#maybe some temporary conflict as they all work their shit out

[eternally-tired-cryptid]

Doctor who fic idea:

Rose Tyler for various reasons gets herself back to the Doctors universe, she lands somewhere without a good means of transport, a clue where or when she is, and sets off for hints of the Doctor.

When she finally finds someone who mentions him in passing, she's not the only one to approach the person. River Song approaches.

A disaster ensues, interrupting the women's conversation abt how to locate the doctor. Rose and River rush to figure out what's happening and help people

Neither woman properly explains their connection to the doctor at first (tho River knows of Rose Tyler, River is the wife of the Doctor, despite his hesitancy to acknowledge the pain of losing Rose, and thus his unwillingness to address his time with Rose, River knows. The TARDIS filled in some of the bits the Doctor wouldn't share. River knows enough. River knows that her relationship w the Doctor is different from Rose. That their two relationships can and in fact do coexist.)

After the event, River offers to travel with Rose and help locate the Doctor, and they do so, soon finding themself on another adventure.

Over the course of a few monster of the week style adventures, each woman slowly reveals more abt herself and why she's looking for the Doctor. By the time they find him, they're roughly on the same page, but just because they've reconciled both their relationships w the Doctor doesn't mean he has.

The Doctor finds Rose back in his life after so many years apart, where he was convinced he'd never see her again, and things are rocky, but he's not upset. No, he's overjoyed to have Rose back, if terrified of losing her again, or worse, messing everything up

[starburr]

Don't crush my feelings

( AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/60660256 )

Sasha didn't mean to let it slip, but then again, it was kind of Marcy's fault. That at least she was somewhat sure of. Yet, whatever excuses she was preparing for the past few minutes had evaporated. The cool night air blew into her face as if offering some temporary comfort in her state. Even as Marcy questioningly gazed at her, she found herself unable to stoke the flames rising inside. Maybe imaginary flames if anything, she seemed to be the only one nervous in that moment. She knew she couldn't hide it for long, admittance inching closer and closer as the only option to ease the tension. The night sky only seeming to instill a deeper sense of dread, stars alight like Marcy's eyes staring right into her. Her and her stupid mouth.

About an hour or two ago, when they were still both seated at a donut shop and enjoying the passing light California traffic outside the window view they had, Marcy had brought up Anne again in their catching up. "Anne is probably working herself to death and she doesn't even know it!" Marcy exclaimed while gripping her donut too tightly. Nothing serious or off-putting about that, just talking about their mutual crush while she was off educating kids at the exhibit she spent hours of her life maintaining. Well, maybe mutual wasn't the correct word. Sasha didn't think so at least, despite their shared experiences and the fact it wasn't the first time Marcy talked about her in this way. "But, I guess that's why we love her. Always trying to do what she can." That and, she's really pretty anyway... Another thought she's entertained many times now.

Still, she couldn't help but feel it was more like a competition to her. The mere mention of someone she liked from another who she had history with. It wasn't all bad, but the scars left their mark, only mildly reminded of how they treated each other back in Amphibia. They might have been back on Earth now, but the conflicted feelings still simmered. It was annoying Marcy only felt that way about Anne, or maybe she was somehow jealous of why it was about Anne again. Whatever the case, Sasha's fingers tapped against the table as she tore off another bite, a little more icing than the last. Marcy still held that same tone about her speech. The way she mused about how tiring Anne's occupation kept her spent not just on time, but money perhaps as well, it was admittedly charming in its own way to look at. Like Marcy had discovered the secrets of the universe itself, and she was the Hubble Telescope. Another bite.

She would never get tired of the sight if she was going to be honest, never quite getting over the way it was so unfiltered. She finished up her blueberry cheesecake flavored donut in a few more chews, staring Not even mildly unsettled about how descriptive Marcy's fantasies about them holding hands was, so as long as she was the only one who understood what she meant. As long as she was there for the other two, or all of them. She wasn't sure. Not quite admitting to herself the pining, her hand twitching slightly at the thought. It might have made itself obvious when they stood up to leave. Sasha didn't miss the way the sun glinted off of the glass door, their silhouettes seeming to be closer than they actually were.

A simple "Hey, you seemed awfully quiet back there, huh?" is flung her way.

Oh shit. That made her tense up, a little embarrassed at how obvious she must have looked, but more nervous that Marcy might have somehow read her mind. Did she know she felt something about this? A scrambled bunch of thoughts practically screamed at her, roughly saying; "Play it cool." "What? No I was just thinking about stuff, while you were talking about Anne and all that." Her calm exterior hiding her prayer to whatever deity was out there, that it heard her request for Marcy to not see through her poor facade.

A smirk seemed to cross the older girl's face, worn for a split second right as they resumed walking. Each step in stride with each other, the warm concrete a little more bearable. Even as they continued forward, Sasha could not shake the feeling she messed up again. So she started whistling an undiscernible tune. Nothing special, no rhyme or reason even. She wasn't even sure it was an actual song she had heard, going along for what seemed like forever. A laugh from Marcy as she noted how long it kept on.

Gosh she's so pretty.

They crossed streets, people, and scenery for maybe the better part of an hour. Sasha had never noticed how clear the skies seemed at this time of day. Then a little detour here, passing by a more open area, right up until they got to a familiar looking park. The place had clearly seen its better days, some discarded junk on the sides, what might have been the wooden walls of a playpit were now decayed by time. It didn't register initially, but Sasha would soon find out why they stopped here.

The place seemed a little more lonely, but beautiful against the hues of brown in the afternoon sun. She took it all in. The rays of the sun shining down, the shadows stretched in shapes across the ground, it felt unreal to be back here for some reason. "Come on, sit with me Sashy." Marcy invited as she made herself comfy on a nearby swing; barely held up by its rusted chains. Giving a shrug, the nervousness slightly held back by how gorgeous her friend looked.

 Hmm, yeah, 'friend'. She mused while giving a smile, a little tired around the edges of which was not ignored.

"Are you sure you're okay? Well, I know you don't need to be completely honest with me but come on, you can tell me anything. Especially after... Well, y'know?" She gestured, then placing a firm hold on Sasha's shoulders. A sigh in return, clearly having meant to say something more but decided against it.

It was really unfair how cute her concern was making her look, a pang of guilt throbbed inside the blonde while her cheeks flushed. She hoped Marcy didn't notice. It seemed like her hope was realized, as immediately as she had turned her full attention to Sasha, Marcy was now going on about how she still remembers when Sasha failed her kick to save her and Anne from their initial childhood tormentors. She can't help but laugh up at the sky, almost nervous, not quite giddy either. Maybe she's also uncertain why she's even reminiscing with Sasha about all this. Even she doesn't quite know.The sun sets a little more as they continue to talk, going back and forth on what was. Not tiring somehow on the worst moments of their lives, even if it almost cost them everything then.

Sasha decides to say something. Perhaps out of boredom, or because she still felt there were still things left unsaid that didn't need to be left in the past. But she was sure now was the time.

"So uhm, I know... Like, uhm..." Yet even now, she couldn't quite find the words to explain herself.

It snags on Marcy's attention, here and now of all times, where it was the most embarrassing. Not even minding how good her hair was styled, parting to show off her face that Sasha wouldn't mind staring at for a few more hours if only they could.

"You really should just tell me already, whatever it is." A quick sigh from her. "Tsk, okay okay. I will..."

Although the half-heartedness of it all was really starting to get on her own nerves, knowing Marcy would pry at what she meant by that. She braced herself, thoughts settling as her focus strayed to how exactly she was going to tell her the l word. And no, it was not lesbian.

It's a funny thought for sure, and it made sense. She did love them, and she did want more than this. Than being friends, than whatever 'this' was. They did both want Anne, and if she wasn't so busy, maybe she'd also be roped into today's turn of events. Even as awkward as this was getting, she had an inkling that this would go well somehow. A smile slowly inches its way across her face. A very all too-obvious smile apparently, at least from the way Marcy's pupils dart for a moment and her expression changing to something more akin to concern.

She notices, and her mind slips up for just a second, the initial confidence knocked out of her. The wind howls as she almost falls from the swing backwards. She tries to laugh it off, the attempt being met with a "Hey c'mon you said you would! Pleaseeee Sashy?"

It's not like Sasha didn't want to tell her from the start, just not now perhaps, not while her heart felt like it wanted to leap out of her throat and die. The sky was a little less bright, way less bright. It seemed to be now or never. Either they would be ever more closer than they could have ever dreamed, or all their progress on catching up would be undone. Marcy looks like her heart's about to break all over again, her eyes wanting to ask her just then and there what this was even all about. So, she takes that leap of faith.

"I, I think I love you, Marcy."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, the panic grips and tugs and chokes at her. It's noticeable, her unsteady grip on her own knees getting tighter. She can only register the stillness of Marcy's gaze, wide awake and pupils dilated. Maybe she hadn't gotten the message through quite yet?

"And I don't mean like l-like as a friend, I mean in the same way with... You know who... I wa-wanna hold your hand like Anne's, hold you close to me and keep you protected like Anne... I want that for us, that kind of l-love..."

Trailing off on the last word, but just enough for Marcy to hear. She shifts a little further from her. A stuttering attempt to justify herself, and here she was now. Somehow just having caught up to speed on what 'stupid' means for her in this moment. Her and her stupid mouth indeed. Another internal chiding.

The silence that follows is palpable. Of course she just had to go and say something stupid like that while they had it going good, and of course Marcy didn't look like she was taking it well, the wind suddenly picking up to buffet at the two. Hair flying, heart racing, and hands shaking. This was all Sasha felt in the moment, lost and entrapped in a prison of her own making. She shuts her eyes, accepting the inevitability of what's coming. Being left behind, looked down on disdainfully. It was only a matter of time before she told Anne and they wou-

A soft feeling hits her lips. The wind quiets, giving way to the air of reciprocation she choked on. The sensation gets her heart racing almost immediately, but in the good way. She glances for only a second, and sees those beautiful eyes closed, right up in her face. Her hands steady a little, waterfalls streaming down her face in an instant. Sasha tries to tell herself she was half-expecting this. Hoping that secretly it would mean something to Marcy, and it did. Why else would she kiss her like so, just the two of them in the early evening, kissing at a place from their childhood. It felt like something from a movie.

"Are you-" "Yes you dummy, I am in love with you too." Too. Too... So that meant she had, there was... Yes. Sasha could see it. She didn't exactly know how but, maybe this was a blessing. It was being happy maybe, or even better, finally able to love unafraid.

"Took you long enough, Wu." Not even her snarky quip can save her from the assault Marcy launches on her neck, perhaps a bit of nibbling even. She lets it happen. It's not even tickling her, every nip and lick at her neck is all so much to handle. It doesn't just draw moans from her, the sniffling a clear testament to how overwhelmingly great this all was.

But she still has half a mind to address the other thing, lost in the initial delay of her confession. "So, maybe we should tell Anne this weekend?" Marcy is a little surprised, but giggling at her. "Well not if we do it like you said your peace earlier, that almost gave me a heart attack! Dear God, Sashy!"

The laughter Sasha delivers is boisterous, clearly still giddy from earlier, relieved even.

"No, I'm not your 'Dear God'! That would be Anne, remember? She's our Dear God, or Goddess I suppose." She breathes out, letting Marcy continue to nestle in her neck as she glances up at the night sky, stars alight like her heart. Their hands now interlocked.

She sighs again. "Yeah... This weekend might be good... And you do the talking before I go and do this again."

She feels a little pressure clamp down on her neck, a slight wetness as Marcy goes to whispers in her ear; "My crush loves my crush, my crush also loves me! Aaaand I loveee both of them!!!"

God that felt great, finally.

[imaginedreamwrite]

How would the morning after Steve's Birthday look like for HR reader, Steve and Bucky?

There was an uncertain time that had passed between you attending Steve’s birthday party celebration and the late hours bleeding into early morning fucking that left you reeling.

You were sore, your body ached from being tossed around and screwed, shared between Steve & Bucky while being stretched and toyed with. Every inch of your body ached, every single part of you was sore and weary.

You felt it when you woke up in their Alaskan king bed alone, the ache between your legs and pleasured bruises that would appear soon. You were thrown through the ringer and with every exchange of saliva, every stroke of their cocks inside you had brought you immense pleasure.

And soreness.

Your exhaustion had bled into consciousness, and as you made sense of the world you realized you needed to get out. You had to escape before it was too late, before they came back and found you or worse, before any of the other stark employees found you leaving their room. If they had, and you had been caught, it would be a serious conflict of interest to be their HR rep.

Scrambling from the bed, you tripped on the sheets and landed in the carpet beneath the frame. You crawled on your hands and knees to find your dress, ripping it from the floor while remaining ignorant to the strips of cloth that lay scattered elsewhere. Even if you could find all the lingerie, it was ruined now.

“I’ve gotta get out of here.” You screwed up, willingly letting your emotions get the better of you to allow yourself to be fucked.

Now you had to do the walk of shame, something you hadn’t done since college.

With your dress in hand you yanked the material up your legs, over your hips and breasts only to find yourself at an impasse when it came to the back. You wouldn’t have been able to do it yourself without some help and the idea of waiting around was not possible.

“Shit!” You squeaked and frantically looked around the room for something to aid you, finally settling on a button down thrown across the back of a chair. “Shit, shit, shit!”

You yanked the shirt over your head and knotted it at your waist, the temporary fix working well enough for you to leave. After you’d found your missing heels, you slipped from the bedroom and tiptoed down the hall, mindful of where Steve or Bucky could have been.

Truthfully, the sex was phenomenal. It was the best you’d ever had, and the strain on your body was proof. You were ragged, you were sore and worked over.

But it was still awkward. To you, it was a confession of your feelings and a giant leap off of the Grand Canyon that you weren’t ready for.

Instead of taking baby steps, you dive bombed head first.

“Don’t get caught, don’t get caught.” You walked slowly, finding their place quiet yet cozy and you’d wondered if they were in the apartment at all.

There was a soft melody playing from the radio, and a few gifts still in bags on the counter but no verbal or physical sign of Steve or Bucky.

It wasn’t until you’d gotten closer to the front door that you’d heard the sound of running water somewhere in their place. You didn’t know whether that was from a shower somewhere in the apartment, or maybe laundry on the last few minutes of the cycle but it scared you.

“Get out,” you told yourself, clutching your heels and bag to your chest before you’d slipped out and closed the door behind you.

You had a one track mind, a goal that drove you to the elevator. You were going to slip away without being caught, you were going to leave and then you could return to a state of denial.

You watched the elevator climbing floors and the numbers increasing up above the doors. You watched and waited with bated breath as the floor you needed was reached and your escape could be made. You had been so eager to flee that you’d taken a step forward, and crashed into a wall of muscles.

“Leaving already, baby?” Bucky caught you, his hands resting on your shoulders while he pushed you back out of the elevator, a teasing smirk on his face. “Without saying goodbye?”

“Bucky please-!” You half-pleaded with him, verbally fighting back whilst he physically guided you to walk backwards. “I have to go-”

“We’re not done with you yet.” Bucky’s soft hand cupped your cheek, his thumb stroking your skin. “We have so much more to do.”

“Buck-”

“I hope you’re hungry, sweetheart.” Steve spoke over you, stepping out of their apartment with a smirk to match Bucky’s. “Can’t leave before aftercare.”

[firsttarotreader]

Youve done loads of readings about how he protects himself from falling in love because he doesnt want the pain. What if we look at it the other way around And if he thinks about what will happen to the other person if they fall in love with him. Kind of like yknow the whole "I wouldnt inflict myself on them" sort of thing?

Hello! So, this was a cool question and the answer was fun! I first asked directly if he thinks about what will happen to the other person if they fall in love with him. You see, this is a different situation than what we usually do. He’s more insecure and uncertain when he doesn’t know if the person will want him back or feel the same, but this is about the idea that the person is in love or if they fall in love with him. The Major Arcana were The Tower, The Fool and The Magician.

The Tower means he might think he’s gonna be like a huge shakeup in the person’s life, like lightning hitting a tower and making it crumble, a force of nature. Lol But this shakeup shall be a good thing because The Fool represents the start of something new and exciting, a new journey full of potential. The Magician furthers this notion with the idea that he’s gonna bring creativity and desire and the will to experiment, that new thing that opens up a lot of possibilities for someone’s life.

The Minor Arcana were the Page of Wands, Ace of Pentacles and 2 of Swords reversed. Page of Wands with The Tower is about that shakeup he’s gonna be in the person’s life being linked to someone who’s like a boy excited to discover the new, to explore everything, full of energy and eager to start something from the debris of The Tower. Ace of Pentacles with The Fool is A LOT of potential, success, luck and abundance and possibly lots of physical and sexual energy too. 2 of Swords reversed with The Magician, however, could be pointing to him feeling indecisive somehow, confused, like he will have to choose between the lover and other aspects of his life, or maybe just the indecisiveness he has said is a part of him in a Casillero del Diablo interview from 2021.

So all that is telling us that Pedro wouldn’t really be that negative about his presence in the life of a person that falls in love with him (not really talking about unrequited love, but mutual). He thinks he’s gonna be a good thing to them, a radical change, a shakeup, but still good. His indecisiveness might be an issue though.

Then I asked more loosely for more information and the first pull was the 9 of Flowers, Knight of Flowers and The Emperor. 9 of Flowers points to some hesitation and the feeling that he could fail the person in a way. Because he knows he would probably be the Knight of Flowers, so intense and passionate but fleeting, as if he knew he would most likely be temporary in their lives. But it ends with The Emperor, like he knows he can still be there for them, be stable, reliable, he will make it clear that you are his partner and he will not keep you a secret.

The second pull was the 7 of Hedgehogs, 7 of Flowers reversed and King of Teacups. So with 7 of Hedgehogs, he would believe he could work with the person to build something, and 7 of Flowers reversed means they wouldn’t have to fight because he can work out any conflict they might have. If they gave up and gave in, the King of Teacups would flourish, that is, he would be able to love them, care for them and be emotionally balanced with them.

The last pull was the 3 of Teacups, 2 of Flowers and Queen of Flowers. 3 of Teacups points to him thinking he would be lots of fun and joy in the person’s life, with 2 of Flowers representing all the ideas and plans he would have with them. Queen of Flowers shows us he might believe he would be pure fire energy in their lives, he would be passionate, determined and sexually invested in them.

So basically the cards don’t show him thinking he wouldn’t inflict himself on the person who fell in love with him because he feels like he’s gonna be the shit in their lives, he’s gonna be fire, and they’re gonna have lots of fun. Lol his worries would be more about his indecisiveness and his Knight of Wands (Flowers) traits, of being intense but fleeting.

[midasgutz]

ALL of my mods are in. all of them. tomorrow i need to check animations and learn to use OAR so i can hopefully patch conflicts, so i can figure out if i need to run MCO even though i don't want to. then check my enb because i just realized there's a spot to tell it what interior lighting mod i'm using which might help make things work better. pi-cho with azurite 3 hasn't been blowing my mind, maybe that's why. i might go azurite 2 so i can increase my options. but i know pi-cho is goated, i just dont know why it's not working for me. i think i'm doing lux wrong. anyway, i need to check those two things. teleport around for a while checking locations and npcs. then i'm good, i get to learn how to exclude worldspaces from grass cache generation with ssedit, check if i need to do that for darkend and others. then run xlodgen, run texgen, run dyndolod and install outputs. after that i'll need to check temporary references, see if i need to esmify some shit. and then, finally, i should be good to play. what i have so far is so cool i've been like, dying to play it. but ive stuck through and gotten it all put together. it's mostly based off apostasy, with all the parts i didn't like about apostasy removed and a couple things i had to have added.

i'm gonna do legacy of the dragonborn for the first time, i'm kind of excited cause people really hype it up.

[mikuni14]

La Pluie and Step by Step are shows that send me a lot of conflicting signals. 

