed upon the foliage before them, the only cover for the two the stone above their heads. a trip in the north european forests, foraging for whatever magic-imbued items they can find for potions and spells turned futile as dark clouds blanketed the sky and rain poured, the two finding shelter within a cave. they were far from any village, having trekked and camped for days to make it to the deepest and most untouched parts of the wood, hoping to stumble upon authentic fairy circles and catch will o' the wisps. solomon sighed- another failed attempt of making a fire. something was dampening his powers, and he really wanted to attribute it to the thunderous skies and chills that made its way deep into his bones, but his heart knew by the way it beat so strongly it had to do with his apprentice, who shivered with such fervor that he kept trying to light a fire or spark a flame between his palms- something to make them feel just a little better. he shook his head, clenching his fists: 'nothing is working. the twigs are wet and the wind blows out every spark. i'm so sorry for dragging you through this. god, you're freezing! we got to get you out of these soaked clothes!' his hands found their buttons and not even a moment later, he stopped in his tracks. with averted eyes, he brings his hands back down, the small space becoming even more constricting- warmth finally being found spread across his face and upon his ears. he grew red as the human laughed through chattered teeth, a small cough ending their light giggle. with trembling hands, frosted by the howling wind, they unbutton their shirt as solomon inspects the lines in the stoned wall with such intrigue. their bare skin reveals itself in his periphery as the blush creeped further, his heart pounding within his chest. they moved to their trousers, the sounds of fabric rustling sending his pulse spiking. what on god's name is he on about? they need to remove their soaked clothes to avoid hypothermia- such a simple notion his head can wrap around... but the small cave grew ever smaller as he could barely restrain himself from taking their waist and...

diavolo: a million apologies whispered and he didn't want to hear a single one- it was something else that drew his gaze to their lips. it was a quiet moment in the castle's garden- he had invited the human to drink iced tea and enjoy barbatos' freshly made scones, still warm from the fire-magic oven. their eyes grew with the homely scene- a white iron garden table adorned with native devildom flowers, handpicked by theirs truly- diavolo proudly displayed the cuts upon his hands from where the hellish flowers pricked as he gathered only the finest specimens. the human laughed- something he'd never get tired of. the two sat and enjoyed the dark afternoon of a particularly hot day. within a moment, a wave of warmth splashed upon his dress shirt and the human exclaimed in shock, standing up with abject horror upon their face. the air around them was strung with apologies as they frantically took the white towelette in front of them, dabbing it upon the growing stain. diavolo stifled laughter- what a scene, the two standing in the dark of the devildom, having the human dote on him with a flushed face and shaking hands. 'please, don't worry. it's just a blouse!' the human looks up with such eyes that the breath in his throat hitches and he finds himself flustered. this human... 'allow me to wash it. i'm known to be able to remove just any stain. please- let me make it up to you.' he could never refuse them- even with such an absurd offer to restore a shirt he has dozens of. not even a moment later, the human reaches their hands, their fingers finding the buttons, unclasping the golden halos one by one before he realized what was happening. they wrap around him, the dress shirt falling into their hands. they fold it, and suddenly diavolo feels exposed. the now-stained shirt was from a set of garments inherited by his father- princely garb. without them, he stood in his ordinary undershirt with the human looking at him with a playful expression, as if it was all a trap to lead him to the simple feeling that with them, he isn't the prince of hell but a lovestruck fool, head over heels. what a clever trick. he takes their face within his hands and kisses them between laughter, smiles pressed against each other's lips.

[letmebeawesome]

Hello!! I am here to deliver your wrestling ask!!

Pick a wrestler to choose new entrance music for. Why would you choose that song for them, and what do you imagine the entrance would look like?

Ok, I'm going to do this in two halves - As I post this, its midnight, so I'm doing my first answer as 'sleep deprived, first thought in my head, not really answering the question'. Then tomorrow I'm gonna reblog it with a good answer.

First thought: I love the New Day's entrance music but I would love if Woods ever got his own theme (or heck, a new one for him & Kofi as a team) to have something epic and video game inspired. He deserves it. Maybe with a cool 8-bit fanfare while he's King Woods.

Also Thunder Rosa needs Thunderstruck, I've been watching pandemic-era matches where the wrestlers at ringside did the Thunderstruck chant for her and damn I need that back.

Proper answer coming tomorrow!

[simp-for-mha-men]

𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕟 (𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕒 𝕒𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕨𝕒 𝕩 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣)

Request by @hermionie-is-my-queen​: Hey! Not necessarily a request, and kind of a scenario proposal: but imagine aizawa and reader adopted a cat a while back together, and the cat gets sick, or has to be put down, and it’s just some comforting fluff? Idk if this falls into the category of no angst so if it does instead maybe visiting a shelter to adopt a new kitty? Tysm anyway! Soft aizawa and soft kitties are my fav

A/N: Yes, yes, and yes! I am so in love with this whole idea. I took a little bit of inspiration from the English voice actor’s Tik Tok and from where I live for this one. School just started back up, too, so I’ll now be taking a bit longer to reply to requests. Sorry! Anyways, I really hope you enjoy it!

Genre: fluffy times with a rescue cat and your boyfriend, angst in the first half due to animal death 🌧️💜

Word count: 2.7k

♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥

It had only been a month. One month ago, you lost your precious siamese cat, Willow. Your boyfriend, Shouta Aizawa, had given her to you once you moved into your first apartment together. She was a gift that kept on giving, whether it was hairballs or purrs. She kept you company through the day while your boyfriend was teaching his students, and you both would welcome him home with kisses and cuddles every day.

Aizawa loved Willow just as much as you did. You were both the lights in his life, and without you, he would feel incomplete. After the worst days at U.A., he could come home and feel at peace due to the loves of his life. It tore him up inside that Willow was gone, but he knew the loss broke you apart even worse than it did him.

He adopted Willow when she was 11. The shelter he went to, usually just to browse, was going to put her down just because of her age. Aizawa formed a bond when he looked into her ocean blue eyes. He knew that she would be perfect not only for him but for you as well. In a matter of minutes, the adoption papers were signed and finalized. A beautiful forest green bow was placed around her neck, and she was on her way to meet the better half of her new owner. The three of you were inseparable when home. Midnight cuddles and afternoon snacks were always a favorite among your little family. Despite you and Aizawa never talking about kids in your future, you felt like Willow was your daughter. It was true perfection and bliss. Sadly, it couldn’t last forever.

When Willow turned 13, she started acting strange. She began hiding around the house more, throwing up whenever she ate, and losing an excessive amount of weight. You decided a check-up was in order, and Aizawa whole-heartedly agreed. Praying for a fluke incident was what you did, but deep down, you knew that wasn’t going to be the case no matter how much you wished it to be. Her vet told you both that she had cancer and wouldn’t live much longer. This caused your world to come spiraling down.

How someone handles the five stages of grief depends on the person. For you, Willow was absolutely fine. You were in absolute denial. Over the two years you and Aizawa raised her, she was always healthy. There was absolutely no way that she could have cancer. Healthy cats don’t get cancer, right? You went about your life with Willow as if everything was normal. Aizawa tried to knock some sense into you, but you blocked it out. A week later, a certain piece of information triggered the second stage of grief.

Aizawa told you that he would be staying home to take care of Willow with you, since she was living her final weeks. Saying you were furious would be an understatement. You took your boyfriend onto the balcony and yelled at him for 15 minutes about how Willow was completely normal. You told him that everything was fine and that she would live longer than what the vet said. Seeing you were too stubborn to change, Aizawa refused talking to you about the matter but still took those extra days off. It lasted like this another week before another trip to the vet.

Once you got home that night, you found yourself on your knees next to the bed. You were praying to whatever deity was in the sky or under the ground to save Willow. You didn’t know if bargaining with the immortal was a sane idea, but you had entered the third stage. Aizawa watched you do this every hour of the day, it seemed. He heard you muttering to yourself in your sleep, begging for Willow’s safety. None of this worked, though. Two weeks after the visit, Willow was back at the vet to be put down for good.

The last month had gone by agonizingly slow. Your boyfriend was back at work, leaving you alone to your own devices. The depression had been the longest stage. You wondered to yourself if you would ever get to the acceptance part of the five stages. Nothing you did to try and clear your mind worked. You tried to write, draw, sing, and dance, but nothing seemed successful. Most days, you were confined to your side of your shared bed, sobbing your eyes out until they looked unusually red and puffy.

Losing an animal shouldn’t hurt this much. You had a cat when you were younger, and when she was put down, you were only upset for a week before understanding it was time to move on. Why did losing Willow hurt so much. The question plagued you day and night. You racked your brain trying to figure out why this pain wouldn’t subside. Why did it sting so badly? Why did the tears keep falling?

When you were starting dinner one evening, your boyfriend came home. He seemed to be in a good mood, which was strange for someone like him. He came around, gave you a quick peck on the cheek, and leaned against the counter next to the stove.

“How was your day, babe?” you asked, mustering up as much fake happiness as possible.

You flashed your lover a quick smile, hoping it hid the pain better than you thought it did. However, you had been dating this man for 3 years. He knew you all too well. Willow’s death had affected you so much, which caused him to mull over it for longer than expected. An animal’s death was, of course, sad, but people usually got over it quickly. Why was it taking you longer?

“Are you alright?” your boyfriend questioned, placing a hand on your upper arm.

Sighing, you answered, “Of course I am.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.”

You both began a waltz to avoid each other. You stood on the opposite side of the island, setting the places on the table for the both of you to eat. Right as Aizawa met you, you sauntered off back to the stove to turn off the burner. It went on like this for much longer while your words went at each other.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.”

“(y/n)...you’re not.”

“Just shut up, ok?”

“Listen to me...”

“SHUT UP!”

Suddenly, a bright flash of lightning struck outside. The deafening boom from the sky sounded next. In a matter of seconds, a downpour began outside and inside the apartment. Your eyes were filled to the brim with tears. Aizawa froze, giving you time to finally realize why Willow’s death meant so much to you. It was right in front of you the whole time, but your ignorance caused blindness. Just as your boyfriend began to approach you, the tears and truth spilled over.

“She was like our baby,” you began. “Once I moved in with you, I was so scared that you would break up with me. Willow brought us together. No matter what had happened on a bad day, she would fix us back up. It’s like I lost a part of our relationship, Shouta.”

Aizawa was shocked to say the least. In actuality, Aizawa was completely caught off by your statement. He never knew you felt this way about Willow. He knew you had developed a close bond with the feline, but he should’ve noticed sooner the parental role you took for her. He felt like a terrible boyfriend. He felt like he should’ve found a way to keep Willow alive longer. He felt like her death was his fault.

“(y/n), I’m sorry I should’ve--”

“Meow.”

Both of you came to your senses. Did you really just hear a meow? Had Willow come out of her grave to come back to you both? Aizawa looked at you, causing your tears to stop for a moment. Another flash of lightning struck, followed by the familiar thunder. Then, you heard it again.

“Meeeeow.”

Your brain was going crazy. You were already running on endorphins due to the sudden outburst you had at your lover. Now, you felt your fight or flight responses kick in. There’s no way there was a cat at your apartment. Sure, you lived in an area where an animal could get lost, but a stray cat would never be near your complex.

“Meow.”

Taking a deep breath in, you tried to calm your nerves. Silently cursing your boyfriend’s senses, you heard him shuffling over to you. He placed his hands on your hips and kissed your forehead. Aizawa felt guilty. He knew that a cat wouldn’t be outside in this weather, especially if it was a stray. It was just his mind playing tricks on him. His guilty conscience was in full force, or maybe it wasn’t?

“Meeeeow.”

“Ok,” you said, slowly tilting your head up to meet your boyfriend’s gaze. “Please tell me you’re hearing the meowing, too.”

“It’s real?” Aizawa asked, gazing at you with confused eyes.

Shaking your head, you slithered out of his arms. Despite your mind telling you this was a bad idea, you decided to stick with your sudden plan. You were going to check outside. You didn’t know what you would find, but it was worth the risk. Wherever this cat was, you had to find it. You weren’t doing this for you, however, but for Willow.

Placing your hand on the front door knob, you unlocked it and slowly opened it just a little bit. That’s when you saw it. A beautiful tabby cat sat on your front mat, meowing to its heart’s content. It was drenched, laying against the door in search of some warmth. The poor little angel was shivering, but it looked up upon sensing your presence.

“Well, hello there,” you greeted, opening the door wider.

“Meeeeow.”

You bent down and sat on your knees, cooing the little creature forward. Taking your invitation, it sauntered over to you. Once your hand made contact with its back, the cat began rubbing its wet body all over your leg. Laughing slightly, you turned to look at Aizawa.

