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mostlysignssomeportents · 6 months ago

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On July 14, I'm giving the closing keynote for the fifteenth HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH, in QUEENS, NY. Happy Bastille Day! On July 20, I'm appearing in CHICAGO at Exile in Bookville.

We're living through one of those moments when millions of people become suddenly and overwhelmingly interested in fair use, one of the subtlest and worst-understood aspects of copyright law. It's not a subject you can master by skimming a Wikipedia article!

I've been talking about fair use with laypeople for more than 20 years. I've met so many people who possess the unshakable, serene confidence of the truly wrong, like the people who think fair use means you can take x words from a book, or y seconds from a song and it will always be fair, while anything more will never be.

Or the people who think that if you violate any of the four factors, your use can't be fair – or the people who think that if you fail all of the four factors, you must be infringing (people, the Supreme Court is calling and they want to tell you about the Betamax!).

You might think that you can never quote a song lyric in a book without infringing copyright, or that you must clear every musical sample. You might be rock solid certain that scraping the web to train an AI is infringing. If you hold those beliefs, you do not understand the "fact intensive" nature of fair use.

But you can learn! It's actually a really cool and interesting and gnarly subject, and it's a favorite of copyright scholars, who have really fascinating disagreements and discussions about the subject. These discussions often key off of the controversies of the moment, but inevitably they implicate earlier fights about everything from the piano roll to 2 Live Crew to antiracist retellings of Gone With the Wind.

One of the most interesting discussions of fair use you can ask for took place in 2019, when the NYU Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy held a symposium called "Proving IP." One of the panels featured dueling musicologists debating the merits of the Blurred Lines case. That case marked a turning point in music copyright, with the Marvin Gaye estate successfully suing Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copying the "vibe" of Gaye's "Got to Give it Up."

Naturally, this discussion featured clips from both songs as the experts – joined by some of America's top copyright scholars – delved into the legal reasoning and future consequences of the case. It would be literally impossible to discuss this case without those clips.

And that's where the problems start: as soon as the symposium was uploaded to Youtube, it was flagged and removed by Content ID, Google's $100,000,000 copyright enforcement system. This initial takedown was fully automated, which is how Content ID works: rightsholders upload audio to claim it, and then Content ID removes other videos where that audio appears (rightsholders can also specify that videos with matching clips be demonetized, or that the ad revenue from those videos be diverted to the rightsholders).

But Content ID has a safety valve: an uploader whose video has been incorrectly flagged can challenge the takedown. The case is then punted to the rightsholder, who has to manually renew or drop their claim. In the case of this symposium, the rightsholder was Universal Music Group, the largest record company in the world. UMG's personnel reviewed the video and did not drop the claim.

99.99% of the time, that's where the story would end, for many reasons. First of all, most people don't understand fair use well enough to contest the judgment of a cosmically vast, unimaginably rich monopolist who wants to censor their video. Just as importantly, though, is that Content ID is a Byzantine system that is nearly as complex as fair use, but it's an entirely private affair, created and adjudicated by another galactic-scale monopolist (Google).

Google's copyright enforcement system is a cod-legal regime with all the downsides of the law, and a few wrinkles of its own (for example, it's a system without lawyers – just corporate experts doing battle with laypeople). And a single mis-step can result in your video being deleted or your account being permanently deleted, along with every video you've ever posted. For people who make their living on audiovisual content, losing your Youtube account is an extinction-level event:

https://www.eff.org/wp/unfiltered-how-youtubes-content-id-discourages-fair-use-and-dictates-what-we-see-online

So for the average Youtuber, Content ID is a kind of Kafka-as-a-Service system that is always avoided and never investigated. But the Engelbert Center isn't your average Youtuber: they boast some of the country's top copyright experts, specializing in exactly the questions Youtube's Content ID is supposed to be adjudicating.

So naturally, they challenged the takedown – only to have UMG double down. This is par for the course with UMG: they are infamous for refusing to consider fair use in takedown requests. Their stance is so unreasonable that a court actually found them guilty of violating the DMCA's provision against fraudulent takedowns:

https://www.eff.org/cases/lenz-v-universal

But the DMCA's takedown system is part of the real law, while Content ID is a fake law, created and overseen by a tech monopolist, not a court. So the fate of the Blurred Lines discussion turned on the Engelberg Center's ability to navigate both the law and the n-dimensional topology of Content ID's takedown flowchart.

It took more than a year, but eventually, Engelberg prevailed.

Until they didn't.

If Content ID was a person, it would be baby, specifically, a baby under 18 months old – that is, before the development of "object permanence." Until our 18th month (or so), we lack the ability to reason about things we can't see – this the period when small babies find peek-a-boo amazing. Object permanence is the ability to understand things that aren't in your immediate field of vision.

Content ID has no object permanence. Despite the fact that the Engelberg Blurred Lines panel was the most involved fair use question the system was ever called upon to parse, it managed to repeatedly forget that it had decided that the panel could stay up. Over and over since that initial determination, Content ID has taken down the video of the panel, forcing Engelberg to go through the whole process again.

But that's just for starters, because Youtube isn't the only place where a copyright enforcement bot is making billions of unsupervised, unaccountable decisions about what audiovisual material you're allowed to access.

Spotify is yet another monopolist, with a justifiable reputation for being extremely hostile to artists' interests, thanks in large part to the role that UMG and the other major record labels played in designing its business rules:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/12/streaming-doesnt-pay/#stunt-publishing

Spotify has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to capture the podcasting market, in the hopes of converting one of the last truly open digital publishing systems into a product under its control:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/27/enshittification-resistance/#ummauerter-garten-nein

Thankfully, that campaign has failed – but millions of people have (unwisely) ditched their open podcatchers in favor of Spotify's pre-enshittified app, so everyone with a podcast now must target Spotify for distribution if they hope to reach those captive users.

Guess who has a podcast? The Engelberg Center.

Naturally, Engelberg's podcast includes the audio of that Blurred Lines panel, and that audio includes samples from both "Blurred Lines" and "Got To Give It Up."

So – naturally – UMG keeps taking down the podcast.

Spotify has its own answer to Content ID, and incredibly, it's even worse and harder to navigate than Google's pretend legal system. As Engelberg describes in its latest post, UMG and Spotify have colluded to ensure that this now-classic discussion of fair use will never be able to take advantage of fair use itself:

https://www.nyuengelberg.org/news/how-explaining-copyright-broke-the-spotify-copyright-system/

Remember, this is the best case scenario for arguing about fair use with a monopolist like UMG, Google, or Spotify. As Engelberg puts it:

The Engelberg Center had an extraordinarily high level of interest in pursuing this issue, and legal confidence in our position that would have cost an average podcaster tens of thousands of dollars to develop. That cannot be what is required to challenge the removal of a podcast episode.

Automated takedown systems are the tech industry's answer to the "notice-and-takedown" system that was invented to broker a peace between copyright law and the internet, starting with the US's 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The DMCA implements (and exceeds) a pair of 1996 UN treaties, the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the Performances and Phonograms Treaty, and most countries in the world have some version of notice-and-takedown.

Big corporate rightsholders claim that notice-and-takedown is a gift to the tech sector, one that allows tech companies to get away with copyright infringement. They want a "strict liability" regime, where any platform that allows a user to post something infringing is liable for that infringement, to the tune of $150,000 in statutory damages.

Of course, there's no way for a platform to know a priori whether something a user posts infringes on someone's copyright. There is no registry of everything that is copyrighted, and of course, fair use means that there are lots of ways to legally reproduce someone's work without their permission (or even when they object). Even if every person who ever has trained or ever will train as a copyright lawyer worked 24/7 for just one online platform to evaluate every tweet, video, audio clip and image for copyright infringement, they wouldn't be able to touch even 1% of what gets posted to that platform.

The "compromise" that the entertainment industry wants is automated takedown – a system like Content ID, where rightsholders register their copyrights and platforms block anything that matches the registry. This "filternet" proposal became law in the EU in 2019 with Article 17 of the Digital Single Market Directive:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/09/today-europe-lost-internet-now-we-fight-back

This was the most controversial directive in EU history, and – as experts warned at the time – there is no way to implement it without violating the GDPR, Europe's privacy law, so now it's stuck in limbo:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/05/eus-copyright-directive-still-about-filters-eus-top-court-limits-its-use

As critics pointed out during the EU debate, there are so many problems with filternets. For one thing, these copyright filters are very expensive: remember that Google has spent $100m on Content ID alone, and that only does a fraction of what filternet advocates demand. Building the filternet would cost so much that only the biggest tech monopolists could afford it, which is to say, filternets are a legal requirement to keep the tech monopolists in business and prevent smaller, better platforms from ever coming into existence.

Filternets are also incapable of telling the difference between similar files. This is especially problematic for classical musicians, who routinely find their work blocked or demonetized by Sony Music, which claims performances of all the most important classical music compositions:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/08/copyfraud/#beethoven-just-wrote-music

Content ID can't tell the difference between your performance of "The Goldberg Variations" and Glenn Gould's. For classical musicians, the best case scenario is to have their online wages stolen by Sony, who fraudulently claim copyright to their recordings. The worst case scenario is that their video is blocked, their channel deleted, and their names blacklisted from ever opening another account on one of the monopoly platforms.

But when it comes to free expression, the role that notice-and-takedown and filternets play in the creative industries is really a sideshow. In creating a system of no-evidence-required takedowns, with no real consequences for fraudulent takedowns, these systems are huge gift to the world's worst criminals. For example, "reputation management" companies help convicted rapists, murderers, and even war criminals purge the internet of true accounts of their crimes by claiming copyright over them:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#dark-ops

Remember how during the covid lockdowns, scumbags marketed junk devices by claiming that they'd protect you from the virus? Their products remained online, while the detailed scientific articles warning people about the fraud were speedily removed through false copyright claims:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/18/labor-shortage-discourse-time/#copyfraud

Copyfraud – making false copyright claims – is an extremely safe crime to commit, and it's not just quack covid remedy peddlers and war criminals who avail themselves of it. Tech giants like Adobe do not hesitate to abuse the takedown system, even when that means exposing millions of people to spyware:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/13/theres-an-app-for-that/#gnash

Dirty cops play loud, copyrighted music during confrontations with the public, in the hopes that this will trigger copyright filters on services like Youtube and Instagram and block videos of their misbehavior:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/10/duke-sucks/#bhpd

But even if you solved all these problems with filternets and takedown, this system would still choke on fair use and other copyright exceptions. These are "fact intensive" questions that the world's top experts struggle with (as anyone who watches the Blurred Lines panel can see). There's no way we can get software to accurately determine when a use is or isn't fair.

That's a question that the entertainment industry itself is increasingly conflicted about. The Blurred Lines judgment opened the floodgates to a new kind of copyright troll – grifters who sued the record labels and their biggest stars for taking the "vibe" of songs that no one ever heard of. Musicians like Ed Sheeran have been sued for millions of dollars over these alleged infringements. These suits caused the record industry to (ahem) change its tune on fair use, insisting that fair use should be broadly interpreted to protect people who made things that were similar to existing works. The labels understood that if "vibe rights" became accepted law, they'd end up in the kind of hell that the rest of us enter when we try to post things online – where anything they produce can trigger takedowns, long legal battles, and millions in liability:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/08/oh-why/#two-notes-and-running

But the music industry remains deeply conflicted over fair use. Take the curious case of Katy Perry's song "Dark Horse," which attracted a multimillion-dollar suit from an obscure Christian rapper who claimed that a brief phrase in "Dark Horse" was impermissibly similar to his song "A Joyful Noise."

Perry and her publisher, Warner Chappell, lost the suit and were ordered to pay $2.8m. While they subsequently won an appeal, this definitely put the cold grue up Warner Chappell's back. They could see a long future of similar suits launched by treasure hunters hoping for a quick settlement.

But here's where it gets unbelievably weird and darkly funny. A Youtuber named Adam Neely made a wildly successful viral video about the suit, taking Perry's side and defending her song. As part of that video, Neely included a few seconds' worth of "A Joyful Noise," the song that Perry was accused of copying.

In court, Warner Chappell had argued that "A Joyful Noise" was not similar to Perry's "Dark Horse." But when Warner had Google remove Neely's video, they claimed that the sample from "Joyful Noise" was actually taken from "Dark Horse." Incredibly, they maintained this position through multiple appeals through the Content ID system:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/05/warner-chappell-copyfraud/#warnerchappell

In other words, they maintained that the song that they'd told the court was totally dissimilar to their own was so indistinguishable from their own song that they couldn't tell the difference!

Now, this question of vibes, similarity and fair use has only gotten more intense since the takedown of Neely's video. Just this week, the RIAA sued several AI companies, claiming that the songs the AI shits out are infringingly similar to tracks in their catalog:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/record-labels-sue-music-generators-suno-and-udio-1235042056/

Even before "Blurred Lines," this was a difficult fair use question to answer, with lots of chewy nuances. Just ask George Harrison:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord

But as the Engelberg panel's cohort of dueling musicologists and renowned copyright experts proved, this question only gets harder as time goes by. If you listen to that panel (if you can listen to that panel), you'll be hard pressed to come away with any certainty about the questions in this latest lawsuit.

The notice-and-takedown system is what's known as an "intermediary liability" rule. Platforms are "intermediaries" in that they connect end users with each other and with businesses. Ebay and Etsy and Amazon connect buyers and sellers; Facebook and Google and Tiktok connect performers, advertisers and publishers with audiences and so on.

For copyright, notice-and-takedown gives platforms a "safe harbor." A platform doesn't have to remove material after an allegation of infringement, but if they don't, they're jointly liable for any future judgment. In other words, Youtube isn't required to take down the Engelberg Blurred Lines panel, but if UMG sues Engelberg and wins a judgment, Google will also have to pay out.

During the adoption of the 1996 WIPO treaties and the 1998 US DMCA, this safe harbor rule was characterized as a balance between the rights of the public to publish online and the interest of rightsholders whose material might be infringed upon. The idea was that things that were likely to be infringing would be immediately removed once the platform received a notification, but that platforms would ignore spurious or obviously fraudulent takedowns.

