#like...even knowing the reasoning behind it...i really don't think he would be anything but hostile towards him.

[quick-drawn]

i try to be open minded with ships and stuff, but i've always found it so hard to get behind hanzo x cass —

[kikitakite]

I saw your callout in the Gale tag for that one user (no comment on them, tho ty for the callout bc i'd seen them in the notes of my fics) and was curious if you could elaborate on some of the Mystra incidents you described towards the end of the post? I'm new to the lore of the setting and find it hard to research (which makes sense given its importance to dnd), so I've heard a lot of conflicting things about Mystra's portrayal in the wider series. No pressure, obviously!

No problem! And yea, I've seen her arguing in the posts of a few people I follow or just Gale-related posts I find interesting. Usually I don't get involved in stuff like this, but I noticed a constant pattern and then all the homophobic shit so I went off a little.

Unfortunately it's hard to find exact examples of the Mystra lore because certain modules aren't very popular or even free to access, but if you're interested the best way to learn about her is by reading the Elminster novels. There's twelve total, dating all the way back to 1994, and they detail Elminster's adventures. I'll be honest though, some of them are a hard read and written through the lens of a man who's admitted very creative, but also has a lot of problematic ideas.

In the first book Elminster is a child. His entire town gets wiped out by mages, thereby making him hostile toward magic. He sneaks into Mystra's temple to deface her statue one night, but she appears before him and basically gaslights him into learning magic and becoming her rare Chosen. He becomes a wizard and cleric basically overnight, until eventually he multiclasses into pretty much every class type in DnD. As you can imagine a lot of players aren't too fond of Elminster, as he's a well known self-insert of the author and pretty annoying to run into during campaigns. None of my dungeon masters like him anyway.

He also becomes one of Mystra's most loyal followers, but she fucks with him over and over, turning him into a woman to teach him a lesson and SLEEPING with him in that form, berating him when he struggles with the torture he endures when he gets stuck in the hells, making him reproduce without his knowledge and getting jealous when he gives his partners more attention. Because she's a very jealous goddess, which I think the game vaguely touches on but not really.

I wish I had the time to flip through all the novels and give exact citations but the best I can do is suggest them, because they're so eye opening. She's considered a neutral good goddess, but neutral gods often do terrible things for the sake of their domain. I think it needs to be noted that Mystra, as with all gods in the pantheon, only cares about her portfolio. She isn't wrong for that, but it doesn't mean she's blameless when she messes with people's lives. She's done a lot of good but she's also made horrible decisions, especially where her followers are concerned.

For example, Elminster having children he doesn't know about. He has a daughter named Narnra. Her conception was... pretty fucked up. Basically a song dragon named Ammaratha Cyndusk was an occasional lover of Elminster's (he has a lot of those because of course he does) and she wanted to bear his child, but since he's a Chosen of Mystra he can control his fertility. Magic birth control, basically. He didn't want a kid so Ammaratha went behind his back to learn a counterspell that would make him fertile during sex. The man she asked refused to teach her because...duh that's messed up, but then Mystra intervened and told him to teach her the spell because she wanted Elminster's "seed to spread". Ammaratha never told him and neither did Mystra. No matter what the reasons, that was NOT consensual on Elminster's part, and it happened two more times, resulting in two more daughters with different women. If I remember correctly Elminster did eventually find out waaaaay later when they were all adults, but it never amounted to anything.

The sisters I was taking about are the Seven Sisters, Mystra's "daughters". And I put "daughters" in quotations because Mystra possessed the body of a woman named Elué and impregnated her without her consent. She slept with the woman's husband (again, while possessing her body) and made them sire seven children. This of course lead to Elué's death because the constant flow of magic in her body was too much for her to handle. Her grieving husband broke after she died and eventually left, abandoning his daughters and earning Mystra's scorn...as if he was in the wrong. The sisters were then orphaned and raised by foster families.

That said, most of the awful things anyone can say about Mystra were the doings of her previous incarnations so ultimately it doesn't apply to the Mystra of BG3. In fact, this third Mystra is supposed to be a new and improved goddess who's nicer to her followers. So her portrayal in BG3 annoyed a lot of DnD fans. I should also point out that Mystra has two types of fans: ones who will defend everything she does, even when it's fucked up beyond all comprehension, and the ones who will tell you she's a true neutral goddess capable of good and bad. I'm the latter. There are plenty examples of Mystra sticking her neck out for innocents, but there's also examples of her doing the most horrendous shit imaginable.

A lot of veteran players, at least the ones I know, are upset with the portrayal of Mystra in BG3 because her plan to end the Absolute is, quite frankly, stupid. Your party is the best chance anyone has of ending the threat, but she asks Gale to nuke himself and possibly tens of thousands, which makes no sense because she could've just sent her mages/clerics to deal with the problem. And there was no guarantee the bomb would've worked anyway. She put all the responsibility on one man and it DEFINITELY comes off as vindictive. That isn't out if character for her but she's not SUPPOSED to be that bad anymore. For a lot of DnD players it felt like she was reverting back to her old habits.

I think there's also a part in the game where you can directly ask Gale why she doesn't just blip the Absolute out of existence and he says something like, "She could but Ao won't allow it." That was also really strange for a lot of veteran players to hear because Gale drops Ao's name like it's nothing. Most people (especially if they're new to the franchise) wouldn't know this but most people in Faerûn don't know who Ao is! Because he wiped people's memories of his existence! I suppose it does make sense for Gale to know that name, since Mystra probably explained the pantheon to him, but it's VERY unlikely tav would know it. So during that conversation all I could picture was tav tilting their head like, "Huh? Who? Whaaa?"

And on top of that......Ao absolutely WOULD allow it because the Absolute effects the Weave and every other god! It had the potential to ruin the balance of the universe, which makes Ao a very angry boy. Balance is one of the ONLY things he cares about. The Dead Three were stealing souls and worshippers, which gods needs to survive, and dying gods disrupts the balance. It's a whole circle of chaos. So the only conclusion left for me to extrapolate is this: Mystra just really, really wanted Gale to kill himself to prove his devotion to her. Which...isn't great. Bad look for her.

It's kind of like how Raphael thinks the Crown of Karsus is going to help him end the Blood War and take over the hells. DnD players laughed during his epilogue because...no it won't lol. He doesn't stand a chance even with the crown. He's arrogant and he's gonna get slapped by his daddy and all the other archdevils, the same way Gale gets slapped by Mystra if he ascends. Even the Absolute ending of the game wouldn't last long because the gods would go to war with the Dead Three, wipe them out and rebuild Faerûn, which has happened many times in past DnD campaigns. Mystra alone has torn worlds apart and glued them back together. The main crisis of BG3 is saving the world you live in or everybody dies. For the gods it's just a Tuesday. I mean look at how Withers owns the Dead Three with a wave of his hand at the end of the game. Mystra COULD'VE killed the Absolute, just as she could've removed the orb from Gale's chest the moment it happened. She just didn't WANT to. She wanted him to die. She wanted him to chastise himself. She wanted him to suffer and come crawling back to her as an obedient follower. She wanted him to learn a harsh and honestly unfair lesson, which is a terrible throwback to her previous incarnations.

[theother-victoria]

been thinking of street racing with aventurine bc I imagine he’d like the thrill of it too…

tags: not proofread, I typed this out in tumblr drafts, some suggestive comments, flirting, gn reader, I don't know anything about street racing so pls forgive any inaccuracies, banter (they're so silly)

Aventurine, who pulls up to the race in an edgy and sleek sports car, drawing the attention of everyone else there- yours included.

You lean against the side of your car, watching him as he leaves opponent after opponent in the dust. He's skilled, you'll give him that. From the aggressive driving style and the make and model of the car, you're betting it's just some bored teenage boy with daddy's money to burn, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't at least a little bit curious about the person behind the wheel.

A few easy wins later that night and you're slated to race against him. He takes his sweet time pulling up to the finish line, but to your surprise, he rolls his window down for the first time that night and you're able to get a good look at him. He's no teenage boy but he has the same mischievous look that implies he's up to no good.

"Checking me out already?" he remarks, his (captivating) eyes twinkling in delight, although they're hidden behind his sunglasses. "And I thought I'd for sure be the one to make the first move."

Oh, so he's a flirt too. You can barely hear him over the loud purring of his expensive and modded car's engine and you know tonight's race will be a tight one.

"I see you've got money. What's a rich boy like you doing all the way out here?"

His grin widens.

"Ooh, you’re sharp. I like that and the way you talk.”

"Why don't you tell me who you are first?"

He laughs and shakes his head. He rolls up the window, much to your irritation, but not before saying one last thing and sending a wink your way.

"If you win, I'll tell you who I am. How does that sound?"

Damn. No other choice but to accept since the race is about to start.

You end up losing, but just barely. You had to push your car to its limits and he wasn't above playing dirty too, giving you a couple of close calls throughout. Although, he at least didn't endanger your life like some others have in the past, so you'll give him that.

After the race ends, you pull into a brightly-lit gas station with some people there. Shortly after, another car pulls up next to you and he steps out.

"Not bad, not bad," he says, clapping lightly. "It's not often that I find someone that can at least keep up with me, much less overtake me a couple times."

"So you were following me."

He raises his hands as a mock display of innocence.

"Hey, relax! Don't be so hostile! I just wanted to get to know you a bit better, that's all. Besides, you wanted to know who I am, right?"

You watch as he scribbles something onto a business card.

"Wasn't that only applicable if I won?"

"Eh, I've changed my mind now," he says, handing the card to you. "I don't make deals that don’t pay off and I'd consider it a loss if I didn't get at least your number tonight."

"You still didn't answer my original question. What's someone like you doing all the way out here? Surely you have more important matters to attend to, right?"

He laughs.

"Wow, you really don't know who I am, huh?"

"... What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself. But to answer your question... I suppose it's because I enjoy the thrill of it. It's like gambling. Not knowing whether you'll win or lose, or even live or die. After all, the higher the stakes, the higher the excitement- why're you looking at me like that?"

