#lets not talk about the implications of that

[ibtisams]

While we’re at it, let’s talk about the implications of how people dehumanise Palestinians because of their lack of fluency in English

[toruskiii]

"That's my wife!"

Synopsis: Your husband is consumed with jealousy. Genre: Fluff Characters: Yingxing x f!reader Warnings: Yingxing's personality might be a little ooc, you guys are married!!! (SHOCKER!!), he's so silly (I want him in me) A/N: this was supposed to be a multi character fic with all the Xianzhou men but I got lazy [masterlist] [about me]

Yingxing's hands glided over the gleaming steel, carving intricate patterns as he meticulously sharpened the sword's edges. He was a master swordsmith, and a skilled swordsman as well. Anyone who laid eyes on his creations could see the devotion and precision he poured into each piece.

But today, he couldn't help but notice something was off— his work felt sloppy.

He was in the middle of fulfilling a commission, with the client standing right before him, watching his every move. Normally, Yingxing preferred to work away from prying eyes, but today was an exception.

The real distraction, however, was that the gentleman in front of him kept stealing glances in your direction, as you assisted at a neighboring stall near his workshop.

"You're really skilled," the man remarked, admiring the sword in his hands. "Your craftsmanship is as fine as that woman over there." He chuckled, his eyes flicking over to you as you carried boxes to assist an elderly woman.

Yingxing felt a vein throb at his temple, his hands pausing briefly at the man's comment. "Thank you," he responded curtly, his tone icy. Normally, he was a man of few words, but rarely did his voice carry such a sharp edge.

Yingxing continued to etch the custom designs into the sword, his hands steady despite the occasional glance he cast toward his client. He wasn’t one to get easily jealous— his bond with you was secure, as was yours with him, but something about the way the man looked at you sparked an unfamiliar tension within him.

"Does that lady work at that stall?" No.

"I wonder what her name is..." You don’t deserve to know.

"She’s quite the beauty. I wonder if she’s spoken for." She does, me.

"Maybe I should ask her ou—"

Suddenly, a sharp screech echoed as Yingxing’s tool scraped harshly against the metal, causing the man to jolt and snap his attention back to the swordsmith.

The man watched Yingxing with a growing sense of uncertainty as he polished the sword with an almost aggressive fervor. "Hey, are you supposed to polish it like that? Isn’t that going to damage my sword?" he yelped, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he flinched at the fierce glare Yingxing shot his way.

"I apologize," Yingxing replied, his brow arching in challenge. "Are you the expert here, or am I?" He deliberately intensified his focus, sharpening the sword even faster, each stroke deliberate and precise.

The man's throat tightened as he gulped, his nerves getting the better of him. He shook his head, mumbling an apology as he realized he was facing the renowned calm and patient swordsmith— though the man before him seemed anything but calm in this moment.

As silence enveloped the workshop, soft footsteps echoed from the back door. You stepped inside, a warm smile on your face, only to be greeted by Yingxing’s soft voice. He noticed the client’s eyes widen in surprise. "Ah— miss, don’t you work at the other stall? You can’t just waltz into Yingxing’s workshop like this."

You blinked in confusion, your smile turning to one of bewilderment. "Huh?"

Yingxing felt a surge of irritation at the sight of the man's smug expression, wishing he could wipe that insipid smile off his face with a single strike. "Yeah, you—"

"That’s my wife you’re talking to," he interrupted, his tone firm and protective.

The air grew heavy with tension as the implications of his words settled in, leaving the man momentarily speechless. Yingxing’s eyes bore into him, a silent warning that was unmistakably clear.

The man stood frozen, shock washing over his features as embarrassment crept into his cheeks. He had just let himself compliment and gawk at you— right in front of your husband! The realization hit him like a cold wave.

"Oh— uh, I wasn’t aware," he stammered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, his confidence evaporating. His eyes darted between you and Yingxing, desperately searching for a way to defuse the suddenly tense situation.

Yingxing’s expression remained stoic, but the protective glint in his eyes made it clear that the man’s floundering attempts at an apology wouldn’t erase his misstep.

"...No worries," Yingxing replied tersely, completing the final steps of the sword before turning to head toward the back to package it up carefully.

You stifled a laugh at his annoyed expression, finding amusement in his irritation. "Oh, don’t be so upset, 'Xing. The man didn’t know." You gently patted his back, watching as he meticulously wrapped protective layers around the sword before placing it in a sturdy box.

"How could he not know? Everyone has heard of me; there’s no way he hasn’t heard of my own wife," he grumbled, his voice thick with annoyance. He handled the sword with an almost fragile grip, despite the protective layers surrounding it. "Perhaps this man isn’t a true Xianzhou civilian if he hasn’t even heard of my wife."

You shook your head, relishing the glimpse of jealousy that flickered across his features before your gaze landed on something unusual etched into the sword.

傻瓜.

Did he really just—

"Dear, did you carve that on purpose?" you gasped, noting how deeply he had engraved the word into the steel. Yingxing could only huff in response, a subtle nod confirming your suspicion.

"You can’t just do that to your client because you’re upset!"

"It suits him," he shrugged, finally placing the sword into its box and scribbling the client’s name on a piece of paper. "Besides, I’m not charging him any extra for that little addition."

"Every time he swings his sword, his enemies will see just how foolish he truly is."

[crescent-blades]

Pregnant | Kokushibo

| Type: Fluff 💞 | Warnings: Labour/Pregnancy | WC: 1.2k

[A/n: It's unclear what the canon implications would be if a demon were to successfully impregnate a human, but for the sake of this scenario, let's just imagine that the result is a healthy child who is half demon and half human.]

𖤐ˎˊ˗Masterlist

  ̗̀➛It had been a while since you and Kokushibo had been married. Honestly, he had never thought things would turn out this way—to marry someone was the last thing on his mind. Yet, here he was, making choices he never thought he would make.   

  ̗̀➛ The humans he met showed little potential. They lacked the skills needed to become strong, upper ranked demons. So, the idea of having a successor—a child of his own—began to take shape in his mind. He knew his child would definitely have immense potential and could likely be a successor to moon breathing.. so it wasn't a bad idea.  

  ̗̀➛The news of your pregnancy—well.. actually, it wasn't you who shared the news with him. It was Kokushibo who brought the news to you. 

  ̗̀➛ It wasn't surprising though, having Kokushibo as your husband would be like having a walking, talking pregnancy detector around.  

  ̗̀➛I mean, he'd literally even know exactly when the sperm attached to your ova, all thanks to his see through world.  

  ̗̀➛You didn't even know that you were pregnant yet. It was just one day in, as you prepared for bed and arranged the sheets. Your husband approached you with his typical stoic expression. He gazed at you for a brief moment—  

"Hmm.. I see.."   

  ̗̀➛You’d brighten up at his presence, feeling happy yet a bit puzzled by his sudden, unusual behaviour. 

 "I can see.. 'life' developing inside you. How delightful.."   

  ̗̀➛Being your husband, Kokushibo would feel that it is his duty to be taking care of you, especially when you'd be carrying his child. So throughout your pregnancy, he'd make sure to take extra care of you, paying more attention to your needs.  

  ̗̀➛ Though it was definitely going to be difficult. Being a demon, he could only come out at night, which meant he couldn't be there for you through the day. This thought definitely made him feel uncomfortable. Hence, he would encourage you to stay with him in the infinity castle (separate from the rest of the demons) so he can take proper care of you.  

  ̗̀➛However, he'd know that being deprived of the sun could also be detrimental to your and your baby's health, so he'd make sure to always drop you off somewhere safe from time to time, likely in your parent's/relatives house. Making sure you are in safe hands.   

~Though knowing Muzan- now he'd definitely question your husband:  

"--A human woman?"

His voice carried a touch of curiosity, laced with a hint of amusement. "I entrusted you with one simple task, Kokushibo. Locate the blue spider lily and uncover the Ubuyashiki mansion. More than a century has passed, and yet you and the demons have not unearthed a single clue about either."    Muzan exhaled slowly, pacing around as he looked down at the upper one, who was kneeling in front of him, his head downcast as in a bow.   "And now you’ve chosen to play these petty games, and with a human at that? I expected much better from you, Kokushibo.."  

"I have no excuses to make, my lord.. Indeed, I fell in love with a woman, a human.. and now I have sworn to protect her and my offspring."   "However.. I assure you.. my lord.. that my decisions shall not interfere with my responsibilities.."   

  ̗̀➛Typically, Muzan would never permit his demons to make such significant decisions; however, he made an exception for Kokushibo.

  ̗̀➛Throughout your pregnancy, your husband would keep a close eye on you. Make sure you are in good health, at all times.   

  ̗̀➛Have any questions about the baby? There's no need to go to the doctor, just ask Kokushibo, and he'll tell you everything. The baby's weight, health. Everything. [Again, thanks to the transparent world]   

  ̗̀➛He would advise you to not strain yourself too much, urging you to rest, understanding that you are in a vulnerable state. If you found yourself trying to carry something, he'd silently snatch it from you. Try to walk too much, and he'd silently just pick you up and place you on the bed. 

 "--You.. ought to rest.. my dear.." 

  ̗̀➛As for your strange cravings, he'd definitely consider them strange and, rather, amusing. Sure, he has dealt with a pregnancy before, and he is aware that his-ex wife may have had cravings too. But his knowledge was very limited due to the presence of many servants, as well as his memories failing him over the years. However, witnessing your cravings firsthand is definitely.. something.          