That's not how it worked out. Whether it's Sony Music claiming to own your performance of "Fur Elise" or a war criminal claiming authorship over a newspaper story about his crimes, platforms nuke first and ask questions never. Why not? If they ignore a takedown and get it wrong, they suffer dire consequences ($150,000 per claim). But if they take action on a dodgy claim, there are no consequences. Of course they're just going to delete anything they're asked to delete.

This is how platforms always handle liability, and that's a lesson that we really should have internalized by now. After all, the DMCA is the second-most famous intermediary liability system for the internet – the most (in)famous is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

This is a 27-word law that says that platforms are not liable for civil damages arising from their users' speech. Now, this is a US law, and in the US, there aren't many civil damages from speech to begin with. The First Amendment makes it very hard to get a libel judgment, and even when these judgments are secured, damages are typically limited to "actual damages" – generally a low sum. Most of the worst online speech is actually not illegal: hate speech, misinformation and disinformation are all covered by the First Amendment.

Notwithstanding the First Amendment, there are categories of speech that US law criminalizes: actual threats of violence, criminal harassment, and committing certain kinds of legal, medical, election or financial fraud. These are all exempted from Section 230, which only provides immunity for civil suits, not criminal acts.

What Section 230 really protects platforms from is being named to unwinnable nuisance suits by unscrupulous parties who are betting that the platforms would rather remove legal speech that they object to than go to court. A generation of copyfraudsters have proved that this is a very safe bet:

https://www.techdirt.com/2020/06/23/hello-youve-been-referred-here-because-youre-wrong-about-section-230-communications-decency-act/

In other words, if you made a #MeToo accusation, or if you were a gig worker using an online forum to organize a union, or if you were blowing the whistle on your employer's toxic waste leaks, or if you were any other under-resourced person being bullied by a wealthy, powerful person or organization, that organization could shut you up by threatening to sue the platform that hosted your speech. The platform would immediately cave. But those same rich and powerful people would have access to the lawyers and back-channels that would prevent you from doing the same to them – that's why Sony can get your Brahms recital taken down, but you can't turn around and do the same to them.

This is true of every intermediary liability system, and it's been true since the earliest days of the internet, and it keeps getting proven to be true. Six years ago, Trump signed SESTA/FOSTA, a law that allowed platforms to be held civilly liable by survivors of sex trafficking. At the time, advocates claimed that this would only affect "sexual slavery" and would not impact consensual sex-work.

But from the start, and ever since, SESTA/FOSTA has primarily targeted consensual sex-work, to the immediate, lasting, and profound detriment of sex workers:

https://hackinghustling.org/what-is-sesta-fosta/

SESTA/FOSTA killed the "bad date" forums where sex workers circulated the details of violent and unstable clients, killed the online booking sites that allowed sex workers to screen their clients, and killed the payment processors that let sex workers avoid holding unsafe amounts of cash:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/09/fight-overturn-fosta-unconstitutional-internet-censorship-law-continues

SESTA/FOSTA made voluntary sex work more dangerous – and also made life harder for law enforcement efforts to target sex trafficking:

https://hackinghustling.org/erased-the-impact-of-fosta-sesta-2020/

Despite half a decade of SESTA/FOSTA, despite 15 years of filternets, despite a quarter century of notice-and-takedown, people continue to insist that getting rid of safe harbors will punish Big Tech and make life better for everyday internet users.

As of now, it seems likely that Section 230 will be dead by then end of 2025, even if there is nothing in place to replace it:

https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/bipartisan-energy-and-commerce-leaders-announce-legislative-hearing-on-sunsetting-section-230

This isn't the win that some people think it is. By making platforms responsible for screening the content their users post, we create a system that only the largest tech monopolies can survive, and only then by removing or blocking anything that threatens or displeases the wealthy and powerful.

Filternets are not precision-guided takedown machines; they're indiscriminate cluster-bombs that destroy anything in the vicinity of illegal speech – including (and especially) the best-informed, most informative discussions of how these systems go wrong, and how that blocks the complaints of the powerless, the marginalized, and the abused.

Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/27/nuke-first/#ask-questions-never

Image: EFF https://www.eff.org/files/banner_library/yt-fu-1b.png

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

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sansaorgana · 2 months ago

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— BLESSED (I)

PART TWO || PART THREE

PAIRING — Sauron x fem!half-Elf!Reader

SUMMARY — Your daughter is starting to show character traits and abilities that you have no idea where she could have inherited them from. In the meantime, your husband is growing frustrated with Celebrimbor when it comes to forging the rings.

AUTHOR’S NOTE — There will be a second part where she finds out who her husband is but in this one she remains oblivious, although there are signs of course – to which the Reader is blind and deaf. 🤣 I have probably butchered the lore but I didn't even bother to google much about it because I had my own idea how to write it. 🙈 The Reader is a half-Elf because it is useful in Sauron's scheme (trying to convince Celebrimbor to forge the rings for men – Celebrimbor is like a father to Annatar's wife). What I know about the canon, though, is that Sauron actually spent centuries in Eregion. So, in this fic he spends a few years, which is still not a lot but longer than in the show.

WARNINGS — Reader's father is dead (he was human, so she outlived him), manipulating, gaslighting, lowkey toxic and abusive marriage between the Reader and Annatar but she keeps describing him as kind and noble, Annatar is not the best father (I don't think the fic should trigger anyone because it's not like he's awful either but I want to mention it here just in case), immaculate conception (sort of... lmao I don't know how to describe it), birth (not much of a description)

WORD COUNT — 6,460

ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.

BLESSED (I)

“Lord Celebrimbor regrets to inform you he’s unable to grant you entry,” you announced after approaching the human king standing by his horse after arriving back to Eregion.

You had seen him around before but you had never truly had any opportunity to talk to him. He had been so busy with the man you considered to be your uncle and your guardian that it had seemed inappropriate to ever interrupt their work. And now he was back and even filthier than the last time you had seen him. He wanted to speak to your uncle but Celebrimbor had made a promise to Lady Galadriel to never treat with this man named Halbrand again.

So you stood there and announced the news as Celebrimbor’s most trusted person in Eregion; a daughter of his old friend and one of the best human smiths he had ever worked with – and such exceptions for the Elven master were not many. And even though you had not inherited your father’s abilities to forge beautiful things, you were the most useful to your guardian when it came to helping him run Eregion smoothly. Celebrimbor was often too occupied with his work to notice or deal with certain matters. That was where you would walk in and help him just like your mother had taught you before she had decided to move to Mithlond.

Eregion was your home, though, therefore you had not left with her. The memory of your father was too painful for your mother to be here but you were quite the opposite – you loved to live in the city your father had spent most of his life in.

But without your mortal father and without your mother, you were quite alone. Lord Celebrimbor, whom you called an uncle, was truly the only person you had.

Just as you expected, though, the human king did not want to accept the information as he smirked at you.

“Mightn’t I speak with him directly?” He asked you.

“My uncle is occupied,” you explained, calmly. It was not the first time you were dealing with people of this sort. “But he wishes you good fortune on your journey,” you added and turned around to walk away.

“Are you asking me to leave?” Halbrand inquired you sighed softly as you froze and turned around once more, to face him again.

“The Lord of Eregion is asking you,” you answered, patiently.

“Perhaps I’ll just wait here,” the man smiled awkwardly and petted his horse. You admired his stubborn will even though it was an inconvenience to you and your uncle. “Just in case he changes his mind,” he added and turned around to tie his horse to the column. And as he did that, you spotted that his tunic was torn on his back, revealing long and fresh wounds on his skin.

And perhaps the Elven part of you would just turn the blind eye and leave but the human part of you pitied him. Yes, however it sounded like – your relationship started with pity. And the thread of understanding because you were aware of the weaknesses of the human flesh. You had seen your father suffering from the injuries that your Elven kin would heal from nearly instantly. You had seen his body growing weaker as he had been getting older; more fragile. And because of your love towards your father, you had known and understood Halbrand’s pain in a way that most Elves would not.

Therefore, you became the human king’s greatest advocate in front of your uncle. You were the one to tell Celebrimbor about his injuries, pleading to at least offer Halbrand the help of the Eregion medics. He did not agree. But when the evening came, you brought it up that the night was cold and asked your uncle if you should bring Halbrand a shawl.

So, perhaps it was a shawl that started it all – at least it was this way in Annatar’s version of your love story. And whenever you would ask your husband why he had chosen you out of all the Elven maidens of Eregion, he would always remind you that you had been the only one who had treated him with dignity and had cared for him even when he had been still in his human form.

Despite that noble reason for his affection towards you, it still felt surreal to be courted by the emissary of the Valars. You were a half-Elf with no exceptional talents… And yet, for you, a man of such lightness, who was chosen by the gods, would give up some of his privileges and stay in Eregion to work alongside your uncle and be your husband? It was nearly suspicious in a way but neither you or Celebrimbor ever thought of it this way. To Celebrimbor you were like his own daughter that he had never had. When Lord Annatar asked for your hand, he felt proud and blessed. And so did you, writing a letter to your mother in Mithlond with shaky hands to ask for her permission to marry.

But your mother was not really a part of your life anymore and she was a different person after your father’s passing. She agreed without asking any further questions.

A year after his arrival to Eregion, you became Lord Annatar’s wife. It was the happiest day of your life because after a few centuries of loneliness with no one but your uncle by your side, you could start a family of your own. And to have a family was all you had ever wanted.

You were standing by the window and staring at Eregion underneath with a dreamy gaze as the cool breeze refreshed your face and made your hair dance slightly in the air. You took a deep breath in and felt the overwhelming energy filling up your body. Married life was giving you a new sense of meaning and joy, especially with a man like Annatar – the kindest, the gentlest, the most noble and most humble. Even though his grey and simple robes had been recently replaced and he began to dress more elegantly, you knew that the change had not been his idea. It was Celebrimbor’s because he wanted your husband to present himself respectable enough for the rest of Eregion.

You felt your husband’s hands touching your arms as you closed your eyes and enjoyed his presence. He stood behind you and buried his face in your hair to place a kiss upon your head in that quiet moment of the morning before he would have to join your uncle in the forge and you would have to go downstairs to help with the administration matters.

“I have realised recently, my love, that I still have not given you any wedding gift,” Annatar pointed out softly and you opened your eyes to turn your head around and look at his beautiful face.

“It’s been months since our wedding… I have not even thought of that…” You admitted. “Because, to me, you are the grandest gift, my love,” you replied, truthfully. He smiled at you adoringly and caressed the side of your face with his fingertips but there was a playful sparkle dancing in his gaze.

“You are my wife and I am the Lord of Gifts. I shall spoil you with many,” he whispered and leaned in to kiss your forehead. “Is there something you want? Something you want very badly perhaps? Name it and I shall give it to you,” he murmured as his hands wrapped around your waist and you felt your cheeks heating up. You looked down nervously and Annatar chuckled. “I can see there is something… Name it, my love.”

You hesitated. Perhaps he would find it to happen too soon. Perhaps he would find it not suiting him at all. But he was your husband with whom you had shared your whole heart, soul and body. He deserved to know about your desires.

“...A child,” you confessed, nearly inaudibly, still too shy to look up at his face.

You could sense his muscles flexing around you and becoming more stiff. The atmosphere changed in an instant and you regretted your confession immediately. After a long while of silence, you swallowed thickly and looked up eventually, filled with anxiety. Annatar’s brows were furrowed and his eyes lost the playful sparkle. He did not look angry but a bit confused and torn.

“F-forgive me. I know that a woman like me is not worthy of carrying a child of a man like y–”

“Stop it,” Annatar shushed you quickly and cupped your face to caress your cheeks with his thumbs as he kept staring deep into your eyes with a gentle expression. “I do not wish to hear of it. You are my wife. There is nothing you are not worthy of,” he insisted and you sniffled your tears back as he sighed. “If a child is what you wish for, I shall give it to you,” he announced after a short while but you could feel the hesitancy.

And you felt bad about it but you craved to have his child so much that you decided to ignore that hesitancy in his voice.

Therefore, you only nodded and you felt your husband’s hands lowering themselves onto your arms. He turned you around, so you would face Eregion again. And once you did, he placed his hands on your abdomen. At first, you found his gesture very sweet as your muscles relaxed. But the longer you stood like that in silence, the more uneasy you were starting to feel. There was a weird feeling forming inside of you – a new wave of energy coming from his hands and filling up your womb. Was it possible that…?

Well, he was an emissary of the Valars. He had many abilities and powers that the simple Elves could only dream of. You did not question it.

When he removed his hands, he kissed the back of your head and you furrowed your brows as you clutched onto the fabric of your dress on your abdomen.

“I can feel… I can feel a new life,” you turned around to meet his gaze. He was smiling at you kindly and lovingly as your eyes filled with tears. “Oh, I… I did not expect it would happen like that…”

“I am in full control of the act of my own procreation. It would not happen without my consent and will,” he explained and you nodded at him, too grateful and overjoyed to question anything.

Annatar placed his hand on top of yours and squeezed them as you let out a happy laugh through the tears of joy. With his free hand he wiped your tears gently.

“Were you in control of choosing if our child would be a boy or a girl, too?” You wondered out loud. Your husband nodded with a slight smile. “What will the child be then?”

“You will see, my love, be patient and allow it to be a surprise,” he leaned in to kiss your lips delicately.

For some reason, you were sure it would be a boy. Despite Annatar’s gentleness and kindness, he was a master of his craft and a man of tradition. He would surely want a successor.

You were so convinced that you were carrying his son that in the conversations about your child, you often referred to them as he. Annatar would only smile at you sweetly but also playfully.

Your child was born on a warm, summer night. You were in bed, surrounded by the female medics of Eregion. Celebrimbor was in his forge, nervously drinking wine and pacing around. But Annatar was by your side, holding you in his arms and letting you squeeze his hands, encouraging you gently with his sweet words and you swore, he was making some of the pain go away somehow. Whenever you squeezed his hand tighter, he would place his free one upon your forehead and the pain would slightly subdue.

