#luka and the fire of life

[leer-reading-lire]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge || November || 13 || Recommended

Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

[fireandsparks]

Gepard, with one hand covering his blushing face, and the other hand holds up the number 10. || How hot is Luka? || @ofshielding

✦ »» -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

He had been waiting for Gepard to give him some sort of sign, and he wasn't going to waste it. The red head moves quickly while he's embarrassed and out of view. His heart leaping into his throat as he softly holds his wrists. Obviously in this action catches the blonde off guard and once his hand is a far enough distance from his mouth Luka steals a chaste kiss.

[wroetolando]

𝙰𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝, 𝙰𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 | 𝙻𝙽𝟺

𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: lando norris x fem!reader

𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: the one where lando grows from a childhood friend to a famous f1 driver

𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰: 7 years - lukas graham

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: short mention of grief and loss

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Seven Years Old

“Once I was seven years old, my mama told me, go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely.”

The first time you met Lando Norris, he was covered in dirt.

He had just fallen off his bike—again—but instead of crying, he simply picked himself up, brushing off his scraped knees. You, always the quiet observer, reached into your pocket and pulled out a band-aid, sticking it onto his leg without a word.

Lando blinked at you, then grinned, showing off a missing tooth. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

You shrugged, your eyes still averted, focused on your hands as you fiddled with the end of the band-aid.

“That’s okay,” he said, grinning even wider. “You’re my best friend now.”

You didn’t argue.

Lando wasn’t like the other kids in your neighborhood. He wasn’t loud or brash, but he was relentless, always in motion, constantly seeking something. His energy was contagious, and even though you preferred the quiet of your own thoughts, something about him drew you in.

Every afternoon, Lando would knock on your door, bike helmet in hand, asking if you wanted to join him for another adventure. You would always go, and before you knew it, you were inseparable.

He wasn’t just a friend; he was your constant.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Eleven Years Old

“I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure, ’cause I know the smallest voices they can make it major.”

By eleven, Lando had made up his mind—he was going to be a race car driver.

“I’ll be in F1 one day,” he told you confidently, his hands gripping the handlebars of his bike like it was a steering wheel.

You kicked a rock near your feet. “And what if you don’t?”

He gasped dramatically, as if you had just insulted his entire existence. “How dare you?”

You laughed, nudging his shoulder. “I’m just saying, it’s not easy.”

“I don’t care,” he huffed. “I’m going to make it. You’ll see.”

You rolled your eyes but could see the fire in his eyes. He wasn’t joking. He was determined. And you admired him for it.

But deep down, a part of you feared what would happen when he actually made it.

You were happy in your own world, grounded in the simplicity of home and friends. But Lando? He was destined for bigger things. You could see it, even then.

Would he forget you when he was famous? Would the friendship fade like so many others? Or would it remain—unbreakable and constant, just like it had always been?

But Lando was steadfast, and every time you had those thoughts, he would look at you and reassure you with a simple, “I’m not going anywhere.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Eighteen Years Old

“I always had that dream like my daddy before me, so I started writing songs, I started writing stories.”

Lando made it to Formula 1 at eighteen.

You were sitting on your couch, watching him line up on the grid for his debut race. The anticipation in the air was palpable, and your heart pounded harder with every passing second. You could almost feel the rush of the engine in your chest, like a heartbeat.

Lando was about to live his dream, something he had worked for his whole life.

And you? You were still here. Back home. The quiet life you had grown accustomed to.

It should have been enough—seeing him succeed, watching him become the person he had always wanted to be.

But there was a quiet ache in your chest. The boy who had been your best friend was now racing among the best in the world. And you had to admit, part of you didn’t know where you fit into his new world.

He had made it. You were still trying to figure things out.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Twenty Years Old

“Once I was twenty years old my story got told, before the morning sun when life was lonely.”

Lando was famous now. Everyone knew his name, his face, his victories.

But despite the cameras and the flashing lights, despite the fans screaming for him, he called you late at night—just like always.

“I miss you,” he admitted one evening, his voice quieter than usual.

You swallowed hard. “You’re the one who left.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I didn’t think it’d be this hard.”

He was still your Lando—the same boy who had scraped his knees and promised you forever. But now he was racing in F1, the world at his feet.

There were moments when it felt like you were living in two completely different worlds. His was filled with fame and endless opportunities, while yours was stuck in place. The feelings of longing were difficult to ignore.

Silence stretched between you.

Then, in a move that surprised even himself, Lando showed up at your door the next day.

When you opened it, he was standing there—hood pulled over his head, hands buried in his pockets, eyes tired but searching.

“I don’t want to do this without you,” he confessed. “I don’t care how crazy my life gets. I just… I need you in it.”

Your breath hitched.

And before you could stop yourself, you reached for him, pulling him inside—pulling him home.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Twenty-Three Years Old

“I got my boys with me, at least those in favor, and if we don’t meet before I leave I hope I’ll see you later.”

The Formula 1 world was now Lando’s world.

Carlos, Daniel, Oscar, and Max were his teammates, his competitors, his family. They were a constant presence in his life, and the camaraderie they shared made the loneliness of the race track feel a little less heavy.

But even then, there were moments when you could see the fatigue in his eyes—moments when he would glance at you, like he needed to ground himself again.

It was after one particularly difficult race that he showed up at your door.

The night was quiet, the usual noise of race cars and city streets a distant hum. But there he stood, knocking softly on your door, his hoodie pulled over his head, his eyes tired.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, stepping into your home as if it was the only place he could truly breathe.

You didn’t ask any questions, didn’t push for an explanation. You just opened your arms and let him in.

“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,” he confessed as he sat on the couch, his head resting against the back of it.

You sat beside him, placing your hand on his. “You’re doing your best.”

“But it’s not enough,” he murmured.

“You’re enough.”

It wasn’t just about racing. It was about the uncertainty, the weight of always having to be something more, and sometimes feeling like he was losing himself in the process.

But you were there, as you had always been. And that was what mattered most.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Twenty-Five Years Old

“Soon we’ll be 30 years old, our songs have been sold, we’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roaming.”

Lando proposed to you in Monaco.

It wasn’t some extravagant gesture—no cameras, no grand speeches. Just the two of you, standing on a quiet balcony overlooking the harbor, the city lights reflecting in his eyes.

“I don’t want anyone else,” he told you, voice thick with emotion. “I don’t care where life takes me. As long as you’re there, that’s enough.”

Your heart pounded as he dropped to one knee, a small velvet box in his hands.

“So… will you marry me?”

You laughed, already crying as you nodded. “Almost, always.”

Lando chuckled, shaking his head as he slid the ring onto your finger.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Thirty Years Old

“My woman brought children for me, so I can sing them all my songs and I can tell them stories”

Life had changed.

You were married now, your last name matching his. The walls of your home were filled with laughter—tiny footsteps running through hallways, giggles echoing in the rooms.

Lando was still racing, still chasing podiums, still traveling the world. But now, he always had something to come home to.

Your kids—his greatest trophies.

“My boys are still with me,” he mused one night, watching a race replay with his son on his lap. “Carlos, Oscar, Max… They’re still out there, still fighting for glory.”

His voice turned softer.

“And Daniel?” you asked, knowing exactly where his mind had wandered.

Lando swallowed hard, eyes distant. There was a hint of sadness in his smile, a flicker of a memory.

“Some I had to leave behind.”

Daniel had been Lando’s closest friend for years. But life had a way of taking people in different directions. Daniel’s departure from F1 had hit hard, and Lando’s emotions were still raw, even after all these years.

He was grateful for the memories, the times they had shared. But the empty space left by Daniel’s absence was undeniable.

