#like I know on some level we'll make it through this since we always have before but just. man.

[the-punforgiven]

Me, knowing full well I'm gonna be evicted from the house I've lived in since I was 9 in just a few short months, socially exhauted from watching a constant stream of people come in and look around with intent to buy my childhood home for three days in a row now, knowing that this'll keep happening for the rest of the week and right this moment people are engaged in a bidding war over the truest home I've ever lived in and that I'm powerless to do anything about it since I'm broke as shit: Man why do I feel so bad right now

[dawnoflumeria]

"I love you but I can't say those words":

I would drown even the stars for you.

When I look at you, I just think about how much things have changed since we first met.. my how time flies..

don't you think looking at me like that will give me the wrong impression?

oh, by the way, don't be late for dinner.

I don't think I would have rather done this with anyone else..

did you ever think we'd grow so close?

how many times have I had to nurse you back to health now?

maybe you should sit this one out, I've got it for now

why haven't you told me this before?

Please don't do anything reckless

Will you sit with me?

When was the last time you ate??

Anything that you have to say to me, you can say infront of [B]

I know you're not feeling the greatest, that's why I brought you [insert thing]

you just love to give me hell, don't you?

You're important to me.

I don't wanna lose you / I can't bare to lose you

do you need some help with that? allow me

Hidden Confessions:

I don't think you understand just how much you really mean to me.

I know how you are, and that's why I've decided that you won't do this alone.

You can't get rid of me that easily (after an argument)

don't think so low of my loyalty to you for I would burn the heavens if it mean saving the stars in your eyes.

you've always been the one person who I could never stay mad at

I cherish the memories we make together

I will never let anything or anyone hurt you

you won't take them away from me

don't you dare lay a finger on them!

if you so much as make a move on them I will kill you where you stand, you hear me?

so precious, our time together

I love whatever this is between us.

do you ever think about where we'll be in 10 years?

careful now, you just might make me blush talking like that

Sappy Sentences:

I don't think the heavens or the hells below could fathom the level of love we share.

If there were a way to bottle your love, I'd get drunk on it every day

Sometimes all I really want is to lay like this, with you in my arms forever.

For us eternity doesn't mean for the rest of time. Eternity is just for the rest of our lives together.

I don't remember giving you my heart, but I know it's safe in your hands.

Watching you get hurt is like a blade through the heart, I can't take it.

Even if I had six hearts, they'd all beat for you.

I can't blame those who stare at you, I get lost in your beauty myself.

I'd worship you as my supreme deity, bathe me in your grace

I'd do anything in the world for you. Just you name it.

Come lay with me, I want to heart your heartbeat.

Everytime I'm with you, I can't help but feel at peace with the world.

[pixelchills]

So, I think it's time to talk about Sun in Help Wanted 2 and how I think a lot of people have (in my opinion) misunderstood the sass and now think Sun is some mean bully who needs a cigarette and a vacation.

Posting my thoughts under here for spoiler warnings:

I think first and foremost we need to understand that Sun has always, ALWAYS, been a sucker for rules. He had one rule for Gregory in Security Breach, which he broke and Sun banned him from the Daycare.

In the Arts & Crafts game in HW2 Sun is overly giddy and excited, a little bit anxious but clearly tries to hide it. He wants you to just follow the rules and do arts and crafts with him!

If you follow the rules, you get no mean or sassy comments and instead he gives you praises and even does the cute yippee jumps at the end.

But if you misbehave (throw things at him, eat the supplies) he gets irritated, but none of the voicelines really hint towards him being mean or sassy to you, but more of his worry about his own and your safety.

You throwing things at him: Sun sees you're making a mess, he doesn't like the mess. If you hit him with the items he often laughs at it sarcastically and tells you to stop. Firmly. Sometimes he lets out comments under his breath ("I should turn off the lights myself").

You eating the art supplies: well, we all collectively know it is not healthy. Sun obviously doesn't want you to do that either. I think at this moment he just knows you're a damn idiot since you're an adult and are eating the googly eyes. I don't blame him for getting so angry; Sun realises he is just babysitting an adult which is not something he is supposed to do.

Sun doesn't like the arts you make if you haven't followed the rules. This is where he gets sassy and mean. His rules were very simple! If anything, this just proves the fact Sun is a little goody-shoes who values rules and doesn't like those who don't follow them.

During the course of the arts and crafts, Sun is impatient. He rushes you and keeps bugging about the time. "You're taking foreverrrrrr" is my favourite line just simply how frustrated he sounds. We always knew Sun was speedy and has no patience to just sit and wait. He needs to have his hands busy because that's most likely his way to deal with his anxiety - sitting still doing nothing will make his anxiety worse, or depression, or whatever he is trying to hide.

Because that's how he is in the RUIN version of the level. Just sitting in his pillowfort, sad and depressed. Just wanting to be left alone. Too long for doing nothing, his sad thoughts and the neglect has caught upon him. He is so so sad, but let's you work on the crafts as long as you just get out and leave him to continue sulking.

He doesn't trust you. Sun says: "It's safer this way". But it might not mean that it's safer for you, but safer for him. He doesn't want to give himself the false hope of someone coming to his rescue, or he has the fear that you're a human who will hurt him again. Either of those options are just really, really sad and I think everything he went through between these two games is a worth of an analysis, but we'll leave that for another day.

In short: Sun is still the same Sun we all fell in love with, he hasn't turned into a sassy bully just because he doesn't like your art. But we need to understand he is just THAT strict for the rules, because breaking them will either get him, or you, in trouble.

[toomuchracket]

summer wine (dad!matty x reader smut)

the penultimate tmr summer75 fic. first date night since baba 1. fluffy as hell but also sexy. enjoy <3

“will you get a bloody move on? you're going to be late!”

“relax, mum,” you shout back, capping your lipstick and stomping out of the bathroom. as you catch sight of her at the bottom of the stairs, you glare at her. “stop trying to kick me out of my own house. and stop swearing in front of your granddaughter!”

you can hear matty laugh from the living room, while your mum rolls her eyes. “it's hardly a swear word, bloody. ‘specially not where we're all from.”

“well, yeah, but we're not in manchester right now, are we?”

“could be,” she makes a pouty face, the same one you inherited and the same one dylan will likely get too. “if the two of you would move back home, let me and denise see our granddaughter more often.”

matty wanders through, dylan babbling away in his arms. he nudges your mum. “that listing you sent the other day was nice.”

“wasn't it? can just see dyl running about in that garden.”

“yeah, me too. and the-”

“hang on a minute,” you hold your index finger up, pinching the bridge of your nose in exasperation with the other hand. “you've been discussing houses for sale in manchester? without me?”

they nod, and you grit your teeth at their lack of shame, before nodding at your mum. “always knew you loved him more than me.”

she rolls her eyes again, while your husband bites back a smile. “oh, here we go again, this old chestnut…”

“no, it's true,” you sigh, overexaggerated, scooping your baby from matty's arms and cuddling her into you (and doing your best not to drop the bit and smile at her happy coos). “you're the only one who cares about me, dyl.”

matty wraps his arms around your waist, kissing your cheek and looking down at the baby. “mummy's telling fibs, munchkin, we all care about her very much. and i think she looks beautiful.”

“sap,” you lean round to peck him. “thank you, though. you've scrubbed up well tonight too.”

“yeah, you both look good,” your mum smiles. “the three of you, i should say - dyl's showing you up, though, if i'm honest.”

you and matty laugh, and you lift your daughter to kiss all over her little face; the little happy noises she lets out are possibly the best thing you've ever heard. “my perfect girl. you're gonna have so much fun with gran tonight, munchkin!” hugging her properly, you do your best to keep a lid on the sudden melancholy you feel about leaving her. “be back first thing tomorrow, i promise.”

“and if you need us tonight, gran'll tell us, and we'll come home,” matty adds, taking the baby to give her his own cuddle - he holds her up so their faces are level, and speaks again. “and i love you, but please try not to do that. mummy's done so much for you and i lately, and she deserves a night off, yeah?” he kisses her little nose, smiling at the way she scrunches it up the same way you do. “see you in the morning, my darling.”

your mum beams, taking dylan from matty and kissing his cheek, then yours. “oh, we’ll be fine. now go! have a good night!”

you stroke your baby's head a final time, and squeeze your mum's hand before grabbing matty's. “love you both. bye!”

matty follows suit, bidding your family goodbye before following you out to the car; he speeds ahead to open the passenger door for you, and you giggle. “how chivalrous of you.”

“duh,” he gets into the driver's seat, leaning over to kiss you sweetly before starting the car. “first date night as mum and dad. s'a big deal, babe - tonight is going to be perfect.”

he isn't wrong, actually. and you know you and matty could have a good time together in any circumstances, but tonight's are particularly sweet - dinner in the italian small plates place you've loved since it opened a few years ago, then a drive to get some ice cream and drop the car near where you're staying tonight, and finally a wander in the evening sunshine to a new wine bar a girl at work recommended. there aren't any tables left indoors when you arrive, so you go al fresco; it's dreamy, you think, sitting in the fresh air with the love of your life, with a bottle of red and a cigarette or two each, the setting sun warming your skin and glinting off the wedding rings on you and matty's hands. 

he kisses yours, looking - as he always has, really - adoringly at you with the big brown eyes you're actually disappointed your daughter didn't inherit. “have i already told you that you're beautiful?”

“seven times and counting,” your cheeks burn, and you busy yourself with intertwining his and your fingers as a distraction. “you've got baby brain, my love.”

“no, i think you're just that beautiful that i have to keep saying it,” matty smiles. “y'having a good night?”

“the best. though it feels a bit weird without dyl, to be honest.”

“yeah,” he laughs. “i keep forgetting that it's just you and i tonight.”

you stare at him, blinking. his brow furrows. “what?”

“just waiting for you to finish the lyric, s'all.”

“oh, for fuck's sake,” your husband shakes his head, doing his best to keep the smile from his face while he takes a drink of wine. “you little groupie, clocking the lyric before i did.”

you shrug, taking a sip from your own glass. “i'm extra-sensitive to that song, babe. i remember when you wrote it, one of the nights you stayed at uni with me,” the memory makes you smile. “we were drinking red wine that night, too. wasn't as nice as this one, though.”

matty smiles, one of those slow, sweet smiles that end up taking over his whole face; your heart flutters when he kisses your hand again. “used to dream about nights like this back in those days, you know? me, you, married, on a date. dreamt up dyl back then too and all.”

“you had the baby dream?”

“yeah,” his cheeks go pink. god, you love him. “happened more often when we moved into the flat, but the first time i had it was in your room at uni. and it was dylan i dreamed of, exactly as she was born - hair like mine, face like yours, asleep in my arms while you made a cuppa and spoke to me,” matty looks up at you, eyes slightly teary. “it was always going to be you, darling. you, and me, and her. m'sorry that it took so long for us to end up there - here, i should say.”

“oh, matty,” you kiss his hand, smiling when he caresses your cheek. “i'm not sorry it took the time it did, you know - we got to a good place within ourselves and our relationship before we had our girl, and she's going to grow up in the best possible circumstances because we did, yeah? besides,” you wink. “i always knew you'd end up putting a ring on my finger. i wasn't worried about the timings.”

your husband laughs, wiping his eyes before leaning in to kiss you softly; as always, you get butterflies when he does. “i love you.”

“i love you,” you down your glass of wine as classily as you can, and smile at him. “and i would really love to show you how much, if you'd be up for that.”

“always, darling.”

***

“jesus christ, it's like stepping back in time,” you giggle deliriously as you cross the threshold to the old flat, tapping the guitar head key-holder before turning back to matty. “except now you've got grey hair, and i've got stretchmarks.”

he grins, pulling you close. “i love your stretchmarks.”

“and i find the grey really, really sexy,” you weave your hands into his hair, pressing your lips against his and moaning when his hands squeeze your arse. matty takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tongue tracing your lips before licking into your mouth, sending heat flooding through your veins and into your underwear - after a minute, you pull back to breathe, beaming at the familiar manic glint of arousal in his eyes. “fuck, i've missed this… take me to bed, please?”

“whatever my sweet girl wants,” matty wraps your legs around his waist and kisses you again, and you're briefly aware of being carried somewhere before you're gently plopped on a bed. he smiles at you, and looks around your old bedroom. “wasn't even sure where we were gonna end up, to be honest, darling - that was muscle memory, that.”

you look around the room, noting the absence of dust on the surfaces and the fresh smell of the bedding before smirking at your husband. “nah, you planned this, i know it.”

his jaw falls open. “i did not.”

“no?” you tilt your head. “you mean you didn't take the opportunity to make my old bedroom all neat for us to shag in, as soon as i suggested we go to a bar in east for date night?”

he smirks. “must be coincidence.”

“hmm,” so quickly matty can't react, you reach into the bedside drawer, laughing when you pull out exactly what you expected to find - a fresh box of condoms. “oh, you sappy little git, matthew.”

“i-” matty's face is beet red; it falls into an expression of slight defeat when you wave the box at him. “alright, fine, i admit it - i might've come in here a couple of days ago to set up.”

you hum, lying back down on the pillows and busying yourself with pulling strings of condoms from the box. matty lurks sheepishly at the bottom of the bed; when he clears his throat, you look up at him, and grin. “are you waiting for me to say the line? you are, aren't you?”

“no,” comes the response, in a voice that suggests otherwise.

“you're so weird, baby,” you sigh, before smiling knowingly at him. “but i think you should get over here, healy - i want to kiss you,” you giggle when he jumps onto the bed, kissing his cheek and whispering in his ear. “and fuck you. well… you to fuck me, but you know what i mean.”

“‘course i do,” his lips find your neck, and you sigh in bliss. “needy girl.”

bliss ruined. you glare at him. “you prepped all those condoms, and i'm the needy one?”

“i'm just keeping up with demand, sweetheart,” matty raises his hands in mock surrender, and then brings them to your tits. “i know what my wife needs.”

fuck. 

you beam, breathing heavily as you murmur. “say it again.”

he hums, kissing slowly up your neck to whisper in your ear. “i know what my wife needs.”

the heat in your body becomes too much to bear; your hands fly to the buttons of matty's shirt, deftly undoing them as you lean blindly up to kiss him. he reciprocates eagerly, taking your top lip between his teeth while his hands busy themselves with dragging your dress down by the straps. you work quickly, efficiently, the years of practice put in in this very room ensuring you both end up in your underwear in seconds flat, lips connected and only breaking apart when breathing becomes an absolute necessity. 

it's at this moment that matty catches sight of your new lingerie for the first time, lust-black eyes widening (and clothed dick hardening) as he drinks in your body, wrapped in a babydoll made of dark red mesh. his hands slide softly up your thighs, which part to give him a look at the matching panties; the moan he lets out is enough to soak them. “oh, baby.”

“you like it?” suddenly shy, goosebumps fluttering across your skin at the realisation that this is the first time you've been quite so exposed since having the baby, your voice goes small. “i look… alright?”

it's testament to how well matty knows you that he immediately leans forward to stroke your face reassuringly, resting his forehead against yours so tenderly you could cry. “you look perfect, my darling - so, so beautiful.”

you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. “really?”

“yes, angel,” the kiss that follows his words is sweet, but still passionate enough to dispel all worry from your mind. “d'you wanna keep your dress thing on? we'll do whatever's most comfortable.”

“no, take it off, please - just lift it, babe,” you smile as matty fumbles with the lingerie, giggling along with him as he successfully manages to pull it over your head. “hi.”

“hi,” comes the breathy reply, followed by a kiss between your boobs. when you let out a little moan, matty presses kisses all over your chest, trailing them up across your neck to your lips. “have i told you how fucking sexy i think you are?”

you giggle. “high praise, that, coming from the world's hottest dad.”

“fuck yeah,” he sits back on his heels, eyes trailing up and down your body, mouth parting slightly in the way it always does when he's really, really turned on. “christ, you've no idea how much i want you.”

“yeah, i do,” you lightly drag your nails down your husband's chest and stomach, hooking them into the waistband of his boxers. “s'been too long, baby. need you inside me again.”

“shit. take your panties off for me, darling… yeah, just like that,” matty's eyes don't leave your soaked cunt at all as he takes his own underwear off; your gaze fixates on his dick, excitement fizzing as you watch him reach for a condom and roll it on, smile splitting your face as he settles himself above you. “fuck, i'm a little bit nervous.”

“why, darling?” you take his face in your hands, thumbs gently rubbing his cheekbones. “s'just me, yeah? me and you in our bed. done it a thousand times before.”

matty smirks. there he is. “think we can do another thousand tonight?”

you smirk to match. “we can try.”

