#noah’s power is time manipulation

[alphaclxwn]

Since you shared what Alejandro's and Heather's wishes are, what's Noah's wish?

his wish is basically homuras, if she were the main character of madoka magica

thats why its only based on madoka magica, i wanna take creative liberties and all that :DD

[biteofcherry]

Just reread Room with a View and I loved it the second time just as much as the first. Just wanted to tell you ❤️. I've always wondered where/how Bucky and Steve find their assistant? And does she know that she's signing up for from the beginning? If you're feeling inspired, I'd love a drabble. If not, any fragmented thoughts?

Fringe Benefit

pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader x Steve Rogers

summary: Steve and Bucky wanted to start looking for an assistant right after their visit to Ari, but unexpected business complications limited their time to organize a search. Luckily, the opportunity presented itself to them on a silver platter… You presented yourself, begging to squeeze in a ten minutes meeting in their busy schedule

warnings: dark Steve Rogers dark Bucky Barnes; dub-con; manipulation; forced orgasm; blowjob; deepthroating; power imbalance; explicit sexual situations; praise kink; breeding kink;

You came to their building - a forefront to businesses that you know are more illegal and dangerous than exclusive properties they deal with - five times, before a stuffy desk clerk written down your name in the calendar.

A small window for a very short meeting, possibly a dismissal, two weeks in the waiting.

You were patient, but in this case time was sensitive. Because money was sensitive.

A part of you wanted to drop it, not clean your younger brother's messes once again. Sense of responsibility made you cave in. As well awareness that if Noah can't pay his debts the sharks would turn your way to settle it, anyway.

You preferred to get ahead of things. Maybe your readiness to cooperate and a solid plan you've made would help you save life.

Barnes and Rogers were businessmen. Lethal mob bosses, but that was a sort of business too. And you knew how to deal with difficult clients as well demanding bosses.

So you poised yourself in calm, controlled demeanor as you sat down on a leather chair in front of a huge desk, holding your head high as two pairs of blue eyes settled on you.

Those eyes were more lively than you expected. Instead of sleazy, older men you thought you'd see, stinking of cigars, with greasy stains on their chins; you faced two men in their prime.

Handsome, to express it chastely. Fucking hot, if you'd describe them to your friends.

In their late thirties, maybe early forties; one with neatly trimmed beard, the other with some scruff. Perfectly tailored suits on lean, muscled bodies. They both had blue eyes; one an icy shade that cut through you, the other the depths of ocean that swallowed you whole.

They were watchful. Assessing your every gesture and tick.

Predators in vigil.

It's been a long while since anyone studied you so intensely. It made you feel uneasy, but also sent a hot wave through your bloodstream.

For a second you dropped your gaze to the folder you held on your lap, your hands gently clasped over it. Somehow you managed not to shiver.

You lifted your head up, meeting their gazes evenly. You weren't dumb enough to throw them an open challenge, but you hoped to look confident.

You wanted to introduce yourself, but Mr Rogers was faster, greeting you in a way that suggested they already knew a lot about you. More than just your first and last name. Probably did a background check on you. For the meeting purposes, you assumed.

After taking an encouraging breath, you began presenting your idea for a solution regarding your brother's debt.

All summed up and divided into regular payments, with extra interest included of course. And a big deposit right away, all your savings ready to give to them.

"You're very thorough." Mr Barnes commented, taking the folder from you when you pushed it forward, but not opening it.

"Indeed, she is." Mr Rogers nodded, rubbing his lip in thought. "A dedicated, hardworking girl, aren't you, doll?"

You frowned at the sweet, condescending nickname. You considered reminding him you had a name, but letting it go was a small price for leaving this meeting victorious.

"It's a good proposition," Rogers continued, "but has a few disadvantages. The main one is that there's a small chance your brother finds a job with decent salary to match yours, so you can pay us in the time you promise."

"Shitty brother at that," joined Barnes, "to burden his sister with this kind of debt. You sure want to take it up on yourself?"

He didn't sound as if he was only mocking Noah. No, there was an undertone of displeasure and annoyance, like he truly couldn't imagine causing a sister any grief or trouble.

"Me not taking it won't change the fact it falls on me anyway if Noah fails to deliver."

You weren't naive to think their wrath would skip Noah's family, if he failed. Or that you could go to the police with it. You were quite sure they had many high-ups on their payroll.

Rogers and Barnes exchanged looks. Something passed between them, though you weren't sure what they debated on silently.

"Since you have the spine and honor to come to us on your own and propose something actually smart," Rogers opened a drawer and pulled out a printed document, "we want to give you a counter-offer."

"Which is?" You narrowed your eyes as he slid papers across the desk towards you.

"As it happens, we have an open spot for a personal assistant. For us." Barnes smiled. It was as charming, as lethal.

"Long hours, including after hours if we wish. But we'd pay you double what you earn now. Also provide paid vacation and sick days, medical care. Bonuses of various kinds." Rogers' smooth voice tempted to trust their offer.

"That- that makes no sense." You shook your head, trying (and failing) to take your eyes away from his.

"You'd be paying me and I would be paying it back to you as compensation for my brother's debt. Your own money returning to you. Where's the gain?"

"Oh, doll," Barnes licked his lips as he leaned forward, "we will reap many benefits from your service."

"Benefits?" You swallowed hard, trying not to react impulsively to the implication behind his words.

Your mind instantly flashed with sinful images; indecent demands and harassment that should outrage you.

But then you reminded yourself that these men probably had stunning girlfriends, or even had a different beauty in their beds every weekend. They could afford the most exclusive escorts, if they wanted to. They wouldn't hire an assistant just to fuck her dumb.

Instead, you thought of all the other ways businessmen and businesswomen benefited from having a personal assistant. You vaguely remembered that from the time you worked as one right after college - not only assisting in the business area, but picking up laundry, buying coffee, buying gifts for girlfriends because they forgot to.

"Yes." Rogers smiled for the first time. "We'll make certain what you do for us is worth every penny of your brother's debt."

They allowed you twenty four hours to think on their offer.

Considering what you would gain, not only in your own payment, but with their proposed salary your brother's debt could be payed much much sooner, lifting the heavy burden from your shoulders.

Money wise, it was a gift like a star from the sky.

You feared participating in the other side of their business, but you told yourself they wouldn't take a meager assistant to a crime scene.

Though maybe you'll have to wash the blood off their shirts. That you could do, you supposed.

So you agreed.

In the first few days your work passed just as you predicted - long hours of trotting between their office and various places they sent you on errands.

But you were a quick learner and memorized their coffee and snack choices after three days; as well the fact Mr Barnes liked to sit in the armchair after a tougher negotiation and listen to music, and Mr Rogers went to the old boxing gym that was rarely frequented by anyone.

You ordered lunch for them if they were in the office. Twice they came back from whatever business they've been dealing with in the field, with pastries for you. Which was thoughtful and sweet, you thought.

Yes, the work was tiring and sometimes hectic (keeping up with their long strides proved to be a little difficult for you), but not as awful or blood-filled as you feared at first.

It was after about two weeks when you entered their office, pen and pad in hand, ready to take more requests for the rest of the day.

"Anything particular for lunch that you wish?" You asked, walking right into the center of the room.

You smiled - not only a false, practiced grimace, but their handsome faces and the crinkles in the corners of their eyes when they smiled in return always made you content.

Focused on Mr Barnes leaning against the desk watching you like a hawk, you didn't notice Mr Rogers closing the door behind you and locking it.

"As a matter of fact, I've been craving something for many days now." Barnes said, curling a finger at you and motioning for you to step closer.

You felt a rush of heat wash over you. His words, spoken in that low, seductive voice, and his beckoning weren't that subtle.

"Um," you bit your lip, feeling your cheeks flush. But you made little steps forward. "I- I can order anything you wish, Mr Barnes."

"No," he chuckled and suddenly grabbed you by the hips, pulling you close. "We will be ordering. Anything we wish."

"That's inappropriate, sir." You laughed nervously and tried to step away, though your resistance wasn't as fierce as it should.

"If you consider that inappropriate," Rogers' voice resounded in your ear as he slid behind you, caging you between the two of them-

"I wonder what you'll think of all the things we're going to do to you."

"S-sir," you trembled as Barnes traced your lips with his finger, as Rogers' tongue flicked your earlobe. "You shouldn't- I shouldn't-"

You shouldn't want it.

A part of you didn't, the scared part that feared awful things being done to you. Those two men killed without blinking, they made people disappear and suffer. They could break you.

The rest of you roused with thrill and anticipation. Your skin pebbling with goosebumps where their hands started roaming.

"You can use our first names, doll. And may I remind you of paragraph seven, point five of our contract." Rogers whispered, rolling the fabric of your pencil skirt up.

"Assistant will also fulfill requests and see to the well being of employers in matters regarding health and body."

"But-" a gasp interrupted your own words when Steve sucked on your earlobe at the same time that Bucky slid a finger past your lips.

"And our bodies really need your assistance right now." Bucky chuckled, slowly pulling his finger from your mouth.

He replaced it with his own lips. Soft, but demanding. A kiss that went deeper and rougher than you ever experienced before.

Then Steve's mouth was on your neck, licking and biting. And they both chuckled when you made a helpless sound as they began pulling your panties down your legs.

Everything was a haze of sensations and chaos of adrenaline buzzing through you. The world slipped from your grasp, as did your control over yourself. Your body was pliant in their hold. You wouldn't stand a chance even if you tried to fight them off, they were much stronger. Bigger. Dangerous.

And for some insane reason it made you wetter.

They pushed you onto your knees. Cold floor harsh under your knees, pressed suit pants and shiny shoes appearing in your vision.

Steve forced your legs to part wider and slipped his hand up your thigh, right over to your slick folds. He had his other hand weaved into your hair, holding a fistful in a strong grip.

Bucky's fingers were in your hair, too. Only slightly gentler in their hold.

They both moved your head back and forth over Bucky's cock.

"For someone who says they shouldn't do it, you enjoy it a lot, doll." Steve laughed cruelly, pushing two fingers into you.

Your whine resonated on Bucky's dick, a pleasant groan falling from his lips at the sensation.

Your hands clawed at Bucky's thighs, nails scratching his skin, but he didn't seem to mind it.

"And you look like you're loving every second of it, too." He patted your cheek.

Your started tearing up - from gagging every time Bucky pushed deeper and deeper into your mouth, and from the growing tension Steve's ministrations provoked.

His fingers inside you curled and his thumb rubbed merciless circles over your clit, pushing you steadily toward the precipice.

"That's it," Steve rasped in your ear. "You're going to cum with a cock down your throat."

Your moan sounded gargled as you choked on Bucky's dick when the head of it bumped the back of your throat. Tears streamed down your cheeks, smudging your make up.

"You'll learn to love it, dollface." Bucky cooed at you, pushing right back in after giving you a second to catch your breath.

"Learn to associate having our cocks in your mouth with ultimate pleasure." Steve mouthed on your shoulder, his fingers never ceasing in their torment.

And he was driving you towards climax expertly.

Your sounds pitched higher, your body shaking as you felt tension coiling in your belly. Steve kept urging you on, murmuring dark, filthy promises of breaking you.

Bucky slowed his movements, but each time he drove his hips into your face, forcing his cock down your throat.

He withdrew partly, keeping his dick on your tongue as he held your head in place, when Steve growled - "She's gonna cum now."

You don't know if it was his command, or maybe you really were right on the edge, but you shattered right after he spoke those words. A loud, pitiful keen, partially muffled by the dick in your mouth; tears falling freely.

Your body seized, but Steve quickly let go of your hair and wrapped a strong arm around you, holding you to him. His fingers were still buried in your soaked cunt, thumb giving your pulsing clit some reprieve.

Your head throbbed with white noise, your lungs burned. Everything slowly settled down, your consciousness falling back into your body.

Before you had a chance to calm down fully, Steve's thumb on your clit started moving again. In wicked eights this time.