The silence that followed was heavy, but you didn’t press him. You simply nestled closer, resting your head against his shoulder.

Some people, no matter how much you love them, aren’t meant to stay forever.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

Sixty Years Old

“Soon I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold, or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?”

Lando was retired now. His body had slowed, his hair had silvered, but his heart—his heart was still the same.

Your children were grown, building lives of their own. The house was quieter, but it was never empty.

Yet, as sixty-one loomed closer, Lando grew restless.

“I don’t want to go yet,” he admitted one evening, sitting beside you on the porch. “My dad was sixty-one when he passed. What if…”

You reached for his hand, threading your fingers through his. “You’re not him, Lando.”

He exhaled shakily. “I’m scared.”

You turned to him, pressing a kiss to his weathered knuckles. “You have nothing to be scared of,” you whispered. “You’ve lived. You’ve loved. And no matter what happens next… you’re not alone.”

Lando looked at you then, his blue eyes still filled with the same love they held when he was seven years old.

“Almost, always?” he murmured.

You smiled, squeezing his hand.

“Always.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・

masterlist

[anidiotonloose]

You can NOT convince me that the only thing in Till’s mind during R6 was Mizi and her missing status

Ive seen so many posts and reels saying how he was “so depressed during the 6th round because of Mizi and was ready to die without her in his life”.

WRONG

You’re telling me he’s ready to give up his life solely for the reason that his idol and his friend is most probably dead while the closest person in his life is put in a death game against himself in which only one can live?

Till was concerned about Mizi, very much too if I say so myself, but Ivan was also one of those concerns.

When Mizi lost the round against Luka, you could see the way Till looks at her - he was heartbroken. And then she went missing and who knows what happened to her. He was horrified, of course he was, she was his light, his sun, his idol, his hope, his everything. That doesn’t mean she was his only source of misery.

At the end of the all-in animation, we see Till punching the screen where his image is shown to compete against Ivan. He hated the fact that he would have to compete against Ivan, his best friend, the closest person to him in all of Anakt garden. Even though their relationship has been tumultuous, Ivan was still his closest link. Heck, when they were not fighting or bickering Till genuinely seemed to enjoy Ivan’s presence.

At the end of round 3 as Ivan is close to finishing his singing (and i must confess i saw this in a reel on instagram) we can see Till is conscious - with a serene expression too - and his collar has a very clear green light - indicating his mood is, well, good.

That light had NO reason to glow green considering Till was bleeding a lot.

But it was.

The only reason i can come up with is that Till was comforted by/liked Ivan’s voice, so much so that the pain of the wounds on his head was overshadowed by Ivan. Till did care.

and then he finds out he’s supposed to go against Ivan in round 6. What a joke. His idol was gone and they wanted to take away his (his what? Friend? Best friend? Enemy? Universe? Wait what-) too?

He weighed his options and decided his life was just not worth it without Mizi and Ivan in them. Both Mizi. And. Ivan. If Mizi was his sun then Ivan was his moon.

that was the plan anyway before Ivan said nope and sacrificed himself. Now that rekindled a fire in Till, a fire that had gone missing with Mizi and was supposed to die with him before Ivan thwarted his plans, a fire to give his best and to live, for Ivan. Not Mizi, Ivan, because Ivan gave his life for Till and oh Till could now see everything Ivan was in his life (his god, his universe—), Ivan who could have won against Luka at any given time, Ivan who showed him freedom and at last, Ivan who was his everything.

ahem. Point is y’all stop saying Till never cared about Ivan he loved him just as dearly as Mizi its just neither of them knew how to express their emotions in a healthy way and didn’t realise their true feelings since they never experienced normal and healthy human interaction

[tabsters]

every reference to animals I can think of in ALNST

aka: I'm in grief and this is how I cope. by making yet another ALNST analysis post. (hey so uh I started writing this post right after wiege happened and forgot about it and finished it just now.)

@thegh0st-of-ingrid @hoisinblackcat @ventiilatte @probably-a-human-being

first off, I think it's fair to start off with the most obvious animal that I and many other people have compared the human pets to: dogs. 

first of all: the collars.

shock collars have been used as a way to discipline your dog to prevent behaviors that you don't want them to do. this is called (AP psychology time!) positive punishment, where you give an "undesirable consequence after an unwanted behavior to make it less appealing". I'm not entirely sure what the collars in ALNST do, as we never actually see anyone get punished via the collar. however, till is shown having a collar over his mouth, neck, and his entire body:

so that leads me to believe that some shock or pressure thing is enacted by the collars. additionally, the collars are also shown to flash green when the pet is in a calm state and flash red when the pet is in a stressed state.

the second thing that makes me compare the human pets to dogs is this image of sua and her owner:

where sua and her "sisters" are all on leashes, all dressed in identically frilly white dresses and bonnets. this reminds me of the stereotypical rich woman, who is often depicted with having a bazillion identical fluffy white Pomeranians purely for the aesthetic. 

(not all of these are pomeranians by the way I just couldn't' find a better photo with a rich woman with a lot of white dogs)

this also leads me into dog pageant shows, where dogs are compared against each other to "a judge's mental image of the ideal breed type as outlined in the individual breed's breed standard". sua is described as having "the smallest face in 50th ANAKT",

meaning that she is definitely the epitome for human pets.

the third thing that relates the human pets to dogs is the fact that luka canonically has a shitload of clones of himself.

people have already compared this to dog breeding, where breeders "mate selected dogs with the intention of maintaining or producing specific qualities and characteristics". luka was made with the intention to be the perfect human pet. bred dogs, especially pugs, also have health defects as a result of limited genetic diversity. luka is shown to have numerous health issues, which further ties into this.

there are other examples that I'll briefly touch on, like how Ivan and till's play fighting is similar to how dogs fight in real life:

and how someone once compared this image of mizi going insane to a feral dog and how she was going to be put down by segyein, much like how rabid dogs are put down:

and how dogs that are considered "undesirable" are sold at discounted prices, much like till:

there's also the fact that all six of our main protagonists have special talents (sua: mental math, mizi: scary stories, till: flower crowns, Ivan: starting fire with rocks, luka: splits, hyuna: impersonations), much like how dogs can be trained to do tricks. perhaps the segyein trained the human pets to have defining "talents" to make them unique and endear them to a wider audience.

now the next pet that I immediately think of when I think of human pets: birds.

obviously, the first thing that connects human pets to birds is the fact that they both sing, and that humans are apparently the only beings in the universe that can sing, much like how specific birds are the only animals capable of human-ish speech. 

there's also the imagery of birds being trapped in cages, and how birds are trained to sing for their human owners. when hyuna escapes her "cage", she sings for others of her own species, not her owners.

I mention hyuna especially because there's this line in all-in:

which I think speaks for itself.

there's also the idea of mating songs amongst birds. in this case, obviously my clematis and cure and wiege are the mating songs for human pets, the songs that show their love and devotion to each other.

the final animal that I think of when I think of human pets: cows.

now, this one might be a weird one, but hear me out.

cows are branded by their owners so they can be identified. what do all anakt children have on them?

tattoos so they can be identified by the segyein.

there's also some more cow references with io, till's mother. io is the name of a princess who was turned into a cow, more about that in @blackhoisincat's posts here:

plenty more cow imagery and greek mythology references there.

additionally, it seems like io and baby till were kept in cages, similar to CAFOS (AP environmental science time!), which are "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), where animals are kept and raised in confinement". humans, besides being viewed as pets, are also commodities. there's also some theories that human meat is lab grown as a food source for segyein, further contributing to this theory if that's true.

and here's one final cow reference. remember this two headed alien?

as I said previously, this alien reminded me of orthrus, the two-headed dog who guarded the *cattle* of geryon. humans are valuable, valuable enough that segyein don't want them escaping.

and that's all I have to say about animals. I have to study for pre-calculus now.