He was staring at you with true adoration in his eyes. He knew from the moment he met you that you were the one, but this tender moment between you and a stray cat solidified that even more. It was perfect. You were perfect. Despite the past month, he realized what this new stray would mean to you immediately. Willow sent him or her as a gift from heaven. That much had to be true. It was her way of saying that everything would be alright.

“I’ll get some food and water for the little one,” Aizawa said, walking over to first close the door.

“Make sure to get a towel first,” you replied. “I don’t want this poor baby getting sick from being to cold. Right, sweetie?”

The cat gazed at you with thankfulness in its eyes. You felt much different than you had just a few minutes ago. You were no longer sad about Willow. Instead, you were happy her pain had ended when it did, even if it wasn’t in the best way. Somehow, this little stray just happened to choose your doorstep. Your heart was starting to feel whole again. That’s how you came to a simple conclusion: this was fate. The stage of acceptance was finally in your sight.

You and Aizawa resumed your waltz around the kitchen, but this time, things were much different. It felt like the day Aizawa first brought Willow home. You immediately took on the role of the parent, watching your new friend’s every move to make sure it didn’t hurt itself. Once Aizawa brought you a towel, you sat on the couch and began drying off the cat. You discovered during this that you had found an adorable little boy, proud and frisky from his recent adventure.

Aizawa set the food and water out, luring the tabby out of your lap and to the kitchen. He lapped everything greedily, only further confirming that this was indeed a stray. Walking over to your boyfriend, you stopped once you reached his side.

“I’m sorry,” you began, lacing your fingers with his.

“Oh, don’t be,” he replied, smoothly changing the position you both were in so he could snuggle your neck. “I should’ve taken off time from work and been there for you. It was wrong of me to think our lives would go back to normal.”

“But, still..”

“(y/n)...just let me hold you.”

You did what he asked. You let him wrap his arms around you as you both watched your new boy. Unspoken between the two of you was what was going to happen with your newfound cat: you were going to keep him. Of course, he would need to pay for his shots, a proper bath, and new amenities, but that was a thing for the future. Aizawa knew you would bring it up tomorrow morning, worrying about it profusely, and you knew Aizawa would tell you to stop worrying so much, peppering your face in kisses as a distraction.

Once the cat was finished eating, he walked over and began rubbing himself against Aizawa’s leg. Realizing he needed to be warmed up, you reached down and picked him up. He clearly enjoyed being showered in attention and didn’t pull away when you both began talking to him.

“What do you think?” Aizawa questioned.

You knew what he was talking about: his name. Despite only finding this cat outside of your doorstep 20 minutes ago, you both knew this was his new forever home. The name was an important part of claiming a pet, which you made sure to educate Aizawa about before naming Willow. This, however, wasn’t a tough decision like Willow’s name.

“I was thinking Thunder,” you replied softly, gazing into your lover’s eyes.

He hummed in response, alerting you that he liked that name. You purposely chose that name due to the circumstances you found him in, but you also had an ulterior motive. You eventually wanted to get another cat and name it Lightning. Why? Easy answer: why not?

Suddenly, your boyfriend let go of your waist. Turning around, you noticed he began walking off to the bedroom. It was only 7:30, but, of course, your lover was already exhausted. That was one of the qualities you loved about him, though. He could always fall asleep easily.

“You didn’t eat dinner,” you called after him.

“I know,” he replied in a low voice, “but wouldn’t you rather fall asleep with the man you love?”

His words made you blush, but he wasn’t wrong. With Thunder in your arms and dinner long forgotten, you made your way over to your bedroom. Upon entering, you saw your boyfriend was already laying down and waiting for you to join him. You placed Thunder on the bed and went to lay down next to your lover. He placed his arms around you, making you fell safe and secure before someone interrupted you both.

Thunder began slowly crawling up to lie in between you. Chuckling, Aizawa left a little bit of room between your bodies for your new baby to curl up between you both. It felt natural. It felt like home again. It was just you, your boyfriend, and your cat. Willow, you could tell, was smiling down from heaven. You knew she could be fully at peace now knowing you were happy.

“I love you so much,” you mumbled to your boyfriend, allowing your eyes to close.

“I love you, too, kitten,” Aizawa replied, drifting off to sleep and allowing your breaths to match one another.

This was home. This was family. This was perfection for the both of you. Now, Aizawa went to bed with a single question on his mind. It was quite simple but also heavy. When was he going to place that wonderful ring on your finger?

[thisisthehardestthing]

Between Heaven & Hell (Hawks x fem!reader x Dabi)

Description: You’re in an underground techno warehouse party sandwiched between Hawks and Dabi. Inspired by the ragers I go to whenever I visit Paris by Myst Paris 

Rating: M for Mature, NSFW.

Word Count: 1.6k

Trigger: Drugs. (”tw drugs” for blacklist if you follow me from now on!)

Sweat. It’s dripping down your chest, jumping with each vibration of the speakers. Glistening bodies surrounds you becoming one with the music. The warehouse is unassuming from the outside, all broken windows and grey concrete. It started at midnight, now it’s 4 am. Most of the world is resting, asleep, dead. Yet, you’ve never felt more alive.

The bass pumps through you, oscillating in your bones and veins as it syncs with your heartbeat. You’ve forgotten where you end and the music begins. It’s all encompassing. It’s constant. Eternal. And your feet stomp in time, hips moving, hands reaching up to the sky, through your hair, down your neck, hugging yourself.

The music slows and the lights darken. There’s electricity in the air as contorting flesh still and moan against the absence of beat. You sway as you wait. Getting lost in the echoes of pleasure. Alcohol dampened concrete crunches under your boots as you crumple the flyers, cups, syringes underneath.

There’s a breath. It ghosts over your skin, warm and moist. It’s a question. There’s an unspoken rule in place, one that no matter how far someone’s gone, stays. You agree. Instinct takes over as you lean back, sliding across a chest, in sync. You’re melting together as your hands reach up behind your head to grip shoulder, neck, hair. Your shirt is missing; it has been for hours when you decided to take the second half of that bitter pill. Shoulders bump against yours as you’re pulled tight against muscle, soft and warm and wet. Your nipples prick up as you arch, feeling finger tips glide over your waist, stomach, ribs, before settling on your breasts. There are lips at your ears, and when the beat combusts, they begin to suck.

For a second you wonder who it is, before deciding you don’t care. You’re lost in feeling. You don’t want anything else. Your moans come out with the beat, in short successions. Your eyes are open and glazed over as the lights strobe. You see bodies in fractions, and beyond, the master puppeteer. You push away from the chest, feeling a call to move closer and be ensnared. A hand grabs yours and you look back. All fades away as you take in their chest, lips, hair, face. The black lines on the inside of his eyes dance around as the air changes and charges up.

An exchange of smiles, and you pull him after you as you step between moving mountains of skin. Fingers interlock as you reach the metal barrier, cold against heated flesh, sardined with other entranced figures. You pull water from the bag around your waist, taking a sip before offering it to him, grateful fingers take it before screwing the cap back on. Another unspoken rule. You zip it back up, as you begin to bounce once more to the beat.His arms wrap around your frame and hands grip the rail, pressing flush against your body and pinning you in place.

“Hawks,” He whispers against your ear.

No real names, not tonight. You sigh in a greeting as those lips come back to your neck. Teeth gently nipping and scratching down the side of your throat. Fingers come down to your thigh, feeling up the side of bare flesh, tracing the hem of your skirt, now soiled and full of grime. When he squeezes, you turn to face him. Honeyed eyes staring into your own. The hand grabs your ass tentatively, until your arms wrap around his neck, and then they bruise. There’s a moment when your hearts are louder than the music, reminding you of the earthly binding you possess, before they’re shed and your lips crash together.

There’s no stillness as your mouths glide with one another. The barrier is shaking as hands around you tug against it, forearms ghost over your bodies as the spell continues its chant. You’re turned sideways so that bodies press to your back, sandwiching you closer together. His hands pull apart the flesh under your skirt, before moving up. The thought that the fabric is flipped up flashes through your mind as the white light hits his face. You see his features in all their sweet glory, and then he’s under your skin as your fingers dig through this scalp, steamy and damp.

A harmony travels through the air and it seems as though your moans are echoed in the music as the bass trembles beneath your feet and chest rubs together. All too sudden, his lips are wrenched away and fingertips pry his chin to the side.

“You keep disappearing, Hawks.” The husky voice is low yet thunderous as it reverberates down your spine, directed at the man wrapped under your arms. “I might have to clip your wings.” His arms pull you tighter into his wet chest. Not registering or caring if theres a conflict, your lips start leaving trails of kisses against muscled skin.

“I found a little bird, Dabi.” His words are hummed, equally as low yet like lightning.

Your eyes are open and staring at the newcomer, but you can’t focus on them. The bodies behind him, next to you, above, beneath, are moving too fast and you’re all too aware that you’ve stopped. Being motionless feels like drowning and you reach a hand out to grab at anything. A chuckle shakes you as you spin to pull textured skin closer. If the one that found you was the gates of heaven, this man was the river to hell. You were surrounded by golden light and black night, poison and its cure.

The beat changes once more, dropping octaves. The world is spinning, picking up pace. There’s too much on you, grabbing you, invading your eyes and ears and taste and smell; fresh air and burnt wood all at once. You can notice it now, how much faster than the music your heart is pounding and you pull away, pressing flat against scarred tissue and cool metal piercings behind you. The devil doesn’t slow down, palms moving up and over skin. But the angel stills, pushing sticky hair out of your face as he whispers.

“Want to fly away, little bird?” You barely have to nod before Hawks catches Dabi’s eye and guides you through the maze of bodies. As you move, other’s take your place. Another sip of water, shared, finished, before the bottle is lost, joining the forgotten and empty things left behind. There are wings tattooed on his back, and the light that catches them make them flutter and dance.

You’re now in a corner, dark, away from the searching lights guiding souls to ascension. It’s too fast and too slow at once when your bag is tossed to the floor, against the wall under three bodies that begin to intertwine. Calloused fingers grip your chin as you stare into the deep end of the ocean. Then you’re floating in their water as a mouth kisses the back of your neck.

“Damn, you’re a doll.”

The fingers pull at your lips, squeezing your cheeks but you can’t think, you only feel the ecstasy of being touched. You’re flying when his lips are against yours, chapped and thirsty, like you’re the first sip of water for the night, or is it now early morning? Maybe it is, you can’t remember. He’s hot. Hotter than the chest pressed against your back and the hands beneath your skirt. Those are cool, slow, tantalizing. Your underwear is pushed aside and lazy lines draw up and down pulsing lips. The moans that want to escape burst through, and Dabi moves away, down your neck in order not to smother the sound. You trace his scar littered chest. You can’t look away from the shadows that quiver on his body, and he pulls your gaze.

“Keep your eyes up here, dollface.” He whispers, the exhale kissing your lips and you gasp as two fingers enter you, tugging on strings that pull you back, hands flying up to grip blonde hair behind you between your fingers. Once more, you’re one with the music as it’s inside you now. Rhythmically pumping as you stare into the face of Lust reincarnated.

The sweat on your chest begins to cool and you moan, one hand pulling Dabi close. His face passes yours as he kisses Hawks, or is it you? You’re fully sandwiched between them, and you could swear that you’re one. And all too suddenly, the haze is broken as a sharp light flashes against your faces. They’re pulled away and you feel empty, hollow, cold. Hawks brings two fingers into his mouth nonchalantly to taste you. The guardians in this void, security if you were in your right mind, grunting their disapproval as they walk away. You’re motionless again and so you begin to bounce, teeth grinding down, you might be biting your cheeks. There’s a stick of dynamite that’s lit up inside and you need to explode.

“Not here.” You say, heads whipping around to stare at you, grins spreading wide as teeth, gums, tongue, bones and soul break through.

“Do you know what you’re asking, sweet bird?” Lightning strikes against your ear. The third rule, always spoken.

“Yes,” you answer.

Dabi pulled the shirt tucked into Hawk’s waistband over your head as he slips his own on, scooping up your trampled bag.

“Then let’s bounce.”

The air outside is cold in the early light of dawn, sobering on your face and flushing your cheeks. Everything is too in focus, too bright. Most of the world is waking up, stretching, coming alive. You’ve never felt darker.

***********************************

Note: Ayyyyyyyy First time writing for Hawks, first time writing for Dabi and I put them together??? I’m sorry lmao. On a way more serious note, I know first hand how the world of underground warehouse parties work and can suck you into it. Please, please, please reach out to your friends if you notice them getting lost, or if you’re noticing a change in yourself. I’ve lost quite a few friends, and I know so many people that have lost more loved ones because of drugs and the like. I hope you’re staying safe x

[michaelbogild]

Quotes written April 17 2021

I felt you beneath my skin as I broke and broke

Love is now enslavement, a cage made of memories.