“oh, i love you,” he kisses you again, slowly running his dick along your core. “you ready, darling?”

“yeah. love you,” you smile into the kiss, moaning softly in harmony with matty as he slowly slides home. “fuck, you feel good.”

“not as good as you,” comes the mumbled reply, matty's eyes rolling back into his head as he tentatively begins thrusting into you. “missed this.”

you giggle breathily, wrapping your arms around his shoulders to pull him closer. “s'only been a couple of months, baby, we've gone longer without fucking before.”

“yeah, but - oh, fuck, do that again,” matty gasps into your neck as you dig your nails into his back, kissing across your face so he can smile at you, and blush as you wink. “you're so fucking hot.”

you roll your eyes. “shut up.”

“no, i'm serious,” he sits back on his heels, gently lifting your legs onto his shoulders so he can see you a bit better while he fucks you; you're not complaining about the new angle, either. “i have literally never found you sexier than you are right now. ever,” he kisses your calf muscle. “which is why not being allowed to fuck you until now has fucking killed me.”

there isn't even a slither of insincerity in his voice, or on that gorgeous face of his. yours burns, still unused to your husband's compliments after all this time, and your hands gently skim the outline of your chest and hips. “you've been looking delicious, lately, too.”

matty laughs. “delicious?”

“yeah,” you bite the tip of your index finger, sighing happily at the feeling of being fucked slowly. “practically on my knees every time i see you hold the baby, you know. and especially when you do it shirtless,” you let out a low whistle. “not to be crude, but… yeah, i'd take it anywhere you wanted.”

he throws his head back, cackling. “well, darling, you're doing just that,” he leans forward to kiss you, stretching your legs in the most gorgeous way. “d'you wanna try taking it a bit harder? up to you.”

“yeah,” you breathe into him. “fuck me, matty. please.”

“since you asked so nicely,” he pecks your lips, before slamming into you with a groan and repeating the motion, over and over and over. “jesus christ, baby.”

you can't speak, a mixture of pleasure haze and just sheer love for matty clouding your brain and closing your throat to everything but little moans and whines, those noises he loves so much; it's obvious from the way he smiles and speeds up when he hears them how much he loves them, and obvious from the way he kisses and the way his eyes sparkle how much he loves you. they've sparkled for you like that for the better part of fifteen years, and a sudden wave of some inexplicable emotion washes over you when you think about how long you and matty have loved each other, and now you've ended up here.

you don't realise you're crying until he slows down, face concerned, and wipes the tears from your lashline with his thumbs. “what is it, my darling?” his voice is soft, soothing, exactly the same as it is when he talks to your baby girl. “everything alright?”

nuzzling into his hand, you nod, sniffling. “i just really, really love you, matty.”

he smiles, eyes crinkling and filling up to match yours. “i love you. girl of my dreams, mother of my baby, love of my life.”

the two of you stay like that the rest of the night, matty fucking you slowly, deeply, tenderly, both of you trading sweet words and i love yous and kisses that feel like home. getting each other off isn't the priority anymore, dropped in favour of simply loving, but your orgasm is as intense as ever; maybe even more so, actually, limbs wrapping around matty and tears falling onto his skin as he gets you there and holds you through it with a “my girl, my beautiful, beautiful girl”, before burying his head in the crook of your neck as he spills into the condom with a whimper.

for the briefest of moments afterwards, there's silence in the room, the only sound your respective heavy breathing as you recover; it's broken, as always, by your husband, kissing your cheek before moving to pull out of you and pull off the condom. you giggle when he launches it with pinpoint accuracy into the bin in the corner of the room, moving to snuggle against his chest once he settles back onto the bed. “i think,” you begin, tracing the tattoo on his chest. “it's safe to say that you've still got it.”

he snorts. “d'you mean the sex, or my aim in chucking shit in that bin?”

“both,” you kiss over his heart, looking up at him adoringly. like you could look at him any other way. “that was really special, baby. thank you.”

he strokes your hair. “anything for you, my love,” his finger slides down your nose, booping the end, and he giggles when you scrunch your face up. “round two, in a minute? we still have all those condoms to get through.”

“in a minute, yeah,” you grin, climbing atop your husband and grinding down onto his lap. “but this time, i'm on top.”

[cryptidghostgirl]

Music (Lute x Reader)

Paring: Lute x Reader

Description: Y/n has been dating Lute for years. After her girlfriend gets home from the most recent extermination, she tries to talk to Lute about the person being around Adam makes her.

Warnings: I know that the description makes this sound angsty and like they're gonna fight but its actually really sweet. Fluff. Just fluff.

Word Count: 829, short and fluffy.

Master Lists:

Master Lists 

Hazbin Hotel Master List

A/N I came up with this when I couldn't sleep last night. I just think it'd be cute. (Listen, I could fix her.)

"I don't like who you are around him."

Lute let the door fall shut behind her. Her whole body ached and was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, demon blood, and grime. As her eyes fell on her girlfriend, laying on the bed casually with a book loosely clutched between her gentle fingers, she scoffed.

"This again?"

"Yeah." Y/n nodded, closing her book and putting it to the side as she got up off the bed, "I don't like it. He makes you..."

"He makes me what?" Lute spat back.

She was tired. The extermination had taken a lot out of her, been so much to deal with. Lute didn't mean to lash out like this, she just couldn't deal with it right now. It was all too much.

"He... just... when you spend too much time with Adam, you start acting different. I don't know."

"Well, not like I really have much of a choice." Lute exclaimed in exhasperation, letting her mask and her spear fall to the floor by the doorway she still stood in.

"No, I know." Y/n hurried to correct herself, getting to her feet, "I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry."

"Whatever."

Lute stalked off into the bathroom. The drying blood felt tight against her skin, she was exhausted. The fact that she knew Y/n was right on some level, that being around Adam did change her, made her more volatile and rude, only fueled her anger. The truth was, without him goading her on, Lute would never do half the terrible things she did.

She began to unhook her armor, letting it fall haphazardly to the marble floor of the bathroom. Lute shot the doorway a glance as she heard a slight rustle of fabric. Y/n stood there, leaning against the frame with her arms around her waist, watching.

"What?" Lute grumbled.

With a sigh, Y/n straightened herself and crossed the room. Turning on the shower, she stuck her hand under the water as she messed with the temperature, trying to make sure it wasn't too hot.

"Look, Music, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start something, I know you've had a long day. We'll talk about it later."

There it was, Music. Y/n had called her that since the minute they'd made things official. When Lute had asked her where the nickname had come from, she'd smiled softly and said something about her being art. Not the overlooked instrument, but the masterpiece that comes from it. All the fight slipped out of her.

Taking the chainmail off from beneath her plated armor, Lute walked over to her girlfriend. Y/n let out a short gasp of surprise as she snaked her hands around her waist, leaning her head on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I snapped." Lute admitted, her cheeks flushed pink.

Apologies had never been her strong suit. Y/n smiled. Taking her hand out from under the water, she gently took Lute's arms from her waist. Turning to face her head on, Y/n held her hands in hers.

"I shouldn't have pushed it, Muse."

Muse. Y/n’s inspiration, her guiding light. How could Lute have forgotten? All the chaos, all the blood on her hands, and still -- Y/n loved her. Through all the bad, she somehow found the good.

"No, no." Lute looked away bashfully, "You were right. I... I just don't know how to get out of this. There is a person I have to be when I'm around him and... I don't like her either."

"Hey hey hey! Pretty girl!" Y/n exclaimed, dropping her hands and instead holding Lute's face gently, turning it to face her own once again, "We will figure it out. Together, we always do. All I ask of you is that you don't bring it home."

"I know, I wont anymore. It's not fair to you, I know."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Lute nodded.

Y/n smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead as she let her hands fall from Lute's cheeks. Lute caught them in their descent to Y/n's sides and, leaning back in, kissed her lips gently in return. Y/n's cheeks were flushed a pretty pink when Lute leaned away a few seconds later.

"Damn, how many years has it been and you still get all flustered?" Lute teased.

"Oh, hush." Y/n waved her off, looking away, "Take a shower, you smell like... like..."

"Demon blood and sweat?"

"Yeah." Y/n nodded apologetically, meeting Lute's eyes.

Lute laughed. Somehow, Y/n just had a way of making her feel better. It could be the worst day in the world and coming home to that girl would make it all go away.

"I love you." she whispered as steam began to fill the bathroom from the hot shower.

Lute wrapped her arms around Y/n's waist, holding her close.

"Always, Lute." Y/n confirmed, nuzzling her forehead into Lute's shoulder, "Always."

[forensicheart]

One Way Trip

Max Verstappen x Reader

Summary: Max gets his debut in f1 and he wants his best friend to be there like they always have.

---------------------------------------------------------

You groaned as their phone buzzed, the screen flashing on and off as texts spammed through. When the texts didn't stop you lifted their head of the pillow to glance at the clock on their bedside. 4:02am it read. Usually you would wonder who was bothering you so intensely this time of morning but you knew exactly who it was. Before you could even reach for the phone to check the texts still coming through your phone began to rang.

"What in the world could be that important that you couldn't wait a few more hours to tell me Max?" You grumbled down the phone with tiredness.

"I'm in. I'm racing in f1!" This seemed to shake the tiredness right out of you as they sat up with shock.

"Tell me you're not messing with me Max" Max let out a short laugh, one full of shock and excitement more than anything.

"I'm serious Y/n, I'm making my debut!" A smile overtakes your face.

"Holy shit! Max, that's amazing!" The line stays silent for a moment as the two friends take in the exciting news, wide smiles on both of your faces. Suddenly the silence is broken.

"Come with me"

"What?" You responds confused by Max's sudden request.

"Come with me Y/n. You have been by my side since the beginning and I want you to keep being by my side" The silent resumes as you take in Max's words.

"But Max, I-" Max seems to be prepared for whatever you has to say though as he doesn't give you the time to finish.

"I know you would be leaving your family behind, your other friends, school, everything but please, I need you with me. You can visit your family and friends whenever you wish, we'll find a school for you or a way for you to do it online, I'll make sure you still get to do the course you've always wanted. We can make it work Y/n, I just want you with me"

"You're asking me to just drop everything and fly around the world with you Max, drop a secure and stable plan and life that I have here and go along with the craziness that we both know will come with this debut. I don't know if I can do that" Max lets out a sigh as you sit, stunned by how much Max wants you coming with him.

"Just, take some time to think it over, please?" You knows that Max will respect your decision but won't drop it till you make one.

"Ok, I'll think it over"

"Thank you" And with that the dial tone is heard and you let your arm fall to their side, phone still in hand as you glance at the clock once more, seeing it now reads, 4:28am. Might as well get a few more hours of sleep in before making the big decision.

A few hours later you wake up to the feeling of a weight making the bed dip slightly. You open your eyes to see your mum looking at you with a smile.

"Morning sweetie"

"Morning mum" You yawn.

"There's someone here to see you, do you mind if I let them in" You nod knowing there wasn't much use saying no and your mums gets up and leaves the room only to have Max enter a few seconds after taking the spot your mum had just been.

"Hey"

"Hey Max" You sit up to be face to face with Max as you rub your eyes free of sleep as Max fiddles with his hands anxiously.

"I'm sorry to barge in like this, I know I said that you could think it over but plans have changed and I've been asked to fly out in an hour"

"An hour? Max that's not enough time to make a decision that might change my life just because you want me with you" And you were right, you'd only been asked a few hours ago to go with Max and now you we're expected to have an answer in this moment.

You had just made it into your dream course at a high level university, you'd made friends you imagined would be life long and you were happy and settled here. But. Max was your best friend, partner in crime, your everything. How are you meant to make that choice so suddenly. As if you needed more reason to be so unsure you're suddenly pulled from your thoughts as lips met yours. Kissing you with passion that you'd never felt before, making your decision come clear with just the one action. But it still left you with one question.

"Why do you want me to come with you Max?"

"I already told you, you-"

"No Max. You told me why before you kissed me, now I'm asking again. Why do you want me to come with you Max?" Max took a deep breath, looking away from you but holding your hands tightly in his.

"Because I love you. Because I've loved you since the first day we met back in kindergarten, since you stood up for me as other kids picked on me for my outfit. And yes, it's cliche, it's so cliche to be confessing my love to you, my childhood best friend but I'm doing it because it's the truth. I want you with me Y/n, through everything and anything that comes at me, at us. I want you to be there for me and I want to be there for you too, I want you to have the life you've always wanted but selfishly I want you to come with me on this crazy journey for my dream life too and my dream life includes you" Max speaks fast but without stumbling and his little speech has you stunned once more.

"It's a one way trip Max, once I make this decision there isn't much room to turn back" You sigh as your hand comes up to gently grab Max's chin, making him look at you. "But I'm willing to go on this one way trip with you Max, because I know you'll make it my dream life just as much as yours and I love you for that, as my best friend and... as something more" Max gives your hands a squeeze, letting you pull him down slightly to kiss him and he pulls away grinning brightly at you.

"I believe we have a plane to catch" You chuckle as you look into Max's eyes.

"I believe we do"

[genshingorlsrevengeance]

Remember the story of Beidou, Noelle, Eula, Shenhe, Ganyu, Ei, and Yae wih a S/O who got shrunk?

Well what if the opposite happend.

As in Beidou, Noelle, Eula, Shenhe, Ganyu, Ei, and Yae dealing with their S/o turning comically large.

(Genshin Impact) Beidou, Noelle, Eula, Shenhe, Ganyu, Ei, and Yae's S/O becoming comically large

Beidou simply stares at S/O as they now nearly rivaled the ship in size, even when kneeling.

(Beidou) "Well, guess we're not taking you with us anywhere soon."

(S/O) "How did this even happen?!"

(Beidou) "Beats me. We'll figure something out though, don't you worry your little head now...Er, rather big head.-"

(S/O) "Can you at least say that without a smirk?"

Beidou made no reply as her smirk only grew bigger.

Maybe someone around Liyue Harbor knew of a legend or some kind of drink to help S/O shrink?

Or maybe even Xiangling could cook something to do that!

...Well, that dish would have to be pretty big.

(Beidou) "S/O, me and the crew will get you right as rain, we'll have to set sail for a day or two."

(S/O) "So what am I going to do?!"

(Beidou) "I'm going to find the Traveler, they saved the harbor, surely they can save your size!"

Noelle is stammering at the sight of her S/O. A minute ago, they were only slightly taller than her.

Now, they were nearly the size of a house in the city.

(Noelle) "WHAT HAPPENED?!"

(S/O) "I-I have no idea! I just blinked and...!"

Noelle immediately stands on the top of her toes, giving S/O a reassuring grip on their shoe.

(Noelle) "I'll grab Master Jean! Wait right here!"

(S/O) "R-Right....Not like I got anywhere to go anyway..."

A crowd was forming around S/O, but due to their size, they were able to trail Noelle with their gaze, seeing just how fast she ran.

(S/O) "Could she always run that quickly...?"

Eula's eyes go wide with shock, as S/O now stood over the trees without any issue.

Which was concerning, since they were only the same height as her thirty seconds ago.

(Eula) "What in the hell...?"

(S/O) "E-Eula?! Are you down there?"

S/O did their best to crouch down without crushing her or knocking down any of the trees.

For once, she was completely at a loss for words.

No quip or remark to address the situation.

(Eula) "A-Ahem! We'll get you back to normal, we just have to...uh..."

Eula has absolutely no idea what to do.

At the very least, S/O could make her scouting duties easy.

...Maybe she could convince them to let her ride their shoulder until they return to their original size.

Shenhe stares at S/O with an unflinching gaze.

One would be forgiven to think that she was completely unfazed by S/O's sudden increase in size.

However, she was anything but.

(Shenhe) "Could you always do that?"

(S/O) "N-No! I have no idea what this is!"

Shenhe's first instinct is to get Cloud Retainer, but she was hesitant to leave them alone.

(Shenhe) "We will get Master. Please, come along with me."

Shenhe insisted on staying on the ground to protect them from any potential threat.

Big or small, she would not let anything touch S/O.

Except for every tree and boulder they accidentally walked into.

Ganyu's stress levels go through the roof.

As did S/O.

(Ganyu) "Wha-I-Bu...?!"

She couldn't even form the words, as S/O panicked at almost hitting the building they were nearby.

(Ganyu) "P-Please wait here, I know who can help us!"

Ganyu doesn't want to leave S/O alone, but only Cloud Retainer could do anything about...whatever this was!

She is absolutely panicking the entire time as she runs as quick as her feet can carry her, any previous fatigue felt vanishing into the wind.

Ei is concerned, but more confused than anything by what happened to S/O.

(Ei) "What in the world...?"

(S/O) "I...I have no idea!"