[heartz4levi]

tender and loving hyuluka x reader threesome after luka joins the rebellion (totally not wiege coping)

falling for you, lovin' with you !

☆ thinking abt hyuluka + threesome . . .

☆ hyuna (alnst) ,, luka (alnst) ,, gn reader . . dom!hyuna ,, dom!reader ,, sub!luka ,, morning sex ,, handjob (luka receiving) ,, nipple play (luka receiving) ,, brief praise (luka receiving) ,, is this even??? tender and loving??? i sure hope it is, anon i am so sincerely sorry if it is not i just wanna do lots & lots of things to luka.

seeing you and hyuna, standing side by side waiting for him must've been one of if not the best day of luka's life.

he very well could have accepted his second win of alien stage, returned to his busy life as a successful idol, turned his back to both of you. but he can't say no to you and hyuna. plus, to think that the two of you came back for him, inviting him into the close group of refugees that you've formed..

it warms his heart.

luka didn't need to think twice before running into your arms whilst hyuna whisked both you and him away before any shots could be fired. just like that, global star luka was announced as missing mere seconds after winning alien stage for the second time in a row. some say it's a shame, some are glad that their favourite contestants now have an actual chance at winning.

now he actually feels alive. he's at your side or hyuna's side during every breathing moment, a content expression plastered onto his features nearly all the time. he cares for you two and vice versa. he even manages to get along with some of the other rebellion members.

the risk of being found and brought back is always lurking behind him, but that is the last thing luka worries about when he wakes up every morning next to his two beloveds.

sometimes he even wakes up to the feeling of kisses being peppered all over his face. before luka can even tilt his head back just enough to face hyuna and say good morning, ask about what warrants the affectionate onslaught, he feels his lips being captured by yours.

it's one of those mornings. those mornings where hyuna's hands caress every inch of his body while your own slip underneath his pajama pants, softly palming at his cock. the friction is enough to gradually get him hard, small whimpers of pleasure escaping his lips and then being engulfed by yours.

hyuna's movements are gentle as she rids him of his pants, slowly unbuttons his shirt, keeps his back pressed up against her chest. she's preparing him for what you have in store. twisting and pinching his sensitive nipples to earn a few yelps out of him before returning your attention to his now—aching cock.

your hand wraps around it at the same time as hyuna starts to trail featherlight kisses down luka's neck. neither of you are in a rush, taking your time to toy with a barely awake version of luka. his lips are parted just enough for breathy moans to jump out, half—lidded eyes flitting back and forth between you and hyuna.

swirling your palm against luka's tip, you smear some of the precum that is already dripping down onto the rest of his cock, lubricating it just enough for your ministrations to become smoother. meanwhile hyuna is whispering loving words of praise into his ear, telling him to relax and let you take care of him.

luka didn't need to be told twice. he hardly even squirmed in hyuna's grasp, laying all pliant on his side while your hand moved up and down on his leaking cock until he could feel himself cumming with a whine that is slightly louder than any of the others sounds that have been coaxed out of him thus far.

not long after he manages to overcome his high does luka feel your hand being swapped out for hyuna's. now it's her turn to do whatever she pleases with his cock, and your turn to do whatever you please with the rest of his body.

hyuna doesn't waste any time when it comes to setting a steady pace. it isn't too hasty but not too slow either. it's lulling him to build up another climax regardless.

taking advantage of the calm state hyuna has induced luka into, you lower your head ever so slightly, just enough for your breath to fan against the skin on luka's collarbone. he barely feels it and therefore keeps his attention fixated on hyuna.

it isn't until your teeth graze over his nipples, lightly pulling at them, that luka practically whips his head to look at you. you shoot him a coy look and he almost melts right then and there.

while hyuna's hand works on stroking luka's cock in calculated up and down motions, you're offering some extra friction by licking, sucking and tugging on the two sensitive nubs, making sure to give both of them the same treatment. you can't neglect a single bit of luka's being, now, can you?

slowly, luka can feel another knot building up in his stomach. he leans his head back against hyuna's shoulder with a sweet mewl, arching his chest further into your face. his slightly ragged breathing pattern and increase in the volume of his moans are sufficient signs for both you and hyuna.

soon, dewy ropes of release paint hyuna's hand and luka's stomach a brighter shade. luka's eyes are closed, chest heaving once you pull away just like hyuna does.

once again, the arrangement has shifted in the small time frame in which luka got over the hazy state that had washed over him the moment he came. he's laying on his back, and instead of feeling you and hyuna laying next to him, both of you have sat up, eyeing him as if he's a meek prey animal.

luka is not getting out of bed any time soon.

[need-him-pregnant-poll]

NEED👏THAT👏MAN👏PREGNANT TOURNAMENT BRACKET

[About the tournament]

Since I couldn't find a template for 300 contestants, I decided I'd split them into three groups of 100 instead. So, they'll essentially operate as three separate, yet congruent brackets, until the final poll, which will be a three-way battle between each group winner (this will also help give some of the single-submissions a bit more of a chance to shine).

I will post 9 polls a day (maybe more if I get really into it...) until round 1 is complete, and I'll be updating this post frequently with links to each poll.

[ROUND 1 POLLS]

Buggy the Clown (One Piece) VS Kim Theerapanyakul (KinnPorsche)

Evan 'Buck' Buckley (9-1-1) VS Simon 'Ghost' Riley (Call of Duty)

Israel 'Izzy' Hands (Our Flag Means Death) VS Ned the Pie Maker (Pushing Daisies)

Professor Charles Xavier (X-Men/Marvel) VS Han Ying (Word of Honor)

Tomura Shigaraki/Tenko Shimura (My Hero Academia) VS Joel Miller (The Last of Us)

Vergil Sparda (Devil May Cry) VS Strahd Von Zarovich (Curse of Strahd DnD Module)

Daniel Molloy (Interview With the Vampire) VS Eighth Doctor (Doctor Who)

Jing Yuan (Honkai Star Rail) VS Luka (Alien Stage)

Qi Rong (Heaven Official's Blessing) VS Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco (Conclave)

Megatron (Transformers) VS Dr. James Wilson (House M.D.)

Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett (Quantum Leap) VS Seth Milchick (Severance)

Professor Augustine Sycamore (Pokémon) VS Dr. Lalnable Hector (Yogscast)

Dr. Gregory House (House M.D.) VS Zhou Zishu (Word of Honor)

Gale Dekarios (Baldur's Gate 3) VS Xie Qingcheng (Case File Compendium)

Mark Scout (Severance) VS Light Yagami (Death Note)

Peter Kennedy (Dayshift at Freddy's/Dialtown) VS Chu Wanning (The Husky and His White Cat Shizun)

Red-Haired Shanks (One Piece) VS Porsche Kittisawat (KinnPorsche)

Manfred von Karma (Ace Attorney) VS Denmark (Hetalia)

Eustass Kid (One Piece) VS Dr. Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)

Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars) VS Leper (Darkest Dungeon)

Aventurine (Honkai Star Rail) VS An Zhe (Little Mushroom)

Tarantulas (Transformers) VS James T. Kirk (Star Trek)

Dante Sparda (Devil May Cry) VS The Narrator (Fight Club)

Ingo (Pokémon) VS Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)

Yuuri Katsuki (Yuri!!! On Ice) VS Winner (Pit Babe)

Soundwave (Transformers) VS Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)

Touya Todoroki/Dabi (My Hero Academia) VS Crowley (Good Omens)

