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helloescapist · 1 year ago

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The Hashiras in a Relationship| Kyojuro Rengoku

Word Count: 4800?

Setting: Kyojuro Rengoku x gn!reader (there is one mention of kids in the future, but it's not implied how they will enter the family).

Content Warnings: none 🔥

Summary: headcanons Kyojuro Rengoku as a relationship partner, what it would entail. Dating to commitment.

[image is not mine]

To be loved by the Flame Hashirais to know comfort and warmth. To be loved by Kyojuro is falling nights, evening hours beneath stars that twinkle in the sky. The soft glow of cinder illuminating silhouettes, soft touches that at a moment’s notice deepen. Its security, an embrace beneath a blanket, two bodies coiled within another. It’s his breath against the back of your neck, snuggled close together. Savoring the tender notes of Japanese Red Cedar, tender as the embers cool. The fragrance of smoke, delicate and hazy. Dulling the senses as the warmth threatens to drift you off to sleep. The touches of smoke, destined to dance across your flesh. Lingering in the warmth, savoring one another, and perfuming your pores. To be loved by Kyojuro, is to stand next to a bonfire. Dance beneath the stars, warm and playful, to twirl in smoke, to bask in the crisp scent of leaves, and embrace comfort. The sweet caress of Orange Osmanthus. To know that regardless of where you may go, the scent of smolder shall remain, just as his love.

To be loved by Rengoku is to understand that you will need to embrace him. To accept the warmth of his smile, to respond to his laughter, to bask in the soul-piercing questions.

It’s to bare your deepest desires, and return his own. To welcome his confessions, to caress his tears, to cradle his insecurities.

To be loved by Rengoku is to be loved in every sense of the word. It’s to know the reliability of the rising sun; to know that regardless of the darkness that may claim the night, the dawn will always come. The warmth of embers upon your flesh, plush blankets, and the tender brush of his nose against yours.

It’s to know sacrifice, to know the honor of a Hashira, of a partner, and of a good man. Whether it is the haori off his back, relinquishing his bento to a hungry stranger, derailing a date to help a little granny carry a parcel home, to more extremes such as defending a child who impeded upon a nobleman’s honor, to staring death in the eye to protect mizunoto.

To be with Rengoku means accepting filling his empty tummy; it’s for the best his cooking is… questionable. It’s not he’s actually a bad cook, it’s more like he’s overzealous in the kitchen. Bare in mind the era, alongside his rank amongst the Demon Corps, Kyojuro likely wouldn’t have many opportunities to interact with the kitchen outside of amusement.

While he can follow the recipe well enough, I mean he is no stranger to scavenging the forests of Japan. Ultimately, his own excitement coupled with so many options—what is mitsuba? He’s confident he has seen [YN] use it in the kitchen. It MUST be tasty!

In it goes. He’s never been properly been given the opportunity to interact with a vast variety of spices and seasonings, and so, Rengoku is quick to deviate from the recipe.

To be with Rengoku means that, colds are in your future. His over generous heart very well will have him giving up his bed for a stranger while out on a mission, donating his haori for a passerby, so I recommend brushing up on caring for a patient.

Especially one as unintentionally stubborn as Kyojuro. It’s not that the Flame Hashira aspires to bring home a cold, or he means to be a burden while he’s ill. It’s rather that, it’s because he doesn’t want to burden you with his condition that he will attempt to hide it.

He will struggle against being cared for, insure you that he will manage. Please, don’t mind him. You will have to be firm, remind him that you WANT to care for him, and even resort to some under handed tactics to ensure he remains in bed.

I suggest reaching out to Shinobu for wellness supplements, vitamins, and rations for him to carry on his missions if he doesn’t give them away. You may have to resort to simply adding it to his daily routine, he certainly won’t reject the idea if you reassure that it’s because you care.

Despite his fuss, he loves that you’re taking care of him.

Regardless of what route you take in ensuring his physical wellbeing, the day will come. The day you pray will never cross your paths, when a kakushi delivers the news no one wishes to utter to a lover.

To be with the Flame Pillar is to accept that he will offer up his life for the sake of others. It is, after all his duty. Bestowed upon him by birth, gifted from the gods, and gently instilled with the pride of his mother, the day will come, and to be with Rengoku means to accept that one day, he will not return.

That your bed, will be empty, devoid of laughter. His curiosity and jovial smile will be absent from the kitchens, and your nights will be robbed of his enigmatic gaze.

This is the duty of his lover. One that pains him to impart on you, but one of which, he cannot avoid.

Just know, that every moment he dedicated to you were the happiest of his life.

[YN], I’m so sorry I won’t be home for dinner.

Reminiscing of the first bento you had ever made, the pride in which you had presented to him, the brightest smile touched to his face as he passes from this world.

Your first meeting, would be an everyday event. One where you went about your duties.

Whether it was to report for duty, under Oyakata-sama’s watchful gaze. The tilt of your head, eyes well trained to avert from another’s gaze. The polite bend of your back to even the kakushi that rushed through the halls, to the depth of your bow as you greeted superiors, well-practiced and mannered. The soft, humble smile tucked at your lips as he passed you by.

It could be on an average serving day, employed at a local tea house. Disbursing tea and treats with a dutiful bow, and gratitude upon purchase. Welcoming all those who passed the business. The deep bow from those that frequented your shop regardless of station. The way you had tended tend to an elderly man, who had struggled with his meal. His later years betraying his body, making him jumpy and unstable. How you had quickly preserved his honor without so much as a second thought. Willing to take the blame for offering him such cold food that it had sent a chill down his spine, both of you knowing that the meal before him was well prepared, all while maintaining the bend of your back.

Truthfully, the first day you would encounter one another, would be an ordinary day. It would be your average day. One born of duty, of survival, of tasks to be accomplished, and yet, the way you had conducted yourself.

Respectful, dutiful, kind. Not a day in which you would expect attraction to ember. The touch of cinders had ensnared him, drawn his attention.

The days to weeks to follow, you find yourself caught under his gaze. The touch of embers drawing your curious attention, embarrassed to be appraised. Bashfully averted, prioritizing manners whether of station or employment.

The warmth of crisp fall leaves, captivating the ambers of autumn, engrossed in the warmth of fiery red enough to draw the heat to your cheeks.

Unlike some of the Hashiras, Rengoku does not require as much time to pursue you. While he’s not as intentionally flirty as some of the Hashira, he is also not as hesitating either. I would say, he’s a fair middle ground.

He craves a deep connection, and a genuine partner. His approach to ensuring he has glimpsed at the truest version of you, would be similar to Shinobu.

The Flame Pillar will take some time to observe you. Nothing as in depth as the Insect Hashira’s approach no one will be as thorough as Kocho. It will be small drop-ins, interactions made in passing.

Never intending to snoop, but he could not resist the way his eyes followed you, the way you had pulled from an onigiri from your pocket, offering it to a small child who’s stomach knew of hunger. Could not ignore the gentle way you had consoled them.

Nor the time when he was out securing bentos for his journey, ensnared by the way you had placed yourself between an innocent bystander, and a fowl temper drunker.

He would have intercepted the interaction, but it was evident that the lecture you had elicited had more than sobered the man up, and shamed him more than any smack Kyojuro could have provided.

No, he really wouldn’t need that much time before he approached you with the intentions of taking you on a date, or seeing you more casually. He certainly has no qualms about making the first move.

Should you decide to reject him, it will be met with a sincere smile, and apology for disrupting your day. However, in the event you have elected to turn him down, you will have to make the first move if you’ve changed your mind.

Kyojuro is a tolerant man, and he will take you up on your offer despite his bruised ego, but he will not ask you a second time.

It’s not that he’s no longer interested, rather, your reject was clear—he is not one to force himself on you, or anyone else for that matter. He does not enjoy playing games.

That being said, his willingness to approach you first is a breath of fresh air amongst the Hashiras, not many of them will approach you first, or willingly announce their attraction in the way that the Flame Pillar, nor as openly.

The positive is that your relationship, is not expected to progress slowly. The first date will be set as soon as Rengoku has determined that he is in fact interested. This stage can move as quickly as his interactions with you.

If you happen to work together under the Demon Corps command, you can expect things develop fairly quickly.

However, if you are not a member of the slayers, then your opportunities are limited to the interludes between his missions.

To be clear, Rengoku is not averse to a more casual relationship. Although he approaches them with trepidation. While he is flirtacious intentionally or not, he has very little desire for a fleeting attraction.

