#lives. not even knowing if the people they care about are alive or not

[unacknowledgeable]

Continued: Serial killer reader x yan!batfam

.........Ooooookay, I guess yall really liked my serial killer!reader? I guess I'm honor bound to continue??? Oh noooo, the horrorrrr. But seriously, I'm glad! Because it only gets worse from here! >:}

Anyway, this was really difficult to write because I literally could not find good starting and stopping points, I tried to make my thoughts flow into each other as seamlessly as possible but there's SO MUCH I wanna write for this, it’s eating me alive, (also like, feel free to send asks bc I get sidetracked a lot in my writing and looove just answering questions as jumping off points, so please gimme gimme)

That being said, enjoy!

WARNING for disturbing imagery, untreated mental illness and trauma, blood, and depictions of murder (seriously)

So obviously, this M/c is a serial killer, so how do they go about keeping this hidden while simultaneously living with the world's greatest detectives?

Simple, ya don't.

Okay so that's not completely true. Compared to the average criminal, you put in a lot of effort to not get caught, but the average criminal doesn’t live with THE Batman either

Compared to the rest of your family though? You basically put in the bare minimum required to hide your… unsavory activities

Of course, you'll wash your blood soaked clothes yourself, in the lesser used washrooms of the manor, but once in a blue moon, when you’re too tired to care or your catch of the night put up a greater fight then anticipated, you'll throw your tainted clothes in with the rest of the families

And they just… don't fucking notice.

Or when they do, they just assume that one of the others had an unfortunate run in with some criminal while in civvies 

You've overheard many admonishments from Dick or Alfred over the years, telling Tim or Jason to “Please stop putting bloody clothes in with the whites, there's a basket for them two feet away!”

It was always pretty hard trying to keep a straight face when hearing those scoldings, but you always did, you didn't want Damian demanding to know what was so funny and dampening your mood

Or Cass giving you one of her calculated looks and suddenly getting nosy, that would make losing your clothes to Tim’s closet a lot less worth the laugh.

It’s just that, this assumption is waaaaay more plausible then say, the serial killer they've been tracking relentlessly for literal years, is just…tossing their VERY incriminating evidence in with the family's laundry, then passing out on some couch in one of the many sitting rooms of the manor, while the family goes out and discovers their latest victim

It's just easier to assume it was one of the others, Dick would never connect you, of all people, to the gore tossed haphazardly in the hamper, it's way more likely to be one of the many crime fighters of the family, not the soft spoken hermit of the manor, and even if that was a possibility in his mind, you don't even have a scratch on you

Not that he’s ever bothered to check you for injuries before, like he does almost religiously for the others

And Alfred? Well he's of the belief you'd grown out of your… tendencies, that it was a one time thing. Despite his reputation as an omnipotent presence in the manor, he never did realize just how deep your mental issues ran. Not until it was far too late.

You don't even have a specific weapon either, half of the time you'll just take one of Alfred's steak knives and hit the lower levels of Gotham, wandering around the decrepit streets till you found someone suitable 

Other times, when you’re in an exceptionally bad mood, be it because Damian said something particularly venomous or Alfred missing an important event for you because something came up with one of your siblings, or even when your classmates decided it would be funny to key your car-

Or it's just one of those days

Those days when the abstract voices simmer louder in the back of your mind, pushing and nagging. Images that you desperately want to forget but can't help the need to recreate. All threatening to boil over until you either crumble into a sobbing heep on the floor or go out and do the one thing that has always been able to shut. them. up.

Those days you’re… forgetful

On those days, you forget to grab one of Alfred’s pristine knives, but that's fine, Gothams streets are littered with dangerous items, so there's no shortage of tools at your disposal. You're creative, resourceful, you can use whatever's on hand at the time, whatever's in reach.

But if there's nothing? No sharp objects, no discarded bricks or loose pipes or even a half empty beer bottle, well… you're no stranger getting your hands dirty

Those times however, are pretty hazy in the aftermath.

You’ll forget certain details, like how they gripped your arms in a vain attempt to draw your own blood as you drew theirs, in the event that if they dont get away, at least you'd be caught, (all it leaves are dark, tender bruises along your arms, that you'll spend weeks poking and prodding at, in the hopes of reliving that moment)

Or how they'd flail their legs, inches from the ground, trying to kick your legs out from beneath you (it was kinda cute, how much shorter they were then you, how little their attempts to free themselves did when it mattered the most)

Even their last, warbling pleas for mercy were lost to you. You know they said something, could vaguely recall that they spoke, too absorbed in watching their bloody lips turn blue as the oxygen in their body slowly ran out (No no please please…My girls are waiting)

No, no you don't remember much but what you do remember, what you always, always remember, are the eyes 

You remember the tears, the fear, the acceptance, the rage, the refusal, the disbelief, the confusion, the indignation, and most of all the recognition. 

Whether it be them recognizing just who you are or realizing that this is who will end their life, you don't know, you’ve never bothered to ask. 

You prefer to think it’s the latter, it's hard to explain, but it makes you feel so so important

When it’s over, and the adrenaline in your veins soften, your breathing calmer, the blood rushing through your ears no longer so deafening, and you can feel the pleasing ache in your limbs, you sit, and asses the damage, as you always do

You always make sure to grab their wallet, take out the ID and memorize it, before gingerly putting it back, and finally walking away, head clear and numb in the cold Gotham air

There's no real reason why, its mostly force of habit at this point, it started with your very first kill, you don't feel like breaking the little ritual now, or anytime soon

It just feels wrong, to take a life and not even know whose life it is...was.

Later, long past any reasonable hour, you lay in bed, fresh out of the shower and thumbing the bruises, listening to the voices over the family's communicators (you stole one of Dicks, he has a nasty habit of leaving them around the manor) as they patrol the Gotham streets for crime and mayhem

You honestly can't help the small smile that graces your face, falling into sleep, as you hear the quiet, defeated sigh over the highly protected com link, “B, I've found another one, it's…it’s pretty rough tonight”

The pause is long before a small, gruff, “I have your location, ETA in 10 minutes”

You slept pretty good that night

Damn, sometimes the shit I come up with scares even me, again, feel free to send asks (shh I'm not begging), the brain worms are always hungry and I have sooooo many thoughts about this thing. lol 

Hope you enjoyed!

[yoitsjay]

Hey I absolutely LOVE you…….(r) writing style. Do/Can you make a fic about what makes BatBoys feel like “home” with reader? Like relationship wise. If this doesn’t make sense I’m sorry, this m first time making a request 😭✌️. Ty's!

No it makes sense! Thank you for the request!

Like Home

Summary: How you're the batboys home.

Warnings: tooth rotting fluff

Bruce Wayne:

To Bruce Wayne, home isn't a place. Its you.

Typically Bruce is wary of genuine, committed relationships, his kids definitely warned him about people dating him just for his money, but when he met you, right off the bat you were so different.

From the moment you rushed to pay for dinner before Bruce could was the moment he knew he wanted you.

Home to Bruce is waking up in the morning with you still fast asleep in his arms, lips parted slightly as soft snores escape your lips. Home to him is holding you from behind as you cook breakfast for everyone instead of Alfred.

Home to him is holding you close as he- (we won't finish that sentence)

you, and all the things you do, big or small, mean the world to him, and he wants things to stay like this forever…

Dick Grayson:

Home to Dick Grayson is freedom, or it was until he met you.

He had bumped into you in a coffee shop and you were in a pretty heated argument with one of the other patrons there, defending an elderly lady who was only just trying to buy coffee.

When the guy had raised his hand to you, Dick was about to step in and stop the fight, only to see you deflect the blow, twist the mans wrist and pin him to the wall within seconds.

After that he had to ask for your number.

Then on patrol the following evening, a new hero arrived in gotham, someone oddly familiar to him.

You and Dick started working together on patrol, and in person too, since you had been one of the new interns at Wayne Enterprises, so it was a good excuse to see you more often. Though you both had no idea about each others identities until one really rough battle… and to make a long story short you ended up in his apartment, kissing him when you had accidentally knocked his mask off.

“Dick!?”

You ended up revealing yourself that night, too, and after that, you and Dick started dating. Being with you, fighting alongside you, and cherishing freedom quickly changed to cherishing you, wanting you to be his forever. You became something he wanted to come back to alive every night… and that was good enough for him.

Jason Todd:

You had always been his home. From the moment you met Jason as kids, he always loved you, cared for you, and you did the same.

When he died you were broken, you mourned for who knows how long, and everyone knew that your spark had died along with Jason.

When he came back, you were stunned.

You had just gotten home from work, and noticed your living room window wide open, and in the room itself stood a large man.

You wasted no time in attacking. Jason and you trained together as kids, and after his death you continued training under Bruce and Dick, so you liked to think you were pretty good.

But for some reason your intruder wasnt hitting you back.

He only fell to his knees and he hugged your waist tightly.

“I’m home- im home- im so sorry-” He whispered, and you froze.

“Jason…?”

“Im home baby, im not leavin’ you again”

you both cried, for a while probably, but despite the tears, the trauma he revealed to you, you did nothing but comfort and love him, and hold him close as he cried into your chest about how much he missed you.

he found his home in you a long time ago… “If only i hadnt been so reckless, i would have never lost you-”

“you didnt lose me Jason, ive been here, waiting for the time i could see you again… it came alot sooner… Screw you Thalia Al Ghul, and thank you for bringing my Jason back to me”

Tim Drake:

You had Tim had been dating for a few years at this point, it had been more on the arranged side, Your father and Bruce were really close friends, and they had agreed after finding out that you and Tim were the same age and both single, that you two had to at least meet, and talk and get to know each other.

You agreed, Tim was more reluctant.

Turns out you and him were already friends. You had been close in High School, though you both never revealed much about your family lives, so being rich in Gotham kind of flew under the radar.

You and Tim both laughed about it over lunch, though in that time you really started to get to know each other. Had you always been so beautiful?

After a little bit, he asked you out officially. You said yes, and your relationship evolved into something he couldn't ever give up. Similar to Bruce, he found comfort in the littlest things. The way you held him ran your fingers through his hair and made his shoulders sag in relaxation. That was home to him.

Damian Wayne:

Damian Wayne hated you.

he despised you, and you had no idea why.

You were Alfred’s niece, and after your parents had died you had come to gotham to stay with Alfred since he had become your legal guardian.

You tried to mind your own business, you helped alfred clean, became a maid of sorts to earn your keep, even though Bruce, more than once assured you that you didnt need to worry. You still did.

Damian took advantage of that and took advantage of the whole maid aspect, you did a lot for that guy and yet, he despised you.

Then he found out that you had been asked out on a date by someone from Gotham Academy, a school you both went too.

“You’re not allowed.”

Damian stated as he walked up to you in the manor, and you looked over from where you were cleaning. “Huh?” You questioned, unsure as to what he was talking about.

“Your not allowed to go on a date with that child. Your my girlfriend now.” Damian stated, and your eyes went wide.

You kinda… just couldnt say no.

after that Damian started treating you a lot nicer, he did a lot of small things for you, payed attention to the things you looked at or liked, and more often then not, the same item would be on your bed.

he found comfort in the things you did for him, and you had no idea, but he treated you like dog shit because of his fat crush on you.

what… The… fuck.