Troy Barnes (Community) VS Fox Mulder (X-Files)

Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries) VS Crow (Destiny 2)

Jason Todd (DC) VS Gu Yun (Stars of Chaos)

Zongzheng Huai'en (Meet You At the Blossom) VS Ye Zun (Guardian)

Larry/Aoki (Pokémon) VS Maximinius Ravinstill (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)

Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls) VS Doug Remer (BASEketball)

Black-Leg Sanji (One Piece) VS Gu Mang (Remnants of Filth)

Kayne (Malevolent) VS Luther Von Ivory (Ranfren)

Dean Winchester (Supernatural) VS Rafayel/Qi Yu (Love and Deepspace)

Ryoji Kaji (Neon Genesis Evangelion) VS Isabeau (In Stars and Time)

Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium) VS Royal Margarine Cookie (Cookie Run: Kingdom)

Gremio (Suikoden) VS Samanthan 'Sam' Rutherford (Star Trek: Lower Decks)

Roronoa Zoro (One Piece) VS Magnus Bane (Shadow Hunters)

Melone (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) VS Mydei (Honkai Star Rail)

Tengen Uzui (Demon Slayer) VS Aenys I Targaryen (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Julian Bashir (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) VS Dr. Buck Tierney (Monday Mornings)

DIO Brando (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) VS Gabriel 'Reaper' Reyes (Overwatch)

Tom Paris (Star Trek) VS Robo-Ky (Guilty Gear)

Jamie McCrimmon (Doctor Who) VS Dr. Robert "Sideshow Bob" Terwilliger, Jr. (The Simpsons)

Voldo (Soul Calibur) VS Steve Cobs

William James Moriarty (Moriarty the Patriot) VS North (Pit Babe)

Masaki Fujiyoshi (Tadaima, Okaeri) VS Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)

David 8 (Alien Prometheus/Covenant) VS Solid Snake (Metal Gear)

Jiaoqiu (Honkai Star Rail) VS Geoffrey McCullum (Vampyr)

Lahan (The Apothecary Diaries) VS Vegas Theerapanyakul (KinnPorsche)

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad) VS Artemy Burakh (Pathologic)

Victor/Victhor (Undead Unluck) VS Cosmo (The Fairly OddParents)

Dr. Veritas Ratio (Honkai Star Rail) VS Johnathan Reid (Vampyr)

Bruce Wayne/Batman (DC) VS Navy (Animation Vs. Minecraft)

Shane (Stardew Valley) VS Way (Pit Babe)

Hyakunosuke Ogata (Golden Kamuy) VS Nicholas Benedict (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

Kalego Naberius (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun) VS Agent Stone (Sonic the Hedgehog Films)

Mario (Super Mario Bros) VS Daniil Dankovsky (Pathologic)

Phaya (The Sign) VS Charlie Kelly (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Sabellian (Warcraft) VS Paul Atreides (Dune)

Childe/Tartaglia (Genshin Impact) VS Tharn (The Sign)

Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Trigun) VS Jake Wilson (Dayshift at Freddy's)

Herlock Sholmes (Ace Attorney) VS King Orange (Animator Vs. Animation)

Kíli (The Hobbit) VS Alan (Pit Babe)

Kiryu Kazuma (Yakuza: Like a Dragon) VS Farmer Jim (The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie)

Shen Xiang (Undead Unluck) VS Morpheus/Dream of the Endless (The Sandman)

Snake (Black Butler) VS Astarion Ancunín (Baldur's Gate 3)

Hosea Matthews (Red Dead Redemption 2) VS Kinn Theerapanyakul (KinnPorsche)

Peppino Spaghetti (Pizza Tower) VS Odysseus (EPIC: The Musical)

Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) VS Shadow Milk Cookie (Cookie Run: Kingdom)

Sir Crocodile (One Piece) VS Akainu (One Piece)

Bruno Madrigal (Encanto) VS Dil Howlter (Dan & Phil Play The Sims 4)

Akira Takahashi (Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School) VS King Neptune (SpongeBob SquarePants)

Chuuya Nakahara (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS Knockout (Transformers)

Ranpo Edogawa (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS Data (Star Trek)

Blitzø Buckzo (Helluva Boss) VS Dr. Stephen Maturin (The Aubrey-Maturin Series)

Shen Qiao (Thousand Autumns) VS Paracelsus (Guilty Gear)

Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings) VS Britt Reid (The Green Hornet '66)

Shouta Aizawa/Eraserhead (My Hero Academia) VS Taako (The Adventure Zone)

[sleepybugeyes]

I read through all of Elias/Jonah's dialogue (as you do) plus some relistening and mentions of him, so here's a big list of some fun things and behaviors I noted!

I thought he made a lot of eye puns/jokes, but he only does it once in mag161, however he does enjoy making jokes. "Creativity never was their forte." from mag80, "You want my account? My sworn testimony? My statement?" from 82, "If you die, I’m afraid you probably won’t be able to claim your expenses." in 116 and "I only have two eyes, after all." in 120. no one ever laughs at his jokes only he finds them amusing

His last words telling Jon a sarcastic or mocking "good luck" are mirrored earlier as he also tells Basira good luck the last time he sees her, and Martin, as he's getting arrested

He loves gloating. "I forget how new you all are to this." from mag92, "Coffee is not as good for disguising tastes as you might think." in 98, "She’s hoping that even if I see it coming she’ll still be able to overpower me. She’s wrong, of course," in 102, "A masterpiece, isn’t it?" abt his panopticon in 158 and of course his whole monologue in 160

He does his budgeting on tuesdays and his scheduling on wednesdays

He also likes getting lost in work

in mag40 he makes up proper incompetency (said he didnt know how the fire system works, while he later admits he was actively waiting) just that once, but more so he acts like he doesnt get the full picture (doesnt know whats in the tunnels, whats strange about the institute) or acts too late and apologises (not stepping into jon's stalking behaviour). Which makes me think he is quite fine letting people think less of him but unless he has something to hide hes not actively looking to give the impression

in mag92 elias slides the papers for basira across his desk, but you don't hear him take them out before, meaning he prepared and got ready for this before he called the police

in general he's a very preparing man, Lukas steps in when Elias is arrested so has has control over who'd run it. in mag118 he says he prepared something to hurt martin (my speculation is that he likely has some trauma that could hurt you prepared for any person that could cross him, just in case he needs it). When he gets arrested he has something prepared so he doesnt get killed and ofc s1-4 is preparing Jon for his grand ritual

Elias admits the idea for his ritual kinda fell into place after Getrude didnt do anything about the people's church in march 2015. He shot Getrude and appointed Jon shortly after so "when you came to me already marked by the Web, I knew it had to be you." is pure dramatics as Jon was hired 4 years prior

also he got his ritual in 2018 so he managed to acomplish his life's goal in only 3 years, love his grindset 🔥

We never get a number for how many people Elias has killed in his ritual, the real life millbank has held over 1000 people at once, but id imagine his one panopticon held less than a whole complex

its really interesting to me in mag92 that hes SO sure they all know he's talking to them of his own free will. is he just that dead set on being in control or making sure they take no credit for his confession

there is a clock in Elias' office (but it's only heard in mag98)

He has killed people but Elias is very much not a blood thirsty person. Getrude and Peter are both surprised when he results to that. He's very much just ruthless and does not care, if to get his way he has to kill someone. It doesnt seem like he's ever happy to do so, maybe this is a quirk of being eye aligned and getting rid of any type of knowledge is painful (he does for example never want Tim to die at the Unknowing), or he just finds covering those murders up a hassle

for the Unknowing Elias books them all hotel rooms, how thoughtful

something cute to me that Jon was too good at the Eye that Elias couldnt meet him face to face post coma

In mag158 he implies that even Institute employees not in the archives are tied to it, at least enough that they could suffer or die if it burned down

between finding other people just as tools to watch and discard and saying empathy holds you back he was definitely a very very lonely man

He is a very breathy person. He sounds breathy when he talks. He takes deep breaths to ready himself and before he uses his powers. And he often breathes through his nose before speaking or during pauses

He has said Jon's name 62 times, only twice calling him "Jonathan" and called him archivist 25 times (24 in the mag120 statement, 1 in mag138 and 1 in mag161)(he also kinda calls him The Archive in 160)

other fun amount of words: know (65 times), see (42), martin (35), detective (20), eyes (20) and eye (9), afraid (9) and "bullshit" (1)

its still insane to me they added all of those sound effects of Elias' cuffs in prison, thats something fun to appreciate. It also means its canon he gestures quite a bit!