I held her hand, I held a new world.

The sorcerous chant of her moon-married beauty.

I could never break the spell of her beauty. I was all surrender, a tide so very easily pulled.

My skies were endless and you were their cerulean beauty.

The bloodshot eyes of this dream still calls our your name in the howling night.

I am convinced now that love is a black sea.

The sum of my soul could never buy her love.

The blood moon is her unholy love-child.

The blood of foolish love, how we savored its taste, desperate vampires that we are.

You didn't come from a rib, you came from the devil.

It is hard to sleep when your absence keeps knocking on the door of my heart.

You broke our golden chain, you said goodbye to the dreams you spun yourself.

You understood all of my worlds.

The stretch of our love though short were graced with eternal flowers.

The dusk is thick with your memory.

The poisonous honey of her Machiavellian beauty.

He was a beast of passion, a thunderstroke of unholy lust.

This ghostly moonlight...how it knows me.

The lesions of my love still screams your name through the bloodied mouth of disappointment.

There are only shadows here, shadows as black as your name.

You were the brightest and the blackest hour of my soul.

He used to the count the stars of her eyes.

I wander through the timeless dream of her, the pilgrim of a thousand passions.

I watched her dance, I gazed at a swirling heaven.

In this star-blessed love...my spirit is reborn.

You made it rain in my soul, now tell me, does it ever stop?

Autumnal rain, the twin of my soul, the nature of my being.

I will sing one more song for the moon...and then never again.

You loved a black chasm, you gave your heart to a thousand impossibilities.

Our shadows were dancing before we ever did.

the cosmic journey of loving you

I could never reach the ocean in her.

Her sugar-spun sweetness, her kisses that turn me upside down.

She is strongly anchored in the thunder of a raw defiance.

We met in astral spheres, we watched an eclipse as our hands met.

His heart became one continual ode to her beauty.

he spoke to the lone marigold of her heart

They did not offer each other love as much as offering each other wings.

They threw themselves into the flames of young love.

anchored in each others hearts, devotedly

The starry ornateness of her Venus-like grace.

Tonight I yearn in ink.

He liberated her beautiful songs, set free the fearful bird of her heart.

And now that I have seen her...I am back in the ancient cage of desire.

I love how tenderly she colours my emotions

the charming butterflies of her feminine glances

her heart is a tongue heavy with godless verses

the silken spells of her spring-born graces

Unbridle your burning beauty, undress yourself for the eternal night in me.

I was for a moment part of her celestial spirit.

When I think of her...I see a rose.

She reached the Nirvana of letting go.

her heart is like the ambiguous twilight, a pendulum of mass confusion

her velvet invitations, her eyes that summon lust

You were never as eloquent as when you were lying.

She was the star-spangled sky of my enchanted dreams.

There is no escape from her beauty's gravity, from what is essentially pre-written.

I was married, for a moment, with all the magic of her bouncy personality.

Pour the night-wine of your beauty into my cup of midsummer dreams.

We made love with the fullness of heaven.

You were no lover, you were but a weaver of layered illusions.

How and why did you set all my churches into flames?

Her eyes are orbs of ancient witchcraft.

Her beauty was surely different, like an expression of black art.

These twilight roses, how they suggest the sorcery of her beauty.

we were always butterflies, we were always drifting, always dreaming

You were a soulful verse in the true song of God.

I wooed with a far-dreaming heart the beauty of all her majestic stars

I am locked into the greyness of your eternal absence

You are the flames of my abyss

the rich poetry of her otherworldly charms

the crumbling colours of her fleeing love

I can feel her rotting in my soul.

She struck the richest strain of his soul.

I sailed into the chorus of the moon, I felt the waves of dark mysteries.

My reality, now touched by your beauty, is giving off sparks.

There are no stars in my reality, but in my dreams there is nothing else.

I think I will always worship the magic of what we had.

Marry me on the moon of this golden moment.

The spiritual blaze of her liberated eyes.

She is the goddess of my infinite inspiration.

Running through our veins is the blood of summer.

A roseate poem that sings her beauty with the devotion of a saint.

I live in a church of sorrow.

the bewildering blaze of her summery grace

He followed the butterflies of her charms.

This heart of roses, roses of pain.

I have swallowed the tides, no gravity shall rule me.

He covered her scars with a love unending.

They married their twilights to each other.

Suspended in the sphere of her celestial love.

We explored the soul of love in a summer that felt endless.

She hid her midnights in the shrine of his love.

Suspended in the sphere of her celestial love.

We explored the soul of love in a summer that felt endless.

She hid her midnights in the shrine of his love.

She summons with a kiss all the colours of his love and lust.

Her beauty wrote the lyrics of my heart.

Her heart of sad butterflies, her heart of absent rainbows.

His tender love sings for the mournful rose of her heart.

They danced with the darkness of each others hearts.

You were the chorus of my life's most glorious summer.

The oscillating magic of this enigmatical love.

She colours and scents his truest lyrics, she dreams in his odes of endless devotion.

My moonlight seductresses, my angel of sweet oblivion.

They wove their flowering worlds into a garland of grace and truth.

Circling then broken heaven of his own heart, wandering through the ruins of a dream that died too soon.

She shines through the syllables of his soul's deepest lyrics.

He wrote the wildness of her heart, turned her mysteries into burning verse.

Their eyes were radiant with a felicitous destiny.

she weaves his amazing beauty into the poetry of her roseate dreams

His beauty shines in her oceanic songs of sweet devotion.

The lyrical charms of her love-kindled soul.

The darkness is rich with her spiritual presence.

the oldest poem of the ocean beckons our hearts

His poems are the embers of their mystic flames.

The shadow-dances of her elusive heart.

She is the softest whisper of the dark ocean of love.

Her oceans were born to swallow angels.

After her, only verses of pain.

She opens to his heart her shrine of heavenly nights.

Her lovesome eyes, constellations of the mystic soul of astral beauty.

[angelicalchaoticabyss]

maybe this is too silly but. Fires x Veils x Neddy!reader who is sick of third wheeling for schemes and is about to take matters into their own hands. seduce both of them

(Okay this was hard to figure out but I hope you like it!)

Favoritism.

You were a Neddy man, one of many but you were rather special. Very skilled, intelligent, obedient, you gained a favorable spot among many of the masters' opinions. Though the two that preferred you the most was Mr fires and Mr veils. Mr fires adored your opinions on the city, your style, a true Londoner in its eyes. Mr veils greatly enjoyed your brutal yet swift executions upon it's command and thoughts of its fashion. You were quite proud to have their attention in such a way, proud that not even Poor Edward could match you. (Which you greatly relished in his jealousy over that fact)

Though there was ONE thing you noticed about that two masters, it was when they work together on plans and schemes did it get strange. The two were quite close, you were well aware that they had a friendship of some kind but how deep and what type was becoming apparent.

When you were brought along for a shared plan of action you almost never did anything what-so-ever. You just watched the masters work and wonder why in the world they called you away for this when you could've been doing another job. Masters like Mr wines and Mr apples noticed, even brought it up from time to time but it was disregarded as nonsense. Don't get anything wrong, you enjoyed being around Fires and Veils, you loved having their attention and just the thought they simply wanted you around was intoxicating but there was a limit. You wanted to get paid to do something, not stand there and watch. Though, perhaps some jealousy of your own spiked when IT started.

The two, when in private or when just you were around would get...more affectionate with each other if that's how one wants to put it. Rubbing "accidentally" against each other more. Pleased growls at each others touches and scents. It had gotten you VERY curious.

So curious in fact that you stalked after them one night when they had snuck away from a revel that Wines made everyone attend. It was a lovely show, they were all over each other with kisses, bites, caresses and clawing. At some point you had gotten so flustered that you rushed off before seeing if the event would escalate into something much more ravenous. When you saw them again both had acted very smug and amused around you, your worst fear was confirmed when Veils had asked if you "enjoyed the view". Both masters shared a laugh at your incredibly embarrassed expression along with your rapid apology. Though...the two did not seem to mind your intrusion. In fact, the frequency of you being in attendance to something you weren't needed for increased greatly, their touches while you were around also grew more but those times they would subtly eye your form to see if you were watching them like you had done last time at the revel.

This both annoyed and embarrassed you, so hard.

You had nothing but respect for the masters but you would teach those two a lesson of some sorts. But what? What could you possibly do without getting hanged or worse? You mulled over on it for several days before taking some inspiration from Mr Wines. Why not...escape being a third wheel and join in on the fun? Though, you'll need to pick the right time for this, where they're both in one spot but its not just the three of you. Make them a little crazy that they just can't grab you on the spot without people asking questions. Overconfident? Maybe, but you'd say you're quite skilled in your ability to seduce. Thankfully your chance came when fashion week rolled around, a theme of satin and decorative masks. Mr veils with some "help", decided to host a Masquerade ball and instructed all who were invited to dress in the best satin they had with a mask to match. Including the Neddy.

You knew this was your chance, so when the night of the ball came you dressed your best with an elegant mask to match going with a red, purple, and gold theme for your outfit. The masters gave their good opinion on your clothes, especially Mr veils and Fires. Step 1 completed~.

You watched as the masters mingled in their own way, you'd get them separately and then let them come to you. About half way into the ball you spotted Veils and Fires on opposite sides of the large ballroom. You thought about who to go after first, deciding Veils would go last you walked and approached Mr fires coolly and calmly. It looked up from its drink and greeted you, now to work your magic.

A straightforward challenge, your Persuasive stat gives you a 100% chance of success.

Success!

You looked at Mr fires in the eyes and spoke with a special tone in your voice, you had long since learned that tone and body language is everything in seduction. You lowered your voice to make it listen and listen well. You could tell it was surprised by your boldness. You shifted your body in a suave and confident way, also taking hold of a portion of it's wine glass and pulling it near your lips, taking a sip. Mr fires just stared in stunned silence.

"Hello master, it's certainly a lovely evening. London looks so beautiful tonight don't you think~?" You didn't wait for a reply "Though, I'd say you look much more ravishing, I'm quite jealous actually~." Your fingers walked up it's robe to its chest, its ember filled eyes starred in amazement with a spark of something else inside.

It tried to speak but you cut Mr fires off.

"You're wear satin quite well, I bet it feels oh so lovely up against your body, so warm and smooth. Why such a feeling riles even myself up, heheheh. It's so fine much like your own soft fur, yet bold like your horns~." You chuckled. "I believe I hear Mr veils calling for me. If you ever wish to..."speak" more about London and your up coming plans I'm always open for a listen~." And with that, you released its hand and left.

You could feel Fires' eyes staring intently at you, it was gripping the wine glass but not out of anger. This reaction pleased you greatly, you knew it worked and over the course of the party Fires would slowly get more riled up from its own desires. Now for Mr veils~.

You made way over to the finely dressed master who was clearly showing off the outfit it picked, editing your stance on the way. Losing the confident act you made your position to appear a lot more weak and needy. This caught the bestial master's attention near instantaneously as it looked down at you with an amused glimmer in its yellow gaze. Veils focused on every part of you, the clothes, the movement, the neediness, the scent, it was beyond pleased when it smelled Sandalwood among your scents. Its let out a growl mixed with a lowish chuckle, as low as its thundering voice could get.

"Oh dear little rabbit, what brings you over to me tonight? You best be enjoying yourself and be grateful for attending such an event~." It said.

"Oh of course I am master, in fact I've been enjoying the ball greatly. The drinks, the music, the dancing and of course the outfits, this was a wonderful idea!" You said with faux shyness. Veils eyes had lit up at your words, it more likely knew you were putting on act but pleased anyway by the show you were preforming for it.

"Good, though, of course you would enjoy yourself~." It replied, with a smug confidence.

You pressed yourself closer to Veils, moving your hand to its glass with the attempt to mimic what you did with Fires but it grabbed your hand. Mr veils pulled your head to the dark of it's hood, pressed it against its cheek you could feel both its fur and the smooth ceramic of its mask. Letting out a growly purr its teeth nipped at the soft flesh, chuckling as quietly as it could when you jumped a bit. Veils released your hand, but you felt its talons scrape against the appendage as you pulled your hand away from it. It's golden eyes were very much clouded with barely concealed lust and primal instinct.

"Enjoy your night, preyling~."

You walked away from Veils, somewhat shocked it so quickly turned the game in its favor. Like with Fires you could feel its gaze burning into your back, okay, you can work with this. You continued your night like normal, at midnight Veils announced that it was time for everyone to return home. You watched the people of London file out before helping with the clean up. When you returned to your own quarters....you noticed Fires and Veils following after you.

The rest of the night that followed was not regretted, in the slightest.