Whatever this was, Ei would find a way to make her S/O normal.

She has S/O rest in the courtyard as a group of guards protect them from anyone who would mean harm.

But given their size, they probably didn't need it, not including the fact they were in one of the most guarded areas in Inazuma.

(Ei) "I wonder if Miko would have anything to say..."

Ei shook her head at the thought.

(Ei) "She would probably laugh..."

Yae's stomach hurts from laughing, seeing S/O's terrified expression as they now stood almost nearly the size of the Sakura tree.

(S/O) "WHAT THE HELL?! YAE, DID YOU DO THIS?!"

(Yae) "If I could, you would have found out much much sooner. And probably not on top of the hill."

She could probably find a solution very quickly, but part of her wanted to see how this long.

Not that S/O did, but if only they weren't at such a precarious position.

If they fell, now it wouldn't kill them but it would certainly hurt.

But at the very least, she now had a couple good ideas for some light novels.

And who better to sell it than the actual living giant?

[russellsppttemplates]

Your mummy is my hero (Lance Stroll)

Lance and Y/N continue their journey into parenthood

Note: english is not my first language. Like the last pieces, this piece is written from experiences I know and not from such a scientific point of view, so it is probable that there are some mistakes as I'm not a doctor. Still, I've tried to treat this as respectfully as possible as this is very close to my heart.

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Tw: mentions endometriosis, fertility issues and treatments and associated topics (needles, blood), pregnancy, baby feeding

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog

"Hey, darling", Lance greeted, setting the wooden spoon on the counter and wiping his hands on the towell by the cabinets, "how was your day?", he walked up to you, placing his hands on your waist as pulling you to him close enough so he could kiss you, "it was good, but I'm really tired, like, really really tired", you hummed before blushing at your own admission.

Lately, the smallest efforts, both physical and cognitive, were leaving you with a tiredness you couldn't recognise. Pairing that with the fact that Lance had been extra doting on you since the transfer, which meant cosy nights in his chest always available for you to lay on, there hadn't been a night in the last week where you hadn't been in bed by the time the news finished on the TV.

"And you managed to eat lunch?", he asked, walking back to the stove so he could finish plating up the food he just cooked, "yes, it was fine. I think this whole eating and going to bed routine, as lovely as it is, is not agreeing with my stomach", you shrugged.

Approaching him so it would be your turn to hug him, you positioned yourself so you could get close enough to his neck, kissing the thin skin there and whispering in his ear, "am I crazy if I think this means our little bun is making themselves warm and cosy in my uterus?".

"I think it's okay, because I'm hopeful, too", he whispered back, smiling as he kissed your cheek, "tomorrow we will know for sure", Lance offered, "until then, I have one of your favourite dishes and some cuddles that hopefully won't turn your tummy upside down", he smiled, holding your plate out so you could bring it to the table and you could both eat dinner.

.

"Dr. Marlin will call you shortly", one of the nurses informed as she escorted you out the the room she had taken your blood in, smiling warmly at Lance.

"Everything okay?", your husband asked, "yes, at this point, I don't even mind it", you reassured him, holding his hand in yours, "whatever happens today, we'll get through it, okay?", he whispered. Even though he cried happy tears when you had the transfer, he had gotten back to be the strong person in the process. He was the one caring for you and making sure you were both standing with your feet on the ground, regulating any emotions and allowing you to breakdown every time you needed to, never failing to bring the smile back to your face.

"I have your results back", Dr. Marlin said once you had sat down and had small talk, "congratulations, Y/N! You're pregnant", she announced.

Lance was quick to pull you to his side, hugging you as best as he could and kissing the side of your head as you cried, "I'm sorry, but these good news are also a lot to take in", you chuckled, wiping the tears with your thumbs before looking at Dr. Marlin, sensing she wanted to carry on.

"It's okay to feel like this, it's completely normal", she offered, "while this is still early, so we have to be careful, your levels looks really good", she pointed the screen so you could see your results and the interval they have to be for successful procedures, "everything is looking good, your HCG levels are very good even. You already know the risks and what you should keep an eye out for, but so far, we are headed in the right direction, congratulations!".

After prescribing you prenatal vitamins and booking the next appointment, Dr. Marlin sent you both on your way to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, "I love you", Lance said once you sat in the passengers seat, kissing your lips passionately, "I love you, too, handsome, so much", you smiled, cupping his cheek softly and rubbing the skin with your thumb quickly before he moved so he could close the door.

.

"And then I was like 'wait, I've learnt how to do this in a better way!', so I gathered the things I needed and so far, it's going along well", you said as you walked around the bedroom, grabbing your underwear from the drawer and putting it on, untying your robe's belt as you walked to the head of the bed so you could grab and put your pyjamas on, "and what about you?", you asked your husband, "did they change the shape on the front wing?", you asked, taking off the robe completely.

"Yes, they ran some tests and it looks promising, and I also d- woah", he gasped, adjusting his position onto the bed, "it wasn't there last night", he whispered, rolling on the bed so he could approach you, his head in line with your midsection.

"What wasn't th- oh", you noticed, too. The swell under your boobs was prominent. Not like whenever you had a little bit too much of your mother's cooking or whenever your period left you feeling heavier, but rather like a baby bump.

"It still feels surreal", you whispered, pulling your shorts all the way up so they sat lowly on your hips and sitting on the bed next to Lance, his hand going straight to caress your skin while you pulled the thin material on to rest just under your boobs, "our little one is growing, made themselves cosy and warm inside mummy? You're very clever already", he spoke to the bump as his hands continued their ministrations on your skin, pressing his lips above your belly button and leaving small kisses there, "you still have a long way to grow, but mummy and daddy are here so excited to meet you, love".

.

"She's growing my baby, and I don't mean this to sound so animalistic - maybe it's that instinct though -, but she's growing our baby that we made together and she's the best, she's taking everything like a champion. I know that there are hard days, but she's still doing it 24/7", Lance said.

"Well, it's not something you can tag out or have a break", Chloe retorted despite knowing where her younger brother was getting at.

"I know, but- she's been through a lot, we've been through a lot, and we're finally so close to meeting our daughter", he admitted.

You didn't want to make a big fuss around it, but you insisted on gathering both families for a dinner to celebrate your baby and to spend some time together before your routines changed. You and Lance spoke to a caterer who delivered the food at your place while Chloe, Scotty and your husband set the big table while you played with your nephew, the little boy forever entertained with your games and occasionally kissing your clothed bump like he had seen his uncle do so many times.

When Chloe brought the small box with balloons, her smile was beaming, "open it, open it! I'm very proud of myself for not taking a peak, but please, open it!", your sister in law beamed, clapping her hands as the rest of the family members waited expectantly for you and Lance to rip the tape and lift the lid of the box.

When you did so and it revealed lavender coloured balloons with silver writing announcing "it's a girl!", everyone cheered and clapped, Lance hugging you as one hand travelled to your bump whole the other pulled your closer, "ready to be a girl dad?", you teased, kissing his chin, "I was born ready for this, my love".

Knowing you were carrying his little girl made Lance even more attentive to you, if that was possible, and it brought out an even softer side of him. He tried to be there for all the appointments he could, had organised a list with you so you could both have input in what you'd need to buy for your baby girl, and anytime he saw something he liked and thought "she absolutely needs to have this", he would bring it home along with your favourite dessert in a take out bag.

"I'm back", you announced as you walked back into the living room, "hopefully she'll let me sit for longer than an hour and not use my bladder like a dance floor", you chuckled, seeing Lance open his arms so you could sit next to him as he hugged you sideways.

"Have you thought about names? I remember me and Scotty went back and forth with so many names until we found the one that felt right", Chloe questioned.

"We have a list with a couple of them", you began, "and we're set on one, Addalynn. It's a strong name, we can do Addy for a short nickname", you explained, rubbing your bump as you felt her kick, "and she seems to like it, too! She always wiggles harder whenever we say it!".

.

The rumble in the corridor was practically unheard inside your hospital room as Lance exited the bathroom after washing his hands, looking over to you and seeing your sleeping figure. The labour had, as expected, taken a lot of energy from you, so after the medical team made sure you were in good health and after you fed your babygirl, they urged you to rest for a little bit, reassuring you that they'd be around if anything happened.

"Hey, little love", Lance cooed, noticing his daughter give a little scrunch in her bassinet and prompting him to take her out and hold her against his chest, "what a delicious scrunch you've got there, hm?", he complimented as he grabbed a blanket, sitting down and covering her back with the blanket after making sure she was in a good position, "Mummy is resting now, you gave her a hard time to come out here, did you know that?"

"Mummy and I have dreamed of this day for a really long time, and you've made our dreams come true", he cooed, softly touching Addalynn's soft chubby cheeks, "mummy put her body through a lot so we could be a family, and that's why she's my hero", he noted as she made a small noise, meaningless to the conversation and yet Lance felt like she was reacting to what he said.

"I know, right? She's sleeping now, but you probably fell in love with her the minute you were put on her chest, like we did with you. Mummy is kind, selfless and resilient. Sometimes she's stubborn, too", he chuckled, "but that means she loves extra hard, too, and that we just need to keep an eye out when she's taking too much of a burden so we can share it. You and I are going to be a team for that, okay? Always keeping an eye out for mummy", he smiled, kissing her forehead, "your mummy is my hero, and from now on, you are both my priorities", he promised, the sigh from his daughter's lips as she opened and closed her mouth, "are you hungry? Mummy is asleep, isn't- Oh, she isn't, hm?".

You chuckled, rubbing your eyes as you smiled tiredly, "were you two having a chat? Without me?", you feigned offense as you watched your husband get up so he could place your daughter on your chest, "let's have some food, hm? Such a gorgeous girl, you are, and maybe me and you can also have a chat about daddy. I'm sure you've figured it out already", you added as you lowered your top, "but he's the best daddy ever".

[slash-me-please]

HIHIHI I LOVE YOUR WRITING SM AND I SAW THAT YOUR WILLING TO WRITE FOR AMANDA YOUNG BUT IF YOU DONT FEEL LIKE IT THATS COMPLETELY OKAY ALSO!!

Can you do jealous Amanda x Fem reader? Somewhere around reader and Amanda having a complicated relationship and reader is an apprentice. Another apprentice flirts around with reader and Amanda doesn’t like it at all :$ Also some NSFW but if your not in the mood for it you don’t have to add it!

I hope you have an amazing day 😋😊

I love writing for Amanda!!!! I'm so happy to be getting more fem requests because I am a gay mf. Anyways on with the story.

-In the event that Michael Marks survived, he has became an apprentice. Michael Marks. Yknow, the key in the eyeball guy. So, let's begin.

A Deeper Understanding

Warnings: Literally nobody getting along, Jealous!Amanda, Cursing, Threatening, Fingering, Domish!Amanda, Getting Caught

John Kramer had collected quite the assortment of a team. He hoped at least one of you would continue his legacy perfectly. He'd make sure before he died that he'd live on through the lot of you. You were all currently at the workshop, bullshitting about random tests and other people you were interested in "helping". There was about four of you there, Dr. Gordon couldn't make it, like usual. Michael Marks had been your second choice, Gordon has always been your first.

His eyes traveled down your body, a look that made you feel a certain type of way, not a good way. He was your partner though, so you gave him the benefit of the doubt. "I'm glad everyone is here," John smiled a thin smile, Jill stood across from him, eyes trained on his every move. You knew that it'd been hard on her since his diagnosis. "I need your help with the scalping seat, I'm not sure it'll get done on time." He took a pause, "I've had some other things to tend to, my apologies."

He hadn't been looking at you, you weren't the mechanic of the group. John looked to you for ideas for traps. You had a knack at creating a symbolic test, one which would change the looks of the masses. Michael stepped forwards, eyes lingering on you for too long for someone who had just needed to build a trap. "I used to work as a car technician before Homeward Bound," He said, bending down and looking through the gears. "Unless Hoffman can do better." Hoffman wasn't much for Michael, he stayed silent.

"Nobody wants you to touch anything, you hardly beat your test. I don't know why John even wants you here because you're obviously not even serious about him." Amanda stood from her spot near John, she walked forwards and towered over Michael- only for Michael to size her up. "What are you even talking about?" He barked, his chest puffing. "Amanda calm down, we need to finish this trap. Brenda's test is what matters." John corrected her, his composure was always impenetrable. "No John! Have you seen this guy? He's been eye-fucking Y/N since we got here!"

Amanda's fists clenched as she yelled back at John. She seemed ready to blow a fuse, and you were thankful for it. "As far as I am concerned, He has not said anything to Y/N that has made her uncomfortable." "But-" "No, we'll deal with him later, we have to focus on the contraption now, we'll deal with him later. I need you to act level-headed if you're going to carry out my legacy." Amanda huffed, speeding past the group and into the hallway. "Amanda!" You yelled after her, jumping down from the table and following after her.

You found yourself in a grimy hallway, off to the side was an opening to what you presumed was where Amanda had went off to. You stepped forward, watching as the curtains to the archway swayed back and forth. "Amanda?" You called, and she opened the swaying curtains as you stood in front of them. "Finally got enough of Mr. Fuck-me eyes?" You shook your head. "We're not... doing anything." She nodded, stepping away to move back to a decaying workstation. You saw she had her reverse bear trap on the table, she seemed to be fixing something wrong with it.

"What are you doing to it?" You wondered, she glanced over at you for a moment. "John gave it to me to fix, fucking Hoffman took it somewhere and it broke." She gulped. "I hate this thing, but I'm about finished." Amanda was grumbling as she fixed her trap, she seemed elsewhere and you could tell that this was a coping mechanism for her. "What's wrong?"

She turned to you, and with a sigh she sneered. "I just don't understand why Michael is even here, he hardly completed his test and he's an asshole y'know?" Her voice elevated, and she turned towards you. "He's awful and I just don't understand why he can't leave you alone!" Your cheeks flushed, eyes widening as she stared right at you. "Uh-" But you cut her off, hands coming up to hold her face. It happened to turn out that she would be the one to press forward and kiss you. She only let it escalate from there when her hand moved to reach under your shirt and pull you flush against her chest.

Her nails dug into the plush of your stomach skin when she picked you up and placed you on the workbench, shoving the bear trap off to the side. Amanda placed kisses on your collarbone as you worked to pull your shirt off, and in the heat of the moment she found herself dizzy with lust. She had been dreaming about this moment since you joined the group, and she thought she might've entered her dreamworld when you finally got your shirt off. "You're fucking perfect," She mumbled, the androgynous tang of her voice flowed through your core and straight between your legs. You opened them right up.

Amanda leaned forward, tongue landing flat on your nipple and sucking at it until it pressed hard against the pad of her tongue. With her left hand, she groped you passionately, and she praised how you fit in her hand perfectly. You had leaned forward and pressed a kiss on the top of her head as she pushed your skirt up and over your ass, eager to get where she had wanted to touch most. You blessed her with it, gripping the edge of rotten wood when she hooked her long fingers inside your heat. "Shit..." She mumbled, her left hand dropping your tit to push you back by the stomach. You stumbled back against the wood with a whine, biting onto your left hand as the other gripped her wrist.

Amanda watched with an intense gaze as you moaned into your hand, she was more than interested, her left hand moving to rub circles on your clit as she fingered you. Your hips pushed against her fingers, desperate to feel more of her as she pleasured you- you knew her thoughts of Michael Marks were gone by now, her gaze enraptured by the way your cunt sucked her in. She felt herself becoming devoted as she listened to the gasps and whimpers you released of her name- you felt the same.

She began to kiss your hips as your legs shook around her fingers and your whines became more noticeable. Amanda gathered she had to be doing something right, her ego inflating as you rode her hand. "You're doing so well Y/N," She whispered, the fingers on your clit speeding up. You cried out, "I'm so close..." yelping when she pushed her fingers deeper and shushed you. You felt your insides clench and twitch, legs spreading wider as you held her wrist against your sex- whining out a flurry of "Thank yous," While you finished on her hand.

Finally, you leaned back down, huffing against your hand. You reached out to maybe grab her, and she reached to pull her shirt off. Unluckily, she didn't make it far when you heard Michael open the curtains, halfway through his sentence. "I'm sorry Amanda, I didn't- oh!" His eyes landed on you, and you yelped, flailing to cover your body as he stared.

Amanda's lip twitched in annoyance, pulling your skirt down with a little bit of attitude. You knew it wasn't directed at you though. "If you do not get the fuck out of my office, I will literally blow your brains out Michael."

And he turned around, scurrying down the hallway. Amanda turned back to you, giving you a happy kiss on the lips. "Maybe we can arrange a date this week?"