I see these shows trying to present themselves as something new and unique and mature (I think?), and at the same time ruin even the best scenes and moments with the silliest / oldest romance tropes. Without the classic BL tropes these shows would be real adult productions for adult viewers but I can't take them seriously because these shows just couldn't resist some old and boring shit like love triangles, "handsome and rich v cute and dorky", "there was only one bed", literal interpretation of soul mate concept, misunderstanding, lack of communication, etc. Step by Step tries to be a show for adults, but for me, because of a lot of stupid and comedic scenes, it's actually pretty silly, it’s a classic Thai BL drama, and tbh the characters are mentally at the level I would expect from a high school romance. La Pluie is a series that I thought would like to take a modern approach to the soul mate idea, but after 7 episodes, for me, this is a production that takes this concept literally. Phat and Tai are absolutely in love with each other as they’re supposed to be following the very core of the soul mate idea, and I feel that Lomfon, as well as Saengtai's trauma conveniently appearing and disappearing when the plot needs it, are just a temporary distraction from "the beautiful and glorious idea of destined lovers". 🙄

I can't take Step by Step seriously because neither Jeng nor Pat have ever been shown having dilemmas about their rapidly growing infatuation and their huge  power inbalance. Jeng, in particular, focuses on pampering and spoiling Pat, with absolutely no thought about actually having the romantic and sexual relationship with his subordinate at their work place. And since they slept together in the same bed, which is something unimaginable to me in the real world and possible only in a very silly romance productions, there's no way I'm taking this show seriously :) The "maturity" of this show should be about two people in unequal positions, who are in love with each other and HOW THEY DEAL WITH IT. There should be numerous problems and issues to handle, like money, career, gossip, family, co-workers, HR reactions... because that's how life actually is. Jeng doesn’t think about it, Pat still treats Jeng as one of his options. Like...????? 

And I can't take La Pluie seriously either, because the show lost me when Saengtai, hating and not trusting the idea of soul mates, becomes pretty cool with it the moment he discovers that his soul mate is handsome. Notice how since then Saengtai proudly introduces Phat to everyone around as his soul mate. Not as a new friend, maybe an object of interest, a potential boyfriend, not even as Phat - ALWAYS AS HIS SOUL MATE.  To all the old and worn-out tropes like destined lovers, lack of proper communication, hiding inconvenient facts (for the greater good of course) the show now added "one of the MLs is being kissed by someone else and of course second ML enters this scene, then runs away when he sees it" and the overdramatic and long way of shooting those kind of scenes. UNLESS Phat really let his ex kiss him for so long, and it's not just prolonging the kiss scene for more drama 🤔 Because Phat didn't push his ex away right away, he didn't stop the kiss immediately. This kiss takes a while... And now there will be another drama and of course it will turn out to be another big misunderstanding and it will be about Tai being over emotional in his reaction to someting insignificant and easy to explain and I’m just tired 😴 *deep sigh* *remembering fondly how Jiu resisted Mat and immediately run after Tian to clear up the misunderstanding right away and that was just a soap opera*

Also, the funniest thing is, that in any other show, the way Saengtai stares at, talks to and how he acts towards Phat's ex girlfriend would be considered love at the first sight 😃 I know it’s not intentional and the series was just trying to mess with Saengtai, make it more painful when he will finally see That Kiss, but it only means to me, that they haven’t really thought this series through, because it honestly looked like he was into her :D

Anyway, to me, both of these shows pretend to be something they're not, they're just classic BL shows using old and often irritating tropes when they don't really have to. And yet, from time to time, they manage to sneak in very good ideas, interesting and truly innovative scenes and themes. And these are the mixed signals that these shows send me: silliness, comedy, old tropes, the inability to leave behind the roots of BL series mixed with the still untapped potential of being something new, interesting, innovative, which unexpectedly breaks through from time to time.

[seewetter]

#liberals love to be like “we need to abolish the police and prisons and the military industrial complex and borders and tax the rich at 99%#liberals love to say shit like “no war but class war”#liberals are always saying to me “any progressive movement is doomed without a militant vanguard like the black panther party”#i mean i just can't get liberals to shut up about “we need universal free healthcare housing education and transportation NOW”#seriously someone stop liberals saying “if the world waged war against the usamerican empire it would be justified and a historic good”#i am seriously up to my ears in all these toothless liberal platitudes

Hm.

I think maybe the source of conflict here is differing definitions of the word liberal. There's the "Love me I'm a liberal" types -- who are effectively moderates and anti-progressives. But the word liberal can also encompass social democratic demands for universal free healthcare, housing, education and transportation. The word liberal can refer to progressive liberals that hate the American empire. It can refer to liberal populists that want to tax the rich at 99%. It doesn't have to refer to toothless centrist liberals.

Now as for abolishing borders, police, prisons and MI-complex, those broad and ambitious projects are not just highly unlikely among centrist liberals, they also carry a strong sense of taboo in such circles and are often only under discussion among progressives / left-liberals. After all, even social democrats in Europe usually shy away from demanding police abolition (or even defunding) and the Overton window on prison abolition or border removal (especially where borders with the non-West are concerned) is definitely far enough to the right that liberals with those views are highly uncommon.

I don't know if this anon ask came out of nowhere with zero context? But I do think that Marxism is something utterly different from any of the positions listed here.

Marxism is an economic analysis that does not compel people to adopt a particular political stance. Meaning that there are right-wing Marxists like Peter Sloterdijk, for example. So the answer to "why are you as a Marxist talking like a liberal" might be "because Marxists can be liberals". Checkmate.

However, I do think that Marxism usually gets people to view things not in terms of superstructure, but in terms of economic base. We are not working to eliminate classism, we are working to eliminate poverty. And it comes with an awareness of how irreducible the profit motive is to the economic base of "capitalism" (the capitalistic mode of production). In other words, taxing the rich is like all social democratic reform a temporary measure that will disintegrate once the rich have found a way to disintegrate it. Basically a Marxist doesn't agree with "The Christmas Carol" where the happy ending involves the rich man discovering his conscience -- because Marxism perhaps somewhat cynically (I would argue: realistically) says that the Scrooges that discover their heart tend to go out of business because their heartless competitors don't hold back and not holding back pays. (Not all Scrooges go out of business, but as long as profit is rewarded, the overall effect is that "greed is good", in a kind of objective sense -- ruthlessness reaps rewards).

Generally I don't mind demands for free housing & transportation & healthcare & education (etc.) but these demands are moral demands. They are demands built on a desire for people to be better and act better. But Karl Marx's entire worldview is built on the assumption that such moral demands are not objectively how these realities assert themselves. That is to say: tugging on heartstrings or pointing out moral failings is like playing Ghost of Christmas Past. That is also to say: moral demands often open the door to immoral responses -- we say open your heart & some jackass writes and article saying that what must be done must be done & that is to close our hearts to do what is necessary. Karl Marx in his writings sort of forgoes that entire dynamic by arguing that the poor outnumber the rich and the poor are self-interested and if the poor get together the rich will lose and we all need to make our peace with that.

All this is to say that its wild to me how people like anon think liberalism and Marxism are incompatible but also how the "proof" of Marxist thought seems to be that we are more concerned with morality than fence-sitting centrist enablers of the status quo whom we dub "liberals" for convenience.

Now I agree that "we are the majority" doesn't always work, when our concern is universal human emancipation and the target is a minority -- although to be fair, most people are PoC, most people are women, most people will have disabilities and mental illnesses at some point in their lives and most people struggle with poverty. But I do think it's healthy to try and develop a kind of "realist" argumentation. I want to be able to -- at all times -- make libertarians and neoliberals realize they are hopelessly sentimental compared to the cold hard data and facts and the realistic assessments of the radical left. That seems like a worthwhile legacy of Marxism to preserve. We might (?) have a bigger heart than other people, but if we brag about that (or make it the thing that distinguishes Leftists or even Marxists from others) some folks on the outside will decide they can't compete and try having no heart on purpose. We become the touchy-feely people and they become the steeled realists who do what is necessary. Part of the beauty of Marx is that the tables are turned: the touchy-feely ones are the non-Marxist socialists who, in the words of Oscar Wilde (in his pro-Marxist essay The Soul of Man Under Socialism) "entertain" the poor with charity and education programs, and also the touchy-feely ideas come from sentimental conservatives, lost in their nostalgia for an imagined past, or in naivete about the free market etc. Marx can position his politics as cutthroat -- as without alternative -- and I think his position works especially well given how many aspects of Leftist politics arise out of necessity, arise because society is in bad need of solutions.

Obviously where the Left exactly starts and ends is contentious. But I do think that it's worth considering the path Marx charted for his pursuit of freedom and also worth developing a healthy skepticism towards big programmatic politics that frame themselves as compassionate, especially in a time when rainbow capitalism (and imperialism) have gotten so good at aping compassion.

Why do you, as a marxist, talk like a liberal

[b0rista]

i keep seeing dad!levi on the tl and i cant stop thinking abt him as a dad😩 can i request drabble/hc/fic of levi and his s/o adopting gabi and falco🥰 no thoughts. just dad!levi brainrot go brrrrt

— ADOPTIVE FATHER! LEVI HEADCANONS + FALCO & GABI. ♡︎

AUTHOR'S NOTES: gn! reader.

never would you have ever expected to take in a pair of children as your own. better yet, never would you have ever expected him to. while you knew his soft side all too well, everyone has their limits.

gabi and falco moving in with you and levi likely just,, happened. a temporary housing for them, considering they had nowhere else to go. seeing as though imprisonment for a second time was a bit of a reach, it was a minor debate within headquarters regarding what to do with the two. through careful consideration, your lover made a decision.

what better way to supervise them than in our own home?

of course, the thought conflicted you. the enemy, living with you? sure, they were barely teenagers, but that didn't make them any less capable of murdering you in your slumber.

knowing levi, though, that would never be the case. the man was already the world’s most calculating insomniac, lord knows he’d never let either of those kids out of his sight. especially not around you. 

nevertheless, your guys’ experience living with the remaining warriors of marley would be far more different than either of you would ever think to realize. 

ACTUAL HEADCANONS BELOW: ⇩︎

to your surpise, falco’s quite literally the sweetest pre-teen to ever roam the earth. of course, you’d only assumed it was all an act. that was,, until you genuinely caught him attempting to befriend levi's horse one morning. he was outside holding a fistful of grass, holding it out to the thing as if it were some sort of a beast. eventually, you joined him, and you showed him just how to handle it. and while the boy seemed skeptical at first, you saw that glimmer in his eyes the moment the horse allowed him to pet its mane. from the window, levi only watched.

speaking of levi's horse, that thing absolutely despises gabi. you're not quite sure why, but it does. you've literally had to run out and claw her hair out from between its teeth before— she's scReaminG, you'Re screaming, even the horse is screaming.

"why does this keep happening to me?!"

"this has happened befoRe?"

whenever either of the two children curse, levi's quick to correct them. despite having quite the foul mouth himself, he doesn't hesitate whenever he has to toss out a blunt "language."

^ at first, they were bitter. with time, though, they stopped swearing.

a key moment in time that helped develop you and falco's relationship was one afternoon where he was helping you out with yard work. somehow, his little crush on gabi came up, and the two of you got to talking about it. after giving him some genuine, appropriate advice for a kid with a crush, he really did start looking at you differently.

as for levi and gabi, those two bonded over intense, hilarious training. he found her punching the air in his backyard, and decided to drop in with a few sarcastic pointers. somehow, it ended in him kicking the poor girl around like a rag doll— not violently, he never hurt her. instead, he fended off each and every attack she fired at him, leaving her absolutely exhausted. she was tired out, and he was perfectly fine. imagine gabi, laying on the ground, tired as shiT, and levi, gently nudging the toe of his boot into her side:

"you can fight, but you're messy. if you ever stand a chance at surviving this war you started, i suggest you clean up your act."

cue gabi, glaring.

"if you care so much, then help me become better."

and so he did 🥺🥺 the two bond over levi practically coaching her, and as the days merge into weeks, she grows to actually respect levi, and maybe even look up to him.

basically, while you and falco live your cottagecore lives and bond over horses and apple picking, levi and gabi beat the everliving shit out of eachother in the backyard. it's a great balance.

for the first couple of nights, eating at the dinner table with those two was disgustingly awkward. it was utter silence, nothing more. however, one night, falco dropped his fork, and when he bent down to get it, he looked underneath the table for a milliseconD— there levi was, leaned down, stArinG at him. it was both hilarious and terrifying altogether, and falco ended up screeching and knocking his head into the table, hard.

"I WAS GETTING A F O R K-"

"and? gRemlin."

it surprised all of you, hearing gabi laugh. a genuine, real laugh. eventually, that turned into a conversation. and after that, you had conversations during every dinner. the development process was cruel, but worth it.

the kids help you prepare breakfast in the morning while levi downs his fourth cup of tea at the table, and it's always cute. because of you, falco knows how to make scrambled eggs! and also because of you, gabi knows how to prank somebody using an uncooked noodle. literally, she just places a piece of it between her teeth, pretend to crack her nose, and crunch. she made falco scReAm, and levi just looked at you like 🤨 bitch, tf are u teaching her

now, this was around three months into supervising them. one night, they were sitting alongside you on the sofa, and you were reading them a story. while falco was into it, gabi thought it was silly— still, though, she listened. eventually, they passed the hell out on either side of you. you drifted off, as well. when you woke up, you'd woken up to levi, his head rested onto your lap while his knees prop him up from the floor. by the looks of it, he wanted to be included.

whenever either of them step out of line, they earn a swift flick to the forehead from levi. it's a daily thing. gabi says something stupid, flick. falco slacks off during chores, flick. one time, gabi tried flicking him back, and it just started a flick war. you were done with all three of them.

both gabi and falco love telling you about marley's technology. you'd never heard of such things, and to know that they exist? shit, the look on your face is priceless. they absolutely adore getting a reaction out of you, and they often butt heads over who gets to tell you what. when they do, cue the overly aggressive forehead flicks from levi.

while levi told you not to, you couldn't help yourself. you showed them just how cool it is to use ODM gear. of course, they lost their shit, because holy hell that looks fun. your boyfriend, of course, caught you swinging from tree to tree while the two children gawked at you, and he gave you a stern talking to. before he did, though, that motherfucker joined you in the trees. again, the kids lost it.

"loOKATTHEMFALCOLOOKLOOK-"

"i'MloOokinG-"

eventually, they just think you guys are the coolest people they've ever come across. which stirs up one heLL of an identity crisis for gabi, because,, lol aren't y'all devils or sum?

[chronurgy]

Gortash the bridezillla...."Durge, dearest, the florist is not respecting my vision. Please see that they meet with an unfortunate accident I think their apprentice will be far more accommodating"

And honestly I actually think most of the companions would take the fiancé thing worse! For one, your LI is going to be sitting there like "bro am I the side piece?" I think most of them would not exactly be thrilled to find out that you're in a long term clearly intense relationship with, well, Gortash. I think even the poly companions would say no thank you to that shit show lol. Plus it's one thing to be in on the evil plan but people could pretty easily rationalize and downplay that to themselves, but being engaged to him indicates that you weren't just some flunky or his instrument or being used by him, you're fully into it. You played a massive role and intended to keep playing one (and if he was using you then you were using him just as much). So I almost think they'd take the engaged thing worse because now they can't hid behind those justifications. Also, I think they'd be way more suspicious about durge going back over to gortash. A lot of the companions treat agreeing to ally with him as clearly a temporary thing where you'll use him for now, but I don't think they would think that if you were engaged to him, especially if he showed durge any sort of genuine affection in public (okay omg pda at his coronation, like kissing their hand or something with a conflicted durge who knows this looks so bad but doesn't want him to stop). I think then they would see any alliance between them as more likely to be permanent (because why shouldn't it be, you two were going to be married and clearly held some amount of trust and respect for one another) in a way that would have fun repercussions.

"Um, actually, we must have a three week honeymoon pleasure cruise. It's absolutely integral to the plan, duh" says Gortash. "But we need to engage in lots of public pda otherwise the plan won't work at all," says Durge, applying another layer of chapstick. I love the idea of them just justifying progressively crazier stuff in the name of the plan. I also kinda love the idea that they're both deluding themselves about the nature of their relationship by saying it's for the plan. Like Durge is fully convinced that they're excited about this having their relationship in the open and getting married thing because it's a sign that the plan is advancing and they're getting access to more murder resources and not at all because of any feelings on their part nope not a bit. And gortash is basically doing the same thing, like ohhhh I'm so happy because this wedding will help cement my reign and not at all because I'm imagining seeing durge in the outfit I carefully designed for them and having them at my side always, nah, just the plan thing.

Sceleritas fel is constantly begging durge not to go through with it and even though he usually isn't visible to other people he makes himself visible to gortash just so he can give him the stinkeye. He also keeps trying to put blood and skeletons in their future shared quarters to improve "the silly little banite lordling's deficient interior decorating".

#au where the plan succeeds up until the ~defeat of the absolute~ and they actually do get married#(before durge meets the party and inevitably there is Redemption And Happy Endings For All because. please)

I now desperately want to see an au where everything goes according to plan and they get married and then the tadpole gang shows up. Maybe they spend all this time in the lower city hearing about it and need to sneak into the wedding in the upper city to meet the people they're up against? Oh that would be too much fun. It would be very fun to get to see both Durge and Gortash's public personas from the gang's perspective and maybe even a glance behind the curtain at their more tyrannical tendencies when we realize that their honeymoon is also cover for them to make contact with and start planning takeovers in other parts of the sword coast. Ooooo this would be so much fun (though I admit to being partial to the idea of durge and gortash enabling the worst parts of the gang from their position of power and dragging them to the darkside with them because I'm terrible and love angst and bad endings)

Consider: Gortash having a portrait of Durge somewhere where the party ends up seeing it, because he managed to coax, bribe or coerce them into sitting for it at some point and there's no point going to all that trouble and expense for a portrait if no one is ever going to see it and also he likes looking at it so sue him. It fulfills both my desire for the party to get a glimpse of pre-amnesia Durge that isn't just Evil Murdery Bhaalspawn and my desire for Gortash dragging Durge kicking and screaming into at least some parts of Respectable Noble Society!

[uwupissarozzieuwu]

I’m really interested to see how you write Ozzie because the fics events are such a conflicting situation to be in. How can you best support the person you love to maintain his dignity and independence with all that going on? Esp after the limbs are back but then he’s still not taking care of his body all that well. Would Ozzie put his foot down and ask him to take time off work? Or would he just let fizz get on with stuff and trust him to get over the difficult time he’s had in his own way?

Ozzie’s going to have a lot of conflicting feelings throughout all of this. Mostly concern and worry, but also a lot of other emotions, as well.

Something to keep in mind throughout all of it, is that he’s Asmodeus, a Sin of Hell. Man has a shit ton of responsibilities. And while he does his best to help Fizz to the best of his abilities, he can’t be all he focuses on. He still has work to do- running a club, running a ring, everyone’s boss, making schedules, answering phone calls- all on top of caring for a person he loves. Man is stressed out of his mind. He’s having a hard time doing it all on his own, but then again, he doesn’t really have a choice. So when Fizz makes things harder by not communicating, that really, really frustrates Ozzie. Yes, it’s due to mental illness. He knows that Fizz honestly is trying to do his best, and not communicating is something he’s been taught will keep him safe in the past. These are trauma responses, and they’re understandable. However, just because they’re understandable, doesn’t mean they’re not angering.

Maybe Oz briefly snaps at Fizz at some point. He almost instantly regrets it, and apologizes after he cools down, but Fizz is very vulnerable right now, his trauma responses having a lot of control over him right now, and it scares him a little. Once they’ve both cooled down, it’s fine, but Ozzie still feels really bad- even if it was a simple and understandable mistake.

There’s a point in the fic where Fizz gives in, and starts slowly communicating more, and things get a bit easier for the both of them. Ozzie’s able to focus on his work more, which is really good.

When Fizz gets his limbs back, he’s restless, and excited, and wants to get back to work. Oz suggests he take a few days to recover from what he put his body through, and to make sure his limbs are in proper working order. But Fizz has been offstage for about a week now, and wants to go back to normal. He won’t listen to any of Ozzie’s suggestions, even if they’re as simple as small, temporary adjustments to his schedule to give him more breaks. Ozzie sees the possibilities of what’s to come from a mile away, and tries to warn Fizz. But Fizz refuses to acknowledge what happened, and refuses to say or do anything more about it. And there’s nothing more Ozzie can really do about that.

[scariusaquarius]

just a dare.

George ‘Joji’ Miller x Female! Reader

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Synopsis: He was never one to back down from a dare, but this was a dare that might give George ‘Joji’ Miller more than what he bargained for.

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A/n: So this is probably really different than what you guys are used to, but I wrote this because A: I fucking love Joji and B: i wanted to write this for a friend. The style that I wrote this in is kinda kinda different than what I usually do, but I was freeballing this one ngl so if it sucks: that is 100% why. I don’t know how Joji is as a person, so if this doesn’t seem like something he would do then lol we die like idiots on this tumblr.