[thesquireofcheddar]

To exalt, enthrone, establish and defend, To welcome home mankind's mysterious friend Wine, true begetter of all arts that be; Wine, privilege of the completely free; Wine the recorder; wine the sagely strong; Wine, bright avenger of sly-dealing wrong, Awake, Ausonian Muse, and sing the vineyard song!

Sing how the Charioteer from Asia came, And on his front the little dancing flame Which marked the God-head. Sing the Panther-team, The gilded Thrysus twirling, and the gleam Of cymbals through the darkness. Sing the drums. He comes; the young renewer of Hellas comes! The Seas await him. Those Aegean Seas Roll from the dawning, ponderous, ill at ease, In lifts of lead, whose cresting hardly breaks To ghostly foam, when suddenly there awakes A mountain glory inland. All the skies Are luminous; and amid the sea bird cries The mariner hears a morning breeze arise. Then goes the Pageant forward. The sea-way Silvers the feet of that august array Trailing above the waters, through the airs; And as they pass a wind before them bears The quickening word, the influence magical. The Islands have received it, marble-tall; The long shores of the mainland. Something fills The warm Euboean combes, the sacred hills Of Aulis and of Argos. Still they move Touching the City walls, the Temple grove, Till, far upon the horizon-glint, a gleam Of light, of trembling light, revealed they seem Turned to a cloud, but to a cloud that shines, And everywhere as they pass, the Vines! The Vines! The Vines, the conquering Vines! And the Vine breaths Her savour through the upland, empty heaths Of treeless wastes; the Vines have come to where The dark Pelasgian steep defends the lair Of the wolf's hiding; to the empty fields By Aufidus, the dry campaign that yields No harvest for the husbandman, but now Shall bear a nobler foison than the plough; To where, festooned along the tall elm trees, Tendrils are mirrored in Tyrrhenian seas; To where the South awaits them; even to where Stark, African informed of burning air, Upturned to Heaven the broad Hipponian plain Extends luxurious and invites the main. Guelma's a mother: barren Thaspsa breeds; And northward in the valleys, next the meads That sleep by misty river banks, the Vines Have struck to spread below the solemn pines. The Vines are on the roof-trees. All the Shrines And Homes of men are consecrate with Vines.

And now the task of that triumphant day Has reached to victory. In the reddening ray With all his train, from hard Iberian lands Fulfilled, apparent, that Creator stands Halted on Atlas. Far Beneath him, far, The strength of Ocean darkening and the star Beyond all shores. There is a silence made. It glorifies: and the gigantic shade Of Hercules adores him from the West. Dead Lucre: burnt Ambition: Wine is best.

But what are these that from the outer murk Of dense mephitic vapours creeping lurk To breathe foul airs from that corrupted well Which oozes slime along the floor of Hell? These are the stricken palsied brood of sin In whose vile veins, poor, poisonous and thin, Decoctions of embittered hatreds crawl: These are the Water-Drinkers, cursed all! On what gin-sodden Hags, what flaccid sires Bred these White Slugs from what exhaust desires? In what close prison's horror were their wiles Watched by what tyrant power with evil smiles; Or in what caverns, blocked from grace and air Received they, then, the mandates of despair? What! Must our race, our tragic race, that roam All exiled from our first, and final, home: That in one moment of temptation lost Our heritage, and now wander, hunger-tost Beyond the Gates (still speaking with our eyes For ever of remembered Paradise), Must we with every gift accepted, still, With every joy, receive attendant ill? Must some lewd evil follow all our good And muttering dog our brief beatitude?

A primal doom, inexorable, wise, Permitted, ordered, even these to rise. Even in the shadow of so bright a Lord Must swarm and propagate the filthy horde Debased, accursed I say, abhorrent and abhorred. Accursed and curse-bestowing. For whosoe'er Shall suffer their contagion, everywhere Falls from the estate of man and finds his end To the mere beverage of the beast condemned. For such as these in vain the Rhine has rolled Imperial centuries by hills of gold; For such as these the flashing Rhone shall rage In vain its lightning through the Hermitage Or level-browed divine Touraine receive The tribute of her vintages at eve. For such as these Burgundian heats in vain Swell the rich slope or load the empurpled plain. Bootless for such as these the mighty task Of bottling God the Father in a flask And leading all Creation down distilled To one small ardent sphere immensely filled. With memories empty, with experience null, With vapid eye-balls meaningless and dull They pass unblest through the unfruitful light; And when we open the bronze doors of Night, When we in high carousal, we reclined, Spur up to Heaven the still ascending mind, Pass with the all inspiring, to and fro, The torch of genius and the Muse's glow, They, lifeless, stare at vacancy alone Or plan mean traffic, or repeat their moan. We, when repose demands us, welcomed are In young white arms, like our great Exemplar Who, wearied with creation, takes his rest And sinks to sleep on Ariadne's breast. They through the darkness into darkness press Despised, abandoned and companionless. And when the course of either's sleep has run We leap to life like heralds of the sun; We from the couch in roseate mornings gay Salute as equals the exultant day While they, the unworthy, unrewarded, they The dank despisers of the Vine, arise To watch grey dawns and mourn indifferent skies.

Forget them! Form the Dionysian ring And pulse the ground, and Io, Io, sing.

Father Lenaean, to whom our strength belongs, Our loves, our wars, our laughter and our songs, Remember our inheritance, who praise Your glory in these last unhappy days When beauty sickens and a muddied robe Of baseness fouls the universal globe. Though all the Gods indignant and their train Abandon ruined man, do thou remain! By thee the vesture of our life was made, The Embattled Gate, the lordly Colonnade, The woven fabric's gracious hues, the sound Of trumpets, and the quivering fountain-round, And, indestructible, the Arch, and, high, The Shaft of Stone that stands against the sky, And, last, the guardian-genius of them, Rhyme, Come from beyond the world to conquer time: All these are thine, Lenaean.

By thee do seers the inward light discern; By thee the statue lives, the Gods return; By thee the thunder and the falling foam Of loud Acquoria's torrent call to Rome; Alba rejoices in a thousand springs, Gensano laughs, and Orvieto sings... But, Ah! With Orvieto, with that name Of dark, Eturian, subterranean flame The years dissolve. I am standing in that hour Of majesty Septembral, and the power Which swells the clusters when the nights are still With autumn stars on Orvieto hill.

Had these been mine, Ausonian Muse, to know The large contented oxen heaving slow; To count my sheaves at harvest; so to spend Perfected days in peace until the end; With every evening's dust of gold to hear The bells upon the pasture height, the clear Full horn of herdsmen gathering in the kine To ancient byres in hamlets Appenine, And crown abundant age with generous ease: Had these, Ausonian Muse, had these, had these.....

But since I would not, since I could not stay, Let me remember even in this my day How, when the ephemeral vision's lure is past All, all, must face their Passion at the last

Was there not one that did to Heaven complain How, driving through the midnight and the rain, He struck, the Atlantic seethe and surge before, Wrecked in the North along a lonely shore To make the lights of home and hear his name no more. Was there not one that from a desperate field Rode with no guerdon but a rifted shield; A name disherited; a broken sword; Wounds unrenowned; battle beneath no Lord; Strong blows, but on the void, and toil without reward.

When from the waste of such long labour done I too must leave the grape-ennobling sun And like the vineyard worker take my way Down the long shadows of declining day, Bend on the sombre plain my clouded sight And leave the mountain to the advancing night, Come to the term of all that was mine own With nothingness before me, and alone; Then to what hope of answer shall I turn? Comrade-Commander whom I dared not earn, What said You then to trembling friends and few? "A moment, and I drink it with you new: But in my Father's Kingdom." So, my Friend, Let not Your cup desert me in the end. But when the hour of mine adventure's near Just and benignant, let my youth appear Bearing a Chalice, open, golden, wide, With benediction graven on its side. So touch my dying lip: so bridge that deep: So pledge my waking from the gift of sleep, And, sacramental, raise me the Divine: Strong brother in God and last companion, Wine. Hilaire Belloc

[straykidsupdate]

Stray Kids Members on GO LIVE and Making the Music They Want to Make

There's bedlam in the kitchen, as K-pop disruptors Stray Kids wreak delicious havoc on a sterile commercial space. They dance around wildly, waving stainless steel pots and pans in the air and tossing freshly pressed napkins and imaginary ingredients with relish and abandon. In the forefront, fiery rapper Changbin serves up his own potent sauce with a pummeling verse, while dancer Lee Know attempts to stir fry a handful of what appear to be rose petals behind him. A marching band, their plumes high and faces unbothered, carries on amidst the mess — a visual manifestation of the heavy bass ostinato that immediately invades the senses. It sounds disorienting, maybe even slightly dangerous. It looks like chaos.

Welcome to "God's Menu" ("神메뉴").

The Korean boy group's latest single boasts a big, brassy hook laced with trap beats and an addicting refrain ("this is our tang, tang, tang, tang," they shout), a recipe that has become their signature dish. A sonic successor to last fall's explosive "Double Knot," the track teems with a tireless energy and their hallmark bravado. The video imagines the eight members as chefs who confidently concoct their own art from scratch. "Taste so good, everyone loves it," Han raps, in a mix of Korean and English. "All our dishes taste so strong."

The culinary metaphor is laid on thick, bolstered by a charismatic performance that includes Korean formalities like "네, 손님" (which translates to "yes, sir and ma'am" in English) and TikTok-certified choreography that incorporates mixing, frying, seasoning, and, most notably, chopping. But for a group that's been cooking up homemade beats and flavorful lyrics in their bedrooms long before their 2018 debut, it's a savory declaration that feels more than earned. "We just keep on making new things," leader Bang Chan sings, cleansing the palate with a sweet melody. "Because we're one of a kind."

They bring that same level of confidence and clarity to their first full-length album Go生, a title that combines the English word "go" with the Chinese character for "life" and showcases the group's penchant for clever wordplay. Pronounced go-saeng in Korean, it translates to "hardship." The English title, GO LIVE, reflects their desire to move forward without any lingering inhibition. Consider the 14-track LP a reintroduction to Stray Kids.

"We tried to not think too much," Bang Chan tells Teen Vogue from Seoul, South Korea, where he's currently huddled in a room with members Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. It's late June, and they're in the middle of their first week of promotions for the album, which means early mornings, long nights, and a whirlwind of music show performances, interviews, radio shows, and virtual fan engagements. And yet, even as it nears midnight, the members, ranging in ages from 19 to 22, are still easily excitable. Australia-raised Bang Chan acts as the group's tireless translator, and despite recent concerns, his accent sounds as prominent as ever as he explains how Stray Kids adopted a fresh mindset in preparation for Go生. "Of course, we thought a lot about what to put in the album and how we wanted to make it, but we went with the flow," he says. "We wanted everything to feel a bit more raw."

Stray Kids made their official debut under JYP Entertainment with the riotous and self-produced "District 9," an angsty blend of hip-hop and EDM that would ultimately define the group's characteristic intensity, both musically and lyrically. It laid the foundation for 2018's I Am… trilogy of EPs, which focused heavily on the theme of identity as they charged away from systems that sought to control them. The Clé series followed in 2019, which threw Stray Kids head-first into the thorny, often exhausting labyrinth of adulthood. Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, who comprise the group's in-house production trio, known as 3RACHA, write about their own experiences, etching their personal dreams and worries into a diverse discography that spans six EPs, multiple mixtape singles, and special releases. But with Go生, they've emerged with newfound perspective.

For years, their music was fixated on the idea of bulldozing through obstacles that stood in their way. They wanted to outrun their problems. Now, it's clear: Growing up isn't about overcoming anxieties and struggles. Instead, it's learning to live in spite of them — to run freely alongside them.

As a result, Go生 is a release bursting with color and vitality, a celebration of life's mercurial nature. There's a song for every craving, and a tracklist that demonstrates the members' prismatic talents as rappers and vocalists. "Easy" delivers boundless swagger over a trap beat (and it's already been immortalized on stan Twitter); "Airplane" is Stray Kids at their most relaxed, a chill summertime vibe that's also a tremendous showcase for singer Seungmin; main rapper and all-rounder Han lets his voice soar on "Phobia," an electronic-synth track that examines the paranoia of losing someone (it was also the final song added to the album); "TA" is all high energy and thunderous chaos, perfect for a future encore set; and "Blueprint" shines with its funky bass line, bright verses, and fierce optimism ("I'll proudly achieve my dream," Felix sings in Korean, as translated to English).