The sound of your baby’s cries was like sweet music to your ears and your eyes filled with tears when one of the medics handed you the screaming newborn.

“It is a girl, my Lady,” she told you with a smile and you laughed out of happiness, taking the little one into your arms as you stared at her in awe.

“A girl?” You whispered, looking up at your husband. You were surprised but not disappointed – to have a little girl with Annatar was a vision of the future so beautiful that you could not stop the fresh tears from streaming down your cheeks.

He did not say anything to that, he only smiled sweetly at you and fixed the sweaty strands of your hair that got stuck to your forehead. Then, he leaned in to kiss the top of your head.

“How do you want to name her, my love?” He asked. “Your daughter?”

“Our daughter,” you fixed him and tried to hand him the baby. He froze for a moment but he eventually took the newborn child into his own hands as he kept staring at the little face with a very unreadable expression. “A-are you happy?” You asked, suddenly getting anxious.

“Oh, yes, of course,” Annatar nodded as his face lit up with a big grin. You sighed with relief and caressed the little cheek of your baby girl.

“Almárea,” you whispered. “Blessed.”

Focused on staring in awe at your little baby girl in her father’s arms, you nearly did not notice that he did not give you any reply. So, eventually, you looked up at him questioningly.

“Yes, yes,” Annatar nodded eagerly. “It’s perfect,” he assured you and handed you the baby back. “I shall inform Celebrimbor. He will be the most delighted,” he stood up and left the room.

A few years passed as your husband was helping your uncle to forge the rings that would save Middle-earth. And your sweet little Almárea was growing in the meantime – the older she was getting, the more you could see that she was a physical copy of you.

When you had asked your husband about it, he had answered that it had been the result of the fact his physical form was not definite, therefore his child could not inherit any physical traits. It was making you a bit sad because you would love to see bits of your husband in your offspring but you also did not want to complain about the things that did not truly matter in the end.

That she was Annatar’s daughter there was no doubt. It was something about her soul; her inner light differed from the other Elves. You could feel from the very first time you had held her that she was stronger and more powerful than any of the Elves inside Eregion. You were sure that she was truly blessed by the Valars due to her father’s origin.

When it came to Almárea’s character, though… You sometimes wondered what was causing the constant mischief, which was innocent but still present. She was a little deceiver and a little liar very often as she kept making up stories, playing tricks or making people believe the most absurd stories. Sometimes she was able to make people even see the things she was describing. Like that time when she kept blabbering about the beautiful butterflies flying all over the room.

And you saw them. You saw them all – shimmering in the light in all the possible colours. They were so beautiful that you kept laughing and trying to catch them as Almárea giggled. And that was how Annatar found you after coming back to your chambers from the day in the forge.

“What are you doing?” He froze, a little taken aback as he glanced at his daughter and then back at you.

“The butterflies, they are–” You tried to explain.

“Mummy is trying to catch the air, daddy. Is it not funny?” Almárea asked and you furrowed your brows at her.

“But the butterflies–” You started but as you looked around, they all disappeared. You looked at Almárea with a sour expression and she laughed.

“Oh, mummy, I am sorry. It was funny to watch,” she admitted to use treachery as she ran up to you and hugged your waist.

You did not like how malicious – even if in an innocent manner – some of her jokes were. But you could not be angry for too long. Not at your sweet little daughter.

“Oh… Well…” You hesitated nervously and patted her back. “It is quite alright, my dear. But that was not nice.”

“How did you do that?” Your husband asked, a little harshly. You gave him a soft look, trying to calm him down.

“She did not mean to be cruel, she had no idea that–” You began to make excuses.

“I am not talking about the so-called joke. I am asking about the illusion. Almárea?” Annatar approached you two and put his hand on your daughter’s arm to turn her around. The movement was not rapid but it was most definitely quite harsh.

“I just… I just think of something very hard and… And I can make people see things,” Almárea tried to explain as she looked down. “Is it something bad to do, daddy?”

“You are too young to play with such a gift,” Annatar’s face changed quickly from harsh to kind and gentle again as he smiled at Almárea and caressed her cheek. “Unwillingly, you have just been cruel to your mother and I am sure that was not your intention. You should stop playing with it for now,” he explained and Almárea nodded.

But you knew already that she would probably not listen. It was not in her nature to follow anyone’s requests, pleas or orders.

The day started like nearly every other. You woke up in your husband’s arms and he was awake already – sometimes you wondered if he ever slept at all because you had never witnessed him doing so.

The hour was still early and you watched the sun rising in the skies outside your window, exchanging kisses and love declarations. However, on this day, your husband seemed to be a little tense when you peppered his jaw with sweet little kisses.

“What is it, my love?” You asked as you lifted yourself up on your elbow, still looking at his beautiful face and tracing the outlines of it with your fingertip.

“It pains me to say…” Annatar sighed and held your wrist softly as he put your fingers on his lips and kissed them gently.

“Why? What is it?” You furrowed your brows.

“It is about Celebrimbor and I know that what I am going to reveal is going to hurt you deeply, my love,” his eyes filled with sadness.

“Now you simply must tell me… You know how dear he is to me,” you shook your head, trying to read his face but all the years of sharing your life with Annatar, you had learnt already that it was an impossible task to ever know what was truly on his mind.

“I have spoken to him recently…” Annatar began and let go of your wrists to put his hands on your waist and roll you over onto your back as he hovered above you. “...about the rings that must be crafted. The Nine rings for the nine human kings to help their kin as well.”

“Yes…?” You swallowed the lump in your throat and gasped when his skilled fingers pulled your nightgown up. All those years of being his wife and his touch could still ignite the fire within you. You wondered sometimes how he was able to do it.

But now, with his fingers roaming all over your exposed skin, your mind was in haze and you were not able to think clearly.

“Oh, darling, I have no idea how to tell you… But your uncle does not think of humans to be worthy enough to have such rings,” Annatar revealed and you froze at his words as your eyes widened.

“T-that is impossible,” you refused to believe him although he would never lie to you. “My father… He was human and uncle Celebrimbor loved him and adored his craft. He loved him so much that he raised me after his death. It is impossible that now he refuses to forge the rings for humans… No, I refuse to–”

“That is the truth,” Annatar’s voice sent shivers down the spine since it had gotten harsh all of the sudden. “Why would I lie to you?”

“I am not accusing you of lying, I simply–”

“Yes, you are,” Annatar looked deep into your eyes as a spark of anger sparkled in his. His jaw was clenched and his fingers dug into the soft flesh of your hips, which was causing you slight pain. “He refuses to fulfil his mission and he thinks of your father’s kin as lesser.”

“I shall speak to him,” you promised as tears filled your eyes. Annatar softened immediately as his fingers went back to caressing you and he leaned in to kiss away the small tears upon your cheeks.

“Thank you… That would be very helpful,” he muttered between the kisses. “My love…”

You loved serving breakfast the most. You loved feeling useful and to take care of your family. It made you feel fulfilled in a way nothing else could, even though you did not mind running Eregion in your uncle’s name when he required it. However, seeing Almárea and Annatar by the table, eating the food you had prepared and talking about their plans for the day… That felt the most precious and the most special.

On that day, she looked up at you with big, pleading eyes as she watched her father preparing to leave for the day. He was standing in front of the mirror and swiftly tying some of his hair strands into a bow, which would protect his eyes from being interrupted while he worked.

“Can you do the same to my hair, mummy?” Almárea asked you. “I want to wear it like daddy.”

“I shall do it,” Annatar smiled at you both as he approached the breakfast table to stand behind your daughter’s chair. “Mummy must leave now and speak to uncle Celebrimbor,” he gave you a meaningful look and you nodded your head.

“Yes, that is right,” you confirmed. “Can you take her to her class once you’re done tying her hair?” You asked him sweetly.

“Oh, of course,” your husband replied and you kissed his cheek before leaning down to kiss your daughter’s forehead, too.

After that, you left your chambers and hurried to Celebrimbor’s forge. You were scared of this conversation and you had no idea how to start it as well. You couldn’t hide the fact that Celebrimbor’s sudden change of views hurt you deeply. You hoped that you could convince him to make up his mind but even the emissary of the Valars could not. On the other hand, you were closer to Celebrimbor than Annatar would ever be. He was like a father to you these days.

When you went inside the forge, it was empty. And even though you were supposed to look for your uncle, you could not help to just roam around for a while and take a deep breath in as you smiled to yourself at all the sweet memories you had with this place – like your father…

He had been working alongside Celebrimbor and you would run around happily – sometimes getting scolded, sometimes being shown many interesting details about their craft. Sweet little half-Elven girl that would always make everyone laugh. And as time progressed, you had been growing up but not ageing – and for your father it had been the opposite. He had not been growing up but he had been ageing. And, one day, he had eventually become too weak to use the hammer.

Remembering all those bittersweet moments, Celebrimbor’s voice startled you a little as he stood by the railing of the stairs leading up to his study.

“(Y/N)?” He asked and you looked up with a soft smile.

“Uncle Celebrimbor,” you sighed with relief that it was only him you were seeing and not some sort of phantom or a ghost. You gathered your skirts and walked upstairs to join him. “I am here to speak with you… About a rather delicate manner,” you informed him and looked him up and down carefully.

Truly, he had changed. He looked exhausted and a little uneasy as if he was on the verge of some sort of breakdown. You immediately found compassion for his state.

“I am aware that crafting such powerful items has cost you a lot and you must feel overworked…” You started. “I know you have finished the rings for the dwarves not so long ago and I am not here to rush your progress. By all means, take your time, uncle, but your views about humans–”

“Was it him? Did he send you?” Celebrimbor’s face changed immediately. He looked concerned and a bit… scared? You froze at that reaction.

“What do you mean by that? Of whom are you speaking? My husband?” You asked, taken aback. “First, you are insulting my father’s kin… My kin as well… And now… Now you are trying to insinuate something about my husband? The emissary of the Valars?” You raised an eyebrow. “It was me who came up with the idea of speaking with you.”

“Have you not noticed yet, my sweet child, after all the years of your marriage, that he plants the seeds of ideas in people’s minds to make them think they came up with them on their own?” Celebrimbor asked.

“Even if it is true, I do not see what is wrong with it. He is here to fulfil the Valars’ plan to save Middle-earth. How can you say that forging the rings to save humans is below you?” You shook your head. “Protecting that which is most fragile, most dear, is a task entrusted to all Elves,” you reminded him. “If you abandon half of my kin now, in the hour of darkness, I shall never forgive you, uncle,” your voice trembled when you tried to reach his eyes with yours, to show him all your love towards him – but also all your pain.

“I do not think lowly of humans. I loved your father, he was my dearest friend… I just… I needed an excuse to deny your husband,” Celebrimbor sighed and looked away.

“Oh, uncle, if you are overworked, he is going to understand and give you time,” you put your hand on his arm but he flinched. “Annatar is the kindest, the gentlest soul I have ever met. You used to think the same of him. What happened?”

“Do you…” Celebrimbor’s eyes found yours, “...do you trust him?”

“With my life,” you gasped at the question. Of course you trusted your husband. What kind of question was that?

“Very well then,” your uncle nodded and sighed before running his hand down his face. “I might be overworked indeed… I need a break. And after that, I can go back to forging the rings. My senses are beginning to fool me,” he confessed. “Forgive me, my dear, I did not mean to hurt you with my words.”

“Oh, poor uncle… Please, rest. Annatar will understand,” you assured him softly and wrapped your arms around him to give him a hug.

But Annatar was not as understanding to hear the news as you had been suspecting. He was smiling but the corners of his mouth twitched when you finished telling him how the conversation with Celebrimbor had been like.

“Of course, he can wait. He is an Elf. He lives for an eternity. But for the humans in Mordor time remains priceless… They suffer each day and their lives are short. I expected that you would know something about it, my love,” your husband nodded his head and walked away, leaving you a little speechless and hurt.

He was right. You had not fought for your kin strong enough but you also had too much love for Celebrimbor in your heart to keep arguing with him.

“I do understand, my darling. But I also have never seen my uncle in such an awful state,” you admitted. “He needs to rest,” you added, trying to make Annatar realise that, too. “He is not going to forge excellent rings when he is overworked and losing his senses.”

“He must finish the rings before they finish him first,” Annatar turned around to look at your face. His expression was quite harsh and it made you take a step back, therefore he softened immediately while approaching you. “My love, I am so sorry… I do not mean to be like this, you know that, right?” He put his hands on your arms. “But we are running out of time. Forging the rings for the dwarves took us years. It is going to take us another few more to forge the rings for humans, too. Therefore, we should start as soon as possible,” he tried to explain calmly.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have a heart in me to push Celebrimbor…” You shook your head and Annatar walked away rapidly as he turned his back on you to look out of the window. You spotted his fists clenching and unclenching but he remained silent. “I… I shall go to pick Almárea up from her class… I think she should be ready now,” your voice broke a little.

You had never expected you would have to choose a side between your uncle’s and your husband’s. They seemed to be such close friends and now…

But, before you left, you hesitated and turned around to look in your husband’s direction.

“You really should not…” You whispered, “force him to do it too soon. His mind is in the most fragile state now… He even… He accused you of–”

“Accused me of what?!” Annatar turned around quickly, startling you.

“I don’t know what exactly… But he asked me for some reason if I trusted you…” You confessed.

“And what did you tell him?” Your husband demanded an answer and his eyes turned cold. It was nearly impossible to remember at that moment that they could be so kind and loving, too.

But they were only this gentle way when everything was going according to his plan. And, so far, everything had been like that. Until now.

You were aware, however, that his unusual anger was caused by the pressure that the gods themselves were putting onto his shoulders.

“I told him I trusted you. Of course I did. Annatar, you are my husband…” You answered, surprised that he had questioned you like that. “Perhaps both of you need a break. You are acting differently, too,” you pointed out before leaving to walk your daughter home after her class.