He wants a spark, a flame that bursts upon impacts. The rumble of hearts, merged to one, singing of more than simple cravings of the flesh, but rather the desperate plead of souls pledged to one another.

The steady flames of true love, he is looking for a partner one in which will satisfy his desire for a deep connection, not a passing fling.

For this reason, Kyojuro is not likely to engage in a casual fling. That being said, while such fleeting interludes are rare, they do happen. If this is the arrangement you desire, your best bet is to be forthcoming with your expectations.

If you are insincere about your relationship expectations, you will likely be met with a critical reaction before the bond is without a doubt, severed.

To be loved by Rengoku is to engage in deep, intimate conversations. His desire to connect with you will not be satisfied without such interactions.

He wants craves to know the truest you. To delve into the depths of your soul, to know the warmth of your smile. He yearns to dance upon midnight with you, to play in the snow as though you were children, and to witness to your tears.

To comfort your fears, to quiet the depths of your mind, and the doubts that fester there. He desires nothing more than to understand you. To care for you, to know the you, you would only dare share with him. Him alone. Rengoku is more than willing to exert all of his time to unfolding the layers you bare.

Discussions of your future, and the possibilities that accompany them will be common place. While he savors the present, the warmth of your smile, how lovely your eyes are alight in the daylight, and your scent as delicate and earthy as sweet potatoes, the Flame Hashira’s heart is towards the future.

Even on your first tryst, Kyojuro’s core is considering the life ahead of you. Whether you will marry, or engage in a promise of souls. If you would want children, or rather, how many children would you be willing to care for.

How you might turn the Rengoku estate into your own, would the home smell of tea and yaki imo? Would you great him with daigaku imo on harder days? How do you prefer to express your affections? How would he achieve this? How would you ensure in all the years to come, that you will always know his affections are for you, and you alone?

the man is already considering names for the fur ball he would bring home for you.

Kabocha for a rabbit. Kaki for a dog. No, wait. [YN] may a cuter name like Mochi, or Chibi.

Prepare yourself, he will not hesitate to approach a heavy topic. He wants to know the profundity of your dreams. Savor the taste of your aspiration.

There is a chance you may be blindsided by his abrasive approach, rare is the man who would impede on these topics on the first date, but I suspect that the natural warmth and acceptance that Rengoku radiates, will have your lips moving in no time. Whether you are shy or not, I imagine that he will find a way to have you talking. He’s so good nature, that I doubt it would be a forced situation.

He may have offered too man alcoholic drinks, unaware of your low tolerance. The spew of confessions to follow enough to shame him for not cutting you off sooner—he should have been more thoughtful.

Or perhaps he noticed the way your eyes sparkled when you passed by an artwork, inquiring if you yourself, are a crafter. Your excitement to share your passions betraying your attempt to maintain intrigue. I

t’s okay, he finds the way you overshare the intricate details of your passion adorable even if he doesn’t understand the terminology.

For this reason, your first date may last far longer than you ever suspected.

Truthfully, you’ll notice fairly early on that Rengoku supports these pursuits. The Flame Hashira would not shy away from bringing back tokens of affection on his journeys.

If perhaps you were interested in seamstress work, he would bring back interesting hand-dyed patterns he had passed in the different regions. Eager to share them with you.

If perhaps you had a pension for reading, he would bring back any oddity transcript he had happened to pass along the journey home.

Ironically, while the Flame Pillar is able to elicit the smallest of details from you between honeyed words, and lending an ear, you will find that Rengoku will require some time to open up. Although this will not be as lengthy of a transgression as most of the other hashiras, it’s difficult for Kyojuro to share his vulnerabilities.

It will come, and such topics will be approached in time and naturally. Such as the first time you visit his home, and inquire of his mother, he will express with a distant gaze of her passing. You’ll know when the time to delve deeper will come, but until then, know that it’s not that he is attempting to conceal his past from you rather, he’s worried that it may change your opinion of him.

Dates with Kyojuro would be as diverse as the man himself. Some activities, will be energetic and playful. Implicative of childhood memories, challenging you to catching fireflies in the summer. Playfully daring you to a sparring match, maybe even sumo if the mood strikes him.

Other times, the dates will be intimate. As deep and connected as the conversations he elicits from you. Fingers interlocked, blazing glances. The touch of your footprints etched along the sand as you stroll through the beach with one another. Nights gazing upon the stars, laid along his haori. Snuggled on the veranda as the day wanes, worn out from the hiking expedition he had spirited you away on.

In time, you’ll discover that Rengoku considers your happiness as though it were his own. He will do anything he can to bring the smile to your face, to light up your world whether in small gestures, or grand it does not matter. Whatever crosses his mind, he’s like a puppy eager to please.

Determined to stay at your side when work allows him to do so. Whether this means simply basking in your company while you pursue your passion, or attempting to assist you as you do so if sewing is your joy, you will have to place him in charge of simply handing you needles, he is not adept with thread.

He is so very, eager to please. At times, you may even feel that you are not meeting his expectations. In his over enthusiasm, you may feel rather than the gentle nudge he intended, that you are being shoved down the pursuit. Taking it at an expedited pace than you may prefer.

As with any relationship, this can lead to resentment, or inadequacy between the two of you, and really, he never intended for you to feel negatively. He genuinely wants to support all of your desires and pursuits, so much so, his over eagerness inflicted harm. If you choose to leave it to fester, you are both likely to end up battered and bruised, but should you choose to approach it rather than shy away from it, Rengoku will immediately apologize.

Again, all he ever wanted to do was support you—tell him how you view support that way you desire. A hug after a long day? Will do. A cup of tea while you work, he’s got the pot boiling, hands off, oh gods he will dutifully fight remind himself.

Just be sure to verbally praise his efforts, while he does these acts out of the goodness of his being, he still loves to be praised appreciated.

In fact, Rengoku is so eager to please, that you will discover rather quickly that his over generosity will lead to exhaustion, illness, or burnout. Whichever may come first.

To love the Flame Hashira, is to accept that there will be times in which you will need to fast guard his health, mental, emotional, and physical.

As I’ve already mentioned—he will neglect to do so himself, so this will be a long-term source of frustration for the both of you. One which you will likely have to repeat for years to come. but, it’s why you love him.

Along with the herbal treatments Shinobu will gift you, you will also have to make sure that he has regular interactions with his friends, and reassure him that you will enjoy your night at home, or with your own friends while he does so. He is so prone to prioritizing you, that his other relationships often fall to the waste side.

The gentle reminder, and encouragement to pursue these connections will be greatly appreciated, and do his heart some good. He is after all, a social butterfly. With the verbal reassurance, he will greatly appreciate your attention to his needs.

Don’t worry, he’ll behave regardless of where Tengen’s antics lead him.

When he falls, he falls hard. Like a meteor crashing to earth, embedding the earth’s surface. Permanently carved across the exterior, Rengoku is a goner.

For all that he is willing to give to you, every ounce of his time, his energy, his affections, his very heart, Kyojuro expects the same commitment from you as well.

In love, Rengoku is highly in tune with his partner. He’s able to sense the shifting of moods, of growing needs. He is the ultimate cheerleader, and will always be your side.

Rengoku, as you already know is a family man, and friends are at the center of his universe. Regardless of how dedicated he is to these relationships; he will always ensure that he has time to spend with you.

Just be sure to remind him to engage with others from time to time, he is at risk of getting lost in you. don’t let him lose himself in you.

As a partner, Kyojuro is understanding, and when it comes to understanding your needs, he is quick to adapt. Rather, he has a natural ability to care for those around him, and read the room. Should you have an off day from time to time, he is quick to overlook it as he retains the best version of yourself that he has grown to know.

Eager to please, quick to assist you whether it’s washing dishes, chopping vegetables, hanging the laundry, or even more intensive tasks such as hauling water from the mountains. He thrives with a happy and supportive partner, and as long as he is cared for in the same regards. He will not blink regardless of the requests you make of him.

Rather, one of the most difficult obstacles you are likely to encounter is the Flame Hashira’s inability to relinquish his burdens. While he understands that any part of a healthy relationship is carrying one another’s loads, he struggles with the concept of burdening you with his own.

Far too willing to accept yours as his own, but stubborn to accept your aide. Nor confess his desires for you to offer. Yet, the moment you break through his façade, he will crumble.