Tag list:

All: @only-my-unexistent-fiances @francesfarhadi

Batfam:

Bruce Wayne: @ilaiise

Dick Grayson: @ilaiise

Jason Todd: @ilaiise

Tim Drake: @ilaiise

Damian Wayne: @ilaiise

[hhghgt]

undercover agents Buck & Eddie

Buck and Eddie were undercover agents on a high-stakes mission, tasked with infiltrating a covert arms deal. Forced to work together despite their clashing personalities, they spent most of their time snapping at each other. The mission had been a disaster, a whirlwind of close calls and chaos, leaving them both battered and bruised but somehow alive. Back at the safe house, the adrenaline still coursed through their veins, making the air between them feel volatile, ready to ignite.

Buck leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath, while Eddie paced across the room like a restless predator, his jaw tight, fists clenching and unclenching as if trying to contain the storm inside him.

“You think you’re some kind of hero, don’t you?” Eddie snapped, his voice razor-sharp, slicing through the tension like a blade.

Buck straightened, his eyes narrowing as he met Eddie’s glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Eddie stopped pacing abruptly, pivoting to face him, his expression a mix of anger and exasperation. “do you even think! You just dive in headfirst. You treat every mission like a damn game of chicken.”

Buck bristled, crossing his arms defensively. “I didn’t hear you complaining when it worked,” he shot back, his tone defiant.

Eddie took a step closer, his movements deliberate and charged. “Worked? You made yourself a target! You nearly got yourself killed! You don’t get to gamble with your life like that—not when other people are counting on you.”

The accusation hit Buck like a punch to the gut, but he refused to show it. Instead, he pushed off the wall, his voice rising to match Eddie’s. “What’s your problem, huh? You were fine. I made sure of it. You think I don’t know what I’m doing?”

He added with a forced smirk. “You think you know me, Eddie? You don’t.”

Eddie’s eyes darkened, and in a flash, he grabbed Buck by the front of his shirt, slamming him back against the wall with a force that rattled the room. The air left Buck’s lungs in a grunt, and for a moment, he was too stunned to respond.

“This isn’t a joke, Buck!” Eddie shouted, his voice raw with emotion. His face was inches from Buck’s, his eyes blazing with fury, but beneath the anger was something deeper—fear. “Do you even care that you almost died tonight? Or are you so damn selfish you don’t think about the people who’d have to live without you?”

The words hit harder than Buck expected, cutting through his defenses. He froze, his gaze dropping. “As if there’s anyone who would care,” he muttered, his voice quieter now, almost broken. “But I couldn’t let you get hurt. You’ve got Christopher. You’ve got people who love you. I don’t have that.”

Eddie’s grip on Buck’s shirt loosened, his anger giving way to shock. The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Buck’s confession hanging between them like a storm cloud.

“You’re not invincible, Buck,” Eddie said at last, his voice trembling as he lifted Buck’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. “And I can’t—I won’t—keep watching you destroy yourself like this.”

Buck swallowed hard, his throat tightening with unspoken words. “Eddie…” he started, his voice softer now, hesitant. “It’s fine. You don’t have to act like you care. I know you hate my guts.”

Eddie let out a bitter, humorless laugh, stepping back as if burned. “Hate you?” he repeated, running a hand through his hair. “If I hated you, I wouldn’t be standing here, yelling at you for almost getting yourself killed. You think I enjoy this? That I don’t care?”

Buck stayed against the wall, his heart hammering in his chest. There was something raw and unguarded in Eddie’s voice that left him speechless.

“Just… stop being so reckless,” Eddie muttered, his tone strained and quiet now. He turned away, his shoulders tense, refusing to look at Buck. “Because I can’t—” His voice cracked, and he exhaled sharply. “I can’t lose you.”

The vulnerability in Eddie’s words left Buck reeling. He stayed where he was, his breath shallow, the weight of everything sinking in. For the first time in a long time, Buck didn’t have a clever retort, didn’t have the words to fill the silence.

And for once, the silence didn’t feel like something he needed to fix. It felt like something they both needed to understand.

[f4xy]

my headcanons on sg s2 gals

just what i think they'll do in general, imma leave this chronologically too

044 (Seo Nyeo)

An astrological asshole at best.

She's Mi Nyeo level unhinged that can predict shit on other people, with the harshest truths too because she's super brash and is incredibly self-serving.

Nobody likes her, to where if there's a marble game in season 2 you bet her ass is gonna get dragged out too.

basically that one kid everyone warned you about and you know EXACTLY why

095 (Young-Mi)

She just wants to be left alone with Hyun-Ju honestly

just genuinely wholesome despite her traumas

Has permanent financial trauma after she got out, in a way she wants to restart her life and go from there

Will cook with Geum-Ja dinner for all :D except not even she knows if she's a good cook or not

120 (Hyun Ju)

Yes she fucking carried the whole show, yes she does not fuck around with guns

Reality is she just wants to be accepted and be left alone with that one ounce of validation to hold on, even if it's just Young-Mi giving her that

Bet she knows some gals in Thailand too via the internet and find solace in them, as much solace as she finds with her friends irl

149 (Geum Ja)

Great mom, but justifies her son way too much

Nobody can shit on her son BUT her

Very accepting somehow

Your classic asian grandma who happens to know every known korean recipe, but budgeted

196 (Kang Mi-Na)

she probably follows the whole floptropica shit on tiktok

probably was a tiktok livestreamer who failed, definitely pro-crypto

look if it aint that wasp's fault, you bet your ass she's gonna unseriously survive very long too

basically female thanos but instead of random raps you get like random yassified words

222 (Jun Hee)

When she gets out, she's straight up gonna file for a restraining order against Myung-Gi while getting her pregnancy stuff done

Does not care to whatever happened to Myung-Gi, they're so DONE.

Due to him she's probably incredibly anti-crypto as well.

Might get someone from her team (most likely Dae-Ho) to be her nanny since it's going to be overwhelming for her to handle literally everything, especially with the baby

380 (Se-Mi)

she is manipulative yet playful, but not in a way where she would lead one to be injured on purpose

lives in the present

makes too much edgy jokes based on her situation, one'll feel awkward for laughing

probably avidly smokes and drinks outside of the events

Guard 011 (No-Eul)

Just stressed the fuck out. She's only living for her newborn to be still alive at this point. Only then we'll see her smile.

fucking hates every single job she had in the past

needs about at least 3 therapists because she's that broken

Definitely secretly and slightly ripped. May not take out an entire gang kind tho

[sweetcherriexs]

die; b.e.

Ever feel like you’ve done absolutely nothing right in your life? Like anything you did, said or thought was wrong. You couldn't ever do anything right. Like you were never meant to feel okay. Like every single thing you’ve ever accomplished was… out of pure pity from God? 

It’s the worst fucking feeling.

You can’t be dead because that’s unfair to people who love you. You can’t be dead because you’d seem pathetic. You can’t be dead because you’re a fucking coward. 

But you can’t exactly be alive either because why the fuck did you exist? Like genuinely… why on earth were you born? If only to suffer and suffer until you finally break down and crumble.

You’re too selfless for your own good but you’re also the most selfish person on earth. You don’t deserve the love you receive. You don’t deserve anything good because the moment you have it, it’s right in your hands and then your drop it, scrambling to catch it but you’re too late and now it’s broken and you’ve lost it.

No one believes you when you tell them you’re a bad person. No… how could they? You’re so sweet, aren’t you? So loving and sweet and kind, huh?

But nobody sees or hears the thoughts in your head. God you’re a horrible person. You fuck up everything, every good thing coming your way because you too damn desperate to be loved. But you don’t get it, do you? Nobody will ever love you. You’ll always doubt every ‘I love you’ said to you. You’ll never feel the love that is given to you and it rips you apart from the inside out but there is nothing you can do.

You’ve given up. There is no escape. Only acceptance that you’re broken. And you can’t be fixed. But do you even want to be fixed? Do you want to be okay? Will anyone care when you’re finally okay? Will you be able to love as hard when you’re okay?

Will you want to live? Will you be able to confidently admit that you don’t want to take your last breath? You don’t know and it scared you.

Maybe you’re getting worse and worse on purpose. You’re doing this to yourself so you get attention from people that are just trying to survive. God, why can’t they just hate you? Hate you so you don’t have to explain the mess that is in your head. It’s such a dark place and most of the time you just wanna take a gun and pull the trigger. God, it would feel so good. To you…

But what about the people you’ve fooled? What about them? How will they know your true self? Who you really are and what’s really going through your mind every second of the day.

There were so many times you’ve thought you’re getting better, but, no, it was just another person your heart longed for that you've fooled because they cared…. They loved you and-

��Hey, babe” 

Your head shot up from staring at the ground, your fingers stopping their fidgeting on your lap as you’re met with your girlfriend’s eyes staring at you. 

“You okay?” 

You stayed silent for another second before breathing out. “Yeah uh… I’m fine” 

Billie swallowed harshly at your vague answer and pursed her lips. “Mrs. Harris called” She mumbled, sitting beside you on the sofa with a sigh. “Said you haven’t been going to your sessions” 

You took in a sharp breath then looked at her. “Yeah… I don’t need them” 

She looked at you with soft eyes and you wanted to puke. PLEASE PLEASE DONT FUCKING PITY ME. Your throat closed up and you looked away from her, squeezing your hands into fists. 

“Baby…” Billie starts but you cut her off.

“I can’t be fixed, Billie. I’m past fucking repair” You muttered harshly “honestly I don’t even know why you care!” 

Billie straightened up at your words with a frown on her face. “The fuck? I care because I love you!” You let out a loud scoff at her words and shook your head. “What? What now?” Billie grumbled.

“You don’t love me! You say you do because you want me to be okay but I’m never gonna be okay! I don’t want to be okay!”

Billie froze, staring at you with disbelief etched on her face.

“Just go! Leave me before I rope you into my endless hurt and suffering!”

“Baby, I’m not gonna-” 

“I said fucking go!” You shouted, bringing your knees up to your chest and curling into a ball and you screwed your eyes shut.

Billie pressed her lips together as she looked at you. She felt her chest tighten and her eyes watered. She moved closer to you. “Don’t do this…. You’re gonna be okay, okay? I’m here, my love” She placed a head on your back and your whole being broke at the soft touch, sobs rocking your body. “Sh sh sh” She shushes you gently, grabbing your shoulders and bringing you to face her.

“I know, baby, I know. It hurts I know, don’t listen to those thoughts, okay? Just feel my love for you” She murmured, bringing you to her chest as she stroked your back. You sobbed and gripped her shirt in your hands.

“I–.. d-don’t-.... deserve—..” 

Billie soothed you once more, pressing her lips to the crown of your head as her own tears fell on your hair. “Don’t say that. Please don’t say that” She whispered, her voice breaking as she held your shaking body in her arms. “I love you, I love you so much” She lets out.

And though she said it… you couldn’t believe her. You wanted to. Oh if only anyone knew how bad you wanted to but you just couldn’t. It hurt your chest and you couldn't breathe.  