[anastasia-selwyn]

i'm gonna pop your bubblegum heart !

Hello, my name is Anastasia Lynx Selwyn. Yes, you heard correctly, Selwyn. I am the only daughter born after centuries of sons, the pride and joy of our pureblood line. Pureblood royalty, if you please.

I am currently fifteen years old, and in my fifth year at Hogwarts as a Slytherin student, a prefect for my house as well.

My friends call me Annie, but if I do not like you or if we aren't even close to being acquaintances, do not refer to me as such or you will be hexed into the next century. It's Anastasia for the rest of you.

Fellow SLYTHERINS

@vidiadelafairy - vidia carrington, my best girl <3

@vszabini - valentina zabini, best roommate and best friend ever <3

@antoniadolohov - antonia dolohov, my sweetheart!!

@the-queen-bellatrix - bellatrix black

@andromedashoax - andromeda black

@flowers-of-narcissus - narcissa black

@whokilledevanrosier - evan rosier

@pandoras-nox - pandora rosier, my darling girl <3

@lucius-malfoy-back - lucius malfoy, bestie!!

@little-king-official - regulus black

@severusprince-snape - severus snape

@cas-not-the-band - dorcas meadowes

@averykissableguy - edmund avery

@fire-allayer - bruce mulciber

@aelius-with-a-quill - aelius fawly

@thathojamie - jamie min-ho, my amazing best friend!

@rodolphus-le-strange - rodolphus lestrange

@daughter-of-spring - persephone lylia

GRYFFINDORS

@flyasaphoenix - phoenix harvey, the love of my life ❤️ my life, my world, my everything!

@james-the-amazing-potter - james potter

@thebr1ghteststar - sirius black

@looneymoonyy - remus lupin

@wormy-loves-ch33se - peter pettigrew

@marls-mckinn0n - marlene mckinnon

@hjonesworld - hestia jones

@mary-mcdeal - mary macdonald

@alicethekindone - alice fortescue

@k1ndest-keeper - frank longbottom

@lilytheginger - lily evans

@mollberryshortcake - molly prewett

@fabian-with-an-f - fabian prewett

@lialovergirl - lia matthews

@gav-the-rockstar - gavin prescott, hurt vidia and i will kill u <3

@xoazalea - azalea anderson

RAVENCLAW

@mystical-magical-me - gilderoy lockhart

@xeno-graphical - xenophillius lovegood

@tjsinclairofficial - theodore sinclair

@emmelineandhervans - emmeline vance

@poison-penmanship - rita skeeter

@camille-laurier - camille laurier

@king-ofthe-crop - kingsley shacklebolt, brother from another mother <3

@kingalexanderthegreat - alexander kemet-ali.

@gabbyjchen - gabriella chen

HUFFLEPUFF

@oxxen--free - olivier hrdina

@sybill-patrica-trelawney - sybill trelawney

@imogenmorningstar - imogen morningstar

@adam-lukas-morningstar - adam morningstar

@magandang-kaluluwa - elias smith

[marinettesaltprompts]

kind of a continuation of “maribat but not really” but from Adrien’s perspective

When it was revealed that Adrien’s father was Hawkmoth, he felt numb. 

He remembers around that time he was coming to terms with Gabriel’s abuse of him for the past 5 years. It was hard to get to that point since he was the only family he had left but he couldn’t ignore what was right in front of him. 

Days before he had gotten his miraculous taken from him by Ladybug with her telling him that he was irresponsible and unworthy of it. So when it came out that his father was Hawkmoth, he really did think his life was over. He was aware how he was going to be looked at, he was the son of a terrorist after all, no one was going to trust him. 

He should have known that his friends would stick by him, even others in school and the staff stood by him. When interviewed they all said the same thing, that there was no way he had anything to do with Gabriel and around that time he was coming to terms with things they already knew, that his father was abusive. Even other well known figures were backing him up saying that it was an open secret among the rich and influential how Gabriel treated Adrien.

He was still taken in for questioning but only because it was protocol and they wanted to see if he could give them more insight on what Gabriel was thinking. When the Gothamite Bats were there uncovering everything they had already ruled him out of having anything to do with it, after it was discovered that Lila was working with Gabriel the school went under investigation. It didn’t exactly look good that a student was able to disappear for months and come back for one or two days causing trouble. 

They quickly fired and replaced a lot of the staff. including Mrs. Bustier and Mr. Damocules for being complacent not just with Lila but with a lot of things that went on in the school. It was an adjustment for the class to get used to their new teacher but after a few weeks they really started liking them. They were strict but fair and had no problem punishing those who bullied others regardless of their background. Another thing they had to get used to was Marinette being gone, more specifically how she left. Before she left she tore all of them down saying how they were all bad friends and how she couldn’t believe she ever had a crush on Adrien.

For a long time, It hurt how she left and threw away their friendship like it was nothing, but over time that hurt began to fade to the point that it didn’t matter anymore. They had all moved on and became successful in the careers they wanted. Although Adrien had never thought about what he would do when he finished modeling for his fa- Gabriel, he later found his passion for animals and decided to become a veterinarian. Despite their different paths, they all managed to keep in frequently meet up, usually to talk about their lives or making occasional humor with each other, their favorite being to tease Alya for her “Lila interview” she did when they were in middle school. She had taken it down immediately after the reveal of Lila’s true nature, and when she was going through her posts she had soon realized how none of what Lila was saying made any sense. It was a coincidence that it happened days before she was revealed to be working with hawkmoth. The whole thing with Lila made everyone pretty embarrassed for believing ridiculous lies, Alya especially since she posted and presented it as fact on her blog. Fortunately, Alya learned from it and became a better reporter for it, since she now triple checks her facts and no longer rushes into things.

Most of the group are either engaged or married, Adrien being no exception. After Gabriel’s reveal he was really going through a lot of emotions and feelings. His friends stuck by his side and he was in therapy, and through it all Luka was the one person he felt he didn’t have to say a word to and he would understand how he felt. They would sit in his room for hours, not a word spoken between them while Luka played with his guitar. He was a soothing presence in Adrien’s life, and sometimes that was what he wanted when he was feeling overwhelmed. A soothing presence to be around when Adrien didn’t want to talk. Somewhere along the way he realized he liked Luka but he also recognized that he wasn’t ready for a relationship. When he told Luka he respected it, acknowledging that he had to put himself first and that he would wait for him. A year and a half later when Adrien finally felt he was ready Luka was there just like he said he would, and the rest is history.