[skania]

OnK Chapter 151

Me two weeks ago:

Me reading this chapter:

The fact that Aka did parallel Chapter 30 makes me feel like we're definitely going to see some Tokyo Blade & Private parallels as the anime covers those arcs. For the better or for the worse.

But we'll get there in due time. For now, time to laugh at the writing again 😂

I have to hand it to Aka. I mentioned that last chapter highlighted like half the reasons why I find romantic Aqua/Kana so poorly written, and this chapter right here did a fine job at highlighting the rest 😂

I want to be an actress! Well... Aqua wants me to be an idol and it may not be so bad actually, I want to be Aqua's Oshi no Ko! Aqua is ignoring me! Being an idol sucks, I quit! I'm going to be a great actress! I may have a chance with Aqua actually. I just want to be his Oshi no Ko!

It's wild to me that Aka had Kana say that her current dream is just to be Aqua's Oshi no Ko. Absolutely wild. This girl was so desperate to become a well-known actress that she was willing to be casting-couched for it, yet suddenly now it's actually it's fine that I peaked when I was five tee hee!

She's obviously lying to herself and settling for the level she is in now because she thinks that reaching that level of notoriety is out of her reach, but...

Not gonna lie, as someone who has seen Akane be called everything from obsessed to emotionally dependant to simp, it is hilarious to witness Kana's writing right now.

But I guess it couldn't have been any other way, because what Kana asks out of Aqua this chapter is a reflection of what she has wanted all along:

I mentioned it before that Kana started fixating on Aqua as being that person for her, and this chapter shows that's still the case. There's nothing inherently wrong with that IMO, in fact it could be empowering to know that as long as this one person is in your corner, you can take on the world.

The problem is that so far, Aka hasn't quite written it that way. The secret behind Kana's acting is that she wants people to look at her, she wants people to acknowledge her, to love her. But when that desire is centered on Aqua and Aqua alone, she gets so hung-up on him that it's debilitating. She literally became a shell of herself during that year Aqua was no longer a part of her life.

Last time I felt Kana was acting pathetic, Aka confirmed that she was indeed meant to be perceived that way, and Kana gave herself a reality-check:

I thought Kana's moment of self-awareness was going to lead her to be emotionally independent from Aqua, but it seems that the fact that Aqua wound up saving her either way undid that progress. Now that she has hope that he may date her if she makes a move, she's taking it so far that she's ranking her romance with him over her lifelong dreams.

All this to say that since Aka once deliberately wrote Kana being overly dependant on Aqua to show that it's not how she is meant to be, I can't help but hope we may see something similar later.

Granted, Kana being written like a shounen love-interest whose entire purpose is just to get with the MC has always been a risk, so I guess this is par for that course lol

As for Aqua, I mentioned before that I believe Kana is everything he liked about both, Ai and Sarina and thus, the perfect Oshi... and this chapter has Kana declaring out-loud that she wants to be his one true Oshi No Ko.

Moreover, this is happening right after Ruby told Aqua this:

And while Sarina is undoubtedly Goro's Oshi, Kana wants to be Aqua's. The issue with that however... is that Kana wants to be the only person Aqua looks at, his Number One.

Meanwhile, Aqua kind of has his hand full in that regard already, so it's no wonder that through his shock, he isn't able to "catch" the ball symbolizing that particular part of Kana's dream 😂

There's his eyes, too. Last chapter I said that Aka seems to want us to compare the Aqua-Ruby chapters we got in this volume with Kana's, and the way Kana's confession was structured seems to confirm this is the case. So following that comparison, it stands out to me that Ruby's words brought out Aqua's white star and Kana's didn't. Especially because just a few chapters ago we saw Kana bring out Aqua's white star just by being Kana:

In this chapter Kana praises him, validates him, confirms that she is into him (which he has likely known since, coincidentally, at least Chapter 30), yet Aqua’s star remains black all throughout.

Why is that? Is it just his self-hatred and his guilt-complex keeping him from accepting that he’s the object of Kana’s straight gaze?

Or could Aka be hinting at something else?

Aqua has a lot of issues. Some have been with him since he was Goro, and others he has developed during his current life. We saw that Ruby's words pacified the "Goro" within him, but Aqua dismissed Ruby's affection as being aimed at him because he once was Goro. It's not something he feels he has earned in his current life. Kana is the other side of that complex equation. Everything she knows about him are things he has been willing to show her, but what about everything else? What about his trauma and his dark impulses? What about his past? Aqua likely thinks her view of him is skewed, and he is not wrong in that regard. But I'll stop there before I bring Akane into the mess lmao

All in all, for the time being, I feel like what we saw this chapter tracks with my thoughts here:

Aqua, Kana, Ai and Aka's concept of Oshi

Kana is the Ultimate Oshi (parallels to Sarina and Ai) + 1

Even more parallels and a theory about their purpose

Considering how lousy Aka's writing has been lately, I feel like this is still the most interesting route he could take. After all, if we abide by the values he preached in Kaguya, then Oshi is meant to be a platonic concept. So following Aka's logic, for Aqua and Kana to end up together, Aqua would need to tell her that he doesn't want her to be his Oshi, but his lover.

Of course, it's entirely possible that Aka is going to walk back on all of that. Oshi no Ko is supposed to be its own manga, after all. Maybe it's his attempt at writing tropes in the most straight-forward way possible and Aka's new idea of a big love declaration is Aqua finally waving the white lightstick at Kana's graduation concert.

If the curtains truly are just blue, I hope the writing will remain as hilarious as it has been these past few chapters 😂

In the meantime, the other thing that stood out to me this chapter was Aqua himself. We all know that being a surgeon was Goro's dream, so it makes sense for Goro to chase that dream in this new life as Aqua. I was even happy for him when he first brought it up because this life is his chance to do everything he wanted but couldn't in his first life!

But last chapter we had a big showing of "Goro" telling "Aqua" that he is free to live his own life now. In other words, instead of trying to do what Goro would have done if he had a second chance, he can focus on doing the things that he wants to do as the individual he has become during his life as Aqua Hoshino.

So, I feel like this begs the question: is being a surgeon truly Aqua Hoshino's dream? Like not even something he wants to do alongside other things, but his outright dream?

I can't help but wonder. Particularly because, in my opinion, the TB arc did a good job at foreshadowing that Aqua Hoshino is made to be an actor.

In this chapter Kana seems to be fooling herself into giving up on her childhood dream because she thinks it's out of her reach. It would fit, then, for the Aqua in this chapter to be fooling himself as well.

If we entertain the thought of wanting to be a surgeon being a vestige of his old life rather than something Aqua truly dreams of in his current life, then his reaction in these pages becomes more interesting:

Kana assumes Aqua is just embarrassed, but these panels to me read like something more than that - for more reasons than one.

Just like Goro guided him to Kana last chapter possibly based on his own wants, in this chapter Kana unknowingly guides him to Goro's.

She is completely right. Every word she says rings true.

But I'd argue that everything she said was already accomplished by Goro in his previous life. He did save lives (although not as many as he would've wanted, and not the ones that counted the most for him), he was a light to Sarina, etc. etc. He was a good doctor.

Everything Kana says about Aqua was already true of Goro. On the other hand, Kana's description of Aqua paints nothing but virtues, and we know for a fact Aqua isn't only just light. More than that, we know for a fact that Aqua doesn't see himself that way.

Much like how in Chapter 149 we got Kana giving a very positive but very one-sided description of Akane that leaves out her negative traits, Kana more or less does the same thing with Aqua here.

In Chapter 149, Akane first got flustered (her idol Kana-chan was praising her, after all) and then sobered up; possibly because for her it's the opposite (she isn't a goody-two-shoes nor normal nor decent, and men would prefer women who are - like Kana).

I feel like in this Chapter, we may or may not have seen a repeat of this with Aqua. It's his Oshi no Kana praising him, but does he really believe the things she's saying of him? Or are they just a reminder of what he is not (according to himself)?

I can't help but wonder, because last time we saw Aqua blushing to the point that he had to hide his face, Mengo and Aka made sure we could see his blush.

The way he is drawn here is very obviously meant to be paralleled to this chapter, he shields his face in the same way and all. So why not simply show his blush, just like they did in Chapter 29?

Granted, this is just me naturally going for the most interesting possibility lol It is entirely possible and even likely that this is all as simple as it seems. But to be fair, in Chapter 30 he throws the ball at Kana in the same way and it wasn't because Kana was right. At the contrary: it was because he was having a moment and Kana drew the most basic conclusion out of it, one that embarrassed him lmao

Geez it's kind of sad how this manga lends itself to two completely different readings and the most basic one is the one with the highest chances of being true 😂

[thefirstknife]

hey have you seen the lore tabs for the exotic ghost shell and ship in the super high levels of the season pass? if so what do you make of them. like, speaker is a new light, has a name starting with s, is dealing with vex, and speaks as if theyre part of humanity in the ship lore tab like that cant possibly be maya sundaresh right but im not sure what other candidates there could be since the episode is called echoes and is almost certainly going to involve the vex on nessus

I've seen them! There's also one on the sparrow of the same type. I genuinely have no idea. There's some clues in the tabs, but they're super hard to understand without context, but yes, I do believe this is Maya.

Spectrum Shell, Unbridled Iridescence sparrow, Polychroma ship. Putting them in this order, because of the number on the log. Each lore has a "personal log" with a number: 0002, 0025 and 0031.

It starts with a vague description that I don't think shows a new light or a Guardian at all:

It is strange to be awake, physically, after so long spent wandering.

This is very peculiar; it has the vibe of this person having existed in some other form before gaining physical form. Since we know we'll be dealing with the Vex and Maya, this immediately reminds me of Ishtar scientist simulations.

Following the number of the logs, there's "AS." The speaker explains what this means:

Keeping a log will help, at the very least to track the days. As will my silly little joke to make myself feel important, two days after the rebeginning of myself. Anno… me. I suppose.

This specifies that the "0002" is "two days" and the "AS" is a joke on the time designation: "anno" being "year" as when used for example in "anno domini" (year of our lord) or AD. Instead in this case it's the author's name which as you've noted begins with an S. This bit:

I ignored and abandoned the best person I knew. I feel foolish, empty. Daunted at the immensity and masochism of my own stupidity. It feels childish to admit I'd always assumed she would follow me.

... first made me consider it being Maya thinking of abandoning Chioma. Then "S" would be Sundaresh, and it would also fit with her being a simulation newly awake and finally physical, as would the rest of the information of the author being a scientist and knowing things from the Golden Age.

Also interesting from the first lore tab:

At least I am not alone here. My new ally more than makes up for the Vex's dreadful company. His disposition is calming, reassuring—a welcome voice when I need affirmation and guidance. And such a fascinating origin! Such astounding variance in biology and culture. I look forward to our continued partnership.

The author has some sort of an "ally" among all the Vex, someone with a "fascinating origin" and "astounding variance in biology and culture." I have no idea what this means. Possibly non-human? Or at least neo-human, so perhaps Awoken? If this is Maya, she would not know about the Awoken. I'm thinking Awoken because, if we're dealing with the Vex, there's a guy in there: Asher Mir. But I would NOT describe Asher as calming and reassuring. Another option is possibly Mithrax? If we're dealing with some Vex shenanigans, he might be involved.

The sparrow lore originally made me feel like it's Maya because of the topic of discussion; the science and philosophy of personhood and simulations. The author also mentions "pre-Veil contact philosophy" which implies the author has been there or is at least well-read on the topic, which suggests a connection to the Golden Age. Also:

Traversal through other states of being are possible, as proven by my own journey and ascension over my Vex...

"Proven by my own journey" also would imply Maya, but the addition of the ominous "my Vex" is strange. Is this a hint to the new plotline then? Maya ascending over the Vex and becoming capable of controlling them or just using them in some way? Wild. Curious addition in the next paragraph with "... Vex, even these older ones..." Older Vex? As in Precursors? Or something else? I am very intrigued.

The ship lore is somewhat concerning as the author talks about humanity's unwillingness to continue progressing:

My hypothesis is that it is a true technological leap that hinders us. Perhaps when humanity sees what can be accomplished using a force that can reshape the planet itself, they will feel secure enough to turn to science once again.

The author thinks we can use a "force that can reshape the planet itself" to continue the technological advancement of humanity. A what? Is this something to do with Nessus and the Vex abilities to terraform? Furthermore:

These are problems my Vex can alleviate. Why take risks with AI when a more straightforward force may be utilized to facilitate a civilization's rise? Related… research with my ally has proven the path forward. Radiolaria remains easiest; its individual minds are simply so small, although they are multitudinous their connections make it simple. Other larger, more complex minds prove difficult for the time being… But I am not unfamiliar with the rigor of practice. I will delight in trial and error.

Again with the "my Vex" and the implication that the Vex can be used for these advancements, specifically radiolaria. This also includes "research with my ally" which makes me want to discard Mithrax as an option because he would simply not be suggesting these things. But who knows about the radiolaria's effects on people and transformation? Well, Asher does. However, I don't think Asher would suggest this either? Like, he may have the research, but I don't think he would ever make any implication that this would be good.

This was my thought process reading these. There's a lot of context missing and I can't wait to get back to them after the Echoes starts. I'm definitely leaning on this being Maya and don't have any other theories for who it might be. If anything, then another Ishtar scientist, but I doubt it they would put anyone other than Maya or Chioma here and it doesn't sound like Chioma nor does she have the "S" as her name.

I have no other theories for the "ally" either; my only other thought is Praedyth, whom Maya and the scientists met at one point and he helped them escape (?) the network. That was the whole deal in Aspect lore book + what seems to have been implied with the Starcrossed ending. Praedyth would also know a lot about the Vex to help with research, but he would equally not be someone thinking using Vex for a technological leap is good. Interestingly enough, a D1 quest somewhat implied Praedyth was part of the Future War Cult, which adds another layer of his connection to Maya.

The most of what I'm getting from this is that Echoes is going to be really damn cool.

[maple-the-awesome]

Friend or Foe || Part 1/3

Part 2 || Part 3

Pairings: Four, Hyrule, Legend x GN Reader

Overview: Link visits an alternate world without its hero and, more importantly, a version of you without your Link. Unfortunately, it seems even the smallest of details can lead to disastrous results. In spirt of October and Halloween, I've decided to do a little evil prompt because none of the Links have enough emotional damage yet😈

Zelda Masterlist ��Fandom Masterlist

Four has known you since childhood, both of your families having been good friends for generations. You've always been peas in a pot together with a level of closeness that results in a lot of ‘old married couple’ jokes. You're usually the first person Four returns to after his adventures, never sparing a single detail as he knows he can trust you with his life if it were to come down to it which makes this situation so perplexing...

This you is nothing like his dear friend back home. You don't have that same sweet smile that makes his heart do loops of delight, rather a wicked grin that makes his stomach turn in disgust. When he heard murmurs about an evil magic-wielder terrorizing this world, it would've been his last guess that such a person could look exactly like you - same face, same name, same everything!

"What an interesting assortment of weapons, especially this one!" Four bites back a snarl when this cursed version of you holds the Four Sword high into the sky with a teasing smirk, "It's practically dripping with magic. Where did you get it? ...Still not going to answer me? Oh, but you were so talkative earlier - what, with all your meaningless questions and desperate begging.”

Trapped behind cold iron bars, all Four can do is watch helplessly as you search through the rest of the items you’ve stolen from him, making little comments here and there which he refuses to acknowledge (he’s learned from Vaati that responses are only encouragement). The others should be here to rescue him soon anyway. In the meantime, he’s trying to make sense of this whole situation as he has been since you first caught him.

'This just can't be our flower. I refuse to believe it. They'd never be so cruel to us like this! They're our friend!' 

'Of course they aren’t, you idiot! There's no way they'd be evil at all! This scum is an imposter and the second we get out of this prison we'll teach them a lesson about why they shouldn’t dare tarnish an angel's name like -!'

'- Calm down. We're in a different version of Hyrule which means this is more than likely this kingdom’s version of -'

'- Hogwash! Don’t you dare finish that sentence! They'd never act like this even in a different world!'

'I don’t want to believe it either, however the fact of the matter is it isn’t impossible. Think about it. Everything about this world is similar to our own excluding our existence. There is no hero meaning we weren’t ever there to protect them. Did you think about that?'

'...No...'

'That's so sad!'

Four must agree with his arguing thoughts. Although this you isn't the one he has waiting for him back home, he can't help feeling some pity towards you, refusing to believe you could simply be born evil. Something led you down this path you currently trek, and maybe this world isn't necessarily within his range of responsibility, however he still feels a bit guilty for not being able to help any version of you, here or there.