"… You're insane."

"Sure, sure, sweetheart. I'll pretend that your reasons aren't the same as mine and that the adrenaline rush doesn't excite you every time. Why else would you willingly race, night after night?"

With one last wink, he gets into his car and drives away. You finally glance at the business card, only to do a double take and gape at it in shock when you realize its contents.

Aventurine, one of the IPC's Ten Stonehearts? No way... this guy's an IPC exec?

You don't know whether to feel proud about the fact that you got an IPC executive's number without trying or humiliated about the whole exchange...

There's a winking smiley face and an "call me xoxo" written next to the phone number.

And against your better judgement, you do just that.

He turns out to be an interesting companion. You'd think that with his demanding position, he'd be traveling all over the galaxy every day- which is true, to an extent, but he's always there for your weekly races and frequently drags you out shopping with him. He teaches you how to play poker and how to count your cards, if you didn't know how to already. He then tries to get you to play a round or two against him, which you promptly refuse each time.

("I spent all that time teaching you how to play and this is what I get in return? Boo, you're no fun. But a round or two never hurt anyone, right?"

"Aventurine, even a round or two is a surefire way to go into debt to you. Absolutely not."

He pouts and grumbles like a little kid every time.)

He also pays for additional mods to your car. When you try to refuse him, he merely brushes off your concerns.

"Sweetheart, I don't think you understand," he said back then. "I make more in a day than what it costs to mod your car. To me, this is nothing. Besides, I want an opponent who can keep up with me. If you start falling behind, well, then that's no fun for both of us, right?"

One night, there’s a particularly high-stakes race that you’re slated to compete in. The cash prize is one that’s too big for anyone to pass up.

Well, except for Aventurine. That amount of money is probably nothing by his standards.

For once, he’s not racing. When it’s your turn, he waves you over with a teasing smile as you’re getting ready.

“Say, how about raising the stakes for tonight?”

“What now?”

“Let’s make a bet.”

“… Fine.”

“If you win, we go on a date together. My treat, of course. If you lose, then you’ll have to play a round of poker with me.”

There isn’t an ounce of shame in his words. You openly gape at him as he beams at you proudly.

“… What?”

“You heard me.”

“Why though?”

He shrugs.

“Simple. I know this is a bet that will pay off. And I’ve been wanting this to happen for a long time now. So…”

He leans in close, lips teasingly brushing over your ear for a moment.

“Don’t disappoint me. I want to see you try and turn the tides in your favor for this race.”

You pull away from him.

“I accept, but only because I am not going into debt because of poker.”

He laughs.

“Go on then, sweetheart. I want to see you leave everyone behind in the dust. Oh, and don’t forget your good luck kiss!”

Aventurine blows a kiss to you. You roll your eyes as you climb into your car. Insufferable, that’s what he is. But if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s reading people. Meaning he must’ve noticed that you wanted this too.

You roll your neck and focus on the road ahead. The race is about to begin.

That cash prize and date with Aventurine is yours.

[the-broken-truth]

JJK: The Body-Snatcher's Daughter [PLATONIC YANDERE] [FEMALE READER] [PART 1]

Summary: [Name] [Surname] had always been aware of her power, but she never acted upon it or embraced it. She lived her life as a typical teenage girl, going to school, hanging out with friends, and even looking for a part-time job to earn extra money. However, for the past few weeks, she had been feeling as though someone was watching her, and she had caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd. What will happen when she encounters that face during a lunch outing on a Saturday afternoon?

Broken: I don't know everything about Jujutsu Kaisen, so please bear with me.

[Tokyo - Kawasaki City: The [Surname] Estate]

"Here is your allowance." [Name's] Father called out to his daughter before she headed out the door, holding some bills out to her. She looked at the bills before looking into her father's eyes.

"Dad, I have a part-time job and I already got paid yesterday. I don't need an allowance anymore." [Name] explained to her father as she adjusted her satchel around her shoulder.

"I know you have a part-time job, but, I think it would be best if you had a little bit of extra spending money for your outings. After all, you never know if you might see something you want or run into your friends & you decide to treat them to lunch or shopping." Her father smiled at her, causing [Name] to exhale before taking the money, pulling her wallet out of her satchel, placing the additional money inside, and returning it to her satchel before looking at her father's face; he knew what he was doing when he smiled like that, he knew that she couldn't resist his requests when he smiled like that.

"You can be very manipulative when you want to be, Dad." [Name] exhaled, causing her father to chuckle at his daughter's words.

"Only for the best reasons, My Black Pearl." [Name's] Father smiled before his face turned serious before peering into his daughter's black eyes from behind his glasses, "Can you feel anything nearby?"

"No, sir. I'm not picking up on any strange auras today. There are some weaker ones in the city, but none of them are hostile at the moment. I think it will be safe for me to head out." [Name] explained with a serious glare.

"Are you currently repressing your aura?" Her Father asked her, causing his daughter to nod.

"Yes. I've been keeping it repressed for about 3 Days; my aura is constantly getting stronger but I have been able to hide the signature it radiates. No one is going to attack me... Again." [Name] said while looking at the ground before exhaling and turning back to face her father, "Did you hear from Mom, yet?"

"Your Mother is going to be returning in a week; you know how serious she is with her work, but she did swear that she was going to be back in time for your birthday." Her Father smiled.

"She really works too hard... I wish she would take a break sometimes." [Name] exhaled but her father waved her off with a smile on his face, dismissing her concern.

"I've been trying to convince her since we got married...so that's not gonna happen anytime soon." Her Father smiled.

"True..." [Name] turned on her heel and walked towards the door, "See you later, Dad. I have my phone and power bank on me. Call me if you need anything.".

"Have fun, Dear." He called out as she opened the door, stepped outside, and closed it behind her before going to complete his own work.

As [Name] knew that her father had returned to his office to finish his work, she pulled out the key from her pocket and locked the door. Her family lived in the forest, about 5 miles away from the city. The wall surrounding her family's estate and the tall trees of the forest that surrounded her childhood home, greeted her as she turned around. To reach the city, [Name] had to take the bus. Fortunately, there was a bus stop right outside the path that led to the main road.

[Name] placed her hands in her pockets before walking out of the estate, through the forest via the stone path, and to the bus stop before sitting down on the stone bench as before pulled her phone out of her pocket, and scrolled through it mindlessly as she waited for the bus to arrive.

That's when a familiar ping went through her mind, causing her to look up from her phone and start looking around her; she could feel that someone was watching her, but all she could see was the forest, bushes, and road. A frown came to her face as her keen ears picked up on the sound of the bus coming. She looked around one more time before reaching into her jacket pocket to retrieve her bus card just as the massive form of transportation stopped in front of her, and opened its doors to allow her on. She entered the bus, paid for her trip, and sat in the first free seat she could find; unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

[Location Change: Kawasaki City]

The sound of multiple shoes hitting the concrete sidewalks combined with the rolling tires on the main road filled [Name's] ears as she walked down the sidewalk with her black eyes forward and her hands secured in the pockets of her jacket; it was a rather chilly afternoon, regardless of the high-noon sun.

Thanks to her mindless scrolling, she learned that the nearby Tech Shop was making a bundle deal with some of their more desired parts with a 50% discount with the purchase of 30,845 Yen ($200 - If my math is correct) or more; she has been meaning to update her drawing tablet and computer for a while now, no time like the present.

[Name] headed to the Tech Shop and flagged down an employee to aid her; she was looking for new equipment and the bundle mentioned. She ended up spending over 77,113 Yen ($500 - Once again, if my math is correct) as she picked her new tablet in her satchel; making sure to purchase a 3-Year Protection Plan on all her parts. She walked out of the shop and pulled out her wallet, she noticed she had 3084.53 Yen ($20) to spend on lunch and decided to get something quick. She noticed her favorite burger place was across the street and used the crosswalk to cross the street, but that feeling had returned: Someone was watching her. She pretended not to notice and started scanning the crowd for anyone who seemed out of place to her when her eyes landed on something...familiar.

A man was standing on the other side of the street, dressed in a black suit with a high collar. His hair was long and black with a high bun in the back; the only thing that seemed out of place to him was the scar going across his forehead, it reminded her of stitching for some reason.

What's more: This man was looking at her and she confirmed this when the smirk on his face grew the moment their eyes met; he wanted her to know that he was watching her. She narrowed her eyes at him before turning her gaze to look ahead as she made it to the other end of the street and turn away from him to head into the burger place.

[Name] placed her order and paid the cashier for a simple large cheeseburger meal with a [Favorite Drink] with 3 cookies on the side. The cashier gave her a receipt and she stood off to the side until her number was called. She took her food and walked to a nearby booth with 2 seats that were out of the way since everywhere else was taken; it was lunch hour after all. She unwrapped her burger and was about to take about bite when a voice called out to her from directly in front of her.

"That looks delicious."

[Name's] Black Eyes looked away from her burger and locked eyes with him - the man who was watching her earlier and it was that same feeling; she had been feeling it for a week.

"Can I help you with something?" [Name] asked in a calm but clearly annoyed voice.

"Yes. You can stop suppressing your power from me; it's getting rather hard to find you since you are getting so good at concealing your Cursed Energy from me." The man said, his head resting on the fist he had against his cheek while that arm's elbow was resting on the table.

"Cursed Energy? What the hell are you talking about?" [Name] asked with a raised eyebrow but the man chuckled at her words.

"I'm sure you don't know what it's called, but I know that you are aware of your power; you have so much of it and you've become adapted to concealing it to prevent people like me from finding you. However, I know you can feel it; you know who I am... Don't you, [Name]?" He asked with a smile on his face and a 'tender' look in his eyes.

"You're the one who has been following me for weeks." [Name] answered and, once again, he smiled at her with a chuckle.

"Able to detect my Cursed Energy from everyone else's already? You're more advanced than I thought you would be at this age. Then again... I shouldn't expect anything less from my own daughter." He said, making [Name's] eyes get wide.

"What did you say?" [Name] hissed out.