Sometimes he still thinks about Marinette, how she left, how she might be doing now. As they grew older a lot of things were revealed to him, like Marinette’s unhealthy obsession with him. At the time they were in high school when the girls realized and apologized for helping and encouraging her to essentially stalk him. It definitely added more context as to why they didn’t believe her about Lila. He hesitated telling the class about Lila because of a lack of evidence but also seeing everyone not believe Marinette. Knowing what he knows now, he understands why they didn’t believe her. It was common for her to glare or harass girls he talked to and frequently talked about the supposed future she would have with him. Looking back, when she told them off for not taking her side against Lila it felt like she was upset over them not blindly believing her.

He remembered she wanted to be a fashion designer but searching her up overseas didn’t get any results. He knows she’s in Gotham, but doesn’t call her parents often because of how busy she was. He only knows this because her parents had asked Luka when he visited the bakery. They knew about her not being friends with them anymore but not the reason. So, they asked Luka if he talked to her recently because she still seemed to be on good terms with him, hoping that she just talked more with him than them. Luka had internally winced at that, it had been years since he had a crush on Marinette and he moved on. He didn’t want to disappoint them but was honest when he responded that he hadn’t talked to her since she left. 

Overall Adrien couldn’t be happier, despite the hiccups in his life he managed to find himself surrounded by his friends like he first imagined all those years ago, friends they were all successful in the careers they wanted while he himself was engaged to the man he loved more than anything.

[kelpweedkelpweedingkelpweeds]

Ok, so I think I'm slightly ready to talk about the comic (really I'm not but my brain has been thinking about them for an hour straight I have to let some of it out) This comic answered a hundred questions in my head and in the process produced a thousand more to replace them. The exploration of hyuna's thoughts as she was dying, it's so wonderfully complex and exactly what I expected out of vivinos.

Hyuna's feelings towards Luka is less so "I want to hate you, but I can't", rather it's "I hate you, you caused me so much pain and yet at the same time I pity the things that caused you to do this to me and I still care about you". A popular opinion is that as Hyuna spun Luka around her intent was revenge, and my 2 cents on it is that yes payback was part of it, but her kneejerk reaction was to save him.

There's still no official confirmation for Luka's role in Hyunwoo's death but he holds a major part in it. Hyuna cared deeply for her brother; it's no wonder she would hold bitter feelings towards someone who caused her to lose someone she loved. Hyuna knew that Luka loved her more than himself; she knew that she was the only person whose death would make him feel anything, not even his own. So she let herself get shot, made him lose the one person who ever made him feel human, made him feel the human grief of watching someone you care about sacrifice themselves, made him understand how the other performers on stage felt as they watched their friends die in front of them. This was her revenge, letting him feel the same pain she did, the same pain he inflicted on so many others on stage.

But at the same time, Hyuna isn't cruel. Her character is about love, love for humanity and the hope for freedom. As she heard that bullet fired, her first thought wasn't to make him suffer, it was to protect him. That she didn't want to see him die. Because watching him bleed out would cause her so, so much pain. It could be considered selfish, as she is the head of the resistance and he is the alien overlord's favourite pet, the person symbolizing the thing she swears destroy and never return to. But for someone who loves the world so selflessly, her love for Luka is and always has been selfish, and so is her resentment. He is her only weakness, the only person she would sacrifice her life for to teach the meaning of loss and pain.

She tells him that she leaves a puzzle for him to solve, which can be interpreted as figuring out human emotions for the first time. She understands him well enough to know that it will work, for he loves her more than anything else and loves her enough to at least try and move on like she wishes him to. Perhaps he may never find the answer, perhaps he might die before he has the opportunity to, but Hyuna knows he will try desperately, that perhaps in the process he could be given the chance to be human, as he deserved to.

She didn't let herself get shot for the satisfaction of watching him cry for the first time, she died because she loved him and wanted him to come to understand grief and gain the ability to move on, things that he was deprived of since his birth. She never forgave herself or Luka over what happened, but she wanted him to learn to forgive himself, so that maybe he could do what she couldn't. She knew she didn't have to ask him for forgiveness; his love for her poured out of him like water, he could never hate her for the selfish thing she did. So maybe Hyuna died with bitterness lingering towards him for what he did, but ultimately she came to peace with the fact that she loved Luka, that she would die for him, that only he could bring her back to the damned alien stage as her burial ground.

Y'all I nearly cried writing this, can I PLEASE do a self indulgent post next about how pure Luka's love towards Hyuna is I DONT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE COMPLEXITIES OF HUMAN EMOTION IM BARELY HANGING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW

Here have a stupid lil image of them (sorry Hyuna isn't coloured in I know it's really bad but when all you can think about is how tragic they are all I want to do is draw them happy for the rest of eternity)

[mikaazune]

Am I the only one drawing wicked parallels between them? And not just the fact that I'm jealous of their hair...

Spoilers for Alien Stage (through Round 5 to Weige)! Seriously, don't read if you haven't watched Weige specifically.

They're both very loyal to their friends and would risk their lives for them (and did in fact risk their lives for them). Baji didn't want Mikey to kill Kazutora over him, hence him stabbing himself. While Hyuna definitely hated or at least really disliked Luka, she wanted to let go of her hate. She was also probably very conflicted because they used to be close friends. Either way, she put herself in the line of fire to protect Luka from being shot.

This could also be aligned with them both being selfless. Hyuna's first action after escaping is literally going back to the Anakt Garden after losing her leg to try to free the other kids. She went back to the place that she'd just escaped from to help others, risking her own freedom and/or life on the process. Baji left Toman because he realized that he couldn't take down Kisaki without causing conflict with him and Mikey. He basically jeopardized his relationship with Mikey and the rest of Toman by joining another gang to find a way to get rid of Kisaki. To everyone else (minus Chifuyu), it looked like he betrayed them.

Additionally, they both have a wilder side and like to cause trouble. Baji is described as liking the thrill of adrenaline and Mikey says that he'll punch people and start fights for no reason, just because he feels like it. The two of them are both described as having smiles on their faces while fighting, even in dangerous situations like Hyuna's often in. She'll be blasting robots and blowing stuff up. Even when she saves Mizi in All-In (notably not Round 5, presumably because of Luka'a presence), she's grinning.

But despite having this wild side, they both care a lot for others, specifically their friends. Hyuna cared for Luka before he killed Hyun Woo, the three of them were really close friends. Hyuna also took in Mizi after saving her with zero hesitation, and she continued to look out for Mizi throughout the events they went through in All-In. In Blink Gone, she didn't want Mizi to go back to save Till because Mizi would be risking everything going right back to Alien Stage and could potentially get killed or get dragged back into the competition. Baji had a lot of faith in Ryusei and Chifuyu and knew he could trust both of them, and he knew he could let loose around them. Baji used Takemichi punching Kisaki as an excuse to leave, yes, but he was also saving Takemichi from a much worse fate because at that point, Takemichi (who iirc wasn't even an official member of the gang yet) had just punched the newly appointed third division captain. Baji mentions several times that he doesn't want to disappoint his mom, hence why he does his best to study. Not to mention that he was sending letters to Kazutora while the latter was locked up in the detention center, even though Kazutora had been the one to convince Baji to sneak into Shin's shop with him and nearly got Baji sent to the detention center too for Shin's murder. The only reason he wasn't was because Mikey testified for him.

They both died for people they cared about. Like I said earlier, Baji stabbed himself so that his death wouldn't be on Kazutora's hands and thus would get him killed by Mikey. Even though Kazutora had stabbed him earlier, Baji was still trying to protect him even though it meant that he'd die in the process. Hyuna, up until the events of Round 7 (at least from what I can tell), had despised Luka, but she was finally ready to let go of that. She took the bullet meant for him because deep down, she still cared for him. Her last words to him were, "I resented you so. I had to keep moving forward in every moment... but you were always my one and only weakness. That's why I resented you so. Luka, live with love. Embrace the pain, the frailty, and the moments so unbearably shameful. Forgive yourself... again and again, endlessly. Because everything... begins from there." She wanted him to lead a better life and used her last words to him to tell him that. They both cared and died for people that were very complicated and had some (putting it politely) issues to work through (let's not forget that Luka killed Hyuna's brother because he wanted her for himself and wasn't willing to "share" her with Hyun Woo).