On your way home you bumped into your friend Mirdania. She began telling you stories from the forge and Almárea was growing bored as she stood there, holding your hand and drawing circles with her foot.

“Almárea, you can go upstairs already,” you informed your daughter. “Daddy is there.”

She nodded at you and waved Mirdania goodbye as she ran away to disappear inside the tower in which your chambers were. You watched her with a smile on your lips, especially at the sight of the bow in her head – now slightly crooked after a few hours – trying to resemble her father’s one.

Mirdania kept you occupied with her chatting for a longer time after that and you kept listening to her with a soft smile but when she eventually informed you that she had to go back to work, you were grateful. You went inside the tower with a slight eye roll as you began walking upstairs to go back to your family.

When you opened the door and heard Almárea’s giggles, you smiled widely, expecting her to play with her father as they sometimes would. But when you went inside the room where they were sitting together, you spotted Annatar being on the verge of lashing out. Almárea was chuckling and tilting her head slightly – an undeniable sign that she was projecting something onto her father’s mind at this very moment.

This time it was you walking in on Annatar being fooled. But he was not about to take it as lightly as you.

“Stop it,” Annatar drawled out. “This is not funny. Stop it!”

“What is going on here?” You looked at your daughter and her smile froze. “Were you not forbidden to play your tricks, Almárea?” You asked her and approached Annatar to put your hand on his tense shoulder.

“Daddy wanted me to try!” Almárea explained and stopped the visions from happening.

“You did?” You looked down at your husband with a raised eyebrow but he only stood up and walked away to stand on the balcony. He was angry and visibly unsettled. “What did you show him?” You asked your daughter.

Something was telling you it had not been butterflies.

Almárea shrugged her arms and avoided your gaze. You furrowed your brows and sighed, following your husband outside.

“Do not be upset, my love. I am sure whatever she has shown you was of an innocent nature,” you began softly. “Now you know how it feels like when she’s in one’s mind,” you chuckled nervously. “She did not mean to scare you.”

“It was not the vision itself that scared me,” Annatar turned around to look at you. He was still disturbed and surprised as his fists clenched around the railing of the balcony. “It was the fact I was not strong enough to make it stop. Could you ever do that?” He asked you and you opened your mouth a little. “I should be able to make it stop easily.”

“I have never tried,” you admitted. “I do not know, I cannot say…”

Annatar snorted at that and looked away again. His knuckles turned white from squeezing the railing so hard and you put your hand gently on top of his.

“Why does her power scare you?” You asked. “Is it of an evil kind? If so, how could that happen? You are the emissary of the Valars; made of pure light–”

“And you?” Your husband turned around again to meet your gaze. “What do we truly know of your heritage? Was your father not from The Southlands? And the humans of this realm… Were they not the ones who had followed Morgoth out of their own free will?”

His words hurt like knives. You took a step back and shook your head, trying to gather your thoughts. The man in front of you was not the man you had married – gentle, soft, kind, noble and humble. But you refused to believe it was his fault. He had changed just like uncle Celebrimbor – and it was all caused by the fact they had been working so hard… too hard… on the rings.

“Mummy… Daddy… I am sorry,” your daughter’s voice interrupted you as she entered the balcony as well. She looked up at the both of you and sniffled. Your heart clenched at the sight and you crouched down to fix the bow in her hair.

“It is quite alright, my dear. It was not your fault, you only did what daddy asked you to,” you gave your husband a stern look.

“I…” Annatar cleared his throat. “I was simply curious about this… gift.”

“Is it evil, daddy?” Almárea dared to look up at him with so much curiosity, respect and admiration that your heart filled with love once again you chose to forget about his hurtful accusations.

“No gift is good or evil, Almárea,” Annatar smiled softly at her as his eyes filled with kindness again. “It is us who choose how we use our gifts.”

“Daddy is right,” you nodded and kissed her forehead before standing up and Almárea hugged Annatar’s waist. He put his arm on her back and caressed it although he still looked as if he was overthinking something.

“Can I go to uncle Celebrimbor now? He promised to teach me a little about the gemstones!” Almárea smiled widely at you and you nodded. She clapped her hands and ran out of your chambers.

“I am going to start forging The Nine on my own, by the way,” Annatar announced to you when you were left alone with him. “Celebrimbor might join when he’s ready. However, the work must not stop,” he pointed out.

You bit on your lower lip and eventually nodded your head. You approached him and caressed his shoulder, though, trying to soothe him.

“I wish you gave yourself a break as well. You are overworking yourself,” you whispered.

Annatar held your hand and pulled you closer to wrap his arms around you. At this very moment he was radiating nothing but love, warmth and kindness. You squeezed him tighter and sighed with relief.

“Do not worry about me. I am going to be nothing but fine but I shall not rest until all Middle-earth is healed. Forgive me for my previous harshness,” he kissed the top of your head.

“Please, do not even mention,” you shook your head and kissed his lips briefly before giving him a sweet smile. He smiled back at you and cupped your face to caress your cheeks. “What did she show you, my love?” You asked, still curious. Annatar’s face went back to serious immediately.

“I asked her to show me something nice,” he explained. “And so she did… She showed me my greatest desire.”

“And that is…?” You frowned.

“The rings. All of them. Forged,” he answered and you nodded.

“She is too young to understand the importance of these items and your mission in Eregion…” You pointed out. “How was she able to penetrate your heart like this?”

“Now you know what truly scared me, my love,” Annatar nodded softly and the fear in his eyes was truly genuine but you spotted a sparkle of excitement there as well.

“Should I worry about her?” Your voice trembled.

“No, no… Not at all,” your husband pulled you closer once more to soothe you. “Her gift – if used correctly – might be the most useful for all the peoples of Middle-earth.”

“How so?” You mumbled out the question and Annatar hesitated with the answer before smirking slightly.

“Only time will tell.”

MASTERLIST

#sauron x reader #annatar x reader #halbrand x reader #lilysfiction

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genevievefangirl · 2 months ago

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Master Post - Gen's Top 100 DBDA Fics!

It is finally here! My personal top 100 DBDA fics!

My friends in the DBDA Haunt Discord server know that I am an avid fic reader. I read multiple hours every day and have read a very large chunk of all the DBDA fics out there (that are tagged Payneland). I constantly recommend fics in our fanfic channel and thought, "Well, why don't I make a huge rec list in recognition of how wonderful the fic writers of this fandom are?" And thus the idea for this list was born!

I have been working on this since the cancellation announcement almost 2 months ago. It has taken me that long to go back through my over 350+ DBDA bookmarks and select only the best of the best to be featured here.

Thank you to every fic writer in this fandom! You are all amazing and I love your work! Your creations are what keep the fandom alive and healthy!

Some caveats before we begin:

These fics are in alphabetical order by title.

I have a Payneland bias. All of these are Payneland fics. Maybe I will make a list sometime that has more ship variety, but for now, that is what is on the list.

I also have a very strong hurt/comfort & angst bias, so there will be a lot of that on here as well! But there are a few fluffy fics too!

There is no smut on this list. Sorry, smut just isn't my thing. There is exactly one fic rated E on here.

Not all tags are listed! I have selected the ones that I feel are the most important and in some cases added some that I felt were missing. But please read the full tag list on the fic itself!

I will be releasing 10 fics a day for 10 days, to make the posts more readable and to have some fun!

And now... THE LIST!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11 - WIPs

(and yes I will link a google sheets version once all the parts are out)

#gen's 100 DBDA fics masterpost #gen's 100 DBDA fics #dead boy detectives #edwin payne #payneland #charles rowland #dbda #dbda fanfiction #dbda fanfic #save dead boy detectives #paineland #fic rec #ao3 fanfic #ao3 #fanfic #fanfiction #the dead boy detective agency #the dead boy detectives #dead boy detective agency

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certainlynotasimp · 2 years ago

Note

can i req miguel and sunshine where she has a BUNCH of hickeys but shes too nice to make fun of so the spiders tease miguel instead?

Just A Taste

(Miguel O' Hara x Female! Reader)

A/N: Omg this is so funny and cute!!! I was kinda struggling writing this because I was like, 'How much is too much for hickeys?'. It's currently hot as hell where I live and so you can tell where that inspo comes from this can be read as a part 2 or a sister fic to Just A Bite. I almost made it an unofficial part 2.25 to Our Girl, but I changed my mind. Also, I'm sorry it's a little short, but I hope you like it.

A/N: I also really wanna try that sorbet thingy where they come in the fruit shells if you know what I'm talking about. If you love this then please check out the master list and if you wanna be kept informed about updates on the Miggy and Sunny series, then comment on this taglist and you'll be added.

WARNINGS: Grumpy x Sunshine, Female reader/ Female pronouns, Barely any use of Y/N ((Sunny is her nickname, not her actual name)), OOC Characters, Flirty Miguel, Some implications of NSFW content, and Google Translated Spanish.

~~~~~~~~

It was very rare that it would get so hot that Miguel would be laid back with the rules. He held everyone to a certain standard when it came to being a part of his elite task force and he was a stickler for them to act like it. Despite this, he only expected three rules to remain to be followed at all times.

All Spidermen can’t travel to other worlds without notice.

Spidermen can’t travel without a mask on to protect the identity of all Spidermen.

Everyone has to wear their spider suits at all times.

Unfortunately, certain circumstances don't really allow certain rules to be followed reasonably. Especially when it involves people with special circumstances.

Such as this.

“Miggy!” A soft whine emits from the chair beside him as the woman sat upside down. Her unmasked face felt hot as a light sheen of sweat made her beautiful face glow against the soft light of the monitor. “It’s so hot…I thought you said Lyla would fix the air hours ago.”

Miguel rolls his eyes at the sight of her feet lightly hanging over the top of the chair as. “Mi amor, if you stay like that, you’re gonna have a lot more to worry about than a heat stroke.” He playfully pinches her ankle as he grabs a tablet from the table, fanning his own burning skin.

Due to a massive heat wave, Earth-928 was experiencing the hottest summer it has ever had in history, causing Lyla’s A/C system to malfunction. The Lobby was left a broiling mess with Spidermen refusing to come by until the AI’s systems are rebooted. Only a handful of spiders were on base with the residential sweetheart suffering the most since she lives there.

“Can I please take this off?” She moans as she swings up and shoots him those dreaded puppy dog eyes.

“Oh?” Miguel quirks an eyebrow as his eyelids lower. A playful smile graces his handsome face as he chastises. “I didn’t expect you to be so risky, mi sol.”

A flurry of butterflies spread out in her gut as she glares at Miguel. His response is to chuckle as that pretty glossed lip pokes out as she scolds him, “Not like that, Miguel, and you know it. This suit feels like a furnace and I just want to relax…”

The idea of his cute little lover prancing around in the nude would be an interesting idea to Spiderman, but he knew that his love would never agree to do that with others in the Head Quarters. Miguel bites his lip as he contemplates torturing his arañita some more, but he decides to show mercy as he relents.

“Alright, mi amor.” He sighs as he allows his own suit to dissipate, exposing the tight black tank top and tight athletic pants. “Pero tendrás que cumplir esa pequeña fantasía mía más tarde, mi niña bonita.”

His remark is ignored as she stands up from her cheer with a quiet “fuck yea”. After tinkering with her gizmo, the black and white suit disappears revealing her white tank top and black running shorts, but Miguel couldn’t help but smirk at the blotches of bruises that marred her skin.

Just before he could comment on it, the door opens as a voice complains, “YO BIG MAN! You need to tell that computer to fix this air!”

Another voice accompanies the new yorker's as the tall Brit yells out. “It’s sweltering here, man!”

Ben and Hobie came to a halt as they see their friend smile at them. “Hey, guys!” Sunny calls and waves at them while their faces grow ten degrees hotter.

The poor woman’s entire body was covered in hickeys. Her shoulders and collarbone were littered with several little puncture wounds while her neck had multiple light scratches dragging down. A distinct handprint was present at the base of her neck like a necklace with matching bracelets on her wrists. Her exposed thighs bared no better as the inner sides of her thighs had similar bite marks with a matching set of claw marks on the outside of her thighs.

Ben swats a hand over his mouth as his hand slams over his horrified mouth while Hobie looks at Miguel in an amused expression. The urge to throw himself into another dimension plagues Miguel’s thoughts as he realizes that he will never live this moment down for the rest of his life. Rubbing his hand over his face in frustration, the oblivious spider turns back to her lover as she tilts her head at why everyone was acting weird.

“Miggy, are you alright?” She mumbles as Hobie joins them up there with fake concern wrapping around his voice. “Yea, boss, are you alright? You looking a bit flushed, yea?” Hobie struggles to hide the growing laughter in his voice as Miguel throws him a nasty glare.

The punk was never afraid of getting under his leader’s skin, but his ego really took over when he knows his boss would definitely not do anything while his missus was right there watching him. Ben also decides to join the fun by remarking, “Yea, you look like you need something to blow off that steam. Maybe a little taste of something sweet, right?” He teases as he figures he was safe.

Unfortunately, he unknowingly sparked an idea in the naive spider’s mind. She claps her hands in excitement as she exclaims, “That’s a great idea, Ben! I think I have some sorbets in the freezer of Miguel’s apartment.”

Miguel wickedly smirks as he realizes that he may have an opportunity to exact some revenge as the two other boys tried to reason with her to stay.

“Oh wait, Sunny, You really don’t have to..”

“Yea, Love. We are fine really!”

The boys try to reassure her that she didn’t need to travel all that way to get some ice cream before a smooth voice says,

“Es una idea maravillosa, mi amor.” Miguel praises as his love’s smile brightens in response. “¿Por qué no vas a buscarme a mí ya ti ya que estos dos quieren ser miserables en este momento, de acuerdo?” He coos causing the woman to swoon at his soft tone.

“Alrighty, Miggy.” She grins as she opens the portal with her gizmo. The boys’ hearts stop in their chests as the little spider ignores their pleas to stay and happily skips through the portal to Miguel’s apartment.

“Now then…” Miguel’s menacing voice twists around his cruel smile as he looks at the trembling boys. “What is it that you guys wanted to talk about?”

Yep, they are fucked.