Tears that roll through a smile, joyful to have been accepted. To be supported. The child who had to accept the loss of his mother, to care for a small child well beyond his age, and capabilities. The very child who had met nothing but disapproval and rejection, embraced in your support.

Hold him.

You are a source of true joy, and meaning in his life.

It goes without much saying that Rengoku is a very, very protective lover. Alongside his natural desire to shield others, you have garnished a special place in his heart, and he will rise to any threat that pursues you.

A demon, he will stand between you and death. If someone has infringed upon your honor, he will safe guard your reputation without a moment’s notice. Should the situation require it, blows will be traded. He will always, protect you.

Where a lot of the other Hashiras have their difficulties with communication, you will not find this is the case for Rengoku. In fact, it’s rather the opposite.

In the event you yourself struggle with communication; he is quick to adapt. He’s open, and engaging, and if you find your struggling, don’t worry yourself too much. Kyojuro will adapt to suit your communication needs. If you are the type to need space, he’s more than okay with this.

Openly express that you need a moment he still needs the reassurance that your love is his own, and he will happily give you the time you need. If you are a fast talker, well, he is more than capable of matching your speed.

Truly, the only difficulty that you will meet in conveying yourself to one another, is in the event you are jump with loud noises. Remember, he doesn’t necessarily for his voice to boom. It’s his enthusiasm, but with his damaged ear drum, you will find that he’s naturally… loud.

After succumbing to hearing damage with his encounter with the flute demon, he struggles to hear soft voices. Patience, and adaptive communication, you’ll have this sorted out in no time—and your relationship will be better for it.

The first time you utilize this communication (signing), he will gush. To do something such as learn another language for him. he’s melting.

The embrace he will trap you in upon realization of your fingers moving, the words falling between your gestures. It’s going to hurt, snap your spine, and force the air from your lungs, hurt. Mitsuri warned you. He doesn’t mean for it to; he’s just so happy.

The playful, bashful laugh as he runs his fingers through his hair upon realizing how he openly grasped you in public.

While the swordsman is communicative, there will also be points in your relationship where you will notice he has a slight passive aggressive side to him.

His intentions are never to hurt you, but the reality is that Rengoku was not given a lot of opportunities to appropriately navigate tension in relationships. In these moments, you will have to re-center yourself.

Remember your boundaries, and your worth, remember that you love him. Compassion will go a long way with him, and give him space to work through what little thing has set this agitation into play. He really is sorry. He didn’t intend for his jealousy to ebb him that way, and what was such a little thing—he told himself that your attention to the grocer was nothing to concern himself with, and yet, that small piece of him nagged.

Succumbed to his own low self-esteem, and thought, perhaps, maybe you were interested.

While the Flame Hashira is not one to back down from a physical challenge he loves the opportunity to prove his growth as a swordsman, Kyojuro is quick to avoid confrontation in his relationships.

He favors harmony between the two of you, and a majority of the time, will avoid it at all costs. You mean so much to him, he really doesn’t want to fight. He just wants to snuggle.

Yet, disagreements are a natural part of any relationship, and when they rear their ugly heads, he is willing to do just about anything to disperse them as fast as he can. His haste actually puts even the smallest of disagreements at risk of maturing, and infecting, left unresolved over time.

However, as long as he is given the appropriate space, and by which, I mean, you reassure him that he is as valued to you as you are to him, he will rise to the challenge, and face the spat head on.

In reality, Rengoku is one of the Hashira at risk of jealousy. There may be moments where jealousy and low self-esteem fuel tension between the two of you.

While at times he appears to be the most confident member of the Demon Slayers Corps, the reality is that from time to time, distant whispers of his life will surface. Hushed reminders of doubt, of worthlessness. In these times, he is sensitive to things around him.

Such as another person openly attempting to engage you in flirting. He is mature enough to know that it is not your fault, nor does he intend to burden you with his past but it’s still a part of him.

It’s rare, far and few between that these moments surface, but there will be times in which they are dredged from the depths. At these times, jealousy may follow.

Because of this, it’s important to note that Kyojuro is a loyal partner, and as long as his self-esteem is intended to appropriately, you will find no more a devote partner. Through thick and thin, he will always stand at your side, but should his needs be ignored, he is not validated, and trust break down in the relationship...

I would say that he is at risk of straying outside of your relationship parameters. and he is horribly ashamed for the betrayal

One thing that you will have to understand in moving forward in a relationship with the Flame Hashira, is that Kyojuro places a large importance of continuing on his blood line, and duties.

While it’s true that he is accepting of Senjuro’s rejection of the responsibilities of being a demon slayer, he still feels a source of pride that his brother lives on. Because of this, I believe that Rengoku would want a few children of his own—not that he would ever force them to undertake his position.

Rather, I suspect much like he embraced Senjuro’s break from tradition, he would support the childrens deviation. If in the event one of them did decide to accept the obligation, I don’t feel that Rengoku would draw special attention to this from the other children.

I suspect that he would boast about ALL of his children’s accomplishments regardless if it were slaying a difficult demon, tending to children of their own, or embarking on their studies. Really, he would just want them to pursue their dreams regardless of what route they may follow, but this does mean, children are in your future.

For Kyojuro, he thrives on words of affirmation. To be openly praised, shamelessly bragged on whether it’s his attention to details, his dutiful physical tasks, or even adoration for him having picked up dinner, he thrives on this attention. It’s the fastest way to ensure that he feels important in your relationship, and treasured.

For the Flame breather, words of affirmation come just as easily as breathing. In fact, he’s quick to disburse his praise, and it takes absolutely no effort on his part.

He will shower you in applaud. Shamelessly declare you the best partner of all, regardless of your surroundings. If this is your love language, you are in luck because he will satisfy every flattery you could ever hope for.

In fact, at times he may go overboard and risk it falling on meaningless applause.

If in the event that it’s not, it’s okay that you’re shy from the private eye. He’ll learn to whisper it in private moments rather than so openly, but it will take some adjusting.

In terms of gift giving, I also see this being a strong suit of his. He has no aversions to physical intimacy, nor shies away from displaying it in public. I suspect that he would be more than content to lay his head in your lap, stare lovingly into your eyes, brush the strands of hair that fall before your eyes behind your ears.

The fire of his desire is not one to stray, but I imagine that he would comfortably the role of physical affections. Fingers interlocked during strolls, and allowing you to rest your head on his shoulder when you are tired.

Although his over enthusiasm for your touch may result in a few moments turning heated. are you really mad though?

The Flame Hashira would also be fairly forth taking with gift giving; his travels for missions have him sprouted all throughout the region, and his overly thoughtfulness will result in him bringing you a wide variety of tokens of affections.

This little kappa reminded him of how you loved to soak in the bath, this flower it’s dead, but it was as beautiful as you in its prime, this bento has your favorite snack in it—you get it.

Where ever he travels, you are always on his mind, and as long as you express your appreciation, he will never hesitate to bring home present after present, after offering of devotion.

He’s giving, overly so. Prepare yourself.

Acts of service is without a doubt, going to be met. As it’s already been expressed, whatever you ask of him, he will more than deliver.

Asked him to bring water down from the mountains? Oh, he did, he also utilized it to wash the laundry, hang it to dry, and utilized the leftover to prepare a warm bath for you.

He is literally a man of service.

Ultimately, I believe the area in which Rengoku would struggle to express his affections is actually in the quality time together department.

It’s not that he doesn’t savor moments with you, he adores the opportunity to have you at his side. However, the Flame Hashira’s determination to serve, leads him to feel that any, ANY small moment can result in restlessness.

He should be doing something. He should fold laundry. He should run you through self-defense drills to ensure you are safe while he is away, he should—his mind struggles to rest. He really and truly, is eager to serve.

SO much so that if your needs rely on quality time spent together, you will have to quiet the doubt of his mind. Reassure him that the extra time in bed together in the late morning, is all you need to be happy.

The reality is, to be in love with Rengoku is to know support. It’s to know devotion, and unwavering loyalty. To have someone always in your corner, always on your side regardless if you are in fact, wrong. It’s to know dedication, and warm smiles. To savor sweet words, as sincere as the heart they blaze from. It’s to know that despite the distances you may face, you are always on his mind. In his heart. To be loved by the Fire Hashira is to know the passion of the heart, of devotion, of the flesh. It’s to know that you are everything to him, your bond as close as destiny itself. To be loved by Kyojuro is to know love, the depths of a flame so smoldered and that the ardor will never be snubbed out. It is to be truly embraced as you are for who you are. A romance secured by soft touches, endless praise, unwavering support in pursuits of joy. To know that you are his joy. To know that he will love you.