I'm sure there's way more to analyze between the two of them but yeah, I'll leave it here. I just had to get it all out of my brain so I could take a nap.

[generalluxun]

What do you like about Lukloe?

What's NOT to like? :)

Honestly, I see it as a ship where they both bring a lot to the table. Pretty much everyone knows what Luka brings, serenity, quiet resilience, and patience. All things Chloe needs.

Fewer understand what Chloe brings.

Fire. Energy. Life. Force. No one can deny she has these things. Luka is a great guy, but he's also a kind of pushover. That scene where everyone is going to him like he's Paris's psychologist. He doesn't think highly enough of himself or his time. She would be an excellent muse. She would push him out of his comfort zone, to express and promote himself more.

Between the two you find a balance. Luka calls her his Sun, distinct from light. Sun is bright and brings good things but also can burn you. She thinks of him as the ocean. The ocean is deep, it hides many things, it swells and ebbs. It conceals immense untapped power.

They're just awesome together.

[mlbigbang2024]

ML Big Bang 2024 Fic Recs

Angst/Hurt/Comfort

This collection of fics were recommended by the contributors of the @mlbigbang2024 for their favourite fics of 2024 (posted in between Nov 2023 and Dec 2024)

Gen and Teen and above Fic

A Small But Stubborn Fire (Rated: T)

By @cardiac-agreste (KPG)

Main relationship: Sabine & Marinette

Tags: Angst, Mother-Daughter Relationship

Summary: What if you were the parent of a teenage superhero, but didn't know they were? All you know is the nightmares, the panic attacks, and the bruises. She's missing school, she's disappearing on you, and she's not telling you anything.

And what do you do when you realize you weren't thinking dark enough? Because your fourteen-year old daughter is the hero who flirts with death on the nightly news.

--

Come inside and read about one mother's struggles to raise her daughter in a dangerous world while avoiding the mistakes her own mother made with her.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: Such a lovely exploration of Sabine's character and the fascinating point-of-view that is being the parent of a superhero. Sabine's growth is awesome, and the passion and care of the author really shines through.

Holding onto the Memory of You (Rated: T)

By @fruitdragon1a

Main relationship: Juleka/Rose

Tags: Rose Lavillant has Cancer, Grieving Juleka Couffaine, Hurt No Comfort

Summary: Juleka and Rose are on the métro when something happens to Rose.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: It is gut-wrenching and so sad and I love it so much.  

Games of Destruction (Rated: T)

By DayRise1, ScribeOfRhapsody

Main Relationship: Gabriel/Nathalie, Adrien/Marinette

Tags: AU - Hunger Games, The Miraculous are Weapons in the Arena, Child Murder

Summary: Against all odds, Gabriel Agreste had won the Hunger Games at the mere age of fourteen. Now, years later, his worst nightmare has come to life in the form of his own son being selected for the Games.

Adrien didn't have a lot to worry about growing up as the son of a Victor. Until this year, that was. Now, he and the sweet baker girl from down the road have been chosen to represent their district in the 74th Hunger Games – a vicious battle to the death using magical artifacts where only one tribute may survive.

Marinette has spent a year comforting her best friend after her sister died in the Hunger Games, only for Alya to be reaped herself. Volunteering in her place, Marinette now finds herself alongside her crush and his father as she truly realizes the magnitude of what she's signed up for.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: It's a hunger games AU with Miraculous, and it is really well constructed. The way characters are portayed in this is great, and there is a lot of references to the Hunger games books. Also this universe plays with its own rules for the games added with the use of the Miraculous.  

All Wrapped up in a Bow (Rated: T)

By @trinketsinthesun

Main relationship: Adrien/Marinette

Tags: Oblivious Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Oblivious Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: Although Ladybug knew it was her imagination, the Christmas lights seemed to shine brighter in Paris after Monarch was defeated. Everyone was happier, and she couldn’t blame them. One huge Adrien-shaped detail aside, she was happy herself.

So why wasn’t Cat Noir?

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: The angst is so delicious!

You Matter to Me: A Miraculous/Waitress Story (Rated: T)

By writeanytime

Main relationship: Luka/Kagami

Tags: Inspired by Music, Unplanned Pregnancy, Bad Parent Tomoe Tsurugi

Summary: Kagami is content with her life. Sure, it's busy, predictable, and lonely, but she's fine! But when a one-night stand with Luka leads to an unplanned pregnancy, she is forced to rethink her entire life

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: Kagami grows out of her shell following an unexpected pregnancy and comes to terms with her damaged relationship with her controlling mother. 

The Beauty of Truth (Rated: T)

By @uptoolateart

Main relationship: Adrien & Emilie Agreste

Tags: Grief/Mourning, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir Needs a Hug, John Keats

Summary: Cat Noir visits his mother's grave, in memory of a visit they once paid together to John Keats's grave in Rome.

Inspired by a line from The Cap and Bells by KPG: 'When he’d met Ladybug, all knots and tangles and grit, he thought he understood what Keats meant by a steadfast, bright star.'

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: It's UNREAL how well this one-shot is written. It’s so good. I love it because it made me ugly cry. I’m a sucker for Adrien & Emilie relationship. EGADS, READ THIS.

What Cuts Through the Silence (Rated: T)

By @coffeebanana

Main relationship: Adrien/Marinette

Tags: Post-Break Up, Phone Calls & Telephones, Depressed Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir

Summary: “Adrien? It’s late, are you okay?”

His stomach twists. Because it’s not late, not really. Not for Marinette, who he knows will be up until the wee hours of the morning, even if it’s one of those nights where she swears she’s going to bed early.

He knows her. And so he knows what she really means.

It’s too late for him to be calling her.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: Adrien and Marinette have broken up. Adrien still relies on her. It’s sad and poignant and will make you teary-eyed.

Mature and Explicit Fics

Requiem for a Dream (Rated: E)

By @akumatisedhamster

Main relationship: Luka x Adrien x Marinette

Tags: Polyamory, Single Mother, Teacher!Adrien

Summary: Six years ago, the Supreme was defeated with the help of Shadybug and Claw Noir. But not without its consequences. Trapped in a magical coma using the power of jubilation, they were slowly tortured, reliving nightmares of their own design.

In an act of desperation, Hesperia wiped the memories of Shadybug and Claw Noir so that they could live the rest of their lives as normal teenagers.

What he didn’t know was that Shadybug was pregnant at the time.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: I love the post-Supreme reverse world and the whole memory wipe element!

Bubblegum Soul (Rated: M)

By @wehadabondingmoment

Main relationship: Adrien/Marinette

Tags: Post-Defeat of Gabriel Agreste, Sentimonster Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Mind Control

Summary:

"The impulse to throw away his ring, to slam it on the ground and watch its metallic splinters chap away at his soul, got more tempting by the second. Maybe, for a moment, he would learn what it meant to be alive."

(Or: Hawk Moth has been defeated and Adrien is suffering more than ever. Armed with unhealthy coping mechanisms and the knowledge that he apparently isn't human, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery.)

(Except that his father isn't quite ready to give up just yet.)

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: A lovely exploration of Adrien's feelings about being a sentibeing and his relationship with his father. Some really gorgeous writing that comes from the heart.  Hawkmoth has lost, and Adrien knows he’s senti. He has to deal with that knowledge. There are passages in this story that will take your breath away with the author's creativity and ability to evoke profound emotions.