"Dear, could you bring me some mochi with chilli sauce?" "Some ice cubes with ketchup?"     

  ̗̀➛Each day your craving got weirder and weirder, which both entertained and concerned him, even though he could tell that nothing was wrong with you.

  ̗̀➛Still, as much as it had worried him, Kokushibo had always managed to somehow fulfil your requests, always bringing the strange foods you sought.         

  ̗̀➛ At first, when he presented you with these unusual cravings, his expression remained stoic, devoid of any visible emotion. However, it wouldn't be long before you noticed him, softly chuckling to himself at your bizarre requests. Observing you curiously if you truly enjoyed them.      

  ̗̀➛ There were times, however, when he'd stop you from binge eating too much food, which he considered unhealthy. Surpisingly, he was gentle while urging you to try something healthier.      

"We have some fruits.. I can make a salad for you.. if you wish.."       

  ̗̀➛ Of course, you are pregnant, so your body is going through many changes. You'd find yourself battling those horrible cramps along with persistent back pain, nausea, and those frustrating headaches.. It was difficult to even work effectively because of your fatigue.  

  ̗̀➛ In that case, Kokushibo would notice your discomfort immediately.    

"...your.. 'pregnancy'.. has made your body go through many changes.. the child grows.. as well your body.."   

  ̗̀➛ He would address you in a gentle manner, speaking to you in an "as a matter of fact" tone. His six eyes locked on you with a tender gaze, inspecting you thoroughly, making sure you were okay..   

 "As of now.. your muscles are stiff, and tight.. Here.. let me ease the pain for you-"    

  ̗̀➛He would speak softly, his voice deep as he carefully positioned you on your side, beginning to work on your back. His big, sturdy hands were surprisingly tender, applying just the right amount of pressure to alleviate your discomfort. He already knew the exact areas where you were experiencing pain, moving his hand and gently kneading those areas with the base of his hands and thumbs, working up and down your back.     

  ̗̀➛When it comes to choosing a name for the child, Kokushibo can be extremely thoughtful. He'd find/make a name with a deep meaning, one that would embody the meaning of "strength" or "excellence" [kind of like his own father].           

  ̗̀➛During labour, he'd mostly leave it up to the midwife and you female relatives, as he did not wish to intrude or make you feel uneasy, believing that childbirth was women's business.

  ̗̀➛ Though he would occasionally offer words of encouragement, urging you to remain strong and reassuring you that all would be well. While you were in labour, he would remain outside, pace around as you brought new life into the world.  

[acciofictionalmen]

thigh-high

(sebastian sallow x female!reader)

→ you and sebastian get distracted whilst trying to enter salazar slytherin's scriptorium, and it's not by solving clues..

warnings: sexual references, implication of & references to thigh-riding, intense makeouts, spicy!!, 16+

a/n: felt inspired after a 5 hour hogwarts legacy run today..

bon appétit ??

You stepped back in frustration as the stone snake hissed at you once more. Something wasn't right, there was clearly a clue you were missing.

"Have you given up on it yet?" asked Sebastian, sat on the cool stone floor as he observed you with a teasing glint in his eyes. That knowing, smug expression had returned.

His head was leant against the wall, and his legs were splayed. You clenched your jaw, took a shaky breath and turned back to the puzzle.

After one more attempt it was clue your efforts were futile.

"It's not going to work. Let's just hope Ominis has found something that could help us by now." You groaned.

Your mutual best friend, Ominis Gaunt, had left the chamber you were currently in, claiming that his aunt - who had previously entered the scriptorium - had left notes behind.

Sebastian didn't respond.

You stepped forwards and eyed the stone snake suspiciously. Your desperation to decipher the engraved symbols below was amplifying. This puzzle would get you one step closer to leaving the dark chambers you were trapped in, dark chambers where you were currently accompanied solely by Sebastian Sallow, and hastily losing control of your thoughts. You shook your head in an attempt to focus yourself. It was fine, since you'd surely soon leave this chamber anyway, and along with it would come the restoration of your weakening self-restraint.

"You alright there love?" A hand brushed the small of your back, snapping you out of your thoughts.

You jumped, "Bloody hell Seb !"

Turning around, you expected him to take a respectful step back. He didn't.

You uncertainly backed against the wall, the snake statue to your right.

Seb neared. The lighting was so dim his dark hair cast long shadows against his face, and you traced them with your eyes before meeting his.

"Ominis should be ba-"

"Don't talk about Ominis." Seb almost seethed, his left knee shoving inbetween your thighs as he pinned you against the wall, his hands ghosting over your waist.

You gasped at the sudden contact, your small skirt now hiked up your thighs. Sebastian's sudden change in demeanour was surprising, but not unwelcome.

Heart pounding, you swallowed as he drew closer, your chest rising and falling in anticipation as his eyes bore into you with an intense look of what could only be described as hunger. By the brief, almost imperceptible raise of his eyebrows, you could tell the longing was evident in your eyes too.

Your eyes widened as the heat spreading throughout your body threatened to burn your cheeks.

Sebastian raised a finger, dragging it down your lips and over the tip of your tongue, before teasing it along the nape of your neck. You gazed up at him through dark lashes, realising he was holding his breath, eyes fixated on your lips as though looking at anything else would cause him pain in comparison. As his finger dropped lower and lower and began to caress the outline of your bra through your shirt, he seemed to reconsider, instead dropping his hands back down to your waist. He forced his eyes to leave your lips, now meeting yours.

'Your move', his unwavering stare read.

Disappointment pooled in your stomach; the sudden lack of contact was driving you insane, you had to say something, had to-

"Seb- I-" you swallowed anxiously, your words fading, drowned out by your body screaming to close the small distance between the two of you. You had dreamed about this moment for so long, the boundaries between friendship and something more had forever been your enemy.

"Yes, love?" He breathed, as though talking any louder would shatter the spell the two of you were under.

"I-" your throat suddenly felt dry, as you found yourself unable to form words.

"Don't act so clueless, love.." He murmured, eyes flitting to your hips as you glanced down, realising that they'd been moving as if of your body's own volition, desperate to be against him. As if your body had craved to be touching him, and had known long before your mind was able to catch up to what was now so blatantly obvious.

You might as well have cast 'evanesco', because all of your self-restraint irrevocably vanished.

"Seb," You gasped, as his fingers took ahold of your hips, guiding you both into a slow, repetitive movement. Without warning his lips slammed against yours so passionately, that you couldn't do anything except kiss him back and revel in the feeling of his flushed lips upon yours.

Neediness overtook your body as Seb shifted his leg, angling himself so that his entire front was pressed firmly against yours, elliciting a gasp from your mouth that he quickly stole away with another deep kiss.

"Hush, love, or you'll get us caught," he brushed your hair back, soothing your whines with dozens of kisses on your neck, chin, and lips that left you even more consumed with desire as the feeling of his body pressed against yours, and moving against his, drove you to near insanity. As though close wasn't close enough, as though the heat from his body was the only thing sustaining yours.

Your eyes met his as he briefly broke away, his gaze enchanting as you noted the freckles dotted across his cheekbones, like the stars you'd studied together during countless astronomy lessons. Not that they had mattered. After all, what was the point of looking through a telescope when Sebastian Sallow was next to you?

Each kiss left you increasingly more breathless than the last as your whimpers filled the occasional space between you, filled with such desperation that you felt Sebastian smirk against your lips, fully aware that you'd wanted him since the beginning: because he had, too.

You heard nearing footsteps, and realised that Ominis must be returning. In that moment, against your better judgement, you couldn't bring yourself to care. You could only react by entangling your hands into Sebastian's thick hair to kiss him deeper, faster, as you simultaneously chased the high that was almost within reach.

Sebastian groaned lowly, clamping a hand over your mouth as you finally collapsed into his chest, regretting how he couldn't hear every small moan and melodic gasp of his name that left your swollen lips. He swore to himself that he'd make up for it.

You both quickly pulled apart as Ominis walked in. Hastily gulping down oxygen, you were still shaking from the waves of pleasure that coursed through your body.

"Are the two of you okay? It sounded like one of you had gotten injured! I wasn't sure.." Ominis began, the letters he'd found clutched in his right hand.

"She got scared by the snake." Sebastian responded quickly before you could even form a coherent thought, your eyes drawn to the dampness on his clothed thigh. Forcing yourself to face Ominis once more, you hastily looked away.

Ominis scoffed, crossing his arms in disbelief, "So have you at least managed to solve the puzzle?"

Your eyes widened, "We-"

"-have, yes." Seb interrupted flippantly, causing you to turn and stare at him in confusion.

Sebastian strolled towards you, as your eyes flitted towards Ominis warily, unsure what was happening.

He crouched before the stone snake, and fiddled with the rotating slab, solving the puzzle almost instantly.

Realisation dawned.

"You asshole," you spat in disbelief, conscious of Ominis on the opposite end of the room, "you knew this whole time and just sat there, watching me strug-"

Seb leaned in, his lips brushing the tip of your ear as he murmured, "Next time you'll be riding something else, love."

a/n: aaaaaahhhhhh !!!! hope you enjoyed this one loves, and that it drove you as feral for this man as it did me.. id love to hear your thoughts & feedback as always <3

if you have any requests, please don't hesitate to send them over, my inbox is very much open ! non-smut requests for the moment please, but who knows in future ;)

- yours, odette ☾

[featherquillpen]

My favorite Hubert support chains in Three Houses

My favorite Hubert supports and why I like them so much! Some possibly controversial opinions ahead! YOLO.