"You heard me. How else would I know your name and this is the first time we talked?" He questioned with a head tilt before stating, "I'm the one who named you."

"Just... Just who the hell are you?" [Name] questioned, trying to keep her calm and not draw attention to herself.

"I am the JuJitsu Sorcerer, Kenjaku. In your case, I am your 3rd Parent. You can call me 'Father' if you want." He smiled at her, expecting her to freak out and ask him questions.

She was silent for a moment before she spoke, "Are you on drugs or something?"

"Pardon?" Kenjaku asked with wide eyes, surprised at what she just said," I don't think that's how you should speak to your own father, [Name]." Kenjaku said.

"Yeah. You're on drugs." With that, [Name] rewrapped her burger and walked over to the counter, got a takeout bag, and placed her food inside before taking her drink and leaving the burger place; leaving a very shocked JuJitsu Sorcerer sitting at the table.

"Kids these days... No respect for their elders." Kenjaku said before standing up and leaving as well, but he couldn't find [Name] anywhere, "She's fast."

[END]

[shrimpsuru]

Bucchigiri doodles! I really like this show, I think everyone is super charming and fun! And all the designs are all so good ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝

I'm gonna go on a quick rant about Arajin, because I have no one to talk about this with, so let me shout into the void:

Okay- So as I watching the show, I really liked everyone. I thought Arajin and his pathetic-ness and wet cat nature was charming, He's a loser and I love him for that! Even when he was being a bit of an asshole I was still quite fond of him, He's flawed and that's what made him interesting. He's a bit more complex than people give him credit for. Since my opinion of Ara was fairly positive, I thought most people would agree- (I didn't think he was all that bad and most people would also find him charming) I was so surprised when I found out how many people absolutely hate this guys guts, it was so different from what I excepted lmao. I understand being annoyed with Ara and I can see how some might not like him too much, but they were on my boy's ass 💀

First of all, Ara doesn't want OR like to fight, he's just a regular teen boy, he's nothing like this big buff dudes who are constantly look for someone strong to punch. If it weren't for Senya, Ara would've been done for by now. All Ara want's is to get a girlfriend, and that's normal for a boy his age!! Everyone else in the show are the freaks, my guy just wants love!! The only reason he fights is because his delusional ass is in love with a girl who knows she can play him like a fiddle, or when he's backed into a corner an has no other choice. Arajin wanted a slice of life high school romance and was instead thrown into the middle of a gang war with a bunch of dudes who are hellbent on fighting lmao

He's just a silly little guy!! He's not built for all this violence!!

Don't get me wrong the way Ara treats Matakara is frustrating at times, and I wish they would just talk (And I'm gonna be honest the fact Matakara still looks at Ara positivelyis really surprising lmao (I'd hold one hell of a grudge but I'm just petty)) but at the same time, I don't really blame Ara. He feels guilty, and in reality he probably hates himself (For multiple different reasons). He left Matakara behind and it eats at him, just the thought of the memory triggered a nervous stomach ache. Matakara is a walking reminder of what Ara doesn't like about himself, of course he's going to avoid him like the plague. Doesn't mean its good, or even healthy but that's just how people are. Even so Ara is only ever outwardly hostile towards Matakara when the past is brought up, every other time he can have a somewhat normal interaction (even if its reluctant). And with the newest episodes, Ara is now being a bit softer with him. Progress! Its small, but still progress!

Also small complaint, there are SO many worse mcs that do far more unbearable things, Arajin is practically a saint in comparison lol ( Doesn't mean anyone not liking him is invalid or anything, again I can totally understand why some don't like him!! Just because he's better than most doesn't mean he still cant be bad for people!! ☆(＃××))

Rant over- Am I thinking to far into it? perhaps. but who cares! It's a silly show at the end of the day and I just like to yapp passionately into the void

[theamityelf]

(Undead AU Masterlist)

Not to suddenly kick down the (not even closed) door on this AU, and I don't even know how canon this idea will end up being to the AU in the long run, but I was just thinking, and I'm not sure if this counts as body horror or gore, but uh...

I kind of want Makoto to get seriously, permanently injured, taking care of his classmates.

Like, the thought I had was, one of them bites his finger off.

(It has to be one of his classmates, for the angst.)

Bonus points if it's after he's found out about Nagito killing reserve course students.

Makoto's class is getting rowdier and more feral, because he hasn't been accepting food from Nagito, so they're stuck with whatever animals he's able to hunt. And even running himself ragged for hours at a time, it isn't enough. They're all hungry. It's two weeks until the next delivery from outside, and they're hungry. He brings in a crane, they pick it clean in no time, they're all still hungry. (He's hungry, too.)

But that isn't when it happens.

(That would vindicate Nagito's human-hunting a little too definitively.)

Eventually, he finds a spot on campus where he hasn't hunted much, and animals still show up there. He's able to bring back enough for everyone to eat a decent amount.

It's a long walk from the classroom, but he can do it, if it keeps them fed.

They get irritable when he leaves, especially now that he's been staying out longer, but he has to do it.

There are a lot of ways it could happen. Maybe he's trying to get a bone out of someone's mouth before they choke. Maybe someone is trying to eat something rancid. Whatever the case, he's doing something that would normally be reasonably safe for him, but his friends have been so on edge (and maybe his reflexes are dulled by hunger and exhaustion) and he gets a finger bitten off.

(It has to be someone other than Junko who does it. I'm thinking Byakuya, Sayaka, Leon. Someone he's close to, who will feel really bad about it.)

Makoto cries out in pain, and the classroom just devolves into chaos.

Nagito gets a frantic knock on his door, which he hurries to answer.

Hina doesn't even wait for his surprised look to settle; she just picks him up and runs back with him.

Nagito's heart is pounding, as he wonders what could have happened. Makoto must be hurt, for Asahina to be this frantic.

(Because he was grabbed so quickly, he wasn't able to shut the door behind himself. Fuyuhiko, Mahiru, and Akane follow Hina. Peko follows Fuyuhiko. And a few others just escape; he'll have to find them and herd them back later.)

No one has escaped the 78th class's room, despite having the opportunity.

He can't see Makoto at first, but he can guess where he is. Ogami is definitely protecting something, not letting any of her classmates near it– even Kirigiri and Togami, who are making genuine efforts to get close.

Asahina sets Nagito down, and he hurries past Ogami (She allows it.) to find Makoto curled up in a corner, barely awake and bleeding from what remains of his finger.

He's lost a lot of blood.

Nagito hurries to the classroom first aid kit. The part of him that isn't alight with panic manages to feel grateful that Hope's Peak saw fit to complement his pre-existing knowledge of first aid with more specific information on treating major injuries like this.

He needs to stop the bleeding. He needs to clean it. (Already, too much time has passed without anything to prevent infection.)

Even just taking hold of the hand that lost the finger gets pained sobs out of Makoto. Handling the injury itself is miserable work for both of them.

Even so, it takes Makoto alarmingly long to register that he's there. He's already partway through bandaging him by the time eye contact is attempted.

"Hey," Makoto says hoarsely.

(It's maybe the second or third time they've spoken since he found out the truth. Their last interaction wasn't hostile, but it was strained.)

"Hey," Nagito says. Then, "No, no! Stay awake. Don't pass out."

It's really bad for him to lose this much blood. Nagito knows he hasn't been getting enough food. It's amazing he's been keeping his class fed.

Makoto whimpers as Nagito keeps bundling the injury.

"I'm sorry," Nagito says. "I know it hurts, but I can't just leave it as is."

"It's okay," Makoto says. "Don't be scared." He sounds delirious. Not entirely present.

"Stay awake. Keep talking. How have you been?"

"Missed you. Um, did you see my finger, or did they swallow it?"

"I don't know. I hurried right over. Regardless, no one here knows how to reattach it."

"I know. I've just...never not had it before?"

Nagito smiles despite himself. "If I see it, I'll be sure to save it for you."

"Thank you. Thanks, Nagito."

The fact that he said it twice makes Nagito slightly misty-eyed, which isn't normal for him at all. "Of course. I'll take care of everything. Don't worry at all, okay?"

"I'm okay. Just need a little rest."

"No. Just sit here. I'm going to bring you something to eat. Mahiru, make sure he doesn't pass out while I'm gone."

Mahiru's path to them is momentarily blocked by Ogami, but the kouhai subsides after a sufficiently stern look from the former.

"I'll be right back." Nagito cups Makoto's cheek with a bloodstained hand. "Just wait here."

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 69

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

Zuko tries not to think too much about what Katara is doing as he and Suki run down the hall to face off against his crazy little sister.

He knows Azula fairly well. He knows that Azula will try to take the oppurtunity to remove him from the line of succession. She was always just as power hungry as their father. And, without her firebending, Azula would evade and stall, and have others fight for her. Mai and Ty Lee.

But he knew something Azula didn't. That Mai would turn on Azula to save her family. And if Mai turned, Ty Lee would as well. The two girls had been closer with each other than Azula, for obvious reasons.

"Whatever you do," Zuko said as they stopped in front of the large metal door. "Don't trust anything Azula says."

Suki nodded, moving to help Zuko push open the door. The room was long, the stone floor cool and dark. On the far end, with Mai and Ty Lee standing on either side, was Azula. She was sitting on a throne, legs crossed as she watched the door intently.

"So it's true," Azula said, not standing from her seat. "You really are alive."

"Yes," Zuko said, reaching behind him to pull out his dual swords. He could see Suki from the corner of his eye, fans at the ready.

"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle," Azula said, slowly pushing herself up. "But you, Zuko? You may be a lot of things, but a traitor?"

Zuko did his best not to look at Mai. It would be a tell. Instead, he kept his gaze firmly on Azula.

"It's not too late for you, you know." She smiled. "The Avatar wouldn't expect you to turn on him. The invasion force wouldn't expect you to tear their ranks apart from the inside." A wicked smile played at her lips. "You can be redeemed. Help us save the Fire Nation, and you can have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You'll have everything you've ever wanted."

"Not everything," Zuko said.