Hyrule met you shortly after meeting Zelda which was natural considering you were the eldest child of the crown. He must admit he's unfortunately never gotten the chance to know you too well, seeing as you have so many responsibilities that keep you busy while he, himself, is often sidetracked venturing through a broken world, yet nevertheless, he does know you to be a kind and generous leader - someone he’s always admired very deeply which is why he’s having so much trouble accepting you could ever be like this…

This kingdom has a sort of sadness that flows throughout the dusty sky and crumbled grass. Legend mentioned something about visiting a kingdom like it before, although Hyrule wonders now if all aspects of the Vet's experiences would match. He would ask, however such a question wouldn't be appropriate at the moment given as both heroes have been brought to their knees, spears held close to their heads to keep them submissive (not that it gets rid of Legend's scowl).

When Hyrule first laid eyes on you while being forced him to take a knee in front of your throne, he had been relieved, so certain that you'd immediately wave off your hostile guards and take note of the obvious misunderstanding that has occurred, after all this traveler is a dear friend of yours who should be treated as such. Alas, Hyrule shivers instead, frozen under your cold gaze as you glare down upon Legend and him.

"These are the heroes you found? I thought they'd be taller - more a threat than little mice," You sigh boredly with your head rested against your hand, although you do take a second longer to admire Hyrule, smirking at the boy who unlike his feisty friend looks absolutely petrified to be in your presences. 

Pushing yourself off your throne, you approach the poor boy and kneel before him. Despite his attempt to flinch away, you still succeed in running your hand against his cheek, "...Oh, but you're a cutie, aren't you? A rare gem in a world so broken."

At least you're aware of the current status of this kingdom. Hyrule would like to think that with some bitterness in mind, however he actually manages to feel sympathetic while watching you wander back to your throne, not missing that frown upon your face. 

It’s then that he’s reminded of a story his friends and him were told upon arrival here - that this world’s hero had died tragically many years ago. There’s no evidence that this world’s current state is because of you which means you could’ve simply inherited a cursed throne and allowed your own heart to hardened under the depressing circumstances, a fate Hyrule fears might have easily occurred to his own version of you as well if not for the support you had received from your siblings and himself. If only you weren’t alone in this world. Maybe then you could have become a beloved queen here, too.

Legend denies that he ever knew you; it hurts too much to accept otherwise. For the short time that he had known you, you had been a light in his life, always so sweet and magical in a way that could lift even the darkest of thoughts. There's a side of him who wishes every night that he'll be blessed with a dream about you because much to his dismay, that's his only way of seeing you again. He'd give anything to meet you in person once more even if for just a second, but not like this...

He's trying hard to keep the scowl on his face - trying to act unintimated, trying to act annoyed - despite how much his heart is aching deep down. He can feel his eyes burning. He can taste iron as he bites down upon his lip, praying to Hylia he'll wake up any moment now.

Promptly after arriving in this Hyrule, the Chain had received several warnings from locals about a ‘demon’ which lurks in the night. They claim that the creature only ever appears in the shadows, preying upon weak minds and cursing them with cruel nightmares. 

Legend, of course, dismissed it all as a story meant to scare children, even going as far as to give Warrior a hard time for being jumpy while the group was setting up camp in a forest right outside of town. Unlike some of the others, Legend doesn’t care if the wind whispers or how certain trees around them look like faces, and he was actually sleeping quite well amongst it all until getting up to go to the bathroom. 

Walking back into camp, he had been alarmed to notice a cloaked figure hovering right above Wild, their hand outstretched towards his head as the Champion shifted and whimpered in his sleep. Everyone else appeared to already be in similar states of distress, even Time’s stone expression crinkled in pain.

"HEY! GET AWAY FROM THEM!" Legend was quick to shout, catching the monster's attention before drawing his sword which he had thankfully taken with him earlier. He planned on fighting off the beast then hopefully waking the others from their nightmares, yet instead he found himself trapped in one of his own when the cloaked figure removed their hood.

Now he can't move, frozen in terror as he tries desperately to shake the feeling...No...No, it can't be you. This is a trick - an illusion the monster has created to mess with him. You would never stain your beautiful face with such a wicked smile. You'd never hurt anything or anyone the way this thing already has!

Regardless of his doubt, Legend can only shake as you approach a lot faster than he can process, likely aided by your ability to effortlessly float his way. Whether due to a spell of yours or a result of his own weak will, he doesn't jerk away like he wants to when you run a hand over his cheek, cooing in a mocking way, "Aw, get a lot of nightmares, do you honey?"

"N-No. Not at all," He manages, at last finding the strength to swing your way which is an action helped by closing his eyes. If he can't see your face, he won't have to battle his concern over hurting you; he can better convince himself that you aren't truly here as you've never been.

"Liar," You easily dodge him, using merely two fingers to grab his sword midair. Keeping it in place, you lean forward, your breath making his legs wobble as the tears finally begin to prick in the corners of his eyes, "I can read your thoughts - see your fears…Oh, but this is far worse than any nightmare you've had, isn't it, my dear? Far worse than any I could bestow upon you with my magic. Poor thing. You miss them terribly, don't you? If that's the case, then you shouldn’t avoid me so. Soak it up. Remember what I look like. After all, it's the last chance you'll ever get to reach out and touch me."

[weirdmarioenemies]

I am going to rank more of the Super Mario Galaxies and none of you can stop me

Some galaxies are destined for greatness. But not all of them. Some galaxies are destined for pretty goodness, and that's okay. It's unfair to hold everyone to such absurdly high standards.

Those are the galaxies we're gonna talk about today! We've reached the B-tiers on this Galaxy Tier List, and we're gonna talk about them all today!

In case you missed the first post (which you can read here!), I'm doing a tier list of all the Galaxies in the Super Mario Galaxy series, and releasing a new entry every Sunday until we've covered them all. Forget about Church. This is what Sundays were truly made for.

My opinions don't necessarily reflect every member of the blog (there's like seven of us!), and they may not reflect your own either. If you disagree, that's totally cool.

72. Wild Glide Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Kicking off today's list, we have the Wild Glide Galaxy, another Motion Control Minigame, yippee! Gone are the days of ray surfing and bubble blowing (but not Star Ball rolling. that's still around), now we have a funny bird named Fluzzard, and even funnier birds named the Jibberjays!

The Wild Glide Galaxy is pretty alright. The motion control minigames are rarely really the highlight for me in the Mario Galaxy games, but for what it's worth, I think gliding with Fluzzard controls alright, and I really like the optional challenge of flying through the rings for the Comet Medal. There's not really anything wrong with Wild Glide Galaxy at all, it's just a little ho-hum, but that's okay. I mean, it's the tutorial for this type of gameplay, what are you supposed to expect?

That being said, there's a later Fluzzard gliding galaxy that's way cooler. Like, way cooler. We'll talk about that next week.

71. Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Did you know? If you put enough flying boats in one place, that's legally a Galaxy. I don't make the rules, I only follow them.

Yeah, these games have a pretty loose definition about what constitutes a "Galaxy"...

Anyway, I don't have an awful lot to say about Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada. It's solid! I definitely prefer the first half with the cannons more than the second half with the autoscroller, though because of Speedrun Strats, I usually end up skipping the first half anyway... Did you know that? You can just blast yourself to one of the later airships and it totally works! I wonder if skipping the more fun part of the level diminishes my opinion of it, though...

That being said, Galaxy 2 kinda went and gave Bowser Jr. both a better "Airship autoscroller" level, and a better "blast yourself places with cannons" level, so the Airship Armada kinda loses out on that regard. Combine that with a Decent boss fight, and the Spranglers that always mess me up on the autoscroller (which I will admit is a Skill Issue!) and we end up with a mission that's fine, but I'm a little lukewarm on.

70. Honeyhop Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Is it just me, or is Honeyhop Galaxy the most forgettable galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2? I dunno, I think it's something about the repeated theme without really bringing anything new to the table, besides I guess one segment that brings back the Floaty Fluff from Gusty Garden Galaxy. It kinda just feels like a Honeyhive Galaxy retread, but a bit more condensed.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing to be, Honeyhive Galaxy is a really good one after all, it just makes all of Honeyhop Galaxy feel like something I've seen before. And I don't think the smaller scale really helps, since the large scale is part of what I love about the Honeyhive in the first place!

I feel like I'm being a bit too negative here, so I should probably re-iterate: while this galaxy feels like a bit of a retread, the stuff it's retreading is pretty fun, so I can't really hate it. I just wish they'd find more new things to do with the Bee Mushroom, that's all!

69 (nice). Bubble Breeze Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

And here's another Motion Control Minigame, this time taking advantage of the Wii's pointer! It is your job to blow Mario around in a bubble, but don't let the bubble pop! Because most of this galaxy is a poison swamp which is frankly, Not Healthy To Digest. Do you know why all the crayons you see are non-toxic? Because they melted all the toxic ones to make Bubble Breeze Galaxy, that's why.

Anyway, this galaxy summarizes my thoughts on the bubble minigame: I like it, I don't love it, I'm not too upset that it didn't return in Galaxy 2, but I wouldn't mind if it did. I question how much of this Galaxy ranking so low is the atmosphere, "poison swamp" can be just kind of a dreary thing to look at for too long, though maybe it's just that the minigame can feel a little sluggish since you need to be so precise. It's not too hard, even, just a little time consuming.

I feel if I liked this galaxy just a bit more, I probably wouldn't always take the Speedrun Strat of backflipping to reach an invisible platform behind the checkpoint, from which you can long jump to the Power Star and just completely skip the second half of the level.

68. Flash Black Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

I don't know what it says that the lowest-ranking Super Mario Galaxy 2 Hungry Luma galaxy got a higher spot than all but one of the first game's Hungry Luma galaxies. I mean, besides "the first game's Hungry Luma galaxies aren't very good".

Flash Black Galaxy is a galaxy built around a solid gimmick, where the level is too dark to see outside of brief flashes that appear in-time with the music. Stuff like objects and enemies can always be seen which can clue you in to where things are, but otherwise, it's testing your memory, which is cool. I don't think it's the best one-off gimmick, but for a single level, it's definitely a respectable one.

I don't know if I really have much more to say about Flash Black Galaxy. It's pretty much defined by its gimmick, which I consider "good but not great". Makes interesting use of your memory, but slows down the pacing a little, but ultimately the galaxy is short enough that it doesn't ever overstay its welcome. Respectable B-tier.

I originally had it way higher (at 54th place, if you can believe it!) but after writing about it, I found I didn't care about it as much as I thought I did. Sorry.

Don't confuse this with the Throwback Galaxy. We'll talk about that next week.

67. Rolling Green Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

And here's the last of the galaxies that introduces a motion control minigame! I honestly kinda like the Star Ball, it hits a nice balance where it can be a bit tricky to get the hang of, but never really feels like something you don't have control over, which I can't really say about the ray surfing. There's a really fun sense of momentum there, it does a really good job of capturing the feeling of balancing on a ball, not that I know what that feels like...

Makes sense this was the only of the three minigames that returns in the sequel, it's easier to control than the mantas, but never gives you so much control it can feel kinda boring, like the bubbles. As for Rolling Green Galaxy itself, it's kinda what you expect for a level that introduces a mechanic. It's a bit basic, but not necessarily bad, and I like that it offers a few optional challenges on the sides. It also escalates pretty nicely, first giving you areas with fences so you can get acclimated to the controls, then wide open areas without fences, and then having you navigate around holes and islands, I really like that.

I'm probably still gonna dock it a bit for being a bit basic, but as a tutorial, I think it's pretty well designed, and I definitely have to give it props for that. Still, there are definitely other galaxies that I feel have made better use of this mechanic...

66. Rolling Gizmo Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

That being said, I think the "challenge version" of Rolling Green Galaxy, Rolling Gizmo Galaxy, is only slightly better, if not basically equal to Rolling Green.

I think this is pretty well designed as a more challenging follow-up, making you navigate through tighter spaces, rotating platforms, and overall forcing the player into a bit more careful play. It definitely serves well as that "final test" of the Star Ball minigame, testing how well you're able to handle its control scheme.

That being said, I feel that by being more challenging, Rolling Gizmo loses some of what makes the Star Ball missions so fun, you have to take it at such a steady pace that you never really get a chance to build momentum, which is kind of a bummer. Rolling Gizmo Galaxy doesn't really give you the same level of freedom that Rolling Green Galaxy gives, even in terms of alternate routes, so I'm gonna dock some points for that. Still appreciate the added challenge, though!

65. Gateway Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

For what it's worth, if this was a list of galaxies ranked by the order you play them in, this would rank first.

Gateway Galaxy is your tutorial to Super Mario Galaxy, and I think it does a nice job at that. Chasing bunnies is probably never gonna be my favorite thing in the world, but it's a nice way to get the player accustomed to walking around a sphere, and unlike some galaxies, there's no strict time limit, and the bunnies will politely inform you where others might be hiding. It would be kinda unfair if they didn't. This is the tutorial.

And I really like that it eventually extends into a proper "mission," letting you travel between planets, and introducing you to some of the game's mechanics, like collecting Star Chips, spinning to defeat enemies, and activating (or de-activating?) flipswitches. I also really like how you can't return to this galaxy until much later in the game, I think it's a nice way to show you how far you've come, or something like that, I don't really know. I'm not the most graceful with my words!

That being said, I need to be upfront: the Red Star power-up and I have never gotten along. I always felt the flying controls with it were super weird, even if it gives you a lot of freedom! I may as well mention it here, since it never shows up anywhere else...

Anyway, I picked that picture because of this Jacob Geller video, which all of you should watch, by the way.

64. Bowser's Lava Lair

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Bowser building a lava-themed Galaxy? How unexpected...! I wonder what tricks he'll bring next?

Bowser's Lava Lair is a pretty solid, if not slightly forgettable, boss stage. It has all the sorts of things you'd expect from a Bowser stage, really, stone buildings, lava, members of the -omp family, and of course, a boss fight against the Man Himself. It also marks the debut of Mattermouths, which catches me off guard a little even though I totally know they're in this galaxy. They seem like such a Haunty Halls debut to me!

Not a lot to say about Bowser's Lava Lair really, it's solid, but a bit by-the-books, which is why it didn't score any higher. Maybe Bowser could take a few lessons from his son when it comes to designing memorable boss levels...

...That statement feels really weird given both "boss levels" we've covered thus far are from Bowser Jr., but I promise, he gets some really good ones in Galaxy 2.

63. Starshine Beach Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Oh hey, it's that galaxy that sort of vaguely references Super Mario Sunshine! It has Beach, it has Chucksters... it has those lily pad rafts? I think Sunshine had those. Really, throw Piantas in any sort of tropical area and you can probably pass it off as a Sunshine reference.

Starshine Beach Galaxy I feel is one of those galaxies that suffers a little bit from Super Mario Galaxy 2's more compact level design. It's kinda big, kinda flat, and kinda empty. I wouldn't say it's a significantly worse galaxy than Beach Bowl, there are some fun missions here, but if you compare the two, Beach Bowl just feels a lot more Alive to me, you know? This galaxy has like, three towers, a Pianta statue, and a whole lot of tiny islands and shallow water between. The level design in Galaxy 2 is a bit more linear, and in a more open galaxy like this one, it shows.

Still, this place is still plenty fun. The Cloud Flower is always a delight to use, and it's nice to have more exploration-oriented missions in the sequel. I just wish there was more to see when exploring, that's all!

62. Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

There are not a lot of good images of this galaxy on the Super Mario Wiki, huh?

Admittedly, originally I had this a good bit lower, where Bubble Breeze Galaxy is right now. Then I looked it over and was like "actually, this one's cooler than that" and moved it up like six places.

I think this suffers some of the same issues as Bowser's Lava Lair, where it feels a smidge generic -- I mean, making your lair Gravity Themed in the game where every level is Gravity Themed? Come on. But after looking back at it, they do some cool things with that gimmick, particularly in the 2D area, where the lack of changing perspective really helps emphasize the weird gravity in this place. I love details like Podoboos jumping out of a pool of lava on the wall and into one on the ceiling, that's really neat.

Still, I think they could've pushed the gimmick a little further, and with some of the entries later on this list (including a Bowser level that occupies the exact same position in the first game!), I feel like they have a lot more fun with 2D gravity shenanigans.

61. Gusty Garden Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Man, this one hurts. You don't know how much it pains me to put Gusty Garden in B-tier. I mean, it's like, one of the Super Mario Galaxies! It has The Music! How can I hate it?!

Well, if you're taking a B-tier placement as me "hating" something, then your standards are way too high, because I like Gusty Garden Galaxy! That being said, this is a video game old enough to drive a car now, so I'm allowed to be honest about it, and if I'm being honest... the music does a lot of heavy lifting in this galaxy.