"N-no-" your weak objection was cut short by a cock pushing back into your throat.

Bucky gripped the sides of your head harsher, pushing his hips forward. He forced you to swallow him to the root, his balls slapping your chin.

He didn't withdraw fully now, only rocked against your face, keeping himself at the back of your mouth. Each push forced strings of saliva to dribble out of your lips and down your chin, smearing on his sack.

Steve set a different rhythm on your clit now, somehow managing to arouse it all anew.

One of your hands tried to blindly grab his wrist when he thrust a third finger inside you.

"Take it, doll." He ordered, moving his digits ruthlessly despite your attempts to stop him.

"It's only three fingers. My cock will stretch you wider when I take your tight cunt."

You didn't know if Bucky finished first and that's what set you off again, soundlessly screaming as he spilled down your throat; or if Steve pushed you over the edge and your helpless, choking sounds made Bucky burst.

He groaned loudly, rutting his hips against your face as he came. Then withdrew slightly, keeping his still spurting cock on your tongue.

His icy gaze turned warmer as he watched you from above, admiring your ruined state and the pool of white cum sliding down the back of your tongue.

Steve pulled his fingers out of your sopping pussy at the same time that Bucky finally eased out of your mouth completely. The squelching sound of your cunt flushed you with embarrassment.

"Kiss the tip," Bucky's voice was soft, but you knew it was an order nonetheless.

You hesitated only a second, mostly due to tiredness. Steve slapped your puffed pussy in reprimand, causing you to squeak and lean forward instantly, placing a kiss on the head of Bucky's softening cock.

"Good girl." Their praise made your head swim. Or maybe it was the post-orgasmic exhaustion.

"You're perfect." Steve kissed your temple.

He was surprisingly gentle as he helped you up. Your legs slightly wobbled as you straightened and Steve quickly slipped an arm under your knees, picking you up bridal style.

You snuggled to him as he moved around the room. You heard some shuffling, items being moved away.

Then you were being lowered down, cool, solid surface beneath your back. A sound of chair being moved and a telling jangle of buckle belt being undone.

Steve's face appeared above you as you blinked your eyes open. He tapped your cheek a few times, rousing you back to consciousness.

Someone's hands moved up your legs - Bucky, you realized. He spread your thighs open, his hot breath puffing over your swollen, wet folds.

Steve gripped under your chin and forced you to tilt your head back.

"Ask me to fuck your mouth." His fingers wrapped around your throat.

He didn't clench them; his hold merely a reminder of who was in charge, and how easily he could hurt you.

"P-please, Steve, fuck my mouth." Your voice cracked.

You weren't sure there was enough air in your lugs left to survive another cock down your throat.

"More." Steve demanded. "I know you can beg prettily, doll."

Bucky nipped on the sensitive skin of your folds, making you yelp.

Seemed one would always punish you, if you didn't obey the other one.

"Please!" You babbled. "Please, Steve, feed me your cock. Fuck my mouth and fill my belly with your cum."

"Oh, we will." There was a dark undertone to Steve's chuckle as he guided the tip of his dick toward your parted lips. "We'll fill your belly plenty, little doll."

You thought he meant coming down your throat.

He did. But he also meant more.

Soon you'd find out.

[destinygoldenstar]

How Every Total Drama Island (2007) Character Could’ve Prevented Their Eliminations

Ezekiel - Don’t be sexist

Eva - Don’t Lose Your Cool

Noah - Get off your ass

Justin - Talk to your teammates and persuade them. Owen was the best shot you had at saving yourself since he’s a bi bean.

Katie - Don’t Eat Blueberries

Tyler - Don’t… be a coward I guess?? (Idk)

Izzy - Yeah theres no saving you from the cops

Cody - Don’t get mauled

Beth - Don’t pick up things you don’t know. You never know if you’re gonna wake up with either superpowers or death

Sadie - Don’t be a bad aim and shoot Courtney

Courtney - Don’t support bullying. Stop it.

Harold - Don’t be into women

Eva (Again) - Don't be a MENACE

Trent - DON’T TRUST THE OBVIOUS MEAN GIRL MANIPULATOR WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU-

(Jakes was more believable. Don’t @ me)

Bridgette - Don’t choose sides. Girls must stay together in the power of love and friendship.

Lindsay - Ditch Heather’s plans and win the race yourself. That or sabotage her bike since you made it for her.

DJ - Don’t be a coward.

Izzy (Again) - Don’t be a bad aim and shoot someone in the ass. That’s not where that goes.

Geoff - Okay I didn’t get this one for a long time till someone on Fandom pointed it out. Don’t betray Duncan. Just do what the thug wants. Then he won’t find you disposable.

Leshawna - …yeah no this was completely RIGGED. This is THE most rigged and THE WORST eliminations of the franchise and I don’t care what anyone says. Girl did absolutely nothing wrong.

Duncan - Appreciate your chefs. Especially if they’re military.

Heather - Don’t be an absolute enemy. Everyone’s gonna wanna be your enemy. They’ll ALL target you.

[its-nwarden]

Ardan’s Descendants: Book 1 Demo Update

Ardan’s Descendants

Ardan’s Descendants is a WIP interactive fiction game set in the land of Ardan where the world and nearly every living thing are filled with an energy called aether. You start off as a child contained in a lab within the snow biome (one of the regions in Ardan). After escaping that prison you end up in Gairo, Lycras located in the desert biome where you’re enrolled in an academy and trained to become a member of an elite task force that’s been assigned the mission of ending the string of kidnappings taking place across all five regions of Ardan.

Having previously been a victim of the kidnappings in your younger years, this mission may help unlock the blurry memories of your past. Who were you before being kidnapped? What happened to the others who were held captive alongside you?

Features:

- Create your MC!

- Choose how you manipulate aether.

- Pick your weapon.

- Grow your MC’s Personality.

- Romance one of the 12 ROs- 6 male, 4 female, 2 nonbinary.

- Shape your story.

DEMO: (Prologue)

The ROs

Dax Ikarus(He/Him)- The Leader of your unit was born in the forest biome in the capital of Koteva. He has golden brown eyes, coily black hair cut low into a fade, and dark brown skin. Three silver earrings hang from his left ear.

There’s no denying he’s a great leader who looks after and cares for his squad. He’s quite popular amongst the trainees in the academy. He’s dead set on rising quickly through the ranks and takes his job seriously, but he’s pretty laid back when he’s around friends. Which is why it’s easy to sense he doesn’t seem to like you very much.

Noah Hendrix(He/Him)- The leader of a different unit. Comes from a wealthy and powerful family in the desert biome. The eldest of the Hendrix siblings and best friend of Dax. He has brown dreads with the sides shaved, hazel eyes, and light brown skin.

Known as the life of the party. Whereas Dax is popular, Noah is Infamous. A nonstop flirt and reckless. He may seem a little chaotic, but gets deadly serious when it comes to his siblings.

Naomi Hendrix(She/Her)- Was one of your classmates at the academy and joined your unit after graduating. The middle child of the Hendrix siblings. She has curly brown hair that’s cut into a bob, dark brown eyes, and light brown skin.

The embodiment of nope. Not really interested in the whole task force thing because she rather not be in any line of fire. When she’s not being dragged on missions you can find her at the nearest mall.

Noel Hendrix(They/Them)- Joins your unit along with Naomi. They’re the youngest of the siblings and are the most likely to take over the family business. They have curly brown shoulder-length hair, dark brown eyes, and light brown skin.

Smart, strategic, and quick on their feet. They’re not much of a fighter but if you go to them with a problem, nine times out of ten they’ll find the solution to it.

Gem Caten(He/Him)- Potentially the first friend you make at the compound. He grew up there and started going to the academy at the same time as you. He changes his hairstyle a lot, but his natural hair is straight and jet-black. He’ll usually put it in a half-updo. He has smokey black eyes and pale skin.

He’s a carefree, go-with-the-flow type of guy. His mom is the head of medicine at the compound so he kind of just naturally joined the task force.

Cameron Nadir(He/Him)- Basically lives at the compound. He’s a junior medic in training when you first meet him. He has dark blue eyes, shoulder-length blonde hair that’s shaved on the right side, and lightly tanned ivory skin. He has tattoos all along his left arm.

People’s first impression of him may be that he’s a bit of a troublemaker, which he is, but he’s also very caring.

Fay Webster(She/Her)- The team’s gear maker. Gets all the uniforms and weapons mission-ready. Born and raised in the desert biome in the city of Nelens. She has fiery red shoulder-length wavy hair, dark green eyes, and a rosy complexion.

She's creative, outgoing, and her mind runs a mile a minute coming up with new ideas. She admires the members of the task force and does her best to supply them with the latest technology.

Audrey Rokk(She/Her)- An ambassador of the water biome. Was born in the snow biome but moved to the water biome for work. She has naturally blonde and long silky hair, but she dyed it blue. Her eyes are light blue and has an olive skin tone.

Honest and hard-working. Unlike the majority of government officials you've met, she's down to earth and seems to care about more than just her own personal gains.

LIMITED DATA

Vin(He/Him)- You met him as a child at the lab. He had ivory skin and dark brown eyes, but his right eye had speckles of blue in it. His straight dark brown hair went a little bit past his shoulders and was pulled back into a bun.

You vividly remember how soft-spoken he was. He would cling to anyone in your little group that would allow him to.

Yara(She/Her)- She is the first kid you met in the lab. She had long dark brown braids, dark brown skin, and amber eyes.

You remember her being aloof and unwilling to get involved in any of the other's shenanigans.

Zeke(He/Him)- Was brought to the lab a year after you were. He had short slightly curly black hair, green eyes, and pale skin.

He was always grumpy, but one thing he seemed to enjoy was giving you a hard time.

Iris(They/Them)- An assassin you meet on a mission in the water biome. They have white hair, stormy grey eyes, and very pale skin.

[total-drama-brainrot]

Total Drama AU, where Sierra's alliance with Heather has more focus... She still has a crush on Cody... But her obsession with Total Drama in general is what is focused on...

She basically becomes Heather's new Lindsay, only with more of a backbone... Sierra makes it clear to Heather that she's NOT gonna be a pushover to Heather, like Lindsay and Beth were... If Heather wants this alliance to work, she has to treat Sierra like a partner, instead of a puppet...

It's one of the hardest things that Heather has ever done in her life... But then Sierra surprises Heather, when later Sierra actually DEFENDS Heather from Gwen and Courtney ganging up on Heather... Heather is secretly touched by Sierra's help...

Afterwards slowly over the course of the show, as Heather and Sierra get to truly know each other, Heather slowly begins to see Sierra as an actual friend and vice versa... Heather is still Heather, but she's gaining a soft spot for the Fangirl... Similar to Noah's soft spot for Owen...

Heather learns to care about someone else, unlike Alejandro... (You decide if Heather and Sierra are platonic, or become girlfriends!) 💜

Heatherra real. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Really. I've been an advocate for something like this since watching World Tour, and I know for a fact that this same sentiment/idea has been shared amongst the rewatchers in Astro's discord.

Sierra has so much potential as a force of nature in the competition; her obsession with Cody feels more like a weight against her heels that stops her from bodying the other contestants. She's smart, she's strong, she's multi-talented, she's game savvy and she's observant... when her rose-tinted glasses let her be.

There's multiple scenes within the show itself that showcase Sierra’s frankly frightening level of competence when she's not attaching herself to Cody. We even get something similar to this premise in canon a few times when Sierra acknowledges that Heather is trying to manipulate her and that she's actively playing along for her own benefit. (Most notably, the Rapa Nui episode.)

Because Sierra recognises that Heather is, for all her social stigma, a strong competitor - and therefore a strong ally. In the same vein, Heather can see all of Sierra's untapped potential behind the layers of obsessive infatuation weighing her down and canonically jumps at the chance to get Sierra under her thumb before Alejandro can do the same.