Those We Leave Behind (Rated: M)

By @raspberrycatapult

Main Relationship: Adrien/Marinette

Tags: Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Child Death, Crying

Summary: Marinette dies suddenly. There’s no time to prepare. No time to say goodbye. She’s just…gone.

But she hasn’t quite left this world. She still lingers as a spirit, a ghost.

And the only person who can see her is Adrien.

Follows Marinette as she tries to process her death, Adrien as he struggles with the loss of his friend and partner, and her friends and family as they grieve.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: Marinette DIES. Now she’s a ghost. Everyone is sad, nobody knows what happened to Ladybug, and it’s just SAD AND PAIN (and wonderful). RC is so good at making my withered old heart happy even when I'm reading something full of pain. Powerfully evocative.

Maybe This Life (Rated: E)

By @coffeebanana

Main Relationship: Adrien/Marinette

Tags: Suicide Attempt, Depression, Dissociation

Summary: "Adrien's in the hospital."

Woken in the dead of night by a series of frantic phone calls, Marinette finds herself boarding a bus from New York to Montreal instead of flying home for winter break. Not that she has a clue how she'll navigate living with Adrien—who definitely wants nothing to do with her since the break up—for the indefinite future.

Adrien just wants to find the energy to convince Marinette he's fine—that she can leave. Because having her here hurts too much, and he's better off alone. At least, that's what he tells himself.

They're an ocean away from home, stuck together in a one-bedroom apartment, in a city suffocated by snow. The distance between them has never felt so insurmountable.

But maybe there's hope after all.

Read on Ao3

What we liked about it: Adrien attempts suicide. His ex, Marinette, is the only one able to get to him in the hospital. It’s claustrophobic, angsty, and well-written.

[aventurineswife]

New anon unlocked! You’ve discovered a new character to interact with! The Luka Simp anon 🦾

May I request a oneshot of Luka with a reader from the Overworld who gives him surprise visits? This would take place after the Over and Underworld are connected again, of course. I shall keep true to my name and come back with more ideas should you need requests.

Much appreciation for your work,

Luka Simp anon 🦾

When Two Worlds Collide

Summary: After the Overworld and Underworld are reconnected, Luka finds himself working tirelessly to protect and inspire his community. However, when you, an Overworlder and his unexpected source of joy, surprise him with a visit, Luka is reminded that even champions deserve moments of care and happiness. Together, you share a tender moment, bridging the gap between your worlds with warmth and love.

Tags: Luka x Reader, Romance, Emotional Support, Tender Moments, Healing, Mutual Care.

A/N: OMGGG HIII!! 🤭🤭🤭💖💖💖 TYYY, I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY HERE WITH LUKA HEHE!!

Luka tightened the straps on his mechanical arm, the faint hum of the thrusters buzzing in the quiet of the Underworld's training grounds. The sound of children laughing in the distance reached his ears, a sweet reminder of what he fought for every day. Yet, despite the warmth that filled his chest, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was missing.

"Luka, you’re brooding again," Sampo teased as he sauntered past, twirling a coin between his fingers.

"Am not," Luka replied with a grin, shaking his head as he delivered a quick jab to a punching bag. "Just thinking."

"You mean waiting," Sampo said with a knowing smirk before vanishing into the shadows like usual.

Luka rolled his eyes, but the man wasn’t wrong. Ever since the Overworld and Underworld reconnected, his life had grown brighter in ways he hadn’t expected. Wildfire was stronger than ever, the streets were safer, and people were finally starting to believe in a shared future.

And then there was you.

You had been a welcome surprise, one that Luka hadn’t dared to dream of. An Overworlder who had stumbled into his life with a smile that rivaled the sun and a heart big enough to bridge the gap between their worlds. Your visits were infrequent but always left him feeling like he could take on the Fragmentum itself.

Just as he was about to start his next set of punches, a familiar voice called out, breaking through his thoughts.

"Shouldn't a champion be more alert?"

Luka froze, his head snapping toward the sound. There you were, leaning casually against one of the metal pillars, arms crossed and a playful smirk tugging at your lips.

"[Name]!" Luka’s face lit up like the forge fire as he jogged over to you. "You’re here! What are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be in the Overworld, sipping tea or something fancy like that?"

You chuckled, stepping forward to meet him. "And miss seeing you? Not a chance."

His mechanical arm whirred softly as he pulled you into a one-armed hug, careful not to crush you. You hugged him back, the warmth of your presence seeping into him like sunlight after a long winter.

"You didn’t tell me you were coming," he said, pulling back to look at you.

"That’s the point of a surprise, isn’t it?" You grinned, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from his face. "I thought you could use a little company. Figured you’ve been working too hard again."

Luka scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Guilty as charged. But it’s not every day someone like you comes down here. You really brighten the place up."

Your cheeks flushed at his sincerity, but you played it off with a laugh. "Well, someone has to keep you in check. Besides, I brought a little something for you."

From your bag, you pulled out a neatly wrapped package. Luka’s eyes widened in curiosity as he took it from you, carefully tearing the paper to reveal a new pair of black training gloves with red accents that matched his mechanical arm.

"These… These are incredible," he said, running his fingers over the material. "You didn’t have to—"

"I wanted to," you interrupted, meeting his gaze. "You do so much for everyone else. I thought it was time someone did something for you."

Luka’s expression softened, his usual carefree demeanor giving way to something deeper. "You’re amazing, you know that?"

You rolled your eyes playfully. "Took you long enough to notice."

He laughed, slipping the gloves on and flexing his fingers. "Perfect fit. I’ll have to test these out later."

"Just don’t go breaking anything—or anyone," you teased, nudging him gently.

Luka grinned, his mechanical arm lifting to brush against yours. "No promises. But you’ll stay for a while, right? I’ve got a few tricks I can show you."

"Of course," you said, leaning against him. "I’ve got all the time in the world."

As the two of you walked toward the center of the training grounds, Luka couldn’t help but think that, for all the battles he had fought, this—having you by his side—was the greatest victory of all.

[iri-desky]

Hey so I HAVE THOUGHTS on the new All In Till Cover art. Kinda DUMB thoughts maybe... but I wanna get them out there.

In most Album Cover Till art so far, Till's symbol color is deeper teal it's closer to green than blue, but definitely still teal.

However, in the All-In Cover, Till is fully green.

Inconsistencies like this aren't really coincidental in a show like Alien Stage.

Anyway, in the cover art, Till also is wearing a tanktop and has red tape over his name branding on his neck, obviously in rebellion to the aliens. He still looks older. In a way, it almost looks like an evolved version of his current self that we last saw in Round 6.

All-In was sung by Hyuna, a member of the rebellion for humans, with the song itself being about taking your life for yours. It's basically a song about taking control of your life, pretty appropriate for Hyuna and the rebellion as a whole, and obviously, Till too (hence why a lot of people have been anticipating this utterly fire cover). The difference between him and her is that Hyuna is actually in the rebellion. Till isn't.

Or is he?

Back to the colors thing. Till used to be a blue-ish teal, but here is green. What colors do you have to mix to get green? Blue and yellow.

You know who's yellow?

Luka.

We're getting ready to see Till go against Luka in the next round.

So, here's the point; Luka will change Till fundamentally in some way that will lead to his eventual rebellion arc and him getting back his spark somehow, joining the rebellion. This song will finally completely fit Till once he gets through Luka and similarly his own reservations. Till needs to escape the past and push forward, and Luka's manipulation might be the final straw for him to snap, like Mizi.