This caused Azula to pause. "The waterbending peasent." She hummed, contemplative. "I suppose, if she's with the Avatar now, there will be no other choice. She will need to be punished. You always did have a soft spot for her." A wicked grin stretched her lips. "You had a lot of soft spots, actually."

Zuko bit back the yell that wanted to spill from him. He tightened his grip on the hilts of his swords, and kept his eyes on his sister. "I'm giving you a chance to surrender. I suggest you take it."

"Surrender? To you?" She scoffs. "The cast off Prince who was so unbelievably weak, he groveled instead of fought during an Agni Kai? You have no honor, brother. And I won't sully my name by surrendering to the likes of you."

His scar ached. He had heard that Azula had been there that day, watching from the stands with his uncle. Yet, he had hoped that she hadn't been so warped and twisted to find glee in her brothers suffering at age eleven.

"Zuko," Suki said, voice tight. She was eyeing Mai and Ty Lee, asking for orders. Should she attack?

"Ah, yes." There was a flicker of something in Azula's gaze, as it landed on Suki. "I was wondering about you. I suppose after the water filth, Zuzu gained a taste for the exotic."

Suki's face immediately screwed up, as did Zuko's. "Gross," they said, almost in sync.

They had been allies for years, though friends wasn't much of a stretch. Zuko's ship had sold plenty of Southern Water Tribe exports to Kyoshi. While in the beginning Suki had been cautious, hostile even, once she knew he wasn't a threat, she was more than happy to train with him.

"Really?" Azula hummed. "I suppose even I can be wrong, once in a solar eclipse."

"You're trying to distract us," Zuko grit out.

"Really? What gave it away?"

If he had access to his firebending, he was sure that smoke would be spilling from his fisted grip on his swords.

"Enough," he yelled, putting as much authority into his voice as he could. Azula didn't flinch, but Ty Lee did in the back of the room. "It's over Azula. The Avatar is facing father as we speak, the palace has been taken, and the airships are destroyed. It's over."

Slowly, her eyes narrowed. "How did you know about the air ships?"

He stood as straight as he could, refusing to take his eyes off of Azula. "I've been in the Fire Nation longer than you thought."

Only, Azula wasn't just watching him. She was watching Suki, who couldn't help but glance at Mai.

"Mai?" Azula called, voice low and deadly.

The dark and gloomy girl was backing away, a knife in had. She eyed Azula like she was an armadillo bear about to attack. Though, that might not be to far from the truth.

"I never expected this from you," Azula snarled. "You know the consequences for treason."

Mai had her eyes locked on Azula, ready to flee or strike as needed, like a viper hare. "I guess you don't know people as well as you think you do. You miscalculated. I love my brother more than I fear you."

Zuko watches as Azula's face twists and contorts, growing into one of absolute rage. "No, you miscalculated! You should fear me more!" Her voice was shrill, wild, in a way Zuko had never heard before. "Ty Lee! Take out the traitor!"

For a moment, there was silence. Ty Lee remained in her spot, eyes wide, and tears pricking at her eyes. She looked helpless, so lost, yet like she knew what the final outcome would be.

"Ty Lee!" Azula snapped again.

"No," Ty Lee breathed. "I... I won't hurt her. Azula, Mai is our friend, and-"

"You're both fools!" Azula snarled, her eyes wild, as she started to back away from them. Zuko followed her, step for step. "When this is over, I'll have your thrown in the Boiling Rock, and let you rot. I'll find your circus and burn it to the ground. I'll have your family executed!"

"Azula," Zuko warned.

But then, she turned, and bolted for a side door.

"Stay here," Zuko shouted to Mai and Ty Lee. They didn't need any more stress from today. "Suki!"

The female warrior was only a step or two behind him, racing after his sister.

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

[blockgamepirate]

I know the no comment policy is Quackity's whole thing and I do think in many cases it's the smartest move

But in this case I really don't think it's a good idea, I worry that it's only gonna make things worse. This isn't just a bunch of drama or some kind of public scandal, this is an actual structural problem with the project, and Quackity himself obviously knows that too

It's fine if he doesn't talk to the public but at least some kind of message to the ex-admins, even if it's just "we'll contact you later" would help so much

As well as discussing with the Solidaires; they're not the enemy unless he wants to make them his enemy

I know he's still very young and inexperienced and I guess maybe he learned in law school that you should always rather shut up than say the wrong thing, which makes sense when it comes to law, but this isn't a court case (not yet at least) and if you're gonna have a company, you need to learn to negotiate with unions, and to work with people in general

Also I know people keep saying that we can't trust what the ex-admins say because they don't know what's going on but can we at least agree that they know that they've been kicked out and that they haven't contacted since? And that's already a problem, because if they want any of the ex-admins to come back some day, surely they should involve them in some way in the negotiations, right? And if they don't want them to come back then they need to at least let them know that they won't be needed anymore and give them some sort of compensation for the inconvenience

(Also from what I can tell it's not even about the money for most of them, which is all the more reason to negotiate because it might not even end up costing him anything)

What I really worry about is that he's gonna end up making all sorts of drastic decisions out of fear, and sabotage himself and the whole project, when the best approach would be to have a genuine and respectful conversation to work things out like adults

I've seen a lot of similar independent creative projects fall into similar traps and I genuinely don't want it to happen to QSMP

I'm concerned because to me, based on my experience, this doesn't seem promising right now. Yes, I don't know everything that's going on behind the scenes, but we do know that people are being excluded from whatever it is, and that's never a good sign, it's just gonna lead to more distrust and hostility

My point is, communication is good, actually. And so is teamwork. Cheesy, I know, but it's just true. And people tend to respond very well to being treated like respected members of a team. And they tend to respond badly when they feel disrespected, whether you mean to disrespect them or not. That's just something you need to learn if you want to be a good leader

This is not me hating on Quackity, this is me saying that I think he's making a mistake, and I wish I could somehow let him know that because I want things to work out well for this server I love

(Also, seriously, the cooperative model would work so well for QSMP, I really really wish they'd try it, even if Quackity maintains some sort of veto power)

[dingbatnix]

Slime

Who's ready for some angst?

So anyway I have a different fic (the snippet I posted just a second ago) I wanted to do for valentine's, but that one is nowhere near finished, and this one is, so. Y'know.

It's kinda badly written, buuuut I don't care. I'm so very tired o~0

Anyway, enjoy!

Warnings:: Fear of death, dehumanization, ect.

Word Count: 3,070

Karl can't speak in his gummy/true form—which I've decided to use for angst.

He is a relative of the slime family, kinda like Slimecicle, but Karl can’t really control his form when he’s stressed/has lost too much mass. He mostly violet/purple, but his limbs do have a slight gradient to blue/teal. He is much younger than Slimecicle, and has not lived in a hole for centuries, so he has a much, much better understanding of retaining a human form and shape than Charlie does.

So anyway, he gets stuck in his true form for some reason, like exhaustion or stress.

It's equated to damage, like slime hybrids in osmp. He gets attacked by a mob of zombies, loses his ability to retain human-ish shape, and loses enough mass to be small, like a foot tall small. If he had enough to eat, and wasn't super stressed, maybe he'd be able to gain back enough mass to become his human self again, but, as it is, he can't.

And he can't speak, either. His two fiancés, Sap and Q, don't know about his true form, and he's scared of what they might do to him if they catch him (while Sap and Q are very kind to him, in his human form, he didn't want to risk it. Quackity had a mean streak twenty miles wide, and Sapnap did enjoy killing things. Especially pets. What if he got mistaken for a hostile mob? He was a slime, after all) so, he tries to hide in Kinoko.

But! After a few too many close calls, he decides that it would be better for him to go somewhere else, so he travels out of Kinoko into the main Smp. This leads to him getting caught by some curious people (Tubbo, Ranboo, and Michael) who think that Karl's just a strange, somewhat intelligent, mob. They end up keeping him in a cage as a cool new pet, and poor Karl doesn't have anything to write with or signify that he's not an animal, dangit. A pencil wouldn't really be much use, because he didn't actually have fingers in his slime form, but still. He could have worked it out.

The teens weren't so bad, he supposed, but they treat him like he’s a cat or a dog or something, and it just feels demeaning. So, he devises a plan to escape. It’s really not that hard, actually, he just has to squish his malleable body through the bars of his kennel and make his way out the door. The snow outside poses a bit of a problem for his semi-liquid body, but he is the consistency of jello. It helps him a little bit, but some of his body mass freezes off, leaving him even smaller. Eventually, though, he manages to get out of the tundra and starts making his way back to Kinoko, because even if he gets caught and treated like a pet by Sap, Q and Goggy, at least it'd be safer. At least it'd be by people he trusted. At least it'd be by the people he loved. And even if they kill him, at least he wouldn’t have to live as somebody’s pet anymore.

Meanwhile, Sap and Q are freaking out, cause they can't find Karl anywhere, and it's bordering on four weeks that he's been missing. They’ve nearly turned the Smp upside-down looking for him, and unfortunately, nobody else has seen Karl, either.

So when Karl finally makes it out of the tundra, he still can't change back. He's just so stressed with everything going on, so when he eventually gets to Kinoko, he's faced with a choice: hide again, or show himself to try and communicate with the other residents of Kinoko.

He made the easy choice. He decides to find his fiancés.

The two were in the courtyard, Quackity reading through some documents piled next to him and Sapnap sparring against a training dummy. He approached them carefully, hiding behind barrels and building fixtures until he was close enough to reveal himself to Quackity. (He was not going near Sapnap with a sword, not when he looked like this. That was a good way to get cleaved in half.

He finally revealed himself to Quackity, stepping out from the shadows and tugging on the avian’s pant leg. Quackity shrieked, flailing enough to tip his wicker chair over and scatter his papers across the stones of the courtyard. Sapnap heard Quackity scream and was running in a flash, brandishing his sword towards Karl as he sprinted over.

Karl’s heart stopped. He had the opportunity to run, in the short time before Sanap arrived and speared him through, but…this was the first time he had seen either of his fiancés since he first got stuck like this. It had been nearly a month. And now, Sapnap was about to kill him, and they’d. They’d never know. They’d never know that it was him.