She doesn’t care

She doesn’t love you

She hates you

God she hates you so much

She wants you gone

You're a burden to her

A broken thing she has to take care of

You should just kill yourself

You shouldn’t be alive

You don’t deserve this beautiful life

You don’t deserve her care

You don’t deserve her love

Why can’t you just die?

[opbackgrounds]

The Romanticism of One Piece VII: The Sea, and Conclusion

AO3 Part I Part VI

“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.” —Herman Melville

There is nothing more Romantic than to yearn for the sea. In his book Image of the Sea: Oceanic Consciousness in the Romantic Century, Howard Isham describes what he calls the “cosmic liquescence” that artists, writers, and musicians so often tapped into during the Romantic era. These were the last days of the sail, the world teetering on the edge between eras. To be alive during this time was to endure change, and the image of a ship being tossed about by the sea was a metaphor for those caught up in the spirit of the age.

Even more than our own, the world of One Piece is one of water. The ocean as metaphor has the benefit of being extremely broad, at times, paradoxically so. With a little bit of effort, the sea can represent basically whatever you want it to. In the real world, it can mean freedom for those who sail it, but with the proliferation of the Atlantic slave trade, Barbary pirates, and young men being press-ganged into service against their will it can just as easily be a symbol of oppression, terror, and slavery. Pirates were known to be somewhat democratic, but sailors stuck serving under cruel and unreasonable captains could be led to a watery death with no say in their fate. The ocean is life, sustaining countless people with its bounty and giving employment to sailors, fishermen, and any and everyone related to those trades. It is also death, cold, impersonal, and certain. 

A ship might be stuck helplessly in the doldrums or ravaged by savage wind and waves. It is adventure and mystery, for no one knows what lies beyond the horizon or what lurks beneath the surface. It is the thing that separates us, but also the means by which we travel, enabling new connections and the exchange of trade, culture, and colonialism. Depending on their purpose for setting sail, ships of this era were one of the few places where people of vastly different national origins, languages, religions and cultures not only lived together in close proximity, but depended on one another for their livelihoods and survival. An excellent example of this in Romantic literature can be found in Moby Dick, where the American point of view character Ishmeal becomes fast friends with the Pacific Islander Queequeg while working on the international whaling crew.

The sea can be feminine, the primordial mother of us all. Aphrodite was born of sea foam; mermaids, sirens, and nereids roam the waters to tempt, seduce, help, or destroy unwitting sailors. Ships are almost always referred to as she. Via the tides, the ocean is connected with the moon, also traditionally feminine. But the sea is also be masculine. Characters such as Old Man of the Sea, Poseidon, Oceanus were all male, as were the winds all ships depended on.

During the time that the Romantics wrote, sea-side vacations were increasingly prescribed as a health cure while sailors themselves suffered from ailments such as scurvy, typhus, and dysentery. Several poets reminisced longingly about their youthful childhoods swimming care-free in the sea. But the ocean is unfathomably ancient and supremely haunted by the souls of countless lives lost beneath its waves. 

In Moby Dick, the titular whale could represent God, the Devil, or Nature itself. To Tennyson, the breaking of the waves represented grief. The journey across the sea in Rime of the Ancient Mariner deals with life and redemption. To Wordsworth, the sea was immortal. To Byron it was freedom. Shelley writes of the West Wind stirring the sea—and thus the dreamer—awake from a deep summer slumber. To quote Keats, “Oh, ye! who have your eyeballs vexed and tired/Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea”.

I could go on, but let’s not belabor the point. In light of this vastness of metaphor, it is fair to say that in One Piece that the sea isn’t representative of one single thing. The New Era is brought in with Whitebeard’s crashing waves during the Marineford War. The terrible power of the Agua Laguna shows the force of Robin’s darkness breaking the Straw Hats apart, while the stormy skies of that time show the turbulence going on within the crew. Sailing brings people of different cultures, societies, and ideas together, and that forced interaction can break down prejudice and foster understanding between different species and cultures, as shown in both the Fishman Island and Skypiean flashbacks.

The Grand Line itself is portrayed as a cogwheel of fate, bringing the strong together in a clash of wills, and the limited navigational tools means that it is difficult, if not impossible to backtrack—you must live your life without regrets, and continue to move forward as you grow stronger as a person and crew. The sea represents the life of a pirate, often cruel, unfair, and dangerous but ultimately liberating. The promise of adventure exists somewhere beyond that unbroken horizon, a place of wonderland and dreams (Carrot in Zou, Usopp Syrup Village, Luffy). The World Government may rule over a hundred and seventy allied nations, but no one owns the sea. Thus, as Luffy says at Sabaody, the Pirate King isn’t about conquering anything, but to become the freest man in the world.

I would also be remiss not to mention that the Sea Metaphor of One Piece is incomplete, and will be until the secrets of the Devil Fruit are finally revealed. It is curious that the force that’s presented as the epitome of freedom completely rejects Devil Fruit users, including the one representing liberation. Egghead also added the interesting element of the sea being an existential threat to the entire world, when the destructive power of the sea over land had been previously limited. It would be interesting to revisit this topic after the series has ended to see how Oda resolves these seemingly competing ideas.

But if there is one metaphor I think rules above all else, it is the sea as home, specifically home for the outcast. Robin says during her flashback, even before the Buster Call comes, that she’s studying to become an archeologist in order to go out to sea with her mother. Her home life on Ohara is one of ostracization. Even the archeologists, who love her dearly, don’t let her in on their deepest, darkest secrets. This is for her own safety, but to an eight year old girl who’s been rejected by everyone else on her home island, even her own family, it’s enough for her to seek solace in the promise of the sea. Then, during the Buster Call, Saul promises her that in the vastness of the sea she will find friends, and she will find family, that no one is born to be alone. It’s a sentiment Reiju echoes to Sanji during the Whole Cake Island flashback.

The sea is an escape. Most of the Straw Hats in one way or another have complicated relationships with their places of origin, and for many returning would be difficult if not impossible. Even a character like Nami, who is universally beloved by her hometown, spent eight years thinking that the people of Cocoyashi Village hated her, making her relationship with them relatively fraught while she was a member of Arlong’s crew. During that time the sea, and the treasure she found therein, was her only hope of freedom. The only Straw Hat who ends up staying behind has strong ties anchoring her to someplace other than the Going Merry. It’s not until hundreds of chapters and many real-world years later that an even greater force usurps Vivi from her homeland.

Similarly, fights with the marines and other enemies often end once the Straw Hats hit the open water. The society that tries to squeeze the citizens of the world into a specific shape loses its power over the boundless ocean. This is, of course, a double-edged sword. Water 7, the bandits of chapter 1, and Garp’s blackmail of Dadan show that it also deprives outlaws like Luffy the benefit of society’s protection. But those who refuse to conform to the whims and pressures of the world gain from fleeing to the sea, and what is to dream if not to refuse to conform in one way or another? Every single one of the Straw Hats want something that conventional wisdom says is impossible, but they search anyway, and in doing so find like-minded friends with which to band together. And like how a cord of rope is stronger than its individual fibers, together this found-family has the ability to challenge society and win, finding their own freedom in the process. 

The reason I hone in on the Sea as Home metaphor so strongly over the more general Sea as Freedom metaphor is developed during Luffy’s post-Marineford flashback. It’s here while he’s forcibly befriending Ace that Luffy reveals to him that being alone is the worst pain in the world, worse than being punched all day by a grown man in spiked boxing gloves. It’s after this that he, Ace, and Sabo discuss the freedom of the seas and piracy, and the moment they become brothers. It is this desire for connection, the longing for the outcast to find their place with other outcasts, that drives Luffy to the sea in the first place. It’s there he finds his people, and while he’s not able to navigate, or cook, or do anything remotely useful on a sailing vessel, he’s able to protect the people flying under his flag. It’s a symbiotic relationship between captain and crew, a complete and total interdependence that is required when sailing the treacherous waters of the Grand Line. 

During the Davy Back Fight, Luffy makes a prophetic statement when fighting Foxy that he’s willing to fight to the death for his friends. It’s an idea echoed during his fight with Bleuno on Enies Lobby, when the latter wonders how long Luffy will keep fighting against the combined might of the World Government. It’s the reason why the death of the Merry, the fight against Usopp, and Robin’s supposed betrayal is so devastating both for the reader and the Straw Hat Pirates. The found family that had developed over the course of the manga has ruptured, and they lost the ship with which they’ve called home.

The Water 7 Saga ends with a reconciliation between brothers and their home built anew, this time stronger and more able to weather the stormy waters that wait ahead, the peaceful lamb exchanged for a fearsome lion with a mane as bright as the sun. Nothing has challenged the internal fortitude of the Straw Hat Pirates quite like that saga and nothing ever will again, because both their home and family has been forged into something unbreakable, allowing them to sail the sea, and pursue their freedom, any way they wish.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

”Then stirs the feeling infinite, so felt in solitude, where we are least alone” —Lord Byron

I want to end on this point, because despite all the similarities between the Romantic movement and One Piece, in this we see one great difference. For all that the characters in Moby Dick are forced to depend on one another and the good judgement of their captain to survive, the book ends with everyone except Ishmael dead. Romantic poetry calls for solitary contemplation, and the landscapes of this era diminish the individual in favor of the wide, open spaces of nature. The zeitgeist of the age celebrated the misunderstood, melancholic genius. If One Piece were written during this time, Luffy would never have been the main protagonist. The rise of the Byronic hero would have made sure that honor went to a darker, more brooding character like Law or Ace.

In 1770, a boy of 17 named Thomas Chatterton committed suicide in his small garret apartment. Having grown up fatherless and in poverty, this young genius of a poet was unable to scratch out a living with his writing, and after battling both depression and the pressure of changing his profession, he instead chose to end his own life.

The death of Chatterton sparked a cult following. His life and death would be commemorated in art, plays, and operas, with poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelly, and Keats all dedicating works to his name. His influence can still be felt today in the trope of the suffering arts that he and countless others helped codify.

One Piece is the story of a boy who rejects the confines of society in search of his own freedom, but he does not do so alone. Luffy is driven as much by the desire to be with his friends as he is by his desire to find the One Piece. The series agrees that risking death is an acceptable part of chasing one's dream, but rejects the notion that it should be sought out or celebrated. In One Piece, it’s better to live an undignified life in the hope of a better tomorrow than to give into an easy death. 

It is ironic that for all that the Romantics emphasized the self, many were friends with one another, Wordsworth and Colridge collaborated in writing Lyrical Ballads. Mary and Percy Shelly were married, and Mary Shelly famously wrote Frankenstein while on a retreat with Lord Byron. The German Romantic movement kickstarted with a group of men who wrote and studied together at the University if Jena, with similar groups later popping up in Berlin and Heidelberg. The American Transcendentalists even formed a club, with Thoreau only able to conduct his two year stint in the woods because the property was owned by Ralph Waldo Emerson, while his mother did his laundry. 

One Piece recognizes that genius is not a solitary venture. Those seeking their freedom cannot and should not do so alone. Existence isn’t a crime, the sea is vast, and your people are out there somewhere.