It'd be so easy to take their tentative mutual understanding from the early episodes (somewhere post New York, since this is where their dynamic comes into play) and push it into Heather offering a secret alliance between the two, just like she did with Lindsay and Beth in Island.

Sierra would initially take a moment to internally fangirl since she's being offered an alliance by Heather - her blog readers will be so jealous - before firmly setting some ground rules and conditions to her compliance; she refuses to be treated like a pawn, and Heather has to see her as an equal. That means Sierra gets a voice in all of her schemes and who they vote for. It won't be a repeat of the power dynamics in her last "alliance".

Heather's shocked at this, since Sierra has generally presented herself as somewhat naive and easily swayed thus far. Sure, she's got this encyclopaedic knowledge of the cast and all of their secrets, but she doesn't use it strategically or offensively. Heather wants to be mad, because this isn't at all how she anticipated her offer to go, but finds she's impressed by Sierra's gumption, so she accepts the conditions.

Of course, this is Heather we're talking about, so she absolutely tests the boundaries of Sierra's limits (if not to push her own power seekong agenda, then out of pure curiosity) and does in turn get Sierra mad at her on a fair few occasions, but the pair find that they make a terrifyingly competant team. Especially since Heather's influence works to keep Sierra's focus on the competition itself instead of gushing over the cast, or stalking Cody.

(Plus, having the two of them powerhouse their way through challenges with the help of Courtney and Gwen would be a much better explanation for Team Amazon's tendency to win challenges.)

Then, as the series progresses and the two spend more and more time together, they find that they enjoy each other's company.

At one point, Sierra offhandedly mentions something she's learned about Heather's soft spot for glittery gel pens or something along those lines and Heather riles herself up into prickly defensiveness, only to be taken aback when Sierra explains that she finds Heather's "nerdy" interests cool and unique and so innately Heather that they're endearing - and suddenly the girl before her is more than just an alliance partner, Sierra's the first person who's seen behind Heather's looks and cold exterior and accepted her.

[inolienkiki]

I'm being very vague about plot points and character names here in the faint hope that it may entice some of you to watch this show.

on my... 4th? 5th? rewatch of DARK I'm paying a lot more attention to the character arcs, to figuring out how everyone got to the point they did. For a while the extent of my Adam takes was "haha stupid idiot man point and laugh, you can't even kys correctly" but recently I saw a post that made me stop and think and actually try to empathize with this character. This was immeasurably depressing (which is probably why I hadn't been considering it before).

The material extent of my take hasn't changed- I still think Adam is a truly stoopid person and by far the dumbest out of the three main characters in this show- but the context I have for this has changed a lot. See, each one of these characters is a planner who develops strategies for years down the line and uses all the information at their disposal to make those plans- but the way they get that information, and therefore how much they're able to do with it, is VERY different.

Adam remembers information. Everything he knows he got from his younger self; he functions almost entirely on memory. When he does stuff, like sending his younger self to summer 2019, or sending his sister to the apocalypse, or even attempting to build the God Particle machine in 1888, he's doing it because he remembers how all this stuff happened, and thus needs to keep it that way. Adam never actually seeks out new information, because every time he has in the past, it's absolutely demolished his life. He was investigating at the very beginning of the show- going into the caves, talking to his family members to figure out how much they knew- but at some point, he stops. He's lost that. He no longer views the knot as something to discover or manipulate, he thinks of it as something to escape from, and often completely fails to take others' plans or ideas into account. For 33 years he was sitting on the information that alt-Martha said she knew him, and not once did it occur to him to figure out why she said that or what bearing it might have on his plan. Seriously! If he'd investigated that, he could have altered his plan so it actually worked! And I don't blame him.

Eva generates information. Everything she knows she got from her older selves. Because she has almost absolute control over her own domain, and because she's been working in harmony for almost her whole life, she essentially bootstraps the information back to herself. You could call this working on memory, too, but I think it's a clear enough distinction, since she's actually honest to her younger self once they start working together. We don't have much on Eva, unfortunately, but we do know that her son was responsible for the notebook, and somehow I doubt he went and measured the "megahertz values" of all the cave time travel when they could've just used Adam's notebook and copied them over. (I don't buy that he actually killed Eva, but that's a different story.) Eva's son also works with his younger selves just like she does. Noah and Egon seem to as well, working with her. It's smart, it's thorough, and it totally would have worked, if it hadn't completely backfired.

The White Devil researches information. Out of all the main characters, she seems to do the most research. First off, she's actually a scientist, so naturally it's in her background. Even before she finds out about time travel, she's looking into the incident at the power plant, questioning Bernd about it, and being weird with Tronte. The very first thing she does when she gets access to time travel is go 30 years forward and look herself up. When she can't find her future self again, she realizes she's going to have to do this on her own, and proceeds to do so for the rest of her life. When Eva presents her the opportunity to work with another version of herself, she decides she wants more information, shoots her in the fucking head, and thereby goes and gets it. I'm confident that out of all the characters in this entire show (apart from origin HGT) this character is the only one who has any idea how time travel works or what to do with it. I love her for it.

So, I guess... trust the numbers, not yourself?

[rlqfpdl]

Golden Mangos

Aphrodite!Fem!Reader x Travis Stoll

Summary: after a certain incident you can’t help but start liking mangos a bit more, and maybe a certain camper as well.

Contains: fluff, characters can be ooc, usual Stoll sibling antics, some swearing, kind of cringe lines ngl

A/N: I love this small prank the stolls pull on the Aphrodite cabin and it inspired me to write this fic. Hope you guys like it. Reqs are open <3. Also I hate mangos idk what demon possessed to write a character that loves them.

Word Count: 2.5k

If there is one thing your cabin mates knew about you, it is your strong affinity for mangos–or, as Drew likes to call it ‘an extreme obsession’. Another fact was that, for some odd reason, camp didn't have mangos. Well not least you bribed a Dementer kid to grow some or got a Hermes child to bring you one from the outside. Sometimes, you would even go back home during winter break just to be able to enjoy some sweet mangos, even if they weren’t in season. Your dad always spoiled you rotten with everything, from actual mangos to mango lip gloss. So, it came to your sibling's surprise that there you were eating half a mango for breakfast. Lost in your world without a care for the burning eyes watching you. 

“How exactly did you get that?” asked Piper, munching on  her bowl of strawberries, “One of the boys from cabin 4” You replied oh so casually.

 “Y/N, you can't just use your charmspeak casually,” complained Mitchell. Unlike Piper and Drew, you tended to use your charmspeak for more trivial things. If your mother gave you a gift, it was to be used, and maybe you did use it for small things like getting out of archery or another serving of strawberry shortcake. Maybe it wasn't the best use of such power, but it came in handy, overall being blessed with beauty had its perks. 

“It's fine I was just craving some. Plus the Hermes kids haven't made their trip yet, so something had to be done,” you said, cleaning off the dripping juice. It might have been the best mango you have eaten if it weren't for your siblings shooting daggers at you. “Well, at least I'm not using my charmspeak to manipulate a cabin,” you continued. 

“It's been months, let it go, please,” said Drew, now getting slightly annoyed by you. But who could blame you? You were slightly annoyed at this conversation yourself. Couldn't a girl enjoy her mango in peace?

“Anyways we have archery practice, so don't charmspeak your way out,” said Piper, looking directly at you.

“Hey, it was like three times, I was tired,” you defended yourself, putting your hands up. Despite the occasional squabbles, you did love all your siblings. Yes, maybe you had petty fights like Valentina stealing Drew's crop top or Mitchell using Noah’s cologne. But nothing extreme. At the end of the day, the power of gossip and love united, making you a happy little family. 

So as you all enjoyed your archery class led by Kayla from the Apollo cabin, playfully pointing arrows at each other and cheering Lacy on as she hit a bullseye, you failed (more like didn't expect) to notice two mops of curly brown ran past you, making a beeline for a certain pink cabin tip-toeing in and out, leaving the object in their hands giggling at their prank. 

So, as your cabin finished the lesson and made your way for a quick break, you didn't expect to see a golden mango with ‘for the hottest’ written on it.

“Aw, I love it when people leave things for me,” said Drew, picking up said mango ready to add it to her infinite collection of love letters 

“Well it doesn't say for who it is,” said Mitchell. 

“Maybe it's for me,” said another one of your siblings. 

“I'm the hottest I don't know what you're talking about” interjected your sister.

“I was told I rival my mom's beauty,” you added.

 “She's OUR mother too,” started Piper. 

Your banter slowly turned into actual fighting, screams echoing outside the cabin as glass bottles shattered. 

“That was my only bottle left, you bitch” screamed Drew as Valentina threw her perfume to the ground. It didn't stop there, as shoes and  clothes flew out the window, landing in the mud

 “Mom gave me that belt, Mitchell,” cried one of your brothers, as said belt was now covered in gross mud, lost forever.

 “Oh my gods, why could you cut up my Miu Miu sweater? that was expensive,” you sobbed as one of your sisters started cutting up clothes nearby. 

Safe to say, the cabin was no longer the organized place that always got a 5, it looked worse than the Hermes cabin, with tattered clothes mixed with spilled makeup and perfume covering the floor. 

“What in gods name is this?” You all looked like deers caught in headlights once Chiron stepped foot in the cabin.

 “They started it,” everyone said simultaneously, pointing in different directions.

“Actually, I believe I found the perpetrators outside. Still, kitchen duty for all,” he said, galloping outside as said perpetrators peeked into the cabin 

“We did well with this one, Trav,” said conner snickering. 

“You'll pay for this Stolls'' screeched Drew. Suddenly, seventeen angry children of Aphrodite ran towards the siblings. Yes they had pulled hair and spills all over their clothes, but they didn't care about appearances at the moment, especially you, who would waste such a good mango just like that, plus you were still mad about your sweater, you had planned on wearing it for the bonfire later.

 Fortunately, some form of revenge was taken as pasty white foundation appeared on Travis's face, making him look like a clown, and Connor’s clothes instantly shrunk two sizes smaller. You would say he was rocking the crop top, but it honestly just looked funny. 

All of the cabin stood there in a circle, scowls on their faces and some laughing at the sight, as you broke through your teared-up sweater still in hand.

 “Nemesis is a bitch I guess” said one of your sisters as you threw your sweater at Travis's face. “You're lucky we’re being nice to both of you,” you said, quickly storming off back to your cabin. Now who was going to clean all of this up?

It took most of the cabin all day until dinner to clean up all the broken glass and fabric left on the floor, as well as clean some of the muddy designer shoes. 

“I'm sorry Y/N. I know you loved that sweater,” said your sister. It was more than just an extremely expensive sweater to you, your father had gifted it to you as a birthday present. It wasn't often you got to see him only during winter break on occasion. It was a small piece that tied you back home, and now it was destroyed.  

“It's fine. Maybe I could get a new one” you lied through your teeth. Even a new sweater couldn't replace the damage done, and you swore upon your mother and Nemesis that you would get your revenge on the Stolls. Maybe you could make them fall in love with a frog or cause someone to break their heart. Anything at the moment seemed like a better revenge than their permanent makeup and clothing curse placed by your siblings. You were just so mad you couldn’t fathom it all. 

It all just got you in a terrible mood. You were sure your anger and bitterness could turn the campfire black. And there you were, getting ready for said campfire with no sweater on, and your favorite mango balm was also a small victim of your sibling's anger. You sat at dinner sulking, not speaking to anyone, trying to eat your mango, thinking it could cheer you up but it didn’t. It just made you angrier at the Stolls, especially Travis with his cheeky smile as you threw him your destroyed sweater. Granted, it might have been the clown makeup, but still. 

And you continued to sulk during the campfire, not singing along and sitting slightly apart from your siblings. Most of them had made amends at this point, but you just acted like it. Who could blame you for being petty? It was only justified. You were so entranced in your own emotions that you failed to see the person sitting next to you, yet the small gift placed on your lap didn’t go unnoticed.