"We wanted to show what Stray Kids is really about," Bang Chan says. And in doing so, Felix adds, they "experimented with a variety of genres." The fellow Aussie, who Bang Chan affectionately calls his little brother and who fans (known as Stay) refer to as their "sunshine," speaks with a warm timbre. His flow is even deeper and more distinct, and it's been a solid entry point for Stay and locals alike. Felix is a commanding presence on "God's Menu," a testament to his growth as a rapper and performer. When asked about his five-star performance, he gets shy. "I think everyone put their all into this song and into the album," he says. "Sit down, be humble," Bang Chan jokingly sings beside him, a reference to Kendrick Lamar's 2017 manifesto "Humble" and a demonstration of the leader's persistent playfulness.

"We've all improved a lot in terms of our performance," dance captain Lee Know says, much to the surprise of his members. It's not that they don't agree, it's just that his eager contribution to the conversation catches them off guard. He's not always so talkative during press interviews. And there's an audible cheer among the group as he continues. "Our dancing has gotten stronger. Our vocals have gotten stronger as well. But we're still honing those skills. And we'll continue to grow."

Hyunjin, whose own development as a rapper, dancer, and vocalist with a mellifluous falsetto is well-documented on the internet, agrees. "As we get older, we want to show Stay more sides to us," he says. The lithe performer's strength is his versatility. He's highly adaptable, so it's not surprising that he's been working on writing and composing his own music under Bang Chan's watchful guidance. "I want to show [Stay] something different," he adds. (And that's a promise he intends to keep.)

Youngest member I.N thinks they're maturing in other ways too. "We've all gotten a lot more good-looking," the lively vocalist says, very matter-of-factly. Laughter erupts in the room, and Changbin's cackle is unmistakable. Undeterred, I.N carries on. "When it comes to performance, I've personally gotten a lot faster at recording and memorizing choreography," he says. Lee Know is quick to jump in. "I.N's performance in 'TOP' really surprised me," the elder says. "He's in the center position for the hook, and watching him I saw just how much he's improved. He's more confident now."

I.N is happy he gave off such an aura. "When we were preparing for this album there were times when I didn't feel so confident," he says. So he turned to his members, who listened to his concerns and offered him feedback. He feels much lighter now. "One thing I realized after watching our 'God's Menu' stages is that we all look like we're enjoying ourselves more. We feel more free on stage. And it just feels easier."

The album's most surprising and reflective moment comes at the halfway point, courtesy of Han. Written by the teen multihyphenate, "Another Day" is soft and simple, but no less introspective than his previous cuts ("19" and "Sunshine"). It depicts a feeling of restlessness caused by burnout and the inability to "rest without worrying."

Han's inspiration for the song was largely himself. "It's been a tough year, and I knew it wasn't just me who felt that way," he says. "So I wanted to put those emotions into the song."

In front of the camera, Han exudes relentless charisma. He's quick-witted and wickedly funny. Off stage, he's one of the group's two MBTI-approved introverts (the other being Hyunjin), and he prefers to relax in a controlled environment: his room. In fact, if he doesn't have a schedule or a song to work on, he'd prefer not to leave his bed at all, choosing instead to watch YouTube and anime on his phone. As someone who's deeply inspired by visual mediums, it's in these calmer moments where creativity often strikes.

"Everyone goes through times where things don't work out the way you want them to," he says. "But I think it's important to remember that while you're going through a difficult time, you need to take a breath. Go do something for yourself … Break out of that negative mindset and open yourself up to new possibilities."

Each of the members has their own way of dealing with feelings of stress and anxiety. Changbin works on music. "It's my healing," he says. And he hopes it can be healing for Stay too; he teaches fans the basics of rap during semi-regular streams on V Live. Lee Know prefers to do nothing at all. This is why the members often say the self-assured performer is like water — whatever is bothering him just washes away by morning. But I.N needs time away from the older members. ("Leave me alone!" oldest member Bang Chan whines, mimicking the moody teen.) Hyunjin finds comfort in sentimental music and Korean dramas, and he's especially adept at communicating with fans on Instagram and V Live, where he addresses their worries and offers support in both Korean and English. "That heals my heart," he adds softly. Felix has taken up cooking and baking, even going so far as to buy an oven for their shared apartment's kitchen. His brownies are already beloved by the members and JYP staff. "Making something for someone and getting to share what I make… even a small compliment will make me feel relaxed and good about myself," he says.

Meanwhile, Bang Chan has a bad habit of "brainwashing myself into thinking that I'm not restless when I actually am." So he relies on the members, or "the kids" as he calls them, to help keep him in check. "Our first week of promotions was really tiring, but when I look on stage and see them — see Hyunjin, Changbin, Lee Know, see them all — it gives me a lot of strength. They make me feel at home." (The kids coo in jest beside him. "That's right!" Han shouts.)

Seungmin doesn't often feel anxious, but when he does there's nothing that a long walk and a good playlist can't fix. Lately, he's been listening to "Another Day." "Han surprised me [with this song]," the dynamic vocalist says. "I listen to it often, and it has inspired me a lot." Han, never one to pass up a compliment, replies, "Thanks, man."

While 3RACHA are largely responsible for crafting Stray Kids' music, the members are all integral to the process. "It's not 3RACHA's music, it's Stray Kids' music," Changbin says in English. "So the members' feedback is very important. I feel the best when they like it."

Case in point: "God's Menu." The group had originally recorded a different lead single, and they were in the throes of comeback preparations when Changbin played a demo of "God's Menu" for some of the members. According to Bang Chan, this happens a lot: "We go home, we play a demo, and we party to it." It's as simple as that. But then something unusual happened: Upon hearing "God's Menu," Hyunjin immediately knew he wanted to perform it. This was Stray Kids. The other members felt it too. "The lyrics expressed our music and confidence best," Changbin says in English, as his members cheer him on. ("Go, Changbin!" Bang Chan encourages.) "It's a song only Stray Kids could perform.”

And it was a theme that personally resonated with Bang Chan. "Back in the day, when we were releasing songs as 3RACHA, I always liked to relate my producing process with cooking and science," he adds. "It's just a really fun concept." (Astute fans might recall the 2017 3RACHA deep cut "Alchemistry," in which the industrious leader declares himself a "mad scientist.")

So 3RACHA went straight to the top — to the company's founder J. Y. Park — and asked if they could change the single to "God's Menu." They didn't expect much; the single had already been locked. To their surprise, however, JYP agreed with their judgement. And so have Stay: "God's Menu" is the group's fastest music video to reach 60 million views, and Go生 broke their previous first-week sales record.

"It's a really funny and very warm feeling knowing that he believes in what we do," Bang Chan says of JYP's support. "And it makes us want to try out even more of our various ideas."

Producer Mike Daley (Baekhyun's "Candy") experienced 3RACHA's creative process and various ideas first-hand in Los Angeles last May when Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han spent a day with him in the studio following the U.S. leg of the group's Unveil tour. They worked on two tracks, one of which would eventually become "Easy." Daley played an unfinished demo for the trio, and the reaction was immediate. "A few of the guys just started rapping," he tells Teen Vogue. Bang Chan workshopped the hook and melodies with a few of Daley's friends and collaborators, while Changbin and Han wrote the verses. "Spear [Changbin] and Han were in their own zone on their phones, writing," he recalls. According to Daley, Spear — a reference to Changbin's 3RACHA moniker SpearB — laid down the first verse, and the atmosphere was electric. "He was going crazy in the booth," he says. "It had a ton of energy. And that got everyone amped up to make the hook have as much energy as the verses were bringing."

Daley, a veteran of K-pop songwriting camps, was surprised by just how involved 3RACHA were in the studio. "They knew how to produce really well, so we were all arranging it together," he says. He also observed their teamwork. "It seemed like they each had their role and worked together well," he adds. "Spear and Han were focused on the verses, but when they heard a melody they liked, they'd look at Chris [Bang Chan]. They knew how to get the song done."

And that sense of creative autonomy isn't just exclusive to 3RACHA. Through self-produced digital projects like "SKZ-PLAYER," all of the members are encouraged to express themselves through their art. "It's a really good platform for us to showcase what we want to show Stay, something that they haven't seen before," Bang Chan says. In May, he surprised fans with "인정하기 싫어," which translates to "Don't Want To Admit," a vulnerable piano ballad that laid bare his heartache. Last year, Lee Know released "Dawn," a slinky dance performance he choreographed himself. Seungmin covered his favorite band, and fellow JYP artists, DAY6. "I am very grateful that we are able to sincerely connect with Stay through music," the floppy-haired vocalist notes. As for Changbin, he recently dropped "Streetlight," a solo track in which he wrestles with feelings of loneliness. And Hyunjin released his own video — a contemporary dance he produced and choreographed to Billie Eilish's "When The Party's Over." He titled it "Empty."

"I wanted to express a different feeling, one that I couldn't show through our own performances," the perceptive dancer says. He choreographed the piece to convey his longing to perform. That loneliness that comes at the end of a party, he says, is the same emptiness he feels when he leaves the stage. "That void I feel sometimes, I wanted to express that through choreography."

Han's "Close" was inspired by the 2004 film Closer, specifically its opening scene, in which a young woman locks eyes with a handsome stranger across the street. The idea of human connection, of seeing someone and wanting to know everything about that person, struck Han, especially at a time when people feel farther apart than ever. But it was too raw to share. "I didn't originally want to release 'Close.' I wanted to keep it to myself," he says. "But after showing it to the members, they encouraged me, and that motivated me to share it."

And they continue to share their artistry with Stay. Fans are getting an intimate look at the members' songwriting and melody-making prowess in "Two Kids Song," a web series that splits them into pairs and challenges each team to write, produce, and record an original song. For Stray Kids, the desire to keep learning and pushing themselves — as songwriters, as performers, and as young adults navigating the world around them — both inside and outside of the practice room, comes naturally. "We're artists," Bang Chan says. "It's right for us to express whatever we want through our creative process."

However, with unfiltered access also comes moments of real humility, a reminder that the relationship between idols and the community they foster isn't defined in scenes of uncritical loyalty and fan service, but rather in instances where they hold one another accountable. In a June livestream, Bang Chan reminded fans, "I don't want you guys to spread negative energy around. Stays, you guys are better than that." That sentiment was recently reciprocated when the group participated in a July variety show segment that many Black fans deemed racially insensitive. Stray Kids apologized in a personal statement posted to the members' shared Instagram account, in which they rejected all types of discrimination with a promise to do better by their fans everywhere around the world. "We are still lacking in many things and we are trying our hardest to become better," they wrote in Korean and English. "We would like to apologize to anyone if we have stepped on a rake. It was never our intention but due to our lack of understanding."

It's this honesty that resonates most with their fans. It's woven into heartfelt lyrics, tearful ending ments, social media posts, virtual hugs, home-cooked meals, and earnest reminders to deal with — not run away from — things that are difficult. It is the lens through which Stray Kids see themselves: never perfect, but always sincere. Mainly, it's how they expel their innermost thoughts and feelings, the joy and the agony of everyday life. Whether that's by working on music, or choreography, or refining a new dish, or bettering themselves, that's ultimately up for them to decide. It always has been. Their appetites are insatiable, after all. "The fact that we have the chance to make the music we want to make and talk about the things we want to talk about is really special," Changbin says. "It makes me more excited for what's next."

A day after talking to Teen Vogue, Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han set the KCON:TACT stage ablaze with an opening performance that showed the world just how hungry they are. “They always say the same excuses, while they’re complaining we’re producing," Bang Chan sings, the Auto-Tune heavy. "The passion I give it, nobody can kill." It's a bold statement for any group to make, especially one as young as Stray Kids. And yet, it's that measure of determination that's defined their careers since they were teens trapped on a hellevator with nowhere to go but up. One day they'll reach the penthouse. For now, they're learning to savor the ride and embrace the mess.

"We're going to enjoy this freedom," Bang Chan says, "and eventually we'll fly high."

[by-nina]

For auld lang syne, my dear (Coda)

AO3 | FFN Part III of For auld lang syne, my dear Rating: K+ Genre: Romance Word Count: 1,796

A/N: While it’s still January, it’s still a new year. So here’s the end of this story about dancing into a new year! Thanks to everyone who has followed this series, and special thanks to @megthemighty for having old Royai on her wishlist. I couldn’t not do it.

Roy turns quickly to Riza; the sight of her is enough to answer all of his questions. Her hair is more silver than blonde now, and her face has earned wrinkles for all her trouble of working with him all these years, seeing each plan through until the end. More importantly, it is a face that has never left his life.

The years pass one after the other, a decade lapses into the next. Then, the day comes for Roy Mustang to welcome one final new year as the Führer of Amestris.

It passes like every New Year’s Eve that has come before. The streets come alive with high spirits at the stroke of midnight, the sky blooming into brilliant red and green and gold against deep black. Friends come together in an embrace, children are lifted onto their fathers’ shoulders so they could watch the fireworks over the crowd, lovers kiss. Lovers dance. The music is as it has always been; throughout Central, the same traditional song of many New Year’s Eves past echoes down every street and in every citizen’s voice. An accompaniment for memories gone by and new beginnings yet to come.