Even in death.

In this life.

And the next

#kimetsu no yaiba x reader #kny x reader #demon slayer x reader #rengoku kyojuro #kyojuro rengoku x reader #flame hashira #TheHashirasinaRelationship

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vivacissimx · 11 months ago

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roose bolton as a father figure to theon

the theon's disturbing relationship to paternalism beam is still shining bright. obviously the ned and balon and balon and ned Thing is happening but if we are going to embrace the horror of ADWD, let's lean all the way in.

the role of the father is molded as such to manufacture obedience from his children—generally speaking but also daughters in a specific way, sons in a specific way. filial duty is considered a virtue in westerosi society (even when your father fails to be virtuous himself) and it's the mode by which the father holds power over his children when they come of age. the father reproduces himself by claiming a son under his name & castle, the father reproduces his values by shaping behavior, the father punishes unsanctioned behavior not (merely) by criticizing the contents of the actions of the son, but by virtue of it being disobedient i.e. obedience to my instructions has within it an inherent Rightness / my instructions are Right because they are mine (circular i know!). this is probably doubled for those who follow the Faith of the Seven where the image of the father is a reflection of the Father aka disobedience flirts with blasphemy. sorry for the monologue—this is gonna be important later.

one of the reasons ned & balon come across as such supreme assholes in theon's ACOK storyline is because even outside the emotional reality of theon being a hostage from 10 years of age, he also pretty much does obey what they have to say. there is a time where he plays by their rules and they still don't approve of him or claim him fully. it's a social contract where ned and balon don't really fulfill their ends of the bargain, so it feels unfair. it feels willfully blind because ned and balon SURELY see the benefits they've accrued at theon's expense—ned lives in peacetime having experienced war, and balon keeps his life/lordship which if he were to have been executed for treason, would have all seemingly gone to a boy lord theon—yet they don't recognize the "theon's expense" part.

see how that works? "you are virtuous and right for following my commands" but theon follows their commands and doesn't get his Virtuous and Right headpats. and that rankles him deeply.

okay, now onto roose as theon's father figure in ADWD:

theon is part and parcel of roose's son ramsay. Reek belongs to Ramsay, and Ramsay belongs to Reek. in fact the original reek was a servant who roose gave to ramsay's mother as the first act of acknowledgement. it's through reek that ramsay became roose's bastard. we see that when roose demands ramsay give theon up (briefly), ramsay must oblige... hence, reek is still a form of reward/acknowledgement from roose to ramsay. theon is entangled in them and for roose to kill theon could very well be construed as killing off (ramsay as) his son

roose thanks theon for giving him the north via taking winterfell & (inadvertently) ruining robb's situation. roose is thanking theon for the ability to reproduce himself as lord of winterfell and warden of the north—a duty that a son owes his father

i wrote a post about theon's gender troubles that delves into his parallels with barbrey ryswell dustin—how roose treats them both with certain cares to insure their good behavior, and how they both see through the farce. however the difference in roose bolton's world of easy replacement (he replaces multiple wives, domeric with ramsay, reek with reek II) is that barbrey is warned of her fate via the example of bethany ryswell bolton, her sister and roose's dead wife, while theon is warned of his by the example of domeric bolton, roose's dead son.

barbrey steps into the role of domeric's caretaker and main maternal figure because her sister is dead. then ramsay kills domeric. roose allows it. barbrey puts it as: “The widow of Barrowton… and yes, if I so choose, I could be an inconvenience. Of course, Roose sees that too, so he takes care to keep me sweet.” sweet is not the best word for our barb but she plays along with roose's game despite there being no real endgame beyond a petty revenge against the starks. the writing is on the wall though. not to put too fine a point on it but: ramsay will kill any children walda frey has from roose, and barbrey will know precisely who did it

in theon's case, roose's manipulations go like this: “Serve us in this, and when Stannis is defeated we will discuss how best to restore you to your father’s seat,” his lordship had said in that soft voice of his, a voice made for lies and whispers. Theon never believed a word of it. He would dance this dance for them because he had no choice, but afterward… he will give me back to Ramsay then

roose actually tells theon the story of domeric. he describes domeric's relative capability and desire for brothers. he confesses that ramsay killed domeric and that he did nothing about it, that he fully anticipates ramsay to kill any children he has with walda. later, when theon is thinking about how roose will give theon back to ramsay, the conclusion is clear: ramsay is going to torture and abuse you, and i will do nothing—just like i will do nothing for any other sons i might have

theon co-victimhood with jeyne. does that make theon roose's sort-of daughter-in-law?

that last point was a haha joke... unless? after all, theon did canonically desire for ned to adopt him via marriage to sansa. so roose adopting him via "marriage" to ramsay, theon's use to roose being dependent on his subservience to ramsay, or more specifically, his role as legitimizing ramsay/reproducing roose in a similar way to marrying arya stark and having bolton children with her will... that is to say, haha

starks and boltons are foils, ned and roose are foils, ramsay's dogs and starkling direwolves are foils: if ned was a quasi-father figure AND simultaneously warden to theon then why would roose not be as well considering the stark/bolton relationship?

remember when i said that theon is intensely bothered by the fact that he "obeys" ned/balon but gets nothing for it? if you agree with that then consider this passage: Theon wondered if he might be allowed to fight. Then at least he might die a man’s death, sword in hand. That was a gift Ramsay would never give him, but Lord Roose might. If I beg him. I did all he asked of me, I played my part, I gave the girl away.

there's likely much more i could say here but those are a few points that i think are interesting as part of the larger discussion on theon as well as the social critique in ADWD theon POVs. i mean it really pulls the curtain back—stripped of all romanticism and in the dead of winter where nothing grows, what is a wife truly? a whore, jeyne says. what is a hostage? mine own face on their lie, not [even] a man, theon says.

what is a father? well in theon's decidedly horrifying case, it's the man who has use for you or else what's the point of you being alive

#theon greyjoy #roose bolton #asoiaf #asoiaf meta #text #valyrianscrolls

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rideboomindia · 1 year ago

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Now you can book small delivery truck with the RideBoom app

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Courier and parcel services have become a fundamental part of our day-to-day life and with the rise of many parcels business or real estate sector e-commerce, local businesses, and food delivery, furniture the demand for quick and efficient removal services has increased. The courier and parcel and removal market in India experienced significant growth after the pandemic.

Now with the RideBoom app you not only can book taxis and bike rides, but you can also now able to book a small delivery or removal truck.

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At this stage, the RideBoom delivery truck service is available only in tri-city and very soon the service will be added to more cities.

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#rideboomindia #rideboom delhi #delhi airport #delivery #taxi #taxiapp #travel #airport taxi

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lizpaige · 10 months ago

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"Declan Lynch was (not really) a liar."

Declan's "lies" about Niall from Ch 12 of Call Down the Hawk are buried in truth. When asked "What does your father do for a living?" he gave a couple answers that he deemed as lies:

"He sells high-end sports cars in the summer, life insurance in the winter. He does financial consulting for divorcees. He does advertising work for international companies in English-speaking markets. He's in the FBI." Chapter 12, page 88

Here's my unnecessary thoughts/analysis on this:

"He sells high-end sports cars in the summer, life insurance in the winter."

This is referencing his traveling for work to sell his dream things. The life insurance part to me screams the danger from that life, of Declan not knowing if he was going to come home okay after a trip away. Declan was the one who accompanied him on some of these trips, he knew the danger of his father's arrogance, of his father's profession. He was probably worried for him.

Niall's trips were already mentioned in CDTH but in a romantic way from Ronan's POV:

"This was his father, after all, leaving the Barns with a trunk full of dreams and returning some months later with a trunk full of money and gifts. This was his mother, after all, sending him off and then welcoming him home. Ronan remembered the reunions well. The way Aurora's smile got unwrapped along with the rest of the parcels in Niall's trunk, the way Niall's was dusted off from a high shelf where Aurora kept it." Chapter 6, p33

Obviously Ronan and Declan had differing opinions on Niall's trips away. Ronan longs to be like his father, to be able to leave the Barns and travel (to live in Cambridge with Adam). Declan sees the danger Niall put them all in, his father at fault for the loss of Aurora...

"He's an anesthesiologist."