Hubert & Petra

I think the Hubert/Petra support chain is really underrated. There's a ton of Discourse about the Ingrid/Dedue support chain and racism and the overcoming thereof. But the Hubert and Petra support chain does a great job, I think, of showing someone working on their own racism. Hubert's behavior toward Petra in their C support is appalling, and I think Hubert's worst on-screen behavior. It's either the C support with Petra, or his threats toward her and Brigid on the Petra and Bernie paralogue in non-Crimson Flower routes.

The context is all-important. Petra is a political hostage. She was brought over to the Adrestian court at age 9. Hubert is an Adrestian noble. At the time of the C support pre-TS, Hubert is 20 and Petra is 15. The power dynamic between them is deeply skewed in Hubert's favor. He could do nearly anything to her short of kill her, and get away scot-free. It's pretty much Hubert's modus operandi to threaten people in C supports, because he's so paranoid about any potential enemy of Edelgard's. But to do so to someone who is already so utterly in his power, and Edelgard's, is just cruel.

The B support is still fairly bad. But in the A support, Hubert turns it around.

Hubert is now clear that he believes in the new accord between Brigid and the Empire. Indeed, it's obvious by implication, and more clearly spelled out in Hopes, that he was part of making that accord. And now he's stripped of his last excuse to keep judging Petra. I think one of the highest compliments Hubert can give is to say something like this:

Overall, I love this support as an example of a character working on their racist bullshit.

(I will briefly add that I adore their support chain in Three Hopes also. In that chain, it's Petra's turn to threaten Hubert, and he's SO INTO IT. Just like "Oh shit, a good threat. I respect that so much.")

Hubert & Dorothea

Talking of threatening people in C supports, you know who Hubert doesn't threaten in their C support? Dorothea.

Hubert just likes Dorothea right away. No threats. In fact he's quite open about his feelings about Edelgard right in the C support, and that's a very personal topic!

The whole support chain is about love. And it's even better because their ending together is platonic. And about being spies together, which is so sick. (As far as I can tell, and let the internet correct me if I'm wrong, Hubert is the male ("male") character with the most platonic endings with women, after Alois, who is already married.) I really love it because Hubert opens up very deeply to Dorothea about his feelings for Edelgard. As an aro-spec person, I really relate to the way Hubert and Dorothea talk about Hubert's feelings for Edelgard.

it's very lovely character growth for Dorothea because she sees how profound and transformative non-romantic love can be. That she doesn't need to have romantic love in her life to be happy, whatever society has told her about the necessity of marriage for women to be happy. And that's reflected in the fact that she has a platonic ending with Hubert.

I just can't find their A support anything but hilarious in the best way. They're talking about love, and superficially it's about them getting married, but they don't get married in their ending or have any romantic relationship, and the subtext is screaming that the A support is completely about both their feelings for Edelgard.

I'll take "very normal things to say when you're proposing to someone" for 500, Alex.

Hubert & Bernadetta

I have said it before and I will say it again: you can easily read a metaphor into this support about Bernie giving Hubert space to be gender non conforming or trans femme.

Bernie is way more scared of men than women, and behaves accordingly in their C support, but Hubert then expresses great gentleness toward Bernie and also a deep discomfort with this "scary vampire man" persona, which is sometimes useful but more often painful and heartbreaking. Bernie is really sweet and understanding about this, and even makes that flower in the A support, which you can interpret as Bernie saying "I see this side of you that doesn't fit into masculinity and I want to help you express it." After all, as Hubert says, it's a gift you'd give a female friend, or someone you have romantic feelings for.

What I really like about the moment where Bernie gives Hubert the flower is that it's a moment of Hubert being the one who needs support, through this feeling of pain and uncertainty about this frightening ghoul persona, and Bernie doing the caring. A lot of Bernie's supports are about people trying to help and support Bernie. And that's great! But I love that in this support chain, Bernie also gets to do the supporting.

That dynamic continues in their amazing paired ending, where Bernie goes on great adventures and Hubert stays at home and keeps house. Incredible. Iconic. Let Hubert be GNC. Let Hubert be a housewife.

Hubert & Ferdinand

Much has been said about this support, but I think I have a new take that I haven't seen before. Something that Hubert says to Ferdinand in Hopes helped me really unlock something important about their support chain in Houses.

In Hopes, Hubert and Ferdie are talking about Ludwig, and while Ferdie expresses hope that maybe his father can change, Hubert says something like, "Once someone strays from the path, they can never return." This reflects a broader aspect of Hubert's character, which is that he doesn't seem to believe in redemption. Not for nobles. Not for anyone who's done wrong. Especially not for himself.

Ferdinand does believe in redemption. Not only believes in it, but embodies it. Ferdinand has a remarkable redemption arc. Hubert in the C support with Ferdinand in Houses clearly believes that because of Ferdinand's really fucked up beliefs about nobility and about the power he deserves, Ferdie has strayed from the path and can never return. He's a lost cause. But then Ferdinand proves him wrong.

I think what a lot of fandom gets wrong about this relationship is that they think that Ferdie proved Hubert wrong because he was actually a good guy all along. That's not true. Ferdie pre-timeskip is in many ways genuinely toxic. He secretly believes that he should be Emperor. He bangs on about being the only legitimate heir of House Aegir, and his Aegir bloodline, all of this noble bloodline eugenics stuff that is ruining his classmates' lives. And in three out of four routes, he fights against Edelgard to preserve his noble power and prevent her taking it away from him, upholding this entire rotten system. But in Crimson Flower, he proves Hubert wrong, because he proves that people who stray from the path can return. That phrasing in Hopes about returning to the path gives me some feels, because in Judaism, the word for redemption, teshuvah, basically means "return." It's a belief in the goodness of people. You were on the path to start with. You left it, but you're returning. You're going back to your own fundamental goodness and ability to follow the path.

I think a big reason why Hubert is so impressed with Ferdie by the end of their support chain, and why he comes to love him, is because he proved to Hubert that people can change and can be redeemed. And if that's true of Ferdie…. then maybe that can also be true for Hubert. Ferdinand represents hope. Not just hope for a future after the war, with his visions of education for the masses, but hope that anyone, even the most spoiled noble, even a soul blackened by murder and moral compromise, can work toward redemption. I think it's really beautiful.

And then we get the A+ support which is just pure gay disaster tire fire. Absolute nightmares, both of them.

I find the Ferdibert paired ending deeply funny. Hubert thought he'd die in a ditch and be remembered as the Butcher of Fodlan or something, and now he's a Twin Jewel who everyone thinks is based. I'm also amused by the detail in the JP version of their ending where Edelgard is jealous of their romance. Poor Edie going "where's MY gay enemies to lovers slow burn, HUH?"

Hubert & Edelgard

Agggghhhhhkkkggghhkkkk so. Um. Finally. Last but not least. The Hubert and Edelgard support chain. This is my Hubert stan account origin story. This relationship is what made me go "I need to understand every last thing about Hubert von Vestra." Because here we have Hubert, who is leaving chloroform-soaked rags lying around, looming like a vampyr, cackling unhingedly in crit lines, and threatening people left and right in C supports, and then you see Hubert and Edelgard's C. And that's when you first get to see the real Hubert. That bright heart.

The direct JP-EN translation of this is "I shall make a show of spilling blood to paint the scarlet path1 you tread," where 'scarlet path' is a reference to the walkway in a theater, which is so sexy of Hubert to say.

I also love the C support because she's opening the door wide open for Hubert to leave. It shows the importance of consent and freedom in their relationship. All the people who talk about Hubert being "brainwashed" or "manipulated" into his role clearly left their brains at the door during this support.

I don't even know what to say about the B support, it's just the best. It's perfect. My heart is filled with rainbows. Nobody does it like them. Though I do love that at the end of the B support Edelgard's like "tell me ur secrets Hubert!!!" and he's like "OH LOOK AT THE TIME I GOTTA GO" and flees.

I can't talk about the A support without referring to the Teaspoon Translation because the EN is so badly botched. When I first saw their A support, I was disappointed. And then I discovered it was Treehouse at it again.

JP Edelgard would never dare assume that Hubert is heterosexual.

I also adore the JP version of their paired ending, from Teaspoon:

In their later years, after accomplishing what they set out to do, they found a talented successor and disappeared. Even in their retirement, spent just by themselves, there were likely no romantic exchanges even to the end.

Queerplatonic partner icons. Shipping is nice and all, but no romantic relationship between characters in this game will ever appeal to me more than what Hubert and Edelgard have going on.

[clairecrive]

Hey there, I got an idea for a request Alfies secretary is a quiet girl and Alfie is always flirting with her he loves to make her cheeks blush red. And one day she finally becomes brave and says something flirty back to him and he gets all flustered first as he wasn't expecting it and then he's like "fucking hell" with his cheeky grin and makes his move while he has the chance and gives her the best kiss of her life💖

A/n: Hello everyone!! It's been ages since I last wrote anything, let alone for Alfie. However, lately I 've been right down obsessed with him again and couldn't fight the urge to write for him. I found this in my inbox and I'm so so sorry it took me this long to write this!