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Genre: Romance, Slight Angst Rated: Everyone Warning: None

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Author: ScariusAquarius

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He knew it was wrong to let it go on for this long, but there was a part of him that longed for it to never stop.

George ‘Joji’ Miller was a man of many things. He was a musician, a past Youtuber, a performer of many arts, and a friend. He was a son, a student, and sometimes during typical shenanigans with his friends, a character named Filthy Frank.

However, one thing that Joji didn’t like to consider himself was a liar.

Joji typically didn’t like to lie about things, even if they were small white lies. Sure, he’d lie to get out of petty trouble, but to lie to people he didn’t even know? Joji didn’t consider himself that much of an asshole (even though he did enjoy harassing them at times, especially when he still ran his Filthy Frank channel). However, if there was at least one thing Joji could admit about himself, it was that he never backed out of a dare or challenge, no matter how fucked up it might be (unless it was incredibly illegal, of course.)

Even if it meant fake dating someone and breaking their heart after a certain amount of time.

During a night of drunken shenanigans with his friends Max and Ian, they had engaged in a particular drunk game of Dare or Drink. It was a game of truth or dare, but with a twist, and it was personally a favorite of Joji’s, even if he did end up drunker than a dog before the night was even over. However, during this game, it had given Joji more than what he had bargained for.

“Hey, so you know that one girl that helps with the crew during shows? That (Y/n) (L/n) chick? I dare you to ask her out and date her for a couple months.”

That was how it started. A stupid and meaningless dare that was supposed to have ended months ago had Joji had the balls to break your heart. However, during his time in ‘dating’ you, he had found more out about you that he had never known about you before; more that made Joji rethink his choice of breaking you and up with you.

You were one of the crew members that had been hired to help him during his shows and music career, but you did so much more than just help set up the stage and handle the light sequences. You were almost like an assistant manager for his agent, helping with scheduling and setting up interviews and meets, designing merch and handing off the designs to his agent, and other incredibly important things that Joji hadn���t even thought about before meeting you.

Even though Joji knew you, he hadn’t really bothered to ever actually befriend you and get to know the real you. You were a fleeting image to him; always only glimpses as you hustled about and did your job. It was almost rare that Joji ever actually got to speak one-on-one to you, and that was only ever if his agent was sick and asked you to take over for the day.

From what Joji could see, you were a truly decent person with a unique perspective on things.

So, when Max had dared him to ask you out, Joji had thought it would be pretty fast and easy to do. He didn’t truly know you, so why not? As he watched you stare up at the sky, smiling softly as the snow fell and the Tokyo lights reflected off of your skin, Joji found it hard to look away; to even fathom the thought of breaking your heart.

There was a part of him that felt like an asshole for taking on the dare. Truly, Joji shouldn’t have taken it on…but there was a part of him that was almost glad that he did. To most people, you were probably considered mediocre, maybe even uninteresting…but to Joji, you were all he ever thought about. You invaded his mind at every waking moment; even invading his dreams when he would actually get some good sleep.

All he ever thought about was you and how much he didn’t want to break that soft light that burned within your heart. You were so soft; so…refreshing. Joji was addicted to you and your optimistic, even loving, outlook on life. Joji was sure that he had never met anybody who was so in love with living as you were. Joji could still remember the way you had looked at him when he had asked you out after a show one day when he finally got a real chance to.

He had taken a week to ask you because both you and him were so busy. During that week, Joji had thought about all the ways that the situation could go wrong. You could refuse, and Joji wouldn’t have to do the dare, Perhaps you already had a partner and could let him down…or maybe you just didn’t want to see anybody? If he was honest about it, it was what Joji had hoped for when he had blurted out the question when he stumbled off of stage, looking so sweaty and flushed from his time in the show.

However, instead of refusing him, you had given him a baffled look before you smiled so fondly at him; as if he had just professed his love to you or something…or told you that you looked beautiful, which you definitely had that night.

It was the moment that Joji knew he was fucked. He had taken you out the week after for bubble tea, showing you his favorite flavors while actually getting to know you. After about two months, Joji had figured that it was time to end the relationship.

However, when Joji had prepared himself and walked up to your apartment to break things off, he found his steps growing slower and slower until he was frozen in front of your door. His body wouldn’t move, and Joji cursed himself as he shuffled his feet and stalled. It shouldn’t have been so hard, but Joji never did knock on your door.

Instead, he had listened to you softly sing to one of his songs, sounding so pretty and soft as you sang alongside him. He had listened until the end of the song before turning and walking away from the door, sending you a sweet goodnight text. He almost hated how the heart emojis on your text back made his heart flutter.

After that, Joji began to notice more of the little things that you did for him that no other significant other had ever done for him before. In the morning, you would always have breakfast ready for him, his favorite breakfast foods usually, sometimes something different to spice things up and give variety.

You would pay so much attention to what he would say to you that if he expressed interest in an item or something that he liked, you would buy it for him as soon as you could, smiling so softly as you would shyly explain to him that you remembered he wanted that thing or stared at it a little too long.

You would remember some of the littlest things about him that he would tell you that most others would have forgotten, you would ask him about his day, give him space when he wouldn’t even ask for it, and pay attention to his physical cues, not just the verbal.

It almost baffled Joji how much you enjoyed doing things for him while he didn’t invest much into you. In the beginning, Joji hadn’t even planned to do much for you because in the beginning, you were temporary. You had been just the result of a drunken dare that Joji was too proud to refuse…until it wasn’t; until you became much more than that.

During an innocent night of him sleeping over with you after marathoning Disney movies, your alarm clock had gone off for you to do some late night work for the big boss. Joji, despite having been woken up by the alarm, hadn’t moved nor opened his eyes while you shuffled off the bed quietly to get yourself ready.

And then you had leaned over him, kissing his forehead and whispering how he was going to change the world, and Joji had never felt so conflicted in his life. It had honestly given him nightmares.

It was after the third month, after that one night, that Joji began to make more of an effort. He took you out to places that he remembered you mentioning, bought you small gifts, and made sure to listen more attentively rather than passively when you would speak with him about things that didn’t pertain to work or himself.

Joji took you more seriously, and though Joji still felt like shit about the fact he hadn’t begun to date you because he liked you, there was a part of him that began to feel thankful for such a stupid dare; a part of him that began to grow attached to you.

So, when you smiled over at him, the Tokyo lights lighting up your face in a rainbow of pretty fluorescents and snow falling on your skin, Joji couldn’t stop himself from smiling back at you. His heart swelled, loving just how in love with the world you looked. How could he even break your heart? How could he snuff out such a soft and loving light like yours?

“What’s on your mind, Joj?”

Joji swallowed thickly, suddenly nervous, and he wondered if he should tell you. Should he reveal it? Should he say it? Was it too late to? Was it considered too early?

“I love you.”

Just like when he had jokingly asked you out, your eyes widened in surprise before that beautiful smile graced your lips. Your warm hand came up to his cheek, cupping his flushed and cold skin before you replied back gently.

“I love you too, J.”

And just like that, Joji knew that there was no turning back, and if the man was honest, he was sure that he didn’t want to.

[END]

Taglist: @xshadyladyx​

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WORK, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND REBLOG. SUPPORT YOUR CONTENT CREATORS.

[miraculouscontent]

Didn’t Need Burrow (May 30th-July 5th)

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Narrative basically ret-cons bad behavior of someone who isn't Marinette.

Oh yay! Alya V2!

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow to know that Mouse!Mylene will be called Multimouse.

I read somewhere that her name will be Polymouse but the source was broken.

Please be a mistake back when we saw the hero names and Mylene didn’t get her own name.

I’d also like to add a bonus that either Mylene gets named that without her consent (like someone calls her that), or Mylene names herself that without any knowledge of Multimouse!Marinette at all.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Assuming Luka×Zoe actually happens, there will be no build up whatsoever. In one episode, they just happen to get trapped together somewhere, talk for like ten seconds and start dating immediately afterwards. Basically the same as Alya×Nino bc none of the ships in this show (other than Lukanette and Adrigami) had any sort of meaningful developement before happening

A relationship beyond the love square getting development??? That’s cute.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Nino is gonna realize that Alya has the fox miraculous full time now and because of that he's gonna get pissy and so somehow Alya will be outta commission and Nino will be there so Marinette will give him a miraculous, Alya will probably say something encouraging about Nino, and then HE'LL get a full time miraculous to.

The only reason I don’t feel like this won’t happen is that it doesn’t direct anywhere near as much blame onto Marinette.

Anonymous asked:

Don't need burrow to know Chat will get angry at Ladybug and maybe Rena because Rena is now a permanent hero and he'll spend the day being a dick, but he'll be forced to work with Rena and realize things are good, but he'll only apologize to Rena.

Ladybug is just used to being chopped liver I assume.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Adrigami is restored, while Lukanette isn't.

Marinette will be too busy being forced by the narrative to continue caring about Adrien.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow, Su Han will only reappear at the end of the season and then disappear again.

“Hi, Su-Ha--oh, there he goes.”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Adrien decide to confess his secret identity as Chat Noir to Nathalie. She decide to don't tell him that his father is Hawkmoth (but also decide to don't tell Gabriel that his son is Chat Noir)

God, the Agreste drama intensifies. Kill me.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette actually REJECTS Adrien after the identity reveal after it hits her all at once that HE did all the awful, questionable things Chat Noir did. This allows the Love Square Drama to continue, with Marinette being slammed for DARING to be upset/have STANDARDS - everyone claims that she's set the bar too impossibly high and is responsible for her own romantic misery, while Adrien continues being coddled by other temporary love interests while waiting for her to wise up.

Uggggggh.

I’m just waiting for Ladybug to loudly reject Chat Noir and then she falls for him soon after and bonus if Chat rubs it in her face that she’s moved on or the narrative ignores Chat’s past actions as Ladybug is all like, “WOW HE’S SO RESPECTFUL NOW.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Ladybug's continued rejections of Chat Noir are directly compared to Gabriel's shitty parenting -- both of them are denying Adrien things he wants, and these crimes against Sadrien are depicted as equally awful.  (If not weighted towards Ladybug being worse because sHe'S bReAkInG hIs WiDdLe HeArT~~~)

This one wins for making me the most upset.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: Juleka will become the tiger hero in another Julerose-centric episode, but this time Rose is akumatized (into princess fragrance again, but this time with a sentimonster so it’s DiFfErEnT). It will chronologically take place after guilt trip, but Rose’s disability will not be acknowledged, even in passing.

I swear, if I have to see a repeat akuma ONE MORE TIME!!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: The major conflict of the season will be Marinette repeating “mistakes” (this can be similar to not keeping chat 100% in the loop till he throws a fit or having a human to depend on emotionally about miraculous stuff) Bonus: The show doesn’t show the good that came out of her actions and only the bad (Not having a breakdown and etc)

Yup. Definitely Marinette’s fault that she needed to rely on someone so she didn’t have a breakdown. She should’ve buried her emotions and broke down every day instead.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: After the show runners give into another fan theory of new permanent heroes, they will quickly show why this was a mistake. Bonus if it’s the very next episode (because if Marinette did it then it has to be bad)

This already felt super likely and then you added “because if Marinette did it then it has to be bad” and now I’m just sad because it’s doubly right.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Marinette, who dreams of being a fashion designer, designs something that’s just ugly. Bonus if it’s never addressed/characters just say it’s great so the show doesn’t look bad at designing clothes

Does Ladybug count? Still can’t believe Chat Noir gets the “complex” outfit with actual thought and Ladybug gets the onesie.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: It's revealed that Emilie intended to use the Miraculi they'd found to 'give Adrien the world'.  This is treated as a sympathetic motive because, as Word of God constantly insists, Adrien is perfect and deserves everything he desires, regardless of how anyone else feels about it.  Thus it doesn't matter what horrific things his parents did or intended; their goals are treated as righteous, with Ladybug being Wrong to oppose them.

They just want what’s best for their son!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: There will be a plot in which LADYBUG is accused of not caring about civilians, with Adrien/Chat Noir getting to lecture her as if HE has the moral high ground.  Or any ground to stand on.  His abysmal track record is completely ignored, retconned, or otherwise treated as inapplicable; we likely get a singular moment where he suddenly Gives A Shit about protecting one of his friends/classmates, which is treated as proof that he Always Cares About Such Matters.

Bonus if it’s Ladybug choosing not to defend/save someone who spited her/deserves it, which is “clearly worse” than Chat Noir threatening to let Paris drown in “Syren.” Ladybug is not allowed to be human and also not allowed to show people that there are consequences for their actions, proving that they/Chat can take advantage and mock her as much as they want with no repurcussions.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Sabrina and Chloe have another Friendship Breakup; when Sabrina seems poised to actually get away from her abusive 'BFF' for good, Adrien intervenes/whines at Marinette to help him fix it, because it's nOt FaAaAaIr for Chloe to be aLl AlOoOoOoNe...

Is it too late to make Adrien disappear and have it look like an accident.

Anonymous asked:

DNB: In a Shocking Twist, Cats are revealed to be cursed - the majority suffer some catastrophic fate as the Ring eventually causes their Destruction.  Only True Love can break it, making Ladybug's refusal to give in to Chat Noir's advances a literal matter of life-and-death and 'justifying' all of his behavior.  Bonus if it's retconned that *Adrien always knew this*, despite nothing in his behavior ever indicating he believed himself to be on borrowed time.  Because Angstrese.

Also bonus if this is also used as just another way to make him seem sympathetic. Double bonus if this information is brought up after Ladybug snaps at Chat Noir, and she’s told this information to make her feel guilty.

.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: If Adrien reveal someone his secret identity, it will be ... obviously Wayhem.

Nino: hello darkness--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Goat!Marc, Rooster!Nathaniel and even Ox!Ivan will be buffed out because not even the boys in this show are allowed to keep their own body shapes when they become superheroes.

I’m positive Ivan especially will be beefed up. The civilian models are really awkward at times and clearly not prepared to be put in onesies (it’s hard to explain and maybe someone more experienced with propotions/anatomy will be able to say it better, but their limbs don’t have a lot of “shape” to them I guess?).

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: Alya’s miraculous looks exactly the same in it’s “camouflage” mode solely so Lila can easily switch her necklace with Alya’s. (seriously why does it not change that bothers the hell out of me)

If that happens, I’d put money on Alya not getting called out on it. Good to know you put so much priority on “secrecy,” Alya.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: A kwami swap will happen again somehow. Marinette will uncharacteristically scold Adrien way more harshly than normal AGAIN to make him feel bad about himself and this will further the (Adrien melodrama depression arc) of him feeling useless/ replaced. Bonus points if Alya picks up his slack.

Honestly, I was here for the scolding in “Reflekdoll” just because there weren’t consequences for her for once.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: There will be Sad Noir galore. Its all Ladybug’s fault, naturally.

Naturally.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Episode where Sabrina gets Dog Miraculous will be Chloe-centric (or Bourgeois sisters centric)

&

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: the episode where Sabrina gets the Dog Miraculous (which seems inevitable now, ugh) will heavily feature or even focus on Chloé, despite the fact that Chloé has already had a couple of episodes focusing largely on her this season. Sabrina’s introduction as a hero will have about as much focus as Kim’s or will be jammed into the last five minutes of the episode. Bonus points if they manage to deny her a proper transformation sequence like they did Kagami.

Roger: *exists and desperately needs development on his policy that caused Sabrina to become Chloe’s slave in the first place*

show: okay but--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Under pressure, Marinette admits to Alya and/or Tikki that she doesn't mind the attention (aka constant harassment) Chat Noir gives her; parroting common claims by sexual harassers, she says it makes her feel *special* and *noticed*.  She may also insist that she still wishes he would focus on the AKUMA/their responsibilities more, but the obvious point of this scene is to 'justify' his behavior with evidence that 'she enjoys it'.

MARINETTE

PLEASE

YOU DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: There will be a joke about Chat Noir *copping a feel* on Ladybug after an akuma sends them into an awkward position.  Ladybug's shock and discomfort is played for laughs; bonus if he quips about her suit not leaving much to the imagination.  Adrien is in a fantastic mood afterwards, considering that to be the 'best battle yet'.  (Alternatively, another heroine is victimized and Ladybug is visibly jealous/her annoyance at Chat is treated like jealousy.)

I’m not adding this to the spreadsheet just because a scene like that is too dicey for a kid’s show (though, believe me, if it were to happen, I’m putting that on it’s own damn card), but I will say that this would 100% happen if this were an anime/aimed towards an older audience.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien tricks Alya into thinking that Chat Noir already knows Ladybug's secret identity, thusly learning that she's Marinette.  This is passed off as all MARI's fault, naturally.  If Alya apologizes at all, it's in a backhanded, "But why didn't he know this already?" sort of fashion.

It’s Marinette’s fault for telling Alya her identity in the first place.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Post-Reveal, Marinette struggles to reconcile how her crush is also her abusive slacker 'partner'.  Adrien, by contrast, accepts her as Ladybug immediately... though his words make clear that he doesn't give a shit who SHE is, just that she's Ladybug.  Naturally, this is treated as Mari needing to learn how to accept Adrien for who he is, all while insisting that his many flaws and failings aren't issues at all.

i hate it, thanks

Anonymous asked:

DNB: The RLBS is EXPLICITLY punishment for Marinette: after a mutual reveal, Adrien declares that they can't get together as civilians until she accepts him as Chat Noir.  Mari is forced to awkwardly pursue Chat as Ladybug while he strings her along/humiliates her; meanwhile, Adrien trolls her with shallow gestures to fluster her/rile up their shipper classmates, who ride her ass for not 'sealing the deal' and making their relationship official.  Alya, aware of everything, is the WORST about it.

I presume that “RLBS” is “Reverse Love BS” which... yes.

Also, that whole “she needs to accept him as Chat Noir” infuriates me because that’s been a fandom thing forever.

.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: The only reason Sabrina got Dog Miraculous is because of a scene where Chloe literally "Kick the Dog".

&

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow to know that despite Sabrina almost certainly getting a miraculous and becoming a hero, the fact that she deserves better than being abused by Chloé and is a worthwhile individual in her own right will not be addressed. Because StATuS QuO!

I just had a horrible thought that they’ll do the episode like--

Chloe treats Sabrina terribly like usual, Sabrina ditches Chloe and Chloe is miserable + takes it out on everyone else for it, then Chloe gets akumatized over it and Sabrina gets the dog (for “loyalty”), which leads to Sabrina going back to Chloe so that Chloe will direct the abuse more solely towards Sabrina because “she takes it out on others otherwise”/she’s “used to it”/”it’s her responsibility and this is the right thing to do.” This will also be presented as the “right choice” and Chloe and Sabrina’s relationship will basically not change for the sake of leaving Chloe the way she is.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Cat Noir is gonna throw a Syren-Sized fit if/when he finds out that Ladybug dares to have a support network through Alya (not a very GOOD support network, but one nonetheless).

Still waiting for the “lesson” where Ladybug is told she’s not allowed to have emotions/be vulnerable.

Oh wait, that’s the show.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir will angst and fish for sympathy points instead of apologizing for the 40th time in the series.

Every time.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Luka is gonna say that Adrien and Marinette are made for each other. This is the last appearance that he will make in the show (with exception to background/shipping fuel between him and somebody else w̶h̶o̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶Z̶o̶è̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶K̶a̶g̶a̶m̶i̶).

Considering the ““““parellel”“““ episodes of “Truth” and “Lies,” I’m just ready for the same thing that happened with Kagami in “Mr. Pigeon 72.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Trixx plays pranks on Alya's family and is a little troll; he particularly loves teasing the twins, since any claims they might make about seeing a 'magical flying fox' will be passed  off as childish imaginings.  Alya blames Marinette for this more than she does Trixx.

Marineeeette, raise your “children” better!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will wind up spilling Ladybug's secret identity to Nino because 'she needs to talk to SOMEONE about this!' (and Mari CLEARLY doesn't count for anything) and trusts her boyfriend.

I would also imagine Alya going on about Marinette’s secret to Nino without explicitly telling him.

Also, this will be an episode in this season because Alya couldn’t even keep it in for ONE SEASON (”Animan” all over again).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Ladybug will be seriously injured during an akuma battle, with circumstances preventing them from winning the fight/repairing the damage with Miraculous Cure right away.  Adrien/Chat Noir attempts to exploit the situation to learn 'his lady's' secret identity.  The narrative REFUSES to call him out on this; it's entirely on Marinette to protect herself by hiding the truth despite her injuries.