This all goes on for fifteen minutes before the Führer’s men usher him forward to deliver a message to the public. Without an introduction, the revelers fall into a reverent silence, gazing at him upon the stage at the head of the plaza. There it is for one last time, that quintessential image of Roy Mustang at the podium, sure to be armed with words that are all at once soothing, inspiring, rallying, and most of all sincere. The crowd waits in awe and melancholy.

“My dear fellow Amestrians…”

His voice has kept the verve of his youth, albeit roughened by the years gone by.

“… I am filled with many emotions as I stand here before you tonight. First, I am delighted to join you in celebration of New Year’s Day, even more so to see you with your loved ones on this joyous occasion, safe, healthy, and hopeful as we begin another year of traversing the road we have built together for our great country.”

He pauses, his next words catching in his throat. He allows himself a moment’s glance to his right where she stands at attention, the people’s beloved Lieutenant Colonel Riza Hawkeye. As always, she is quick to catch his hesitation and subtle about her response. She meets his gaze, gives a small, imperceptible nod, seeming to everyone else like she didn’t move at all. He sees it, of course, and so he offers her a smile for barely even a second before he looks out to the plaza again.

“At the same time, it is with a heavy heart that I am welcoming the new year with you as your Führer for the last time.” Even the air seems to have turned still. “These twenty years have been devoted to shaping Amestris into a country whose heart beats with its people and for its people. With your unwavering support and belief in a future that belongs to you and not to one single institution or person in power, we have made this possible, and in the spring, you will be electing your very first President as a democratic nation.”

He stops for the thunderous applause that erupts throughout the crowd. There is hollering, triumphant exclamations, fists pumped in the air and arms linked together. It lasts for a minute or two before gradually but not completely fading into silence, and he continues. “And though I long to serve you for many more years, I take comfort in the knowledge of what I leave in your hands to protect. An Amestris that stands for what is just and right, where man and woman, rich and poor, black and white may stand together. Living equally, studying equally, eating and drinking equally… and loving equally.” Another pause. “And this can only be nurtured through you, the upstanding servants that you will soon choose to lead you, and we cannot forget the Ishval Tribunal by whose hard work we shall soon truly mend our country’s wrongs.

“My deepest, sincerest thanks to you all, and a happy New Year.”

Roy makes his way home quietly two hours later, after the festivities have died down. It’s the quietest drive he has been on, and the first he’s had with Riza in a very long time. Being the Führer, he sits in the back, as was their arrangement for a time when she had just become his adjutant many years ago. From there, he watches her drive, her eyes clear with focus, her hands firm on the wheel.

“I hope I haven’t kept you from a good night’s rest,” he says.

“I’d appreciate your concern, Sir,” she replies, “if you had asked me that four decades ago.”

Their eyes meet for a moment in the rear-view mirror, sharing a knowing, laughing look. Riza turns her attention back onto the road, and Roy continues staring at her reflection long after. He pairs it with a fond smile.

“I’ll drop you off at the front steps.”

After a moment, he responds quietly, “The garden, please, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Her fingers flex on the wheel in recognition of the invitation beneath his order. Riza says nothing other than, “Of course.”

The Führer’s palace is largely surrounded by lush orchards that hide the estate from public view, but “the garden” is an open expanse of flowering shrubs over a well-manicured slope behind the palace. It offers a view of part of Central and has served as a hideaway for Roy on nights when he has been stressed about politics as well as bothered by other, more personal things. For the former, Riza has accompanied him as his confidante, an adviser, a friend. For the latter, Roy has needed only to think of her.

Alighting the car, they walk quietly into the garden, steps perfectly synchronized and the distance between them constant. Riza remains behind him, her eyes surely watching him as they always have—Roy knows exactly how her gaze feels on him, even when he isn’t returning it. He is tempted to, but he walks on, searching for a word to describe the feeling and how it relates to the shiver running through him, the warmth blooming in his chest, and then he stops in his tracks. Riza follows suit. He looks up at the view stretching up to the horizon, the city still aglow with the remnants of the night’s celebrations, and he lets out a breath of disbelief.

“I can’t believe how far we’ve come.”

The words, uttered barely under his breath, give Roy release and clarity. It’s as if it were much earlier in the night and he were more awake.

“This is all we have worked for,” he continues. “All these years… all the plans we made, the dreams we’ve had for this country… it’s what all this time has been for. All our work, all our…” His voice begins to quiver, and he sounds most like his younger self now. “… promises.”

Roy looks down, away from the view. “Is it true, Lieutenant Colonel?”

“What is?” Riza whispers.

“Have we really done all that we’ve meant to do? It’s just… it’s all too good to be true, isn’t it? Everything happened so fast, these twenty years as the Führer are all a blur. Have I done enough for our people? Will they be happy with all of it? The reforms, the tribunal, the elections, the…”

He trails off, the words sinking into him as something of a revelation. Roy turns quickly to Riza; the sight of her is enough to answer all of his questions. Her hair is more silver than blonde now, and her face has earned wrinkles for all her trouble of working with him all these years, seeing each plan through until the end. More importantly, it is a face that has never left his life. There he sees the twirling girl from Cameron, his young adjutant, the first woman he ever loved, and the most devoted Lieutenant Colonel in Amestris, his right hand, the only woman he has ever loved.

Riza looks at him with an understanding he has only ever known from her. She nods, smiling. “It’s true,” she says. “I should know. We’ve been together long enough.”

She could never lie to him, not after all this time.

“Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye.”

“General Mustang.”

Roy steps forward, closer to her.

“Riza.” He whispers her name as though he were being careful with it.

“... Roy.”

He extends his hand to her.

“Will you dance with me?”

When she takes his hand, when they pull each other close, it feels natural, easy even without any kind of rehearsal. Roy moves as she does, following her steps and letting her follow his. Riza no longer hesitates to touch like she did in the past. It's a dance of mostly swaying and turning in place, perhaps because it's all their tired bodies can allow at the moment, or because it's all they need to make of it. The rhythm isn't any different from any of the other things they've been able to do together, anyway, like taking their places at the same table or walking side by side. They know each other in this moment just as well as they have in any other.

They dance quietly until he begins to sing the Amestris holiday song in her ear. It’s far from the rendition he first gave her all those years ago—his voice breaks off quite a bit, underscored by breaths and a rumble that wasn't there at seventeen—but the circumstances are so different that it feels like the first time once again. Then, he falters at the last note and fades back into silence, because by now he can only continue the song one other way.

The first kiss, he leaves on her hand, which he brings easily to his lips from their positions as they dance.

The second, he places on her cheek, almost like a whisper, even though there is no secret they need to keep anymore.

And the third—the third dissipates in the scant, delicate space between them, because he is overwhelmed just by being near her. All they do instead is face each other, foreheads touching, lips close but still apart. For the first time, they are physically close enough not to yearn to get closer, close enough to melt by a flame they cannot even see or touch.

Neither of them knows how long they dance or when they stop. It ends with them standing perfectly still and embracing each other under the deep blue sky between late night and dawn. They’ve always understood each other even without words, but for the first time they are quiet because there is nothing left to say, no more unkept promises—not to their country, not to each other.

Nothing, at least, except, "Happy New Year."

The words hold a new promise: a dance that will go on for the rest of their days.

[briansastro10]

BNHA X Cars

KaminariSo, this is basically BNHA Street racer AU. But to be more precise I’m picking the cars for the characters from BNHA. Because cars have characteristic, it has personality and it describes you as a person. Not just based from the body but the engines and the car as whole. So, this is my pick of cars for the character of BNHA

Part 1 For the boys

I’m going to divide it into 2 cars. One is for daily drive/Sports car and the other is The Supercar. The Sports car will describe them as characters individuals. While the Supercar will describe their full potentials.

Midoriya Izuku

Midoriya Izuku, The protagonist of the Anime. He is too good of a boy to mess around street Racing. The Color for his car is obviously Green, in that case I Recommend Him.

Sport car/ Daily Drive:

The Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX.

To be more specific. It is Brian’s First car In the Fast and the furious franchise (R.I.P Paul Walker). This car is one of the Tuners favorite car to modify. It is run by 4G63 Engine, it is the same Engine that run an EVO F*CKING LANCER which is one of the finest cars that has been made on earth (Minus the Turbo). So it plays well with the whole inheritance thing with All Might.

Supercar:

For the supercar, I would Recommend McLaren 675LT

This car Look Great In green. The whole characteristic of this car reminds me of Midoriya. This car shown how it can blend to the society, how it was able to move fast and aggressively while at the same time maintaining Elegance. This car looked slim, but its performance is something else 3.8 L V8 Twin Turbo Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Gives the ability for the driver to drive like a maniac. The car produces more or less 675 Horsepower (Just like its name) and can go to 0-100 Km in 2.9 Seconds and a top speed with 330 Km/h (205 Mph).

Bakugo Katsuki

For Bakugo, His car has to be loud and Fast! He needs a car that’s intimidating. For the color I’m Thinking Red, Yellow or Black. But since the car need to look Antagonizing, I’m going with black. So, the car that I propose.

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Dodge Charger SRT Hell Cat 2015

This car is a 6.2L Hemi V8 Supercharged. The roars in this car is nothing short. This car is for sure is Intimidating. The roar of the engine is equivalent to Bakugo’s Roar of explosive anger. I was considering the newer one like the SRT Redeye Hellcat or even The Demon. But the demons is more of the inner demon screaming trying to get out. It needed a Rumbling sound of the V8, The insane roar that is deafening.

Supercar:

For the Supercar, it is very difficult. I can choose Hyper cars but they just felt a bit too well mannered compared to Bakugo. But I’ve given a lot of thought and the only car that fits is This

Pagani Zonda R

This car is basically an f1 with a two-seater and a roof. This bad boy is a track only car. So, it is “Street Illegal!!” But that won’t stop Bakugo for using this beauty. This car on high rev speaks will be all the explanation needed on the reason why I chose this car. A car with 700 BHP and only weight 1,070 Kg (In comparison Ford focus weight 1,471 Kg) Which is like a feather.

Todoroki Shoto

For Todoroki His car has to be cool, matured and Luxurious but also High performance. I’m a bit mixed up with the colors Whether I should make it blue or white or red. But since I cant decide I leave it in the ‘Grey’ area. Get it? Ill just get on with it.

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Aston Martin DB11

Aston Martin is well known on it’s Luxury and History. Which fits Todoroki’s Prince aura/Characteristics. The performance is also nothing short, Aston Martin is also well known to make a brilliant Engine for racing. A twin turbocharged V12 Produce 600 BHP with a top speed 201Km/h (125Mph).

Supercar

For the Super car, I think Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

It is a naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 Engine AWD. This car has a fierce fiery engine on its car but still has that cool matured Body. And the ALA (Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva) Is brilliant. It is an active Aerodynamic system that allows the car to go faster.

Tenya Iida:

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Is the Brabus 800 GT 63s

This car is perfect fot Iida, It has a look in which my friend quote “Sophisticated Look”. And Mind you this car is probably The Fastest Car! For the sport/daily drive Car compare than anyone else in the list. This car packs a crazy 800 BHP and that’s says it all

Supercar:                  

The fastest Car In the world! In 2010. The specific look that I would like to go is Drift From Transformer: Age Of Extinction. That Blue Lining is perfect for Iida. For some people engines might be boring, But this car have the power of 1200 Horses in it

Kirishima Eijiro

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

The car that this Manly man need to go with is the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500.

The Engine has a named called the “Predator” V8 Engine. 750 BHP is nothing short and the roar from within is on par with Bakugo’s SRT Hellcat.

Supercar:                    

I was having second thought of choosing this car. But whenever I think of Kirishima in a car, This car always pops into my head

Lamborghini Adventador SV. This car Looked manly and menacing. Why I thought about this car, is that it associated it self with a bull in which Kirishima and this car can relate to. A loud V12 Engine roars loud and deep in a intimidating voice and its perfect.

Sero Hanta

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

For Sero the car has to be traditional but still a good car nonetheless. So I pick A classic Porsche 911 turbo 1982.

It is a classic sports car, It is tunable which make the car run fast.

Supercar:                    

Ferrari 458 Italia

This car is a normal Aspirated V8 with a high rev engine. It creates something Revolutionary From something traditional.

Kaminari Denki

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

It has to be the SUPRA!!!!!!          

This car is definitely a meme, it fits with Kaminari Personality.  Seeing them is like “WTH ARE YOU DOING?!” Because both Kaminari and the car would do something ridiculously stupid.