Karl’s legs wobbled, and then all but melted beneath his body. He threw his arms over his head and curled in on himself, his entire being quivering in fear and despair. He didn’t want to see Sapnap kill him, didn’t want to see one of the loves of his life deliver the final blow.

Sapnap skidded to a stop just as he reached them, head cocking in confusion as the little purple slime folded in on itself upon his arrival. The entire mass was wiggling, almost like it was afraid of him. Curiously, he poked it with the tip of his sword and was rewarded by it unfurling and trying to scramble away on its back. Beady little dot eyes blinked at him, wide and glimmering in the morning light.

"Hey! It's colored like one of Karl's hoodies! Like, y'know, the blue and purple one?" Sapanp realized, a grin spreading across his face as he shot a glance at Quackity. The avian, who had been crouched behind his overturned wicker chair, peeked over it at the slime's splayed out body. Sapnap was right. It did look like one of Karl’s hoodies.

“So it does,” he agreed, climbing to his feet and approaching Karl. “It…it seems more scared than hostile.” Karl nodded frantically at the avian’s words, scooching backwards as Quackity grew closer. Quackity paused in surprise and shared a look with Sapnap. He waved at the fireborn to put away his sword and turned back to the shivering slime on the ground.

“Hey,” he murmured, crouching slowly down to inspect the little slime. “Can you understand us?” At Karl’s hurried nod, a pensive frown stretched across his face. “...can you speak?”

Karl slowly shook his head, feeling strangely ashamed.

After some contemplation, he turned back to Sapnap with a curious expression on his face. “I think it’s like Charlie. Just…not quite as developed, maybe? Cause Charlie can talk, even when he’s small.”

Sapnap snorted out a small laugh. “Don’t let Charlie hear you say that. He’ll freak out over his ‘cover’ being blown.” All the same, he joined Quackity in inspecting Karl.

Karl deflated at the remark. While it wasn’t meant to hurt him, it still smarted. Charlie was older than he was! By several centuries! Of course he’d have better control over his body!

He waved his arms furiously, gesturing towards himself, and then towards Sapnap and Quackity. He was trying to tell them that it was him, that he was Karl, but they just didn’t seem to understand!

He couldn't sign either, he didn't. Have. Fingers.

He was still himself! He was still Karl…he guessed the others didn't realize that. He guessed they couldn't tell. They wouldn't have any reason to think that he, the strange little slime creature that wandered up to them, was their fiancé.

Unbidden, his eyes started to burn, and tears sprung to his eyes. Karl scrubbed at his eyes furiously. He didn't want to cry! Of all the things he couldn't do in his slime form, why wasn't crying one of them?!

"It's crying! Dude, I think you hurt its feelings! What do we do?" Sapnap exclaimed, tail twitching and flicking anxiously. Quackity shrugged, eyes guilty. “I dunno, man! I didn’t know slimes could cry! Charlie never has!”

Sapnap bit his lip, thinking, then scooped Karl up into his arms. “Hey, it’s okay, little guy. I know Quackity can be a dick sometimes, but don’t take it to heart. It’ll be okay, okay?” Sapnap ignored the affronted noise that the avian made and gently stroked his fingers over Karl’s head while making cooing noises. Karl took the gesture of comfort for what it was, burying his head against Sapnap’s chest and sobbing into the fireborn’s shirt. He poured the pent-up emotions of being trapped in a cage for days and treated like an animal, of being half frozen, of being afraid and unable to speak for weeks into Sapnap’s shirt, soaking it through with fluids he probably couldn’t afford to lose. If he kept crying like he was, he'd start losing more mass. He didn’t want that. Not when it was so hard to gain back.

Karl cries for a long, long while. Sapnap and Quackity don’t really know what to do, because that’s obviously not because of Quackity’s remark, but something that had built up over time.

They decide to take in the little slime, letting it live with them as long as it wanted to.

For Karl, their decision was a godsend, because he could rest and recover in a familiar place, with people he loved. He was allowed to roam wherever he wanted (which is a step up from the cage Tubbo had him in) and he stayed with at least one of his fiancés every day. Unfortunately, he was still stuck in his slime form, no matter what he tried.

Despite everything, Sapnap was rather…dense. And most of the time, Quackity was either busy with his affairs with Las Nevadas, or he was looking for Karl. Neither of them ever realized that he was with them, nearly all of the time.

And no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get his hands on an inked quill and a piece of paper. The frustration had reduced him to stinging tears, and it took him a while more before he gave up and accepted that he'd probably never get to tell his fiancés who he was.

It was fine. He would be fine.

He would.

_______

Quackity found himself becoming rather fond of the little slime over the few weeks it had been with them, and he was absolutely delighted on the days it decided to hang around with him. It usually alternated between himself and Sapnap, and sometimes didn’t go with either of them, but today it had decided to spend its time with him.

Right now, it was hanging from his neck like a sloth, or perhaps a koala would, as he made his way along one of the many paths of Las Nevadas. He was headed to the casino today, needing to do a checkup on the slot machines and make sure that nobody had tampered with anything.

A green, semi-translucent figure bounced towards Quackity, and a fond smile grew across his face as Charlie barreled closer. He raised a hand in preparation to greet the slime. Charlie’s face lit up, and he sped towards Quackity at a much more rapid pace, his own gelatinous arm raised to meet the avian’s.

"Hello, Quackity from Las Nevadas! Hello, Karl from Kinoko Kingdom!" A green palm slapped his own, but Quackity was too startled to respond to the slime’s exuberant greeting. Karl was here?!

Quackity jerked ramrod straight, and his head whipped from side to side, wildly searching the surrounding buildings. "Karl?"

The little purple slime frantically patted Quackity's chest, nearly losing its one-armed grip around the avian's neck. Quackity looked down at it with sad eyes, confusion clear in his face.

Karl slapped his own chest, staring imploringly at the big avian. To his utter disappointment, Quackity looked away from him and back up at Charlie.

"Wh–where's Karl, Charlie? Where did you see him?" The avian sounded desperate, and it hurt, to hear Quackity call for him when he was right there. Karl’s eyes stung, and he sent a pleading look Charlie’s way. The bigger slime met his gaze, and a small, sympathetic grin formed over his face.

Very gently, the bigger slime leaned forward and patted one green hand on top of Karl's head. "Karl from Kinoko Kingdom." The green slime said plainly, moving his gaze from Karl up to Quackity’s.

Karl nodded frantically, twisting his hand-nubs into Quackity's rumpled dress shirt and bracing his legs against the avian’s sternum. He pulled himself up, high enough that he was face-to-nose with Quackity, and waved frantically between himself and Charlie. His movements were so violent that he lost his grip, and panic strummed though his body when he tipped backwards and fell.

His back smacked against something oddly lumpy, and he realized that Quackity had brought his hands up to catch him, even while he was staring at him as if he was in some kind of daze.

Finally, Quackity blinked several times and hesitantly brushed his thumb along Karl’s arm, almost as if he thought the slime would disappear at a moment's notice.

“Y-You’re Karl?!” His voice was shaking, and his eyes were watering. Karl nodded frantically, curling one of his hand-nubs around Quackity’s thumb. The line of the avian’s mouth wavered, and he wiped his eyes on his shoulder before turning to Charlie.

"Charlie, why can't he talk?"

"He's been de-gooped, Quackity from Las Nevadas. He doesn't have enough of himself to form properly." Charlie paused for a long moment, then. "Not that I know anything about that, seeing as I am a perfectly normal human being with perfectly normal human bones."

Quackity didn’t bother answering, instead staring down at the little purple slime draped over his hands. Karl had been with them the entire time…? Karl had been with them while they were looking for him…

An incredulous laugh escaped from his lips, and soon, he found himself doubled over, Karl clutched to his chest, cackling like a madman as a wave of emotion overcame him.

Karl found himself squished against a layer of smoky cotton as he was squeezed to Quackity’s chest in a desperate hug, the scent of cigarettes and the dusty smell of sand pervading his senses from the tight embrace.

After what felt like too much time and not enough, Quackity loosened his grip on Karl’s body, and his laughter petered out. A doofy grin still decorated his face, and his eyes were scanning over Karl like he’d never seen him before.

Seconds later, his eyes widened, and his grin grew. “I gotta tell Sapnap! Holy fuck he’s gonna be so happy!”

Quackity shifted Karl to one arm and pulled his communicator out with the other. It took him a few seconds to do it one handed, but Karl saw him pull up Sapnap’s contact and hit call. It rang for a few moments, before their third picked up. “Yea–”

“Sapnap, Sapnap, I fucking found Karl.” Quackity didn’t even pause to let Sapnap get a word in, bowling over anything the other man had to say. “Sapnap, he’s the fucking slime, he’s fucking been here the whole goddamn time!”

“Oh my fucking god.”

“I fucking know!” Quackity grinned down at Karl, cradled in the crook of his left arm. Karl waved back up at him, eyes scrunched up in joy.

“I’m headed over there right now. Don’t you two fucking move, got it?”

Quackity laughed and planted himself on a bench on the side of the road, pulling Karl into his lap and hugging the little slime to his chest. “We won’t, we won’t. We’ll be here, dude.”

Quackity hung up and shoved his communicator back into his pocket. His other arm circled around Karl’s pliable body, and he looked down at the slime, eyes wide with wonder.

“Dude, what the fuck,” he whispered, and all Karl could do was shrug, chest feeling lighter than it had in a long, long while.

Charlie wandered away while they waited, stating that he needed to go check his holes (Quackity needed to fill some of those in, he’d nearly broken his ankle about eight times) leaving the two of them to wait for their third.

When Sapnap finally arrived, he made a beeline for the little purple slime resting in Quackity’s lap, sprinting through town and skidding to a stop right in front of them.

He immediately reached for Karl, his warm hands surrounding his torso and his thumbs pressing against Karl's chest. He was plucked up from Quackity’s arms before he could blink, and then he was brought towards Sapnap’s face.