Bonus because “Ladybug” seemed to imply that their almost invincible in their suits, though I imagine if they get hurt, it’ll be Chat Noir and used for angst (like in “Miraculer”).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will combine Miraculi more often to cut down on having to track down others all the time and put them in danger.  (And also because the merch guys want more stuff to base toys off of.)  She gets condemned for being a 'glory hound' and 'taught' that she needs to rely upon others more often, no matter what sort of risks that might entail (she'll get blamed for that anyway) or how they might let her down (again, always her fault).

Marinette: *tries not to burden others and instead does what the narrative has convinced her of; bearing the world’s weight alone until she breaks*

show: gOd, mArIneTtE--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir's tendency to screw around, flirt, and not read or work with his allies at all gets Rena Rouge, Vesperia or one of the other heroes hurt.  Naturally, this is played for Sadrien above all else -- if Ladybug or anyone else DARES to show any anger towards him for it, it's depicted as completely unjustified and unfair.  Bonus if the injured party insists that it's okay.

They neeeed Chat Noir to lighten the mood! He’s worth the risk!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: RLBS is kicked off by Marinette being utterly HUMILIATED by Adrien publicly rejecting her once he can't ignore her crush anymore, spurring her to give up on him 'for good'.  Adrien decides that he misses her chasing after him and starts pursuing her, with Alya and others encouraging her to accept his advances/telling her that she's crazy to reject him even after what he did.  Marinette's utter misery over the whole ordeal is treated as HILARIOUS.

It’s not like he mEaNt to embarrass you, Marinette!!!

Marinette didn’t meant to do a lot of things too but you don’t see the show giving her any slack.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir starts treating Alya/Rena Rouge with exactly as much 'respect' as he gives Ladybug -- which is to say, nothing but lip service paired with stunts like refusing to help unless she spills Ladybug's secrets.  Alya naturally blames Marinette for this.

I’m torn on whether he’d “””respect her””” as much as Ladybug or give her even more respect, probably on the premise that “Ladybug chose her,” and that somehow proves that Chat Noir is a good guy in all this (while, again, disrespecting/not trusting Ladybug/making his own decisions at every corner).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir attempts to charm Alya/Rena Rouge into sharing Ladybug's secrets with him, possibly making Nino jealous in the process.

*sees “Rocketear” trailer*

oh no...

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get another 'Bad Future' episode centered on Sadrien; this time around, it features him losing the Ring, painting this popular plotline as a horrible idea because Adrien is Perfect and Never Does Anything Wrong, and should never be punished for his actions.  No matter how it happens, Marinette is blamed for it; bonus if somebody angrily tells her that SHE should have lost HER Miraculous instead.

Wouldn’t be surprised, but that would also mean making a new model of a cat hero.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: It's revealed that part of the reason Alix/Bunnix refuses to share any 'Spoilers' about how the future is 'meant to go' is because Marinette Suffers Incredibly in the process, and Alix knows that she'd try to find some other way... and assumes that she'd fail in the process.  This is treated as entirely valid and Marinette, if she learns that this is part why Bunnix won't tell her shit, has to accept that she's just doomed to be Fate's personal punching bag.  Sucks to be her!

It’s “meant to be.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette/Ladybug is told outright that she's a horrible person for not respecting Chat Noir's feelings for her.  Bonus points if it's Alya, citing Mari's crush on Adrien as proof that she should know how it feels to constantly fail at getting your crush's attention.  (Alternately, Adrien venting to her about how *unfair* it is that Ladybug's so cruel to her partner, unaware of the dramatic irony.)  Triple-7 Jackpot of Shit if this contributes to the RLBS becoming a thing.

UGGGGGH.

And of course Chat Noir wouldn’t get the same treament and it’ll be like, “WELL ADRIEN DOESN’T kNoW sO--”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Instead of Lila, Chloe is revealed to be the next holder of the Butterfly Miraculous. This shows Chloe as "irredeemable" while successfully writing Lila out of the show.

Meanwhile, the writers’ script is frantically scribbled on with red marker.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Reveal that post about Lila being future Hawkmoth was Red Herring (or in this case orange herring)

Dumb herring.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need a burrow;

By the end of the series, Gabriel will have a redemption arc to feel sympathy for him :o

guys he’s so sad don’t you see--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien's inability to choose between the 'love of his life' and the abusive shitbag excuse of a sire who'd just smacked him like a ping-pong ball foreshadows that he will ultimate choose Gabriel after learning that he's Hawk/Shadowmoth.  This will be entirely blamed on Marinette not being able to keep him by her side because 'she didn't love/cherish/appreciate him enough'!

After “Guiltrip” and the whole, “I don’t say this enough--” line, I’d buy it and now I’m sad.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The RLBS is kicked off by Chat Noir switching sides and joining Hawk/Shadowmoth.  Ladybug is forced to appeal to Chat's 'love' for her, with Alya, Tikki, and various other 'friends'/allies blaming her for his defection.  Meanwhile, Sadrien starts pursuing Marinette as an outlet for his mangst, 'unintentionally' making her more miserably conflicted in the process.

She rejected him and therefore he’s in his right to switch sides. She never even gave him a chance!!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien is a Sentimonster/was created by other Miraculous magic by the Agrestes, who desired a 'perfect/model son'.  This is used to further the narrative that his entitlement is actually a Good Thing: Adrien was not MEANT to have any wants/needs/desires of his own, but mysteriously developed them anyway.  Thus Marinette NEEDS to cater to his every whim because it's sO mIrAcUlOuS that he HAS them in the first place.  Hooray...?

His very EXISTENCE is MIRACULOUS, Marinette!!!

Also, Astruc will act like this was amazingly foreshadowed in “Ladybug” where Ladybug comments on Sentibug’s perfection.and with Astruc always called Adrien perfect (either on his own or through other characters).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Another Shocking Familial Connection is revealed: Felix is not Adrien's cousin, but Gabriel and Emilie's original son, whom they shunted off on her sister and replaced with the 'perfect' Adrien.  50-50 split on whether this is used to excuse all of Felix's shitty behavior or if he's demonized further -- 'See, THIS is why they replaced him!  ANYONE would choose the Perfect Adrien over someone like THAT!'

Why not both????

It’s like the Chloe-Zoe situation but male.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: After learning that Rena Rouge has become Ladybug's confidant, Chat Noir outright REFUSES to help at a critical moment, sneering about how 'you ladies CLEARLY don't need me'.  As with everything else, the blame for his latest stunt is laid neatly at Marinette's feet, because Adrien is never EVER responsible for his own actions.

They’ll probably blame Marinette because Ladybug “didn’t tell him right away.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Circumstances force Adrien to be Mr. Bug again (since they already have the models).  Much is milked from how HAAAAAAAARRRRD his temporary responsibilities are on him, and he reiterates afterwards how happy he is that he doesn't have to deal with that all the time.  No actual sympathy for Ladybug's situation is displayed, though stans treat it as such; what we're actually SHOWN is that Adrien only cares about the burden when HE'S the one stuck carrying it.

As per usual, no one cares about Marinette’s problems until it directly affects THEM, and then they’ll go back to not caring.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: With all of the other abusive behavior Adrien has shown towards Ladybug, it's only a matter of time before we get a 'Why did you make me hit you?' moment.  No akuma influence; just him physically lashing out at her because he's an entitled little shit upset over not getting his way, followed by the inevitable bleating about how bad HE feels and how he'll 'never do it again'.  Naturally, this is presented as though Marinette 'deserved it' and must accept his apology.

Show, don’t do this to me, I swear--

I’d be surprised if this did happen, but more because it’s like wow the lack of self-awareness is even worse than I thought.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get a Very Special Episode about sexual harassment... which not only refuses to acknowledge Adrien's behavior as such, but asserts that he would NEVER touch 'his lady' in any kind of inappropriate fashion.  Bonus: he harasses her in that very same episode to 'prove' that his behavior isn't inappropriate.

So “Felix” but worse...

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: The reason why ML Writers made Zoe an actress is to justify why she managed to recognize that Lila is "Liar that lies" instantly after meeting her.

Waiting for the moment where Zoe talks to Marinette to address Marinette “acting like she’s not in love with Adrien.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Lila steals the Fox Pendant from Alya/does something that affects her *personally*.  Alya then reads Marinette the riot act, demanding to know "Why didn't you WARN ME about her?!"  (None of the times that she DID count because Alya dismissed them as her 'just being jealous', which is, of course, entirely Mari's fault.)  Bonus if we allude back to her claiming that 'good reporters do their research' and how she expected MARI to provide her her with proof of her claims.

Marinette: *thousand yard stare*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: When Lila is exposed, Marinette gets blamed for all the harm she caused with her various deceptions, since she tried to warn others and couldn't convince anyone of the truth.  Adrien 'taking the high road' is largely glossed over; if anyone finds out that HE knew too and never did anything to warn anyone, he's quickly forgiven for 'not knowing any better'.

See, Marinette, if you just hadn’t tRiEd--

And Adrien was just trying to “be nice to everyone equally” so he’s forgiven.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir outright admits that he dislikes Rena/the other heroes being around since they make him feel unnecessary.  This is treated as a perfectly reasonable and valid complaint rather than a slacker piss-moaning about being shown up by others making actual EFFORT.

*flashbacks to “You’re not trying to replace me with a turtle, are you?” after Carapace shows up LITERALLY ONCE*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get a retread of the NYC Special's Angstrian when he accidentally ('accidentally?') Cataclysms Rena/somebody else.  Bonus if the victim once again argues that THEIR experiences/trauma are FAR less important than his.  (Especially if it's Alya, Nino, Max... somebody who ALSO happens to be a character of color temporarily killed off to make the spoiled white rich brat feel sorry for himself.)

It’s an accident and also probably “Ladybug’s fault.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir skips an akuma attack/shows up late to find it was resolved without him, and mopes about how 'his lady doesn't need him anymore', requiring somebody else to massage his ego.  Bonus points if somebody (likely Ladybug) is demonized for getting annoyed at him for being late/a no-show, because HOW DARE they take defending Paris seriously?!

Well excuse us, Chat, next time we’ll just awkwardly stall for twenty minutes.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir will 'accidentally' Cataclysm one of the protective Charms so that its holder can be akumatized again.  Bonus if he does this to Alya/one of the other heroes.

Probably Chloe.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The protective charms are ultimately rendered effectively pointless when Adrien switches sides and starts using his powers to destroy them.  Naturally, Marinette is held completely responsible for his actions, because God FORBID he ever be called to account for himself.  Not when his 'partner' is around to absorb all the blame.

You didn’t make him feel loVeD, Marinette.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien pulls a Chloe with his own attempt at engineered heroics, putting the lives of others on the line to 'prove his value'.  Ladybug is completely blamed for the stunt; bonus if someone accuses her of 'not learning anything' from what happened with Chloe.

Hate it. Hate it a lot.

We already got him trying to cause/hoping for akuma, so this isn’t too far off.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien gives Zoe better advice for dealing with her bullies.  His policy for handling Chloe and Lila remains the same as ever.  (In other words, only Marinette has to 'be the better person' and keep suffering at the hands of her abusers, since it maintains his preferred status quo.  But it's no skin off his nose if Zoe's situation changes/improves.)

I also imagine that Adrien would give this advice without Marinette onscreen, so Adrien won’t be called out on it.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Alya will reveal Marinette’s identity to someone (possibly Nino) and the show will then punish Marinette for trusting Alya in the first place. Bonus point if the show then says she should have trusted Adrien/Chat Noir because he would never have betrayed her trust.

I’m just remembering the fandom’s complaints and wow I hate it.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Ladybug Miraculous basically change into Poor man's version of Green Lantern's Ring

*stares at the phone in “Optigami” that somehow picks up on the kwamis’ voices* hm

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Marinette will look through the future and see one where she and Luka get together, except it’s portrayed as bad and abusive, more so if he knows her secret identity, and the only way for her to escape it is by getting with Chat Noir(and not...you know, anybody else. Or being single. Or MAKING THE RELATIONSHIP WORK!!!). Chat Noir sees it too, and gloat about in her face, since it proved that they were “meant for each other, m’lady!” Bonus points if someone calls Thomas Ass Truck out on this shit, and he either replies that it was the best thing to do, claims it doesn’t matter how Lukanette is treated/the love square ends up together because they’re “made for each other” anyway, or even tries to pass it off as “girl power”, because how could we let the female lead get with the respe—oops, I mean abusive guy over the one who treats her te—oops, I mean respectfully and like a “gentleman” would?! And then he’ll follow up by blocking them for daring to question the Ridiculous Relationship Rhombus and respect the “non-endgame” ship. Even wor—oops! I mean, better, if love square shippers use this opportunity to gloat about how “I always knew Adrien and Marinette(notice how they always place his name first?!) were perfect for each other, Luka wasn’t good enough for Marinette, take that, Lukanette shippers!” declaring it “anti-salt”.

bfgkdjfgdfg god

Also, the only problem with this idea is that it would mean making an adult model for Luka.

Bonus if another “disadvantage” to Marinette dating Luka is that Luka isn’t high class.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will be told outright to 'Get over yourself' and stop bringing up valid complaints about Chat Noir's shitty behavior, as the series becomes increasingly overt with its subtext about how one of Marinette's Biggest Mistakes is having STANDARDS.

Ignoring that Luka exists, of course, and if it’s mentioned that Luka exists then cue, “OH BUT SHE DOESN’T AAAACTUALLY LOVE LUKA.”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow: SentiWiFi (Lady WiFi Sentimonster)

SentiEveryone at this point...

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Nino is again robbed of screentime by Sentimonster based on him.

*sees “Sentibubbler” title and trailer*

Did--did you predict the future??

...I mean, we’ve been doing that the whole time, but damn.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will continue shoving Marinette towards Adrien, then mockingly ask 'Didn't you want to give romance a break?' or something along those lines.  Showing that not only is she fully aware of Marinette's wishes and doesn't give a damn, but implicitly blaming Marinette for her inability to stick to them, despite how SHE is the one forcing the issue.

“We all know that you WANT HIM, Marinette! Stop denying yourself!!!”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: When Marinette gets a spot of hope regarding her relationship woes, Alya leaps in to take all the credit for the apparent success.  Once the light turns out to be an incoming Drama Train that blindsides Marinette and leaves her humiliated and heartbroken, Alya insists that it's entirely MARI's fault that things went off the rails.

Waiting for a line from Alya about how she’s doing everything right and Marinette must be really hopeless if Alya’s schemes aren’t working...

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya and Nino will get into a bit of Relationship Drama in order to further reinforce the series' double standards.  (Such as 'It's OK for boys to lie, but girls shouldn't have any secrets.'  Or 'Boys can hold grudges, but girls must forgive every trespass.'  Or 'Girls shouldn't told boys to impossible standards like expecting to be treated with basic human decency.')  Bonus points if Marinette gets blamed for it.

Yup.

Yup.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The subtext about Marinette not deserving a GOOD love interest is further emphasized by Kagami and Luka getting together.  Kagami comments on how she can trust Luka not to lie to her; this is the closest she gets to explaining to Marinette WHY she broke things off with Adrien in the first place.  After all, it doesn't matter if Adrien lies to Marinette; they're 'meant for each other'.

I’m still not over Kagami saying that the guy who lied to her is “made for” her only friend????

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Zoe learns a valuable lesson about the importance of Being Herself with Luka's help, teasing the idea of the two of them getting together.

“Bonus” for Marinette saying that Zoe and Luka are made for each other.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir deliberately strings Vesperia along in a ploy to make Ladybug jealous.  Zoe is naturally heartbroken when she learns the truth.  Her pain is blamed entirely on Marinette, since Adrien can NEVER be held accountable for his own actions.

Ladybug, you should’ve seen this coming!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow (kinda?), Astruc apparently is aware that his perfect Adrien is flawed as Chat Noir (he said so on twitter), and I fear that if anyone ever asks him why the two sides of Adrien so different, he'll reveal that the cat miraculous changes the holder's personality or some shit, which will cause "Anti Adrien Salt" to explode, screaming "the salter's claims aren't valid anymore, it's not Adrien's fault, it's the miraculous!!!1!!111!!!!¡¡!¡¡¡!!!"

I feel like he denied that back when he still had a Tumblr but gosh I’m just waiting for it to be confirmed because FANON THEORIES.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien gets a taste of what Marinette goes through constantly when he/Chat Noir suffers a bit of minor humiliation over his crush.  His pain and angst over this is played DEAD SERIOUS, treated as though he's suffering through the WORST THING EVER even though whatever happened pales in comparison to what Marinette has endured.  Anyone who dares so much as chuckle at what happened is villainized, since only a MONSTER would find his suffering funny.

I’m seething.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Return of Sentibug (for fanservice)

Bonus if they kill her off again. Something something “only one Ladybug” something.

neyla9 asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: So if Zoe gets sent to a new boarding school after being in Paris for a few months (there is a chance the writers will just completely ignore that this was established in Sole Crusher, in which case this probably won't happen), I predict that Zoe was brought in specifically to redeem Chloe, rubbing it in Marinette's face that she failed at redeeming Chloe, and force Marinette to give Chloe the bee miraculous back

Most likely. Apparently needed to bring someone else in to make Marinette feel worse.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien abandons/ditches his responsibilities as a hero because he's too busy sulking over his ego being bruised by some slight (real or imagined).  Marinette is naturally blamed for this.

Oh, of course!

Marinette probably had to be late for patrol so he was intentionally late for something, and then was like well you did it to me, so--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chloe will get another tiresome 'Will she or won't she be redeemed?' arc, only to backstab/betray everyone again.  Astruc will preen and croon on social media about how gullible anyone that thinks she could ever be redeemable is.  Bonus points if Chloe's damning act that proves she's unsalvageable is something ADRIEN has done.

Meanwhile, Nino is back here absolutely collecting DUST!!!

I guess you gotta be a horrible person/make Marinette suffer to get screen time.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chloe will discover Vesperia's secret identity and steal the Bee Miraculous, then spitefully out Zoe so that SHE can't be a heroine anymore.

Marinette is running out of teens at this point but finding new ones would mean more models.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Zoe is used to teach Marinette that she's too harsh on others for lying, and should accept that they can be dishonest sometimes.  (Especially Adrien.)  As a natural follow-up, Marinette is blamed/punished for falling for a friend's lies -- because CLEARLY it's not Alya/Adrien/anyone else's fault if she believes their bullshit!

No one’s perfect, Marinette! People are human!!

...Except you, of course.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Despite the incident with SentiNino, Shadow Moth will *successfully* obtain a miraculous by using the same trick.  Bonus points if it's Marinette/Ladybug who falls for it... though really, she'll be blamed regardless.

Double bonus if she doesn’t fall for it but it still goes through.

Anonymous asked:

DNB: The 'Shocking Twist' of Adrien/Chat Noir betraying Team Miraculous and joining his father will be presented as though it's entirely Marinette/Ladybug's fault, with Adrien acting as though he Had No Choice and angsting about being 'forced' to betray his lady and friends.  The series never acknowledges how self-serving his motives actually are, and any call-outs he gets are treated as Wrong and Awful and Blaming Poor Innocent Victim Adrien.

“hE’s jUsT tRyinG tO sAvE hIs mOm”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: 'Borrowing' from many a Salt Fic, Marinette will thank her for 'proving who my *real* friends are'.  This entails giving Adrien, Alya and possibly others credit for always standing by her, believing in her, and various other things that they never actually did.

I’m presuming “her” means “everyone”/”the girl squad” and yup.

Better tell than show I guess.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will be retconned into having 'never believed anything Lila said'.  Or at least, she will CLAIM that she never believed her.

I WILL BE SO UPSET

Also prepared for them to handwave it, like, “oh whatever, now I’m helping you since I know so it’s all good!”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow: Similarities between Luka and Zoe were only red herring. Zoe will become Kagami's new love interest (and Kagami and Zoe's dynamic will be suspiciously similar do Fanon!Marigami)

But that would imply they care enough about LGBT rep.

Though they could always pull a Voltron and slip it in at the very end.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will suffer the toll/backlash from using multiple Miraculi ONLY for the sake of making that her Latest Mistake. Her past successes are only acknowledged as a way of painting her as arrogant for assuming she could continue doing so safely.