I'm not going to tag anyone because I don't even know if there's still anyone reading this blog lol. but let me know If you want to be tagged.

MASTERLIST

"Cat and mouse"| Alfie Solomons x reader

"Hello, luv."

"Hello, Mr Solomons."

"Ah, pet how many times do I have to tell ya, eh?" You had been working for Alfie for a while now. Enough time to make you a trusted employee. Even more than that actually. if his relentless flirting was enough of tell.

By now, you were on first name bases. But even though Alfie was quite outspoken about his appreciation of you, the only way you told him it was somewhat reciprocated was by flushing furiously whenever he flirted with you.

It wasn't enough. Not anymore. And while Alfie was patient and respectful of your shy nature, you were done with this cat and mouse dance. You wanted him. You're just waiting for the right time to go for it.

"There's Mr Shelby waiting for you in the hallway, should I let him in?"

Alfie groaned at the name. You knew it was only to keep up his burly grumpy man persona he got going on. Deep down, you thought he didn't mind Tommy's company much.

"Only if you come in with him, pet. I need something beautiful to look at to survive that fucking bore, right?"

Blushing at the insinuation you nodded before going to let Mr. Shelby in and retrieve pen and paper. This was actually part of your job description. Alfie's request was more because he was a flirt and he liked to see you flush.

Nothing but charm in his vein, let me tell you.

"Ms. Y/N will be with us so she could take notes and whatnot, I hope you don't mind Tommy but to be fair, I don't give a fuck if you do, right?"

"She always does Alfie." Tommy drily pointed out while lighting a cigarette.

"Yeah well, I like to be surrounded by beautiful things, don't I?"

"So do I, Alfie. So do I." Tommy agreed

"Alright gentlemen, if you could stop flirting with each other and move onto business please. Mr. Solomons. has a packed schedule, as I'm sure you have as well Mr. Shelby." Rearranging the papers and documents in front of you, you dressed the two men. You knew that they could go on for while like this. Especially alfie had a way of talking for hours without actually saying anything. It made for a perfect business strategy but you knew that he actually needed to settle things with Tommy.

The brume acknowledged her with just a light tilt of his lips while your boss sputtered in shock.

"Fucking hell, pet. What the fuck are ya on about, eh?" He looked at you, and you could see that other than the shock for your outrageous implication, there was actually surprise in his eyes. And then a pleased glimmer.

You only raised an eyebrow at him to silently suggest to just get on with the meeting.

"Fucking women, eh Tommy? Wild creature they are, I tell ya. You never can guess what's on their fucking mind, can ya."

"If you'd get on with it, then maybe you'll have enough time this evening so that I can tell you over dinner."

You had never seen Alfie Solomons speechless. Hell, you had never seen him be silent for more than one minute. You bet that he talked even in his sleeps.

Well, would you look at him now. Eyes wide and mouth almost open. If you hadn't just taken a huge leap out of your comfort zone, you'd find this situation funny.

Tommy Shelby probably did.

"You know what, Alfie? I'll come back tomorrow." And with just a tilt of his head in your direction, the brummie was off and out of Alfie's office.

Meanwhile, Alfie was still looking at you. Which was making you nervous. And when you were nervous, you tended to rumble.

"What? Is it such a preposterous idea?" you said being defensive.

"Fucking hell, pet. Didn't know you had it in ya."

"You're not the only one who can flirt, you know." You mumble, suddenly shy.

"Of course, not. And I fucking hope you're not going to stop either." He smirked at you. Pushing away from his desk he turned so that he was completely facing you.

"Now, why don't you come here and show me exactly what's on yer mind, eh?"

Burning. Your cheeks were burning red by now. But you did exactly what he said. You got up and you walked so that you were now facing him.

With him sitting down and you standing in front of him, you were almost the same height.

You didn't know what to do with your hands, with yourself really. That sudden burst of courage was long gone now.

Taking you in, Alfie could see that as well. Smiling, he gently pulled you even closer to him.

"We could wait 'till dinner and even after that, pet y'know? There's no rush, yeah?" He softly promised. He had been flirting with you for months after all, what's a few more weeks or however much you needed?

"I don't want to wait anymore, Alfie. I just don't know what to do." You looked at him under your lashes, all bashful and cute and Alfie could barely restrain himself.

"Then let me show ya, right?"

Gently cradling your face, Alfie leaned in. He let his nose touch yours in a gentle caress so that you had time to pulled away if you wanted to.

Then, when you didn't he finally kissed you.

It was gentle and soft and, in your opinion, the best kiss in the world.

[littlemissmarianna]

TK’s absence is not a red flag.

Not at first.

Carlos is used to coming home to an empty loft these days. Just like his husband is used to waking up alone.

Both realities sting, though Carlos tells himself it’s not a permanent arrangement. When he solves his dad’s case – when not if – then life will settle down. Carlos will be home every night with TK, cooking dinner and watching TV. He’ll be there to ask his husband about his shift. They’ll talk and laugh and cuddle on the couch, then make up for lost time in the bedroom. Carlos looks forward to it. He craves it. It’s been so long since he’s drifted to sleep with TK in his arms. It’s been even longer since they’ve –

Carlos sighs when his phone rings. After literally working all day and all night, he’s exhausted. He’s not in the mood for whatever Owen is calling about, but he answers with a forced smile.

Owen’s voice sounds equally strained. “Where are you?”

“The loft. Why?”

“Is TK there?”

The question immediately sets Carlos on edge. “No. He has a shift.”

“He does,” Owen confirms. “But he’s not here, either.”

Carlos listens as his father-in-law blows out a breath, undoubtedly reliving the last time TK didn’t show up for a shift at the firehouse.

“You don’t think….”

“No,” Owen replies. “I know my son is solid in his recovery. I mean, yeah…TK has been struggling over the past few months. But the extra meetings have helped him cope with everything. And of course Cooper is always there for TK.”

Carlos clenches his jaw. He’s not sure if that’s meant as a dig against him, but it sure feels like it. Carlos also wasn’t aware that TK has been struggling…or going to extra meetings…or hanging out with Cooper. It’s all news to him, but what does Carlos expect? He sees his husband for maybe an hour each day during their lunch breaks. And while they’re together, Carlos is usually reviewing a file he brought with him or thinking out loud about a case. That doesn’t leave much room for TK to share what’s going on in his life or confess how he feels. When is the last time Carlos even asked?

“I am worried, though,” Owen continues. “TK should be here by now. What time did he leave this morning?”

“I, um…” Carlos clears his throat. It’s always embarrassing to admit how much he sucks as a husband, especially when he’s talking with TK’s dad. “I don’t know. I wasn’t here.”

“Ah. I see.”

Carlos pictures Owen’s expression as the silence becomes awkward. His father-in-law’s disapproval and disappointment are unmistakable. Owen warned Carlos not to let Gabriel’s case consume him, but Carlos is allowing it to do exactly that.

“Well…” Owen sighs. “All my calls to TK are going straight to voicemail, so I guess I’ll call Cooper. Maybe he’s heard from my son and knows what the hell is going on. I’ll keep you posted.”

Carlos tries to ignore the guilt and jealousy that rises in his chest. He should know where his husband is, not Cooper.

When Owen hangs up, Carlos dials TK, convinced that he’ll see Carlos’s name and answer on the first ring.

He doesn’t.

Carlos’s call goes straight to voicemail just like Owen’s, which has several implications.

Maybe TK is rejecting their calls.

Maybe he turned off his phone.

Maybe the phone is inoperable for some reason.

Carlos tries not to dwell on any of those possibilities as he listens to his husband’s voice. What he would give to hear it in person…

It’s TK. Leave a message. I’ll hit you back.

“Hey, baby. It’s me. Your dad said you didn’t show up for your shift, and now we’re both worried. Call me, okay? Let me know what’s going on. I love you.”

Carlos follows up with a text before wandering around the loft, his concern increasing with each new discovery.

The light TK typically leaves on for Carlos wasn’t switched off this morning.

Their bed wasn’t slept in.

The shower and bathroom sink are bone dry.

So is TK’s towel.

But what’s most alarming is TK’s wallet and keys left on the dresser.

Carlos stares at them, then startles when his phone rings again.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59258041

[pin-k-ink]

BENEATH THE SURFACE ⋆✦⋆ urahara kisuke ft. hirako shinji

synopsis ➸ you’ve forgotten all about the lover you once had, memories of hirako erased as if they never existed. urahara, the man entrusted with your care, doesn’t feel an ounce of guilt for falling for you—or for keeping you close, far from the past you can’t remember and the man who still lingers in it

tags ➸ posséssive and obsèssive behavior, references to past traùma/memory loss, implications of infídelity, mastúrbation (m & f), dúb-con, fingèring, bitíng, making out, unprotècted sèx, bégging, dìrty talking, manhàndling, creàmpie, it’s pretty vanilla actually

wc ➸ 5.7k

"Oi, Kisuke." Yoruichi's tone was dry with the barest hints of mild exasperation as she spoke up suddenly beside him. "You're starin' again, old man."

Urahara blinked himself from his heated reverie, lips quirking at the familiar teasing rebuke. He didn't even try denying her accusation, letting his gaze linger a moment longer on the scene unfolding across the courtyard.

You danced and darted between Jinta and Ururu, laughter ringing out clear and sweet as you narrowly dodged whatever silly game was unfolding. The simple domesticity of it all shouldn't have twisted something primal and restless inside Urahara's gut as it did. But watching the sunlight gild your features, the wind toying with loose strands of your hair...it summoned forth hungrier, more wretched yearnings.