IMO this is Declan's dark humor. He knows about Aurora, he watched her "fall asleep" right in front of him. He knows about the dreamt creatures in the barn and he knows the risks of Matthew being tied so closely to Ronan while Ronan is in this deep dark depression. This is a TRUTH. He puts things to sleep, professionally.

"He does advertising work for international companies in English-speaking markets. "

Again referencing Niall's job. Niall would go to the Fairy Markets talking of this secret "Greywaren" he had almost like he was advertising it.

"He's in the FBI."

Does Declan already know about the moderators at this point? Or does he just know of times the government has had to step in to cover up another dreamer's mess? Had Niall been one of those dreamers?

Anyway TLDR: Declan Lynch is about as much of a liar as Ronan "I don't lie" Lynch. Everything that comes out of his mouth is half truths and buried in truth, you just have to dig a little. Or maybe he just desperately wants to stop living in lies and secrets.

Regardless, both Lynch bros lied to Matthew so 🫠

#declan lynch #matthew lynch #ronan lynch #brothers lynch #call down the hawk #cdth #trc #the dreamer trilogy #tdt

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herobeater · 13 days ago

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Water Weight

The worst thing…

Dr F says –

Her voice its usual mix

Of upbeat flippancy and hard practicality

And iridescent, pristine professionalism,

Tugged down by some truer, heavier anchor –

…The worst thing

Is seeing a grown man cry.

All the rest of it I can deal with:

Being the one to push it through, the release of

Bladder and bowel, listening for

The heartbeat. The women, the children,

The bag, the freezer – but when

The men cry…

Bit sexist,

I think.

But there’s

Truth there.

Benito was one-hundred-and-fifty-plus pounds

Of gentle, nervous devotion. Oversized housepet –

He should have been a rabbit, really,

Instead of a Saint Bernard. Always patient,

He fretted as few dogs can through

The prodding and the radiographs and

The bone punch biopsy – all stoicism and dumb,

Sweet incomprehension as we discussed amputation.

He was no man’s dog. He could not have

Killed a squirrel. He could not have

Defended livestock. He could not have

Gone to war. The only blood he’d ever have

On his soft, well-groomed coat

Would be his own.

But he was one man’s dog.

Mr M was probably five-foot-three, topped out at

Probably one-thirty, small but sinew-strong

From the job that scuffed his sturdy workboots

And had not given him enough dental insurance

To fix his gappy, protruding teeth.

He listened to each gutting parcel of bad news

With resigned eyes and doom-stricken, understanding nod

And one brown hand clutched

Like a soldier comforted by his rifle

In thick white fur.

He was braver than Benito through it all,

And Benito was brave.

When the bell had been lifted from that broad chest,

His knees met the ground in a great plangent clang

And when he finally got up, I had to support

The dense and meager weight of him

As if he were the corpse.

He sleeps in my bed.

He’s always slept in my bed.

Impossible not to picture it:

The pup growing and growing

Until it dwarfed the man,

The snores and the drool and the hair,

The significance of the familiar weight

As habitual as the pressure of the ocean

For some toothy deep-water fish.

How will I sleep now?

And the cry that sprang from him –

The uncontrollable, truth-shattering howl –

The sobs that wracked his small body

As if they could transform him

Into a newer, fiercer creature that might have

Seized the cancer like some precious pearl

And pressed it into himself instead –

The slow, sleep-walking erosion of something great

Into thin, honest courage,

Hemorrhaging itself

Into vicious, fang-baring desperation,

And then – salt water,

Heavier by milligrams per liter

Than the pure thing,

The paltry sum so much less

Than the ocean that was.

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balkanradfem · 7 months ago

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All of the gardening ladies in the community garden have started working on their parcels, and one who was very mean to me is no longer there, so I was very happy and looking forward to having a good time in the garden this year, without being worried about getting bullied.

So naively and optimistically, I went to say hi to all of the other ladies working in the garden, but I forgot, that for some reason gardening ladies around here just tend to not be normal people. I engaged in a casual conversation and accidentally mentioned that I already had planted some of my tomatoes, because it's so warm, and the lady I was talking to warned me that it was likely going to frost soon. I acknowledged that we used to have late frost in the earlier years, but I had always planted a risk wave and the last few years there was no late frost, and I contributed this to the climate change.

Outraged, she went 'Climate change? Don't talk to me about climate change, it's propaganda! I work in a insurance company and I'll tell you about climate change, we had the coldest summer last year, and we no longer insure for frost from how bad it's gotten, it is NOT getting warmer!'

And I didn't expect to be yelled at about climate change, nor that anyone at this point, could deny it, we're having summer temperatures at the beginning of April. I said 'Okay, whatever you say' to get out of that conversation, and then later I heard her talking to other ladies talking about how in some USA states it's forbidden to grow your own food, you are only allowed to plant flowers, but not vegetables. I looked that up just now, and it seems to be true, but only for front yard gardens, you can grow vegetables in the backyard. And some people were forced to stop gardening because of that law, and are fighting for their 'Right to Garden', which feels so dystopian! In the articles I read it was explained that front yard gardens were taking away from the 'aesthetic' of the neighborhood and that's why they were banned. Truly horrified by the fact that this can happen, why are people allowed to make laws based on aesthetic. And maybe it's not that, maybe that's just an excuse to force people to buy food instead of grow it.

#random stories #troubles in community garden #how i wish to have normal interactions with other gardeners #but no

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sailor-scribbles · 2 years ago

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Patron

Mamoru was puzzled. Sitting on the table was a parcel that Usagi had excitedly brought in just a moment ago. It was about the size of a toaster and wrapped in brown paper and twine. The package was addressed to Mamoru but had no return address or markings.

“I wonder what this is.”

“Eh? I thought you would know. Like maybe you ordered a new coffee maker or some books.” Usagi picked up the box and shook it a little. It seemed fairly light. The contents just sounded like paper shifting around inside.

“I don't remember buying anything.”

“Maybe it's a gift!”

That seemed possible. Just last weekend, Mamoru turned a nice round 20 years of age. The official age of adulthood according to Japan. He celebrated appropriately – a night out with friends from college, punctuated with a special surprise when he came home… Usagi wrapped in a bow.

It was a good birthday.

But who else would be sending him something this late?

Mamoru pulled off the twine and started to unwrap it as Usagi looked on curiously. The box seemed oddly scuffed, but ignoring that he pried open the top.

They were photos. Just an huge cache of photos – loose, mostly candid Polaroids, a couple of framed ones as well. Mamoru turned the box over on the table to look at them. As he spread the contents out, he noticed a small envelope along with them.

“They're all of this man and his son.” Usagi had picked up a handful of photos and was flipping through them. And she was right, they were mostly of a dark-haired man and a boy, smiling and waving at the camera. But something tugged at Mamoru's mind as he stared at them. A stack of family photos addressed to him…

“Hey, Mamo-chan, he kinda looks like…” She trailed off, looking from the photos to Mamoru and back again. The unsaid implication hung in the air.

He had already realized it as well. The man looked familiar. The shape of his face, the color of his eyes… were very much like Mamoru's.