Supercar:

For the Supercar I Would say The Lexus LFA

Lexus is one of the Artistic Legacy of the JDM Cars. It is one of the legendary Supercar that ever existed. The Normal aspirated V10 Sounded like Pure Thunder striking down on the earth. Sound menacing and amazing. It fits for Kaminari Racing Persona (Or even his villain Persona).

Mashirao Ojiro

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Ojiro is a traditional Japanese person, So his car has to be totally Japanese. My pick have to be The S30 Fairlady Z.

To be exact the RB26 Swapped Fairlady Z from Sung Kang (Han’s Actor car from “Fast and Furious”) And that’s all I need to say about this car.

Supercar:

For the Supercar It has to be the last piece of The JDM Legend. It is The GTR R35 NISMO.

This car is perfect for Ojiro, They both are the Representative Character of Japan.

Tokoyami Fumikage

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Blackbird 370 z

For me it’s a no Brainer. This car was featured as the Replacement of Blackbird in wangan Midnight When they aren’t allowed to use the Porsche. The slick Headlight and the whole body look is the description of Tokoyami Dark Shadow

Supercar:

Mclaren MP4-12C

That Describes Tokoyami as a whole. One of the best car that ever created in history that changes the whole world. With the black fierce look, This car looks like a shark that flies on land.

Sato Rikido

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

Sato is a muscular guy. So His sports car is definitely a Muscle Car. But It seems I have a trouble in finding it, It has to be a classic but not too old. In that reason I recommend Saleen s281 2000

It has that sporty look but still have the Muscle car Essence and history

Supercar:

For the Supercar It has to be The Corvette C8.R

This car is a new take to American cars. It is a Incredible move from the American automotive Industries.

Koda Koji

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

For Koda He is definetly a good Boy so hew probably uses a 4-door car. For instance The Subaru WRX STI 2016.

It doesn't seems Menacing but it still can move around well and when it drives, it definetly drives well.

Supercar:

For the Supercar it is definetly a NSX-R 1992 Tuned with a Rocket Bunny Body Kit.

Koda is definitely a Honda city boi. From the name itself, I am 100% it fits with Koda. Back in the day if you want a Ferrari but you can’t afford one. You’ll buy an NSX.

Shoji Mezo

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

For Shoji I think Ford’s Trophy truck.

A friend of mine said that Shoji, is the kind of guy who would drive a van for daily basis (So I guessed it has to be an American Car). But to me, Shoji is the Kind of guy that likes to get Dirt under his wheels. And I'm pretty sure Shoji is the kind of kid that doesn’t Mind flying in the car on daily basis.

Supercar:

For the Supercar I propose, Ford Gt.

It is well planted and the car is very wide. Fitting to describes Shoji’s ‘Arms’. Although it might not have similarities with his daily car, But this car is all I could think of.

Aoyama Yuga

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

For the Daily Drive, it is obviously something Luxurious, Something High class Like Bentley GT 2019. The V8 Version.

It is a confiscated yet sporty look in a car, It looked like as if he stands out compares to the other Luxury Cars

Supercar:

For the Supercar, It has to be describe as “Noblesse oblige” And the Car that fits the most is Noble M600.

It is a Supercar with all the classic features. It is a RWD Manual Transmission Car, a twin turbocharged 4L V8. Packs 640 BHP 0-60 in 3.1 Second.

Mineta Minoru

Sport Car/ Daily Drive:

It’s the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GTS

Basically, this car is the Japanese Equivalent To pimp rides. Even though This car is featured in The Fast and The Furious, It is just a now show car. Compared the old one, This version is a slower and much more difficult to Modify. But it is still a nice car and fun to drive with, and it is a popular car in the car culture.

Supercar:

For Mineta The Supercar might be really difficult. So in the end I just came up with the Villain version. (Inspired by ‘Nadaboodraws’ Villain Mineta on Instagram) I came up with this

It is the Audi R8, It is one of the best Affordable Supercar you can get in the world. It is 4wd But it is still an aggressive car with a mean Look.

Okay that’s all I can give for this part. For the next one will be the girls of class 1-A. If you have different opinion let me know, I would love to hear all of your thoughts and if you use my list you can go ahead and use it (But please do tell me, because hearing it will be my vindication and that would make me really happy). Anyway, thank you for reading until this far.

[cloudcover23]

A super rough-draft excerpt from my angsty Percy Jr/Rupert wip

(Background: Percy and Rupert are both 13 years old)

(This is rated G but the final story will be rated T)

(This whole undertaking was inspired by @callmefitz‘s post about Rupert and Percy being in love before Rupert ran off to the forest.)

He cautiously crept into the Library through a back door.

Percy was mad at his dad and wanted to do something reckless, something he knew was against the rules. He knew his dad would be snide and condescending if he knew his son was going to the library, evidently to read. Knew he would be downright angry if he knew Percy was actually going to see Rupert. And just what WAS he doing here anyway? Why did Rupert haunt him? What was it about him that made Percy want to know more, to get closer?

The library was warm and comforting, despite the storm raging outside. He crept around the stacks of books and quickly found Rupert sitting at a table as usual. Percy hid himself behind a bookshelf. This was stupid. Why had he come here?

There was a bright flash of lightning and thunder boomed outside. The noise was so loud and intense that it rattled the windows. Percy let out a shriek and fell to the floor, protecting his head with his arms. As he lay there in a heap, breathing hard, waiting for another strike or at the very least harsh words, he felt something cold and wet nudge the back of his hand. He looked up to see the face of Rupert’s lanky puppy. As soon as it was exposed, the dog promptly proceeded to lick Percy’s face eagerly.

“Uhg! Get off!” Percy sat up, wiping away the slobber and trying to push the dog away.

However, undeterred by Percy’s disapproval the dog sat itself down in Percy’s lap and panted happily.

Percy tentatively pet his furry back. He was soft and warm and heavy against him. He felt good. Percy sighed and started to relax.

“He’s good at that isn’t he?”

Percy startled and looked up to find Rupert himself sitting on the floor across from him, smiling gently. Percy panicked; this was not how he wanted Rupert to find him! This was not how he wanted anyone to see him!“

He’s good at helping when you’re feeling scared.” Rupert added kindly.“

Oh, scared? Me? Haha! Oh, no I wasn’t scared.” Percy tried feebly to sound strong and sure of himself, but his voice squeaked. “I am a future knight, after all. And everyone knows that knights are brave.”

Rupert hummed in dubious agreement and looked out the window pensively. “Doesn’t being brave mean that you do something even when you’re feeling afraid?”

“Well, yah. Duh.”

“Then being brave doesn’t mean you don’t feel scared! It just means that you keep going even when you are scared.” 

Percy shook the panic-cobwebs out of his head. “No no, that can’t be right. Being brave means that you’re… strong and… and fearless!”

Rupert turned back to Percy, a glint in his eye. “Fearless? Like not having any fear?”

“Uh, yah, that’s what I said.” Percy rolled his eyes.

“But if you were truly fearless, then I think you would also be a bit of an idiot.”

Percy gasped. “How dare you suggest--”

“No, hear me out! Say you’re a knight facing down a ferocious dragon.”

“Well, dragons don’t exist.” Maybe the other boys were right and the prince really was crazy.

“And the dragon is breathing fire everywhere,” Rupert continued undeterred, “and your fellow knights are being turned into ash around you.”

“Ooookay?”

“What does the knight who feels no fear do? Probably run head on towards the dragon. Right?”

“Yah, that sounds like what a brave, fearless knight should do.” Percy quipped. 

“But what does it get him? He runs in, sword held high, probably yelling like a dunderhead. And the dragon immediately turns him into a puff of smoke.” Rupert blew on his fingers for added effect.

“Well, I’m sure that--”

“But what does the afraid knight do? He looks around at his fellow men-at-arms and sees what’s happening and says, ‘I don’t want that to be me!’”

“Sounds like a sissy who would run away and leave his kingdom at the mercy of a fire-breathing beast. Not very knightly if you ask me.” Percy sniffed.

“Ah, but that’s where the bravery comes in right? The afraid but BRAVE knight says ‘I don’t want that to be me, I’ll find another way’ and he doesn’t go screaming into the flame, he sees the failings of the others that went before him and comes up with a new solution.”

“Which is?”

“Well, I don’t know – dragons don’t exist.” Rupert smiled playfully. Percy huffed out a laugh despite himself. “Hmm.” He leaned back to think about it. “I bet he would sneak around the dragon and chop its tail off.

”Rupert relaxed back against the bookshelf behind him as well. “Hah! And then what? Wait for it to bleed to death before it turns around flames you?”

“No way! It would be so distracted by the pain in its behind that I would have time to run around to the front and stab it in the heart of course! I’d like to hear how YOU would handle it Mr. Knows-Everything-About-Fighting-Imaginary-Dragons.”

<Add more back and forth with increasingly silly ways to defeat a dragon>

“Well I bet while you were standing there laughing at me it was getting ready to chomp you!”

“No way! I already would have distracted the dragon with a giant tree branch, and then uhhh… climbed onto it’s back!”

“Ooh yes! And then stabbed it in the head?”

“No way! I would have ridden on the back of the beast! Off into the sunset!” Rupert gestured widely with his hands.

Percy erupted into laughter. “I can see it now! The brave knight riding on the back of the dragon that he has no control over at all, while it torches all the villages on it’s way to the castle.”

Rupert giggled. “Well, at least I would be having some fun before the entire kingdom went up in flames!”

Percy wiped a tear from his eye and sighed, still chuckling. “You would go down in history as the worst knight ever.”

Rupert’s laughter died and he looked off to the side. “Yah well. Probably would anyway.”

That’s right. Rupert had wanted to train as a knight but for whatever reason wasn’t allowed. It seemed to be a sore subject.

Rupert’s dog got up from where he had been resting in Percy’s lap and went to nudge his head into Rupert’s leg.

“Hey Fitzroy. Rupert smiled and pulled the dog close.”

“So… uh…” Percy felt awkward. He had killed the vibe on the most interesting and entertaining conversation he had ever had with another person. He knew they were both thinking of that day at the training yard. Percy longed to ask more about it, but felt that it would probably make things even more awkward. “So… your dog is named Fitzroy?”

Percy kicked himself. He had just told himself that he wasn’t going to mention it, and here he was bringing up the fake name that Rupert had used for himself that morning.

“Oh yah. Haha.” Rupert rubbed Fitzroy’s head making his ears flop around. He seemed somewhat cheered as he looked into the dog’s face. “I kind of froze out there you know! Didn’t know what else to tell him! I had thought as far as the disguise,” Rupert looked back over to Percy and tapped his eye, “but forgot that I would have to give them some sort of name! Although, I thought I didn’t do half bad under pressure – he let me in didn’t he?”

Percy snorted out a laugh. “Yah, I guess so.” He had no idea what he was doing. He wanted to know so much more about this boy. The Prince. He didn’t seem like a prince really, he seemed like a normal kid. A normal kid that sat here with him on the floor of the library telling him it was okay to be afraid and making him laugh in a way that no one else had done before. Rupert seemed to be regarding him too. “You’re not like the other boys.” Rupert’s odd declaration seemed to be half question half statement. Percy suddenly realized how vulnerable he had allowed himself to be with this other boy. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. He put his defenses back up. “Hah! Well I should think not! I am a Percy and far better than all of them, just like my father of course.”

“Hmm.” Rupert’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment before he looked back down at Fitzroy. Percy squirmed, the air seemed suddenly chilly.

Rupert’s head snapped back up and he smiled strangely. “Can I tell you a secret?” Rupert whispered conspiratorially. “Uh. Yah. Sure?”

Rupert looked around them to see if there were any eavesdroppers around. “I’m sneaking out. Next week.”

Percy didn’t know what to do with this information. It seemed very random that Rupert would suddenly change the subject to this. “You… are?” He replied, confused.

“Mmmhmm. I lost something along the edge of the forest, I’m going to go find it.”

“Why do you have to sneak out? Why not just go look for it?”

Rupert scrunched his face in frustration. “My mother would have a fit if she heard I had gone so close to the forest in the first place – no telling what she would do if she knew I wanted to go back.”

“I mean, everyone knows the forest is dangerous. Maybe she’s just trying to keep you safe? Seems reasonable to me. Just ask a guard or something to go find whatever it is.”

“Uhg! I knew you would…” Rupert grumbled for a moment. “Listen, I’m going okay? Midnight. In exactly one week. Do you want to come?”

If Percy had wondered if Rupert was crazy before, he knew it for certain now. The passionate gleam in his eye that he had worn that day in the training ground was back, but Percy had no idea why this boy with no skill in weaponry would want to go so close to the dangerous forest in the middle of the night, or why he would suggest that Percy, a boy who he had only known for an hour or so, go with him. But what better quest for a future knight than to protect his prince on a dangerous mission? He made up his mind. “Okay.”