The huge fireborn pressed a kiss against Karl’s face, lips as big as his head smothering against his face. He leaned into it, wrapping his arms around Sapnap's cheeks and jawline in an awkward hug. It was a good thing he didn't technically breathe through his nonexistent mouth, because he'd be suffocating from how long his face was being squashed into Sapnap's lips.

Then he was being squished against the fireborn's stubbled cheek, a deep, elated purr jiggling his entire body. Karl leaned into it, burying his face into Sapnap's cheek and wrapping himself in the familiar, comforting scent of charcoal and dirt. It felt different now, now that they knew.

Sapnap held him at arms length, hands still wrapped firmly around his chest. Karl’s legs dangled limply below, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sapnap asked earnestly. Karl shot him a flat look and getsured first at his mouthless face, then at his fingerless hand-nubs, and then finally over his whole body in general. The fireborn winced, realizing that Karl physically couldn’t.

It was fine now, though, because they finally knew.

When they finally went to bed that night, he was cocooned between their chests, in a warm embrace formed by the blanket and the two bodies of his fiancés. He wasn’t a pet, he wasn’t dead, and they. Knew.

He still couldn’t build up enough body mass to grow back to normal size and retain his human shape, but it was more bearable now, now that his fiancés knew who he was.

Taglist!

@brick-a-doodle-do @i-am-beckyu @da3dm @kayla-crazy-stuffs @local-squishmallow @skullsnbruises @munchkin1156 @gt-daboss

[javaghoul]

Baby write me a jealous Arima, Tsukiyama and Yomo too please!!

Hope ya doing good with your work stuff and that your tattoo is satisfactory

I read this and was creeped out because I forgot I said I have a new tattoo. I was like "😱 how did they know 😱"

Work&my tattoo are both good thanks. Hope you're well too.

Jealousy hcs pt2

Arima

Deeeeefinitely gets jealous, although you'd never guess by his outward appearance

I think Arima is someone who doesn't fully understand his own feelings at times, and when he gets a certain way, will overcompensate to appear "normal"

So when he starts feeling jealous, he'll become more friendly, more chatty, more SMILEY in public around his s/o...

...which is odd because he's a reserved guy. That will be an indicator that something's off

Y'know how the guy is too busy for life? Yeah, well jealous Arima will suddenly find the time to be more present in his partner's life. Will be able to hang out more, will show up unexpectedly. Definitely odd

In public, there's nothing too obvious to suggest he's feeling upset about anything. Or at least to those who don't know him too well. Behind closed doors, it's different

If his s/o or even someone who he is just interested in, starts paying a lot of attention to someone else, Arima will not hesitate to ask about it

It will be abrupt too:

S/o: *pottering about the house happily, living their best life*

Arima: "Why are you spending so much time with X? Do you have feelings for them?"

And you better believe he'll be SCRUTINIZING their reaction more than their reply

I also think that, if not satisfied with their response or how things are going, Arima is the type to snoop through their phone

Isn't above "having a friendly chat" with the other person whilst being in uniform and carrying a briefcase

Idk, I think Arima is a very grey character, I don't think he's had many opportunities at healthy relationships, and being a nosey detective, infringing on privacy isn't as toxic a trait to him as it would be to others'

Damn, Arima 🫤

Tsukiyama

In part 1, for some characters, I said that they wouldn't really get jealous because their confidence is good...

Tsukiyama isn't immune to jealousy; he's confident, mostly, but he's also very competitive. If his s/o or love interest seems to be distracted by someone else, he'll notice

And want to know why

He doesn't approach his s/o to begin with. Instead, he wants to find out about the other person who is demanding their attention. Jealous Shuu becomes somewhat of a social media stalker

Once he's figured out what this person is about, he'll become more verbal about it with his partner. There'll be questions disguised as "curiosity" - which is kinda accurate, but he's mostly gauging his partner's reaction

He'll encourage an opportunity for them to meet. Shuu will likely want to arrange something so he can ensure he has the upper hand

If all went to plan and he was able to meet the person, it would go one of two ways: he'd either be the perfect, polite partner, or he'd be a dick. It depends on what the other person does

If it goes badly, and if the other person is a ghoul, Shuu isn't above being openly hostile. He knows his ability, is well-aware of the power-house he has behind him in terms of his family, and simply wouldn't be able to help himself. If the individual was human, think cutting remarks and showboating

He's also one to casually point out the other person's flaws to his partner

Gets argumentative. Snappy. He won't admit he's jealous, but will find some issue with this person and use that as a reason for why his s/o should stay away from them

Failing that, he may "speak 😉😉" to the other person.

Yomo

These hcs are going to be all over the place, because emotionally, Yomo is all over the place, so I'm staying true to character lol.

Jealous type 💯

The thing with this idiot is he has a lot of very big feelings but no idea how to express them

So when his partner starts talking about a work colleague, or hangs out with someone new, Yomo can't articulate:

"Spending time with you is the best part of my day, and now all you do is talk about X. Why? Am I losing you to them? How do I stop this?", instead he sulks

He may start cooling off a little. In his head, he may think that if he backs off, his partner will chase after him. A bit like a "test" of sorts

Whenever the other person is mentioned, or is in the same place Yomo is in, the entire atmosphere changes. Yomo is very good at giving off "I really don't like you" vibes. Makes everyone feel very uncomfortable

Has moments where he's exceptionally clingy. He'll get grumpy if his partner is messing around on their phone, will be more tactile and cuddly...he wants their attention

Can get very shitty with his s/o. It goes beyond his usual one-word answers. It seems like he's looking for a fight all the time

Fortunately, I don't think he's the type to be able to maintain this behaviour for too long. Unfortunately, I think he IS the type to clear the air by having a big row with his partner rather than a conversation

He'll get everything off his chest, thoroughly confuse/upset his s/o and then feel terrible about it

He won't feel jealous anymore (kind of) but he will feel bad for causing these problems to begin with. Will then need reassurance that everything's going to be ok

(see what I mean about him being a mess?)

Make-up/emotional/idunnohowtospeaksoheressomethingphysical sex

[isagrimorie]

Kathryn Janeway, 2+3+20 for the character ask meme?

for this ask game

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

Janeway is a scientist. She was a Science Officer who ranked up to Captain.

Also, I love how when Janeway is furious the looser she gets, the way she struts, and swagger. And drapes on her Captain's chair, and each passing year, the more 'IDGAF' she gets.

First-year in the Delta Quadrant was all about diplomacy and trying to talk to people by season 7, when Chakotay claimed that he was following Janeway's example using diplomacy first I snorted.

Because at that point, Janeway's firmly in the IDGAF zone. She's gonna use diplomacy as a starting point but she's also carrying a big stick behind her back.

Lokirrim Captain: You're still required to submit to inspection.

Janeway: our sensors should also confirm that our weapons are ready to fire. We're both reasonable people. I suggest a compromise. Your vessel will escort us through Lokirrim territory. That way, you can keep an eye on us, make sure we don't reactivate our holodecks. The other alternative is... we destroy your ship.

Janeway Diplomacy is to Speak Softly and Carry a Big Saber so You can Rattle it, and then if they betray you or are actively hostile, stab them.

3. Least favorite canon thing about this character?

I don't know if I can think of any -- possibly it's her overconfidence in Unimatrix Zero but that's just not great writing and honestly, if they massaged it a little more, I could buy it. It was just clumsily done to get to that point.

Maybe it's her tendency to prioritize Humans over other species? I can't really blame her for wanting a Hologram boy toy, after several years she's allowed. Although, over the safety of her crew? No, I don't believe it.

But mostly even her flaws and prejudices are interesting.

Maybe the least favorite canon thing where Janeway chose not to pursue anything romantic in the show? Romancing and having different love interests are okay for male captains but not women captains. Kate Mulgrew was very protective of that, and I get it because it was the 90s, and people would perceive it differently.

Oh, another thing I dislike: The new beta canon thing-- how Janeway kept a hold of her ex-fiancee years after he broke up with her. And also, I'm not sure I like the whole Amelia Janeway of it all they added in the books.

20. Which other character is the ideal best friend for this character, the amount of screentime they share doesn't matter?

I do think it's still Tuvok. Especially whenever Tuvok passive-aggressively plays the 'I'm her Best Friend' game against Chakotay. And he's the only one keeping score.

Not an ideal best friend but I love the headcanon that Sisko and Janeway were either in the same class in the Academy or were in similar circles in the Academy.

[athenasdaydreams]

miss america | chapter iii

pairing: bucky barnes x fem!reader

series summary: you're steve's sister, and bucky barnes' girlfriend. and maybe also a supersoldier from the 40s

chapter summary: you say goodbye to bucky before he's shipped off to England, and you receive some news.

chapter warnings: little bit of joking about the possibility of stucky,

A/N: actually finished writing this because I got a 4.0 and felt like I should celebrate

series masterlist ♡ masterlist ♡ next chapter

Steve dejectedly stepped down from the platform in the army recruitment centre. Every guy that stood on it could actually envision themselves joining the army. Not Steve though; he wasn't even tall enough to see himself in the reflection of a soldier.

"Come on, you're kinda missing the point of a double date," Bucky said as he pushed Steve from behind. "I don't think you can call it a double date anymore, since Ruth ran off," you said pointedly. "We're going to get some drinks at the bar nearby, y'know to celebrate me leaving," Bucky told Steve.

"We're not celebrating that you're leaving James," you scolded. "Okay, doll, 'commemorating'. Is that better? Jeez, you sound like Ma," Bucky responded while you shook your head in annoyance.

"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up with you," Steve said, with his hands in his pocket.

"You really gonna do this again?"

"Well it's a fair; I'm gonna try my luck,"

"As who, Steve from Ohio?" You asked, the sarcasm evident. "They'll catch you." You took on a more caring tone.

"Or worse, they'll actually take you," Bucky stated, unabashedly showing his concern and worry for his friend.