There are of course other differences. One Piece is written in a post-nuclear, modern world. Among other things, the mysterious, idealized past of the Void Century is not one of primitive nature but hyper-advanced technology, and the progress of man is something to be embraced rather than rejected. 

Yet the biggest difference I keep circling back to is One Piece's unabashed celebration of life. At the end of the day, it’s a story meant to make people laugh. Oda is unafraid of plunging into the depths of despair and tragedy, but he doesn't linger there before pulling the reader back into joy.

LP Hartley once wrote that, “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there”. One Piece can never be mistaken as a story of the historical Romantic movement. There’s just too much difference between the world of today and the one where these works came.  But I hope that I've shown how it carries some of that legacy into the present day. Intentionally or not, Oda has taken an old idea and used it as a guardrail for the entire series. Like the sun, guiding the dawn of a new era. The dawn of Romance, if you will.

A Romance Dawn. 

[bokutosbabe]

જ⁀♡⊹｡° on all my wasted time

( shidou ryusei x gn! reader )

♡ a/n — for my new series :) masterlist coming soon

♡ content — shidou ryusei x gn! reader, gn! reader, established relationship ( 1 year ), shidou is very self-absorbed, lowkey toxic shidou?, cursing, lmk if i missed anything!

♡ synopsis — You wanted to be his in the private moments, the ones that didn’t need an audience. But Shidou Ryusei wasn’t built for quiet love.

You had always believed in perfect endings. The kind that started with the first real spark, the kind that made you feel like the universe had bent all its rules to bring two people together.

For a while, you thought that Shidou Ryusei was yours.

He was everything you never knew you wanted: chaotic, magnetic, unpredictable. Being with him made you feel alive in a way you hadn’t before, like you were standing on the edge of something bigger than yourself.

It felt intoxicating—until it didn’t.

It started small, a few cracks appearing, only visible if you looked just a little too hard.

Shidou lived for the spotlight, and you didn’t mind at first. You’d even loved watching him chase after it with reckless abandon. But over time, you began to notice how the light always seemed to center on him and him alone.

Your relationship revolved around his games, his goals, his relentless pursuit of glory. You didn’t want much—just the quiet moments, the little things that made relationships feel real. But Shidou wasn’t someone who cared about the little things.

When you’d asked him not to share your photos at a press conference, he had shrugged it off with that crooked grin of his, the one that made your heart twist in spite of yourself.

“Babe, you’re overthinking,” he’d said, laughing. “You look cute in that one. Let the world know you’re mine.”

What he didn’t understand was that you didn’t want to be “his” in the public eye. You wanted to be his in the private moments, the ones that didn’t need an audience.

But Shidou wasn’t built for quiet love.

The breaking point came on your anniversary. You’d planned everything—a quiet dinner at home, a chance to steal him away from the noise of his world, just for one night.

You'd made sure Shidou was free, this week was his teams bye-week, everythig was perfect.

But Shidou had called hours before, his voice casual and unapologetic.

“Can’t make it,” he said. “Got invited to watch a game tonight.”

You had tried to keep your voice steady. “Shidou, it’s our anniversary.”

“Come on, it’s just a date,” he replied, laughing lightly. “I’ll make it up to you. You know you’re still my number one.”

And that was when it hit you. You weren’t his number one—you were barely even a number in his life. Shidou loved himself more than he could ever love you, and that wasn’t going to change.

You waited until after his next game to confront him. He came home late, his hair messy and ruffled from being underneath a baseball cap, his shit-eating grin shining bright into your home. He looked invincible, like he always did, but for once, you didn’t feel the pull of him.

Instead, you felt tired.

“You’re back,” you said, your voice flat.

He grinned, tossing his jersey onto the couch. “Yeah, and it was a crazy game! That Isagi guy I told you about scored twice. Did you watch?”

“No,” you said.

Shidou blinked, caught off guard. “No? What’s up with you?”

You stood up, crossing your arms as you faced him. “This isn’t working, Shidou. It hasn’t been for a long time.”

“What are you talking about?” His grin faltered, but the arrogance in his tone didn’t. “You’re just mad about the anniversary thing. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

You shook your head, the weight of everything finally settling in your chest. “You don’t get it, do you? You’ve never gotten it. This isn’t about one night—it’s about every night. It’s about how everything in this relationship revolves around you.”

“Babe, that’s just how it is,” he said, his voice defensive now. “I’m busy, but you know I care about you.”

“No, you care about yourself,” you said, your voice sharper than it had ever been. “You love the idea of having someone waiting for you, someone who makes you look good. But you don’t love me—not really.”

For the first time, Shidou didn’t have anything to say. He stood there, his confidence shaken, but he didn’t try to stop you as you grabbed your bag and walked to the door.

“Wait,” he said finally, his voice quieter than you’d ever heard it. “You’re really leaving?”

You turned back to him one last time. “You love yourself more than you could love me, Shidou. And I deserve better than that.”

The door clicked shut behind you, and for the first time in a long time, you felt free.

It hurt, of course it hurt—but it also felt like the start of something new. Shidou could keep his spotlight, his chaos, his world that only ever seemed to have room for him.

You were done trying to fit into it.

toxic! shidou you are good once in a blue moon

likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated!

[thebaldursmouthgazette]

Well I mean. The story they set up in trespasser was about how this condescending know it all who ran off at the end of the game was actually an ancient elven god who was directly responsible for the mass murder that started the events of inquisition is planning to murder literally everyone alive and he doesn’t really care about either because he doesn’t truly consider any of these people to be real (at most he’s started to realise that and chose to isolate himself so he could continue to ignore it). Choosing to redeem him at that point is already kinda strange. There’s a reason why everyone except the guy who will basically die if he does not show everybody unconditional compassion at all times no matter what disapproves if you push the redeeming solas angle. It’s already set up as a strange choice to make.

But then it turns out there’s further information (all pre established if you knew where to look, 90-95% of the lore reveals in veilguard had been predicted based on the hints in previous games) and he’s even worse than previously thought. It was set up in trespasser that trying to redeem him was a questionable approach given all he’s done already and then it turns out that the genocide he’s planning isn’t even his first.

His first introduction to the series is him killing his friend and ally of thousands of years mid sentence with his back turned because he thought modern elves were real people whose lives had value. They’ve been setting up the same story from the very beginning, before inquisition even came out, and veilguard is the pay off on it.

I think a huge factor in people not being able to understand this game is that the game as a whole relies on understanding Solas’ character as written, and people are refusing to understand it

Solas is, and has been since his first appearance, an egotistical, hubristic, racist, manipulative, abusive and condescending asshole who regularly commits atrocities and pretends that being sad about them is enough penance. He is a terrible person who insists he’s actually the hero of the story. He is a liar and a manipulator, and he lies to himself as well. He uses other people like chess pieces and sacrifices them for his cause without much of a thought, and without them even knowing they are being used.

This is who he is. This is who he was always written to be. And veilguard is almost entirely about deconstructing that. Every member of the veilguard is a foil to solas. They are all who he pretends he is, and his false hero fantasy falls apart when you put them next to him.

Every single companion storyline is about that character successfully doing something that Solas is incapable of, but would be capable of if he wasn’t such a terrible person. And they all face a dark reflection of themselves and come out the other side mostly unscathed by that, aware that this dark reflection is not them because they are not actually like that.

Solas faces many of the same challenges the companions do, and fails each and every one of them, because, unlike them, he is not actually a hero. He is not a good person. He does not learn to accept that just because something is broken doesn’t mean there aren’t parts of it worth saving. He does not learn to accept the harsh truths and move forward. He does not accept that he is responsible for his own actions, even if someone else orders them. He fails every time.

Solas faces not one but two dark reflections of himself, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain, the prideful god who always thinks he’s right no matter the consequences, and the servant and lover of another god whose atrocities are not justified by having been pushed by their lover and mistress, but does not come out the other side unscathed because it turns out he IS actually like them. His reflections are accurate, they’re real parts of himself that he pretends don’t exist, not just twisted versions of their fears like they are for the companions. At the end of the game he even admits that yes, he is very similar to Elgar’nan.

Pretty much the entirety of veilguard is a very careful and deliberate deconstruction of Solas’ character and self image. We go through, in elaborate detail, all of his crimes, all of his mistakes, all of the reasons why he is wrong, why his actions are unjustifiable, why his regret doesn’t absolve him of responsibility, how he thinks it does anyway.

We completely tear down every single aspect of the image he has constructed for himself. We destroy every single excuse with clear examples showing that that was not how things had to go. Every justification. Every insistence it’s okay because he’s sorry. Every time he insists he knows best and we should leave him to it. Every single illusion that he is a good person is shattered. By the end of it there is absolutely nothing left, and his repeated attempts to keep up the facade come off as pathetic and ridiculous. In all his banters with companions he tries to use his usual tricks, pretty excuses, belittling comments, fake niceties and every time he’s completely shut down.

He tries to imply Davrin has a biased view of him from stories about the dread wolf, Davrin responds with evidence the truth is even worse. He tries to apologise to Harding, she comes back with a list of all the terrible things he’s done that an apology can’t cover. He tries to appeal to spite, spite points out he hurt Rook so why should he trust him. He comes up with excuses for killing Varric and Neve points out that there’s no pretty excuse for using blood magic on Rook in such a cruel way afterwards. The illusion is shattered. That’s what the entire game has been building up to. And it makes his last attempt at betrayal seem embarrassing, because we now see through the facade and know that he was too obsessed with himself to even consider we’d see it coming.

But the thing is a lot of people refuse to see this. This is where his characters been heading since the beginning. This is who he’s always been. But a lot of people ignore any and every negative thing about him, and then complain the game doesn’t make sense. Of course it doesn’t make sense. You’ve ignored every single theme, plot point, and piece of characterisation to make up a version of Solas in your head and that’s not the Solas the game is about. It makes complete sense when you see Solas as he truly is, as he was written to be. It’s such a good bit of writing when you actually let yourself experience it as it is and allow yourself to be open to the idea that the guy who is trying to commit his second genocide might be a bad person.

[aishangotome]

Azel Radwan: Chapter 17

Chapter 16 Letter

Thank you @passthechloroform for providing the video for this chapter!

♡———♡

The dress that the maids, who now serve me with a sense of urgency unlike when we first met, prepared for me was woven with moons and stars, perhaps in deference to the Living God.

(This dress is truly lovely.)

I can't help but look down at myself whenever I get the chance, admiring the night sky dress.

The fabric itself subtly shines depending on the light, and I'm amazed by the dressmaking technique, which is different from Rhodolite's.

Silvio: They've prepared somethin' quite fine for you. As expected of a woman favored by God.

Silvio, who is accompanying me to the evening party as my escort, also seems to notice the meaning of my gaze and shows a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.

Emma: I'm not favored. As you saw during the day, I'm just an easy mark.

Silvio: Don't say that about yourself. Do those two know that you're in debt?

Emma: No. I didn't want to worry them...

(In that respect, it's easier to talk to Silvio because we have an appropriate distance between us.)

The prince of Benitoite doesn't worry excessively about me and maintains his position as a bystander.

Emma: Speaking of which, I haven't seen Clavis and Luke today.