~~~~~~~

As the portal reopens on the observation deck, a smiling jumping spider comes back through with two packages in her hand and two spoons as she calls out, “Miggy, I’m back!”

“Llegando, mi sol.” His voice surprises her as he swings himself back onto the platform. She tilts her head as she begins to ask where he went when she noticed that he was now shirtless with the evidence of what she’s done to him now on full display.

His chest had small dark circles littering his pectorals that created a trail down his abdomen and his abs, disappearing into the dark brown happy trail that began below his belly button. Upon seeing her stunned face, Miguel chuckles as he gently takes one of the icy treats from her shaking hands and a spoon before sitting down in his chair.

“Gracias Amor.” He says nonchalantly as he rips open the packaging and starts eating the sorbet from its fruit shell.

“N-no problem, Miggy..” She sits beside him and opens her treat as she avoids looking at his powerful back muscles as they flex and move as he ate the sugary sweet. She almost drops the damned thing after the deep scratches on his shoulder blades reminded her of what they did just the night prior.

“¿Qué pasa, mami? Miguel mocks as a mischievous smirk causes his fangs to poke out. “¿No te gusta tu sorbete? ¿O hay algo más que te gustaría probar?” He purrs as the spoon in her hand falls to the floor with him chuckling.

“Miguel!” She scolds as she begins to bend over to pick up the spoon as another spoon full of an icy treat. Her stomach flips as Miguel looks at her with his pretty apologetic red eyes as he pokes her pouting lips with his peace offering.

“I’m sorry for teasing, my love. You just look so cute and flustered.” He admits he gives her a soft curl of his lip.

Matching his smile, Sunny opens her mouth and happily accepts his apology with a small moan. She sighs as she lets go of his spoon with a satisfied smile.

“So good!~”

“I’m glad.” He smiles as he dips his own bite and eats it. “Es casi tan dulce como tú…”

“Miggy!” An embarrassed voice shrills as the man laughs with his love.

~~~~~~~~~~

Translations:

arañita - Little spider

Pero tendrás que cumplir esa pequeña fantasía mía más tarde, mi niña bonita.--But, you are gonna have to fulfill that little fantasy of mine later, my pretty girl.

Es una idea maravillosa, mi amor.- That's a wonderful idea, my love.

¿Por qué no vas a buscarme a mí ya ti ya que estos dos quieren ser miserables en este momento, de acuerdo? -Why don't you go get me and you some since these two want to be miserable right now, alright?

Llegando, mi sol.- Coming, my sun.

Thank you,love- Gracias amor

¿Qué pasa, mami?- What's a matter, mami?

Es casi tan dulce como tú…–It's almost as sweet as you...

~~~~~~~~~~

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#miguel o’hara x reader #spiderman #spiderman 2099 #spiderman across the spiderverse #spiderman 2099 x reader #spiderman into the spiderverse #miguel ohara #fanfic #across the spiderverse #miguel o’hara

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pernesophe · 4 months ago

Text

P1: Timid Reader Defends Kaji

(Minors, Ageless and Blank Blogs DNI)

(I have no rights to these characters, the works they come from, or the art/screenshots/manga panels used in this post. Screenshots taken from pinterest or google, so if you know the creator please lmk! Updated dividers are from @sweetmelodygraphics )

Tag List: None so far, but lmk if you would like to be added for this series or my other Wind Breaker Works!

Synopsis: Kaji saves reader while she’s being attacked, and then walks her to school. Some of her classmates come to Furin territory to convince reader that Kaji is bad news on her way home, and he ends up hearing everything.

{TW: violence, biting and groping (violent / not sexual), angst, bodily injury and blood}

I really enjoyed writing this 3 part series, so I hope you like it: Timid Reader x Ren Kaji (ML, Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3 ). Also, here is my Main Wind Breaker Master List

Cold bricks press painfully into your back as the drunkard puts his full weight against you - pinning you against the wall. Luckily, in his inebriated state your uniform was giving his hands difficulty in accessing your skin. Alcoholic miasma encircles you as he slobbers a kiss against your neck. Pushing against him with all your strength - you’re only able to create an inch of space.

“Please! No, stop! Let me go-” Crying out to the alley around you, hoping anyone can hear you. Fortunately, somebody does.

Kaji is walking down the street, half expecting Risa’s owner to pop up to say she’s gotten out again. He scowls just from the thought. Then, he hears someone screaming “let me go” in a panicked, shrill tone before it is cut off abruptly, and he breaks into a sprint towards the alley the sound came from.

As he rounds the corner, a massive, bumbling man comes into view, holding a girl about Kaji’s age roughly by the shoulders. Slurring something that neither you or Kaji can understand, but he is obviously angry with you. Before Kaji can approach you, the man rears back and then bites into your neck with force. Searing pain shoots from the wound, and you feel something warm and wet trickle down your collarbone - too much to be the man’s slobber. He releases you after a moment - swaying backward to take a look at what he’s done.

Kaji watches your face contort from fear to pain and then shock as you slump back against the wall. His feet start moving before the thought fully forms in his head. The drunk, seeing that you are no longer resisting, reaches for the shirt of your uniform to tear it open. Before his cigarette stained fingers can even brush the fabric, something black streaks across your vision and delivers a swift kick to the man who was previously standing in front of you, but was now slumped against the wall across from you. Still in shock, you barely register what’s happened as you slump down the wall - finally free from the brute’s hold and no longer supporting his weight - your hands and lips tremble stubbornly.

Making sure the man doesn’t hurt anyone else, Kaji shoots a text to Kusumi and Enomoto telling them where to find him and that he’s taking an injured girl to Risa’s owner. After putting his phone away, he slowly crouches in front of you so as to not scare you. Slowly bringing your gaze up to finally see your savior’s face. He’s backlit by the sun poking over the top of the building filtering into the alley, his white hair almost looks like a halo shone around the top of it. Gentle, yet concerned ashen blue eyes peer back at you - taking in the tears wetting your face, yet the lack of any crying or sniffling coming from you.

“Uh, my name is Ren Kaji… Can I help you with…” Speaking cautiously as he awkwardly gestures to your neck. Reflexively, you go to put your hand over it, but he stops you - only brushing his fingertips against your wrist to do so - trying his best not to scare you any further.

“Uh, wait just a second for me… Here,” he says as he pulls a pack of tissues from his hoodie pocket. Layering a few together, he gently reaches forward and presses it to your wound. Flinching at the pressure you let out a small, pained squeak, and he shoots you an apologetic look.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you…” He says - genuine remorse in his tone. Why are you apologizing? You’re helping me? Wondering to yourself as he gently guides your hand with his fingertips to cover the tissues on your neck.

“Can you hold this here for me… please?” He asks awkwardly in a gentle tone, it sounded unnatural to his own ears, but you do as he asks before he straightens up and offers you his hands to help you get on your feet. Glancing towards the alley exit, then to you, then back to the exit of the alley - he gestures towards the exit nearest to you.

“Can you follow me around the corner? There’s someone who can take a look at that for you.” He says, persistently gentle, as he motions for you to follow him. Tears were still streaming down your cheeks, and your eyes looked distant, but you nod slowly anyway. As he starts walking, he feels a small tug at the elbow of his sleeve, looking back, he sees your thumb and index finger pinching the fabric lightly with your eyes cast to the ground. His heart clenches at the sight of you blindly following him without a second thought. Even in Furin, it wasn’t often people trusted him so easily or openly.

Trudging along behind him, you only barely peek up at your savior. He seemed calm and gentle to you, and then you remember seeing only a flash of his face as he came sprinting down the alley. It was terrifying, and - despite your shock - you’ve never felt more relieved when you saw it approaching. Part of you wishes the man had been sober enough to remember Kaji’s face too, maybe then he would be too afraid to bite anyone else.

Arriving at a little shop that sells hot food, Kaji knocks on the door frame and calls to the people inside that he needs some help. Immediately a short, older woman and a younger man - most likely her son - step out and beam up at Kaji. They waste no time in gushing over him and asking what they could do for him, before quickly steamrolling over his response to gush over him some more. A wave of annoyance wafted off of him, but he miraculously kept his cool.

“Kaji! It’s so good to see you! To what do we owe the pleasure? Oh, we just got our seasonal sweets in, would you like to try some?” The son asks with genuine excitement. The older lady comes straight up to Kaji and beams while patting his arm gently.

“Kaji! You’re growing into such a fine young man.” She gushes to him before he could reply to her son. Neither of them have seen you standing behind him yet. He grunts out a thanks to her and ignores the rest of their questions, before stepping aside to reveal you. Immediately, their faces contort with worry, and the older lady takes your hand and ushers you wordlessly into the shop. Throwing a questioning glance at Kaji over your shoulder, but the son already has his undivided attention as he is looking to Kaji for an explanation.

The son and Kaji stay outside to discuss what happened, and what the guy looked like in case the son may know of him. The kind, older lady didn’t ask you any questions, and used feather light touches to clean the blood from your neck, shoulder and chest. She uses peroxide to do a quick spot clean on the blood that has seeped into your uniform. Then, she takes extra time and care to wet a washcloth and pump some citrus smelling soap into it, so that she can wipe away the man’s slobber that had dried by now. By the time she’s finished, you have a clean white bandage wrapped around your neck, barely any blood left on your uniform, and you smell like citrus and bergamot rather than beer breath and cigarette fingers. Before she moves to get up, you take her hand gently with tears in your eyes and gratefully thank her for helping you. She pats your hand lovingly and tells you ‘no thanks necessary dear - any friend of Kaji’s is a friend to us’ before wiping away the last of your tears.

When she led you out of the shop - holding onto your hand as if you were something extremely precious - Kaji was still standing outside with her son. By now two other guys wearing Furin jackets had arrived as well. They look at you sympathetically - Kaji having already caught them up - and say their hellos. You quietly nod back and flash a smile their way as you will your puffy eyes to calm down.

“You were on your way to school, right?” Kaji says, and you nod silently. Sighing under his breath - earning a look from Enomoto - he gestures around him. While you were inside, Kaji had told them about the bite, so they suggested he walk you to school so you would feel safer. He was none too happy about the idea since he was certain your shock was wearing off, and it would only take that long for your perception of him to change from savior to beast.

“Which way? I’ll walk you there.” He more so states than offers to you, and you point in the direction of your school. He turns and starts walking without waiting for you, and though you’re a little stunned by how he is you don’t hesitate to follow. Just grateful you don’t have to make the trek alone. Kaji hid his disdain well since he already knew what school you attend by the direction you pointed in, and what your peers are like.

“Um, th-thank you, for…” You murmur gratefully as you turn to the woman and her son and gesture towards your neck. She just beams up at you like she did with Kaji and waves her hand. Her son smiles knowingly at you and waves as well, though you have no idea what is being implied.

“Don’t mention it! Any friend of Kaji’s is a friend of ours.” She repeats what she said to you earlier - almost giddily this time - as you tilt your head in confusion. But he doesn’t even know my name… you ponder to yourself before giving her a quick nod and smile. Waving to Enomoto and Kusumi - who wave back with curious looks on their faces, you couldn’t tell what for though - you bound over to Kaji and quickly fall in stride with him.

What Enomoto and Kusumi know that you don’t, is that Kaji rarely was the one to help people in the way he just did for you. Yeah, he’ll fight just about anyone who deserves it, but being gentle? Speaking softly? Handling you with Kid Gloves as the son relayed to them? Even though he is following someone else’s suggestion to walk with you, he is leaving his headphones off as he walks you to school? His seconds knew well enough that Kaji doesn’t put himself out there for others he doesn’t know like that, so what was so different about you?

The two of you walk silently to your school. Kaji wears his headphones around his neck, and you hear soft lofi beats drifting from them. You feel awkward that you haven’t said anything yet - least of all thank you. While Kaji was kicking himself for letting Enomoto and Kusumi talk him into this, because you’re in shock, scared and hurt, and he was the last person you need right now.

As your school comes into view, you suddenly stop walking, knowing you’re running out of time to say anything to him. Kaji glances back at you, and then stops too. He opens his mouth to ask what’s wrong, a scowl forming on his face as he assumes your perception of him has changed in such a short walk.

“Um!” Blurting out quickly, so he doesn’t talk, but you’re afraid that you’ve been annoying him this whole time. He closes his mouth and waits for you to speak. Taking in your appearance, the best descriptor he could give is ‘mousey’ as you shrink under his stare, hands shaking, as you struggle for the words. Funny. Seeing as I’m a beast, and all… maybe you were right to be afraid. Kaji reminded himself bitterly.

“Um…” you try to speak up again, breaking Kaji from his thoughts, causing him to almost snap ‘spit it out’ at you. Luckily he is able to restrain himself for now.

“Th-Thank you!” You say suddenly - louder than you meant to - as you bow deeply and respectfully to him. He takes a step back, not really expecting anything but fear or general contempt from you - assuming you would perceive him the same way as your peers do.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner… I was a bit shoc-shocked…” Kaji’s brow raises suspiciously at your words - expecting you to judge how he protected you.

“I-I didn’t know what that guy had planned, but I was really, really scared to find out… So I’m just really grateful to you that I didn’t have to.” You say earnestly as you straighten up and look at him again, and he’s staring back at you with impossibly wide eyes.

“N-No problem…” He responds awkwardly. Kaji was convinced you were afraid of him too, maybe even staying silent so the walk would pass quicker, but the way you seemed breathless from just getting the courage to talk to him… you were just incredibly shy. A pang runs through his chest thinking back to how loud you were yelling - that must have been difficult for you to do at all - just for that brutish man to bite you for it. You nod quietly, after finally saying the thing you’ve so desperately been trying to, and turn back towards your school to continue walking. Suddenly, Kaji pulls a peach Chupa Chup from his pocket - he’s not sure why - and holds it up in front of you. Surprised, you turn to him again with a look of curiosity and amusement.