She’ll probably be yelled at and told not to “keep doing everything herself” even though that’s what the narrative keeps telling her to do.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien discovers his father's secret identity and hides it... and this is painted as an act of incredible self-sacrifice rather than selfishness.  Rather than treating it as a betrayal of Ladybug/Team Miraculous, the series focuses on his angst and 'inner struggle', pretending there's something heroic about him refusing to expose Hawkmoth and potentially put an end to his terrorizing Paris.

:|

Deep breaths, Clarity.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Alya will get to keep her boyfriend despite her being involved with the miraculous box n stuff, unlike Marinette. Why, you ask? Easy, the bond between Luka and Mari just isn't sTrOnG eNoUgH for them to last through difficult times, like Alya and Nino do so easily.

Ignoring that Marinette and Luka only just got together and also that Marinette has it WAY different than Alya.

But no I guess. Adrien and Marinette are “made for each other” so gotta discredit Lukanette whenever. Marinette isn’t allowed to be happy, we know.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: The one time Marinette gets a break from akumas and her responsibilities all hell breaks loose and the lesson for that episode will be that Marinette and Marinette alone must carry the burden of being Ladybug and Guardian.

Marinette: *gets five minutes of sleep*

Paris: *catches on fire*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow (Can I do two at once?): "Crocoduel" will not acknowledge the Lukanette breakup at all, and the titular Akuma will just be Guitar Villain and Captain Hardrock again.

(You’re allowed two, absolutely!)

I’d like to add as well that, even if they do acknowledge the Lukanette breakup, Marinette will talk to Luka about it but then be like, “I’m not focusing on love right now and I’m too busy so I’m sorry for everything that happened,” even as everyone keeps pushing for the love square.

[queenofbaws]

"how long are you staying?" / "for as long as you need me." for our favorite dragon age duo! (i'm prepared this time)

(not quite) six sentence weekend - just FYI, this is post “all that remains,” SOOOOOO...tw: death/death of family member(s)

There’d been a moment in the foyer where she’d known he was gearing himself up to ask the inevitable. Call it habit, call it intuition, call it the last nasty knock she’d taken to her head while wading through Quentin’s abominations unlocking some sort of latent telepathic ability within her mind, but she’d almost been able to see the words swirling around behind his eyes, ordering themselves in just the right way before being sent to his mouth. ‘Why don’t you come on down to the Hanged Man?’ he’d ask, making it sound like an afterthought, ‘How about we get you out of this place for a night?’

She’d grit her jaw and waited for it; she’d run through the laundry list of excuses in her head, trying to remember which she hadn’t used recently.

Only…Varric hadn’t asked. He hadn’t even come close. He’d just sauntered in like normal and made himself at home, and that moment, the one Hawke had been dreading, simply never happened.

Oddly enough, that almost made her more anxious. It suggested something else was coming.

It wasn’t dread, exactly, but…apprehension. Maybe. Yeah, sure, fine, that was a perfectly usable word for the knot sitting low and heavy in her gut, roiling like a pit of worms after a heavy rain: Apprehension. The promise that something was on its way, that the quiet of the manor was only a temporary thing meant to fill the air between them until it couldn’t be ignored any longer.

Which was sort of a problem, considering how shit she was with things like silence and anxiety and uncertainty. …and how very, very skilled she was with outright conflict.

“Really wish you’d just say what you came here to say, y’know.” The sound of her own voice genuinely made her want to wince, one too many nights spent screaming into pillows having taken their toll, but for his part, Varric seemed wholly unaffected by its creaks and cracks. In fact, had she not been able to hear herself, had she only had his reaction to work off of, she might’ve thought she’d said it with all her usual slick snark. “Short of ‘Knight-Commander Stannard and I have decided to wed in the spring and we were hoping you’d officiate,’ I suppose I can’t think of much I wouldn’t be able to handle hearing.”

A lie, obviously—there were a great many topics she knew for a fact would crack her down the center like a dropped egg—but she figured if she kept her eyes cast towards the fireplace, if she kept her hands occupied scratching Dog’s ears, if she let her mouth run and run and run as was its wont, maybe she could at least pretend it was the truth. As though sensing he were suddenly cast in some scheme he wanted no part of, Dog promptly lowered his head onto his paws and out of her reach. She looked away from the fire just long enough to see his big, brown eyes blinking up at her, and as though the two of them had planned it all out behind her back, of course that was when Varric spoke.

“Winter.” When she didn’t respond straightaway, he finally looked up from the mess of her writing desk and shot her one of his usual smirks. “It’s a winter wedding. Meredith hates spring.” He turned back to the table, returning to sorting the million or so letters that had arrived over the past week (a task he’d set about on his own volition, having been neither asked nor told), frowning at one before balling it up in his hands and lobbing it into the fireplace. “She says it’s allergies, but I know better—woman couldn’t pull off a pastel if her life depended on it.”

She stared at the back of his head until he pretended to notice her silence again. “I’m being serious.”

“Hey, so am I!” After setting another letter down into one of three slowly growing piles, Varric held both hands palms-up in a show of honesty she might’ve believed, had she only met him thirty seconds before. “Look, I know we’re usually on the same wavelength and all that, Hawke, but I don’t know what to tell you—I’m not waiting to say anything. So.”

“Didn’t come to ask me to the Hanged Man, huh?” The knot in her stomach didn’t melt away entirely now that she’d said it aloud (that would’ve been much too easy, after all), and yet it didn’t weigh quite so heavy anymore. Even so the urge to cringe away from her own voice reared its ugly head; she hadn’t meant to snap like that, to lay it out as an accusation.

An accusation met with nothing more than a shrug. “Nah. I might be an idiot, but I’m not stupid,” he snickered. “Kinda got the feeling last time I should drop that. That you’d come around when you felt like it.” Another few letters were sorted with that inscrutable system of his before he added, “Why, did you want me to ask?”

Something about her silence felt juvenile. A part of her, the part she’d been fighting to tamp down since Father had passed, ached to lash out, to spew out some maudlin rant about how she can’t handle the others and the looks they gave her. She wanted to stomp her foot and pout, hands balled to fists at her sides as she rambled about the unfairness of it all, the way even her closest friends were now watching her from the corners of their eyes as though expecting her to collapse at any given moment, the way people went quiet around her instead of jeering or wolf-whistling through guffaws. She’d become a charity case overnight, a tragedy, and if there was one thing her life had shown her it was that people, no matter how well-meaning, had no idea how to touch a fucking tragedy.

“No,” she said after a time, grinding her bootheel down twice as hard on that internal sense of self-pity and its simpering voice. “No, I didn’t.”

“Well…there you go, then! Problem solved.”

But it wasn’t. It wasn’t solved at all, because if he hadn’t come there to ask about the Hanged Man, then…then there was something else she was missing. There had to be.

“Was it Aveline?”

“Was it…what?” He’d made a good go of it, but Varric finally gave up on sorting her mail then, angling himself in his chair to fix her with a look just a little too confused to be anything but genuine. “The hell’s Aveline got to do with anything?”

A flicker of doubt crossed her mind at the look on his face, but she was already in too deep. “She sent you to make sure I wasn’t making a mess of the place? Tearing the drapery asunder? Given the caliber of my neighbors, I suppose it wouldn’t be out of the question that one of them filed a noise complaint and our dear friend the Captain of the Guard thought it would be best to—”

Across the way, Varric blinked. That damned expression of his remained, eyes narrowed and head tilted slightly to the side, like she was a peculiar new species of bug he’d never seen before and was simply trying to make sense of. “You think I’m here,” he started slowly, “Because the Guard…received a noise complaint.”

“Okay, fine, maybe…maybe it was Anders, then!” Hawke threw her hands into the air before letting them drop to her sides, turning away from him and towards the grate again, allowing herself to buy into the lie that it was the fire and not her blooming humiliation heating her face. “Needed someone to make sure I’m not picking at my stitches, or—”

Her voice trailed off as a distinct sensation came over her. They’d spent enough time together, the two of them, since her arrival in Kirkwall Maker-knew-how-long ago that she didn’t even need to look at him to know what she’d see: There was a quality about the silence that told her in no uncertain terms he’d be sitting there with his head propped up on a hand, watching her with the same sort of poorly concealed amusement of a passerby watching an especially impassioned drunkard shouting outside the Chantry yard that Andraste had been a dwarf all along, and the proof was there, if only you knew where to look.

A wiser person—a less stubborn person—probably would’ve dropped the whole thing right then and there. What she actually did was double down. “Sebastian, then.”

“Sebastian.”

“It’s been at least three days since he’s told me he’s praying for me.”

“Oh, so he conscripted me to pass that message along, did he?” It was the laughter in his voice that she couldn’t make sense of, the normalcy of it all. He was acting like this was any other day, any other visit, like he wasn’t here because of some sense of obligation or pity, to handle her with kid-gloves until he figured out the precise state of her brokenness.

With how the others had treated her since the Foundry, it just…it didn’t make sense.

The better part of a minute passed that way, only the sound of the fire crackling between them. Then his chair creaked as he got up. It seemed like only a second later that the familiar weight and warmth of his hand found the small of her back, his fingers tapping out a thoughtful rhythm until he ordered his words the way he wanted. “You wanna know why I’m here?”

“Pretty sure that’s how I started this conversation.” Then, just because the witty retorts had by then become second nature and she couldn’t stop them if she tried, “Do wish you’d actually listen to me when I spoke…”

He hummed at that, taking another moment to think. “I’m here,” Varric continued, again speaking in that slow, deliberate way that seemed to suggest he was piecing it together in much the same way she was, “Because I wish someone had been with me after what happened to my mother.”

The knot loosened, slackened, disappeared, taking with it all the tension in her body. She was left to slump, to flop like a ragdoll, suddenly feeling that her shoulders were too heavy to keep up, her jaw too heavy to clench. There it was, the thing that had been looming all along, the deep, dark shadow she’d been so worried about; there it was, in all of its awful, inescapable reality; there it was, out in the open. A relief and an agony in one.

She didn’t—couldn’t—say anything, instead folding her arms tightly across her chest as she stared that much more resolutely into the fire, sucking a corner of her lip between her teeth in a last desperate attempt to keep it from wobbling.

“But also,” he soldiered on, his thumb a slow metronome keeping time against her back, “Because I remember not wanting to see anyone, or deal with their bullshit, and how quick those two…incredibly different thoughts can drive you out of your mind, so. So! I figured you got yourself a big, fancy mansion here with a lot of big, fancy rooms…why not come mooch off your hospitality for a while? Change of scenery for me, company for you—if you want it…”

She was doing a piss-poor job of keeping that lip from wobbling. The first time she tried to answer, nothing came out of her throat, so she just nodded slightly, shoulders shrugging reflexively. “You know Corff will go mad, don’t you?” she managed to get out, clearing her throat futilely against the waver building there. “Even a day with you gone and he’ll be buried up to his eyeballs in…in Merchants’ Guild communiques and desperate pleas to take on jobs and people shouting about protection rackets. He’ll tear his hair out.”

“Eh, I’m not too worried about that.”

“Oh no?” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand instead of sniffling, knowing the moment—the very instant—she acknowledged she was on the verge of losing her shit, it would all be over.

“Nah,” he said again. “You know me, Hawke, I like to plan shit ahead. Let’s just say I left a forwarding address.”

It was only then that it occurred to her how strange it was, that sudden influx of mail she’d been receiving. In her tired mind, she’d figured it had been more dreck from the Guard, from the Circle, from the Knight-Commander herself, a million different people asking her a million different things about what, and who, and where, and how, and when everything had happened at the Foundry (never why, though, the only person who’d ever seemed interested in why had been Gamlen, and even then she hadn’t been able to scrounge up nerve enough to tell him). It never occurred to her that it hadn’t been meant for her at all.

That surprise more than anything else was what got her to tear her eyes away from the fire. She looked to the desk, piled high with messages, to Dog, who still somehow seemed guiltily aware of this whole scheme from the start, and finally to Varric, who clearly remembered even more about how he’d felt back then than he was letting on as he kept his own gaze on the grate to let her brush away her welling tears.

“How…how long can you stay?” Hawke asked amid that first traitorous sniffle, her grip growing tighter and tighter on her own arms if only to will away the trembling.

“Long as you need me!” And unless she was imagining things, she thought she detected a vein of emotion as deep as hers lingering just beneath the surface of his voice that time around. “Be that a day, a week, a—”

“Is, um,” she tried to clear her throat again but it backfired, coming out more like a soft sob, “Is forever on the table?”

His hand had been on her back before, but then his arm slid around her waist in a knowing squeeze. He seemed ready to support every ounce of her weight, if that’s what it took. “Y’know, for you, Hawke? I think forever could work.”

[karikarasuno]

The Sun Doesn’t Shine in Tokyo, Part II

Pairing: Tanaka Ryunosuke x Fem!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Character Death(s), Violence, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Mentions of Blood, Grief, Smut, Soft Sex, Vague knowledge of Computer Engineering (once again, please bear with me)

Summary: The end is near. Time is quickly running out. Hope is fleeting, but not entirely gone.

Part I | Part II

Word Count: 9.8k

June 17, 2065

8:24am

It’s morning. The digital clock on his bedside table flashed 8:24am, the angular digits barely seen through the grogginess of your sleepy brain. You shift to go back to sleep, which easily draws you in until there’s a stinging burn on your side. Your wound is itchy and uncomfortable.

“Shh,” fingers are brushing the hair on your forehead from your eyes. “Just gimme a second. This is gonna hurt.”

A wet cloth is pressed to the wound, the stinging sensation returning as you feel the alcohol clean out the dirt and grime from the night before. You squeeze your eyes shut and bite your lip to deal with the temporary pain. “I’m sorry, a little longer then I’ll be done.”

The cloth is removed as you sit up to rest on the headboard, too awake after the cold stinging to go back to bed. A calloused hand comes to stroke your cheek, chapped lips pressing a tender kiss to your temple. “Morning,” you croak, voice rough with sleep.

“G’morning, baby,” you can tell he’s been up for a while, the hoarseness that usually cracks his voice almost entirely gone.

“I should probably shower and then head downstairs. I never actually got the chance to brief everyone on what happened.”

“Don’t worry about it. Yamaguchi already did late last night. So just shower and meet me in the conference room for breakfast,” Tanaka explains before he pushes off his side of the bed, fully dressed as he places clean clothes for you on his dresser. Yachi probably gave them to him this morning and you remember you have to apologize to her today since you most likely sent her into cardiac arrest last night.

Lethargy and anticipation dictate the way you go about your morning, hardly remembering how you ended up sitting between Tanaka and Yamaguchi at the first officer strategy meeting of the day, showered and your gash freshly wrapped. Suga and Daichi are running it, images of the city’s infrastructure holographically displayed above the switchboard. The 3D landscape spinning and flickering as they outline different plans for tonight.

You didn’t realize your leg was bouncing beneath the table until Tanaka’s hand spread out on your thigh to stop it. “You listening?” He questions staring at you intently. Your thoughts have honestly traveled elsewhere, so you shake your head no.

“Do you have the tracking device?” Daichi repeats.

“Oh, no I don’t,” you lean forward and adjust your posture. “I slipped it into Oikawa’s pocket before he lost his shit, but I’m not sure if it survived the crash,” you explain, recalling the exact moment when he was gripping your chin, the distraction of your dagger on his sternum giving you enough time to plant it on him.

“We’ll have to ask Kenma then, maybe he can still locate it. And if that’s the case we’ll be able to see where he is, what he’s up to.”

The meeting continues, your attention drifting in and out trying to formulate a solid plan of your own. Something to ensure that everyone makes it out alive. After your encounter with Iwaizumi you were especially concerned about fighting an army of volunteers. Not that you weren’t confident in the people here, but you managed to plunge your dagger into one of his arteries and he still got up at Oikawa’s demand.

“The tunnels are a no go,” Yamaguchi says at some point when they began deciding on entry routes. “The grenade I threw blocked the only entrance we had into the basement.” You nod in confirmation as you remember the chunks of rubble and debris that were now closing in the stairs.

“The main entrance is our best shot. It’s bold and what they’ll least be expecting. There’s also a chance we could disarm the alarm system if we can break through the firewall. We have the manpower, the only unknown are the volunteers and what they’re fully capable of,” you add on, the floorplan of the estate replacing the flickering city. You stand to describe the various points of entry and what you assume would be the places they are most likely going to have guards stand outside.

“You should have the long range fighters stationed here,” your finger hovers over a patch of tall trees near one of the side doors. “And here,” you shift to point out an area near the front that is also beneath the shadows of the woods.

“Those specialized in hand to hand combat should form the frontlines, while everyone else flanks out in a diamond formation. Yachi in the middle with y/n and Yamaguchi,” Suga suggests while he visually demonstrates the formation on one of the large screens. “Since Yachi doesn’t have much combat experience Tanaka and Terushima will go with them,” he tacks on, giving Tanaka a pointed look.

“And obviously because the two of you are practically useless with your injuries,” Suga teases before he proceeds to assign and explain other roles. The rest of the meeting moves forward without a hitch and everyone agrees on the plan that factored in as many uncertainties as possible. The chairs scrape against the floor as the officers shuffle out to start preparing for tonight.

You stand with Tanaka’s hand in yours and start to make your way through the first floor before you stop in front of one of the only staircases in the building. “I’m actually gonna go visit Kenma,” you explain as Tanaka looks at you silently confused.

“I wanted to ask him a few questions before tonight,” you add as you slip your hand from his and he gives you a solid shrug.

“Alright, I’ll be in the vault, checking the inventory,” he grins, his hands circling your waist to pull you into his sturdy frame. “Maybe I’ll be able to find you a better weapon,” he bends to toy with the dagger on your thigh that you refused to travel without after last night.

“Better?!,” you feign offense. “You don’t think my dagger makes me look sexy?” You grin cheekily at him as his own teasing smile spreads across his face.

“Oh, I always think you look sexy. But you know what would make you look even sexier,” he leans down so that he’s staring directly into your eyes, voice dipping low. “Protection,” his eyes glint with mischief and a knowing smirk settles on his lips.

You shove him lightly and playfully smack the side of his head, his beanie shifting sideways. “Haha so funny,” you roll your eyes as your smile brightens. “Gimme some options and we’ll see.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he responds when you turn around to walk away, his palm smacking your ass as you bound up the steps. “Payback for the beanie,” his hands rise in defense before he winks at you and turns to keep walking down the hall.

You take the steps two at a time like you usually do, except now you have your healing gash as a reminder to slow down. Unlike the other floors in the building the second level is a single large room coined the “Zone” by many of the guys. One half hosts Kuroo’s test lab, usually unkempt with sulfur and boiling chemical concoctions covering the surfaces. The other half belongs to Kenma with his various half built devices stuck between keyboards and multicolored wires.

While Kuroo often ventures out into the other rooms of the hideout to seek socialization, you can always find Kenma sitting exactly where he is now. Headset nestled over his ears, hair pulled back in a messy bun with his controller tight in his hands.

You walk up behind him and pull one of the cuffs from his ear. “Hey loser,” you release the set from your grasp so it snaps back on to his head, this time all lopsided.

“Not a loser,” he responds as he shakes his head so that the headphones fall back around his neck. His screens flashing a bold ‘victory’ to affirm that he is, in fact, not a loser.

“You are the only person I know who can play video games the day our world might end,” you say with a laugh when he shoots you an apathetic stare.

The relationship between you and Kenma developed rather naturally, a sibling connection unfolding before either of you realized. On your many sleepless nights wandering and exploring the compound you often found yourself here. At first, you stumbled upon him accidentally in the middle of the night, while everyone else was either asleep or working on their own projects to prepare for the upcoming conflicts. He awkwardly invited you to sit with him as he played or tinkered with new or semi thought out inventions. You really only watched at first, curiosity overcoming your intentions to not disturb him, but you soon found yourself asking questions. The questions turning into overnighters where he would teach you how to play his favorite games or help him code software he would embed in his tiny devices.

He puts his remote down and swivels in his chair to face you. “I was brainstorming,” the corner of his lips quirk up a little as he gets up and bumps your shoulder with his to step around you.

“Brainstorming what exactly?” You ask, your eyes following his thin frame as he walks to his crafts table and picks up a few things. He tilts his head to signal for you to walk over to him. “I’ll show you.”

You move to stand beside him and he hands off the small devices to you. You inspect them and realize they are watches, complete with a touch screen center and small dials on each side.