Silvio: That pleasure-seeker has a lot of connections. He's probably drinking somewhere.

(I wonder if he's gathering information about the Triple Alliance.)

Silvio receives two glasses from a waiter and offers one of them to me.

Silvio: Here, you should drink too.

Emma: Thank you.

Silvio: But I won't take care of ya if you get drunk.

Emma: I certainly wouldn't cause you that much trouble, Prince Silvio.

(...Hmm, this is rich and delicious.)

While wetting my throat, I listen to the surroundings.

Nobleman: The riot the other day? Ah, that will soon be a past event we can laugh about.

Nobleman: As long as the Living God is alive, we'll be fine no matter what happens.

Noblewoman: These days, there are diviners for tourists, right? That's why divinations have become inaccurate.

Noblewoman: The Living God's blessings are only for the people of our own country...

Noblewoman: People from other countries are having some kind of influence.

Nobleman: The Living God's residence is supposed to be a sacred sanctuary, but it seems that people other than God's messengers are going in and out.

Nobleman: Even the favored girl aside, the sanctuary should be a sacred ground that must not be defiled, right?

Nobleman: Isn't the recent instability due to those disrespectful people who are violating the sacred?

(It seems like there are a lot of opinions and speculations about the situation in Tanzanite.)

(The common thing is that everyone believes in the Living God.)

(Even if divination has become inaccurate, faith doesn't crumble so easily.)

(At least the nobles attending the evening party are unwavering.)

???: Are you enjoying yourself?

Turning towards the familiar voice, His Majesty the King has come all the way to me.

I panic because I should be the one to greet him, but Enis smiles cheerfully, not seeming to mind at all.

Enis: You spoke to the Living God, didn't you? Let me thank you again.

Emma: But in the end, I couldn't bring him... I'm sorry.

Enis: No, I expected as much. If the Living God were to attend the evening party, it would truly be an omen of a cataclysmic event.

Enis: When he was a child, he often attended evening parties, his eyes sparkling at the delicious food...

Enis: But he stopped attending after a certain point.

Silvio: Oh, that's news to me. Did something happen?

The casual question created an inexplicable silence.

(...)

Enis: ...I'm sorry. Let's stop this conversation.

Enis: Because the Living God wouldn't want it.

(...Enis's expression is strained. Maybe the reason he doesn't attend the evening parties is more complicated than we think.)

Enis, as if nothing had happened, boldly drains the alcohol he was holding.

Enis: It's my turn to show you my sincerity, but it's a little inconvenient to talk about it here.

Enis: Let's meet in the throne room after the evening party.

Leaving only those words, Enis immediately headed to the seat prepared for the king and returned to chatting with the nobles.

Emma: ...That was an intriguing conversation.

Silvio: Ask him yourself.

Emma: It'll cost you.

Silvio: If you flirt with him, he might accidentally let it slip.

Emma: I don't think so.

Silvio: Ha, if you're serious, then I might understand God better than you.

(...)

Silvio: Woman, want to make a bet?

Silvio takes a sip of his alcohol and places the empty glass on the table.

Silvio: On whether the Living God will come to the evening party or not.

Emma: He clearly said he wouldn't come. Judging from the way Enis said it, I don't think he'll come either.

Silvio: Well then, I'll bet that he will come.

Silvio: How about the loser gives the winner a "special service ticket"?

Emma: ...Please forget about that already.

Silvio: Don't order me around.

(Why is he so confident?)

(Even though the odds are against him.)

Silvio: Unlike the last bet with God, I have a good chance of winnin' this time.

Emma: Specifically why?

Silvio: I told you, right? God favors ya.

Silvio: If a woman he favors dresses up and goes to an evenin' party, he normally wouldn't be able to stay calm.

Emma: ...I also said it already, didn't I? That I'm just an easy mark.

Silvio: That guy ain't the kind of good-natured person who would let just an easy mark live in his temple.

(Silvio seems to be implying that Azel's interest in me is genuine...)

I know better than anyone that it's impossible.

Emma: I'll probably win this bet.

Silvio: Keep telling yourself that. I have to start thinkin' about what I'll have yado.

(...Even though I think it's impossible, I can't calm down.)

I finish my drink and gently place the glass on the table.

(But if... if God really does appear at the evening party, then that's...)

In the distance, a heavy door opens with a loud sound.

At that moment, the noise dies down as if everyone has fallen into a dream.

(...That's...)

As if in response, the corners of Silvio's mouth lift.

Azel: I apologize for the interruption. Please don't mind me and continue your pleasant conversation.

Azel: I don't intend to spoil this enjoyable time.

Someone's agitation, someone's joy, someone's astonishment disappear into a world without sound.

The sacred being that has transformed the venue gives a compassionate smile and a benevolent gaze to all the people.

(...That's unfair.)

Enis: Living God...

Ennis rushes towards Azel with a flustered look.

It seems he really didn't expect him to come, and the word "astonishment" suits Enis perfectly right now.

Azel: Why are you so surprised? You called me, didn't you, Enis?

Azel: It's not bad to mingle and talk with everyone in a lively place once in a while.

Azel: Especially now, there are many people who are feeling uneasy, right? I hope my presence will be a source of support for everyone.

Enis: ...We are grateful for your compassion.

(The main character of the evening party has changed.)

From His Majesty the King to Azel--the participants, awakened from their dream-like state, gradually surround God.

Perhaps because he rarely appears in public, God is very popular.

Azel listens to the voices of the people without losing his smile.

Even though I know that he is a greedy, ill-natured God, I can't sense a shred of that.

(Even the people who were anxious earlier, and those who were voicing their complaints... everyone has a peaceful expression now.)

(As expected, God is great.)

Only Silvio and I are not surrounding Azel.

We move away from the crowd and engrave the image of God in our eyes from afar.

Silvio: You, prepare the service ticket, okay?

Emma: ...I don't understand.

Silvio: A loss is a loss. I said he would come, didn't I?

Emma: I admit defeat, but... what do you think he said to me at first?

Emma: He said, "Don't fall in love with me."

Silvio: Ah... he has terrible luck with women too. I understand how he feels.

Emma: After saying that himself, to come to the evening party...

Emma: I think it's really not right.

(If Silvio's guess is correct...)

Come to think of it, even though Azel doesn't mean to, he has a strangely unworldly air about him, and there have been many times when he's made my heart skip a beat.

(His lack of self-awareness is really troublesome. He's intelligent, but he's somehow clueless when it comes to dealing with people...)

As the one being toyed with, I can't stay calm.

Silvio: You can just ignore him. Or have you fallen for God too?

Emma: ...! No. I'm just lamenting the absurdity of it all.

Silvio: Ha, even your ears are red.

Emma: I drank some alcohol.

(...I'm just a little flustered.)

(That's all.)

Silvio teasingly pokes my ear, and I reflexively brush it away.

I glare at him, knowing it's disrespectful, and Silvio shifts his gaze, not at me--but further behind me...

Azel: Prince Silvio, are you enjoying our country's evening party?

(--...!?)

Before I knew it, God, who should have been surrounded by people, was standing behind me.

He places his hands on both my shoulders, and I jump in an exaggerated way.

Silvio: You should entertain the others instead of me. Everyone is eager to talk to ya, aren't they?

Azel: Of course, I'll talk to them, but...

Azel: Emma, could you bring me a drink other than alcohol?

(...His voice is gentle, but...)

I secretly gasp, feeling an inexplicable pressure.

Emma: Are you... not good with alcohol?

Azel: No. It's just that a God doesn't drink alcohol.

(...I see.)

Emma: I'll bring it right away.

Silvio: Ask a maid.

Azel: Emma is right next to me. Please.

(This is awkward.)

I rush away from Azel as if fleeing and look for a drink.

(Let's see, drinks other than alcohol...)

-

Azel: By the way, there's someone I'd like to introduce to Prince Silvio.

Azel: He's a rising star in our country's economic world, and will surely become a great merchant who will generate enormous wealth.

Azel: I think it wouldn't be a bad idea for Prince Silvio to make a connection with him now.

Silvio: For God to personally introduce someone? You're bein' awfully kind today.

Azel: I'm always kind to you, Prince Silvio.

Silvio: Ha, your intentions are obvious.

Azel: I suppose so. I just told you verbally.

Silvio: ...Well, fine. I'll let ya off the hook this time.

Silvio: I don't want to overdo it and earn your displeasure.

-

(...Found it.)

When I return with a container of water, Silvio has started drinking his second glass of alcohol with a young man.

Emma: Prince Azel.

Azel: Thank you.

Azel, receiving the water, looks at me for a moment as if he wants to say something, then turns his back.

Azel: Silvio seems busy, so you should go somewhere else.

Azel: Well then, I'll be going.

Azel returns to the circle of people and resumes his conversation.

Silvio also seems to be in a business discussion, and I'm left alone.

(...It seems like he only called out to me to separate me from Silvio.)

(No, I hope I'm just overthinking it.)

(If not...)

(God is too sinful.)

-

Azel: Ah, damn it, I can't take this anymore.

As soon as the evening party ends, Azel starts cursing.

He ignored me at the venue, but as soon as it was over, he caught me and dragged me into a guest room.

Emma: That's my line.

(I was planning to gather information at the venue, but I ended up being distracted by Azel.)

Azel: ...Are you angry about something?

Emma: Do you have any idea why I might be?

Azel: There's no way I would.

Emma: ...

Azel: Don't look at me with those reproachful eyes. Speak.

Emma: It's nothing. Please don't worry about it.

Azel: ...No, I can't help but worry...

Azel: In the first place, you're the one...

Azel, sitting on a long sofa by the window, points at me mercilessly.

Azel: What do you think you're doing, flirting with another man in public when you're obsessed with God?

Emma: I wasn't trying to flirt...

Azel: Yes, you were flirting. If you say that wasn't flirting, then what is?

(...Did I look that close to Silvio in Azel's eyes?)

Azel: If you get along with other men, the people around you might get the wrong idea and think you're no longer God's property.

Azel: It will only lead to trouble, so don't create unnecessary sparks.

(He has a point, but...)

Emma: Prince Azel... could you be jealous--

Azel: It's news to me that you have any value to be jealous of.

Azel overlaps my words as if to erase them.

His compassionate smile is nowhere to be found now.

Emma: Then why did you come to the evening party?

(I want a convincing explanation.)

Azel: I couldn't ignore it if Silvio was going to participate, could I?

Azel: There was also someone I wanted to introduce to him for future purposes.

Emma: During the day, you were adamant about refusing.

Azel: I thought the wall repairs would take a long time, so I sent you away, but they finished earlier than expected, and I had free time.

Emma: ...

Azel: Ah, and also...

Azel puts his hand in his pocket and takes out a piece of paper.

(Ah, I forgot to collect that.)

In my line of sight, the free service ticket is waved back and forth.

Azel: I thought I'd take this after all.

Azel: You seem like the type who wouldn't listen even if you were in debt, right?

Azel: It's not a bad idea to have a ticket on hand to make you absolutely obey me at such times.

Emma: ...Promise you won't misuse it?

Azel: Me, misuse it? That's absurd.

(Maybe that was careless...)

Azel: Anyway, there were various advantages to showing up this time.