“Here… I hope you… feel better?” Kaji says slowly and completely unsure of himself. He wasn’t familiar with comforting people like this. Giving his friends a few harsh or blunt words of encouragement? Sure. But comforting someone who couldn’t fight, was just completely steamrolled by some brute, and got really hurt in the process? Nope, this one is uncharted territory for him to say the least.

Tilting your head slightly, you reach out and wrap your hand around the lollipop - your fingertips skimming where his wrapped around the stick. A warm feeling spread through Kaji’s fingers and up his arms towards his chest and down to his stomach where he felt a… fluttering? Slipping the stick out of his hand, you look at it for a beat before looking back up at him with bright eyes and a tickled smile.

“Thank you, it’s kind of like leaving the Doctor’s Office or something.” You muse with a small giggle - flashing a small grin at him as you do. Kaji blinks quickly as he processes what you just said. Doctor? I’ve been called a Beast. Short Tempered. Insane… but Doctor? They help people. I… Thoughts flash through his mind as it only half dawns on him that you - someone his age, who doesn’t go to or live around Furin - thinks he’s something other than a beast. Blinking again, he sees that you’re giving him a concerned look, he’s been very still for a few moments now.

“Uh-uh, ahem,” Kaji stutters before clearing his throat as he rubs the back of his neck bashfully. “Let me get you to school before you’re late, okay?” He says softly - similar to the tone he used with you in the alley. Nodding and following his lead, you completely miss the blush creeping over his cheeks - which subsides by the time you reach the school gates.

“Thank you again, Kaji!” You chirp gratefully as you bow again, he nods and offers a ‘no problem’ before you’re rushing through the doors as the bell rings. Unfortunately, Kaji is too focused on watching you get inside, and kicking himself for not getting your name, to see the three faces staring down at him from the window overlooking the entrance. If he had, then he probably could have anticipated what would come later that day.

When Kaji, Enomoto and Kusumi set out on patrol later on in the day, they made sure to thoroughly check over the area where you were attacked. Which is why they’re gathered in the alley that intersects the street where you walk home from school looking for any signs that the drunkard had returned, or any other riff raff. What they didn’t expect was to hear the voices of several girls on the main street.

“Y/N! Hey wait, we wanted to talk to you about something.” Someone’s calling out from behind as you’re walking home. Turning around, you see three of your classmates - out of breath - standing in a V formation behind you. Tilting your head slightly as you walk back towards them, it was weird, since they all live in a much nicer part of town and have never really been in the Furin area before.

“Oh, Yume, Kyoko, Mai - hey! What brings you to the Furin neighborhood?” Greeting them with a curious smile, the notch in your brow giving away the confusion you feel around the interaction in general. Yume fidgets uncomfortably before meeting your gaze with a fierce determination, though you know the fidgeting is an act, since it’s the same ‘determination’ you’ve seen when she bullies your peers. Bracing yourself for the worst, you turn to face her fully.

“I saw Ren Kaji walk you to school today… I just wanted you to know that he’s really dangerous!” Yume says firmly with a dark glint in her eyes, and the other two standing slightly behind her nod along quickly. Subconsciously, you take a step back, because honestly, this wasn’t what you expected, but you also know better than to let them get a rise out of you. At the mention of his name, Kaji and his seconds freeze in the alley, and peer inconspicuously around the corner to see what’s happening. When he sees the three girls, Kaji immediately recognizes them to be the younger siblings of some of his classmates' that he had beaten in middle school. His body tenses all over in apprehension of what they are going to tell you.

“I know.” You say matter of factly while nodding your head in agreement. Kaji’s chest clenches from the confirmation that your perception had changed of him in just a few short hours. Enomoto and Kusumi exchange an angry look that you could switch up so easily, and silently plot out how to get Kaji away from this. Yume fixes you with a suspicious look in her eye - the only one unconvinced by the reason behind your admission.

”So you know he’s a beast?” She asks in an expectant tone. Kaj’s fists clench at his sides as he fights to restrain his feet from carrying him back towards the school. Enomoto nods to Kusumi, signaling him to get Kaji’s attention so they can suggest getting out of there. Just as he reaches out to tap his captain’s shoulder, your voice carries into the alley once more.

”What do you mean by that?” Asking in a tone that indicates your genuine confusion by her question. Today was the first time you ever met Kaji and though the realization that her explanation would probably be pointless, you still want to know what she means.

Yume goes on to explain that in middle school Kaji beat her brother up as well as the rest of his class multiple times. She went on to detail that the gym teacher had to come to restrain him several times - she whispers it venomously like a dirty little secret she’s just been waiting to divulge. From where he is standing, Kaji can see your face remain unchanged by the ‘facts’ being laid out to you, so he ignores Kusumi, who is now motioning for them to leave before being spotted. He wanted to hear what you would say - the timid girl who fought to find the courage just to thank him this morning, and had been on his mind since for reasons he couldn’t quite pin down.

“He hasn’t changed at all since middle school. I just thought you should know.” She finishes her explanation pointedly, like she was really doing you some kind of favor. A pregnant pause passes as you stare her down. It’s so quiet that the trio on the alley hold their breath out of fear you all could hear them. Finally, your voice splits the silence like a cleansing bell.

“Oh… I didn’t know about any of that, and honestly I’m not sure if it really matters to me.” You say with a noncommittal shrug, but the glint in your eye says you’re just getting started. Kaji almost falls forward from shock - how are you just brushing all of that off without any doubt?? Pondering the thought with the intensity of a scholar as he silently watches the scene before him unfold - only now he is feeling hopeful for how it would end.

“I said I know he’s dangerous, because I saw him knock a guy unconscious with one kick this morning. This drunk guy cornered me in that alley.” Pointing towards the one where Kaji and his seconds are hidden - who all immediately suffer heart palpitations in fear of being found out. Luckily, the four of you are too absorbed to notice the Furin shadows eavesdropping within the darker shadows of the alley.

“He pinned me to a wall and was trying really hard to get in my uniform. Kaji showed up when the guy bit me for telling him no.” Saying in a tone of disbelief that it ever happened as you gesture to the bandage on your neck. Yume and the other two stay silent and wide eyed as they listen to your traumatic morning.

“I’m grateful he was there too, because I don’t even want to think about what that guy would’ve done if Kaji hadn’t shown up when he did.” You continue speaking earnestly as the fear from the earlier incident causes your pulse to quicken. Kaji is glad he stayed to hear you out - even if you didn’t realize he was there and listening with open ears and a softening heart.

”He wasn’t a beast.” You state defiantly. “He walked me to school after, and even offered me a lollipop like at the Doctor’s office. He seems, like, really nice, actually?” Inflecting your tone upward with utter confusion as to how they could even say these things. The silent girls behind Yume gape at you in shock, while Yume shoots you an annoyed glare for your stubbornness.

If you could see Kaji, you would see he is staring at you in shock as well. He could accept that you thanked him, and even that you didn’t view him as a beast. But nice?! You think he’s nice… Kaji subconsciously reached and gripped his hoodie strings, head dipping as he listened closer to you standing up for him. Enomoto and Kusumi make nor further efforts to push him to leave. He needs to hear someone other than us say some good things about him. They think between each other exchanging knowing looks and hopeful smiles.

”He hasn’t changed one bit since middle school - when he beat my brother - you have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.” Yume spits her points from earlier at you, curling her fists at her sides to match the curl in her lip.

”You’re right. I wouldn’t know about anything other than today - because I just met him - but if you say he hasn’t changed since middle school, then it seems to me he only fights people who deserve it. So, answer me this, what did your brother do to earn a beating from Ren Kaji?” Speaking through gritted teeth, you cross your arms for emphasis as you rub salt right into her wound. Kaji’s head pops up at your words, and he can’t help but peek around the corner to see the timid girl from this morning all but disappeared. In her place was a girl who had the same hair and nose, but her eyes were set ablaze and the way her arms were crossed gave her an air of an impenetrable wall. He steps back into the alley when your eyes darken even more, and an irritated notch forms in your brow as you open your mouth to speak.

”No response? That’s okay, because I’ve met your brother and I have to say - he’s a terrible fucking person. You know that he tried to take a photo up my skirt, right? That’s why I petitioned the administration to let me wear pants.” Taking on a matter of fact tone as you gesture to the chinos in your school color. Yume shakes her head quickly, confused by your accusation.

”I don’t remember anything being said about that…” She scoffs with a disbelieving shake of her head. Tilting your head as if to say ‘you really wanna do this?’, you continue as you dig your heel into her cheek next.

”That’s because it was kept ‘hush, hush’ so as to not ‘embarrass him’, but he was transferred to a different class under the guise that he wasn’t being ‘challenged enough’, when really he was moved to an all boys class for the safety of his female peers.” As you say this, realization dawns on the girl’s face as she remembers her brother coming home utterly enraged about the transfer even though everyone said it was really good for his transcript.

”Look, all I’m saying is you can’t blame me for taking your words with a grain of salt. Honestly, I think you may just be bad at reading people seeing as you barely know who your own brother is even though you two literally live together. So I can’t just take your word when it comes to Kaji, it’s really not fair to him.” The taunting tone from earlier ebbs into a more earnest one as Yume’s bottom lip quivers from her brother’s misdeeds being outed. Embarrassed and at a loss for words, Yume turns and flees with her friends on her heels. Turning your gaze to the sky, Kaji and his seconds watch as you let out a tired sigh with a shake of your head before bringing your gaze to eye level once more.

”That’s not how you make friends Y/N.” Speaking to yourself in a faux chastising tone.

”Oh well,” you add with a shrug, earning a silent chuckle from Kaji, and as you turn around to head home again, your eyes flit across the alley. As they do, Kaji grabs Enomoto and Kusumi and slams them back against the wall so you don’t spot them. He crunches an aluminum can in the process - catching your attention - but the alley is too dark to see down. Taking one cautious stop forward, and narrowing your eyes - the three of them hold their breath. Suddenly, you release a deep breath you had been holding and let your shoulders droop as you drop your head. The trio don’t dare move.

”Don’t go down the spooky alley Y/N - that’s how you get into ‘dangerous situations’ - as mom would say.” Chastising yourself once more before you straighten up and continue walking home.

After you’re out of earshot, the trio can’t help but to start rolling with laughter. Kaji was surprised that the timid girl from this morning - who sniffled pathetically the whole way to Risa’s owner, and could barely strike up a conversation with him - was able to tell off a group of girls that had Kaji’s blood pressure rising out of fear. It was amusing to him that you were able to hold a full conversation with yourself in the middle of the street, and such a contrast from who he met and walked to school this morning. The fact that you were comfortable enough with yourself to fill the quiet was an added bonus - to him. Maybe if you grew to feel comfortable with him, then you could fill the quiet spaces in his life too. Enomoto and Kusumi watch as their captain shakes himself of his revere, and that typical expressionless look returns to his face, but his eyes weren’t as apathetic as usual. They held a deep longing as he sadly watched you walk away. The two seconds share a plotting look - this time for entirely different reasons - instead of shielding him from you, they are gonna figure out how to push Kaji towards you.

After Kaji witnessed you defending his reputation to your classmates, he doesn’t make much effort to involve himself in your life, or you in his. Consciously, that is. Subconsciously, he is always offering to patrol the area around where you were attacked. So he would be close by if ‘something like that’ were to happen again. Risa’s owner often stops him outside her shop to tell him little details about you - from things as trivial to your new haircut, up to her informing him of the things you’ve been relaying to her that causes you stress as of late. Though he never comes out and asks for details about you, he also never tells Risa’s owner to stop divulging them - often walking away from the encounters with his headphones around his neck on the off chance that the shop owner would have more to say.

Enomoto and Kusumi notice the change in their captain’s behavior - the fidgeting when he comes near the alley where he met you, maybe hoping to just get a glimpse of you, to the way that his face is relaxed and the corners of his mouth tug upwards slightly whenever Risa’s owner comes to talk to him about you. Eventually, they ask Nirei to get some more information on you, and some kind of contact information for you, if possible.

It only takes the dutiful first year a couple of days to know your name - Y/N L/N, age (17), and relationship status (single). He wasn’t able to get your contact information, but he was able to get your friend’s information - Hana Kim - who said that a few local bands would be playing near the canal this weekend. More importantly, she said that you would be there. Enomoto raises a quizzical eyebrow at the blonde boy before asking the most pressing question.

“Did she say anything about-” Closing his mouth quickly, not wanting to divulge that event, then starts again. “Do you know if Y/N has mentioned Kaji to her at all?” He asks directly this time - not so secretly hoping for an affirmative. Nirei’s eyes lit up as he nodded happily, and went on to explain that Hana mentioned that you’ve been talking about him a lot, so she was hoping some of Kaji’s Furin friends could make sure he was at the concert too. Kusumi and Enomoto shared triumphant looks before they scurried off to convince their captain to go out this weekend.

That weekend, Kaji agreed to go out to the concert with Kusumi, Enomoto, and for some reason a few of the first years had tagged along. Wearing his typical scowl as he moved through the crowd, headphones on his head because he honestly could care less about the concert. The other second years in his class pointed out that he needs to try and enjoy life a little more, and to satiate their constant pestering - he showed up. Apparently, he had been looking extra gloomy lately, to them, but he didn’t feel that way. Most of his thoughts were filled with daydreams of you - how you’re doing, what you’re doing, who you’re hanging out with. As well as imagining what all of those things would be like if you were to spend your time with him. It wasn’t gloom he’s been feeling, just plain old longing. Which he’s felt for suckers, music and friends, but never for a person in the way he’s been longing for you. It’s unfamiliar, and has been leaving his head messy with emotions.

Honestly, with everything going on, he was planning on leaving the concert after the first set and just telling his friends that he has a headache. That’s when Nirei, who for some reason has been forcing his friends to stick close to Kaji’s group of three, suddenly points a couple of girls out in the crowd. He waves excitedly at a girl with long black hair and green eyes who begins waving back just as excitedly. Kaji wonders why he’s there for a first year meet-cute, but then his eyes travel to the girl next to the one waving - she was facing away from his group, but he recognized the back of her head almost instantly. The raven haired girl suddenly grabbed her friend’s arm and turned her around as she pointed to Kaji and the rest of his group.