 “I heard from Gwen about your sweater,” he said, looking down at the floor “I’m sorry about the whole ordeal, really.” 

You sighed as you looked towards him “Travis you know I can’t get that makeup off of you,” you said. You were sure whatever this gift was it was probably bribery, and your anger couldn’t let you see past that. 

“Maybe you should open it first. I kind of left camp for this and paid for it,” he said, finally looking back at you. You tried your best not to laugh at his face, but he did look ridiculous with the clown makeup.

 You opened the gift carefully, revealing a pink sweater almost exactly like the one you lost. You gasped as you looked back at Travis, “I know it’s not Moo Moo.” 

“Miu Miu,” you corrected. 

“Yeah that. But still I wanted to replace it. I know it doesn’t have the same meaning, I'm sorry, really,” his apology seemed sincere, and you couldn’t dictate lies between his words. 

“Thanks, but what about the rest of the things my siblings lost?” You weren’t wrong. If he wanted to apologize, he should’ve been replacing all the things lost in this ‘prank.’ 

“Well, it’s not like they like mangos,” he said ever so casually, confusing you.

“Excuse me?” 

“Yeah, you know there’s only one person in that cabin that likes mangos. It was a golden mango,” he got up and just left, winking at you as you stayed there processing his words. You would’ve laughed at his face, but even with the gods awful makeup, he looked cute, and you could almost feel your heart skip a beat as to what he was insinuating. But still, you didn’t understand what exactly he was trying to tell you. He left you there dumbfounded, trying to understand your feelings at that moment.

Being a daughter of Aphrodite, you could be pretty oblivious when it came to your feelings. You knew instantly if someone had a crush on another person, yet you couldn't understand why your heart beated so fast around the Hermes boy. You chalked it up to the ridiculous makeup he had, considering you found clowns creepy, but it still felt different. Suddenly, you didn't feel like skipping archery class anymore if it meant the Hermes cabin was going to be there, or putting a little bit more effort into your appearance each morning. You even wore your pink sweater religiously, as if it was the only item of clothing you owned. 

Your siblings were not as oblivious as you, they knew about the secret glances during breakfast or how your voice went up an octave when you spoke to him. But in true aphrodite cabin style, they watched from afar, seeing a love story form right before their eyes. And it wasn't hard to push you guys together, you seemed to always unconsciously follow him around, excusing it by saying you wanted to be more involved in camp. 

“Y/N could you take over arts and crafts for me today? I’m kind of busy with some other things,” asked Mitchell. He was free, but you did need to know that, and being the understanding sister that you were, you agreed. But your dear brother forgot to mention one slight detail: it was all the younger campers, which you couldn't stand sometimes, and that it was an arts and crafts session with the Hermes cabin.

 So, it came as a surprise to see a familiar mop of curls sitting at a separate table from the rest of the campers, making his own friendship bracelets. And it seemed to be a surprise to Travis too, fixing his hair and discreetly checking his breath once he caught a glimpse of you. 

“I thought Mitchell was helping today,” he said, pulling the chair next to him. You sat down fixing your hair too. 

“Actually, he is busy today, so I'm covering,” you explained, avoiding his eyes. His clown makeup long gone, you finally were able to appreciate his blue eyes and elvish features.

 “I’m glad you like the sweater,” he said, breaking the silence between you too. You had forgotten you were wearing it; it was muscle memory at this point. 

“Yeah, it's nice. Thank you so much,” you said, trying to hide the blush creeping on your face.

 “I'm glad you like it. I had to play poker with some of my siblings to buy it,” he said, and as your mouth dropped, Hermes boy’s were known for shoplifting once in a while, and you had assumed that was the case. But with the simple fact he went through all that trouble to get you a sweater made your heart flutter, you couldn't ignore it anymore: you had a crush on Travis Stoll and he had a crush on you. 

You kind of knew about the boy's feelings, being one of the many gifts blessed upon you by your mother. Yet for a whole month, you were in denial of your feelings. How could you like someone who played such a prank on you and your siblings? Or who always had a stupid smirk on his face to pair up with his cocky personality? Yet, you couldn't help it, your heart secretly longed for him. 

“You didn't have to go through so much trouble for a sweater, you know,” you said, grabbing some thread to make your bracelet.

“I know, but I wanted to make things right,” he said smiling at you. 

"You should've replaced Mitchells cologne, aren't you guys friends?” you said, not looking at how his smile slowly faded. 

“We are friends, but I wanted to make things right with you,” you couldn't help but smile at his words as butterflies started to form in your stomach.

“Why with me though?” Travis groaned, running his hand over his face. “I thought you were a daughter of Aphrodite” he said, with slight annoyance laced in his words 

“I am, but that still doesn't answer my question,” You finally looked up at him holding back from laughing in his face.

 “Because you're you, and I… don't you get it Y/N?” he said, stumbling over his words.

“Gods don't make me spell it out, this is so embarrassing,” the young campers long forgotten as they left both of you alone. “I like you. Gods, the mango was meant for you, there's only one person in that cabin that eats mangos like she can't live without them,” he spilled out, feeling a weight lift off his chest 

“I knew,” you said. You couldn't help but smile, it was only you ever wanted to hear from him, ever since he sat next you at that campfire.

“You knew!?” 

“Trav I can sense when someone has a crush, I just wanted you to say it,” now it was his time to blush at the sound of his name leaving your lips. 

“And I guess the feelings are reciprocated” you finished off, looking directly into his eyes. 

“So, will you go out on a date with me?” he asked, smiling so wide it hurt his cheeks. 

“If there's going to be mangos, then yes I would love to go on a date with you,” you responded. It felt like time stopped, and it was only you and Travis in that moment, looking at each other's eyes stuck in your bubble of love. 

[iwasntstable]

+[MSG : Tokyo Ghoul AU. Noah x reader. What type of kagune would Ghoul!Noah have? Info and images under the cut.]

You can find more in-depth information on the TG wiki.

UKAKU: An ukaku kagune (羽赫, ukaku, "feather-red") is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area.

SUMMARY:

specializes in high speed attacks

lightweight

primary method of attack - high speed, torrent-like projectiles

able to use as a shield

suited for short-distance and long-distance attacks

however, short-range is considered their weakness

ukaku type users lack endurance and are at a disadvantage if the battle drags on for a long time

Touka Kirishima & Ayato Kirishima

KOUKAKU: A koukaku kagune (甲赫, kōkaku, "shell-red") is released below the shoulder blade.

SUMMARY:

extremely heavy and robust

well suited for defence

generally shaped into armour or shields

can be shaped into melee weapons such as blades

inferior speed due to weight

difficult to wield

Tsukiyama Shuu

RINKAKU: A rinkaku kagune (鱗赫, rinkaku, "scale-red") has an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist.

SUMMARY:

users of this type have powerful regenerative albilities

able to survive critical damage

superior striking power

excel in brute strength

some users are able to manipulate the shape of this kagune such as forming into swords/blades or claws

this kagune is very soft and easy to break

able to create between 1-8 scaled tentacles

Kaneki Ken & Rize Kamishiro

BIKAKU: A bikaku kagune (尾赫, bikaku, "tail-red") typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone/coccyx.

SUMMARY:

good for medium-distance attacks

decent offence, defence and speed

no notable strengths or weaknesses

the number of tails a bikaku user can create is usually one, but some can create more.

Nishiki Nishio

[creative-creatures]

TD:EA Characters #2 (Alejandro, Heather & Noah)

Here is some information on the AU: "Once Upon A Time..."

Alejandro Burromuerto (The Otherworld Prince)

Alejandro is someone many would define as perfect. Since a young age the boy had always known exactly what to say and when to say it. Having the trademark charm of his diplomat family greatly increased his popularity with those around him. But deep down the Spaniard had always been twisted. 

Raised to only see those around him as pawns, Alejandro grew to a manipulative careless man. Having the wealth and power of his family behind him, although never quite reaching their standards, Alejandro became a dangerous force. Atleast, he was, until he found himself in a whole new reality. A reality where his charm doesn't work on everyone.

Perhaps he would grow to love for the sleeping form in the mountain castle side's spire?

Heather Frost (The Snow Queen)

Rotten, wicked and cold as ice the snow queen rains with a mighty fist. All who ever approached her either turned to one of her many frosty statues or disappeared without a trace. However, It's said in legend one boy has ever melted her frosty exterior. The poor boy now sleeps dormant upon her mountain castle side spire.

Oh how she misses him so. Too bad she hasn't found who cursed him yet.

Noah Briar (The Cursed Prince)

Surrounded in white roses, this boy sleeps. Said to have been cursed a thousand years ago to forever stay in the world of dreams, the boy waits for freedom. No prince or princess has ever freed him from her curse due to the thorns and frost that cover his chambers. No one could reach the boy, no one but the Otherworld Prince. 

Maybe he can wake the Cursed Prince from his slumber.

[neptunes-sol-angel]

Hey Sol-Cherubs! I've had this sitting in my drafts for a while but just didn't have the stability over the past few months to finally finish it. This is a pick a card for those having a tough time soothing themselves over a betrayal that happened to them, I hope this helps and gives space for those to validate their emotions but also see the situation from a different perspective to help them heal and move on.

Paid Readings | Patreon | Tip Jar

Pile One ⚔

If you had it your way? "If there's an open position for the devil's advocate, then I'll be it. If Karma's really a bitch, then how can I make her my apprentice? God if you're actually real, I think it's time to send the floods and bring back Noah's ship" If you had it your way, regardless of the religion that you practice and believe in, you'd want a higher power to "correct" this person. I feel like this individual is some sort of "fallen angel", someone who had great potential in being a trustworthy companion in your life, making good deeds to hunanity, or both, that ended up becoming the total opposite. Perhaps, one of the main immoral acts that this person committed, is putting you through some psychological torment that could have made you feel trapped in a mental spiral about your identity and self worth. They could have even weaponized personal information such as your trauma and insecurities that you confidentially shared with them, against you as a manipulation tactic. The vengeance that you want for this person, strikes to me as something that you're kind of wishing for, as if you're not entirely confident that justice will be made, or that if there actually is a higher power, that they'd consider your injustice as something that's worth putting attention towards and balancing. The kind of correction that you want this person to have, relates to some sort of reality check, where the feathers of their deceptive wings get plucked one by one to expose who they really are. This isn't even about other people seeing this person's exposure, you feel that the only way for balance to be restored is if this person recognizes and finally checks their own behavior. This person could have a stubborn ego that's pretty much fired up by delusion, or could have a habit of concealing their toxicity by latching onto others emotionally or spiritually. You don't want this person to catch a break, I'm seeing you kind of wanting them to be placed onto this wheel and spinned around for eternity which could represent internally how they made you feel, but also I'm envisioning the karmic retribution, as them trapped in a fun house, alone, filled with mirrors that expose their inner monstrosities.

How the universe is actually working this situation in your favor:

Instead of being passive in this situation to let a higher power get this person, the universe is actually using you to directly serve this person with a taste of their own medicine. The purpose of this connection since the beginning, was to be each other's mirror. You could feel like this situation has brought out the the worst in you, you may even be right, but this is actually cycle that's supposed to finally help you step into your power. The characters Eleven and One are what I think of for this pile, and also the planets Venus and Saturn. This encounter demonstrates the different ways of things being similar, but not exactly the same, and that there's always a choice. This person was used to restricting others with their superiority complex, until they met someone like you who let's your own energy speak for itself. Do not demonize yourself for the anger that you feel towards this person, but let it be known, that how this person treated you and the misuse of their talents is a habitual thing for them to do to others. The reality check is coming, but what's different is that it's not supposed to be something that's reoccurring, this cycle has gone on too long and this ending is actually what's supposed to be the nail in coffin for this person to change or remain stagnant in the consequences of havoc that they wreaked.