Azel: ...Judging from your face, Prince Silvio must have put some nonsense in your head...

Azel: Don't flatter yourself. I only act for my own benefit.

Azel: Certainly not because I was dissatisfied with Silvio being your escort, or because I was interested in your dress...!

Azel: It's not for those reasons, so don't misunderstand.

Emma: I-I understand.

(But... why won't he meet my eyes?)

At first, I thought it was my imagination, but when I deliberately try to make eye contact, he blatantly avoids it.

Emma: ...Prince Azel?

Azel: I'm tired.

Emma: Is there a connection?

Azel: There is. Don't make me waste my energy on strange things.

(Being this unnatural makes me suspicious again.)

(Azel not meeting my eyes means he either has something to hide or he's embarrassed.)

Azel: Besides, why don't you get changed?

Azel looks out the window sulkily.

Emma: Of course, I'll change, but... I'm going to see Enis now.

Azel: Huh?

Emma: He might already be waiting for me, so I'll go ahead.

I turn around with lingering thoughts, but he quickly grabs my hand.

Azel: ...At night, alone?

Emma: Yes, alone.

Azel: Are you stupid? Enis is the master of the harem.

Emma: But you said that Enis is the best person to ask about the prophecy of the end...

Azel: That's true, but it's not.

(W-what does that mean?)

Just as silence falls, Azel stands up, scratching his hair.

Azel: I remembered something I need to do.

Emma: ...With Enis?

Azel: I couldn't talk to him properly at the evening party.

Emma: ...

Azel: What?

Emma: You're jealous after all--

I immediately cover my cheek with my hand, taking a defensive stance.

As expected, Azel's hand, which was about to pinch my cheek, is left hanging in the air.

(I won't fall for the same trick twice.)

Finally, I make proper eye contact with Azel.

His mystical eyes, filled with stars, are narrowed more unhappily than I expected--

Azel: ...Is that wrong?

.

.

.

Chapter 18

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

Holy CRAP I was going to stop translating after Ch 16 for today, but I was way too intrigued with Silvio trying to make Azel jealous. My heart was beating out of my chest during this whole chapter omg I love jealous Azel!!!!

[romulusthethird]

Alt. Universe AU

Listen, Danny didn't mean to fall through that portal and end up in a pool of burning ectoplasm. But here he was, after another annoying meeting with Clockwork about time shenanigans and alternate selves, in said pool of goo.

It felt like he was being burned alive. His mouth opened involuntarily to scream, taking the green liquid into his mouth, into his lungs when he ran out of breath. He screams anew, actually hearing his voice in the dense goo. He sounds like nails digging into a chalkboard and dragging across it.

His Lichtenburg scars light up, glowing an eerie green, almost yellow.

He's going to drown. To actually die.

He kicks his feet, but it's as if he is trying to run in a dream. Too slow. His hands wave above him, pushing down. He kicks, and kicks, and kicks.

He can't breathe.

He's in so much pain--more pain than he's ever felt in his half-dead life.

And then, somehow, someway, he breaks through to the surface.

He gulps in the fresh, clean air with loud wheezes. He's still kicking his weakening legs, still moving his arms. He coughs, moving forward.

His feet touch the ground.

He wants to laugh, and to cry when he finally stands, waist still emerged in the hot ectoplasm. He gags, hacking and coughing, maybe even throws up a little, expelling the green goo back into the pool.

When he looks up, he's in a cave. It's tall and expansive, and he could kiss the damp, disgusting stone a few feet away from him.

He's alive.

He pulls himself out of the water, chest heaving, and lies on his back on the cool stone. His clothes are eaten through and barely resemble clothes. His skin steams and... is he glowing?

He is! His arm looks like he lost a battle with a Edward doll from those twilight movies. He's not sparkling, but it's like a faint shimmer out the corner of your eyes. Like something is trying to enchant you.

Is he some type of Fae?

And his nails... They're claws! Freaking claws! He moves his hand around, wiggling his fingers. They look lethal. Like a mon--

"And what do we have here?" A voice, deep and old, rang out.

Danny startles, not having heard anyone come in (and he has super hearing!) He sits up, hair falling around his face (did his hair grow????) and eyes taking in the old man and the people in black surrounding him.

"Who are you?" The man asks.

"...None of ya business."

"Everything is my business in my domain."

Danny stills. He looks closer at the man. He isn't a ghost, maybe a little liminal, but alive and well. "Who are you?" He shot back. "And what's you 'domain'?"

"Since you managed to find my personal Lazarus Pit, you know what I am. But, I suppose I'll humor you. My name is Ra's Al Ghul, the Demon's Head. This is Nanda Parbat, my domain."

Nanda Parbat? What the heck? Demon's Head? "I don't know you. My name is Danny." Should he be giving random people who appear in caves with green pools of ectoplasm his government name? He doesn't know, but if it goes south he has the power to leave. And maybe that's also in his human form too, now, if the claws were any indication.

The old man hums. "How did you get here Danny?"

"I don't know. One minute I was--" He can't tell him that. That's not something a human should know. Not something someone living should know. "--Y'know at home and the next I'm waking up in this goo pool that burned me."

"You are a poor liar. Why shouldn't I slay you here and now?"

Danny snorts. "You can try."

The man's lips twitch in amusement. "Fascinating. Take him to the dungeons. We'll see how long you can endure before you spill all your secrets, dakhil."

Two men came forward to grab his arms. Danny wants to fight them, really, but he's so tired. He can escape later. For now, he lets these men pick him up and take him out of the cave and into what looks like a medieval castle.

"Do be careful not to damage him further before I can see to him."

Maybe that should scare Danny, but it doesn't. He's dragged past a courtyard full of training people, including a boy, lightning quick, fighting against a woman.

Their eyes meet--his, and the shocking blue of the stranger--before he is dragged further into his new temporary home.

He is leaving. He just needs to rest first.

Yes.

Rest...

-

--

---

----

-----

----

---

--

-

So, the plan for this AU is essentially, Dami never went to Gotham at the tender age of ten, and is still in the league (We are ignoring the "Ra's needs his body" canon because that does not fit here) and is still the heir. He's still his little murdery assassin self. I wanna say Danny is 15 here, (we are ignoring ALL CANON in this household today because Danny is not the ghost king and I can't remember shit about the tv show rn so my plan is like, he's strong right, but not like op insane, but like on par with superboy right, and he does errands for clocky and maybe goes through time/dimensions for him idk. I might make him come across half alien (like in those fics where hes kryptonian or martian, you get what I'm saying right) in this idk we're gonna find out together) and Dami is 16. The plan is to have Dami and the Danno fall in wuv and abscond to gotham together, for the glorious scene of "the son you never knew you had" showing up w his boyfriend. Thank you for coming to my ted talk. (the second part is already in my brain but I was up all night watching movies so you get this now, and that later.)\\

--

(also if you've read my shit before, and even if you haven't, I know that Dakhil isn't technically correct, since its using the wrong alphabet, and is not even remotely written how it sounds, but I purposefully do not use the correct alphabet because that is not what the character will hear. They won't hear دخيل, they're going to hear sounds and they won't be able to see the alphabet, so I figured why not just put the closest equivalent so readers can kinda understand what the character, in this case danny, is hearing? idk maybe it's stupid, but I digress. thanks for coming to ted talk numero 2)

(Also 2.0, the word means intruder.)

(i had something else to tell you, but I am genuinely fighting for my life against this headache rn. You cry a few dozen times watching Interstellar and suddenly you and your brain have beef)

--

(Lmaoo I remembered. it took me a sec, and the light from my computer is hurting my eyes, but I got distracted right, and remembered--

I almost had danny lie and tell them his name was Dante (which is what a lot of fanfic writers use for Dan) and was tempted to have him impersonate the other danny, and then when clockwork catches wind of his act, have dante come rescue him and get simultaneously confused and angry:

Dante coming to rescue his hopeless alt self Danny: wtf man why are you impersonating me? Danny-Dante, gasping dramatically: what do you mean you're Dante? I've always had this name! My great aunt Tilda gave it to me at the 75th annual Fenton christioning. Are you an imposter? Have you come to harvest my eggs? Dante: You don't have eggs Dante: and what the actual fuck is a christioning Danny-Dante: HA! see? Imposter. Doesn't even know about the christionings. Dante: you made that up Danny-Dante: Prove it. And so the other Danny went back to their dimension to see if so-called "Christionings" are real. He has to wait a year, and when he comes back, he is traumatized. A year later, Dante at Danny-Dante's door: I'm moving in. Danny-Dante: Did you bring Ellie?" Dante, shuddering: No... she enjoyed it. Danny-Dante: Oh god. come in come in. Hopefully she comes to her sense before yultol. Dante, dreading the answer: what is yul-- Danny-Dante: You don't want to know. You really, really don't.

That spiraled but yk. thanks for coming to my fifth ted talk. Bye)

[fish-bowl-buddy]

Badtrip AU.

Bitty and Tippy.

Or together called BT.

Both Use they/them/it pronounses.

Bitty is Bi

And Tippy is Pan.

AU story:

Warning: alcoholism (no other drugs) , Trauma, panic attacks, and war.

Once there were two universes called Muttale and Puptale.

They were very similar but had their personality differences, and neither of them first knew of the other.

But at some point, Mutt AU got attacked by an unknown force from the multiverse.

After long fight and many losses later Mutt community had no other choices then to leave their univerce.

They made a machine using the human souls they had to send what remained of people to neighbor AU; they called the process none other than The Trip.

It worked but with many errors. When they were sent, Game AU's code did not register them as separate beings of its own, So it merged all the people into their counterparts.

Some were so lucky to have merged in a highly livable way, but most of them got so unlucky not to be able to live.

After that, the event was called Badtrip. And so was that universe.

Even death or resets were unable to repair what had happened. After every reset, they only got back the same as they were before.

The glitch had gone too deep in their code.

One's who were just barely lucky ones where they're universes Sans'es, whose souls just barely touched.

To not mix each other they started to use names Bitty & Tippy. They also did this to keep their own individuality.

Because they were the ones that were not supposed to be even alive, people started to call them BT, short for Badtrip. And they choose to embrace the name to show that they were not affected by it.

After what happened to their universe, Bitty had a lot of trauma to uncover, and seeing this universe's version of his brother after losing his own was too much for him.

That's why they felt jealous of Tippy and turned to alcohol.

Every time they drink, they both get drunk at the same time but act differently. Tippy gets very social and giggly when Bitty gets angry and cries a lot, with the combination of them in a drunk stage being so catastrophic people know not to be near when they get a bottle in their hands.

They perhaps get drunk together, but only B gets hangovers, which makes him very grumpy most of the time. That leaves T to worry about socializing, but Tippy doesn't care, being the happy, introverted soul they are.

But even Tippy has a hard time being happy when Bitty gets panic attacks and flashbacks.

Like with many others after a trip, flashbacks and panic attacks are common. In B's case, It can be triggered by anything: seeing their brother, sudden noise, or even if T is too touchy with him at the moment.

Tibby tries to help, but none of their attempts ever seem to work. It almost seems to make B even more panicky to have them near or speaking. In that moment the only thing that T can do is to wait it out.