As Hana grabbed your arm and spun you around while excitedly squeal-whispering ‘look who’s here!’, the last person you expected to see was your snowy haired savior standing across the venue. The second your eyes met his beryl colored ones across the crowd you could feel the air in your lungs dissipate and your face grow hot. Luckily you weren’t flooded with too much embarrassment, because even from where you stood you could see Kaji’s blush crept all the way down his neck and disappeared into his hoodie. For a second, he takes a slight step back and you can feel your brow raise in question - is he gonna run away? - when his friend, who you recognize as Enomoto, claps him on his back forcing him to take a step forward. The snowy haired male shoots a glare at his stylish friend, but when he turns back to you - you’re already waving and smiling at him shyly while Hana drags you towards his group. He didn’t have any time to prepare before you’re suddenly thrust in front of him by your raven haired friend, who - being the more confident one - is already introducing herself to him before turning her attention to his friends. The two of you are stuck silently staring at each other while Hana is making quick conversation, and then dragging the rest of his group away from the two of you. Both of you whip your heads in unison with mouths opened in protest, but Hana just throws you a sly ‘have fun!’ over her shoulder while pointing the rest of them towards a booth on the opposite side of the concert. Turning back to meet each other’s gazes again, and you both immediately turn bright red and swiftly avert your eyes.

“Um,” finally breaking the silence as you look back up at him through thick lashes. “It’s really good to see you again… I’ve been hoping we’d run into each other.” You admit with a shy smile, a little embarrassed, as you fidget with your sleeve and continue to peer up at him with those big, beautiful eyes that leave him speechless. Kaji’s face softens as he regards you with an adoring look - a long moment passes before he realizes he hasn’t spoken.

“Ahem,” he clears his throat, trying to recover some of his composure. “I’ve been hoping to run into you too… I think our friends may have noticed, and set this up.” Kaji remarks with an amused, wistful smile gracing his lips - allowing himself to feel more relaxed after hearing he’s been on your mind too.

From afar, Hana is huddled inconspicuously at a booth with the Furin guys crowded behind her, all of whom were spying on the two of you. Though your friend is used to your shy, blushing nature; Kaji’s friends are not used to his - Kusumi, Enomoto, Nirei, Suo, Sakura, and now Tsubaki and Hiragi too since they happened to hear about the event - all gasped in unison at his relaxed expression. Glancing back and forth at each other, they all share a silent thought - that they relay to Hana later on - Kaji has never smiled like that before. Sakura is blushing so badly he’s basically a taillight at this point as he picks up on the romantic implication between you and Kaji.

“I’m grateful for them.” You blurt out without thinking which causes you to start blushing once again - Kaji is just as surprised by your admission as he starts blushing again too. Suddenly, the first band starts to play and the crowd surges forward and starts pressing into both of you. Without thinking much of it, Kaji grabs your hand so you don’t get swept away before pulling you closer to his chest where you grab onto the front of his hoodie for some stability. The two of you stay frozen like that as the first notes of the song ring out in drones from an electric guitar. It was getting too loud for you, and Kaji seemed to notice as he leaned down so his lips brushed your ear, and spoke up so you could hear and feel the full baritone in his voice.

“I’m not great in crowds - do you mind if we move towards the back?” He asks, then leans back to look for any signs of dissatisfaction on your face. To his delight, you looked relieved that he offered as you nodded eagerly - also itching to get away from all of the people.

Enveloping your hand in his, just like the first day you two met, and then he leads you to the back of the crowd. Luckily, due to his stature and severe scowl, people jumped out of the way to make room for the two of you, so he was able to beeline to an empty spot in the back that still allowed a good view of the stage. Coming to a halt, the two of you turn towards the stage and stand side by side, but Kaji doesn’t let go of your hand. In fact, he held it through the entire first set, and as more and more people filtered into the area you were eventually forced to stand basically pressed completely into his side to avoid being shoulder checked by others. Though Kaji enjoyed you being so close, and all the warm buzzing in his veins from your proximity - it started to annoy him deeply how close people were to bumping into you, though his face didn’t show any of his annoyance. As the second set starts and even more people start showing up, you reach out with your free hand and grab onto his upper arm to avoid a large guy (who probably couldn’t see you) about to step on you. Then, you hear Kaji speak for the first time since the show started.

“Hey. Careful man, you’re about to step on her.” He shouts over the music loud enough for the approaching guy to hear, but he wasn’t screaming by any means. Regardless, when the substantial man turned around to see you pressing into Kaji to avoid being stepped on accentuated by Kaji’s deep set scowl directed at him and the way his cerulean eyes flicker protectively towards you - he jumps out of the way and throws an apology your way before heading in the opposite direction completely. Just as quickly as it showed up, his scowl vanished as he turned to look at you with the most relaxed expression again. ‘Are you ready to go?’ He mouths at you, and you nod gratefully up at him. Incredibly relieved to finally get out of there. You enjoyed the music, but concerts weren’t really your scene - you had actually only come at Hana’s request, funnily enough.

The two of you exit the crowd near the lines of booths selling food, drinks and merchandise. Off to the far end, Hana is sitting with the Furin group where you had last seen them. Before Kaji can start leading you towards them, you tug on his sleeve quickly, and as he turns to look at you - you already have your phone open to ‘New Contact’ ready to put in his number. He blinks down at you dubiously as you hold it up to him.

“Can I get your number… Please?” Asking shyly, as you once again look at him bashfully through your lashes, which makes him feel breathless and a little lightheaded. Slowly he nods, taking your phone out of your hand and inputting his information. He goes to take out his phone to hand to you, but then he receives a text from an unknown number. After opening the message, he sees:

xxx-xxx-xxxx: Hi it’s Y/N! I had a great time tonight, can we hang out again soon? :)

“Yes.” Kaji says before looking up from his phone to see you blushing and fidgeting with your sleeve again - nervous of his rejection. So cute, he thinks to himself while fighting the sudden urge to bend down and kiss your forehead. “Are you free this weekend? Maybe we can go somewhere quieter this time?” He asks quickly, pushing his thoughts aside, and then blushes as he reels a bit at his own eagerness.

“Absolutely!” Chirping back, as you beam up at him. “There’s this pop up art show on the edge of Furin territory this weekend, and while there’s a music component, it’s more like a ‘silent concert’ vibe. They provide headphones, or you can bring your own, but all of the pieces are connected to a song or album…” Your eyes light up as you explain the event, but then you realize you don’t know Kaji well enough to know if that’s what he enjoys.

“If that’s something you’d be interested in? Obviously we can do something else if you want!” Quickly, you offer an out or an alternative - apprehensive that that’s the last thing he’d want to do.

“That sounds pretty cool, but if it’s like… nice art, then I may not fit in.” He says cautiously as he gestures to the clothes he’s currently wearing - he’s also feeling apprehensive, but for a completely different reason - but you immediately perk up at that as you grin up at him again.

“It’s all modern art made by local university and high school students, so it’ll be a really casual event. Honestly, you’ll fit right in.” You assure him quickly, and he smiles despite his nerves. He didn’t know why, but when you said he’ll ‘fit right in’ a warm bubbly feeling pumped through his veins making his heart stutter slightly.

“Cool.” Kaji breathes out with a small, relieved smile. “I’ll take you out to lunch afterwards.” He offers smoothly, and now your heart is stuttering. This was starting to sound like a date.

“Aw-awesome! I’ll send you the address and meet you there around noon?” You ask, trying to iron out the details without giving away that you’re trying to clarify exactly what this hangout is.

“You live close to that shop I took you to the first day we met, right?” He asks with a curious tilt of his head, and you nod in response. “Okay cool. I live pretty close to there too, so I can just come pick you up around noon, if that’s okay?” He asks, oh so nonchalantly. Despite his poker face, his heart is going a million miles a minute while he waits for what you’ll say.

“Um, yeah, of course! That would be great, thank you!” Blurting out quickly, and smiling giddily despite your attempts to stay cool, but then he ruins all of your efforts with his next words.

“Okay cool. It’s a date.” He says while taking your hand and starts leading you towards your friends once again. “Also, you don’t need to thank me for something I want to do.” Turning slightly to add over his shoulder, his pale ceruleans capture your gaze and pierce you through the heart right then and there. The tips of your ears start burning as your unruly heart hammers unsteadily against your chest, and the air is punched out of your lungs completely.

If he didn’t look away soon you feared you might die on the spot, but honestly a part of you wouldn’t have minded - the way you feel when he looks at you is exhilarating. It’s like you were tandem skydiving for the first time, and just when you were convinced that you were done for as the ground rushes towards your face, he finally releases the parachute by breaking eye contact and your senses return to you - but you still feel flustered and hot all over by the time the two of you reach the booth.

Despite his friend's immediate silent teasing - trying to not give it away to you, but you’re perceptive enough to see the winks and wiggling eyebrows shot his way - Kaji remains the king of nonchalance around them. Introduces you to the few of his friends who you haven’t met yet, and then your blended group takes a few moments to shoot the breeze. It seems like Hana has enjoyed conversing with Tsubaki, Enomoto and Kusumi - though you realize that they have certainly been discussing you and Kaji this whole time. Even though you’re feeling shy around all of the new faces, they all seem thrilled that you’re here and are extremely welcoming to you. Eventually, everyone has to say their goodbyes as the concert comes to a close. Kaji and you bid each other a good night, and as he’s turning to leave he says ‘see you Saturday’ and you smile and nod before repeating the same back to him. Both of you were teased incessantly by your friends on your separate walks home, but neither of you seemed to care - too excited over what Saturday, and whatever follows, will bring.

Not long after the concert and art pop-up, you and Kaji start hanging out on a regular basis. Soon after, you both come to realize that you have the same taste in music, both enjoy Peach Chupa Chups, and though you probably like coffee more than Kaji - he at least enjoys going on coffee dates with you. Though he’s partial to Pothos, and has convinced you to become partial to them as well - especially since he knew you would thoroughly enjoy Kotoha’s company once you met her.

Only a couple months later you receive a playlist named “Please Be Mine <3”. It was rather forward for Kaji, but he wanted to be as clear as possible - following the advice of Hiragi and Umemiya since he didn’t want to mess this up. The playlist was filled with songs directly and indirectly speaking of love. Just to be thorough, he follows it with a message:

Kaji: Hey, do you have time to talk after school today?

Y/N: Of course! I love the playlist by the way! :)

Kaji: Kaji loved a message.

After school, Kaji took you on a coffee date and officially asked you to be his girlfriend. Beside yourself with happiness, you of course accepted, and then kissed him on the cheek without warning. Kaji’s face flushed a light pink at first, which quickly deepened to a rich red as he pulled up his hood and yanked the strings taught to hide his face. Shocked at first, you gently shake his arm, but he just shakes his head and murmurs something you can’t hear. Leaning into his arm, you ask him to speak up.

“I-I can’t look at you after that! Wh-why did you kiss me?” He asks in a stilted whisper as he pulls his hood back slightly to peek at you despite his words. Even though Kaji has held your hand with ease, or even maneuvered you around in times of danger, he has never been on the receiving end of such open physical affection and didn’t quite know how to handle it.

“Because you’re my boyfriend now.” Taunting him with a mischievous smile as you quickly grab the edges of his hood so he can’t hide and plant a kiss squarely on his lips. Kaji is relieved he just freezes under your touch and somehow blushes an even deeper red, rather than reflexively hit you like he did to Furin’s Leader when Umemiya hugged him. That is the only time you push the line with Kaji when it comes to PDA, and after that the two of you really only hold hands in public. Even when the two of you weren’t holding hands, it would still be clear to everyone by the way Kaji always has his headphones off around you that the two of you are together.

#SP’s Headspace #pernesophe #wind breaker x reader #windbreaker x reader

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imissylou · 1 year ago

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Herbs and Spices Legacy Challenge

By Sunny & Missy

Hello! This is the first challenge my friend and I created. I had lots of fun making this challenge and I hope you enjoy it as well. I created this in only a day so there may be things that need to be added or taken away once I go through the challenge myself. Happy Simming!

Overview:

This is an 8 generation Legacy Challenge. The gender and style is completely up to you (except generation 2). Complete all goals before moving onto the next generation. Make sure you look ahead each generation because some may overlap with each other (start as a teen or teen goals). I will create a base game version in the future, but for right now just skip or make up a new rule if you don't have a pack. We will be adding colour's (yes we’re Canadian), no they don't make sense with the herbs and spices, but it's fun so that's what we're going to do!! I'm playing this for the first time so things may change, please let me know if there's any mistakes or if you think of anything to add to this challenge.

Rules

You can either start off with 0 money like the original legacy challenge or start out with starting funds, whichever is more fun for you!

You don't have to level up skills to level 10, unless the job states otherwise.

Complete job career, unless stated otherwise

Complete the aspiration each generation, unless stated otherwise

Cheats are fine if it makes the challenge more fun for you, otherwise try not to make yourself have an advantage over others, cc is fine

Must complete each goal for each gen, then you can go to the next generation, You can choose to do the optional goals

I suggest life span on normal or long, short if you want stress and a challenge!

This doesn't need to be a berry challenge, but if you want to you can make everything their fav colour!!

if you play this challenge please use #herbsandspiceslegacy

Have Fun!!

The link for the full challenge can be found below!! The first Gen will be below the cut, just to see if you like it!

Here's a google doc

Generation 1 - Paprika

You always loved kids, your job as a teacher fulfilled your needs as wanting to be a Parent, you fell in love with a noncommittle person, you thought you could change them, but one day they were gone, you still had something to remind you of them. you were pregnant! Now you're going to be the best parent ever, who needs two parents anyways.