Not that the galaxy is bad by any stretch of the imagination, there's lots of fun moments here, like the weird question mark planets, the giant caterpillar that eats through the apple asteroids, and probably the best bunny chase across both games. That being said... Gusty Garden feels a bit small-scale, you know? I feel there's not a lot of room to explore in Gusty Garden, most of the planets are pretty small-scale, and the level structure is a bit more linear than a lot of other galaxies in the first game...

Of course, being linear isn't necessarily a bad thing, a lot of galaxies in the sequel are similarly linear, so why should I count that against Gusty Garden? Well, my issue with Gusty Garden is that a lot of the planetoids end up feeling pretty samey. You go to a small planetoid, kill some Piranha Plants and Monties, and then take a vine or a Floaty Fluff to the next planetoid, rinse and repeat. There's not really much of a sense of escalation here, you know what I mean?

Also there's the fact the third mission is so weirdly out-of-place. It's not a bad mission at all, I think it's a cool level with a cool gimmick, it just doesn't really quell my feeling that Gusty Garden feels like it was cobbled together from bits of other galaxies that were getting a little too big.

I don't want to badmouth Gusty Garden Galaxy too much, because I still have plenty of fun here, and honestly, I always look forwards to it in a Galaxy run! "The music does a lot of heavy lifting" might seem like a defamatory statement, and to some extent I guess it is, but I also think it shows just how much stuff like aesthetics and sound design really matter in the grand scheme of things. Without it, Gusty Garden Galaxy may have felt pretty forgettable, but because of it, it creates an experience that frankly feels like more than the sum of its parts.

60. Beach Bowl Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Did you know? "B" is for Beach Bowl. I just thought you should know that. Beach Bowl Galaxy is a respectable underwater galaxy with a really cool setpiece. I just love the way this galaxy looks, the huge bowl with water pouring out is a really neat visual, and the Beach Vibes are just on point here. Not pictured is the underwater section, which is decently detailed all things considered. I'd probably visit the Beach Bowl Galaxy if it was a vacation spot in real life.

As a gameplay experience? Beach Bowl is alright. As I've mentioned before, the underwater controls can feel a bit jank to me, which I think drags it down a bit, but I also feel like it's a very nice galaxy to just Explore, which admittedly is something I think the second game is a bit lacking in. Obviously the Galaxy games are a bit more linear than the 3D games that came before, but I feel the first Galaxy hits a nice middle ground for me, giving enough room to goof off while still giving a clear objective to move towards, and Beach Bowl is great in that regard.

The main thing holding Beach Bowl down a bit, besides the controls, is a couple of the missions. The second main mission here, where you grab the Golden Shell from a penguin and take it to the penguin coach, is one of the most pointless in the game, and this galaxy also possibly has my least favorite purple coin mission. I'm not even the biggest detractor of the Spring Mushroom out there, but making it mandatory to grab Purple Coins placed right next to the edge feels cruel. And while I complain about the underwater controls sometimes, you surely could've placed more than five coins underwater, right?

The rest of the missions are alright, though. I think the one where you look for Star Chips takes nice advantage of letting you explore a bit, and I generally enjoy this iteration of the Stone Cyclone, and even the 2x faster version! Still don't like the 4x faster version from the second game, sorry.

I think it's funny that the penguins are associated largely with tropical galaxies in these games. Why is that?

59. Supermassive Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

"We grow 'em big here! Watch out!"

Supermassive Galaxy feels like a fun "novelty galaxy" to me, if that makes any sort of sense. What if Mario... but Big? Well, not Mario himself. You're one of the only things in this Galaxy that isn't big. Sorry! This leads to a lot of fun details, though, like the giant Lumas that speak in Big Letters and have a low-pitched voice, or the coin that's so big, you can wall jump off of it.

I wonder if they could've taken it further. Like, there are no oversized Star Bits here! That is a STAPLE of Super Mario Galaxy Level Design. The funniest thing they could do would make the Power Stars in this galaxy into Grand Stars, but I get those are reserved for boss missions.

It's also clever to use this as a place that properly introduces long jumps as a mechanic. Did any galaxy in the first game do that? I'm not sure if any of them did. But the framing of "Mario needs to do BIG JUMPS to make it past gaps in this oversized galaxy" is really fun.

Really, and this is a goofy nitpick, but I think what brings down this galaxy for me is the aesthetics, which kind of end up being a double-edged sword. I think the "generic Mario objects, but Big" is the best way to emphasize this galaxy's theme, but it also feels well... generic. After the Big gimmick, this galaxy isn't really all that interesting to look at. Might also have something to do with how linear it is. Despite everything in this galaxy being huge, there's not an awful lot of room to just goof off and have fun, which I feel is a bit of a missed opportunity.

58. Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Megaleg I think is one of the coolest bosses across both games, and such a clever usage of these games' gravity mechanics. Megaleg is also pretty much all there is in this galaxy, and I'm not sure if I should count that for or against this one.

It's like, Megaleg doesn't have a lot of buildup. You have one small planet that serves as a tutorial for using Bullet Bills to break glass, and that's really it. I generally prefer galaxies that are a bit bigger in scope, so I definitely feel like I'm gonna dock some points for that. I feel like a boss this cool could benefit from a bit more buildup, you know?

On the other hand, I think that's kinda unfair. This is the first boss level in the game, it doesn't need to be overly complex, showing how the boss works and then doing the boss itself is really all you need, and again, I really like Megaleg as a boss, even if after once you reach the top there's not that much going on anymore.

I guess the takeaway is... these rankings are mostly based on my personal enjoyment, and less so of how Objectively Well-Designed I think the mission is. The difference between "the best" of a group and "my favorite" of a group can be an important one!

57. Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Another case of "this Galaxy is basically in the exact same position as the one before it, and it does some things better, and some things worse". For starters, I don't think Gobblegut is quite as cool as Megaleg. Don't get me wrong, Gobblegut is still cool, and arguably more mechanically interesting, I like how there's an incentive to destroy the later bulges earlier on so the boss is easier in the later phases when Gobblegut speeds up, in exchange for a more difficult earlygame. Still, I don't know if it's as cool as climbing up a giant robot.

The Fiery Flotilla also has a bit more buildup than the Robot Reactor, which I really appreciate. You know I enjoy a little bit of platforming before I take on the Big Boss! Still, the platforming is on the basic side (again, first Boss Level) and unlike Megaleg, the buildup doesn't really tie into the boss at all, you know? Like, "spin the big red orbs" isn't a really tough thing to figure out, especially when they're highlighted in Bowser Jr.'s dialogue, but it does create a situation where the game tells you what to do instead of priming you for it.

Does some things a little better, some things a little worse, so I think it's about equal. Gonna give it the edge because I like having the platforming at the beginning, and also because Galaxy 2 gives each galaxy more than one mission. There's a Gobblegut Daredevil Run! Wish we could've gotten one of those for Megaleg.

56. Sweet Sweet Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

What's that? A good Hungry Luma galaxy from the first game? I never thought I'd see the day...! It's also uh, the only good one in my opinion, given we covered all the rest in the previous post. It's also the first Hungry Luma galaxy in the game, so it's all downhill from here.

But yeah, I like Sweet Sweet Galaxy! I don't know if I'd say I love it, or else I'd probably put it a bit higher, but I enjoy it. I think it has a really nice sense of iterative level design, you know? It takes one idea (moving conveyors with holes in the floor) and riffs on it in different ways up until the very end. First you have a conveyor moving towards the goal, then you have the ones moving left and right, then you have the rotating floor, and then you have the one moving away from the goal. Sweet Sweet Galaxy has a pretty nice sense of escalation.

I also remember finding it weirdly challenging as a kid, for how early in the game it is. It's not brutal or anything, we're not looking at the Dark Souls of Mario Galaxies here, but especially in that rotating floor segment it can be hard to tell where the holes are gonna be.

It's still a little short and linear, but for a small "bonus mission", I think that's ultimately fine, especially for the first Hungry Luma galaxy in the game. Congratulations, Sweet Sweet Galaxy! You might have what it takes to hang out with the Super Mario Galaxy 2 Hungry Luma galaxies!

55. Bubble Blast Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Did you know? "B" is for Bubble Blast. I just thought you should know that.

Congratulations to Bubble Blast Galaxy, which I personally consider the best of the three Trial Galaxies. As I stated, I can sort of take or leave the bubble minigame, which is why this isn't gonna rank any higher, but as far as it goes, I think this galaxy makes really good usage of it. The obstacles presented feel decently varied, and often require a nice blend of precision with quick reaction timing due to all the moving parts. It's really nifty, both on its own, and as an escalation of what we saw in Bubble Breeze.

Especially great is the bit towards the end, where you have to make your way down a tight corridor of electric fences while being chased by Bullet Bills, forcing you to act quick in a minigame that usually requires a lot of precision. Is it a little unfair? Maybe just a little, but it makes for an exciting sequence that works really well as a final test of your bubble-blowing skills.

Up next, we're going to be testing your jellyfishing and patty-flipping skills, so watch out!

54. Dusty Dune Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

Dusty Dune Galaxy is a weird one to me. It's like, whenever I reach it in the game, I don't really feel like playing it, but once I get around to playing it, it's actually pretty fun! I'm not really sure if there's a mission here I don't like playing, I like the Bone Twisters, I like the sand slides, I like the rush for the star in the sinking tower. Even the untimed purple coin mission is one of the better ones! This galaxy is honestly pretty consistently solid.

So like, why am I not Feeling It? Why is it that when I get to this galaxy in a playthrough, I'm always overcome by this feeling of "yeah, alright"?

I think Dusty Dune might have a reverse Gusty Garden Situation going on, where it has great ideas held back a little bit by so-so music and theming. And make no mistake: it's not that "desert" can't be an interesting theme, because it really can be! (We'll see the sequel's desert galaxy in a couple weeks!) But it's generic desert, you know? Where they kinda slap any vague "desert stuff" together and call it a day. This is a desert with both Egyptian pyramids and cacti! Despite what Mr. Video Game might tell you, those don't appear in the same deserts in the Real World.

I feel like if they leaned hard in one particular direction, Dusty Dune Galaxy could be really cool, but as it stands it sort of suffers "Generic Video Game Desert Syndrome" where it lacks a clear sense of identity to make it stand out more.

53. Sweet Mystery Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

The Bulb Berry is a neat power-up, the more I think about it, it feels like a new spin of the Matter Splatter Galaxy from the first game, where what you see is all that's there, but with a bit more player control. I honestly think the lack of control makes Matter Splatter a bit more interesting to me, but I can see why someone else would like this take more.

If you couldn't tell already, Sweet Mystery Galaxy is largely built around this power-up, making for the second sweets-themed Hungry Luma Galaxy, though that's pretty much all the two have in common, because the gimmicks are completely different. Honestly I think the Bulb Berry is a little under-utilized, the only other galaxy I remember using it is Haunty Halls, which is its introduction.

A benefit Sweet Mystery has for being the second level with this power-up is they can play around with it a bit more, using it with stuff like moving platforms, and having optional challenges which can be rewarding, but run out your timer a bit, limiting both your field of view, which also corresponds with limiting knowing where you can stand! It's nifty.

The main weakness of this galaxy I think is once again an aesthetic one. There's not an awful lot of background details, and since it's built around the Bulb Berry, you can't see much of it at once. There's not a lot to see here, besides that giant present with the cake in it at the end. It's another galaxy that sort of shows the sequel's weakness when it comes to making more detailed environments.

52. Gold Leaf Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy Tier: B

As I've stated before, I'm gonna dock some points for reused content. Like, if you're gonna repeat any galaxy, then Honeyhive is a good one, but it can always be a little bit of a letdown to go to a new galaxy and realize it's a place I've already seen before, but with a fresh coat of paint. Especially given it's in the same game as its counterpart! But in this case, I'll mostly let it slide. I like getting to see Honeyhive in gorgeous autumn colors, and for what it's worth, the missions here are all pretty unique.

The Star Bunny mission is kinda whatever, given I've made my stance on bunny chases pretty clear at this point, and the rest of the mission is kinda just exploring a place we've already seen, but the rest of the missions fare a bit better. What can I say! I like Cataquacks and I like that obstacle course. I think building the Cosmic Mario and Purple Coin missions around the obstacle course was a smart idea too, since it helps make the galaxy feel more distinctive.

Being Honeyhive 2 ends up being a double-edged sword, since it kinda takes away from Gold Leaf Galaxy having a more distinct identity, but it does enough of its own that I'll let it slide, and it's also not like I'm gonna complain about getting more missions in a top-10 galaxy.

I guess that's a spoiler for a future review. Look forward to seeing where in the top 10 I put it!

51. Freezy Flake Galaxy

Game: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Tier: B

Autumn turns to winter as we talk about our final galaxy of the day! Freezy Flake Galaxy is a delightful little snowscape that lets you indulge in all the fun of a snowy winter day without any of the icy roads or dismal temperatures of actual snowy winter days. Unless you're playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 in a car sliding down an icy road with all the windows rolled down. Why are you doing that?

Anyway, I think that above all else, Freezy Flake Galaxy feels charming to me, you know? You get to run around in the snow and roll snowballs and incinerate snow statues of Bowser with the Fire Flower! All the things you'd do on your typical winter day. I especially love in the second mission where you get the Rock Mushroom, and get to watch snow build up in your boulder form, it's such a cute touch! I wish we got to do more with the Rock Mushroom, it's kinda ditched past the first planet in favor of the Sorbetti boss fight. I wonder if this galaxy would benefit from the three-mission format of the first game?

My only real complaint about Freezy Flake is that I think it's a smidge on the generic side. I mean, by the time we got this game, we already had the Freezeflame Galaxy, which is a generally cooler take on an ice galaxy (and also a hotter one). Freezy Flake, in comparison, is a bit tame, a bit less exciting, but whatever, it's cute. It's hard to listen to the music and not feel those warm winter fuzzies that I feel until winter actually comes and my hands are dry and I can't go outside without bundling up first and even once I do the ground is going to be slippery so I can't run around as much without fear of falling over except for the days where it is warm where then everything is mushy and gross, and it's dark outside at 5PM and when it is bright outside the sky is usually gray anyway and there's no leaves on the trees so everything looks dull and lifeless

...I hate winters.

And that wraps up today's post! Do you agree with my opinions? Do you don't agree with my opinions? It's okay if you don't. Even the ones about winter! If you enjoy all those things I was complaining about, then more power to you, I'm glad someone can find joy where I couldn't! And if you don't like something I do like, then that's fine too, I guess.

Next week, we'll begin covering the A-tiers! There's a lot of 'em, so I'm gonna be splitting them into two posts, with fifteen galaxies each! Look forward to it! I'll link it here when it goes live!

[semi-imaginary-place]

Which characters have tragic pasts that aren’t recognized enough?

I think people don't notice because Petra is very active about her situation. She's a political hostage in a foreign land that has turned her country into a vassal state from the war that killed her dad. But she's made the most of it. Petra taught herself a new language, she trains constantly, she's made herself be involved with the politics of Fodlan, and she's always seeking to better herself and hone her skills so that she's not just a prisoner but someone useful to Brigid. Petra's the opposite of passive, she refuses to just let things happen to her, and in a lot of ways she doesn't have a choice either she is an active participant in her life or she will just be shuffled around as a political pawn and hostage against the country she loves. We don't know the specifics of the international agreement about Petra but I can easily imagine it being something like "give us a hostage as a guarantee you won't attack us or we'll continue the war we won, raze you to the ground, kill all of you, and take your land".

Claude's backstory isn't tragic and uh... at least half the cast if not more has had it worse than him but I do want to talk about it since I never see people talk about the struggles Claude has had. I think a large part of it is that like Petra, Claude doesn't show the struggles he's been through nor does he really talk about himself or his past. They both show a strong front and face forward in their lives.

Claude's spent his entire life being alienated, in Almyra for being too foreign and not Almyran enough and then in Fodlan for being too foreign and not Fodlan enough. He's faced multiple childhood assassination attempts just because of his parentage and at least some of these have come from family members. Claude is a rarity among the cast in having not only both parents but having 2 parents that love him. However his parents are of the tough love approach, that what doesn't kill will make him stronger so they offer him little support, protection, or help in a world that is hostile to him at every turn. And so Claude grew up with everyone against him, with his every action used as justification that he's weaker and lesser than a full Almyran. And this has destroyed his ability to trust or be open with people. Claude is very insecure in his interactions with other people because he's used to every slip of information given being used against him. You see this in his supports with Marianne where he sees any information about himself as possible leverage against him so it has to be exchanged like a commodity so that they both have equal leverage against the other. And yet he does genuinely want to help people and cares about those around him as clumsy as his attempts are at making friends. Claude's backstory is not nearly on the level of say Edelgard's or Lysithea's but it's a shame no one is talking about it at all.