"Can you blame me?" he sighed, finally tearing his eyes away with obvious reluctance. "The sight is certainly a tempting one."

Yoruichi snorted indelicately. "Don't try that innocent bullshit with me, Kisuke. I know exactly what kind of thoughts you've been entertaining lately." Turning towards him fully, her voice took on a slightly lower register tinged with something almost like concern. "Thoughts you shouldn't fool yourself into thinkin' are harmless little fantasies, either..."

Urahara's grip tightened fractionally on his cup as the images she conjured battered the inside of his skull with uncanny clarity. Flashes of Hirako and the love he held for you in his heart, the adoration and tenderness he freely bestowed upon you. The way you'd so easily fall into his arms, the softness in your smile whenever he came around.

They were a matched set of thunder and lightning then - all explosive passion and white-hot desire detonated with blissful recklessness in those waning hours before Aizen's machinations finally tore both your worlds asunder.

"She remembers nothing of it now," Urahara murmured, aiming for nonchalance yet unable to quite disguise the bitter undercurrent of self-reproach lacing his tone. "Seems rather pointless to linger on twisted ghosts, don't you think?"

Yoruichi's lips curved in a slow, knowing smile utterly devoid of genuine amusement. "Don't feed me that weak shit, Kisuke," she chided, voice pitching low with quiet intensity. "You were the one who watched Shinji agonize over wiping away every scrap of memory she had left - even if it meant erasing their entire history from her mind forever..."

Unconsciously, Urahara's body thrummed in recognition at the visceral reminder, gut twisting hotly with guilt and lingering scraps of disbelief. Even now, decades after Hirako had appeared at his doorstep with you cradled limply against his chest - frail and wracked with hollow, gut-wrenching sobs - the memory still brought bile scorching up Urahara's throat.

"I can't...I don't have the strength to face her disgust or heartbreak if she remembers what happened," Hirako had choked out in a ravaged, trembling rasp that night under the dying throes of that summer moon. "What Aizen stole from her - from us... So please, Kisuke...wipe it all clean. Every scrap, no matter what it costs. For both our sakes."

The weight of your pliant, broken form pressed against Urahara's chest as Hirako relinquished his hold still haunted with searing clarity. More so than even the glittering sheen of anguished tears streaking your savior's anguished features - for amidst the storm of mutual devastation swirling between them, something deeper and more terrible had already begun unspooling inside Urahara's viscera.

An ember of wretched temptation he could scarcely bring himself to acknowledge even now, years after he'd set about systematically erasing your beloved from your memories at Hirako's request through shard after shard of scorching finality.

"She was everything to him, ya know?" Yoruichi continued, eyes gone hazy and distant as she no doubt dredged up her own recollections. "Shinji's light in all that darkness - the peace that kept him grounded while still being wild enough to match his passion step for step..."

Those words were nothing Urahara hadn't confessed to himself under the waning light of too many evenings, drowning in memories that weren't even truly his to indulge. He recalled with perfect clarity the way your eyes used to blaze so radiantly whenever Hirako strode into any space you occupied - luminous and unchecked adoration seemingly etched into every indrawn breath.

And Hirako, in turn, looked upon you as though his entire existence could be charted across the map of your satin skin and contours. A starved man kept alive solely by the reverence and hunger glowing from within your entwined embraces, that unwavering belief and camaraderie more sustaining than any physical fulfillment.

"It's why I've long suspected you kept her close here, all these years," Yoruichi continued in a softer tone, undercurrent of poignant understanding resonating between them. "It was never entirely noble sentiments or promises sworn to poor Shinji, was it Kisuke? At least, not wholly..."

Heaving a weighted sigh, Urahara let the truth slip free of its carefully erected cage at last through parted lips he could no longer fully control. "You know me far too well for your own good, Yoruichi..."

His gaze strayed inexorably back towards your radiant silhouette still dancing along the engawa in the fading daylight's warm glow. Laughter and innocent joys seemed to saturate every molecule of air you disturbed with your movements, leaving a sparkling luminescence shimmering like mirage in the wake of your passage.

"I kept her close because she made things less unbearable - " Urahara paused, searching for the words to encapsulate the sublime, impossible truth he often lay awake drowning in night after night. "After all the years spent in the dark, she was a reminder that not everything's a complete waste. When things started getting rough, it was enough to see her and remember there's still something out there worth holding on to."

Yoruichi remained silent for a long, suspended beat, absorbing the weight of his admission with that glittering, astute gaze that saw far too deeply into Urahara's tattered depths. When she spoke again, it was with a wry, almost wistful humor undercutting the latent concern.

"I get it now. The infamous Kisuke Urahara - disgraced Soul Society prodigy, princeling turned exile, humble candy merchant to the masses - secretly harboring an obsession for the shining embodiment of purity and innocence itself. Doesn't get much more blasphemous than that, eh?"

Her rich laughter rang out across the engawa, a playful yet unsubtle warning shot across Urahara's bow to finish airing his regrets before their charged nature compounded any further. He raised his cup back to his lips, allowing the scalding liquid to linger on his tongue for a fleeting moment of grounding respite before finally uttering his most damning truth:

"Maybe so... but the real sin is that I don't regret my obsession at all anymore, Yoruichi," he said, almost casually. "I know exactly what lines I've crossed, spending every moment wanting something I can never really have..."

The confession hung heavily in the air, laced with an undercurrent of unapologetic yearning that even Yoruichi seemed to pick up on. Urahara didn't bother masking the weight of his stare as it tracked back over to where you laughed and played carefree in the courtyard.

Because as much as he might want to deny it, Urahara knew he wasn't alone in succumbing to the forbidden temptations simmering between you both. No, he'd caught the lingering heat of your curious gazes far too many times to claim ignorance any longer.

Like that morning last week when you'd padded sleepily into the kitchen, hair mussed from slumber and yukata hanging loosely to expose tantalizing glimpses of bare skin. You hadn't noticed Urahara seated at the table initially, too busy stretching your lithe frame with a contented sigh that made his breath hitch audibly.

When you'd finally spotted him, a pretty blush had crept across your cheeks - though you made no move to cover yourself. Instead, your lips had curved into that secret little smile Urahara felt like he alone was privy to lately. Holding his heated stare, you'd quirked one delicate eyebrow in silent challenge before very deliberately dragging your gaze down the length of his seated form with clear appraisal.

"Good morning, Kisuke," you'd purred, the low timbre of your voice hitting him like a physical caress. "You're up awfully early."

He'd swallowed thickly, fighting not to let his eyes linger too brazenly on the tantalizing glimpses of thigh and cleavage peeking through the loose folds of your robe. "Couldn't sleep," he'd rasped out, silently damning how rough his own voice had emerged.

Your smile had only widened at that, eyes glittering with undisguised feminine satisfaction as you'd sauntered closer until the heady scent of your skin and subtle jasmine perfume filled his senses dizzyingly. Leaning across the table, you'd trailed one finger along the rim of his cold tea cup with blatant suggestion.

"Maybe I can help...relax you, Kisuke?"

The molten promise in your tone had very nearly undone him right then and there. But before Urahara could fully formulate a response - whether capitulation or restraint, he still didn't know - Jinta came barreling into the kitchen with his usual graceless racket. You'd straightened casually, as if that heated moment had never even happened, leaving Urahara to stew in his own frustrated arousal as the morning carried on.

Encounters like that were rapidly becoming the norm rather than a rare occurrence. Any shred of plausible deniability faded after Urahara stumbled across you touching yourself in the vacant training room one evening after most of the others had turned in for the night.

The sight of you splayed out wantonly, cheeks flushed and fingers buried knuckle-deep in the slick, welcoming heat of your own cunt...it had stolen what little breath remained in Urahara's lungs. He'd stood frozen, utterly incapable of tearing his eyes away from the mesmerizing display you'd unintentionally offered like the most obscene gift.

When your back finally arched in a perfect bow and those tantalizing lips fell open on a keening cry, Urahara had retreated with mortifying swiftness. But not before he was utterly certain you'd caught sight of his transfixed silhouette in the doorway, hand already working urgently to relieve his aching cock straining against his hakama.

Nights like that rapidly blurred together into an endless cycle of torment and stolen pleasure for Urahara. He lost count of how many times he'd spilled in his own hand after being subjected to another teasing display on your part, or the number of times he'd been forced to excuse himself when the need became too overwhelming.

Yet amidst each delirious high, an undercurrent of guilt and forbidden temptation gnawed with increasing ferocity. Because he knew they were not alone in basking in these heated transgressions, were they?

No, Urahara had caught the first whispers of Hirako's scorching reiatsu brushing against his senses far too frequently lately to claim pure coincidence. At first, he tried convincing himself it was just his guilty conscience manifesting in shockwaves of paranoia and self-loathing.

But then he'd turn a street corner or duck through one of the market stalls while accompanying you...only to catch a glimpse of tousled blonde locks before disappearing like a mirage.

Hirako was watching you. Lurking nearby while unable to fully tear himself away from the most important person in his world. Drawn like a man in the desert to the only source of water that could quench his thirst or deliver his demise in equal measure - because in witnessing Urahara's ultimate damnation, he would either find salvation or destruction.