*Aspiration: Super Parent

*Traits: Family Oriented (choose others)

*Skills: Research and debate, logic, and Charisma

*Job: Teacher (Any Branch)

*Fav Colour: Red

Goals

*complete the teacher career

*Complete Aspiration

*Must have a male Child (you can cheat this or have a trans sim)

*Have 1 child, be super involved in their life

*Have your kid have high confidence

*Achieve either the close or supportive family dynamic with your child

*Never date or marry

Optional goals

*Master all your skills

*Get the single and loving it lifestyle

#mysimslegacychallenge #the sims 4 #gaming #ts4 gameplay #sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #ts4 legacy #ts4 legacy challenge #herbs and spices legacy

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yuriisclumsy · 9 months ago

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╰ Description: Snaps from my Google Doc "Thoughts and Ideas." It's a diary with some thoughts that come from my mind when they are being intrusive–AKA thoughts I have at 1 AM. Separate from other works, unless It's for a series. Putting this just to clarify misunderstandings.

What if there was an AU for [Name] being one of the top ranked mages in twisted wonderland?

╰Description: [Name] is one of the top mage in Twisted Wonderland, right after Malleus Draconia.

Part 1 (You are here) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

—April 8, 2024—

Thought… What if there was an AU for [Name] being one of the top ranked mages in twisted wonderland. Like, there is a venue at NRC with everyone invited. Even parents were allowed entry. So the parties PACKED. And then a murmur amongst the students gave rise to a NEW racked mage, saying it was a girl in her teens. Then, an announcement was made, that there was a new Top Rank list.

EVERYONE was shocked. I mean, Imagine that the last change for this list was over 10 years ago, the youngest and last on the list being 32 years old. And all of a sudden, there is a new member on the list? Firstly, it is very difficult even REACHING the top 100, let alone the top 10. Just who is this girl?

As they announced the new list, they went from bottom to top, starting from 10. Number 10, (is now the previous 9th place). This stunt people. It wouldn't be that surprising if number ten was the one being replaced. But for it to go one down…means that the girl was in a higher position. Number 9, (previous 8th place). Number 8, (previous 7th place). Number 7, (previous 6th place). Number 6, (previous 5th place). The more people listened, the more wide eyed they got. There was simply no way a young girl got on the top 5 in one go. That’s just impossible. Yet the announcer didn’t stop. Number 5, (previous 4th place). Number 4, (previous 3rd place). Number 3, (previous 2nd place). Number 2…. People were at the edges leaning forward. The first place belongs to The Prince of Thorn Valley, and had been so for the last centuries. Surely this girl couldn't have beat that…right?

The announcer continued, waiting for no one. [Name], [Name] Fairytale. That was the name outered by the announcer. Number 1, Malleus Draconia. To have a young girl be almost in par with THE Malleus Draconia, prince and heir to the throne of Thorn Valley. That was impressive…and terrifying.

Who is she?

What is she?

A human like that couldn't possibly exist. I mean, she is standing right infront of them, but still. They needed to know where this girl came from, and how she managed to climb to the top of the ranks. Some want to know out of curiosity, others, out of anger and envy. But the worst of them all, was those who think they could use this girl in their schemes. Use her to their gain. Maybe even to get powers never available to them before.

I wonder…. Do they think you're that stupid? That you are just an innocent little girl? Smart enough to fight, but dumb enough to manipulate.

They’re all fools. You’ll just have to prove it to them. A demonstration will suffice, yes?

(Finished 4/11/2024, at 5:37pm)

𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚜: @scarabiafriend, @sleep-ydragon, @d3sperate-enuf, @elaemae, @lucky-whispers, @kiwiimochi, @emmorphine, @azriel-sama, @amora-ledezma, @writerstrashbin, @marinahavik, @twstwondersforyou, @lunatheroyal, @ririsun, @dyedscarletletter, @kuureii, @otomega, @valacz29, @busy-dadzawa-fish, @sarah22447, @valacz29, @wondering-again, @lucid-stories. Re-blog or Comment if you want to get added into the Tag section for Twisted wonderland. Back to The Mind

Back to Master-List

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mechanismslorearchive · 1 month ago

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Hello Stowaways!

Proud to announce a few new archival additions!

6 new photos have added to the archive, they can currently be viewed under Unsorted (whoops)

The transcripts folder has finally been dealt with! @ohnoitsoak (master of all things transcription and mechanisms) sent me the google drive of transcripts a while back! I have finally gotten around to copying them over. They are all available under transcripts if you do need them

Tod @alientoastt a while back sent me his collection of mechanisms mp3s. This includes shows such as gender rebels, and spaceport mahon! You can now download and listen to those shows to your hearts content

@rocksanddeadflowers' Drunk Space Pirate MP3 Collection, of which i downloaded and uploaded to a folder of the same name in Audio!

a secret surprise that may end up in my email inbox soon. soon. maybe. hopefully. please email us already. its not there yet but maybe later today.

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housederiva · 1 month ago

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BioWare Blorbo Beatdown 2 Master Post

google drive that has a picture of my cat and some pdfs that 100% have nothing to do with dragon age

my rookanis playlist (feel free to send an ask if you have a song to suggest adding) as well as my old shakarian one

the ao3 series where I've started expanding on events in Veilguard / Lucanis and Crow Rook's romance and background

the playlist for the hour-long Veilguard ambiances I've made

my main is @knucklestheenchilada if you get a follow/notes from that blog hi it's me!

veilguard spoilers -> my spoiler tag, rb’s will not have an additional tag if the op has put their own since the filter gets carried over

asks for bee -> answered asks

thoughts from the peanut gallery -> and addition to the above which are to denote ones that are opinions and not questions

questions for the peanut gallery -> questions I’ve had or things I’m asking for clarification on (usually deleted once I check back for answers)

peanut gallery recs -> fic/song/vid/ect recommendations and requests that have been sent my way

bee’s writing -> my fic related posts, large texts are always put under a read more

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zayne-li · 3 months ago

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Zayne and Siming

First of all, if you’re unfamiliar with the lore of Love and Deepspace, and don’t want to be majorly spoiled for just about everything (mainly Zayne’s lore), then I suggest you skip for now until you learn more. Unless you don’t care about spoilers, then go ahead.

I think that to all of us, so far, other than Sylus(who can blame him, he’s new), Zayne is the most confusing character to the Western audience. Rafayel tells us he’s a mermaid every other sentence, and Xavier has more than a few clues pointing to the fact that he’s a time traveler from another planet and possibly immortal?

Zayne’s main thing that seems to be talked about frequently in his cards and events are more so things related to Gods, fate, and fortune telling. And for me, for a while, this didn’t make a ton of sense to me, because I felt like I didn’t really have anything super specific to compare it to, but clearly he’s not just based off of anything random, you’re meant to recognize him as some specific God of Fate/reader of fate. And then Infold released this video when they released Master of Fates, and I realized that in Chinese, the myth was called Da Siming, which is a real Chinese god. So I got to work. Welcome to my Ted Talk on why Zayne’s entire story, mainly focusing on his main story counterpart, is still Siming in modern day Linkon City.

Disclaimer: I am no Chinese mythology expert, this is simply what I’ve learned from Google and what that video Infold released tells us.

Who is Siming?

Siming is a Chinese deity or deified functionary of that title(meaning this title can pass from person to person) who makes fine adjustments to human fate (meaning you can pray to him for things as small as a chest cold etc)

He is referred to in Chinese as almost a secretary, his job in allocating human lifespans is almost a bureaucratic one. Think a guy in an insurance office.

Siming's main duty/power is the balancing of yin and yang, specifically in regards to human health/lifespans. He has the power to either shorten or lengthen life essentially as he sees fit (as long as it doesn't fuck things up too badly).

There can be more than one Siming at a time, who take on slightly different roles. Such as Da Siming(Greater Siming) acting as a Priest of Death, and a Shao Siming(Lesser Siming) acting as a Priest of Birth (this is just an example taken from a movie)

other titles (aside from Master of Fate) include Director of Allotted Life Spans, and Director of Destinies

While the 'job' of Siming can be passed down to multiple different people, the length of time they end up serving as Siming can result in different qualifying titles being added to them. 'Da Siming' (which is the one Infold told the story of when they released Shifu in that video apparently no one watched) would be more revered. "Da" means big, or greater, meaning he held that title for a great period of time. Bitch was tenured.

The 3 deathbringers

Essentially 3 spirits who take residence in the 3 energy centers of the human body. (head, chest, abdomen. probably only the chest would be relevant to us, given that Zayne is a cardiac surgeon)

these spirits enter the human body at birth, and seek to hasten the death of their hosts.

Siming controls the process of these deathbringers killing their hosts, he may or may not permit it.

to regulate this process, Siming relies on reports given to him by the deathbringers, which are brought to him on specific dates. Based on what he learns he may or may not use that information (and possibly other information) to decide whether or not to shorten or lengthen that specific persons lifespan.

This bitch is not making sweeping decisions, he's looking at every individual person.

humans are believed to have various things available to alter the judgment of Siming regarding their fates, such as interfering with the reporting process, praying to Siming or his superiors, or following treatment from a doctor to improve the yin-yang balance, and thus extend their lifespan.

Other things:

There's a story about an ancient man who finds a skull on the ground, and mourns the fact that this person never had a proper burial. He lays down on the skull and uses it as a pillow, then has a dream where the skull comes to him and tells him about the tranquility and happiness found in death. The man tells the skull that he could petition Siming to bring him back to life, and then he would be able to return to his family. The skull denies he would want that, asking rhetorically to the man, 'why would anyone in such a peaceful and happy place as death ever want to return to the suffering of living?'

Where do we see these elements pop up in Zayne’s story?

Now, we already know that at the very least Zayne’s Master of Fate myth is heavily based on this deity, and you can see some elements of Siming in Foreseer as well. Foreseer most likely takes place in the far future from Master of Fates given that he resides on Philos, and we know that Philos is the planet humanity started inhabiting only after Earth was destroyed. Philos is also where both Xavier and Sylus are from. This is no Xavier lore post, but if you know anything about his lore, you know that he’s come back in time from the future. There will be a section on Foreseer below, but for now I want to focus on why I believe Zayne is still Siming in present day Linkon City.

The story of the man and the skull immediately brought me back to the World Underneath: Snowy Stairs, where Carter is actively trying to recruit Zayne to Xander Sciences for the purpose of bringing people back from the dead.

Snowy Stairs

First, we see Carter come across (well he’s kind of stalking him actually) Zayne who is consoling a child about the death of their dog, Pilot. The child is asking him to do something to save the dog, and Zayne simply tells him that he’s already dead, while Carter pulls out a Protocore and tells the child that he can bring the dog back to life with it.

Carter and Zayne then have a mostly one sided conversation about the morals and ethics of using Protocores to bring people and animals back to life. Carter asks Zayne if the natural law is an unshakable moral boundary, or if it’s a comfort people use.

I see two things here: As Siming, the ability for humans to bring themselves back to life despite the natural law would be a great disruption to the balance of fate, or yin and yang, which would explain why Zayne is so against this process, even though he himself was clearly interested in it at one point for the sole and selfish reason of keeping MC from dying. It seems to me that although Zayne is Siming, MC has some sort of destined death associated with her that is outside of his jurisdiction. Possibly because he has shirked his duties in order to keep her safe in the past (shielding her with umbrellas instead of killing her like he was supposed to as the Master of Fates.)

Carter then tells Zayne of a patient who is on the verge of death and asks him to come take a look and help them at Xander Sciences. Zayne does not appear, and though they seemingly have all the tools to save the man, they still fail. Is it maybe because as Siming, Zayne truly does alone have the power to control life and death?

Carter then shouts as Zayne gets up to leave: “Our job is to save people. If we can control life and death, why shouldn’t we?!” Which is another clear reference to the job of Siming and the delicate balance he maintains.

Side note, something else they’re referring to in this part is possibly this procedure of bringing life back has something to do with the creation of Wanderers? Unsure.

Then, Zayne oversees a couple essentially praying to have their son back. Siming controls life and death, and may respond to prayers if he so chooses to. He doesn’t bring the man back to life, but instead cleans the body so that the parents may properly say goodbye to their son.

In this anecdote what we learn is that Zayne alone is seen as capable of controlling life and death, and it is implied that in whatever research he did on this subject, he found a solution. One that he rejects, possibly because it is a process that can and will result in creating Abominations, as seen in the Dawnbreaker anecdote. Wanderers/Abominations may be like the undead, resulting in these people not finding the proper peace in death.

Other main story things

Mainly what I’m seeing in main story/event stories is that we are talking about Siming a lot with our present day Zayne, in terms of Gods of fate, and etc(Spceifically I’m thinking about the silk balls event, where that was the main focus of the conversation with him).

Foreseer/Master of Fates

Like I said, I don’t want to go into too much detail on Foreseer, but the fact that he has the power to see into Fate, and has superiors (Astra) tells me that he at least has some of the same powers as he did when he was the Master of Fates. Master of Fates seems to be a more peaceful era of his life as Siming, where I am assuming that all of the slips and scrolls MC is helping him record are indeed related to his ‘reporting’ as Siming, going back to the idea that Siming is more or less a sort of secretary, a record keeper. I believe he fell out of favor with the Gods when he chose to protect MC instead of killing her as he was told by either one of his deathbringers, or one of his superiors(I’m inclined to think it’s the latter).

I believe that after the moment when he chooses to protect MC rather than kill her as he said he would, he went on the run. We later find him as Dr. Zayne, and something happens in the story(we don't know yet) which results in him becoming the Foreseer.

Foreseer was supposed to let her die as well, or possibly never even meet her, but he instead chooses to finally accept the consequences of his actions as Master of Fates and possibly Dr. Zayne and instead sacrifices himself so that she can live as a sort of. Equal exchange.

That's uh… that's all I got right now! Will possibly add more to this post later we shall see. Basically I feel like I’m just seeing a lot of parallels between all of Zayne’s major character beats/themes and this specific Chinese deity, and by the Rafayel Precedent(telling us he’s a mermaid and then turning out to be a mermaid), I would not be surprised at all if Dr. Zayne in the main story ends up just being Siming.

#lads zayne #love and deepspace #zayne #lnds zayne #zayne love and deepspace #this took forever and tbh i could probably add more but this post is already so long #welcome to my brainrot #its just all zayne all the time #247 folks

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