Unlike many other Badtrip victims, BD's body is not divided by having their own limbs to control.

Instead, they have to either share control or take over completely at the moment.

On the day when B is hung over, they give control to T, but Bitty gives Tippy a leash so they can keep their over excitement bay when needed. And then when it's evening, B takes over control to go for a drink.

They have tried to work the control together, but they only end up fighting over it.

And now they just have to survive this cursed and mutated body together.

Maybe they can work together and get their happy ending.. maybe

Bitty:

Bitty is an angry, depressed, and introverted person with a history of surviving in Mutt universe catastrophe. They are also jealous of Tippy's happy life when their is going down. That's why they doesn't bother to treat T with decency.

They probably have unoxidized autism.

B can't watch horror movies because they are the biggest coward... and it can trigger panic attacks for them, but it's only sometimes.

They are secretly big romance fan, but they don't believe in love (in their words).

Bittys favorite food is eggs. It used to be bacon, but now it only reminds them of their brother.

Their favorite music is Lofi. And fav sound rain. (but not thunder!)

B secretly is glad that he is not alone anymore... but only sometimes.

Tippy:

Tippy is a Happy, extroverted soul who loves everyone and everything. They believe that everyone can be like them if they try, (he knows he is trying all the time even if nobody knows it.)

They have Diaginated ADHD.

Loves horror movies, but their favorites are musicals and animated movies.

They love comics with superheroes who fight for good, and they want to be like them. They believe that they could bring B's universe back if they tried ( ... maybe that would make Bitty finally happy.)

T's Favorite food is their brother's home-seasoned bacon. They doesn't care for eggs tho, Lucky B likes them!

They love musicals and heavy metal (but they are not allowed to listen to metal because it triggers B.)

Secretly, Badtrips events affect them more than they show, Losing theyr own body, having a lot of burden to carry all of the suddenly and Bitty's hate towards them. But it's okay. They can fix everything if they just try.

Creators notes:

OMG you actually read it?!

Thank so much for reading my AU info. Hope you like my au :3

Sorry if there's grammas I tried TwT"

I just wanted to say I will make content for them, but it will be slow, so hold on!

Also, I'm OKAY shipping them with anyone BUT PLS NO NSFW STUFF.

Other than that, feel free to use them. Just credit me on your post and have fun! ◝(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) ◜♡

- ><(((°>

[cannot-kill-the-sun]

Hello yes i also have a lot of thoughts about this and the very not cold war Dys is living in

Regardless of how early Sol meets Sym, including "no just take me to your leader" past life jumps, Dys knows about the Gardeners before Sol tells him about Sym. Theres also the fact that the colony is busy enough they don't noice Sol and Dys camping out at age <13 when they've snuck out, weren't planning on staying overnight, and at the very least Sol has parents that are physically present/alive (while busy trying to get food set up... but also like... your child???). Things slip through the cracks and its very clear that Dys in particular slips through the cracks even before landing on the planet.

Its also very easy as a player to want to side with the Gardeners? Because the player knows the real world history of colonisation and is likely going to think "yeah the sentient sapient indigenous life should get priority/preference over the humans that Just Showed Up". Because of that, and how the game introduces Sym, its easy to miss that Lum was factually correct. The planet is actively at war with humanity. Gloom and the Shimmer and the destruction of specific buildings (geoponics, engineering, command) are not a series of accidents but the planned calculated destruction of the most important buildings.

And Dys likes exporing. Has no fear and will happily go into forbidden areas with Sol if Sol is brave enough. Dys could very well be feeding that information to the Gardeners because he's an incredibly isolated teenager - he doesn't have anyone else to talk to but here are real aliens who really care what he thinks and believe he's good for something, he's useful. We know Dys has a hobby of snagged broken tech and trying to fix it (the radio jumps to mind) so intentionally getting data drives isn't a big leap. Also from the radio scene its very clear that Dys wants to believe in something, is trying to find a place and a purpose in a colony that doesn't seem to know what to do with him. That is the psychological jackpot for following a dangerous rabbit hole that says "yes you get to have secret knowledge (aliens are real) if you just help us do..."

But being useful means keeping more secrets and being more isolated, and the Gardeners being the people he trusts first. See also how anti-telling Utopia/adults about the Gardeners spy/observation capabilities Dys is.

And thats also why Dys becoming a Gardener pre-Y10 doesn't affect the survival of the colony they way Dys+Sol being Gardener does. As an isolated teenager Dys was able to provide information on structures the make up of the colony but is missing the social/political details that Sol gets just because Sol isn't isolated. I also think its really telling that Gardener!Dys doesn't visit the colony in any epilogue unless he also became a Gardener in the epilogue? Sol is the one to check in on the colony if they both become Gardeners.

I also have thoughts about how setting Noctilucent up as the extremest-anti-human and Sym as the moderate-pro-human means that there is more opportunity to push Dys and Sol into doing things. Its very striking to me that Noctilucent is the one who tells Dys to set the bomb is he wants to be a Gardener, but its Sym that comforts Dys in the aftermath and is the one who actually makes Dys(/and Sol) a Gardener.

can it be said how much i love the implications made if sol fails any of the glow 19 negotiations for peace? because i love this exchange.

a couple things:

- noctilucent LIKES a human?? and admits to it even if dys doesn't become a gardener??? ig all it takes is knowing a shit ton about vertumna and also having immovable beliefs that subscribe neatly with noctilucent's in almost every way. interesting that noctilucent characterizes dys as sad- do they like that about dys too, or was it just what stuck out to them most?

- this confirms rhett's accusations; sym and noctilucent were going after children, they were using them to infiltrate humanity, and they were trying to "turn" them

- i say this also adds credence to any theory about dys giving noctilucent data drives too (how did they learn esperanto so fast?)

- the "little spy" thing is probably referring to the data drives sol gave sym. let's give sym the benefit of the doubt and say the request was innocent. maybe sym was just trying to "turn" sol into a peacemaker, buuut.. it does make sym's offer to become a gardener more sinister. because when you really think about it

- one of the only ways the colony is defeated after arriving on vertumna (barring 'colony destroyed' & maybe if the ships arrive) is if sol joins the gardeners. dys joining the gardeners bears no relevance to if the colony is destroyed, but with sol's combined intel "any plans [the colonists] had for combating the Gardeners were quickly stomped out". it's hard to believe sym didn't know this would happen—what else is going to happen if the only human the gardeners ever communicated with about peace joins their side? surely not peace

- ik this sounds very critical of sym and while i do think hes less wholesome than he wants to be, there is a certain innocence in that he can only act in service to what he was made for. but the parts of sym that are for himself, he uses to love humanity and vertumna, sol and dys

then there's the whole sym-getting-permanently-reassimilated-into-the-gardeners-consciousness thing. i can't even begin to unpack that

[kwamiwayzz]

Jeckole Fic Rec List Part II

(Art by emilu-enjuagas on Twitter)

I'm doing another one of these, but more for newer-ish fics. The more well-known ones are the most Kudos'ed fics you'll see on AO3 (for good reason), but I thought I'd give some love on some fics that probably aren't getting as much attention since the fandom isn't as active as it was last year.

Similar to the last rec list that I had, I'll mostly be sharing my thoughts that may or may not talk about the plot for each fic.

Candied Consideration by Kayleen756894 - This is by the same author who wrote Inscriptions (aka one of my favorite Jeckole fics), and while I haven't read it yet, I can always trust this author to deliver. It's a crossover fic, which may not be everyone's cup of tea--but, it's a crossover fic with Heathers (that one musical I haven't seen). I know nothing about Heathers, but based on some of the things I've been hearing about this fic, it's that one crossover that a lot of people didn't expect they needed. Both source material are pretty similar in terms of vibes which makes it fit pretty well for someone who's primarily a Class of '09 fic reader. I have yet to read this, but it's Kayleen, so...I'm sat.

Even When It's Quiet by mlpvsbojackhorseman - I didn't get a chance to read the old version when it was still running, but the author ended up revamping it and is currently on Chapter 2 with a darker tone. As someone who loves hurt/comfort Jeckole (especially fics that touch more on the darker aspect of mental health), this was that type of fic I was looking for to scratch that itch. I want to note that the tags include Dead Dove, but the author mentioned it's more for exploring really taboo subjects as Jecka and Nicole's relationship progresses.

God, I'm Very, Very Frightened I'll Overdo It by Fox_Is_Fandumb - I believe this fic has been around while the fandom was much more active, but it recently updated earlier this month and thought to put it on this list. I don't care if people say it's OOC for Nicole and Jecka because I'm vanilla and like seeing them happy. But what makes this not as "OOC" for me personally is that their core personality traits are still retained in some way despite being more mellowed out. It's meant to be a collection of oneshots during their (Jecka's) college years, most of which are pretty fluffy. If you're looking for some light-hearted fluff between the two that takes place after high school, you should give this a read.

Wanweird by AbsurdofOurs - I didn't think I'd find another fic that gave me the same feeling as Progman's Jeckole, but this was definitely the one. Nicole is peak loser in this one, and I love it. She's living in Emily's car and sells vapes to kids on the playground, all while still thinking about her situationship with Jecka back in high school. I say that this gives me the same feeling as Progman's Jeckole since their dynamic is largely inspired by Codepedent Philosopher's Guide to Staying Alive. And honestly, I eat that kind of codependent dynamic up so good. I love the interactions between Nicole and Jecka, and there were some scenes where I found myself laughing because of the comedic timing. I love the way that this author writes Jecka and Nicole's dialogue, and if you're looking for a specific codependent flavor of Jeckole, this is the fic for you.

Reflection by Kayleen756894 - Another Kayleen fic, but this time, it's a Halloween special. I read this when it came out and the pining on Nicole's end made me think I was witnessing her in a glass closet. Nicole is a vampire in this one, surprise, surprise, but she also craves Jecka's blood--the same friend who may or may not let her have a hit when she gets hungry. The part I love the most about this fic (aside from the prose) is the banter between the two. It was definitely needed after everyone's disappointment from the third game lol. If you're looking for a fluff(?) Halloween-themed fic, this is for you.

sweetgirl by jackdotcom - This was a really sweet fic I read (while I was bedridden from my Illness Part II) that takes place around Christmas. It's broken up into three chapters (though can easily be read in one go), and it has Nicole and Jecka having a shitty time but decide to spend the Christmas day together pretending that it's not Christmas.

Last Night in Town by bunmoder - I actually read this last night, and I believe they're a newer writer that came in, but I loved the way they wrote the overall mood of this fic. It's a more bittersweet Jeckole fic, but it's also very fluffy during the quiet moments.

I Was Never Complete Without You by MentalCrit09 - Also another post-Flipside fic, but for those people who hated the FYE Roadtrip route. It focuses more on Jecka's recovery back into normlacy after being rescued from that distasteful ending. It's not super angsty and has enough balance between the heavy subjects of what Jecka went through as well as the general fluff after reuniting with Nicole. For anyone who really wanted a fix-it fic/happy ending fic from arguably one of the worst endings from Flip Side, this fic is for you.