“Yah?” Rupert grinned. “Yah.” Percy confirmed, feeling more confident about it now.

“Okay then.” Rupert got serious. “Meet me in seven days at midnight by the greenhouses. Wear black. Bring your sword.”

A thrill ran through Percy’s body. He was excited and a little scared. He would be breaking the rules, and helping Rupert defy the queen, but he was feeling reckless. “Yah, okay. Yah! I’ll be there.”

Rupert beamed then held out his hand across the aisle toward Percy. Percy regarded it for a moment before clasping it firmly. They both schooled their faces as they shook hands stoically. This was a serious agreement and required a serious moment. It didn’t last. They both erupted into giggles as soon as they let go. It felt good to just laugh and be silly and not worry about anyone thinking he was weird or not tough enough or… whatever! It felt good just to be himself.

Percy sighed, wiping happy tears from his eyes for a second time that evening. He looked over to the window to see that the storm had stopped raging outside. “I should probably get going. My father’s expecting me home.” Percy rose and dusted himself off.

Rupert uncoiled himself and stood up too. “You doing castle guard duty again this week?”

“Yah.” 

“Then I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yah, see you around. Bye Rupert.”

“Bye Percy.”

[cloudyyoonji]

~ Stray Kids Masterlist ~

Finally a Stray Kids master list woohoo! Hopefully, this makes navigating my Stray Kids AU’s a little easier for you!

Bang Chan ~

→ Wholehearted Love.

Buried in the warmth of blankets and your boyfriend’s arms, you couldn’t ask for a better day than today.

→ 4 AM Nostalgia.

Things change so fast in four years, so when you arrive back in Sydney, Australia - your home town, you’re a little emotional - but Chan is a source of comfort for you. 

→ Hidden Comforts.

Your hidden relationship with Jock! Chan makes its reveal.

→ 100 Ways To Say I Love You

Between busy schedules and cozy cuddles, you both knew just what to say in the times of contentment.

→ Summer Love.

Chan was your summer Love once upon a time, and now you two are reunited by the strings of fate once more. SOULMATE TATTOO AU.

→ Missing You

Oh how you’ve missed the boys who had quickly become your family.

→ College Muse. (College AU)

College Music producer! Chan and College Writer! Reader both dwell on eachother for some help on a project similar in nature

→ Home Is Where You Are

Home was truly wherever Chan was, and right now, you couldn’t be more relieved to see him. 

Lee Minho ~

→ Cafe Dreams.

Working at a cafe had always been a dream of yours, but the cute barista somehow manages to sneak his way into your days with a wide smile.

→ Glass Bridge.

You’re slowly walking on this glass bridge, but something about Lee Minho has changed.

→ Close As Strangers.

The nervous flutters and heartbeat in your chest made you even more nervous around your two best friends. Who would you turn too? Lee Minho, or Hwang Hyunjin?

-> The Dream That Came in The Mail

It seems the universe is on your side for once.

Seo Changbin ~

→ This Little Light Of Mine.

It’s just small things that make you both fall for each other all over again.

Hwang Hyunjin ~

→ Silent ‘I Love You’s’.

When you completely overwork yourself, Hyunjin and the rest of the boys are always there to pick you up when you need it most.

→ Nervous Kisses.

You two finally pay a visit to your parent’s place, but the short trip is all you’ve ever wanted plus more.

→ Complete Adoration.

Hyunjin is always there to help you de-stress from a stressful study session with his warm embrace. 

→ I Love You Like XO.

Inspired by Beyoncé’s “XO”.

→ Just Like Lovers Do.

After a routine 1am movie marathon, you definitely don’t expect the words that come from your boyfriend.

→ Night Changes.

He was your summer, your autumn, your winter, and your spring.

→ Secret Panels and Paperwork.

Seoul Police Headquarters is much more interesting than your old job, particularly the detective you’re now shadowing.

→ The Silence.

Hyunjin had been acting a little more withdrawn lately, but you hadn’t expected the answer you’d gotten.

→ Close As Strangers.

The nervous flutters and heartbeat in your chest made you even more nervous around your two best friends. Who would you turn too? Lee Minho, or Hwang Hyunjin?

→ The Lovers Dance.

Being a trainee is burdensome, but when there’s someone to help share those burdens, you begin to see the lighter side of things.

→ Cheesy Smiles.

Why is Hwang Hyunjin knocking on your door at 10 o’clock at night?!

→ Heart Shot

You knew there was a reason you hated college parties, but this one was certainly a golden exception to your list.

→ Lovelorn

Lovelorn; The state of being sad because of the problems love brings. Stupid projects mean even stupider decisions when your in college. 

→ Sol Et Luna 

It was love at first sight with the sun.

Han Jisung ~

→ Another Second With You.

When you arrived at the dorm, you don't expect to walk into the equivalent of a hurricane, generated by none other than 8 boys and your childish boyfriend.

→ Warm Kisses & Scarves.

Time alone is rare, but Han Jisung Is even rarer.

→ “I Love You.”

You’re absolutely oblivious to the misery Han Jisung has been in, so when it all comes out, things get a little confusing.

→ Our TicTac Love.

Awkward moments can sometimes reveal hidden truths, especially when it comes to Han Jisung. 

→ Thundering Comforts

During a thunderstorm, your boyfriend finds a strange way to calm your unease.

→ Queen of The Night.

When you’re with Jisung, you feel like you’re queen of the night, but in the morning, his cuddles bring a softness in the morning

→ Knotted White Lies

Stuck in an arranged marriage with none other than Han Jisung feels both awkward and like a breath of fresh air.

Lee Felix ~

→ You Are Family.

As you are swarmed with insecurities, sometimes it’s important to look at the small things in your life.

→ Loving You.

Felix’s love for you is enough to outshine even the worst of days.

→ I Promise You.

Oh how wrongly you assumed the worst.

→ Stars Aligned.

You’re somewhat nervous when you figure out you have feelings for your best friend, but little do you know, the boy has a secret he’s been hiding too.

→ Limerance.

Limerance; the state of being infatuated with another person.

→ Unraveling.

You can always count on the boys who have made JYP Entertainment home for you.

→ Brighter.

Lee Felix loves every bit of you, including your service dog Lexi.

Kim Seungmin ~

→ Silver House Key.

It was just a house key that started all of this.

→ Flushed Cheeks and Pale Skin.

There is never a dull moment when your boyfriend catches your cold.

→ Light 

Seungmin’s love is unconditional no matter what.

Yang Jeongin ~

→ I’ll Be Your Midnights. 

As the new year kicks over, you couldn’t imagine spending your last few moments of 2019 with any other person.

[kuroganeslayer]

How did you get into RP?

// The villians made me do it. Axel, Piccolo, Vegeta, Yami Bakura, Yami Malik, Renji, Grimmjow, hichigo, Gajeel, Cobra/Erik, Midnight/Macbeth, and Laxus.

I

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That is hard to remember as it happened along time ago when I was watching yugioh for the first time when WB had it on tv. Then I grew attached and got the japanse ones including the manga books. I noticed a huge difference between the anime dubbed and the oringal. But sometimes I could understand why they change things, but people pointing your fingers at you which were oringally supposed to be guns was really stupid. Then changing the cards, editing the millienium Rod where Yami Maik is holding it in a wiered angle instead of seeing the dagger so stupid and even editing Zork, because he looks like he has a huge cock, but they edited It and made it worse for the dub. Shit they could of created smoke circulated around him and no one would of noticed it.

 That is where I got my inspiration on writing fan fiction, then I hopped on rp on forums on breaks during my internet class. I used to know how to do lots of html stuff, but now am really rusty with it. When I was in the yugioh fandom, they had a forum where you could look up spoilers, but I got into when you could rp with any other anime character you wanted I would rp as Yami Bakura and Yami Maik, as they were my favorite characters in the show even though they actually dueled against each other, but then took out the dueling part where me and a selected group had all of them go adventures and these two villians would cause chaos.

A few times I also rped as Piccolo, but that was hard to pull off. 

Then I got into the Kingdom Hearts fandom on a different site and rped as Axel and then things started to get hectic as me and a friend were harassed personally just because we wrote paragraphs when we rped. However the other group would god mod a lot so it just wasn’t a fun environment anymore Including the site getting hacked by a moderator who erased all the rps so I found my way to tumblr. At first I would just scroll and type things of my interest then I saw people rping and it looked like fun to me. There was another person who I quickly became friends with and she was a Axel rper and we would rp together. Then I found a Reno rper who has a butt load of other blogs as muses and we became friends. I would rp with almost all his muses. Eventually he and my Axel began shipping together. Then he disappeared and said he needed time away from the fandom and I understood that. Then he introduced me to Bleach and that is where I feel in love with Renji, Ichigo and Grimmjow. I currently have an Renji and Ichigo muse to this day, but I only go on there when I feel muse, but sometimes other people complaining about the manga doesn’t help or even the anon hate either. Also there was drama in the Bleach fandom and it started to get toxic.

So I found a different outlet, but it wasn’t until I saw Fairy Tail on Netflix so I watched it because I give anime a chance of at least 8 episodes or more. The story was hilarious and I decided I would keep watching it trying to find a favortie character that came along. Laxus was awesome and I liked him and his attitude, but also Natsu was completely funny and so was Grey. However when Gajeel came onto the screen I just fell in love with this bad ass. He was a villain and I love villains and I have always have in most cases when it comes to lots of animes. I root for them instead of the heros.  Also I have always loved dragons so Fairy Tail became a favorite and him being a dragon slayer like Natsu was pretty awesome. Damn Gajeel was such a bastard dragonslayer and he wanted to kill Natsu. Then I found out that Laxus was a dragon slayer also. I was thinking holy shit how many are there? So yes that intrigued me also. Gajeel being part of Fairy Tail still baffles me. Makarov making it happen by basically trapping him against his will. This really set off Laxus and he wanted to take over the guild because of dark guilds besides the econsidering his guild weak. Then after the Fantasia arc was over and Laxus leaving his thunder legion behind. I went to look for more episodes. I caught up and was a little upset that Gajeel wasn’t in the Oracion Seis arc and I still hate the creator for doing that because it would of been so much interesting in my opinion to see if Gajeel would turn on Fairy Tail or not. I secretly was hoping he would because I never thought he would become a redeemed villain that earily in the series. With how hes treated now as a comedy relief and joke I wish he never was part of fairy tail.

I even thought about boycotting that saga just because it didn’t seem that interesting. However that quickly changed when I noticed the villians. There were two guys that quickly grabbed my attention Cobra and Midnight. It was during the opening So I continued to watch despite the fact I had a problem of Wendy being exposed to a criminal underlord, guild a dark guild. Sorry, but that made no sense to me to expose a newbie with no fighting experience over someone like Gajeel, Juvia who has experience with fighting guilds. I wondered what the hell was the creator thinking. How come Gajeel wasn’t in this saga at all? It would of been right up his ally. So stupid and lame. Then I was thinking he was purposely excluded for some reason. I still feel for that as it wasn’t just a spy for Raven Tail thing because Gajeel already gave Makarov the information for being a double agent for the dark guild Raven Tail. Juvia also wasn’t in this saga either even though she has been with Natsu’s team when they were dealing with Jellal. I pondered this as well, both members part of Phantom Lord, supposedly a rival of Fairy Tail, however to me it never seem like the case. It was more than that especially if you read the japanese portion of the manga and anime (not the dubb) that evil Saint Wizard Jose wanted that guild terminated, everyone dead, jealously my ass. Much like dark guilds hate light guilds. Gajeel and Juvia were a threat to Fairy Tail and Makarov knew it, so he kept them out of it. Probably for the best, but I digress.

So I rooted for the other side, the Oracion Seis wanting them to beat the light guilds. Midnight was pretty interesting especially when he was sleeping on a carpet. The Cobra guy with his monstrous snake definitely had me hooked. There was something about those eyes and those fangs of his that seemed familar and it reminded me of Gajeel’s, Laxus and Natsu. Then his mind ability to hear anything and go through memories through me a loop. Shit I loved this guy kicking Natsu’s ass and it was just fascinated to watch. Then learning he was also a dragon slayer made me think of how well he and Gajeel would have been fun to team up in the series cause trouble loved to have seen especially to see how they faired against Natsu together. Unfortunately Gajeel and Cobra only teamed up in Fairy Tail Gaiden Rhodonite which I hope in the future its gets an anime adaption. It's about the only time Gajeel actually worked with someone (besides Pantherlily his bad ass black panther exceed) who could hold his own in a fight without interference from a third party. And actually respects him.