"Who needs parents when they have you two..." Steve muttered, his words unheard by the pair. "Look, I know you two don't think I can do this-"

"This isn't a back alley Steve." Bucky said, his annoyance with Steve's stubbornness rising. "It's war!"

"I know it's a war-"

"Why are you so keen to fight?" You asked him, not understanding why someone would put themselves in so much danger willingly. "There are so many important jobs!"

"What do you want me to do? Collect scrap metal in my little red wagon?" Steve asked sarcastically.

"Yes! Why not?!"

"I'm not going to sit in a factory Bucky-"

"I don't-"

"Bucky! Come on, there are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them," Steve argued.

"But-" you tried to reason with Steve.

"You get to help people like Ma, you're a nurse. The least I could do is help the country by fighting for it like Pa," Steve continued." That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."

"Right, cause you've got nothing to prove."

"We should go, your Ma asked us to be back for dessert," you said while you tugged on Bucky's sleeve, not willing to see them so hostile towards each other.

Bucky relented as he started stepping backwards. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back."

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Steve joked.

That put a smile on Bucky's face. "You're a punk," he said as he went in for a hug. "Jerk."

Most weren't as lucky as you were, to have a brother who didn't want to fight who they were dating (at least most of the time). You were frankly glad that they were best friends.

"Take care of my girl while I'm gone would ya?" Bucky said as he walked over to you and fit his hand around your waist. "Hey, she was my sister first before she was your girlfriend," Steve challenged.

You all snickered at that. "Steve make sure you don't stay up too late missing Bucky after he's gone; he's my boyfriend not yours," you smiled.

"Don't win the war until I get there!"

Bucky did a salute to Steve as he turned around to walk with you to his house. You loved going to his house, and his parents loved you. Winifred, or Winnie as she asked you to call her, treated you and Steve like her own children, being Steve's secondary pillar of support after your mother's death. Bucky had three younger sisters, but he was closest to Rebecca, the youngest. Becca idolised Bucky, and wanted to be just like her big brother. Her and Bucky's age gap of 16 years was never a problem when she wanted him to play dolls with him when she was younger. Becca adored you too, Bucky joking that she liked you more than she liked him. With Bucky's two other younger sisters, Marjorie and Betty, busy with high school, you were the most available to talk to her or braid her hair.

Bucky knocked at the door, the smell of freshly baked mock cherry pie wafting through the door. "Looks like she made your favourite dessert," you smiled as Becca opened the door.

"Look what the cat dragged in," she said as she stepped to the side to let you two in. "So excited to see me," Bucky laughed as he ruffled her hair. As you walked through the hallway that led to the main living room, memories of Steve chasing you through them flooded through your mind. With your mother busy at the hospital trying to make ends meet, Winnie always made sure you two had food to eat and a roof over your heads. Literally. When the roof of your cheap rental house collapsed, she was the one to offer the three of you the spare room. You remembered having dinner here the day before you left to Connecticut to stay with your aunt and Winnie barely let you go the whole evening.

"Dessert's almost ready. You two have fun at the expo?" George Barnes asked his son as he closed the book he was reading. "I'd spend eternity watching paint dry if she was next to me," Bucky replied as he sat down on the plush couch. Mr Barnes chuckled. "Young love... Your Ma and I were like this too." A scarlet blush formed on you cheeks. "I'll go inside to see if Winnie needs help with anything." you walked away and into the kitchen, beckoning Becca to join you.

"Are you going to marry Jamie?" Becca asked, her innocent eyes sparkling right up at you. You choked on air. Indeed, you two had brought up the idea some time before, but with him leaving for England, you hadn't put any thought into it. "Maybe once the war's over."

"There you are! I haven't seen you in ages. James is always keeping you for himself and never bringing you over," Winnie said as she gave you a hug that could have made up for all those years you hadn't seen her after going to Connecticut. She handed you two plates of mock cherry pie and asked if you could bring them out to the living room.

You mostly ate in silence as Winnie asked Bucky if he had packed everything.

"I'll really miss you Jamie."

"I'll miss you too Beck," Bucky said, or at least you thought he did. He was busy stuffing his mouth with Mock Cherry Pie. "Bucky, nobody's going to take the plate away from you. Slow down," You said with a laugh.

These moments were so domestic. Ones that you'd look back on if Bucky ever- no, that wouldn't happen. Bucky would return home after the war and you would get married and get a nice house far away from busy New York. With a cat maybe. Bucky had always wanted a cat; a white fluffy one.

While these thoughts occupied your mind all the way home, you saw a crinkled letter outside you and Steve's tiny apartment. "I'm not even gone yet and you're already getting love letters," Bucky, who had offered to walk you home because "It's too dangerous for a pretty girl to be walking the streets alone at night", joked.

After scoffing at his comment and playfully punching him in the stomach, you passed him the letter for him to skim through. "They've stationed you at Camp Lehigh. Y'know, as a nurse for those poor people training."

"Really?" you asked with surprise. You had always thought they wouldn't send a nurse who couldn't read to a training camp. It was kind of a promotion.

"That's great doll. At least I can send my letters there to make sure everyone knows you're taken," Bucky teased.

Letters.

L-e-t-t-e-r-s, you mentally tried to spell out.

The simplest thing that every soldier wrote to whoever they were in love with while they were off at war. You couldn't have that same pleasure.

"Bucky, why bother sending me letters when you know I can't read them."

"Then I'll paint you the most beautiful paintings and send them to you if that's what it takes for you to see how much I'll miss you."

"What are you going to paint them with? You won't have paint where you're going."

"I'll paint 'em with my blood."

"You're so dramatic."

"You love it," Bucky said as he pushed open the door of your apartment.

"Finally, you decided to open the door. I was getting bored of listening to Mr Barnes being all sappy with his girlfriend," Steve said from the frayed couch.

"It's Sergeant Barnes to you, punk,"

"Yeah yeah, I'll miss you too Bucky,"

"I'll miss you James," You said as you put your hand to his cheek. "Don't call me that. I'm Bucky. Your Bucky. Always."

-

word count: 1.4k

tagged: @your-local-questioning-agender

[mdhwrites]

How would you imagine Caleb and Evelyn personalities?

OOH! I like this one! Admittedly more for Caleb than for Evelyn because we don't even get relations for Evelyn. We are almost entirely in the dark for even actions on her part besides falling in love with a human and taking them home. For Caleb, falling in love and leaving his brother behind is pretty much all we know about him too action wise but we can at least extrapolate a little from this.

Let's start with Caleb because he is the more robust topic and the honestly funnier one. So we have an orphan who was then adopted by a community of witch hunters, looked after his brother, was taught to hate all witches... And then fucked off without telling his brother so he could go bang a witch.

There's two main ways to make that sequence of events function AT ALL. The first is that you make him tired and kind of an asshole. Losing his parents, caring for his brother, etc. like that makes him want an escape. Want to just say fuck it to everything, even if it means breaking his morals. When a witch tempts him with a chance to leave it all behind, he takes it, even if it traps him with her.

The main problem is that that's a really unattractive personality (even if one could argue it's Luz's personality eventually) so why in the world a witch would choose to fall in love with that is pretty questionable, especially when the guy comes from a society of people who want to murder her. It'd be really difficult to justify a meet cute between them so... I think Caleb was a himbo.

The dude was too dumb to realize that Evelyn was a witch until he'd already fallen in love, decided love mattered more than anything else, didn't remember to tell his brother because how to broach the subject made him worried and his brother probably showed up on one of his various trips to the Isles, not a permanent one. It also explains why he'd have his guard down still so Belos could murder him eventually. Just... kind and stupid and good for him for that.

And honestly, that fits what extremely little we know about Evelyn. We have to assume she left the Titan's Blood and she left a puzzle leading to it. So, bare minimum, she's smart. She also interacted with a culture that was actively hostile to her and that she had nothing to gain from due to it being at least technologically similar, if not worse, than the Isles. Something about them must have either benefited or amused her and honestly, I'd lean into witch culture for that. That she was a trickster and a manipulator, looking for people she could play with with her magic and riddles because she enjoyed it. Then comes a guy who falls for literally everything and still sees her as a friend in the end. That means a lot to her and she falls in love, wanting to play little pranks on him for the rest of her days.

Her personality traits are another reason why I can't stand by world weary Caleb either because she wouldn't find his bitterness or seriousness charming. He'd be a stick in the mud who wouldn't play along. That'd make him different but it would also make him boring. Also this one lacks the moral compass that apparently EVERY Golden Guard has and none of them really betray Belos maliciously, at least if you want to go off of Hunter, but because of a moral obligation.

At least from what the show wants Hunter's arc to be for rejecting Belos. -_-

Thank you though! I love shit like this because I get a real kick out of character and concept creation. As always, you guys want a story or something, or at least how I'd do it, go ahead and ask. I am a writer first, analyst second.

======+++++======

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[imsparky2002]

Ghouls and Monsters - The Human

(Fraidrien doesn't bother with any theatrics, just settling for waltzing on into the room.) 

Fraidrien: 'Sup, dude? Bootiful day, isn't it. 

(He offers a hand for Average Adrien to shake.)

Average Adrien: (Giggling) Yeah, I’ve had a pretty good day so far! What about you?

(His counterpart puts his hands behind his head.) 

Fraidrien: Oh you know, the usual. Making sure Gabriel knows I hate his guts, helping my partners and family scare the crap out of people, bein cute.

Average Adrien: (Fiddling with his fingers) That…sounds really cool. I always wished I had the guts to really stand up to my father before he got arrested for basically running an underground terrorist group.

Fraidrien: (Grimacing) What a scumbag. Mine hates monsters and Halloween, sure, but he doesn't have the guts to do anything about it.

Average Adrien: It’s just…I don’t get why you can hate someone just because they look different! What kind of reason is that? Most monsters are perfectly nice people just trying to live their lives…and yet humans treat them like they’re the devil incarnate.

Fraidrien: Well, look at it this way. When you were really really little, and your dad most likely told you to look out for the monster under your bed, what did you do?

Average Adrien: I would check, but mostly because I thought maybe if I was nice we could be friends.