The knowledge that his one of his oldest acquaintances still clung to whatever tattered scraps of you remained twisted Urahara's gut with scorching guilt. Yet rather than deterring his treacherous thoughts and urges, the forbidden element merely stoked them into an inferno of carnal heat.

Some wretched, masochistic part of him craved for Hirako to see how thoroughly he'd become undone by the radiant presence fate had bestowed into his care. To bear witness to every ounce of depraved worship Urahara was no longer capable of denying as he debased himself in reverent prostration before your intoxicating light.

Perhaps only then, when Hirako had been forced to consume every moment through his own haunted gaze, could Urahara find the absolution and release his blackened soul so voraciously yearned for. Because being the one to irrevocably desecrate that which was most sacred to your former lover would be the ultimate unforgivable sin he'd carry into whatever scorched afterlife fate deigned fit for wretches like him...

Urahara's steps slowed as he neared the entrance to the shop, senses picking up on a distantly familiar reiatsu signature just beyond the threshold. His grip tightened fractionally on the small bundle of provisions he'd ventured out to procure.

Hirako. Here again so soon after his last fleeting visitation.

Steeling himself, Urahara shunted his reiatsu down to virtually nonexistent levels and ghosted closer, every instinct sharpened to a razored edge. He slipped around the back entrance in utter silence, masking his presence entirely as he moved to observe unseen.

The soft cadence of your melodic laughter caressed his ears first, effortlessly guiding his focus through the open receiving area towards the source. Urahara felt his breath stall as his gaze finally found you seated on the engawa, radiant and at ease - and not alone.

Hirako knelt across from you, cocksure grin softening the hard angles of his face in a way Urahara hadn't witnessed in nearly a century. His old acquaintance's expression held terrible, wistful vulnerability as he drank in the simple sight of you animatedly chatting and smiling during what seemed a perfectly mundane conversation between friends.

Only those hauntingly familiar gestures and tender inflections betrayed Hirako's longing to anyone who understood their secret language from before the cataclysm. He leaned in unconsciously whenever you laughed, lips parting in silent rapture simply from your unbridled mirth washing over him. Fingertips traced idle, seemingly innocent patterns along the polished wood in movements Urahara knew were unconscious echoes of past intimacies once mapped across satin expanses with utmost reverence.

Yet despite all the visceral undercurrents simmering around Hirako's unguarded display, you appeared utterly oblivious - conversing and beaming at him as if thoroughly charmed by the roguish yet disarming company of one of Urahara's old contacts.

Urahara's jaw clenched hard enough to creak as a knot of primal possession twisted through his rioting gut. He should retreat, maintain his silent vigil from the shadows rather than infringing upon this rare, fraught reunion transpiring right before his unworthy gaze.

But something kept his feet rooted, compelled him inexorably closer until he could clearly make out the hushed cadences of your voices mingling in the tranquil evening.

"—such a delight as always, Miss [Y/N]," Hirako was murmuring in that velvety timbre that carried equal facets of seduction and soul-scouring guilt through every syllable. "Though I can't help but wonder why a fresh blossom like yourself insists on remainin' around something as tarnished as this shop?"

You laughed again - that high, windchime peal of uncorrupted joy that scorched Urahara's very marrow whenever he had the privilege of basking in it. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that very same question?"

"Ah, touché my dear," Hirako chuckled, fingers drifting infinitesimally closer across the polished wood until they brushed the elegant swell of your hand with clear intent. "Though I think I know why I'll never be capable of straying far from this place for long..."

The lingering curl of suggestion in those final words made Urahara's hackles raise despite himself. Hatred and possessiveness tore through him in equal, blinding measure as he watched Hirako slant closer, knuckles tracing along the vulnerable underside of your forearm in familiar, intimate patterns clearly etched into memory.

Yet you remained oblivious, simply smiling that gentle, open smile that belonged solely to Urahara in his most ravenous late-night indulgences. "Well whatever reasons keep you returning, you're always a most welcome sight around here. Kisuke enjoys your visits."

The words were ostensibly innocent, but they still landed like a slap of ice water against Urahara's reeling senses. You turned then, as if sensing the sudden shift in his turbulent mood through whatever subconscious thread still bound you to the indelible scars carved into his very soul.

When your luminous gazes crashed across the fractal distances, Urahara felt every ounce of fevered possessiveness and unearned claim to your radiance flash to visceral life behind his irises. He stared at you with unguarded, ravenous hunger - every fracture and violation harbored between his anguished conscience fully exposed in that unraveling moment.

You blinked at him, lovely features creasing momentarily in soft bewilderment at the raw intensity searing from his veiled stance. Then you smiled once more in that devastating, oblivious manner and raised your free hand in a beckoning wave Urahara felt sear straight through to his very foundations.

"Kisuke!" Your sweet tones rang out bright and clear, each lilting note bleeding resonantly into every crevice of the shouten. "Welcome back! You'll never guess who's just dropped by to pay us a visit..."

Neither of you noticed Hirako's full-body stillness as he absorbed the seismic shift of your attention now centered solely upon the ravaged creature your luminescence had chosen to orbit so mercilessly. Yet before your plush lips could impart the name unnecessary to voice aloud, Hirako was already smoothly rising to his feet.

"I ought to be going, actually," he rasped, the fractured rasp of his voice a deafening clamor against the oppressive silence now smothering the engawa. "Thank you kindly for the hospitality, Miss [Y/N]. As always, you are a true beacon in the gathering gloom..."

Hirako dipped into a flourishing bow reeking of archaic Seireitei formality and melancholy in equal measure. Then he straightened and aimed a loaded look in Urahara's direction, piercing through the veil of shadows as if capable of discerning every venomous temptation and violation now inexorably etched into his brother's shredded conscience with lurid permanence.

It felt as if hours passed suspended in that deadlocked confrontation between Urahara's rapacious yearning and Hirako's haunted resignation. Until finally, the stoic spell shattered and his oldest comrade turned his wizened, ruined features back to where you'd risen to greet him with usual gentle adieu.

"Goodnight, [Y/N]," Hirako murmured, shouldering past you carelessly as Urahara watched with bated breath. "Sweet dreams..."

Before you could respond or offer whatever brightly confused reply bubbled to your lips, Hirako took full advantage of your proximity to invade it unforgivably. In that moment, Urahara knew he was bearing witness to far more than a simple exchange between former lovers and trusted comrade. He watched, utterly transfixed, as Hirako nuzzled his face with intimate, liquid grace against that same succulent patch of bare skin Urahara knew to be one of your most sensitive erogenous zones.

It was a snatched, desperate movement executed with all the flayed desperation and regret of a dying man reaching out for succor one final time before surrendering to oblivion. Yet despite the furor searing Urahara's nerves raw from within, he remained utterly paralyzed in the wake of Hirako's final silent transgression against them both.

He could taste the bitterness of old, visceral jealousy on the back of his tongue - instincts he thought long buried threatening to lash free. This man knew you in ways Urahara could only fantasize about. Had tasted the divine ambrosia of your surrender and caressed every supple inch in the secret shadows of lovemaking. Owned parts of you utterly that Hirako clearly still mourned the loss of despite the veil of amnesia cloaking your interactions.

You startled of course, cheeks flushing becomingly as you stared at his retreating form in soft, bewildered surprise. Only when Hirako's wasting presence faded to a haunting echo once more did you finally turn your trembling features back towards the immovable specter of Urahara's presence lurking nearby.

"Well!" you huffed out in a shaky, affected chuckle of faint mortification. Your fingertips ghosted along the curve of your jaw in an apologetic caress that made Urahara's gorge rise violently. "That was rather...forward of him, wouldn't you say Kisuke?"

Urahara allowed himself to fully emerge from the concealing shadows then, immolating you beneath the full, ravenous intensity of his regard as he slowly prowled across the engawa like a predator seeking what rightful tribute it had been denied far too long...

"Oh, I'd say that and so much more, my dear," he rasped out in a tone husky and choked by a maelstrom of molten rage and desire too long denied its due. "So very, very much more to unpack from that little...reunion, wouldn't you agree?"

Your eyes widened further at the vibrant, corrosive inflections lacing his words. But Urahara barely registered your pretty bewilderment, too consumed by the righteous fury and twisted lust scorching a path towards his prey at long last.

"He comes by often, doesn't he?"

The seething accusation emerged from Urahara's lips before rational thought could intervene or exercise any semblance of restraint. His strides ate up the remaining distance across the engawa, movements tight and predatory in a way that had you instinctively retreating until your back met the unforgiving wall.

You stared up at him with those luminous, perpetually innocent eyes blown wide in clear bewilderment. "Well...Hirako-san has been visiting more frequently as of late, yes. He's an old friend of yours after all, isn't he Kisuke?"

Any other night, that reminder of your blatant naivete regarding Hirako's true reasons for lingering might have cooled Urahara's vengeful ardor back to a simmer. But tonight, spurred by his withering jealousy and volcanic need, your coy deflections only stoked the inferno raging through his marrow hotter.

"Friend?" He all but spat the word, allowing his reiatsu to flare in a barely restrained surge of crimson hostility. "You really wish to play such games after that display from the man, my dear?"

Urahara closed what little distance remained between your bodies in one measured roll of his hips - inescapably caging you between the solid brand of his torso and the sturdy barrier at your back. You actually flinched at the sudden, aggressive proximity as understanding started to glimmer behind your lovely eyes.