Laughter of a Faded Star by Progman - This actually isn't an old fic, and also a bit of a strange one. However, after my hesitation from reading a very AU-divergent fic, I thought this deserved to be on here. I've mentioned before that I tend to lean more towards Jeckole fics where they're adults, so that's most likely why this is here. I do want to mention that it feels very divorced from the original source material, but Progman explains it enough in both the writing and their author's notes to why Nicole and Jecka are the way they are here. Nicole isn't super fucked up here since her dad never shot himself, but because of that, she and Jecka never met in high school. This is more of an AU where they meet as adults, where Nicole is a part-time comedian while Jecka is a therapist/psychologist. It might not be up everyone's alley, but I enjoyed reading it and seeing how their meeting played out as their alternate selves.

And that's it, for now at least. I really wanted to try and focus more on newer/recently updated fics (post-Flipside) despite throwing in some older ones. It's not a very long list, but hopefully I can create a Jeckole masterlist one day (including Explicit works) that has fics stretching back from post-Re-Up.

I'll probably have a general Class of '09 rec list at some point because while I'm mostly a Jeckole monoshipper, there have been some fics for other pairings that I thought were well-written. But we'll see when I'm not too lazy to make that one lol.

[isabelawritesthings]

Bree's Storyline (Arcane OC)

Season one

ACT ONE – Bree is one of the orphans that Vander took in and raised. Born with a crooked leg that makes it difficult for her to walk, Bree does not participate in the thefts with her friends due to her physical disability, spending most of her time helping Vander at the bar. She shares a sweet relationship with Vi.

After Vander is kidnapped by Silco, Bree is responsible for keeping an eye on Powder, but she ends up falling asleep, causing Powder to cause the incident with Hextech that night that caused the deaths of Vander, Claggor, and Mylo. For days she was alone in Vander's house, nearly dying as she could barely walk to ask for help, everyone had simply disappeared. Until Silco took the place and "fixed" her leg using Singed's experiments with shimmer, making her gray eyes turn purple and making her more violent.

From that day on, Silco and Powder (now Jinx) were all she had after Silco told her about Vi's "death".

ACT TWO – Bree grew up to become Silco's most loyal subordinate, surpassing even Sevika. She was known throughout Zaun for her violent methods of extracting information from people. She became Jinx's older sister figure, always taking each other's side.

After discovering that Vi is alive, Bree decides to find out why she has returned and is siding with a Piltovian, only for her feelings to overcome her loyalty to Silco in the end and she allies with Vi and Caitlyn to save Jinx after realizing that she and the blue-haired girl were nothing more than broken people inside.

ACT THREE – Bree finds Caitlyn's efforts to help the Zaunites futile, and overcome by jealousy, tries to convince Vi that if she surrenders, perhaps Silco will accept her as one of his "golden girls", a discussion ensues and the two separate.

Season two

ACT ONE – Bree ends up in her place of comfort: Sevika's bed, still confused by what she feels for Vi. She is slightly surprised by the attack on the council, and only thinks angrily of her former love being comforted in the arms of that Piltovian girl. She re-allies with Jinx, telling her that "Vi abandoned them" and that they will do what Silco could not: liberate Zaun.

ACT TWO – She believes Jinx when she tells her that Vander is alive, remembering that he was the closest thing she had to a father. When she discovers that Vi is on a self-destructive path, Bree always takes care of her every night, despite the fact that she doesn't want her help (and that Bree herself repeats to herself that Vi doesn't want anything to do with her anymore, however, her always ends up taking care of pink-haired woman) She is the one who convinces Vi that Vander is really alive, and helps take him to Viktor.

Vi acknowledges Bree's efforts in helping her and thanks her. Bree jokes about the idea of them actually staying in that place and helping the people there, even saying that maybe they can get married there, Vi doesn't know if she is serious or not.

She also tries to save Isha when Vander goes out of control but ends up being stopped by enforcers, ending up in prison along with Jinx.

ACT THREE – Bree knows she'll probably be sentenced to death for her crimes, and even prays to Janna that Vi will have a happy life when she's dead, and if she's going to be with Caitlyn, then so be it. When Vi wakes up, she goes after Bree in prison, having a conversation about how they have changed so much after seven years. In the end, Vi chooses Bree, she chooses true love.

Bree is in the fight against Noxus, she is not with Vi when Jinx sacrifices herself, but she breaks down in tears when she finds out about her adoptive sister's death.

Caitlyn gives Vi and Bree a house by the sea where the two can live and grow old together.

"I'm like a virus, my flower, you'll never be able to get rid of me." Bree said, as she planted a kiss on her beloved's forehead.

[theborzoiarebackintown]

What would be your advice to a prospective first time noodle horse human? I am looking to get a borzoi when I get my own place and wanted to ask your advice.

Woops idk how long this was sitting in my inbox but I missed it!!!

Okay I apologize if this becomes a novel. (It will)

First piece of advice, get a big ass yard, and strongly consider getting litter mates or two puppies around the same age. You’d be doing yourself a huge favor :P

Familiarize yourself with the breed’s health issues and decide what you’re okay with, because there isn’t a single line of borzoi anywhere that doesn’t have bloat or heart issues. There are levels to these health issues though. Some heart issues can seem scary but dogs live to old ages with them with no problems. Sudden death is the big bad, but isn’t as prevalent as some would have you believe. Every borzoi alive has relatives with bloat. Direct relatives (parents, siblings, I consider parent’s littermates direct as well) bloating are the riskiest, and multiple direct relatives is probably something to avoid. There’s a certain subjectiveness to all this as well, many people may not agree with what I consider okay and vice versa, so do your research and decide what YOU find acceptable.

A breeder with dogs/lines that have health issues isn’t inherently irresponsible at all, it’s what they’re doing to try and mitigate those issues that matters. It’s important to remember a lot of the testing we have now wasn’t available even 10 years ago, and a lot of people breeding borzoi have been doing it for 20-30+ years. They have generations upon generations of dogs bred long before echos, holters, or DM tests, were a thing, and have to balance pedigrees with health and structure. Don’t get caught up in what the internet says responsible breeding is, there isn’t a magical list of good or bad and every breed is different.

A breeder can also do all the health testing required by the OFA and not be responsible at all, health testing doesn’t mean they’re making responsible choices with the information that testing provides. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Don’t do a co-own. I have tried and failed at co-owns with people I thought I could trust, but words are free and anyone can present themselves however they want and flip the script at any time.

Have patience!! Start following kennels and learning structure now. The longer you look at borzoi and the more you learn, the more you’ll know what style of dog you want. The dogs I started out liking when I was brand new are NOT the style of dogs I enjoy today. Understand that borzoi are a rare breed and getting rarer, but pet homes are incredibly important to most breeders and if you’re an appropriate home they’ll want to place a dog with you.

Coursing ability in borzoi is an absolute crap shoot and anyone who tells you differently doesn’t know shit. You can breed the top two coursing dogs alive and get zero puppies that’ll course. That being said, there are definitely show lines that do zero coursing and like what even is the point then lol but a lack of a field championship isn’t much of a negative in my book. If you want a dog that consistently courses, get a whippet. It’s even normal for borzoi that can and do course to not get their field championships. It’s very common for them to learn the game and start cheating, and be unable to finish. Bastards. So my advice is don’t get hung up about it I guess.

Uhhh what else umm Ivanhoe is a BYB even though to a normal dog person they seem pretty good, even titling their dogs in conf. these days.

You can spend lots of time with borzoi but you won’t know what they’re really like until you live with one. They’re hard to describe. Like every breed, there’s a range of appropriate temperaments. They should be quietly confident, neither overbearing or shy. I’ve found the average borzoi will seek out attention from strangers without forcing themselves on anyone, but it’s not rare for them to be aloof and not care about other people at all.

They communicate subtly, and it’s really important to approach borzoi with a patient, but firm, hand. They’re not necessarily soft, but normal temperaments won’t tolerate harsh treatment. They WILL hold a grudge and can absolutely sulk and pout lol They need consistently enforced boundaries but usually a stern tone is enough to communicate they shouldn’t be doing something. On rare occasion they will need a strong correction, but usually only once rofl oh something a lot of people don’t talk about is most males go through an asshole phase around 18 months and you need to be ready to nip that shit in the bud. I’ve seen males ruined because their owners didn’t work through it with them appropriately. They basically need you to take the lead, and prove you’ve got their back and they don’t need to be a jerk to protect themselves. Clear communication and consistent positive public outings are key 👍🏻 (that doesn’t mean every outing must be incident free, but that you work through any shitty behavior and set behavioral expectations while showing them nothing bad is ultimately going to happen)

They’re somewhere between a cat and a “normal” dog temperament, and I consider them to be primitive breed adjacent. A lot of people don’t get them, and don’t take the time to learn how they talk. A lot of people find them flat and lacking personality, but I find those are the same people who don’t have the patience to really learn their language.

Is any of this good advice??? Rofl good luck!!! I’m willing to discuss individual breeders privately, so feel free to DM.

[randomthefox]

So if sonic is someone selfishly selfless what does that make charcaters like shadow silver metal sonic and eggman

Eggman is just selfishly selfish lol. He's just as simple as Sonic in that regard. It's all about him. The world is his toy box and everyone in it is a toy he can play with, break, and discard at his whim. I sometimes feel like Eggman might not be aware that anyone else is even really a person at all compared to him. I think he views himself as the only living thing on the planet who's existence is valid. Everyone else is only alive by virtue of convenience. While Sonic lives for himself to the benefit of others, Eggman lives for himself to the expense of others.

Metal Sonic is kind of neither when you think about it, since he has no "self" to be less or ish. He has no free will or desires of his own. He exists purely and entirely to serve Eggmans ambitions, at his own expense. The only time he acted against Eggman was when he was upgraded to Neo Metal Sonic and pulled off a Mewtwo "we wanted to create the worlds strongest pokemon and we succeeded" where he was TOO GOOD at what Eggman was programming him to be. Even then, he wasn't acting out of his own desires, he was acting purely to fulfill what Eggman had instilled in him to do.

Shadow iiiiisssss interesting because it's kind of a combination, he's motivated by Maria's wishes which is selfless but even that in and of itself is sort of selfish? Like he doesn't care about saving the world or its people for its own sake, he just wants to heed the final words of a dead person who he's supposed to have move on from by now. It's kind of a tangled knot. I struggle to actually put how I interpret it into words. His acts are selfless but his internal motivation is selfish? I guess that's sort of the same thing as Sonic, it's just a lot more complicated. Which kind of describes Shadow in general, doesn't it?

Silver wants to be selfless, but he's too selfish to actually pull it off. He's too naive and inexperienced to be properly aware of other peoples perspectives and feelings. If he feels he is In The Right, then he will be fully and totally dedicated to what he's doing and if anybody gets in his way then from his perspective they're willfully being an obstruction to justice. It doesn't occur to him that other people might feel differently than he does, or even that they won't know things that he does know, and legitimately cannot understand why somebody wouldn't believe that he's telling them the truth if he tries to clue them in on his goals. He WANTS to bring about hope for the future and help people, but he gets tunnel vision and ultimately ends up hurting others in pursuit of that.

That would be how I'd describe them at least, going by that paradigm.