“These are reinforcement devices,” he says. “I don’t have enough for everyone but you clasp them around your wrist and twist the dials. A shield will manifest from here,” he points to the watch’s face, and what you incorrectly assumed was a touch screen surface is actually a reflection of the software’s veil.

“This is actually the code you helped me develop a few weeks back.” You smile up at him fondly, remembering the argument you got into after he refused to explain what it was for.

“How many do you have?”

“Six are complete,” he answers. “But I also have this.” He grabs a larger cylindrical device from a shelf attached to the wall.

“This is essentially a bigger version of those. The shield covers way more surface area. You can stick it to a wall or door, enter the pin and the shield will reinforce the structure to protect whatever’s inside,” he finished explaining before he places it back on the shelf.

“When did you have time to do all of this?” His production rate when it comes to his inventions is impressive to say the least.

He takes some of the reinforcement devices from you to organize them beside the others. “You know I hardly sleep,” he shrugs as if his lack of rest doesn’t bother you.

You open your mouth to voice this for the millionth time, but he lifts his finger to shush you. “Don’t. I get it,” he interrupts.

“Fine. But this doesn’t explain why you were brainstorming,” you say instead of nagging him about his awful sleep schedule, not that yours was really any better.

“Right,” he slides you over by your shoulders to switch spots. “This is for you,” he opens the locker in the corner of the room to pull something out. It’s another round device about two inches thick with small legs to hold it up.

“What’s this?” Your intrigue successfully piqued.

“Just watch,” he walks to Kuroo’s lab table and pushes some stuff around to clear a spot.

“I’ve been working on this for a while now,” he grabs his phone from his back pocket and punches in his password and then opens an app. The device begins to illuminate as streaks of ultraviolet waves burst through the top. “It’s a simulation machine that kinda works. I can’t seem to get the graphics right for some reason, hence the gaming,” he explains.

“So you’re saying you wouldn’t have been playing regardless,” you say, which earns you an eye roll from him and a chuckle from you.

“Pay attention,” he points to the device, redirecting your attention instead of answering you. There’s a distinct humming noise before the room’s image starts to ripple. A pixelated version of a beach envelopes the room warping and disguising the furniture.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s an illusion that can trick enemies into believing they are somewhere else,” he whispers, looking a bit sheepish. “I’ve only been able to generate this stock photo, but eventually I want it to replicate different rooms or even scenery we haven’t experienced in a while.”

“Kenma,” your voice is wistful as you absorb the sway of the palm trees, the gentle rolling of the waves lapping the shores. “This is amazing. H-how did you do this?”

“I had Yachi’s help. She came up one night freaking about the control center’s algorithm and asked if I could help since you and Yamaguchi were already asleep. We ended up talking about sunsets, mainly her rambling,” he lightly snorts. “So I showed her some games with high resolution graphics that had some pretty cool sunsets and she came up with this. She coded it really quickly while I built it. I just haven’t been able to fix the kinks.”

You were near tears. The words escaped you, but mostly because you could never describe what you were feeling out loud. The snapshot of a panicking Yachi running to Kenma makes you laugh because there is no way he calmed her down without having a silent stroke of his own.

“And this is for me?” You ask for clarification before the tears really start falling.

“Yeah,” he raises his hand to rub at the back of his neck. “Other than computer engineering, you are really the only thing we have in common.”

“Kenma, I-,”

“Woah!” You both turn to what used to be the floor’s entrance, which is now limitless sand. “The beach! This is so cool!” Hinata squeals, his eyes lighting up with wonder and amazement.

“Oh hey, Shoyo,” Kenma fumbles with his phone to turn off the display.

“What’s up?” You’re grateful for his interruption, afraid you were about to become a sobbing mess in front of Kenma, which he would not have appreciated.

“Tanaka asked me to come get you,” his smile is wide and enthusiastic. “Said something about your options being ready.”

“Of course he actually went through with it,” you shake your head not the slightest bit surprised.

“Also said if you don’t hurry he’s not afraid to kick some ass,” Hinata adds on, his smile turning impishly cheeky.

“Of course he did,” you laugh before turning back to Kenma, who’s a subtle shade of red.

“We aren’t done here,” you tell him, knowing how flushed he gets when he’s alone with Hinata and you walk away from him backwards until you’re standing behind your new guest. “Watch him, he’s known to cause trouble,” you whisper to Hinata but it’s still loud enough from him to hear you.

“Oh, I know,” he plays along, only for Kenma’s neck to burn a brilliant red as Hinata steps further into the Zone. You make kissy faces behind his back to tease him as much as possible before you run down the stairs, narrowly missing the object he threw at you.

June 17, 2065

4:57pm

The gun is spinning on the turntable in front of you. The gun you and Tanaka compromised on. It’s a small black pistol, the deep metal drinking in the harsh light from the screens lining the walls as it spins and spins. In the center of the room, Yachi is typing vigorously, the reversal code practically finished, but she tended to be a perfectionist, so you sit beside her waiting for it to be done.

“I can help,” you offer, hoping she will let you this time. She just glances at you, a flick of anxiety flashing in her gaze before she shakes her head no.

“Why not?”

“It’s already done,” she responds, fingers still tapping on the keys. “I just have to double check if everything is in order.”

“Well, what is it?” You’ve been begging for her to share the code with you, trying to convince her that it would be smarter if more than one person had it, especially if she’s not able to reach the control center in time.

“Not telling you,” her hair falls to cover her face as she looks down at her stilled hands. “It has to be me. I just need for you to get me there.”

“Yachi, c’mon, at least tell Yams,” you argue, not understanding why she won’t share the information with anyone.

“S-sorry,” is all she says in response, and you let out an agitated sigh because you won’t win this argument. “What’s with the gun?” She motions towards it with her hand as she leans back in her chair, avoiding the initial topic.

“Tanaka doesn’t believe my dagger is enough protection,” you look back down at the spinning gun and your chest tightens at the mere idea of having to use it. “It was this or a fucking katana.”

She laughs, the abruptness startling you, but she doubles over and wheezes. A blush is blooming on her cheeks at the lack of oxygen going to her lungs, her laugh turning into hiccups and breathless gasps. It’s contagious, your own laugh soon wracking through you.

“I don’t get it,” you say through snorts. “What’s so funny?”

“I cannot imagine you wielding a katana,” tears of laughter are decorating her face. “You’d probably accidentally cut off your own arm before you manage to land it on anyone else.” She’s wiping the tears from her eyes as her breath slowly returns, her cheeks still flushed a pretty pink.

“I take offense to that. I would be such a badass with one,” you rebuttal.

“Sure,” she squeaks out.

“I just might need a little practice first.”

She falls into a fit of giggles again, probably imagining you tripping over the long blade forgetting that she’s the clumsy one. Your cheeks are hurting from smiling, a warmth rooting itself within you, and for the first time in weeks the flower of hope feels like it will bloom soon. The delicate petals unfurling with a promise of prosperity, a promise that things will be okay.

“Hey,” Tanaka bursts through the door, a little out of breath like he ran here. “Kenma was able to track Oikawa. He’s still at the estate, probably never left.”

“You think he’s still alive?” You jump from your seat, Yachi at your side in an instant.

“Definitely. Yamaguchi said you left him in the basement, but Kenma can see his movements and he’s currently on the move.”

“But what if it’s not him? What if someone just found his body and is carrying it around?” You are skeptical, unsure if Oikawa was able to survive two gunshot wounds and a crash.

“First of all, that’s nasty,” he wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Second of all, I don’t think it matters. The person, Oikawa or not, is heading to the control center. We have five hours before the thing is set to explode, so we leave in four.”

“Got it. The reversal code is ready,” Yachi interjects before you can. “I’m ready,” she straightens her shoulders, eyes determined as she meets yours.

You grab the gun that is now still on the table and place it in the holster on your hip. “Me too.”

June 17, 2065

9:22pm

The front of the estate is surrounded by steel poles, roughly 16 feet tall. Weaved between each pole are copper wires that conduct heat and electricity constantly, making it difficult to enter without burns or electric shocks. Fortunately, Kenma was able to hack into the compound's firewall rather easily since it had been abandoned for months and disconnected the alarm system.

The group gathers around the front gate, those who specialize in combat form the first row and once you enter the plan is to split into various smaller groups. You would head straight to the control center with Yachi and Yamaguchi, while Tanaka and Terushima serve as bodyguards. Yamaguchi’s ankle is doing better, his limp gone and the reinforcement device adorning his wrist. You are all wearing bulletproof vests, the material surprisingly thin and breathable as it’s strapped over your tank top. Your cut is safely hidden beneath it.

The gates are set to open at 9:30, the distance fighters successfully hidden in the trees while everyone else fans out on either side of your group. Kuroo managed to hand out flash grenades and smoke bombs to every unit, the sulfur in the lab results of failed bombs that blew up prematurely. You search the crowd counting the bodies, committing the number to memory; twenty-six, hoping that it will be the same when you exit tonight.

Kenma is standing next to Kuroo and you watch as he sends up a mini drone. The device flying into the trees and an image of Hinata and Nishinoya flash on his phone. The boys are settled high up in the trees, Noya’s crossbow strapped to his back, while Hinata is busy tying knots into rope, his knives and shuriken hidden beneath his clothing.

You start to feel the signs of a tension headache strain your neck, the anticipation sucking your soul from the confines of your skin. Tanaka is kneeling in front of you and you stare at the muscles of his back flex and relax through his black sleeveless shirt as he laces up his boots. Once he’s finished he twists on the balls of his feet to face you, hands going to check your laces and tucking the hem of your cargos into them, your ankles thanking him for the extra support.

“It’s almost time,” he whacks your thigh so you look down at him. “You ready?”

You give him a small nod, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You remember the plan, right? Once we enter those doors you stay behind me. I’ll say when the coast is clear, but if things get too crazy, Yachi is the priority,” he rises from his position. “Get her to the control center, then find me. Don’t do anything irrational,” he finishes.

You give him a nervous laugh, “I’ll try.”

“No, it’s not you’ll t-”

“I’m kidding, Ryu,” you cut him off.

“Not funny, love,” he turns around to settle next to Terushima, whose arm is extending behind him, pinky linking with Yamaguchi’s.You link your arms with Yachi’s as you wait, only five more minutes left.

“Welcome!” Everyone’s attention snaps to the balcony above the double doors of the entrance. Oikawa is standing there, pale and bloody. “I wasn’t expecting to have this many guests come to watch the end with me. This is so heartwarming.”

The gates creak and shudder as they shuffle open. Volunteers begin to reveal themselves from their hiding spots to gather at the front doors, but no one on your side of the gates moves. Your hand wraps around the hilt of your dagger and your stance shifts so that Yachi is partially blocked by you.

He spots you in the crowd and he has the nerve to smirk at you, the once endearing gesture looks pained on his hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes. A daunting beauty transforming his features. “Oh, darling, I’ve been expecting you,” he waves with his good hand, his injured arm is supported with a sling.

“I’m sure you’re glad to see me alive, but Iwa didn’t make it,” you can’t tell if he actually is pained by this with the way he sulks and leans on the rails. “So obviously I can’t let you leave here alive,” he giggles, almost drunkenly. “An eye for an eye or whatever they used to say.”

“I’ll kill him,” Tanaka snarls, gun pointing at Oikawa. You grip his arm to yank it down, fully aware that now is not the time.

“What was that about being irrational?” You hiss at him so he lowers his weapon. Oikawa sees this and you watch his entire demeanor change, his taunting gaze igniting into something far more terrifying.

“Who’s this, princess? You brought me a new toy?” His tone is flat, monotone. “Since you killed my last one!” You flinch at the rise in his voice, the rebels frozen in disbelief, a motivating fear beginning to billow through the crowd.

“We need to move,” Daichi’s deep voice diminishes Oikawa’s immediately. “NOW,” he screams and he’s the first on the move, gun firing shot after shot in the volunteers’ direction.

“STOP THEM!” Oikawa’s shrill shriek is hardly heard above the sounds of battle, but the volunteers do not hesitate. Their smell smacking the air from your lungs, no description adequate enough to warn you. Yachi’s hand is now firm in yours as you run close behind Tanaka. Your dagger unsheathed as your biceps tense with untapped energy. You slip through the front doors quickly, most of the fighting designated to those who formed the front lines.

You deduce that the volunteers are abnormally strong as you witness them tear metal like paper, and crack the estate’s concrete in single punches. Luckily, they are incredibly slow, their limbs swing and jerk in unsynchronized movements, as if they are babies taking their first steps. The rebels on the other hand are nimble, even the largest members fight with the agility of trained ballerinas, their movements fluid and graceful.

You yell for Tanaka and Terushima to take the stairs down to the basement. The claustrophobic idea of being stuck in an elevator is enough to stop your heart. Terushima reaches the door first, the force with which he tears it open rips it from its hinges.

You fly down the first flight, your grip on Yachi never loosening. Yamaguchi brings up the end, he’s holding nunchucks that you have no idea where he got them from. He flicks his wrist to swing them at one of the volunteers that followed you, the wood thwacking against her nose, splatters of blood erupt from her skull and dot Yamaguchi’s skin as she crumples to the floor, her body splaying out across the steps. “Don’t stop running!” He yells, hand grabbing Yachi’s elbow pushing you down the final flight to the basement.

The elevator dings at the end of the hallway, a ghastly Oikawa steps through and you catch a glimpse of silver. At first, you thought it had to be his veins visible through his milky skin, but now you can see the thin lines of silver snaking throughout his body. “He did not look like that yesterday,” Yamaguchi skids to a stop behind you.

Tanaka and Terushima have their weapons raised in front of you, a spear twirling in Teru’s hand. “Where’s the control room, Oikawa?” Tanaka calls out, his voice dripping with poison.

“Why would I tell you when they already know?” He quips, his retort losing substance when a wet cough breaks through his chest. “As you can see I can’t put up much of a fight,” he coughs again, dribbles of thinning blood leaks from his lips. “Iwa’s device doesn’t suit me too well,” he leans his neck to the side, a sickening pop coming from it.

“Iwa’s what?” You say it before you mean to, the situation only becoming creepier with every drop of new knowledge.

“You see, when Iwa was crushed, I found his body in the rubble. The implants we use jutting out from the skin between his shoulder blades, so I tore it out,” he staggers towards your group, the leg he was shot in scraping against the floor with each step. “I inserted it into the bullet wound above my knee,” he points to his twisted leg. “That way Iwa and I will always be together.”

“Dude, what the fuck,” Terushima says behind his hand as he gags. The smell of rotting flesh and rusty metal wafting through the hall with each drag of Oikawa’s leg.

You know he’s not down here alone, that he probably has volunteers stationed somewhere near the control center, but that’s down the hall, through another room. The five of you don’t stand a chance alone without knowing exactly how many are here. You also know that Oikawa’s breaths are numbered, his body actively rejecting the implant stealing away his time like he’s stalling yours.

“But if you really want to know,” he draws in a shallow breath and stops a few feet away from your group. “The control center is down this hall through that room,” he points to his right, the door cracked open. “I’ll let you pass, but good luck. I already input the code,” he inches towards the door and dramatically looks at his watch. “Seems like you only have 8 minutes.” 

He wags his fingers at you as he leans into the door, his weight pushing it open fully and he disappears in the darkness. Tanaka’s running first, fluidly rushing to the open door, but before he reaches it many of the other ones open. Decaying bodies hauling the burden of their transformation into the corridor. “Ryu, wait!” You call out to him but he’s already surrounded. He unsheathes the sword strapped to his back and swings it out in a swift circular arc to force the volunteers back. You count seven in total, all focused dangerously on your boyfriend. 

Terushima bends down in front of the three of you and unzips the pouch clipped around his hips. “Fall back,” he says.

“What’re you gonna do?” Yamaguchi bends at the waist to look over his shoulder. “I’m gonna use one of the stun grenades to distract them. Tanaka’s quick on his feet and he’ll know he only has a split second to escape. But first I need you guys to fall back.”

You’re hesitant at first, but Yachi tugs you away from them while Yamaguchi follows, still a step ahead. “Tanaka, get ready!” Terushima yells before he pulls the clip and tosses it. The grenade rolling to a stop at Tanaka’s feet. 

“Get down,” you turn to tackle Yachi in your arms, your body shielding her from any fallout. The flashes and popping noises signaling its detonation. You look up when some of the noise dies down, the door leading to the control center swinging wildly while the volunteers trip over themselves, disoriented and scattered at the end of the hall. You missed the exact moment, but three of the volunteers were now on the ground, their implants sliced out from their shoulder blades. The pincers on the devices opening and closing in search for their host. 

“Thanks, Tanaka,” Teru whispers in awe. “Impressive bastard took three of ‘em out on his own and discovered that you disable them by removing those creepy shits,” he laughs.

“Okay, babe, we’ll go in before the ladies,” he stands and helps Yamaguchi to his feet. “You take the small one in the corner. Leave the three big guys to me,” he smirks. 

“Now’s not the time to compete, Teru,” Yamaguchi sighs, grabbing a switchblade from his pocket, while clutching the revolver in his other hand.

“A little healthy competition never hurt nobody,” he nudges Yamaguchi with his shoulder, sending him a sly wink. “Trust me.” 

The boys bolt forward, weapons in hand as they twirl in combat, the first heavy body thumping to the ground. They clear the path for you and Yachi quickly, the space in front of the door now empty.

You grab Yachi and book it. Your concern for Tanaka’s safety rises exponentially as you rush to the control center, where he and Oikawa surely are.

The room opens up and near the center you see Oikawa and Tanaka arguing loudly, Tanaka’s gun pointing at Oikawa while he grips the sword behind him to keep the volunteers at bay. The control center is blinking, digital numbers floating above the panel counting down ominously. You have five minutes left and the prospects of disabling the system are low. The ring of volunteers lining the perimeter is your main obstacle because at any given moment their motionless blank stares could be activated. 

“What do we do?” Yachi whispers hurriedly beside you, no one noticing the two of you enter the room yet. 

“We get you to the panel in the next five minutes. How?” You’re trying to think as fast as possible. “I don’t know yet.” Thoughts are racing through your mind, words popping out to form some coherent thought before you rattle out your best plan. 

“I’ll distract Oikawa. You run as fast as you can to the panel,” you suggest. “And we pray some of the other rebels show up as back up.”

“That doesn’t sound like a very good plan,” Yachi bites the nail on her thumb.

“Well unless you have something better, I can’t think of anything else,” you respond, eyebrows raised and she shakes her head no. 

“So just walk behind Oikawa and hopefully he won’t see you. Once you’re out of his line of sight I’ll say something to get his attention,” you explain.

“Got it,” she nods, releasing your hand as she steps across your body to start moving towards the control center. The boys are still arguing and you get the sense that Tanaka knows you're there. Coincidentally, maneuvering his body to obscure Yachi until she isn’t visible to him.

“Tooru,” your voice echoes in the chamber. “How about we talk this out?”

His voice dies in his throat once he notices you. Somehow surprised that you would chase them down here. “I know I blew up on you in the past but just give me another chance. We can stall all of this,” you wave your hands around at the control center and all the volunteers. “And maybe come to a compromise.” 

Four minutes.

“Compromise? As if you even know the meaning of the word, princess,” there’s no endearment in his tone anymore. Just condescension and disgust. “I’ll start by killing your boyfriend and you can watch me. Then I’ll kill all your pathetic friends. Saving my sweet, sweet love for last,” his voice is eerily flat, similar to when he was speaking from the balcony earlier. 

Three minutes, twenty-three seconds.

“You son of a bitch, I’d like to see you try,” Tanaka growls, the sword that was pointed at the volunteers now positioned over Oikawa’s chest. “I’ll tear your heart out before you can lay a finger on her.”

“I sense a challenge,” Oikawa chuckles and steps so the tip of the sword is touching his chest. “Let’s test that. You heard him, right guys? Why don’t we see if this knight in shining armor can save his damsel in distress,” he knows he’s going to die here, he’s smiling from ear to ear at Tanaka and he reaches to wrap his hand around the sharp edge of the sword, blood spilling from his palm down his wrist. “Kill them.”