"Kisuke, I-I'm not sure why you're suddenly so upset..." You swallowed thickly, chest rising and falling in rapid pants as he drank in every shaky inhale with ravenous focus. "I...Hirako-san was simply bidding me goodnight as a gentleman would! If he was being too forward, I didn't intend—"

Whatever half-hearted denial you were about to utter dissolved into a breathless moan as Urahara slanted his mouth over yours in a punishing, all-consuming slant. His tongue demanded entry with no quarter for hesitation, claiming the honeyed recesses of your mouth with merciless possession.

He felt you immediately attempt to squirm away, startled and overwhelmed by the intensity of his onslaught. But with a growl of rebuke, Urahara simply crowded closer until the solid cage of his thighs had your lithe form trapped utterly in his scorching orbit.

One work-calloused palm shot up to seize your jaw in an unforgiving clamp when you still tried to twist away. Urahara enforced his unyielding claim with wicked intention until your struggles dissolved into the first shuddering capitulations of surrender.

When he at last showed mercy and broke away, you stared up at him with lips swollen and gaze already hazed by lingering shock and dizzying arousal he'd awakened so abruptly inside you. You started to speak his name again - a desperate attempt at regaining some thread of clarity.

But Urahara quickly silenced your plea by trailing the pad of his thumb over your trembling lower lip in a lazy, suggestive caress. "Don't speak, my sweet. Not when we both know whatever excuses you're so desperately looking for will only stain those pretty lips with shameless little lies."

He relished the way your eyes widened at the uncharacteristically seductive taunt, drinking in your shock like the finest sake as he continued to abuse your kiss-bruised lips lasciviously. Urahara canted his hips into yours in an insistent grind, smirking darkly at your choked whimper of blended dismay and aching need.

"You want this, don't you?" he rasped against the sensitive curve of your throat, stubble grazing in deliciously rough friction. "An opportunity to confess your hidden desires... to finally give in to what’s been slowly taking over that fake purity you hold on to."

His leisurely path of scorching kisses and swirling friction trailed lower with each lush syllable spilling past his taunting mouth. By the time Urahara's tongue dipped into the enticing hollow between your collarbones, you were shuddering with unbridled desperation against the brand of his body.

"K-Kisuke," you whimpered out in a broken, needy keen that stoked his ravenous desires into an inferno. "Please...I don't know what's gotten into you, but—!"

Whatever pathetic entreaty or deflection lingered on your tongue withered into mere shattered static as Urahara's questing fingertips boldly sought out the blazing apex of your thighs beneath your skirt. You cried out at the first searing friction, back arching against the unforgiving shoji screen in thoughtless abandon.

"I think you know exactly what's gotten into me, angel," Urahara growled against the soft swell of your breast now spilling so enticingly from its lacy confines. "You've been too lost in your endless little act to truly see what you've been unraveling all this time..."

With expert dexterity, his calloused fingers sought out your molten, soaked core. Urahara delighted in the ragged cry that burst from your pretty lips at the blunt invasion, hips already writhing against the possessive curl of his finger in a desperate search of more blissful friction.

"Look at how wet you are for me," he cooed, dragging the pad of his thumb across your slick, pulsing nub. You moaned at the friction, head lolling back against the wall with lips parted in wanton invitation. "Even as you try to deny what you've wanted for so long now...you're dripping all over my hand, aren't you, sweet girl?"

Urahara chuckled darkly, adding another thick digit to his wicked torture and drinking in the wanton cry that erupted from your throat. He knew he ought to show some small measure of mercy for how utterly debauched and wrecked you already looked after just a few scant moments of his carnal attentions. But he couldn't resist continuing to torment you, especially when he'd been forced to endure watching you fall apart beneath the tender touch of another for so long now.

"I'll ask again: you want this, don't you, my dear?" Urahara murmured, tone silken and lethal as he crooked his fingers inside you and watched your eyelids flutter shut with pleasure. "You want me, don't you? To finally take and fuck and possess what you've been denying us both for so long."

He punctuated his final declaration with a punishing thrust of his fingers - curling and seeking out your most sensitive spot until your thighs trembled and breathless pleas spilled from your lips. You were so close, and yet still struggling against the truth you'd never be able to escape any longer.

"Answer me, angel," Urahara hissed, sinking his teeth into the fluttering pulse of your throat in a mark he intended to linger long after this heated interlude. "I'll stop if you don't admit how badly you want this. How you've been dreaming of feeling my cock filling you, splitting you open until there's no going back..."

"Oh gods, Kisuke, please," you cried out, voice fracturing as he pressed even closer and let you feel the thick, straining heat of his erection digging into the soft give of your belly. "Yes, yes, I want it. I want you, please just take me already. I need—!"

That was all the affirmation Urahara needed. He surged forward and slanted his mouth over yours, swallowing your moans of pleasure and relief with the same possessive ferocity he intended to brand into your every cell and sense memory.

In the span of a heartbeat, Urahara was yanking down your underwear and freeing his throbbing cock from the confines of his hakama. You keened into the bruising crush of his mouth, hands tangling in his sandy locks as he lined himself up at your drenched entrance.

The first, blinding thrust stole what little breath you had left, forcing your walls to stretch and accommodate his thick, pulsing girth. Urahara swallowed your strangled cries of bliss with a feral snarl of his own, hips canting forward until he'd fully sheathed himself inside the tight clutch of your quivering heat.

"You feel even better than I dreamed, my love," he rasped against the salty curve of your neck, pausing just long enough for you to adjust before his hips bucked up again with merciless intention.

Urahara didn't allow a moment of reprieve, setting a punishing pace as his hands grasped your plush thighs and hiked them high around his waist. The angle allowed him to fuck you even deeper, spearing his pulsing cock into the molten recesses of your cunt and watching the ecstasy play across your features.

"Fuck, fuck, Kisuke, please," you cried, hands scrabbling for purchase against the unforgiving plane of his broad shoulders. Your hips rocked up into his punishing thrusts, the sinful slide of his cock filling you to the hilt over and over again sending stars bursting behind your eyes. "It's so good, gods, you're so deep, please, don't stop!"

Urahara's lips twisted into a predatory smirk, and he slowed his ruthless pace just enough to draw a breathless whimper from your kiss-bruised lips. His gaze devoured the way you were staring up at him, so utterly lost in the throes of pleasure and desire he'd brought you to with such wicked skill.

"You're so tight around me, angel," he cooed, rolling his hips against the slick, molten grasp of your cunt and drinking in the needy cry that tore from your lips. "I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on...but you've been such a good girl, taking my cock like this. Tell me, are you close, sweet girl?"

He punctuated his filthy question by dipping his hand between the rocking crush of your bodies, fingertips ghosting along your soaked, aching sex before finding the sensitive nub of your clit. The breathless cry that tore from your throat nearly undid him, hips bucking into your own once more as he watched your face contort in sheer rapture.

"Y-Yes, I'm close," you gasped, eyelids fluttering open as your hands grasped his biceps with white-knuckled desperation. "Kisuke, please, I'm s-so close, please, I'm right there, don't stop—"

Whatever incoherent plea was tumbling past your kiss-bruised lips melted into a ragged scream of pleasure as Urahara sank his teeth into the supple flesh of your neck and fucked his hips up into your own one last time. You came apart in the span of a heartbeat, cunt clenching and milking his throbbing length until the blinding coil of his release unraveled.

Urahara's climax crashed through him with the force of a tsunami, and he snarled out his release in a choked curse. He continued to buck up into the clutching warmth of your core, fucking his cum deep inside you until every last drop was spent and he collapsed against the shuddering give of your breasts.

Your heart hammered wildly against his ear as Urahara struggled to regain some semblance of control and sanity. He listened to your breathing gradually return to normal, fingers idly stroking your hips in a soothing caress even as his own reiatsu still rippled with the vestiges of his possessive rage.

When he finally mustered the willpower to lift his head from its comfortable perch, the sight of your face stole whatever withering remnants of jealousy and ire lingered within him. Your features were still flushed with the fading heat of pleasure and exertion, and you blinked up at him with the same trusting, dazed innocence that had always drawn him in like a moth to a flame.

"I'm sorry if I was too rough, my dear," Urahara murmured, the pad of his thumb ghosting along the faint indentations his teeth had left on your neck. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but I suppose my jealousy got the best of me..."

You frowned slightly, clearly confused by his words and the apology lingering just beyond them. But the soft, breathy sigh of contentment that slipped past your lips soon banished any lingering doubts.

"It's alright, Kisuke," you soothed, reaching up to gently card your fingers through his sweat-dampened locks. "I'm not sure what came over you, but I didn't mind. Not in the least..."

Urahara hummed a vague sound of approval, burying his nose against the hollow of your throat and inhaling the intoxicating scent of your skin and the lingering hint of his own release. A dark thrill went through him at the reminder that his cum was now dripping from between your thighs, painting the softness of your skin with his claiming mark.

"That's a relief," he mused, nipping at the sensitive skin just above the curve of your breast. "Because I intend to fuck you again the second we're back in my bedroom, and then once more in the morning before Tessai and the kids arrive."

You moaned softly at his blunt admission, hips bucking up against the insistent grind of his cock still buried deep inside you. Urahara smirked, allowing himself a few moments of indulgent pleasure as he drank in the way your eyelashes fluttered against your cheeks.