Pile Two ⚔

If you had it your way? If you had it your way, you'd dunk this person in chaos, pull them back up for air, and then dump them back in when they think that shit's sweet. I'm seeing this pile relating to a romantic connection from either the past or something in the present that's past it's expiration date that you need to end now. When they hurt you, they fumbled a big bag, so revenge in your image, would be for this person to literally fumble bags by getting massive hits to their finances and partnership deals. I see that person could have gave you a lot of false promises, and apologies with no changed behavior or sincerity. If they're with another person now, you want them to be dogged out by that individual. This could look like seducing them until they're comfortable as if they've found their dream person that'll elevate them higher in life, to actually being wiped out dry of whatever assets they had. This could be a massive financial loss, or an assassination to their confidence and charisma that they're used to fooling others with. This could even look like you partnering up with their lover to make this person's life a living hell. How the universe is actually working this situation in your favor: The universe is going to orchestrate an ending whether you like it or not, to get you away from this person. You or anyone else cannot be this person's karma in this situation, because they're already on the road of demolishing themselves just fine. If you see this person happy and at peace as if they're being rewarded for their behavior, they are not. This is a person that regardless of how brazen they are, that lacks self love to the point where they are incapable at the moment of treating others right, and will continue to ruin their relationships both professionally and intimately, until they do the inner work that is needed. This person is all talk, but you can only get but so far with words, people in their friendships, family, and career life are going to pick up on how foolish this person is and will follow suit in separating themselves from being associated with this person. It's going to hurt trying to move on with someone you really wanted to work things out with, but for your greater good, see this rejection as redirection from a sinking ship. This situation will teach you to not follow people and proposals at a face value, and to not destroy yourselves (tit for tat) to get back at someone.

Pile Three ⚔

If you had it your way?

If you had it your way, you'd set the whole building on fire. I keep seeing that scene with Tanisha from Bad Girls Club singing "I ain't get no sleep, cause of y'all, and y'all ain't getting sleep cause of me!". This could be a workplace that did you dirty, or in general something that you invested a lot of time, money, loyalty, and self sacrifices in that dropped and replaced you as if you were nothing. Perhaps this pile is for those in my audience who were known as the golden child of the family, working so hard to please people who don't value you outside of your achievements. You want to burn everything, flaming hot to the ground, so that you can finally lay on the ashes and just rest. You want something, anything, even a reset if it means getting your time back. How the universe is actually working this situation in your favor? Maybe the hard work didn't get you where you wanted, but use the knowledge learned and experience gained, to create something in your control and authority, in the right way. You know what it takes to build this new start, and you know what not to do when you acquire this newfound power when you're in a position to lead others. But more importantly, the universe is giving you an opportunity to slow down, and to not be humble when it comes to what you have to offer in this world ruled by transactional relationships and the rise and grind lifestyle. This is teaching you to nourish yourself in the way others didn't, and start investing in your freedom and tapping into your potential. You weren't meant to follow others, you're meant to lead, don't try to burn others dysfunction, it's not your responsibility to, let them have it. Redirect your energy into fulfilling your purpose, reclaim your life again.

[assistant-of-drama]

What if Alejandro tricked Noah into joining his side?

The air hung heavy in the aftermath of the London Challenge. Noah, amidst the somber mood of his team’s defeat, felt a different kind of despair gnawing at him. The impending elimination ceremony loomed, a dark specter promising the end of his journey. He knew that he was gonna be on the chopping block, after calling Alejandro an eel.

Alejandro, the epitome of calculated charm, approached him with a smirk.

"Noah," he began, his voice a silken whisper. "I have a proposition for you. I can ensure your survival in this game. All you have to do is join forces with me. And I'll forget what you called me."

Noah’s mind raced. It was an offer that both intrigued and repelled him. He knew Alejandro’s reputation; he was a master manipulator, weaving his webs of deceit through false friendships.

"I don't trust you." Noah replied, his voice laced with skepticism.

Alejandro's smile faltered for a moment. "Trust is a luxury we cannot afford here, Noah. Only the strong survive. And I can make you strong."

"I don't need fake friends like you." Noah retorted, his gaze unwavering. "I want to face my elimination with some dignity intact. At least I can say that I'm one of the few people that wasn't tricked by your charming lies."

Alejandro’s smile reappeared, this time laced with amusement. "Are you sure that Owen isn't a fake friend, Noah?"

Noah scoffed. "Oh please, the big guy is as loyal as they come."

As the elimination ceremony began, Chris, the gleeful mastermind behind the show, announced the results. 'And the unlucky contestant to be eliminated is, with four votes against him…' He paused, letting the dramatic silence stretch. '…Noah!'

The room echoed with shock and disbelief. Noah felt his heart constrict, a fist squeezing the air from his lungs. Owen... voted for him?

His best friend... chose Alejandro... over him?

He saw Owen's face contort with horror, his eyes wide with disbelief and distress.

'No!' Owen shouted. 'That’s not right! I didn't vote for Noah!'

Noah’s gaze met Owen's desperate eyes and he wanted to believe him. Yet, a gnawing suspicion, fueled by Alejandro’s earlier words, planted its seeds in his mind. It was a seed of betrayal, of friendship forsaken.

Chris, sensing the turmoil, added fuel to the fire. "Owen, you didn’t vote for your pal, did you?"

Owen’s voice cracked with desperation. "No! I never voted for Noah! I swear that I voted for Duncan! Noah please! You gotta believe me!"

The look of betrayal that Owen received from Noah was one he would never forget.

Noah, swallowed by a wave of icy despair, silently walked to the parachute.

Chris smirks as he closes the airplane's doors. "Fortunately, for you Noah, Alejandro convinced me to make this a reward challenge! Isn't that nice of him?"

Noah refused to say anything. He refused to look at anyone. He kept his face calm and blank, as he quietly walked out of the room, away from everything.

As Noah reached the cargo bay, he collapsed into a crate, his tears muffled by the grimy cardboard. His shoulders shook with sobs, his heart heavy with a pain that ran deeper than the disappointment of almost losing the game.

Alejandro, ever the observer, found Noah in his solitude. He saw the raw vulnerability in his crumpled form, the tears streaking his cheeks. It was a sight that filled him with a strange satisfaction, a sense of power over this defiant bookworm.

He gently knelt beside Noah, his hand reaching out to touch his arm.

'Noah,' he said, his voice soft, a stark contrast to the malice hidden beneath the surface. 'Let me help you.'

Noah flinched away, his eyes flashing with resentment. 'Stay away from me, Alejandro. I don’t need your pity.'

Alejandro, unfazed by Noah's defiance, pulled him into a gentle embrace. 'You're hurting, Noah. Let me comfort you.'

The warmth of Alejandro’s embrace surprised him. It made him feel safe, even though he knows that it's part of a manipulative facade. Despite his resistance, the warmth seeped into his bones, a balm for the wounds that festered within. He nuzzles his head into the taller boy's chest, listening to the hypnotic heartbeat. He hated himself for enjoying the comfort he found in this greasy, slimy eel’s arms.

Alejandro leaned closer, his breath warm against Noah’s ear. 'I understand your pain, Noah. You feel betrayed, that Owen voted for you. But he's just like the rest of them, playing their own game. They only care about themselves. Nobody cares about you, Noah. Nobody understands you.'

Noah fought against the cruel yet addicting allure of Alejandro’s words. “I know that you’re only trying to use me. I’m not stupid. I won't give in to you.”

Alejandro’s smile returned, his eyes glinting with a predatory light. 'Perhaps I am trying to use you. But nobody cares about you, Noah, so why care about them? Despite your intelligence, they all only see you as a joke. But I see your potential. Don't you want to prove them wrong? To get some revenge?'

Alejandro’s words struck a chord deep within Noah. A yearning for vindication, a desire to prove everyone wrong, started to take root in his heart.

He looked at Alejandro, his eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and a desperate hope for acceptance.

“Fine, Alejandro. You win.” He whispered hoarsely, struggling to admit defeat. “It seems I’m your latest puppet. But this alliance will only last until the merge.'

Alejandro chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent shivers down Noah’s spine. “Oh, I think we can make it last longer than that.”

He leaned in, a possessive kiss landing on Noah’s forehead. He held Noah tighter, his grip a silent promise of control. This alliance, born from betrayal and desperation, was forged in the depths of pain and fueled by a desire for revenge.

Alejandro had secured his latest pawn, but he knows the game was far from over. The fun had just begun.

And to think, this all happened because Sierra told him about how Harold rigged the votes to eliminate Courtney.

Heather won't stand a chance.

[foreverwithyugioh]

My Fav Yu-Gi-Oh! Antagonists

Yami Marik (because... why not?)

Pegasus (Flamboyant rich guy who watched kids getting their asses kicked while reading comic books)

Thief King Bakura (horny criminal with magical powers)

Aigami (cute villain but not-so-villain at the same time that not a lot of people cared about because of Seto's Revenge Body©)

Anubis (villain with no real reason to destroy the world but was part of the first and only YGO movie I saw in cinema so... a good memory)

Noah (green-haired Seto wannabe with daddy issues... like Seto)

Zork (dragon-shaped d1ck)

Dartz (manipulative bitch who took too many green stones)

Regular Marik (crop top diva)

Yami Bakura (here one minute, gone the next)

The Big Five (5 middle-aged men who think having teenage bodies will make them more relevant)

Zigfried (Seto's rip-off)

Yami Bakura fused with Aigami (WTF is that thing?!)

[twyftwyt]

…you have more pieces of me than the desert has sand - Chapter 3

Pairings: Noah Sebastian × Reader

Warnings: smut 18+ (power play, unprotected sex, unresolved trauma)

Authors note: getting down and dirty in this one, but it’s all downhill from here, babes; lots of trauma to unpack, lots of unhealthy habits and unresolved issues; Noah doesn’t know how to behave properly or talk straight, like I said, or man’s never been to therapy before, he’s hurting people left and right

“Let me apologize properly, baby.”

The only way you know, I thought.

I let him lead me inside and prop me up against the wall, with my hands up in the air. He was never really the gentle, slow and soft kind and tonight was no different. His hands were gripping my whole body, from my breasts down to my hips and I could see the pure hunger in his eyes. I would lie if I didn’t say that this scenario has happened a few times before as well. Me always trying to back away from him then him finding his way back into my life by taking a shortcut, that shortcut being my bed. He was good at it and he knew it. He knew how to work me. He knew what I liked, what buttons to push to keep me on edge, which spots to cover in kisses and which - in bruises. He was manipulative, arrogant, egocentric and stubborn and he wanted what he wanted. It was always “my way or the highway” with him. I thought I’d outgrow him, I thought that maybe he was just a crush I needed to bed and then bury but one month turned into three and three turned to seven and here we were. All over each other again.

“I know I can be a dick.”

Yeah, no fucking shit.

“But you know I’m weak for you.”

His breath was hot and heavy on my face and his eyes were piercing my soul.

“You know it’s never good when we argue.”

“Then maybe we should talk things through like grownups.”

“Agreed. Fuck, you feel so good.”

And just like that I knew we weren’t gonna talk things through.

I felt his hand slide down my panties and he brushed my lips softly. I was already too wet to think about anything else and just pressed my body down onto his hand. He palmed me and let me rub myself on his left hand. It really felt good. He was a god at making me crumble and tonight he was on a mission to scatter me in pieces.

“You want a finger inside?”

I moaned at the thought.

“Or two..”

Before I could answer or even nod, his middle finger was circling my entrance.

“Noah, please. Don’t tease..” I pleaded.

“But you’re so cute when you beg, baby.”

His cheshire cat smile spread as he was positioning two of his fingers at my center. Never giving me what I wanted from the first try. Always had to beg for it. And he loved knowing that he had that kind of control over me. He thrived on it.

I felt his fingers slip inside and my brain got all foggy from the instant fulfillment.

“I’ll never get tired of this. Look at yourself.”