“Dad?”

~~~

Mamoru didn't know how long they sat there, slowly sorting through the pictures. Neither he nor Usagi said a thing. Before today he had no photos of his parents. Growing up at the children's welfare center, he had the same as everyone else: food, clothes, and roof over his head. Not much else. Not even memories.

It wasn't until he was old enough to leave the center that he was confronted by an attorney, who told him about the Chiba inheritance. The woman said that, coupled with the insurance money, the accounts had been handled by a private party and kept safe for the day Mamoru turned fifteen. She assured him that he would be well taken care of: an apartment in Tokyo and already registered to attend the prestigious Azabu High next spring. Besides a few assets that were locked away until he was an adult, the rest of the money was his to do as he pleased.

But it was the first item she handed to him that was the most important: a simple one-page family registry, his parents' names typed out neatly on the sheet:

Father: Chiba Ishiei Mother: Chiba Hiyo.

For nearly five years that was all he needed. Mamoru kept it tucked away in a book among many on his shelf, away from prying eyes. After confronting his visions and meeting Usagi, there was never any question about what he left behind.

Until today.

Now his past was laid bare on this small kitchen table. There were so many photos. All of them were of Mamoru and Ishiei – or should I call him Dad he wondered – doing various things. Going to the park, attending a festival, Mamoru's first steps…

He didn't remember any of it.

Mamoru took a closer look at the mailing box, which he now noticed was much older than he first thought. The cardboard was scuffed and scraped, like it had been shipped many times. Various postmarks were stamped all around it, overlapping once there was no room left. He ran his finger over the faded ink. Okinawa, Honolulu, London, New York, Paris… He could just barely make out the full name of the package's original recipient: Chiba Hiyo. His mother's name.

If these photos were his mother's, then who sent them to Mamoru?

His gaze fell on the little yellow envelope that had tumbled out of the box with the pictures. It looked newer than the rest, crisp and bright. Blank.

A sudden panic clenched his heart. Mamoru was six again, waking up alone and confused. Who was he? Did anybody know? For nearly a decade he had waited in that facility for someone to remember him. And only now was there a response. A distant relative? A stranger? Weren't those both the same thing at this point? An unknown person who knew more about Mamoru's childhood than he did.

Was he afraid?

Before he could be overwhelmed, a gentle warmth enveloped Mamoru from behind.

“Mamo-chan. I'm here with you.”

Usagi had at some point gotten up to embrace him, her arms wrapping protectively around his shoulders. Cradled to her chest like this, he softened as her heartbeat steadied his own.

Mamoru reached up for one of her hands, bringing it to his lips to kiss it. He didn't trust himself to speak yet, but hoped that was enough to tell her how much it meant to him. With his other hand, Mamoru finally picked up the envelope and opened it.

Inside was a letter. He read it silently as Usagi looked over his shoulder, still keeping him in her arms.

Chiba Mamoru

These belong to you. I think it's about time for both of us to have closure. If you'd like to meet, I'll be waiting at Cafe Toujour, August 30th at 3pm. This will be last and only time.

Your benefactor, Kusaka Toshie

It was short, almost terse.

“Kusaka Toshie…” Mamoru repeated the name under his breath. It didn't ring any bells.

“Do you know him?” she asked softly.

“I don't recognize it but…”

He remembered what that attorney had said those five years ago. “A private party” had handled Mamoru's funds while he was at the welfare home. Was it this Kusaka person?

“….it's complicated,” Mamoru sighed. His brain was exhausted from running in circles. It wasn't that he didn't want to share this with her, but Mamoru himself didn't understand that part of his life very well. Somehow, it seemed a lot scarier than fighting aliens or evil. At least he had practice with that.

Usagi didn't press it, instead kissing the top of his head comfortingly. She picked up one of the photos and smiled at the scene: Ishiei giving toddler Mamoru a piggyback ride.

“You look really happy in these.”

She held him closer as he kissed her hand again.

What to do about the letter could wait until tomorrow.

(an extra fanfic bit from this.)

#sailor moon #tsukino usagi #chiba mamoru #fanfic

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somethingusefulfromflorida · 1 year ago

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Are PO boxes worth it? My younger sisters used to live at the aparment complex I'm moving into, and they say they never trusted the mailboxes there. They always had packages sent to our older sister's husband's mom's house, but I don't know her and I don't want to do that. I don't know how big or secure the parcel lockers are at the apartment, but when I signed the lease they said that they are not legally responsible for lost or stolen mail, so I'm thinking about renting a PO box; a decent sized one goes for a few hundred dollars per year, so I could afford it, I just want to know if it's a scam or not. Saftey deposit boxes at banks are scams because they're not insured or monitored, and most modern banks have stopped offering that service because they're not satisfied with how much money they make off of the space invested. I imagine the post office as being more secure, but I don't actually know that for sure. Do any of you guys have experience with this?

#po box #postal service #post office #mail #usps #i need advice

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itsgothgirlthyme · 1 year ago

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Chapter 1: City Style

Ken Doll

Chapter 1: City Style

Word count: 2805

cw: g/t (duh!), swearing, hints of fearplay, but it's all just fluff mostly :)

Note: This story has been brewing in my mind ever since I saw Barbie with my friend :) i've been adjusting to living in my new home and job! Things are going pretty well btw!

Anyway! honestly kinda challenging writing about 12 inch characters since i’m used to writing about smaller (my tiny 5inch steve harrington). lol. BUT IT'S BEEN FUN! This is ryan gosling’s ken btw, bc i said so.

...

Anna rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to focus her dry eyes on her computer screen. Her brows furrowed and she let out a deep sigh. She shut the computer and rubbed her eyes. She got up from the dinner table and slammed her window shut. The muffled traffic outside eased her mind. Instead of, not staring at a screen that irritated her mind and body, she scrolled through her phone.

Her text notifications were highlighted in big red blobs as she swiped past them. Eventually, doom scrolling her way to a toy company page on Instagram. Large letters in fun fonts were colored brightly. She raised a brow at the celebrity appearances which increased their likes. After a few minutes of research, she found out their orders had even tripled recently. All for a new line of robot toys, making her frown.

“Shit,” she scratched her brow, “might need to work for these guys.”

The thought of a bigger paycheck did make her smile. It was tempting to leave the company she’d been contracted with for years. Though they’d kept her and accommodated her needs when her accident happened. Except now her paychecks were slimming, she was pulling out of her savings, and she’d only now got insurance to cover for her meds. Then the problems just piled on from there.

“Damn… mood ruined,” she said to herself.

Anna shook her head as if her thoughts would disappear with the motion. They didn’t. She deeply sighed and set her phone down on the kitchen counter. Anna’s glasses fogged when she opened a bag of steamed vegetables. She dumped the veggies into her bowl of rice and meat before diving in. Every full spoon of food in her mouth was met with a harsh critique. She scrolled through the comments on the graphic designs she’d submitted. The latest one was for a doll in Mattel. Trying to do Barbie justice seemed harder every day for some reason.

A light knock on her door caused her to jump in her seat. She slowly walked up to the door and looked through the peephole. The apartment door across from her was the only thing in sight. Anna opened up the door and looked downwards. There was a white parcel waiting with her name on it. She picked it up and placed it on the dinner table. She examined it but realized there was no return address. Confused, she set it aside and scrolled through her emails.

Anna got lost in her work and remembered the package at midnight. Her dark short hair was wrapped around large curlers. She wore matching green satin pajamas and fluffy socks.

“Right…” she eyed the mystery box and grabbed a pair of scissors.

The box revealed a familiar product.

“Okay, Ken,” she said to the doll staring back at her through plastic, “let’s see what you’re here for.”

She set the box to the side and started to scroll through her email. She searched, and searched, and searched. Nothing. She furrowed her brows and realized she’d never gotten a Ken to advertise in her career with Mattel. Anna snorted. Someone would have to do some insanely good marketing to get a single Kens sales up.

She looked at the basic model of Ken. Blonde, blue-eyed, and wearing soft pastels. Her brow raised at the color choices. She liked them. He had a plain pink pastel shirt, and beige pants alongside white shoes. The more she stared she swore she could see more detail. The plastic looked textured and she swore his hair looked coarse. Anna blinked and rubbed her eyes.

“I think I’ve actually lost it,” she said under her breath.

She got up from her chair and shut her computer. Anna decided she would just call work tomorrow and figure it all out. Except when she started to step away some curiosity swirled in her mind. She looked over her shoulder at the box face up on her table. She’d already stepped into her room and could just fall into bed.

“Ah, shit. It doesn’t hurt to look,” Anna said.

She took a seat again and started to cut off the tape around the box. Then she gently pulled the cardboard latches. She slid out the flimsy cardboard printed with a blue cloudy background and the Ken doll attached. She picked it up into her hands and her thumbs were beside his ziplocked hands.

Anna truly believed she was losing it because this Ken was heavily detailed. Too detailed, too human-like and it was bugging her. She rubbed her eyes with one hand and adjusted her glasses. Then she heard a breath that wasn’t her own. She once again looked down at the doll.

Ken blinked.

What.

The.

Fuck.