"But… can we sleep a bit first?" You yawned, voice soft and already beginning to slip away towards the beckoning embrace of unconsciousness. It was only then that Urahara noticed the fatigue lines bracketing your eyes, and he couldn't help but press a tender kiss against your forehead.

"Of course, my love," he whispered, gathering your pliant form in his arms and carrying you towards the safety and shelter of his bedroom. "We have plenty of time now to indulge every wicked fantasy you've ever harbored. There's no need to rush..."

Urahara smirked as your breath began to even out and slow into the steady cadence of slumber. He was looking forward to the morning already, and everything that awaited him once you awoke.

Just as he was about to follow you into blissful sleep, however, his ears picked up on one last, murmured confession slipping past your lips.

"Love you, Shinji…"

[amelikos]

Sango looking at her Tera Orb wistfully (which confirms that she does have a Tera Orb, similarly to Onyx, so maybe she'll get to use it later in the series) and talking about how bored she is.

Sango is someone who constantly seeks entertainment and fun and needs an outlet for her feelings, which is probably why she joined the Explorers.. She doesn't seem to care about the real motives of the Explorers. She ditched her mission back in HZ050 and went to get churros instead of following Liko, Roy and Dot around, and there were many other instances through the series where she picked her own entertainment over the mission. Even during her battle with Roy in the previous episode (HZ066), she made it clear that she didn't care about what the Explorers were doing and she just wanted to have fun battling with Roy. It doesn't look like Spinel or Agate share information with her and Onyx, and even if they tried to explain, I doubt Sango would understand since she is not a researcher and doesn't seem to have deeper ties to the Explorers or their history. She is just there because "anything goes in the Explorers" and they give her an opportunity to let loose and battle, but she is starting to get bored now.

I think she (along with Onyx) probably enjoyed the Terastal Course a lot, given the way she looked at her Tera Orb. They both had fun and actually participated in the school events. They were looking forward to the Elite Four battles in HZ055 and seemed thrilled about the fact that they were going to face strong opponents. The Terastal Course gave her and Onyx a purpose, if only for a short amount of time, and something to do. She is probably a bit sad leaving it behind.

Also, I really liked the way they shared food in this scene, since food has been used as a way to connect them to others characters (Liko, Roy, Dot). In general, food is shown as something you share with people you love in the series and as a way to open up, etc. So, the fact that Sango and Onyx are finally shown eating food together onscreen feels significant (there was the implication that they went to eat churros together back in HZ050 but it wasn't shown).

Onyx's kindness and considerate nature shows in this scene, which even Sango points out since she says it's sweet and considerate of him to get something for her (that's the way she thanks him!). And in turn, Sango's kind side shines through since she immediately shares her sandwich with Onigohri. Sango can be selfish at times, but she definitely cares about her Pokemon and doesn't think twice before sharing food.

Their last exchange was also great. Sango points out the fact that Onyx picked a sandwich of all things, and he asks her if it's something she is fond of, which she denies and she asks him about his own choice of food (an onigiri)...

They are not really talking about the food itself here, but obviously about the nicknames they used during this chapter. Onyx declared that he played student long enough in HZ064, and Sango also said she was done being Sandwich but they clearly seem to be a bit reluctant to leave their school lives behind. The whole scene feels wistful on their side, they are reflecting and thinking back about their times as students, and it feels like they are leaving behind some regrets? Like they didn't really want their time there to end. They are not completely honest either, since Sango pretends that she isn't fond of the sandwich specifically, and Onyx doesn't reply when asked about his own choice.

I wonder where their characters will go from here. It feels meaningful that their last scene in this chapter doesn't depict them in the Explorers base, but rather in a random place outside. They are taking the long way before going back to the organization. I wonder if they are starting to realize how fragile their place in the Explorers is, given what happened to Amethio. They both seemed shocked that he had gotten expelled, and maybe feel like it could be their turn next, which would presumably leave them with nowhere to go.

At the very least, their experiences as students (and their personal interactions with Liko, Roy, and Dot) didn't leave them indifferent and they were clearly affected on some level. Perhaps they will start considering other paths to take and slowly stray away from the Explorers? I personally never felt like they really belonged there, especially Sango. In a way, they come off as directionless but with the right amount of guidance, they could be set on the right path.

[threepenstyle]

(Future) Pirate King Luffy in (very fittingly) His Name was King

[mxtxfanatic]

Fandom Gripe #23: I know that fandom is in some deep denial about its treatment of female characters that are canonically involved with fan favorite m/m ships, but do y’all realize that when you disappear female characters from the narrative wholesale to push the idea that your canonically straight fav was “secretly gay all along!” you’re making several bad implications? That 1) bi men don’t exist, 2) bi men do exist, but those who have genuinely loved a woman before cannot genuinely love a man after that (therefore bi men don’t exist in practice), 3) women cannot inspire genuine love and devotion in men, therefore any relationship with a woman is “lesser” than the one they later have a man (see previous parenthesis), or 4) to acknowledge the existence of a lovable woman who isn’t a terrible person, where if a relationship previously existed, it did not end because of “incompatibility,” is enough to destabilize the present relationship between two queer men?

Because why is the tgcf fandom allergic to acknowledging that He Xuan had a whole ass fiancée that he loved? Why does no one ever seem to remember that the kidnappings and murders of He Xuan’s sister and fiancée were the final straws that sent him on his rampage, and he still keeps a shrine to them in the present-day of the story? Why is her entire existence and significance to He Xuan as a man, character, and to his character arc disappeared in favor of pushing Shi Qingxuan—the brother of the man responsible for his fiancée’s death—into that same role, as if to say that her impact on He Xuan is significant... just not when it's from her? Why does He Xuan’s life in fandom essentially begin not just after her death but because of it?

[nandorsrelentless]

there seems to be far too many fans who can't seem to wrap their head around the fact that no relationship in the Vampire Chronicles is healthy. every relationship includes an element of abuse/power imbalance by normal standards. literally every single one.

they are all monsters who are no longer constrained by societal rules. so I don't think it's too crazy to expect them to do mosntorus things. the genre is Gothic HORROR. the show really prioritizes the HORROR element more so than other adaptaions, which i love.

i don't need louis to be a liar to enjoy lestat. if louis lied or misremebered things about the fight in episode 5, i literally do not care because it's never gonna make me hate louis. the baseline of what constitutes "evil" or "bad" is so different in iwtv because of the fact that they are NOT HUMAN. Claudia is literally a serial killer and she's still mother to me. ykwim?

the nature of vampirism is they have to kill to survive. so it would be really cool if people could accept louis, armand, and claudia as complex characters who are fundamentally not good people (because they aren't people!) without being racist about it. THEY ARE ALL KILLERS

im more interested in this exploration of the complexities of memory and seeing how the show integrates the other books into this story in a way that hasn't been done before than I am in discoursing about whether louis is a liar or not. who gives a shit???? grow up and realize that there are no good guys here and that's OKAY

[ardentpoop]

from my faves :) I would love to hear elaborations and/or critical analysis

[autisticrosewilson]

So do you guys actually think that Jason's entire story, relationship to the others, and philosophy amounts to him being a rebellious teen who wants his dad's attention? Like are you 100% serious? I thought you were joking about that but too many of you are saying it with your whole chest.

And what the fuck is this "Bruce antagonizing Jason is fanon!" Shit I've been seeing? You guys are aware that a parent can love their kid and still be a shit parent right? I know you guys don't want to fathom the thought that maybe your blorbo might also occasionally have to face responsibility for consistently endangering children but let's not start being delusional now.

Bruce does love his kids, that doesn't mean that he hasn't hurt them. And I'd also argue that for the most part he feels in the right for it, and he's said multiple times that he believes it's for their own good, so you can't even argue that he's sorry about it. It's okay for you guys to admit that your PERSONAL INTERPRETATION of the character wouldn't do that but don't sit here and pretend that it's not a facet of the source.

[talagalaxies]

This came from twitter so it got me thinking and go to wookiepedia. So Anakin is thee vergence, right?

In The Acolyte, Brendok is thee vergence, what we know so far. According to SW lore (thanks wookiepedia); the vergence of the force could be a place [brendok] or a person [ani] or etc.

SO. Hear this. Brendok creates life: the Aniseya twins (Osha and Mae). Anakin creates life: the Skywalker twins (Luke and Leia). See that pattern? When someone wants to create life that has vergence with it, it result to twins. Why do children of vergence tends to have twins? Interesting....

If we take the Brendok Jedi's theories true (personally I found it dubious), is that why Vergence baby tend to have twins? Power so strong to contain in one person it has to be split into two? The two representing the light and dark side of the force respectively?

Do Luke and Leia have the exact same symbiosis shit data that Osha and Mae have in the show? Same midichlorians data shit or something? Discussions said that Osha is the dark side twin while Mae's light side. Reminds me of discussions of Luke being the light side twin while Leia's the dark side.

What do u guys think about this?

[klanced]

lance: yeah so this is earth. it’s kind of lame but like also very wonderous. there’s something to be said about finding beauty in the smaller moments-

pidge: do you guys want to go to build-a-bear?

coran: build a WHAT?

pidge: .. honestly did not think it would warrant that kind of response

coran: do you promise.

pidge: ?

allura: oh that sounds like fun! 

coran: can we go.

pidge: yeah sure!!!

(later)

coran: (sulking on the ship)

lance: .. coran, what did you think build-a-bear meant-

coran: i don’t want to talk about it.