He pushed me in front of him and propped me in front of my mirror that was placed right next to the door. His left hand found its place around my neck whilst his other was finding its way back to my folds. My head fell back on his shoulder and I looked up at him, my nosye tickling his chin. He was all worked up, muscles tense around me, jaw clenched and eyes dark with desire. And fuck me, he looked more handsome than ever.

“Look at yourself, not me.” his hand straightened my jaw

Seeing myself so tightly wrapped around him, engulfed in his energy made me roll my eyes back. It felt other-worldly every time. And it was no different tonight. I had already forgotten everything I was mad at him for and existed only in this moment, here, in his embrace.

“Please, Noah…” I was no longer able to form coherent sentences and my climax was near.

“Please what?”

“Please..”

I felt his fingers curl inside me again and I pressed down harder, my knees giving in and my whole body shaking. I gripped his arms to steady myself better but I could no longer see what was happening around me. It was all a haze.

“Good girl. That’s it, there you go.” his soft, breathy voice was humming in my hair

Before I could even compose myself I heard him unbuckle his pants and let them fall down to the floor along with his boxers.

“Put your hands on that stand.”

And I obeyed. I saw his animalistic expression when I looked in the mirror and I knew there was no point in arguing. He could have me in all the ways he wanted and I would oblige.

His hand slipped between my cheeks and he slapped my center hard. I felt my knees give in again and cried out in pain. He was harsh when he propped my ass against his erection and rubbed himself in between my folds.

“Do you accept my apology?”

The tip of his cock slipped inside and my head fell forward.

“Is this good enough of a sorry?”

Half of his length disappeared inside me.

“Am I forgiven?”

His whole body slammed into mine and his wet lips stuck to the back of my head. In my heart of hearts I knew this was never going to be enough. Sex could never fix all our problems. It only worked for a little while.

“No, but you can fuck your way into my forgiveness.”

His laugh echoed down the hallway and I felt him move inside me. He wasn’t being gentle with me. His body continued slamming against my skin and I knew I was going to have bruises by the time I wake up tomorrow.

“I can do that.”

And you can do it good, I thought.

His hands were gripping me at both sides and my hair was already sticking to my face from all the sweat. He still had his hoodie on and my shirt was half raised, exposing my breasts. We looked a hot mess. And we were. And my roommate was sleeping in the bedroom upstairs but I could care less about it right now.

He pulled out and I felt the sudden emptiness, until he spun me around and lifted me off the ground, burying himself deep inside of me again. Moving through the living room without pulling out once, he put me on the kitchen counter and took his hoodie off. My hands immediately found their place on his chest, scratching him down to his belly.

“I can live here.”

And I’d let him. I’d let him live inside me. No one fit the way he did, he was right.

He took my legs and lifted them until they were resting on both sides of his shoulders and I let the rest of my body lay down on the counter top. His cock was slamming in and outside of me and I couldn’t make out dreams from reality. My eyes were glued to his and the only time he took them off was to spit on my exposed center.

“Spit in my mouth.” I blurted out in the haze

I think I’ve never seen a more sadistic smile creep up his face. He lifted me off the counter and grabbed me by the hair.

“You know why we’re never gonna get out of this? Because we’re fucked up and disgusting together. Open your mouth for me.”

His left hand was massaging my clit while his cock was buried deep inside me and his right hand was pulling my hair back. My mouth fell open and I felt the saliva coat my tongue.

“Swallow like the good girl I know you are.”

“Noah..”

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

His spit covered my mouth again and ran down my chin this time. He was picking up his speed and the friction of our skin was creating so much noise, I’m sure people could hear us from miles away.

“Cum inside. Please.”

His face changed the moment I said it out loud. He’d never done it before even though I was on the pill ever since we started seeing each other. I knew I was probably going to regret this later but I didn’t care now. And neither did he, by the way his movements changed. They were more rapid now. His hands gripping my hips closer to his own. His head fell back and the silent moan he was otherwise letting out now turned into a full groan. He was feral and he was leaving bruises everywhere around my body.

“Fuuuuck…fuck that feels good. Fuck.”

I felt him twitch and spill inside of me and my walls tightened around him.

He was spent and so was I. The moment he lifted me off the counter to carry me back into my room, I felt the weight of the whole day hit my body. We didn’t even shower, our clothes scattered around the whole house. I’d have to think of excuses tomorrow. Tonight was for bad decisions. And my bad decisions was curling up against my back, pulling me into him.

We were never gonna make it out of this relationship whole. Or the same. Or even remotely close. And I was afraid of all the things we could do to each other. We were both spiraling and downfall was near, I could feel it.

But we didn’t feel so bad. Rather just.. broken.

[bluwavez]

i’m pretty curious about noah’s perception of love, given how messed up his relationship with his dad is. like has he ever been in a relationship? and if so, what was their dynamic like?

TW ; Mentions of Grooming and Underaged Relationships.

So, this question is very loaded, lol!

Noah has been in three genuine relationships his entire life. The majority of his life, from the time he was fifteen to twenty-five, he was groomed and abused by DeepDive's manager, Lee Hyerim. Hyerim is 18 years older than Noah and has consistently used her power and influence to manipulate and abuse him. I would say that this relationship has shaped his perception of love more than anything his father has done, but that doesn't excuse Jinhwa from fucking up Noah's perception of love.

Jinhwa actively ignored this relationship Noah had with Hyerim, and when it was brought to his attention, he ignored it. When Noah tried to confront his dad about this relationship and it being wrong, Jinhwa would go on to tell Noah to "man up" and "be grateful a woman is wasting her time on him." it was a very harrowing experience for Noah. He just became complacent in his own suffering to "be a man."

Now, obviously, this didn't do great things for Noah's brain! He is a chronic cheater; he cannot stay loyal to anyone to save his life. He typically ends up crawling back to Hyerim because she's all he knows, and he views his partners as ideal beings that they're just not. He puts them on pedestals, so the second they slip up even slightly, the illusion is shattered, and he's cheating. Noah, genuinely, has lost so much development thanks to the grooming and hypersexualization he went through at such a young age. He's permanently seventeen, in my opinion.

So...His perception of love is very skewed. I like to say that it's very to love Noah but it's hard to be in love with Noah.

Hope you liked my Noah infodump!! I love this guy!! He's kinda the worst but he's my favorite guy!!

[shywhumpauthor]

Masterpost

<<Please read before requesting>>

I accept requests for drabbles, snippets, prompt lists, asks regarding my series, pretty much anything—given that the topic of the request is within my comfort zone

Art sideblog: @charcoalsketches

Spam sideblog: @coal-commits-arson

(I will try to keep this updated to current)

Writing Challenges

The Merry Whump of May 2022

Summer of Whump 2022

Whumptober 2022

Whumpuary 2023

The Merry Whump of May 2023

Two Weeks of Whump 2023

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

Prompts

Plushie Whump // Defiant Lab Whump // Desert Whump // Mute Whumpers~Caretakers // Shivering // Doctor Whumpers // Comfort Plushies // Healing Powers // Betrayed by Team // Humane Whumpers // Bath Time With Trauma // Short Betrayal Thing // Mean Caretaker // Lab Rat Whumpee = Lonely // Some Dialogue // Whumpers Who Get Carried Away // Rating Whump Locations // Experiment Prompt List // How Whumpee Meets Caretaker Prompt List // Mock Executions // Captured Prince Prompt List // Teammate Caretaker x Leader Whumpee // Belts as Restraints // Recovery Center List // Doghouse // Feral Whumpee Recovery // Torture Idea // Both Caretaker and Whumpee are Captives // Ribbons (Short Snippet) // Safety in Restraints // Two Beds // Caretaker is New Master // Brutal Whump Idea // Bleeding Ungrateful // Old Wounds // Tally // Injured Back // Tied to a Table // Driver // Redeemed Villain Captured With Team // Gentle Pet Whump // Ear Pains // Hero Being Manipulated Snippet // Signs of Whump // Morgue Prompt // Cold in Captivity // Sharp Teeth Supernatural Whumpee // Broken Whumpees and Regret // Possessive Whumpers // Tucked in // Auction Prep // Emergency Contact // Marbles // Familiar Whumpee and Whumper // Sunburn +Whipping // Overworked // Branded Handprints //

Other Prompts

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 //

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

Drabble Masterpost

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Series

The Prince of a Bloodstained Game (completed)

My first ever series, made a while ago. Royal Whumper Leonidas, spy Whumpee who was sent to kill him Harlow. My advice, just don't. Don't go there. I haven't looked back. Who knows what horrors await in my old writing

A Drop Of Honey

Probably my most consistent series tbh, ongoing for months. I only work on it when requested. Bitch Whumpee called Bee, no other characters are worthy of names. We've got Friend and Whumper, that's it

Red Stained Riches

(Whumptober 2022) Kaden shouldn't have gone to the party. Rich creepy whumper named Mathias. Ongoing.

Surveillence

Whumpuary 2022. Ignore how the first 12 parts are nameless, I’m slowly going back to fix it. Noah is a spy, and hell is he in over his head

Landline

Coriander took a turn a bit too fast during a storm, and they ended up on the wrong person’s doorstep.

To the Victor the Spoils

A choose-your-own-adventure, interactive whump series

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

My Old Writing Masterlist

In my most professional opinion, just stay away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[onomatopagu-et-cie]

Some other theories and observations, part 3

First impressions after re-reading DGM Some theories and observations, part 2 Notes on Link, part 1 & part 2

Again have a nice week!!

(SPOILERS UP TO CH248!!!!)

▶ Allen's curse

Will the manga elaborate more on Allen’s curse? The pentacle reappeared on volume 28’s cover again and D is an integral part of the title. (Btw, I can’t wait to read the copy I got of volume 28 as it’s now out in France! The cover is so beautiful, Hoshino outdoes herself every time with the new format, the back cover is pretty!!!)

This is the only piece of information we’ve got on it, apart from its evolving abilities. How can Komui be 100% sure a curse can only be inflicted on humans? Given how the majority of the Order didn’t know about the Noah and Apocryphos, I wouldn’t be surprised this could be false too.

▶ Allen/Neah’s (?) hidden ability

(thisoneislongsorryyyy)

Note: I wrote this BEFORE ch248 came out in July: it revealed the Allen we know was entirely remade by Apocryphos, and this could finally explain Neah, Road and Wisely’s confusion over Allen’s strange powers ; however, this doesn’t explain Apocryphos’s own confusion over Allen when he first encountered him nor exactly to what extent Allen was 'remade', so I kept these notes as is since we still don’t know more!

At the beginning of the volume 25, Wisely addresses Road as his brethren, probably because of the similarities of their powers. Wisely worries over Neah’s powers because he can’t read his mind somehow. At the end of the volume, after saying « Allen » is dangerous to Neah and them, Road states that she can’t connect her dream realm to his at will for some reason.

The two scenes mentioned sort of answer each other: both take place in Wisely/Road’s realm, one is at the beginning and the other at the end of the volume. And while Wisely thinks it’s Neah that outweighs his power, Road believes « Allen » (edit after reading ch248: Allen as he's remade by Apocryphos) the true danger instead.

Road’s inability to do as she wants might then involve a power we have not been officially introduced to when it comes to (past?)Allen besides his Innocence. And I don’t believe it’s about Neah at all, since she deems Allen dangerous (and also other people/things she refers to as ‘they’), and wants to warn Neah. If it was about Neah’s ability, this scene wouldn’t even happen and Road wouldn’t have questioned it since she knows him fairly well (while the other Noahs don’t because of the memory gap Neah caused).

In this chapter, Road also says « they’re using us », suggesting they could be the reason Allen is that threatening. She uses 奴ら (yatsura, plural) to refer to ‘them’: 奴 (yatsu, singular) is a derogatory/familiar pronoun.

EDIT: It's actually Cross, not Road, who says this specific part ('Allen is dangerous', 'They're using us.')!!!! She only speaks in the next page in her mini form, about her dream realm! This also means Cross and Road might've been communicating (and it's not only Road one-sidedly using him like I thought initially eg. manipulating him to lead Allen to the mansion), working together because they share some common goal (eg. protecting Mana and Neah)!