Ken blinked, again. His brows shot up before letting out a shout alongside Anna who dropped him. Her chair smacked against the floor as they both continued to scream. After a minute they’d both gone quiet. Anna with her hand over her thumping chest and Ken frantically looked around him. A pang of guilt hit her chest as she realized he was still trapped in ziplock cuffs.

She bit the inside of her cheek realizing she was referring to a toy. Yet he was so… lifelike… and his confused face was making her heart sting. She silently reached for the scissors as her shadow covered Ken. She hovered over him, still standing, and moved the scissors near his right hand. He turned his face to the sharp tool and then looked away while squeezing his eyes shut.

She frowned but Anna snipped off the first ziplock cuff. After that, he turned his head back to the spot. He looked surprised and then he smiled widely at being able to move his hand. She smiled softly as he curled and uncurled his fingers in front of his face. While he was distracted she snipped off the rest of the ziplock. When he’d realized he was free he looked up at her with a smile.

“Thank you!” he said.

Anna still unsure of what the fuck was happening, hesitated before responding.

“You’re welcome,” she said.

She opened her mouth to say something as Ken got up. He looked at his surroundings with his hands on his hips. Anna just couldn’t find any words as she watched his beaming face falter. He still stood on top of the cheap cardboard and mumbled to himself. His brows were scrunched up in confusion and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

“Okay, it has to be AI,” she told herself, causing Ken to look up at her.

“What’s AI?” he asked just as Anna set her chair back and took a seat, “And uh where am I?” his voice went up a pitch. He kept up a brave face but his body language said otherwise. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet and started to over-fix his hair. Anna felt another pang of guilt in her chest. She tried to push it away and wondered if this was a part of the appeal for a new toy. Its awareness was off the charts, and again seemed so human.

“You’re at my apartment,” she said, not wanting to explain Artificial Intelligence to something that was most likely AI or close to it.

“Oh,” he blinked like it wasn’t something he wanted to hear. “It’s nice,” he complimented, “and really big.”

She smiled at that, “Even I feel like it’s kinda big sometimes,” Anna said. A decent-sized kitchen was behind her. She sat at her dining room table. To her right was her living room with lots of furniture and personality. Three doors spread out in the apartment. Once was for the entrance, the other door next to it belonged to the bathroom. The open door to the right of the couch went into her bedroom. It was a score honestly, she’d gotten lucky before inflation hit and managed to keep the place.

Anna looked at Ken who again was looking around with wide eyes. She snapped the laptop open causing him to jump and let out a squeal. She muttered an apology while he tried to play it off like he hadn’t been scared. Her ringed fingers clacked against the keyboard as she started to type keywords into a search engine. Ken had leaned his pretty self to look at the screen. The flashing of colors made his eyes hurt as it felt like she was scrolling 10 miles per hour.

“Nothing…” she muttered.

All she saw was some shitty Barbie AI filter, a Mattel babysitter bot, more Barbie models that were problematic and cute little robots. Then she moved to her emails, but there was nothing.

“Nothing? What is nothing?” Ken asked, causing her to remember he was still there. Not a dream or a figment of her imagination. He had this display of confusion written all over his face, and couldn’t seem to stress what he was confused about. Anna dragged her hand over her face.

“I’m trying to figure out what you are, or who sent you… or anything,” she explained and then perked up. “Wait! Do you know what you’re doing here? How did you get here? What are you?” she bombarded him with questions. Ken froze up and gave her a blank look.

“You don’t know… do you?” she deadpanned.

He shrugged with a pitiful smile but then he lit up. Anna felt hopeful as he opened his mouth to explain.

“Well, I know I was in Barbie Land,” he started and Anna’s hope shattered. “… and I’d been trying to y’know… find what it means to be Ken. I-I can’t remember when I got in that box, and why I’m so… small,” he let out a defeated sigh.

Anna let out a dramatic groan startling Ken again. That was a lot to unpack but nothing useful to her.

“Sorry,” she said.

Ken just blew out air from his mouth and put his hands on his hips. “Not a big deal,” he said and she raised a brow at that. He attempted a look of *whatever, it’s cool* but he did not seem cool with it, at all.

“Right right,” she said amused.

She eyed him and he looked away when she started to stare for a long time. She reached her hand out to him and wrapped her fingers around his waist. He snapped his eyes to her hand as she lifted him from the table.

“Woah uhh,” he fumbled for words as his fingers wrapped around hers, “can you put me down?” he asked.

She held onto him with one hand and used the other to take his shirt off. Numerous protests came out of Ken’s mouth yet he had no choice but to comply. Anna held the piece of fabric between her fingers which was soft and didn’t have the typical plastic shine. Meaning the stuff wasn’t cheap, that was for sure. He wasn’t cheap, it made her feel like she shouldn't even be holding him. The pale pink colored shirt even had a tiny tag, it said, Mattel. She set it aside on the table and then turned to Ken.

His back was facing her as she traced her thumb over it. She reeled her head back in surprise at the warmth under her thumb. She could feel the grooves in his spine and he felt fleshy. Fleshy yet smooth, like plastic. She squinted to see if she could find anything to explain all of this. The outline to a compartment box or serial numbers.

There was nothing and tiny hands around her finger grew tight. She let out a huff and the puff of air gave Ken goosebumps. He looked at his arms in surprise at the chilling sensation he’d felt. When he looked up he was met with her face. His face was inches away from hers as she examined him. He could feel the heat rising to his face at the proximity.

Damn, his abs are crazy defined she thought to herself. She used one hand to prop up his upper back with one thumb over his chest. Her other hand was on his lower back with her thumb to his left side. A pulse under the pad of her thumb caused her to blink again. The pulse under her thumb on his chest wasn't coming from her.

“What the fuck…” she whispered. This was getting far too weird. She got an incredibly advanced doll with no return address, opened it (like an idiot), and had zero information on it.

“What are you?” she asked.

“I’m Ken,” he said.

He’d slid his hand over her green-painted nail and held it there. He wasn’t sure what to do, it was a completely new situation for him. Sure, he’d had memories of being taken out of the box. Then he was in Barbie Land, that's how it was. It was never this literal.

Maybe this was a punishment or a new beginning. Yet that didn’t explain anything. His head was going to explode from racking through his brain.

Anna let out a noise of frustration after finding nothing other than well-defined abs on Ken. She set him down and he sat on the edge of her table. He was quick to pull his shirt over himself as she went through her computer. Click after clack, nothing. Meanwhile, Ken was swinging his feet back and forth trying not to think too hard.

“Nada, zero, zulch,” she said. It had already been a bit over 2 hours and 3 am was nearing. “I give up. I’ll call work tomorrow and maybe they’ll know what the hell you are,” Anna tilted her head down.

“But I’m Ken,” he said, again. He didn’t even seem confident saying those words.

“Yeah I know you’re Ken, but what does that mean?” In this specific situation, Anna thought to herself.

That earned his silence and his shoulders slumped. She hesitantly gave him a finger tap on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s my fault for opening up your box in the first place actually… Shouldn’t have been nosey.”

He looked up at her which made her chest squeeze. Those puppy dog eyes were convincing her that he was so real, it was weird. Anna yawned a second after and pushed her chair back. She shut the laptop and turned off the kitchen light. She tidied up a bit and then plugged in her computer at the table.

Immediately Ken stood up and she turned to him.

“Do you sleep or charge?” she asked.

“I sleep,” he said snappily. Probably insinuating that he isn’t a toy, but a real Ken doll with sentience.

Okay. Sensitive much?

Anna hummed and racked up her 3 a.m. brain to think of something. She didn’t recall having much Barbie furniture so… she decided her bed would do.

“Wanna join me in my bed? I don’t think I have anything for your size,” Anna said.

“Like sleeping together in the same bed?” Ken asked with brows raised.

“Yeah,” she said.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She squinted at him and tilted her head.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Are you sure?” she asked.

He thought about it for a moment before looking up at her with a smile and nod. She actually could feel the wave of cuteness overload and tug at her heartstrings. He gazed up at her as she hesitantly put her hands around him. This time aware of what she was doing. She used one hand to pick him up by his waist and pulled him close to her chest. She used her free hand to shut the lights off and strolled into her room. Her unmade queen-sized bed awaited them and she set him down on the side she never slept on.

Anna went to her bedside and turned on the desk lamp. She fixed a couple of hair rollers and then slipped her glasses off. She turned off the light and caught Ken staring at her. He was sitting on top of the bed sheets and leaning his back against the pillow. He was quick to look away and she’d noticed his hair was out of place. She smiled to herself before switching off the light.

Her head sunk into the pillow and with half-lidded eyes watched Ken. He was fidgeting with his fingers and was looking at everything but her. She decided to pull the sheets over him and he’d jerked back for a second. Realizing it was her hand in the darkness he relaxed and turned to her.

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

Anna hummed and then dozed off into sleep. Ken was left awake but he found himself fighting off sleep. Finally, he slept as well, hoping he’d wake up in Barbie Land.

...

#barbie g/t #g/t #oc x ken #g/t sfw #sfw g/t #g/t writing #g/t fic #giant/tiny #handheld #g/t fluff #hints of fearplay #handling #slow start but chapter 2 #will pick up the pace #g/t fanfic #barbie #ken

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howwelldoyouknowyourmoon · 10 months ago