The volunteers bumble forward, their numbers overwhelming the three of you. Tanaka pulls his sword from Oikawa’s hand to go after them. Yachi is almost to the control panel, but a volunteer suddenly blocks her path, lunging to crush her beneath their fists. You sprint for her, she has a knife on her leg but it’s clear she forgot to reach for it. She ducks beneath their arm, she’s surprisingly agile despite her frequent clumsiness. There’s an opening between the monstrosity’s legs as they stupidly move to follow her. You slide on your knees straight between their legs to slice through their achille’s heel, cutting off the function of their lower body. They faceplant by Yachi’s feet as she shrieks from nearly being crushed as you climb the limp body, your fingers locating the implant and stabbing into the tough skin, the implant wiggling in your hands as you tear it out. The device latches on to your pointer finger to dig into your skin. You scream and shake it off immediately and it lands at Yachi’s feet before she stomps on it like a bug, the crunching resembling the sound of a cockroach beneath her boot.

There’s a grunt from Tanaka’s direction and you see he’s pinned Oikawa to the floor between his knees. The tussle looks like it’s in his favor when Oikawa rips the implant from the wound above his knee and attempts to insert it into the smooth skin of Tanaka’s neck. You stare as he screams in pain, the pincers scratching and cutting into him. You’re too far to use your dagger, you won’t make it before the implant is successfully transferred to him, so you reach for the pistol on your hip. You hold it out in front of you preparing your shot but it’s too risky. Tanaka’s back is to you and only with perfect aim will you be able to land a shot on Oikawa from over his shoulder, the trembling of your hands only worsening the situation.

Two minutes, twenty-five seconds.

The time will be out before you shoot your gun, before Yachi will make it to the control center. Despair ruining your disposition and any confidence you would have had taking this shot is snatched from you as Tanaka screams in pain. You position the gun as best you can, praying to any divine being who happens to hear you to bless you with perfect aim. You begin to squeeze the trigger, forcing your eyes to stay open, when an arrow comes whizzing past your cheek, the speed of it burning the soft skin. You stare in astonishment as it lodges itself in Oikawa’s eye, blood spraying everywhere from the impact and his body slumps to the ground, hand still clasping the implant as it fidgets in his fingertips. Tanaka cringes when he gets off of him and turns to Nishinoya, whose crossbow is still aimed at them and the tension in your shoulders ease slightly.

Your relief is short lived as you survey the situation. Nearly all of the rebels are here, but there are simply too many enemies and they don’t have enough energy to continue to fight. You jump from your spot to look for Yachi and she’s still running to the panel, the disaster gathered in the room preventing her from reaching it. You know it’s too late. Your naive dream beginning to wither away before your eyes so you rush to go get her. 

“Yachi, stop! It’s over,” You scream over the noise of the chaos around you, bodies strewn across the floor while blood begins to pool and smear everywhere. You are holding her arm, pulling her away from the control center in the middle of the room.

 “It’s not over, how could you give up so easily?! I can do this, you have to trust me! I am the only one who can decode the software. It’s my fault any of this is happening anyway. I did this!” Tears are flowing down her face in a violent stream. Her cheeks red with frustration and stress, eyes pleading with you to let her go. “I put all of you in danger! I’m an idiot and I should’ve been able to figure out their plan, but I had to go and try to prove myself to my mom! I-I had to ruin everything because I was so stupidly naive,” her voice was breaking around every syllable, guilt ripping through her. 

“But I can’t lose you!” The lump in your throat was making it difficult to speak as the only option dawned on you. The only option she is pleading for you trust her with. Tears are stinging at your eyes, threatening to spill over while you try desperately to hold them back. “Y-you’re my best friend,” you’re exhausted, the words sincere as they slide through the space between you. Yachi steps towards you, hand coming up to rest on your cheek to catch the stray tear slipping down. 

“I know and that’s why I need to do this. I need to save you. I need to save Yams. And the others. We can’t lose anymore lives because of something I created,” you let your eyes shut, all the fight you had leaving your body as your grip loosens on her arm. She wraps her arms around you for a final embrace, her body still for once, the trembling gone from her nerves as your arms hold her. “I know I can fix this, but I need for you to get as many people as you can out of here first,” she untangles herself from you. 

“There’s a large safe at the end of this hallway. The code is my birthday. Grab anyone left, anyone still alive and shut yourselves in there. I won’t be able to disconnect the devices in this building because I won’t have enough time so there will still be a loud explosion. When you hear that it’s safe to come out,” she takes a step away from you, expression fixed leaving you no room to argue. 

“O-okay,” you force the word from your lips because this was far from okay, “j-just know that, um, that I love you. So fucking much,” her figure begins to blur as the tears gather in your eyes. 

“I love you too, y/n. Promise me that you will make it out of here. Promise me that you will get to watch the sunset. A real one. For me,” she pleads and you blink to clear your vision, hot tears burning the raw skin of your under eyes. “Yes, I p-promise,” you choke on these last words. 

“Thank you. Now go, please” this is the calmest you have ever seen her as she steps away from you, body turning to clumsily run to the control panel. Time is moving in slow motion. The bodies around you moving in vivid detail. Every swing, punch, and kick are stuttering like a stop motion film. You don’t know if you’re breathing anymore, all of your functions glitching in a solitary moment of grief. 

“Hey, look at me!” You can hear Tanaka’s voice, see his figure pummeling towards you, but he’s fuzzy, out of focus. You think his hands are on your arms, but it feels distant and cold, a ghost of everything he is. “Hey!” He shakes you aggressively, your brain fighting against the current of sorrow dragging you below the murky surface. “Don’t let the last words you said to her be a lie! Don’t break this promise!” 

You cut through the surface and see Tanaka clearly. He’s covered in blood, his neck bleeding from where Oikawa punctured his skin with the implant. “We have to go. You have to go,” he shoves you to the exit, your motor functions working on autopilot. You grab who you can as you run for the safe. Yelling orders and instructions to anyone who can hear you. 

One minute, seventeen seconds.

Suga’s at your side holding up Ennoshita while Daichi is calling for people to rush to the safe. You make it there first, and incorrectly punch in the code at first, the small numbers duplicating, but you get it right the second try. The heavy door swinging open with surprising ease as you move out the way to let Suga and Ennoshita in before you. A few of the other guys bolt in soon after and you just stand there waiting for Tanaka, waiting for Yamaguchi, and Kenma, and Yachi. 

Yamaguchi cuts the corner first, Terushima on his tail. You feel a flash of relief when you see them, the distance between you closing rapidly. Yamaguchi trips over the step into the safe, but Terushima catches him before he makes contact with the ground, mumbling something to him that you can’t quite make out. 

Tanaka’s next and he’s screaming at you but you hardly hear him over the commotion. You hardly register the distance until he’s right in front of you again. “What are you doing just standing here?!” He yells. “Let’s go,” he practically lifts you into the room and holds your back to his chest against one of the metal walls, preventing you from running out again. 

You can’t tell who else enters the safe, your panic and grief merging in a merciless waltz. The door slams shut and Daichi is the last to come in, his strong hands holding firm on the handle. Your eyes now begin to scan the bodies in the room, some fine with just a few cuts and bruises, others worse, bleeding dangerously from various points in their body. You count like you did before any of this started. 

Twenty-six. Minus one. Twenty-five. 

You start from the corner opposite you, whispering number to face to name. 

Twenty-one, orange hair, brown eyes: Hinata. Twenty-two, flash of blonde, fixed glare: Nishinoya. Twenty-three, disheveled black hair-

“Where’s Kenma?” Kuroo’s voice breaks your trance. There’s only twenty-four people in the safe. 

“Where’s Kenma?” You repeat, fighting Tanaka’s grip to bolt to the door. 

“Daichi!” Kuroo screams. “Answer me!”

“He stayed behind,” Daichi’s shoulders fall in defeat. “Said something about this being his final move. That this was game over for him and the prize for winning would be our lives. Then stuck something on the door and told me to tell you that he’s,” he pauses, his usually solid voice wavering. “He said he’s not a loser.” 

“And you let him?!” Kuroo runs at him, intent on pulling him away from the door and ripping it open. “He’s an idiot! I have to go get him!” Daichi locks Kuroo’s arms behind his back. “Let me go!” He’s kicking and shoving, but Daichi refuses to stand down. “There’s still time! I HAVE TIME TO SAVE HIM!”

“There is no time, Tetsuro! We are out of time!” At this moment the floor rumbles, the walls vibrate as they shield you from the brunt of the blast. Kuroo’s reaction is visceral,  a primal scream blowing out his vocal chords as dust starts to fall from the ceiling. You watch Hinata fall to his knees, the inhibited light dimming in his eyes as his head falls in his hands, body convulsing with sobs. 

00:00

You’re drowning, your lungs are full of water, air sticking to the lining of your esophagus, the burning pain of no oxygen clouding your brain. Your head heavy on your neck, the effort of holding up your body wearing away as you let all of your weight fall back on Tanaka. His own body sliding down the wall until you’re both on the floor, you wailing pathetically between his legs and he just holds you to his chest, even when you resist and scream for him to leave you alone, he silently holds you. 

No one makes a move to leave. The burden of losing people weighing heavy in the tight, crowded room. 

You don’t remember too much after this. The solemn, dreadful walk back to the hideout is syrupy, your body hardly moving through the thickness of desolation. You stumble over bodies and slip on spilled blood, the aftermath of the explosion evident on every surface, making your ascent cumbersome as you climb out. The familiar fog an odd comfort concealing you from intrusive eyes. 

The hideout is stale and uneasy. Your heartbeat pulsing irregularly in your chest, grief induced anesthetic numbing your bloodstream. Tanaka’s room is dark and his bed looks unusually comfortable. You lurch towards it, but Tanaka stops you. His arms pulling you into the bathroom, the shower already running with steam creeping over the top of the glass door. He helps you undress and step into the tub, tying your hair up in a messy bun before the water hits you. He steps in behind you and swipes a wet cloth over your body. Blood, dirt, and dust turning the water at your feet a translucent brown as it disappears down the drain. 

Tanaka wraps new gauze around your waist, the sting of the alcohol barely noticeable anymore. You’re wearing one of his t-shirts as he tucks you into bed. His body settling in beside you, his strong arms cradling you in his embrace as he whispers gentle words of affirmation into your hair. His soothing voice eventually lulling you into a dreamless slumber. 

You wake up unexpectedly, the sounds of your own whimpers breaking the awful silence. “I’m here,” Tanaka pets your hair. “I’m not going anywhere, I’m right here,” he reassures you as his arms press you deeper to his chest. Your fingers clinging to the sheet draped over his bare torso. 

He leans down to pepper kisses across your tear stained cheeks. His lips connecting with every inch of skin. You tilt your face to catch his lips in a slow kiss, his movements initially hesitant. You drift your fingers to outline his collarbone, tracing along each line of muscle and ridge of scar tissue, determined to memorize all his imperfections. Determined to cement the entirety of his physique into your memory so he will never fade if he ever leaves you too. 

Your fingers stop at the waistband of his underwear, toying with the elastic before you venture further down as you sketch the dip of his hip bone, the sharpness of his pelvis, and the strength of his relaxed thigh behind your closed eyelids. He stops you before you can delve deeper. “We shouldn’t,” is all he says, lips still slotted perfectly between yours. 

“I want you, Ryu,” you’re aware of the desperation in your tone, aware of your need for physical touch emitting off of you in heady rays. “Please.” 

He screws his eyes shut, his internal dialogue written all over his handsome features. It’s not because he doesn’t want to, the evidence of his quiet arousal mere inches from your fingertips. He’s afraid of hurting you, afraid of pushing you too far even though you’re asking for this, but you want to show him how much you want him. How much you need him. 

How much you love him.

You gently pry your wrist from his loose grasp to massage the soft skin of his erection, slowing your motions when he stiffens. “Let me,” you plead beneath your breath. 

“Let me feel you, let me know you’re here.” 

You feel him nod above you, his body relaxing into your touch, his hips rutting gently into your palm until he’s painfully hard. He shifts to caress the back of your neck, tilting your head to look at him as he places a lingering kiss to your forehead. His lips smoothing over your features before he melts into you again. His kisses are slow and passionate, a welcome distraction to the flurry of disheartening emotions plaguing you. 

He rolls the both of you over so he’s resting on his elbows above you and removes your hand from his cock to place it over his heart. The action is cheesy but you can feel the heartbeat beneath his muscle. The steady, rhythmic pulse pumping blood through his veins, a sign that he is alive, that he’s breathing and he’s with you. 

You fight the tears begging to spill over, fearing that you might ruin the moment. He strokes your cheek, thumb rubbing soothing circles beneath the skin of your eyes. 

“I’m gonna touch you, okay?” His voice is broken from exhaustion and vulnerability, but his hand moves to shift your panties to the side when you nod for him to continue. His fingers slipping between your folds to gather the slick at your entrance, circling your clit lightly. You lift your hips to roll into his fingers, silently asking for more as your pleasure begins to prickle at your nerves. 

He begins to move away from you and for a moment you think he’s going to stop, instead he pulls himself from his boxers and strokes whatever slick he gathered over his erection. The tip of his cock a blossoming red as he continues to touch himself. “Ryu, hurry,” you whine, impatience beginning to nag at you, body seeking the delirious sensation of pleasure. 

“I’ll take care of you, don’t worry,” his voice is soft, the meaning of his words holding avenues of interpretations as he positions himself at your entrance. His arm shakes with strain beside your face as he pushes his head past your initial ring of muscle, stopping midway to thrust shallowly. Despite your begging for him to hurry up, you’re still tense, your walls clenching tight around him. 

“Baby, I need you to relax,” he says through gritted teeth, the efforts of restraining himself lock his muscles into place, but you take a deep breath at his words, allowing your legs to fall open around his hips, crossing your ankles behind the small of his back. 

“Move,” your breath catches in your throat as he thrusts a little deeper that time. “I’ll be fine, just move.” 

He looks at you for a long moment, eyes searching yours for even a semblance of doubt. When he doesn’t find it, he rests his forehead on yours, eyes closed as he sheathes himself inside you entirely. You feel too full when he doesn’t follow through so you wiggle your hips to press firmly into his, a low groan reverberating through his chest as you grind against him, your arms stationed securely around his neck. 

Not too long after he begins to meet the rocking of your hips, his movements deliberate and measured. You keen into his touch as his head falls to rest beside your neck, mouthing the skin to muffle his moans as his pace quickens. 

He slips his arms beneath your back, hugging you tightly to his chest. The new angle sends a jolt of electric pleasure through your veins, his thrusts are determined as he searches for your release. 

“Not gonna last long,” he groans into your neck, fingers digging into your sides as he tries to stall his own release. You’re closer than he thinks though, your head is swimming with euphoria, brain clouded with the tastes of ecstasy. 

“Don’t stop, Ryu. I’m so close,” you beg, your voice dripping with desire. You feel one of his hands move to fist the sheet below you as he breaks his steady pace, the force of his hips jostling you passionately. The pressure building in your abdomen is unbearable, his cock slamming into your sensitive walls fervently. 

“Fuck,” you moan into his ear as your senses crash, your body singing with unexpected bliss. His thrusts begin to falter, his own release on the horizon as his grip on you hardens. 

“M’gonna come,” he stutters out, voice gravelly with need. “Need you to move, so I, shit,” he’s struggling to get his words out as the hand fisting the sheet moves to wrap around your calf. “So I can pull out,” he groans and pushes on your leg to unlock your ankles. 

“No,” you refuse. “Inside, just come inside, please Ryu” he never has, the implications too dangerous for him to ever consider, but right now you need to feel every part of him. 

“Baby,” he whines, his voice an octave higher. The desperation in your tone crumbling his resolve and before he can say no he’s spilling inside you. The sporadic contractions of your walls around his cock coupled with the way you whimper his name against the shell of his ear is what ruins him. 

He collapses on top of you, his dense weight flattening you into the mattress as he twitches inside you. You don’t mind the heaviness, content with falling asleep just like this but he rolls the both of you on your sides, probably realizing he was crushing you. 

His face is still nestled in the groove of your neck when you feel him chuckle against your skin. “Can’t believe you tricked me into doing that?” A small smile stretching his lips on your shoulder. 

“Trick? I wouldn’t it call it that,” a matching smile plays on your features. 

“It was sneaky and you know it.” You laugh despite everything that happened today. 

“I love you,” you never said it back, but you’re certain now as your body flows with appreciation. 

“I love you too.”

June 18, 2065

6:38am

It’s too early to wake up, but your mind disregards your obvious fatigue when you find yourself on Tanaka’s balcony. The events of last night looping perpetually in your head as you stare at the city that was supposed to be demolished. There’s no movement, hardly any noise beside the buzzing neon sign flickering four floors down. It’s as if everyone is in mourning. A victory cause for celebration, but the density of grief burdens the atmosphere. 

“What’re doing up?” Tanaka appears behind you, arms enclosing around your waist. 

“Couldn’t sleep anymore,” you reply dryly. He hums behind you and rests his chin on your head as you two watch the sky change from a deep purple to the dull pink that never cuts through the fog. 

“What now?” You ask, not really expecting an answer. 

“I’m not sure,” he shrugs, this transition stretching into miles of uncharted area. 

“We leave,” he says, finally. 

“Where would we even go?” Confusion laces your tone. The two of you have never left Tokyo, partially because it was impossible with the barrier surrounding the city.

“Miyagi,” he says as if he’s familiar with the prefecture. 

“I don’t know,” you hesitate. “There was a project I wanted to complete for,” your voice fades into the early morning. The image of the simulation machine popping into your mind as you remember the pixelated beach glitching in the large room. The last moment you had with him. 

“Bring it with you,” Tanaka suggests as he turns you in his embrace to look at him.

“What’s in Miyagi?” His adamant stare confusing you further. 

“My sister,” he’s never mentioned her before, and you raise your eyebrows in question. “A few of the rebels left here right before you showed up to search for others. She led them,” he explains. 

“I hadn’t heard from her until she called me two days ago. I was worried something happened, but she’s fine,” he shakes his head. 

“I obviously didn’t get the chance to tell you, but she’s there and they found more than they were expecting.”

“How did they even get past the barrier?” 

“Kenma.” His tone softens around his name, but you're not the least bit surprised that he managed to break down the barrier. 

“Of course.” You rest your head against his chest.

“The rebellion is stronger there. We may have a chance to save all of Japan. Not just Tokyo,” you process his words, unsure of how to respond. 

“And,” he cups your neck so you’re staring into his eyes. “The sun sets in Miyagi.”

[crossdressingdeath]

I know you'll probably disagree with me, but i rlly hate the Cloud recessess ending. It's just....

Those elders killed wwx. The Lans were 100% ready to murder both at Qiongqi path but also at the siege. They see him as the guy who corrupted their precious jade. They all preach righteousness, but the whole madam Lan thing is iffy at best and i do not believe that everyone there fully believes the rules. Hell, i have a special bone to pick with the " do not gossip" rule, seeing as gossip had been the main info route for women in patriarchal societies.

I just don't think that after wwx killed Lans in the siege they'd be all that willing to forgive him and take him in w open arms. The juniors and kids love him, yes, but people who saw the war....

Not to mention the whole " do not speak to WWX " rule. I've seen ppl say it's a joke but it's On The Wall. It's supposed to be followed. Even if it was intended as a joke - which i don't believe - it's very cruel for someone w rejection and trust issues.

I also hate it from a very personal perspective. I see Wwx as ND, and, as an ND myself, all those rules terrify me. From the no running and the proper posture ones, i can pretty well imagine they forbid stimming. The Lan curfew would fuck anyone with insomnia and there's smth deeply ucked up abt the " do not grieve in excess". I get that they're supossed to be a paragon of the best things at all time, and that LJY is very UnLan like, but for someone w anxiety who CAN'T follow those rules, it would be a nightmare.

...Some points:

First, the Lan elders did not kill WWX, nor did they attack him unfairly. They weren’t looking at him as the man who corrupted LWJ, either, or at least that wasn’t their primary concern (I will never forgive CQL for suggesting they were or it was); they were looking at him as a traitor to the sects who was raising an army to destroy them. Remember, that is the information the Lans had. Every source they had except for LWJ (who the people he would have gone to would have known was biased and who presumably everyone knew had recently been in close contact with WWX where he could have been manipulated or enchanted in some way), sources which included multiple sect leaders (one of whom was WWX’s brother) and LXC’s dear friend, swore up and down that WWX was a major threat, and let’s face it, WWX didn’t do much to dissuade people from thinking that! Acting like the Lans were maliciously targeting WWX is doing them something of a disservice, I’d say. They acted based on the knowledge they had available; note how the Lans are the first to offer WWX their help once they’re given reason to believe he may not be a villain! And even aside from that, saying they killed WWX (and not JGS and JGY’s manipulation or JC’s army) feels a bit like scapegoating, honestly. Of the four sects, the Lans are quite possibly the least responsible for WWX’s death. If it would hurt him to live with or around anyone who held any responsibility for his death his only option would be to live as a hermit, which would be far worse for him. And yeah, the Lans aren’t perfectly righteous all the time and some morally dubious things have been done by Lan sect members; they’re human, after all! Some of them will only be as moral as their sect leader demands they be! That doesn’t mean the sect as a whole is bad, especially with LXC, LQR and LWJ in charge. Certainly I’d say they’re still better than the other sects, all things considered. One ambiguous situation that may or may not have involved some members of the previous generation doing some fucked up shit doesn’t mean WWX would for sure be mistreated! 