Dimitri stans screaming and crying about poor Dimitri and yeah he's had it rough (a lot of 3H characters have traumatizing backstories) but Dedue is right there, what about his pain! The hypocrisy! The Tragedy of Duscar led to the massacre of his family and not only that but he's now a genocide survivor since Faerghus decided to wipe out Duscar, take over their land, rename and settle on it. Not to mention they were wrongfully scapegoated for it. Dedue has had everything taken from him so he doubles down on this life debt to Dimitri because it's the one thing he has left. It's a trauma response coping mechanism that he's rather override his will, opinions, and personhood for Dimitri's sake. And the of course Faerghus hates him and reminds him of that every day.

At this point I'm wondering if its a racism problem that it's Petra, Dedue, and Claude whose struggles are most often overlooked.

[greetingfromthedead]

The Favorite (Sinister!Vash x F!Reader)

Plot: It's the darkest timeline. Knives succeeded in remaking his brother, twisting everything Vash used to be into a sinister monster who relishes in violence and pain. Vash has a garden on women to cultivate his seed, yet you have always been his favorite and his sinister ways have rubbed off on you.

Series: Will probably get a Part 2 once I've recovered

Pairing: sinister!Vash x F!Reader

Raiting: NSFW!! 18+!! R!! Explicit!! Minors DNI

Tags / TW: no use of y/n, asphyxiation, begging, belting, biting, blowjob, bondage, breeding kink, BSDM, choking, clothed sex, clothes ripping, cock warming, creampie, dacryphilia, darkest timeline, death threats, degradation, doggystyle, dom!Vash, domestic violence, edging, emotional manipulation, face fucking, gagging, hair pulling, hate fucking, impact play, implied polygamy, jealousy, kidnapping, orgasm control, orgasm denial, p in v sex, punishment, pwp, reverse cowgirl, rough sex, rutting, sinister!Vash, sinister!you, smut, spanking, toxic relationship, unprotected sex, vaginal fingering, vaginal sex

Word count: 4.7k

Author's Note: Idk if my awareness of a digital footprint is a blessing or a curse to my readers cause I tone down my BS quite a lot because of it. I'm not sure I'm proud of this, not only could it do with some more editing, but I feel like I need to hide in a cave.

"So she is one of his whores?" A voice speaks up from the back of the room, where the heavy door just clicked shut. You can't see anything through the blindfold, but it is a new voice, not among the group that captured you.

"Not just any whore; this one is his favorite." A different voice answers, this one more familiar given he hasn't left the room since you were dragged in here and bound to a chair.

"I find it hard to believe a monster like him could care for any human considering the genocide they unleash on us." A third voice butts in. "Are you sure this plan is going to work?"

"Oh yes. He will want his little gem back, and for that, he will need to come here. Once he's here, we'll have him right where we want him—a town filled with traps to finally corner him and put an end to the terror of that freak!"

"Or he will level this whole place with us in it." The newest man says it with an almost bored tone as he takes a few steps closer.

"Well, I, for one, would like to know what makes her so special." You recognize the rough voice as belonging to one of the men who snatched you. His large, sweaty hands took every opportunity to grab you, leaving bruises on your skin. His fingers gripped your breast while his other arm held tightly around your stomach. "Why is she considered the Humanoid Typhoon's favorite? Is it her tight cunt that he can't resist? Or perhaps a talented tongue? How about having a little taste?"

You feel his fingers trace your jaw and pull your face up as he stands behind you. His reeking breath brushes your ear as he leans closer.

"What difference does it make in what condition that monster finds his little toy? He despises our kind anyway and will find no mercy in his heart even if we don't manage to kill him. I say we fuck this little thing to the verge of death. Let's feast like that monster does."

You whimper at his words and try to pull away as you feel a hand press between your legs. The fingers stroke over the leather of your pants as you thrash against the ropes holding you in place. You feel his breath on your lips, hot and putrid, as he leans in closer. His hands get greedier, but you're saved from feeling his lips on yours by a distant hum. The room goes quiet, and you're let go. The melody grows louder, and you hear it even over the cocking of the guns.

A moment of silence. And then chaos erupts. The metal door slams open, and the room is flooded with shouts and gunshots echoing back from the walls. You just sit there calmly until everything goes quiet again. You hear moans of pain and agony, some prayers whispered under people's breaths, and the faint gasps of those who can't believe their eyes. Heavy steps move across the room towards you until familiar metal fingers grip your chin like a vice and you know exactly who stands before you even as your eyes are still covered.

"You're here early," you say with a grin as you stand up, the ropes you loosened from around yourself falling to the floor.

"Why did I have to come at all? You should never have let them capture you in the first place," his smooth voice growls by your ear.

"I wanted to see if I really am your favorite," you purr back.

"I have a garden full of flowers. Why would I care for one bloom more than the others?"

Vash's fingers slide down to wrap around your throat, his grip tightening as you feel the metal barrel of his gun stroke over your arm, hot from being fired. While you can't see him, you smell the scent of steel and gunpowder that follow him everywhere.

"You tell me," your labored breath carries your words, "After all, you came."

He chuckles, a low sound that reverberates through your body, sending chills down your spine.

"That's because you belong to me."

His hand pushes you back roughly, and you almost stumble over the chair behind you. With the same motion, Vash pulls the blindfold from your eyes, and you see his towering form standing over you, his bright red eyes filled with a dark intensity that makes your heart race. You rub your neck where his fingers left bruises and look at him with hunger.

"I shall punish you later for this," he growls, his voice sending a hot flash down your stomach.

"Please do," you answer with a grin before looking around in the large room. You see many dead, a few gravely injured, and some disarmed. Vash likes to play with his victims; a quick death often simply isn't enough. You see a stout man pressing himself against the wall, not far from you, so you walk up to him and crouch down. Taking a deep breath, the rancid smell of before prickles your nose and leaves no doubt who this man is. Your smile gets more sinister as you stand up again. You start heading for the exit.

"Leave that one alive. I want to keep him as a souvenir." You gesture towards the man from before, prior to leaving the room, followed by the echoes of gunshots and screams.

"Get on your knees." You hear Vash's command as soon as you're back in the stronghold you call home, the remnants of an old spaceship, claimed back from the humans who previously inhabited it. You keep your back toward him, choosing to ignore him. You can only take a single step before his fingers tangle into your hair, pulling you back towards him with a forceful grip. He turns you around, forcing you to meet his cold gaze, and whispers in your ear, "Where do you think you're going? I told you to get on your knees."

His red eyes seem to be burning with impatience as he pulls you downward by your hair, and you relent, dropping to your knees in submission. You look up at him before leaning closer, nuzzling your cheek against his crotch, where you feel the soft bulge of his arousal pressing against your face.

"You get captured, and make me come get you? Pathetic." His voice is hollow as he speaks.

"I didn't make you do anything," you answer, your hands running up his legs towards his hips.

"You need to be put back in your place," he growls, his hands gripping your hair roughly.

"Please do," you respond, excitement and anticipation building within you.

You run your mouth over the fabric of his pants, tracing the outline of his hardening cock. Your fingers push underneath the shirt he wears, feeling his cool skin beneath. He let you bring back your souvenir, who is currently locked up in a small, dark room, far from where you are now. Evidently, Vash isn't too upset with you.

"Or perhaps," you continue, looking up while pressing your cheek against the zipper, "I should have gone to your brother. You're just a stud horse in his plans."

He takes a step back and slaps you hard across the face with his right hand. Perfect. Your whole body turns with the force of the strike, and you rub your reddening cheek. From the corner of your eye, you see him undoing his belt and the front of his pants. A wicked grin spreads across your face as he pulls out his hard cock. He doesn't bother pulling his pants down further; he just gives his dick a few pumps as he marches towards you to grab the back of your head and pull you up with his free hand. He handles you like a rag doll, positioning you exactly where he wants you. You keep kneeling, grabbing hold of his legs for stability, as he thrusts into your mouth, causing you to gag and struggle to breathe. You instinctively try to push away, but he is too strong, as he holds on to the back of our head. He pulls back a bit, twirling his fingers through your hair, before plunging back in even deeper. You feel tears welling up in your eyes as you endure the rough treatment, with gurgles escaping your throat.

You let him fuck your face until some of the hatefulness dissipates from his rigid movements. Spit drips down your chin and onto your chest before you take a touch more control, moving one hand to the base of his cock and starting to jerk him off while keeping your lips tight around him. Vash lets out a moan, but his hand stays in your hair, making sure you can't pull away too far. You can feel his hips bucking slightly against your touch. You taste the saltiness against your tongue as you swirl it around the tip, letting the rough texture bring him bliss. The fingers of your other hand dig into the toned muscles of his thigh as you continue to pleasure him. Your grip twists and pulls around him as he moans aloud, his upper body leaning back as he pulls your head closer again. You moan out of pure joy, knowing you drive him crazy.

You feel yourself getting wetter as his forcefulness arouses you, a pit of lava forming in your gut. You release your hands to undo the front of your shirt, letting it fall down your shoulders, exposing most of your chest as you keep sucking on him hungrily, savoring every moment of pleasure. You feel a wave of ecstasy wash over you. His hands reach down to guide your head, urging you to take him deeper. The sound of his moans drives you wild, pushing you to match his intensity with your own. You feel a sense of urgency building within you, the need for more growing stronger with each passing moment.

Just as suddenly as he pushed you down, he pulls you back up, his eyes locking with yours as he whispers, "You will never run off again." The intensity in his gaze ignites a fire within you, making you crave more of him. His rough lips kiss your open mouth, and you moan into the cavity of his. The taste of him lingers on your lips, fueling your desire even further. He turns you around roughly and guides you to the edge of the bed, making you get on your knees on the very edge of it with your ass sticking towards him. He gives you a few rough slaps before sliding his hand between your thighs, cupping the growing heat of your sex through the leathery material. He gives it a firm squeeze, causing you to moan. His touch is commanding, stoking the fire within you that threatens to consume you whole. Every nerve ending comes alive with anticipation of what is to come next. The passion of the moment leaves you breathless, craving more of his intoxicating touch.

His hands roam back to the waistband, where his fingers hook underneath to pull down, revealing more of your bare skin. He leaves the bunched up fabric around your knees together with the soaked underwear before giving you multiple hard spanks to watch your skin take on a red hue. His long fingers knead your cheeks, spreading you open for his enjoyment. You gasp and moan in pleasure as his left hand slides between your thighs, teasing and tantalizing you with his cold, hard touch. His fingers move through your lips, spreading the collected wetness across your folds before finding your sensitive clit. He rubs small circles around it, making you shiver with desire, his palm cupping your mound as he continues to work his dark magic. You stick your ass up further, bringing your chest closer to the rough sheets, desperate for more of his touch. You'd spread your legs wider if you could, but the waistband around your thighs restrains your movements. He has you quite literally on the palm of his hand as he pulls more and more moans from your throat. The tension within you grows, threatening to snap with an explosion as your hands grab the sheets tightly, losing color where your nails dig into the fabric. Your body arches in anticipation, but instead of release, you get a sharp pain across your right asscheek. You yelp at the sensation, and he removes his hand. Another wave of pain shoots through you as the folded belt he pulled from his pants comes down hard on your skin. You can only imagine the red welts on your ass, but that thought is quickly wiped away by two fingers pushing into the cavity of your cunt.

His hand is rough as he fingers you with forceful intensity. He is taking what he wants, like he always does, leaving you to enjoy the ride. Your walls clamp down on him as a new pleasure builds up off the back of the last. You barely hear the squelching sounds of your wetness mixing with his fingers as he continues to thrust into you relentlessly, driving you closer to the edge. The pain of the belt and the pleasure in your pussy intertwine, creating a sensation that is both intense and intoxicating. You moan and gasp incoherently as your legs start to tremble, on the verge of orgasm, but he denies you again, pulling his fingers from inside you, a loud smack of the belt across your ass.

His right hand takes hold of the back of your shirt, pulling you up. You feel the brush of leather against your back and his erection pressing against your crack. The robotic fingers enter your mouth, and you taste your slick on them.

"I could keep you on the verge and deny you till the end of time, and I would still bring you more satisfaction than anyone you could run off to. You know that." Vash says quietly, his lips brushing against your ear. You shiver in response, your body craving more of his touch. He is still clothed; you can see the purple of his coat on the edge of your vision, and you feel the texture of his shirt against your bare shoulders.

"Who do you belong to?" Vash's voice is low and commanding, sending a thrill down your spine . The tension in his body makes it clear that there is only one answer he wants to hear from you.

"You. I belong to you." You struggle to answer with his fingers hooked on the corner of your mouth. You lean your head back further to steal a glance at his face.

"And you better not forget that. You're my slut and for me to use. Me alone."

He pushes you roughly forward again, your hands stopping you from falling face down on the mattress. For a moment, you don't feel him at all, but then the familiar, sharp bite of his belt crosses your ass again before his tip presses barely into your entrance. You breathe heavy with anticipation, waiting for his veiny shaft to impale you. His left hand grabs your shirt again, which has bunched up around your stomach, revealing your breasts and hard nipples. As he pulls on the fabric, your arms are forced backwards, your elbows on a trajectory to meet in the middle of your back. Your shoulders strain as your face is pressed into the bed, your ass up for him to slide into you. Vash sinks in with slow force, savoring every moment of your submission. He relishes the control he has over you, and he enjoys knowing what he does to you. You are completely under his power, and you love every second of it. Your hitching breath carries a moan with it as you feel him stretch you to fit him. You delight in the sensation of the bumps and lines teasing your insides and the upward curve of his cock pressing against where you enjoy him most. The slowburning enjoyment only lasts for a few sweeping strides before his mercyless hips quicken, until reaching a feaverish pace. He thrusts deep and hard as you whine with pleasure and pain into the sheets beneath you. He ruts into you with long strokes, occasionally belting your right ass cheek, making it sore and bruised. The forcefulness of his movements shake the whole bed beneath you, slamming it firmly against the wall. The mattress creaks in protest, but you're too lost in the overwhelming sensations to even notice it.

"You think you can just run off with other men? You really think you could escape me? I own you, and I'll make sure you never forget it." You feel the rigid hatefulness in the way he slams into you, suffocating you by pushing you so deep into the mattress that you can barely breathe. "And making me run after you? I should have shot you myself. Perhaps I should fuck the life out of you, bitch."

The room echoes with the wet slaps of skin against skin as he continues his onslaught. The air is thick with the sound of his heavy breathing and the loud squeaking of the bed. Your moans are muffled by the sheets. Each inhale tastes of dust and desperation, as the lack of air makes you lightheaded and dizzy, but it is hard to focus on anything but the violent pleasure rushing through your body. Like electricity, each stroke of his cock sends a jolt up your stomach; his rough hand pulls you closer by your shirt; and the slap of the belt adds a sharp sting to the mix. The intensity of the moment is both terrifying and exhilarating as you surrender to the raw power he exudes. Warm liquid slowly drips down your thighs with a tickle, and the pleasure he grants you builds towards an explosive climax.

As he feels the tension in your body build, he pushes you to the bed. Your stomach hits the sheets, and you're able to catch a breath. He straddles your legs, pinning you down with a hungry look in his eyes that you cannot see. Vash's strong hands grip your wrists to bind them with the belt he used to abuse your ass with before.

Vash leans closer, his dick sliding between your closed legs into the sticky abyss of your cunt. His hot breath fans across your neck as he speaks in a low voice by your ear, "You make me sick. That's why I don't want to see your traitorous face, even if your cries arouse me. I do like the pathetic expression you make when I cause you to crumble to pieces as you come. Yet you disgust me with your actions."

You're pinned under his weight, unable to do much more than try to get your breathing under control. The rush of fresh air brings clarity into your mind, and the frustration of your ruined orgasm sinks in further than it already had. His sharp kanines brush over the helix of your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. You can't help but whimper at the sensation. He shifts inside you as his teeth trace a path down your neck to bite into your skin. It hurts, but you doubt that it draws blood. You arch into him, wanting more.

"You have just one purpose in life, my pet." Another mouthful. "That's to be submissive and breedable." He punctuates the statement with a firm thrust and with his teeth sinking into your shoulder, marking you as his property. "You're only alive to be my obedient little plaything and to care for life more worthy than your own." With that, he pushes himself up by pressing into the small of your back. You feel like he's going to break you in half, and he doesn't let up much even as he starts drilling into you. His calloused hand slides more towards your ass to dig his fingers into the supple flesh. His left hand holds tightly to your waist, his palm pressing you down.