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Nov 10, 2023

The July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō focused attention on the Unification Church. The alleged killer’s mother, a church follower, had given her family’s riches to the organization, inspiring her son to take up arms against a politician he saw as having supported the group. A journalist and former politician who has long followed the church’s dealings looks at the issues involved.

To the west of the National Diet building in central Tokyo stand three 12-story buildings that house offices for members from both houses of the Diet. Arita Yoshifu’s former office in the Members’ Building of the House of Councillors commands a view of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Nagatachō headquarters. Arita still remembers the scene from his window one rainy day after the July 8, 2022, assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō.

“A long line of mourners formed behind tables that had been placed outside LDP headquarters for people to put flowers on. Some of the mourners were children who had been brought by their mothers. Even Abe would never have dreamt that he would be assassinated in broad daylight over the LDP’s involvement with the Unification Church. He met with great misfortune,” says Arita.

A Family Destroyed by the Church “I felt conflicted,” continues Arita. “As a journalist, I spent many years covering issues of religion, in the course of which I reported on the Unification Church’s ‘spiritual sales’—sales of trinkets claimed to have supernatural powers, along with demands for excessive donations. After being elected to the House of Councillors in 2010, I used Diet question time to draw attention to the plight of victims of the church. However, the government failed to take fundamental action.”

Yamagami Tetsuya, who has been charged with the murder of the former prime minister in addition to several other crimes, was born into a wealthy family. However, after Tetsuya’s father died, his mother became a devoted follower of the Unification Church, and Tetsuya’s life was turned upside down. One by one, his mother sold off the family’s assets, eventually even selling the family home. She donated more than ¥100 million to the church in all. The financial strain of the donations caused her to declare bankruptcy in 2002. The family faced severe financial hardship, and Tetsuya resigned himself to the fact that he would not go to university.

Tetsuya’ elder brother had a medical condition. In 2005, having taken out a life insurance policy that made his brother the beneficiary, Tetsuya tried to kill himself, in an effort to help with his brother’s medical bills. While Tetsuya’s suicide attempt was unsuccessful, the brother Tetsuya tried to save by giving his life would himself commit suicide in 2015.

“The Yamagamis were very unfortunate,” explains Arita. “I tour the country talking about the Unification Church, and when I talk about Tetsuya’s story, people start crying. That is probably the reason why so many parcels of food and money have arrived from all over the country addressed to him, despite his commission of a heinous crime,” he goes on.

Attacked for Reporting the Truth Arita has been covering the Unification Church since the late 1980s. His reporting subsequently led the Asahi Journal tabloid to mount a campaign to shut down the church’s “spiritual sales” of goods claimed to hold miraculous efficacy. “The church originally raised money by selling flowers, handkerchiefs, and socks, but that never generated significant revenue, so they shifted to miracle-working trinkets in the late 1970s,” explains Arita.

The objects claimed to have supernatural powers included urns, miniature pagodas, seals, pendants, and rings. The church sold these knick-knacks for dozens of times more than they were worth. When Ariyoshi’s articles were published, his exposés made him a target for attacks.

“I received numerous phone calls with nobody speaking on the other end, and I was frequently followed. One day, a man came up to me on the subway steps, punched me, and said ‘remember my face.’ I received threatening letters in which razor blades had been concealed in such a way as to cut the person opening them,” he reveals.

When Arita began reporting on the church, the postwar Japanese economy was booming thanks to the asset bubble. However, the burst of the bubble in the early 1990s and the ensuing recession brought about a host of social problems. It was in this climate of worry that TV commentators started to focus on the Unification Church.

The wedding of pop singer Sakurada Junko in a 1992 church-sponsored mass wedding in Seoul was reported repeatedly in celebrity news, both in magazines and on TV. In 1993, a story about a former rhythmic gymnastics athlete who escaped from the church also generated significant interest.

“From 1992 through 1994, I wrote over 100 articles on the church. TV stations and newspapers only ever treated the issue as celebrity gossip, however. There was very little coverage of the social issues created by the sale of supernatural knick-knacks,” says Arita.

Aum Attack Sucks Oxygen from UC Coverage However, despite the attention drawn by the Unification Church at one time, the public in Japan lost interest over time, most markedly after 1995, when the Aum Shinrikyō cult carried out a sarin gas attack in a Tokyo subway, killing 14 and injuring 6,300. The ensuing wall-to-wall Aum coverage ensured a total lack of interest in the Unification Church, and Aum came to dominate the job requests received by Arita.

“I would try and sell the tabloids stories about UC, only to have the editor tell me my story would not capture the public interest in the way that Aum would,” he says.

It was around this point that the church is believed to have gradually built relationships with politicians. A survey published by the LDP in September 2022 found that 179 of the party’s 379 Diet members, or nearly half, had some relationship with the Unification Church. It was also reported that in the 2021 House of Representatives election and 2021 House of Councillors Election, a Unification Church friendship organization signed agreements with LDP candidates regarding policy. The agreements required the candidates to commit to constitutional reform, increased national security, support for the disciplining of children, and a cautious stance on LGBT issues and same-sex marriage. The church asked candidates to sign endorsement agreements in which they explicitly declared their support for these policies.

Arita describes the history of the relationship between the LDP and the former Unification Church as follows: “The Unification Church was established in South Korea in 1954. In 1958, Korean followers who had entered Japan illegally began proselytizing in Japan. The church also began proselytizing in the United States that same year. In 1968, the International Federation for Victory over Communism was established in South Korea and Japan. The church used the slogan ‘victory over communism’ when approaching politicians, because doing so in the capacity of a religious organization would have triggered suspicion. It was through the Federation that Abe Shinzō’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke, strengthened his relationship with UC.”

Church’s Close Ties to Abe Family Abe Shinzō’s relationship with the Unification Church goes all the way back to his grandfather. Arita says that a former minister in an LDP cabinet once told him that it was Abe who handled the relationship between the Unification Church and the Liberal Democrats. The church valued Abe, too. In September 2021, Abe recorded a five-minute video message that was shown at a gathering in Seoul of the Universal Peace Federation, a group linked to the church. It is said that this video made Yamagami Tetsuya decide to attack the former prime minister. In the video, Abe makes the following comment: “I want to express my respects to UPF founder Han Hak Ja and the rest of you for working with the UPF to resolve conflicts around the world, in particular with regard to the reunification of the Korean peninsula.”

Han is the widow of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon and the current head of the organization, now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. For the organization, Abe remained an important ally, even after he had stood down as prime minister, because of the influence he wielded in the LDP.

But Arita finds one aspect of the relationship between Abe and the church curious.

“When Abe was LDP secretary general in 2003 and 2004, I asked him whether the Unification Church tried to get close to him and he said they did, frequently. When I asked if he met with church representatives, he said he tried not to. At that time, LDP politicians were still keeping their distance from the church. There was therefore a time when the LDP did not send congratulatory messages to be read at UC functions. But as concern about the church’s spiritual sales waned, Abe came to fraternize with church officials, even to the extent of recording a video message for their event,” he says.

Arita’s Aum Shinrikyō coverage led him to build relationships with senior police officers. A comment made by one of those officers stays with him today: “Once the Aum investigation wound up, we were all fired up and ready to get our teeth into the Unification Church.”

No developments were forthcoming, however. About 10 years later, Arita asked the police officer why they hadn’t gone after the church. His response was simple: “politics.”

Children of Followers Still Waiting for Justice In December 2022, the Diet passed a bill aiming to provide relief to victims of the former Unification Church. Attention is now focused on whether the bill will cause the organization to be stripped of its status as a religious organization. But some say that not enough is being done.

“If the church loses its religious standing, it will lose its preferential tax status as well. The private organization that is the former Unification Church will remain, however. In an age when you can send money across borders using a cellphone, it will be difficult to stop people from donating to the church. The church will claim it is the victim of religious persecution and mount a united defense.” Arita stood in the by-election for the Yamaguchi Prefecture seat that was called after Abe’s death, but was unsuccessful. He is currently being sued for defamation by the former Unification Church over comments he made on television. In a gathering held in May 2023 to support his legal fight, he made the following comment: “I take the attitude that it’s an honor to be sued. I will fight to the very end, as long as I’m alive.”

#Arita Yoshifu #unification church #sun myung moon #hak ja han #ffwpu #UC of Japan

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