As for gossip... there’s a difference between sharing information and gossiping. There’s no evidence that the Lan women are blocked from... y’know, freely communicating and sharing information between themselves. We have no reason to believe they are reliant on gossip. Also they presumably go out night hunting just like the men? Men and women are kept separate in the Cloud Recesses, but I get the sense that that’s more like... school stuff than anything else. The women aren’t exactly locked up, they can be cultivators! The society is still sexist, but that doesn’t mean they’re kept from going out and doing things. And I need to make this clear: there is a fair chance that the rule against gossip saved LWJ’s life, because it kept word of him defending WWX from the sects from spreading to people who would not be willing to let bygones be bygones. Gossip sucks! It hurts people! A lot of this story (and more to the point the suffering of the characters within the story) happens because of gossip! The Lans banning gossip is pretty clearly supposed to be a good thing, I’d say.

And yeah, maybe after WWX killed a bunch of their sect the Lans wouldn’t accept him with open arms as if nothing ever happened! And that’s fair! I can’t imagine where WWX could go where that wouldn’t be the case, unless he and LWJ chose to abandon the cultivation world forever. But you know what else the Lans won’t do? Try to execute him. Or from what we see in the extras even dwell on the past that much. No, the Lans aren’t going to immediately forgive WWX and bring him into the fold without a moment’s hesitation, but you know what? They accept his marriage to LWJ! They let him supervise the juniors on night hunts! They consider him part of their sect! Honestly, that is all WWX can really ask and far more than he’d get from any other sect. There are consequences for what WWX did, even though he wasn’t the villain or necessarily trying to hurt anyone, and frankly people not being entirely comfortable with his presence is very much reasonable.

The “do not speak to WWX” rule may not be a joke, but it’s also pretty clearly not a serious rule. No one takes it seriously. The juniors (the only people WWX really talks to anyway aside from LXC and LWJ) only pay it the minimum lip service of talking to him off the path. WWX himself sure as hell doesn’t care! He clearly finds it pretty damn funny. And I don’t think a guy who has never liked him once again proving he does not like him (in a way that is clearly temporary given how later LQR invites WWX to the Lan family banquet with... reasonable amounts of grace, thereby implicitly accepting him as LWJ’s husband and therefore his own family by marriage) counts as a rejection or a breach of WWX’s trust? Like, LQR has literally always hated WWX. He isn’t preventing WWX and LWJ from spending time together or shutting WWX out of the Cloud Recesses or even making a concentrated effort to keep people from talking to him; he’s venting his frustrations, but if he really intended to block WWX from taking part in life in the Cloud Recesses he would’ve done a hell of a lot more than just make a rule who no one WWX likes follows anyway. It’s a temper tantrum, that’s all, and clearly that’s what WWX takes it as. I mean, if nothing else you can’t ban people from talking to the sect heir’s spouse indefinitely. That’s just not sustainable.

As for the rules... banning people from running in the Cloud Recesses and demanding proper posture during lessons doesn’t suggest to me that they wouldn’t allow stimming? ‘No running’ at least is a common rule... most places. It’s distracting, and can be dangerous. And the rule about sitting properly doesn’t mean “Don’t move at all ever”; it means... well, “sit properly”. Don’t slouch or sprawl across the floor. I see no reason why that wouldn’t preclude means of stimming that wouldn’t be disruptive (and given this is in a classroom environment “not disruptive” is kind of important). I mean, those rules certainly don’t suggest that they’re any worse than other sects, and given this is the sect that has magic music for calming people’s minds if any sect would give allowances for neurodivergence it would be this one. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a song to put people to sleep, or medication that can help; this is a world with magic, after all, and if there’s a song that can put spirits to rest there are probably songs for human medicine and care. And of course there’s an element of conflicting needs; maybe the rules would screw you over, but frankly firmly enforced rules keeping people from running around or sprawling out of their seats would’ve been a godsend for me in school, given how much trouble I had focusing with people making noise around me. At the end of the day, is it guaranteed that the Lans would make allowances for people with needs that conflict with the Lan rules? No. But I’d argue it’s more likely that they would than any other sect. This is ahistorical fantasy ancient China, too; you can only expect so much in the mental health department. Still, a sect that literally invented magic music for calming the mind actually seems like the best choice for people with anxiety and such. There’s a reason why there are multiple fics that essentially set the Lans up as mental health experts in the setting!

Basically, a lot of your arguments seem to be issues that WWX would have in any sect. Unless he wanted to give up on the support of a sect altogether, they’re all things that he would have to work through or come to terms with. And of course... the most important point is that WWX is happy in the Lan sect. The extras make that clear. He has a home, duties that he enjoys performing, the love of his family and the support of his sect. He’s happy. I just... I do not understand why people keep feeling the need to try to make it angsty when the novel makes it clear that he genuinely enjoys his life in Gusu, and more than that that if he ever decided he didn’t enjoy it he could leave at any time. You have to remember that: if WWX wanted to leave... he would. He and LWJ would just go, and only come back occasionally so that LWJ could visit his home. Hell, LWJ would insist on leaving for WWX’s sake. So like... the Lan sect wouldn’t suit everyone, but WWX is quite content there and doesn’t want to leave. He’s happy and free to come and go as he wishes; there really isn’t anything to be concerned about there.

[mooshs-crack-headcanons]

Hi, Moosh! (New OP writing blog! Yay!) Can I request HCs for Law, Killer, Kid and Robin confessing to their crush after a dangerous situation? Maybe a battle or something? And their reaction when their crush reciprocate their feelings? Thank you!! Good luck with your blog! ♡

(With these all except Law's (which I'm ify on) I'm proud of but I still hope you like it!💙)

Law

Now Law could admit most times he was in fact a stubborn asshole.

Not that he'd ever admit it out loud though.

Most of his 'loner' 'no I have no emotions, get away from me' attitude came from a dark place of deep riddled trauma and trust issues.

He promised himself from a very young age that he wouldn't let anyone else in, that everyone around him was destined to fail and die at some point. No matter  what he was determined to stick to his guns, use people as he needed and accomplish his own set of goals.

Yeah? All of that? All of that was thrown out the window once you came into the picture.

You were brought to him with anyone's pleas and begging to let you join the crew, and with about twenty against one, it seemed like he had really no choice.

He couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was about you, was it how you treated the others? How you seemed to smile no matter how dark the outcome looked? How your eyes seemed to light up every time you looked at him the feeling in his chest would-whatever it was, he knew what he felt would only end up into trouble in the end.

With every passing day it seemed he learned more and more about you; your relationship-more like lacking relationship-with your parents, your desire to see the sea, your hobbies, and your dreams. Law's not a forgetful man, everything of importance you tell him he makes a mental note of in the back of his mind.

Everything about you kept tugging on his heart, he couldn't get you out of his brain and until that day he tried his best to keep it suppressed inside until he couldn't anymore.

It was supposed to be a very short trip to that island, pick up the supplies and necessary information about the area then leave.

Oh how things went wrong so quickly.

The crew was split up into two groups: one led by Law for tract an information broker, and the other led by you to fetch supplies and return to the ship by sundown. Everything started out alright, Law got the information he needed in a reasonable time, just not the exact info he sat out for, instead he quickly found out that the town was actually ran by a pirate crew that pulled the strings of the town's mayor, and they were not happy the Heart pirates were on their territory.

His group ran into the market in search for your group, once they found you, you were already heavily battered while in combat, and Penguin was holding a very injured Bepo.

It didn't take a lot of Room and Shambles to quickly cut the confrontation short.

Once back on the Polar Tang you and Bepo were brought to the Medical ward. Bepo was treated to a few stitches and banged up limbs while you were diagnosed with a condition to blunt trauma to the head and a few removed bullets. Once Bepo fell asleep, Law brought up a chair to set next to your bed as you stared up at the ceiling.

"How are you feeling?"

"Woozy."

"That's normal, you just need to rest it off."

He took a slow sip of his coffee before setting it on your nightstand.

"Penguin told me what happened. You were the first one to mindlessly charge at them. Do you realise how foolish that was?!"

"They already had their weapons drawn, the intentions were already established. There wasn't any reasonable way to deal with them, if there was I would have done it."

"That's no excuse to run in blind, (Name)!"

You closed your eyes as you remained silent. Law taps his foot a couple of times before letting his face fall into his hands.

"Look...you were protecting the crew. I get it, but…" You looked back at the surgeon.

"But what?"

"Risking your life isn't worth it!" A look of disbelief emerged on your face and you sprang to sit up.

"So what?! They can all die instead?! Law that's sick!"

"That's not what I meant-"

"Then what do you mean?!"

"(Name), please-"

"No! What do you mean?! Are you saying my life is more-"

"I don't want to lose you like the rest."

A true look of confusion fell on your face. What does that mean?

He looked up at you, tears barely visible in his eyes.

"I lose everyone I care about. I don't want it happening to you too."

Oh.

Oh shit.

"Don't get me wrong, I want nothing happening to the rest of the crew too, but-" Law shook his head as he rose out of the chair onto his feet. "Forget it, I'm making it worse and you're not in the condition-"

You caught his hand.

He looked back at you, completely conflicted. You gave him the smallest yet loving of smiles.

His heart wrenched.

Stop it. Stop what you're doing right now. His legs felt weak as your grip on his hand softened. He gently sat by your bedside, you moved closer to rest your head on his shoulder, his breath felt uneasy as it rattled his chest, until your fingers started to trace his.

Touch by touch he felt himself start to calm down. He hesitantly looked back at you, his eyes widened at how soft and loving your eyes were.

Corazon, please forgive him what he's about to do.

One hand lifted up your face as your expression turned into confused shock. What was he doing? Oh. Well now he was kissing you.

Yay…

Once he pulled back he nudged his head between your shoulder so you couldn't look at his face. But you hear the struggled out sobs. You wrapped your arms around his sides, silently encouraging him to let it all out.

He couldn't help how he felt about you, but he didn't want what happened to everyone else that was in his life happen to you.

No he wasn't going to let it happen to you.

Killer

Despite his name, we all know Killer's a sweetheart.

He's not only a sweetheart, but he's level headed, very knowledgeable, isn't afraid to take care of his captain's bullshit, and he's absolutely head over heels for you.

Kid swore that his first mate talked about you more than anything else. Sure it did make the captain upset that you had his attention more than he did, but he was happy his friend had found someone to make him happy.

It didn't stop the gagging motions, the jokes and teasing, and the occasional: "Just fuck already!" outburst.

To Kid, it was very obvious that you liked him too, and very the very impatient man child he is, decided enough is enough and gathered the test of the crew to come up with a plan.

And not the: 'get them in a room alone to talk about their feelings' bullshit either! No! If his friend was going to get the love of his life he was going to do it fun and memorable.

And fun and memorable to Kid means dangerous.

Kid and crew purposely pissed off the group of marines in town.

They split up and purposely left you and Killer on your own defenses together.

Once the bullet grazed the side of your head, Killer picked you up (in those big beefy arms of his) and quickly dashed you off into the next alley, the following marines missing the two of you and continuing on down the street of town.

Once he sat you down on a box, he touched the area around your wounds, you instantly hissing in pain granting you a quick quiet sorry from him.

He looked around for something to use as a temporary bandage to stop the bleeding until the two of you could get back to the Victoria Punk.

A lightbulb went off in his head as he reached for his shirt.

Nope not like a: 'let me rip off a piece of my shirt to apply to your injury' a fucking: 'let me take off my whole deadass shirt and let me wrap around your head.'

You sat cheeks scarlet as he struggled to get the shirt off over his head without taking off his mask. Once he succeeded, he shook his blonde locks back in place behind him before he went to work tying it around you.

Once he finished he took a small step back, admiring his work.

Oh god the shirt smelled like him (that's going in the memory bank)

Killer took a step to look out of the alley before cursing to himself, going back over to you.

"Marines are still in the street, I don't see much of an opening." He whispered.

"Then what do we do?" You whispered back. He scratched his head.

"I don't see the rooftops being a safe getaway, I suggested we either wait here for Kid or for an opening."

You nodded, honestly you didn't want to get back to ship because then Killer's shirt bandage would have to be removed, and you wanted as much time committing it to memory as possible.

Killer slumped next to you on the box, your eyes darting to avoid him.

Time crept by, Killer asking how you felt from time to time, you told him you were fine but you did feel woozy, he seemed to be able to tell and would start to check for more openings more often.

You eventually looked over to him (trying to ignore the shirtlessness) and gave him a small smile, he looked back at you for a few long moments before looking to his lap, letting out a sigh.

"You know I trust you right? Like a lot?" You nodded.

You gave the blonde a nod.

He let another sigh leave his lips as he slowly and hesitantly went up to take off his mask. He looked back to you for the first time truly face to face.

Your heart caught in your chest as your mouth fell agape.

The desperate look in his eyes seemed to tell you he couldn't tell what your reaction meant and went to quickly put the mask back on, but you caught his hands before he could. He looked back to you as you lowered his hands to let the mask fall into his lap. You smiled.

"You look very handsome, Killer."

He felt all possible words caught in his throat. Your eyes softened as your hands left his and slowly lifted to touch barely his face, the look you gave him asking for consent.

He felt his face be held by your hands. Your fingers rubbed and took in every bit of him, he let his eyes close as his face either warmed up to your touch or in embarrassment, or both he couldn't tell. Once he reopened his eyes, you were much closer than before.

Moving on his own, it was only after the two of you parted that he realised that your lips had met. With that realization, his eyes shined in bewilderment. You giggled as you pressed your forehead against his.

With your arms wrapped around each other, taking each other in did you not hear the yelps and screams of the marines behind you (somehow. Because the power of love or smth)  neither did you hear the bootsteps.

"Hey guys! It looks like we were about to miss a whole show!"

The two of you quickly tore apart as Killer quickly scrambled to put his mask back on before turning around to see his captain laughing next to Heat and Wire who made their way next to him.

Killer sprang up, heat cheeks hidden behind the mask, as he helped you onto your feet. The sight of the vice captain's shirt on your head seemed to increase the captain's laughter.

Kid laughter died down as he watched as his friend pulled you by the hand in the direction of the ship. He knew his plan would work, why wouldn't they? He is Captain Eutass Kid after all. Knowing this would make Killer happy, sparked a sense of pride in him.

Doesn't mean he would never joke about the time he would've possibly caught the two of them possibly fucking in an alley though.

Kid

There is many things Captain Eutass Kid is, but being stupid is not one of them.

Sure, reckless. But not stupid.

And he sure has a fucking temper.

Him and the rest of his crew sat quietly (ha, really? Okay Kid.) minding their own business in the back of the bar.

You sat next to him, drinking away having a nice laugh with Heat when this fucking idiot showed up.

He put an hand on the back of your chair and introduced himself as Captain Dickface (Dicksen) a captain whose made himself a big name (Kid never hear of him) and would just 'love' (fucking gross) to buy you a drink and for you to come over to drink along him and the rest of his men.

You turned down the offer (because you're fucking smart, that's why you're a part of his crew)

But here's the kicker.

As Captain Dickass went back to his table, Kid heard the names he called you under his breath.

So, Kid politely introduced his metal fist, to Captain Dickpiss' face.

And that's how he 'accidentally' destroyed the whole bar in a brawl.

The moment you brought him to the infirmary you cussed, yelled, screamed in every possible way how idiotic what the captain did was.

He sat on the bench, holding the ice pack to his face as he let you raise your voice at him (because you got special privileges)

You rolled your eyes at the amuse look on his face.

"What Dicksen said didn't bother me. What you did was totally unnecessary."

Kid scoffed. "Yeah right, like I was going to let anyone mock a member of my crew and get away with it!"

"You broke his nose."

"Dickface deserved it!"

You sat down next to him on the bench, gesturing him to let you see his hand. He hesitantly let you take ahold of it to start taking care of his bashed knuckles. With each dap of alcohol swab, he hissed.

With clenched teeth he studied your gentle facial expression.

What he did, yes he did because your a member of his crew (and no one fucks with a member of HIS crew) but also because he-what's that word Killer told him was the word for how he felt? Likes! He likes you.

Doesn't mean he has any clue what to do.

Once you got started with wrapping up the captain's hand, did Kid really think about things. He likes you? What was he supposed to do? Killer said something about sharing feeling but fuck feelings.

You stood up off the bench and went to go to your desk, telling him he could leave now.

You two were alone.

Kid figured, you know what fuck it? People press eat each other's faces to show 'liking' each other right? Why not now?

The ice pack that was originally on his face was left carelessly on the bench as he got up on and made his way toward you, you looked back about to repeat your early notion he could leave but found yourself surprised when he roughly turned you around to catch your lips sloppily to his, teeth clanking  together.

A big shitty eating grin doubled your confusion as he pulled back.

"Kid what the fuck what that?" His grin dropped.

"What do you mean? That's the gross way people show they like each other."

Instantly, the statement got you rolling which the redhead found himself angrily taken back.

"Why the hell are you laughing?! This is the way I'm showing you I like you, you fucking moron!"

You smiled as your hands found themselves on his face with a: "Oh, Kid." The captain raised an eyebrow in confusion before your lips softly met his.

Oh. Okay. His heart feels light, that's new.

When you pulled back, his bewildered eyes brought you amusement, his cheeks flushed pink.

"Ya mind doing that again?

Robin

Robin is a talented woman with a lot of things.

Keeping things hidden about herself is one of them.

From the very moment she joined the Strawhats, she promised herself she wouldn't get attached. But as time went on, with Jaya and Skypiea...things got harder.

She absolutely refused to let innocents get caught up in her running from her past. She even refused to say anyone's name, just by their title just to lay double on that.

But in a moment she couldn't exactly pinpoint, she longed to be a part of this little makeshift family. And out of all of them, you made things so much harder for her.

You were so calm, level headed, smart, kind, passionate-just everything you did caught her attention.

Which made things even more difficult than it already was on Water 7. With every plea you cried asking her why she wanted out, she could feel her cold lonely heart break more and more. 

And when she cried out her plea to live for Luffy, the look on your face made her sob even more. She wanted to continue to journey on sea, and she wanted to continue to live to see your dreams come to fruition as well. 

It was after her talk with Aokiji that she set off to find you. She found you out on the very edge of the party, you sat against a wall with your bottle in your hand as you avoided her gaze. 

You barely spoke a single word to her since the crew escaped Enies Lobby. She stood in front of you, her eyes half lidded and her hands at her sides. 

"Aren't you missing the party? The rest of the crew's celebrating mostly for you anyway." You said, voice hoarse. 

Robin shook her head as she went over to stand next to you, her back hitting the brick. 

"It's fine. I am glad to be back though." 

You chugged down more of your bottle, the alcohol burning your throat. Tears pricked your eyes. 

"For the longest time on that train, I thought I was going to lose you, Robin. I still…"

"I'm not going anywhere," she assured. "You all are stuck with me." 

You looked up at the smile she gave you. You looked to the bottle in your hands before gesturing it to her. 

And that's how the two off you ended sitting in each other's arms, taking turns sipping from the bottle of sake, laughing at all the past events the crew found themselves in. 

Robin found her fingers playing with your hair as you leaned into her chest, her slow breaths reminding you that she is alive and with you now. 

Alive. 

You closed your eyes as you nuzzled against her, tears threatened to form in your eyes. 

"I'm so glad you're alive, Robin." 

Robin felt taken back. 

That's right...people actually wants her alive. 

Her finger in your hair stopped as you looked up at her first assurance. With one slow movement, Robin pressed her lips to yours. 

With your heart thumping in your ears and your head suddenly thrown up into the clouds your hands tangled themselves in her raven hair. 

Once Robin pulled away, she sobbed her arms tightly around you as she pulled you close. 

"I'm so glad to be alive." 

And she promised she would always be. For you and the crew. 

She was a Strawhat.