The only subjects triggering that pronoun and hatred from the Noahs (essentially, their memory crying out ‘I won’t forgive/I hate’) so far were:

→ Innocence (eg. Skinn Boric’s awakening as a Noah) → the exorcists (eg. the Earl when the Ark was saved by Allen) → Neah (eg. Wisely as he talks to Road) → the Pillar (eg. as Cross mentions it to Road)

Maybe Allen’s power is something close to what both Wisely and Road have since that sort of power can equal theirs to the point that both can’t stay omnipotent against that, just as they usually are eg. Wisely with supposedly all the Noahs (and also when he forced Alma’s memories with Allen and Kanda) or Road with Lavi.

And we have already seen (but without any real explanation yet) that Allen experiences « visions » (夢, yume, which we usually associate with Road, the Noah of dreams, can also mean vision):

→ Lenalee and Allen's respective apocalyptic dreams

→ Allen sensing Lenalee is drowning while facing the akuma Eshi

→ having a kind of out of body experience and seeing Krory and the ghost after being KO’ed in the Destruction of the Black Order Arc

→ his second dream in which what we now know as the Pillar talks to him ; Mana calls out to him in the original version by « ••• » (which is weird in itself since Neah is supposed to have no Noah memory??? Since Mana and Neah were two « halves » of the Earl, and we don’t know exactly what each half covers, could there have been some sort of mix-up between the two along the way?)

→ a glimpse of Kanda’s past when Marie talked about it

→ witnessing Cross’s ‘death’ through Apocryphos

→ whatever was happening when Allen and the Earl shared the same vision of Road protecting Mana in volume 24 was never explained (I put it here but it simply could be because Mana and Neah were revealed as the two halves of the Earl in the next volume)

→ seeing Johnny reaching out to him in the inn when we know it was Neah who sleep-talked after having a dream about the Campbells and woke up (idk if I should count this in bc it could just be Allen’s semi-consciousness fighting Neah)

But when Allen saw Cross’s ‘death’ through Apocryphos, he called that a consequence of the « parasitic » influence over « Allen ». According to him, it went on for many years. He then proceeded to merge with Allen in order to « erase that influence and suppress the 14th’s memory »: this might suggest that Apocryphos deemed Neah as the parasite of the exorcist Allen.

If he’s really talking about Neah, what Apocryphos says could contradict Road’s assumption that this power comes from Allen, not Neah. So, between Apocryphos and Road, who is right? ????????

Let’s consider for a moment that whatever is going on is due to Allen’s ‘long’ experience with a ‘parasitic’ Innocence and that Apocryphos never meant Neah when he talked about a parasite. But we know from Cross that Red’s arm didn’t show any sign of activating at all. Moreover, Neah wouldn’t have been shocked by the Innocence’s influence over past!Allen’s arm after awakening 35 years later if the latter synchronized with it when they knew each other, it wouldn’t make sense. So where does this long influence fit in? Are we talking about the parasitic-type Innocence or is Apocryphos referring to something entirely different?

It doesn’t help that the type of Innocence Allen has is called a ‘parasite-type’ in the original version and the English localization.

It helps even less that Apocryphos uses the same terminology as Komui when he first introduced the parasite-type: 寄生型. Except for Komui the furigana reads 型 as the loanword ‘type’ (kisei-taipu) and for Apocryphos it reads ‘kata’ (kiseigata) as the kanji should be pronounced.

Note: in French they chose to call this type of Innocence a ‘symbiotic-type’: it emphasizes the close association between the accommodator and the Innocence more and suggests the bond is mutually beneficial, but we know after all these chapters that it’s a totally one-sided control led by the Innocence over the accommodator’s body. It’s anything but mutual in retrospect. Parasite suits the Innocence more!

Interestingly, the word used for Allen’s role as a host is 宿主 (shukushu). I didn’t know the word ‘host’ could refer to the organism affected by a parasite!

Both Neah and the Innocence are parasites hosted by Allen. The imagery is also carried by the Fallen Ones’s design. When Allen witnesses Suman’s suffering, he uses the verb 蝕む, ‘mushibamu’:

What looks like giant worms pierce his body and tinier worms gnaw at his heart:

And also, I never considered it but 寄生, kisei, ‘parasite’ almost sounds like 犠牲, gisei, ‘sacrifice’ with just one letter difference: if intentional, these paronyms ironically bring out Allen’s sacrificial role even more. Ch240’s cover illustrates this dimension even more:

I might be missing something or this doesn’t really add up.

It’s also interesting to note that ch222 is titled « Hypokrisis ». Cross calls out Allen’s selflessness once again:

The noun ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis) meant 1) answer & 2) role (on the theater scene, the masked actor was called an ὑποκριτής, hypokritès, separate from the chorus) in ancient greek. But its meaning became morally (and religiously) loaded, now suggesting a duplicity in someone’s behavior (their personality, qualities, principles, opinions, …).

This chapter shows Allen in a dream staged by Road that leads him to the Campbell mansion. Facing Cross offering him to stop his search for the truth, he gives his definite answer to once again fulfill his vow to Mana and « keep walking » even at the cost of his own existence and the bond to his home. It’s also a call back to « Mana’s mask » during the Phantom Thief G arc.

Behind the scene, Road now understands she made a mistake she should have realized sooner: she’s being manipulated herself (along with Neah and perhaps the other Noahs) by someone else and Allen is dangerous, a reality that was concealed to her eyes until now.

The phrasing also parallels Cross’s late realization:

Were they making the same mistake on Allen’s true nature? After Red’s flashback, at least we know one mistake Cross made: Red didn’t say he was « Allen » (thinking Cross asked about the dog) ➾ even though he didn’t want the Innocence close to Mana (as it could 1) destroy him, being a Noah and 2) call forth the Earl, I guess), Cross didn’t monitor Red enough to see the influence of Apocryphos ➾ Red synchronized with an Innocence and the Earl was called back.

So far, Road (and the other Noah) benefits from these consequences: she wanted the Earl’s awakening to destroy the present world in order to take revenge of the Pillar. So either Cross and Road talk about two different things or there’s more to it than that to the point that even Road considers this a mistake despite the advantages at first glance.

At least, I guess it’s (kinda?) safe to assume Allen’s body = past!Allen as Neah knew him. Allen wouldn’t have been able to move the Ark otherwise:

Another lead to whoever past!Allen was might be linked to THIS in volume 27:

????? Who was this? And also what kind of situation were they in? It looks like the mystery person held past!Allen right before parting (before he lost his memory maybe?)/dying. They look as though they’re stuck in a tricky situation: their clothes look torn to shreds, and particles in the air look the same whenever there’s action in the manga? OH. Perhaps the transfer of Neah’s memory into past!Allen would be successful if and only if the memory of his past self was erased? Because two memories maybe can’t safely coexist in one body: we know even the Noahs, described as « superhumans », struggle with their memory and it threatens their sanity if they don’t suppress it. So this could be worse should a human unrelated to the Noah experiment the same thing.

But could one erase their memory in the universe of DGM? It doesn’t seem that far-fetched since:

Neah’s memory was successfully transferred in Allen,

magic is a thing in this universe,

Skulls can ‘reprogram’ a human’s brain to transform them and Apocryphos can easily rewrite memories,

in ch209, when Johnny was searching for Allen, Crows (who use sorcery) coerced him into drinking a drug that would supposedly erase his memories of the Order??? (now I know it could be a lie and it was poison instead since the Central and the Crows’ methods are rather radical):

Heck, past!Allen could even be from another timeline/from the previous/future world destroyed by the Pillar! Which could explain Allen’s recent dream of the Pillar? It could even be linked to « ••• » in this dream eg. his ‘real’ name or role (since the syllables don’t even match Neah’s even though it triggered Neah’s awakening once he woke up)??

▶ Road and Apocryphos

It’s more apparent in the original version but Apocryphos wavered, looking almost surprised/bothered to face Road as it’s accentuated with the ツ. Compared to his confidence in taking down Tyki, calling himself their Reaper and so on, this looks like Road could be a bigger threat than the other Noahs. (Perhaps it’s only random but Road stabbed Apocryphos in the left eye, just as she did to Allen in the rewinding city!)

It’s also interesting to note he recognized Road as the 9th Noah only once Tyki shouted her name. It could mean:

Road took another appearance we don’t know of 7000 years ago, and it’s confirmed in the manga: she’s stayed like this for 35+ years. We know that since Wisely awakened as a Noah and met them.

Either Apocryphos didn’t meet her since she took on this appearance (so in this 35+ year span)

Or he did meet her but didn’t recognize her as the 9th Noah

If he only recognized her after his punch, how could it have badly hurt Road? I thought you had to know her true ‘identity’ to harm her, which was why Allen couldn’t hit her with his sword.

Allen could harm Tyki but not Road, and only Apocryphos could???? Since he was present 7000 years ago and most likely was responsible in whatever happened then, it’s safe to say he should know about the Noah and the world they lived in enough to be able to harm Road.

▶ Chapter 219: Butterflies, the souls and the Earl

(thisoneisevenlongersorryyyyy)

When the Earl vanished before Katerina and split into Mana and Neah in ch219, two butterflies are seen flying above them.

My best guess would be they’re respectively male and female white cabbage butterflies (pieris rapae, or the great white butterfly, pieris brassicae, a close relative to this species), pretty common butterflies:

I also found that pieridae caterpillars often PARASITE cruciferous plants (they often eat cabbages, broccoli, kale, mustard) ie. plants with flowers that have CROSS-arranged petals (yes, it’s a detail that’s probably irrelevant but it was fun to find that randomly, I live in overthinking and reach-land haha).

In Japan, butterflies often symbolize the souls of the living and the dead. It’s also a symbol of spirituality (the cycle of life, birth, death, metamorphosis, reincarnation, immortality), as the cycle of a butterfly embodies it in its four stages (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly).

As the later part of the manga focuses on helix magic and its principles (the body, the soul and the spiral of life), the ‘death’ of the Earl makes way for Neah and Mana, a ‘rebirth’ of some sort. Which makes me believe that what we saw as the Earl against Allen in volumes 24-25 (and perhaps even the rest of his appearances in the manga with the suit) was actually his ‘body’, which takes the shape of his suit (we even see the costume ripping in half with what looks like a zipper). According to past!Allen, a body is merely a vessel that needs a soul for life to exist. The costume of the Earl might be in desperate search of its lost soul (Mana + Neah), which is why it endlessly devours human souls (through perhaps the making of akuma?): Hoshino said there’s a reason why she draws the Earl plump, it’s just a theory for posterity haha! Is this the same mechanism that turns Timcampy this big?

Note (see the end of this point for more on golems and DGM!): I read on Twitter that at the exhibition held in honor of DGM, it was explained that Adam was the name of the ’skin of the Millenium Earl’ and Adam was the first golem (just like in the Bible, Adam was made of the dust of the earth and was animated by God’s breath)! (With their poison, Akuma turn humans to dust………… Timcampy also turned to dust once touched by Cornelia’s bark…………. Innocence also turns to dust, just like Mugen when Kanda left with Alma or just like Allen’s did at the Asian branch…………)

This is pure speculation, but perhaps the Earl decided to forsake his tragic millenium role once he finally witnessed the beauty of this world (be it his meeting with Katerina and/or something else). After all, according to Neah’s words: « Seven thousand years of life… yet the Earl’s heart is stuck in that scenery. » Maybe he realized the Three days of Darkness were meaningless, that they would feed an endless cycle of atonement, hatred and vengeance? It could also be why he gave life to Neah and Mana. Neah holds the power to destroy the Noah while Mana seems to be able to devour the Noah: perhaps the Earl intended Mana to first devour all the Noah in order for Neah to finally destroy them all and put an end to this all?