His ruts are angry, deep, and unrelenting. He pulls you into him with every motion, and you're unable to move with your hands tied behind your back. You feel a mix of pain and pleasure as he continues to have his way with you. Trying to stifle your moans proves difficult as the intensity of his movements increases, sending waves of sensation through your body. The roughness of his touch both excites and overwhelms you. The way he rubs against your insides is different from before—tighter and more intense, hitting different nerves to build up towards a new climax. He has taken over your whole body, with every thrust forcing you into the softness of the bed and rocking you against the roughness of the sheets. Your wet pussy rubs into the blanket, bunching it up under you just enough to add a layer of friction on your clit that heightens your pleasure. As you feel yourself nearing the edge, you can't help but moan louder, your body tightening and arching under Vash's grip.

"Come now, and it will be the last thing you do in this miserable life," he growls, the hand from your waist moving to grab your hair and pull it back. It would be so easy to give in and come with a flood of satisfaction. It would bring you joy and relief, but doing so would mean you would never get to experience him again. The pleasure becomes almost unbearable as you feel yourself teetering on the edge of release. You whimper and try your best to relax. You shift your body enough to lift your lips from the blanket that still sticks to your slick. Vash doesn't stop fucking you from behind, with his dick burying deep into you each time with excrutiating and toe curling pleasure that you refuse to give into.

The frustration brings tears to your eyes, moans carrying your pleas for release as he ignores you completely. No matter how you beg, he shows you no remorse and gives you no right to satisfaction. The moans turn into disgruntled screams of anguish as you continue to be denied, excitement and fear mixing in your mind.

With a brutal roll of his hips, he stops, his cock kissing the bottom of your well, and you feel relief wash over you. His hands move to rip the bunched up shirt down the back and along the arms in fast and rough movements, leaving you bare and exposed. As you calm down from the ledge of climax, most of your focus goes into trying to remember to breathe. He grabs your waist with both hands, and suddenly you're turned around. You face outwards and sit up in his lap, your cunt aching where his cock slid out. His booted foot pushes at your pants, still hanging at your knees, and with Vash's help, you rid yourself of your bottoms too; the only piece of clothing left on you is his belt tying your hands behind your back.

He forces your hips up, making you put your feet down and squat over himself. With that, he lowers you enough again to be able to use one hand to insert himself inside of you. You gasp in joy as he fills the void he left behind. Vash's hands grip firmly around your upper arms, and he pushes himself deeper inside of you, hitting a spot that makes you moan in ecstasy. His strong arms hold you up as you lean back, your ass hovering over him as Vash starts to thrust upwards. Your body arches in pleasure, completely consumed by the desire for more of him, already forgetting the threat he made earlier.

He hammers into you from below, his fingers digging into your flesh like vices. You take every inch of him with loud moans, frustrated that you are restrained from riding him like a wild animal. His movements are powerful and relentless, driving you closer to the edge of bliss with each thrust. The intensity of the moment leaves you breathless.

"Stay as you are, nice and tight," he groans behind you, sending shivers down your spine.

You comply, feeling the anticipation building within you as he continues to move with a primal rhythm. The pleasure building up inside you is almost unbearable. All the broken pieces of the denied climaxes of before are coming back together, building up to an intense release.

"Yes, yes, yes, aaaaahhhh…" You lose all control over your own mind as you teeter on the edge of release.

"You may come on my cock and savor it." Vash's voice comes off almost like a growl, nearly as rough as his mercyless hips. He' a touch out of breath, but it gets drowned out by the sounds escaping your lips as you let the sensation of his perfect cock overwhelm you. Your legs tremble and threaten to give out from under you as soon as your arching back relaxes from the intense pleasure. Your cunt pulses around him in rhythm with your racing heartbeat, and he shows no sign of slowing down, torturing you with the prolonged fire ignited within your every nerve.

He comes undone inside you with grunts of satisfaction, filling you with his hot seed. His pumps slow down, your legs collapse, and your knees are weak and trembling. His grip on your arms loosens, and he pushes you off him to crumble onto the sheets next to him. You lay there, panting and spent, feeling a mixture of pleasure and exhaustion. You feel the mattress shift as he pushes himself further up along the bed. The belt around your wrists is still tight, and you are unsuccessful in pulling a hand free. You struggle to sit up to try again, and the exsertion causes your pussy to gush with his release.

"Where do you think you're going, mutt?" Vash asks, and you look over to where he lounges on the pillows, one knee pulled up and his prosthesis resting on it. A smirk graces his face as his red eyes look over the grape colored glasses. Some strands of his spiky blonde hair stick to the sweat on his forehead. He is still fully clothed, with the exception of his softening cock hanging out of his pants. The purple coat fans out underneath him, and you see his wide chest heave a little more than usual under the dark turtleneck. He looks like a true demon in the dim light of the bedroom, with a dangerous glint in his gaze.

"Are you already running off to another man?" His eyes pierce through you, making you feel even more naked than you are. "You may have done well, but I am not done punishing you. Come here and clean me up; keep me warm until we can continue."

You look at him with your hands still bound, as if asking how.

"Crawl to me." Vash's tone made it clear that this was a command and not a request.

You don't answer him, instead lowering onto the bed again to push yourself with the help of your knees and shoulders towards him. You settle between Vash's legs and begin to lick and kiss his cock clean, savoring the taste of salt and musk. You take your time, enjoying the remnants of his cum and your own essence as the same mixture leaks from between your legs and onto the sheets below. As you're satisfied with your work, you take the flaccid penis into your mouth and lay your head on his crotch to look up at the stern eyes staring back at you. The fingers of his right hand intertwine into your hair again, as if to keep you in place.

"Pathetic," he mutters under his breath, the disappointment in his voice evident as his gaze never leaves you.

If you're looking for something equally horny to read, you can check out Vash's Plantheat or Knives' Plantheat.

For something a bit more tame, go check out my MASTERLIST and drop a follow for any and all future projects!

[amethystina]

hello dear, hope you're doing well physically & mentally. lots of hugs for you!

i've been wondering about the physical touch in Gahan's dynamic especially. we all know how much physical abuse Yohan has gone through in his childhood, the kidnapping by Sunah, him willingly explode a whole ass room with bombs with him inside it too but pushing away his loved one out.

now compare to Gaon. this Bambi has better experience with physical touch in his life seeing as how he's comfortable leaning to Soohyun seeking comfort while grieving for the loss of his parents. reaching out to Yohan so easily when he sees Yohan woke up from a nightmare. how he reaches for Kkomi and put her on his lap, the lovely and respectful interaction with Elijah.

I always have this thought in my head that it would be tricky for them to have this physical touch without one misunderstood the meaning of one's action. personally i bounced back and forth of the idea Yohan can manipulate and charm ppl with his sex prowess. just because he knows being seduction and sex goes hand in hand with manipulation. It does seem like Yohan can be the type to do especially that the way he gazes at Gaon & Sunah. But we all know he has brother complex lol, while with Sunah he can get the rush of feeling powerful having someone around his level to play with. Either that idea or I think Yohan never has the chance to explore sex bcs it's too much physical touches and too much emotional investment in such a short period of time. Perhaps he can have sex while his sex partner is tied up, not touching Yohan but he's the one who has control to touch them, hence why the kinky dom Yohan exist. So i think domestic touches will be like taming stray or feral creatures. It would take a long time and patience on both sides to be in the safe space and trust.

now.. wdyt Gahan would be in if they were already in a romantic relationship. How would they interact? Who would initiate what? What difference would it be for them in domestic/ innocent interactions and in bed? I would like to know your thoughts on this one. I wish I can pour my detailed thoughts for this but i'm afraid to scare you off with my long-ass paragraphs hahaha it's been a while since I have conversations analyzing character's personality and their depths, just geeking out about them and it can be intense and intimidating for people if I pour all my thoughts out for these shit lol

I wish you well! Take your time on your recovery & in writing, we'll always be here for you!

I'm currently in pain from shoveling too much snow but, other than that, I'm pretty okay. Thank you for asking 💜

Physical touch is a very fascinating subject when it comes to these two, isn't it? Probably because there's so much tension between them.

Anyhow! I actually think that Yo Han has had a lot of sex but, like, only with the right people? He may have been abused as a child (and definitely has trauma and trust issues because of it) but he's also a very clever and intuitive man. And he'd know how to find partners he can have casual, enthusiastic, and fun sex with. Like, some random woman or man he meets at a bar who thinks he's hot? Definitely. Some random woman or man he meets in a professional setting who is clearly trying to gain something from having sex with him? Absolutely not.

Having sex is a very intimate act in some ways, but exactly how intimate depends a lot on the partner, the setting, and the circumstances. Yo Han would only go for people he's not feeling threatened by or knows he can control without exerting too much effort. But I also think he'd enjoy the challenge of wooing people. Like, how fast can he make this woman shed her clothes? What should he say to make this man swoon? Flirting would be a game for him, too, but "winning" just means he and the other person get to have sex so it's actually pretty harmless.

And I think he'd be fine doing it with strangers and letting them touch him. Because he doesn't actually seem averse to touch in the drama? Unused to it, yes — especially the tender kind — but not scared of or uncomfortable with it. He puts himself and his body through a lot, yes, but never in a reckless or self-destructive way. More often than not, he knows exactly what the risks are and deems them worth whatever payoff comes at the end (unlike Ga On who just... throws himself into danger without much thought).

One of the few (if not the only time) Yo Han seems genuinely scared of physical touch is when Ga On tries to comfort him after his nightmare. Which says a lot, I think. He's more scared of a touch meant to soothe than one meant to hurt, since he doesn't want to show weakness. He doesn't know how he will react to a touch like that and would therefore rather push it away.

But he doesn't even flinch when Sun Ah raises a hand to slap him, which is definitely a situation where some (but not all) who have been abused in the past would react. So, clearly, he's not as traumatised as he could have been, or has learned to control it enough for it not to show too much. To me, Yo Han doesn't seem averse to casual touching and does it quite a lot himself, like towing Ga On around at the gala, lightly patting Lawyer Ko's arm, offering his arm to Jin Joo at the other gala etc.

And I personally don't think there will be all that many misunderstandings between him and Ga On as to what a certain touch means? They both seem way too smart for that? There might still be general misunderstandings, of course, but not when it comes to that. If nothing else, the intent behind touches is something Yo Han had to learn long ago because you can't manipulate people only using sexual prowess. He needs more than one method and that means recognising what different touches mean, when to give them etc.

My personal headcanon for Yo Han is that he has no trouble using his sex appeal to manipulate when appropriate, but his strength lies in how he adapts to the situation, sometimes being kind and understanding, sometimes being firm and commanding, and, sometimes, being flirty and sensual.

The way he prefers to have sex is for fun, though, and he enjoys it a lot with the right people. But he'd never do it if he felt uncomfortable or threatened by his partner, and he's good enough at reading people that he'd know the other person's intentions long before the actual sex happens. So, for example, I don't think he'd ever want to have sex with Sun Ah even if he could tie her up. He'd be too suspicious to actually enjoy it xD

To me, Yo Han is the kind of man who has a lot of trauma, but has also worked a lot on overcoming said trauma. If he did so in a healthy way I will leave unsaid, but I don't think he'd allow himself to be wary of other people's touch. I think Yo Han would be frustrated by his own limitations if he could only have sex with people while they're tied up, simply because he's uncomfortable with them touching him. That's too big of a weakness — something someone could exploit. And he'd train that out of himself as soon as possible. His whole thing is that he's unshakeable and impenetrable and that's a choice — something he's putting effort into being. And so I, personally, can't see him allowing himself to have that kind of "flaw."

As a friend of mine said: "He's a man even more in control of himself than he is others."

That said, I think he enjoys tying people up because it gives him added control and makes it more fun to play with his victims partners. So I'm all for Dom!Yo Han — he is one in every fic I've written so far — I just think he does that because he likes it, not because it's the only way he can have sex.

And, to be entirely honest with you? I don't think Yo Han needs to tie people up in order to control them in the bedroom. I'm pretty sure that man can make his partners do pretty much anything he wants them to, without using a single tool or restraint. Because that is the kind of Dom he is.

ANYHOW. To your questions! (boy did I get derailed there for a while)

Ga On is definitely the cuddly one. Like, once he gets comfortable, he's the one who gives and asks for hugs, will walk up behind Yo Han and wrap his arms around him, snuggle up on the couch, put his head in Yo Han's lap etc. Because I definitely agree with you that the casual, domestic touches will be more difficult for Yo Han. He's used to giving some of them, like pats on the shoulder, a supportive hand, fixing Ga On's clothes — practical things. But the ones that are just because? Clearly, that's out of his wheelhouse and he's too prideful to ask for them.

Again, not because he's broken, scared, or doesn't understand them, but simply because he's not used to them. And he doesn't like feeling insecure or appearing weak, so he wouldn't risk asking and making a mistake.

So it'll fall upon Ga On to offer them, which he of course does. He's a pretty physical person with the people he trusts, provided that politeness and such allows it. Like, clearly, one of the reasons why Ga On doesn't touch Yo Han much in the drama is due to the workplace hierarchy, the fact that Yo Han is older (and it's considered rude to touch someone older without their permission), and just Yo Han's overall... Yo Han-ness. But once Ga On gets free rein?

Yo Han won't know what hit him.

But it'll take time for them to get used to it, yes. Like, just teaching Yo Han how to return casual hugs that aren't in a life-or-death situation is going to take a while. But he'll get used to it eventually and while I don't think he'll ever be the one to initiate certain things — like the more cuddly hugs that might make him look clingy — he'd always reciprocate when Ga On does.

Yo Han is a little too prideful to ask for cuddles, but he'll graciously agree to them when Ga On asks him to give them.

(He and Komi have that in common, I guess)

As for sex, that depends? I think they can both initiate it, but Yo Han enjoys it more when Ga On does so, just because he likes seeing Ga On horny and desperate xD Yo Han is definitely the one in charge, though. That's not to say that Ga On can't snatch control from him or throw him off-balance from time to time, but probably only during brief moments when he's being particularly cheeky and bratty. I think they both enjoy the push-and-pull — the fact that Ga On challenges Yo Han is a part of the thrill — but are more comfortable when Yo Han is in control.

Especially since Yo Han is very good at it.

All that said, I do think — and this might be an unpopular and scandalous opinion — that Yo Han could, eventually, let Ga On top him. But we're talking years down the line, when they're so comfortable with each other that there are no secrets or doubts. Because, yes, Yo Han is a man who prides himself on having control but, eventually, he's also going to realise that having control and having power isn't necessarily the same thing. And being in charge and having control isn't necessarily the same thing, either. Ga On has a tremendous amount of power over Yo Han despite not being in charge or in control the majority of the time.

I mean, there's a reason why they say that the sub is the one with the real power since they're the ones willingly handing it over to someone else. And if they can give it, they can also revoke that privilege — and there is absolutely nothing the Dom can do about that. In that situation, the Dom is, quite literally, powerless.

And I think, especially as he gets older and softer, Yo Han would realize that trusting Ga On to top him is, in fact, a sign of his own strength. And I don't mean that in a "real men know how to bottom" kind of way. But in a "I love this man and I trust him and myself enough to let him have this power over me because that, in itself, means I have power."

But, again, that's several years into their relationship and 99,9% of the time, Yo Han is the one topping. But, every once in a while, Ga On can be the one in charge. As a treat.

... I may have gotten off track again.

But I'd say that's about the gist of it? There are, of course, more specific examples and details, too.

Yo Han is definitely the one doing most of the dirty talk, but Ga On will not hesitate to use his doe-eyes to his advantage and say the most kinky, outrageous things sometimes, just for the pleasure of watching Yo Han bluescreen. I also think that Yo Han will develop a habit of burrowing his nose in Ga On's hair when they're hugging/cuddling. And, as I've mentioned in a previous post, Yo Han is the little spoon 90% of the time. I also think that Ga On is going to be pretty shy and prudish when it comes to talking about sex and anything relating to it (at least at the beginning), but kinky as fuck when it comes to the actual acts. Like, he can't say "cock" without wincing, but he'll gladly let Yo Han tie him up and fuck him so roughly and thoroughly he's covered in bruises afterwards.

I really could go on but then we'd be here forever and I have work tomorrow x'D

So I'm hoping you got something out of this long rant! Thank you so much for the ask! I admit that I don't often spend time thinking about fictional characters' sex lives, but I apparently have a lot of opinions regardless. Though, to be honest, I think Yo Han and Ga On is the couple where I've had to think about it the most, since physical closeness (of both the sexual and more innocent kind) is extremely important for their dynamic. So yeah.

Take care, darling! 💜