Fraidrien: And that's because even then, you knew there was a chance it was kind. There are people out there who just... don't operate like that. They hear or even think about something or someone being different and it scares them. Most are passive, but others decide to get violent. Our world's not as hostile, but we aren't exactly holding hands with monsters.

Average Adrien: Yeah…I just wish things could be different. The group I started with Jesse and Missy, for humans on the monsters’ side, is getting bigger. But the process is really slow. I just…wish things could be different.

Fraidrien: Hey, the fact that your numbers are growing shows that you’re already starting to make change happen! Any progress is good progress!

Average Adrien: We can only hope. But enough serious stuff, tell me more about your world? You mentioned siblings? I have Felix, but he's my cousin, and not someone who I want to associate with at the moment.

Fraidrien: Me and Felix get along ok. He's more of a vigilante than a hero. I take it that yours isn't so neutral?

Average Adrien: Yeah…let’s just say, he picked up where my father left off, and then some!

Fraidrien: (Wincing) Yeesh... hope you've got Nathalie at least.

Average Adrien: Yeah, her and my mom. Mom and dad are divorced, and she and Nathalie worked to take down his group. They’re both really great.

Fraidrien: (Catlike grin) You know, I could transform and give your Gabriel a little visit. 

(Average Adrien looks confused but interested.)

Average Adrien: What do you mean transform?

Fraidrien: Cheshire! Time to spook! 

(He goes through his creepy transformation into Cat Astrophe, who cackles madly and takes his head off.)

Average Adrien: (Stares in awe) Woah! That’s, like, one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

Cat Astrophe: (Putting his head back on.) Well, as you can tell, I was always a fan of the Pumpkin King, so I decided to become one myself!

(He pulls out his bag of sweets.)

Cat Astrophe: What tickles your fancy? Or, my fancy, I should say. Any hobbies?

(Average Adrien chews on a piece of candy before swallowing it.)

Average Adrien: I’m a bit of a movie buff myself and I like video games. I really wasn’t allowed to do much when my father had custody, so a lot of things are still new to me, but I love getting to try something for the first time! It’s always so exciting.

Cat Astrophe: Cheshire! Fright's out! 

(He turns back into Fraidrien) 

Fraidrien: Ooh! I love games too! Not just horror ones, mind you. I may love all things creepy, but I can have other interests. 

(He then gets a warm smile.) 

Fraidrien: It was really nice to meet me.

Average Adrien: It was nice to meet you too, other me!

(Maridoll and her partners show up to cuddle with him. Scarynette and KagaRing do the same with Fraidrien, holding a drawing that Nath did of DracLuka.) 

Maridoll: Yes... it certainly was nice.

And that's the end of the Ghouls and Monsters crossover! Obviously, they will meet again, as shown in Weeby's Scare. Thanks as usual to her for helping with the dialogue. Make sure to reblog, reply, post and ask for more. @artzychic27 @msweebyness

[kyouka-supremacy]

you never miss about chuuaku can we hear more thoughts about them from you pretty please

Aawwwwww, thank you!!! Here's even more chuuaku thoughts. This is how their relationship would play out in my opinion:

Akutagawa joins the pm, picked up by Dazai. When he joins the pm, Chuuya is... Vaguely sympathetic for him, but not to a particularly great extent really. He's a traumatized kid from the slums, but that doesn't make him any different to like 95% of the other people Chuuya has met in the pm. Chuuya barely spares a thought for him beyond remarking how he's been twice unlucky to be recluted by Dazai of all people. He probably stops a second to wonder whether there was a meaning to Dazai choosing him - because nothing happens by chance with Dazai -, but doesn't waste too much thinking over it because it's useless to try and understand what goes through Dazai's twisted mind anyways. At this point Akutagawa just joined, and is probably not even aware of Chuuya's existence yet.

Akutagawa spends time in the pm under Dazai's training. Chuuya has slowly grown a subtle disliking for him– nothing like outright animosity, but he's annoyed, on one hand, by Akutagawa's ruthless and chaos-ridden way of executing missions, on the other, by how blindly loyal he is to Dazai. He doesn't really dwell on how Dazai is training Akutagawa; it's none of his business, he's in no place to judge how other pm members train their disciples, and it's the mafia, he never expected to find kindness in it to begin with; he'd twist his nose in disapproval whenever he catches a glimpse of what Dazai is doing to his trainee, but it's also like the tenth worst thing he's seen Dazai doing, so he doesn't really think about it.

Akutagawa, on the other end, is fastly growing hostile to Chuuya. He adores Dazai and trusts anything he says, and Dazai is constantly acting like he hates Chuuya– how could it be any different? He's still a child, and a very immature one at that. He's damaging a lot. Not to mention, he can sense Chuuya and Dazai share this connection, this complicity he can only dream to have with Dazai; his antipathy for Chuuya is heightened by jealousy in the partnership he shares with Dazai.

Dazai leaves, and hell breaks loose at the pm. Chuuya and Akutagawa are both left behind, alone and broken. They're hurting like no one can understand– no one except the other. And I don't think they talked about it right away, that year, or the year after that, and I don't think it visibly brought them closer in the immediate; but even then, they must know they're the only ones who can understand each other's pain. Especially on Chuuya's end, who is a little less repressed and a little more emotionally intelligent, this must have been the first time he felt strong sympathy for Akutagawa; because he's going through a lot, and he gets it. He gets what it feels like to be left behind without a warning or a word. He gets how it must have been, if possible, even worse for Akutagawa: because Chuuya loved Dazai, but he also hated him, and their relationship was so complex and infuriating it must have been in part relieving when he left. But Akutagawa loved Dazai blindly and without reservations, and the whole world collapsed upon him when he left, because he was his whole world, and now he's not there anymore. He was just 16.

The ship kind of sails off from there, slowly, gradually. Everyone at the pm expected Akutagawa to leave in the following days. For some reason, he doesn't. Things slowly go back to normal. Years pass, and time heals, I guess. Akutagawa's furious rage through which he would take out his pain gradually morphs in efficiency in carrying out his missions. He has to relearn what it means to have free will, but he's slowly coping. He got a promotion. Overall, he's more mature, and that ends up shrinking the distance between him and Chuuya. At first, it happens casually: waiting together that it stops raining so they can go home after a long mission, and Chuuya initiates conversation. Eventually, they end up spending more time together– at first coincidentally, because of their shared status of high ranking members, and later intentionally. Soon enough, they realize the other was actually so different than the image they had made up of them; and with that unconsciously arises the wish to learn what the other is actually like. And it's gradual and unintentional, untill they get to a point where they've become each other's safe place– they become the person they know isn't going to abandon them. It's kinda sweet :)

[that-left-turn]

I feel stupid. I assumed that MMB was advocating for caryl but wasn’t getting what she wanted. maybe not. Like I was thinking there were interviews or something where she was advocating for the romance and was being disrespected but I can’t find anything that says that. I was ready to boycott to support her but it was me misunderstanding and maybe we are getting the story she’s behind? So confused now.

Actors sign NDAs and they get briefed on the promo strategy or given talking points when it's time to promote a new season. It varies from show to show and with studio too. Melissa has been told—you'll notice this with all cast if you compare different interviews during the same season—what topics she's expected to hype. You'll see her dance around certain questions and then bring the topic back around to safe ground. She's a pleasure to watch when she gets in her element (i.e. forgets that there are people watching her) because she's very savvy in how she handles it.

Melissa's always cautious about not violating her NDA and Caryl is most definitely covered by it, so the most you'll find is hints of what she's thinking. Like how she called Daryl Carol's life partner.

As a woman, you have to be cautious about what you advocate for behind the scenes. Whether you're a writer in the room, an actor on set, or an EP giving notes. If you have a male showrunner, you fear getting labeled "difficult to work with," which will happen if you have too many opinions. "Too many" is usually any opinion that isn't supported by the showrunner. It's the same way you get labeled 'bitch' if you don't find misogynist jokes funny.

As a result, female creatives usually pick a 'hill to die on,' which is the one element you'll bring to the showrunner. That plot point or story arc, or whatever that really deserves risking your neck for. For Melissa, it's clear that this was Carol's grief over losing Sophia. I'm sure she had multiple reasons for choosing it, but logistically, it's simpler because it's only Carol's character arc involved. It doesn't involve the main character of the show and she doesn't risk being called a "hysterical romantic," or told that "all women can think of is the romance." If you work on a show that's anything other than a sudsy drama à la Shondaland or a YA show and the showrunner is a man, you are very hesitant to mention anything about 'romance' unless specifically asked to weigh in on a romantic arc that someone else conceived.

Melissa is in a hostile, male-dominated environment and you can see how she handles that in the way she padded Zabel's ego and deferred to him during the group interviews at SDCC. If you paid attention, you probably noticed that she also let him do the lying when a question would have required her to if she had replied. Zabel is her boss. Even if she's an EP on the show, he's still her boss. He can take whatever she says under advisement, but he doesn't have to and to be honest, most male showrunners are either too cocky or too insecure to want to listen to the women around them.

Melissa could've advocated for Caryl behind closed doors, but even if she didn't, it doesn't mean that what we get is "the story she's behind." Her enthusiasm about Carol's Sophia arc doesn't even mean that she got what she wanted. She wished to deal with Carol's trauma over her daughter and she gets that. Is the storyline written the way Melissa envisioned it? Probably not. She would've been very careful about giving Zabel constructive criticism when she was getting an arc that she requested. ("Damn, women are never happy.") AMC marketing expects Melissa to be delightful when she does promo, whether she's pleased or not, and she probably hasn't seen the final cuts, so she doesn't know what'll end up onscreen.

A lot of the time, female creatives give credit and compliment the men in charge in the hopes that maybe there's more of a chance they're willing to listen next time. I think most fans misunderstand how much of a tightrope dance it is behind the scenes because AMC has done a good job of selling the illusion that they're all one big family. The reality is more that of a dysfunctional family Thanksgiving dinner where the bird's still raw when carved.