However, something ruined this project: the Noahs probably disagreed, determined to see their vengeance through (by sacrificing the Earl, summoning the Earl and destroying ‘this world’ they created). It could also be the Heart, or both the Noahs and the Heart working with each other. In one way or another, they managed to persuade/compel Mana to devour Neah (perhaps that’s where Joyd played a significant role in all this?).

On the subject of the souls, since Neah describes Atuuda’s power as the opposite of Mana devouring him (and we now know the Earl feeds on human souls), it certainly works as the partial transfer of the owner’s soul to another to ‘heal’ them (or is it something like ‘rewinding’ their state to before they got injured? Does this have something to do with whatever rejuvenated past!Allen and aged up Mana’s appearance??). Before Link healed Neah in ch221, Allen’s jacket was pierced ; Atuuda mended his injury and the hole in the jacket was also gone.

Zuu only described it as Atuuda exhausting his own ‘life-force’ to transfer it to someone else, he was not specific in his explanation so it’s only guesses here.

Design-wise (and reachland-wise haha), the six spots on the female white butterfly could be a recurring motif related to the soul, like the six dots on Link’s tattoo 8D

(Also noticing just now but dude Link must have a lot of gloves in stock, he came back with a glove when he saved Neah haha)

I can’t decipher what Zuu wrote to summon Atuuda but they’re replacing the dots here. Atuuda also has three spheres on each mustache-thingy!

I found a retelling of a Japanese legend of a white butterfly (in Myths & Legends of Japan, by Frederick Hadland Davis). I found it narrated on Japanese Folktales: The Butterfly Soul – Under the influence! if you want to check it out! A white butterfly visits an old man at his deathbed. It was the soul of his beloved that died when they were young, the old man never left her alone and would keep tending to her grave. The butterfly didn't leave until his soul left with her.

The butterfly in ancient greek was ψυχή (psyche), which holds several meanings: the wind blow or breath and by extension life force or breath, life, soul, butterfly and Psyche (essentially known from the myth of her love with Eros/Cupid and its trials). Interestingly, « psyché » in French also refers to a piece of furniture with a window-frame in which a great mirror was mounted. It was a great Art Deco symbol and was a motif depicted in paintings. It reflected its owner from head to foot, just as the mirror reflected Mana, Neah and the Earl’s souls in volume 25.

It’s also a symbol of (tragic) love sometimes eg. the chinese legend of the butterfly lovers.

Final note on golems: the word ‘golem’ was used once in the Book of Psalms to refer to Adam when he was what was translated as a shapeless mass, an embryo out of clay lacking a soul. The Talmud sometimes calls Adam a ‘golem’ when referring to the first twelve hours of his life: it was still only an inanimate body without God’s breath of life.

Golems also have a mystical origin, created by magic spells. The methods of creation and destruction vary from a tale to another eg. dancing and chanting the hebrew alphabet in different combinations ; using a pure mass of dust, water, sand, earth or flour ; prayers, fasts, purifications ; engraving ‘emet’ (truth, God’s seal) on its forehead and erasing the first letter alef to call its death (met means death).

In ashkenazi hassidic traditions in the 15th century, the golem became a real creature, serving its masters and fulfilling the tasks it was given. This tradition became really popular in the 17th century, and was linked to the ancient belief in the possibility to resurrect the dead by putting in their mouth (or on their arm) a piece of parchment marked with the tetragram. Following this belief, it could turn into an evil being that had to be destroyed to prevent terror and death from spreading.

The golems embody both the figure of a protector/servant but also of a creature of destruction:

→ Golem | Jewish Museum Berlin « A golem is a creature formed out of a lifeless substance such as dust or earth that is brought to life by ritual incantations and sequences of Hebrew letters. The golem, brought into being by a human creator, becomes a helper, a companion, or a rescuer of an imperiled Jewish community. In many golem stories, the creature runs amok and the golem itself becomes a threat to its creator. (…) Originally, creating a golem was a way for medieval Jewish mystics to come closer to God. »

I don’t know why, but these two pages of ch231 comes to my mind when I read the last sentence:

I wanted to know more about golems in general, and I came across this conference of Ada Ackerman, an art history specialist that dedicated a great part of her works on the golem and its representations through time (religion, myths, books, cinema): YouTube

She quoted a yiddish play excerpt and it was really reminiscent of the creation of Akuma. The golem in the play pleads with a voice (which is unusual, since it is mainly represented without a voice and genderless) its creator to not create them. It is already conscious of its potential for destruction, and asks to remain into nothingness:

I tried to translate it very roughly: « I have a voice that is not yet a voice. I have a heart that is not yet a heart. (…) I will say it again and I warn you, please do not create me! See those stars dying! And so will the light of every eye laying on me. My footprint will only leave desolation, and from what my hand touches only ashes and dust will be left. »

Interestingly, גּוֹלֶם in modern hebrew designates both the pupa and the golem, as well as a dummy, a mould or a fool.

▶ Chapter 219: Poppies, puppets and myths

Flowers also grow at the foot of the tree Cornelia. When the Earl disappeared, Katerina was plucking those flowers. It could be poppies, that often bloom in wheat fields. These flowers are also on the chapter’s cover.

In hanakotoba, poppies can symbolize peace of mind, sympathy, presentiment of love, sorrow of parting, comfort or consolation, rest or relief. This is pure speculation, but like I said above, this could fit with Katerina and the Earl meeting and whatever he found in the mansion, making the latter realize his war against the world is meaningless.

Poppies in Japanese are 芥子, keshi. I remember seeing on her ig account that Hoshino wanted to emphasize the meaning of flowers in her story. For example, the lotus held a heartbreaking significance to Kanda and Alma’s arc. She also focuses a LOT on the puppet/staging/dramatic imagery in DGM (Lala, the exorcists controlled by the Innocence and Apocryphos and the Noahs by their memories, Crown Clown, the circus, …)

And funnily enough, poppies can be phonetically associated to a kind of japanese traditional wooden dolls, こけし, kokeshi. Kokeshi doesn’t have a kanji writing people generally agreed on: I read that before an exhibition in the 20th century, dolls were referred to by many names. Artisans and collectors agreed on ‘kokeshi’ in hiragana only.

Therefore, you could have various combinations to write kokeshi:

→ the ‘ko’ in kokeshi could refer to ‘child’, ‘small’ or ‘wood’ (then deriving from 'ki') → the ‘keshi’ in kokeshi could refer to the verb ‘chisel’ (削る, kezuru: kokeshi are wooden pieces chiseled on a lathe). It could also correspond to ‘poppy’. But most interestingly in DGM’s story, it could be linked to another verb, ‘erase’ (消す, kesu eg. an eraser is a 消しゴム, keshigomu): Neah said the Earl disappeared only once off the face of this earth, Mana ‘devoured’ Neah, and Allen is now facing the risk of disappearing himself.

Kokeshi can be made with cherry wood, japanese maple, but also dogwood. Dogwood’s variety is also known as cornus in latin, that Cornelia’s name could also originate from aside from cornix (raven).

One of the kokeshi features is sometimes the lack of limbs, just like the Innocence and the Fallen Ones.

Note: Poppies and crops (just like the Campbell mansion landscape) are also symbols of Demeter, the greek goddess of the harvest, the fertility of the earth. These flowers are also associated to Nyx, the goddess of the Night, Hypnos, the god of dreams and sleep, and Thanatos, a minor god of death, who are her sons. The abduction of Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, by Hades also involves poppies. In some tales, as the poppy was cultivated for the sleep-inducing and anesthetic properties from its sap, it is said that Hypnos gifted Demeter the flower to find sleep as she grew desperate at her daughter’s disappearance and left the earth barren. Other tales explain that poppies would grow to announce Persephone’s return to Earth, symbolizing the nature and Demeter’s rejoice.

▶ Mana or the Earl’s destruction?

I’ve been wondering about this since Allen’s escape from Apocryphos & Cross’s involvement with the plot: what real difference does it make whether Mana/the Earl is destroyed by Neah or the Heart?

Ch237 introduces these two paths clearly as opposites in Cross’s pov: « Right now, Mana has forgotten that he is the Millenium Earl. For the Innocence… The Heart, this is an opportunity like no other to destroy the Millenium Earl. Neah must be the one to destroy Mana. I have wandered this world for decades for that very reason. Searching for Neah’s host. Anything else that draws near Mana, I eliminate. And by that, I mean anything. Anything at all. »

Dude was hellbent on this mission to the point of 1) killing a kid should he come too close to Mana & 2) making a deal with Luberrier to ‘protect’ Neah (and eventually use him as a weapon)??? And THIS makes me wonder (when I read the trivia on his wikia character page):

What was his relationship with Neah? He was dragged in this mission by him. Which is interesting since Cross was introduced in the story as Neah’s supporter by outsiders ; we now get to see a more nuanced relationship. I wonder what differs from his relationship with Mana.

So, in addition to what it carries emotionally (to have Neah destroy Mana to save him from his misery), the consequences must be different depending on who (Neah or the Heart) kills who (Mana or the Earl) somehow. It must be the same consequences for Allen as overcoming Neah’s memories by himself and letting Apocryphos fuse with Allen to get rid of Neah. In ch236, Apocryphos witnesses Mana and Red embracing each other, saying Red will destroy the Earl so that the Heart will be reborn????? (First of all, it is a loophole in the Heart’s description by the Order: it is an Innocence that presumably holds an absolute power over the others, its destruction by the Noah would be fatal to the Order. Since it will be reborn, how come the rest of the Innocence still exist, eg. Cross’s Judgement and Maria were both seen, idem for the exorcists experimented on for the 2nd gen. project before that alleged rebirth?)

What if (see my theory in the previous points): → the Heart destroys the Earl (after destroying Neah) ➾ perpetuation of the cycle, the Pillar is again summoned since the end of the world is also « God’s » will: the Earl must forever be God’s sacrifice in atonement of his past sins. The manga suggests → Neah destroys Mana ➾ the end of the Noahs, set free from their vengeance and the Pillar

At this point I’m even starting to believe the Heart is a Noah haha (I was thinking about Road but what if it was Joyd 8D? He was perhaps not yet ‘reborn’ when Apocryphos changed Mana and Red’s fate because Neah killed him, and he was the only Noah seen destroying Innocence in the manga when he destroyed Allen’s)

In volume 25, we learn through Neah the Earl disappeared only once, dividing into Mana and Neah (so prior to the Heart’s rebirth). After Apocryphos mingled with Red and Mana’s fate, we see one of its direct consequences is the Earl’s awakening. And in ch202, we learn the Earl (or a piece of Mana’s consciousness) asked the Noah to protect Neah from the Heart even at the cost of their lives?????

The first time we learn of the Heart’s existence is from the Order’s point of view. With the search for the Heart from the Order's perspective, we take it for granted that the Heart is a single human being synchronizing with this special Innocence. Since the story revolves around the possibility it might be told by an unreliable narrator (the existence of Apocryphos and its ability to rewrite entire pans of memories, Innocence — a false ‘God’ the Order is fighting for, Noah’s hidden truth, the other side of the war …), who is to say the Heart comes in a shape no one expects?

In ch111, Lavi states the Heart should only be one. But should it, really? The original version of this panel puts accent on ‘one’:

For example, the Heart could be two halves forming a whole, just like … Mana and Neah form the Earl … Mana and Red were also needed for Apocryphos’s plan to succeed … I don’t believe the Heart is the Earl, at least not alone (why would it first want the awakening of the Earl and then his destruction?), there must be more to it than that.

▶ Joyd

I never paid attention to this bit in ch226:

I get the feeling that whatever made Mana ‘eat’ Neah was also urged by Joyd. Especially because Joyd appeared grinning as soon as Tyki set out on destroying Neah’s bond with the Earl, the obvious bad blood between Neah and Joyd (+ the fact he reincarnated with an uncanny resemblance to Neah, and his peculiar existence apart from other Noahs was hinted at by Road since ch93) and these panels:

Mana sounds helpless here, overwhelmed by whatever made him do this.