#perhaps i simply don't like a character or ship because of something to do with the character or ship

[revvethasmythh]

tbh, one of the things I can't wait to be over with this campaign is the idea that any real person's engagement with feminism is somehow tethered to whether or not/how much they like imogen and laudna (and additionally, having the concept of lesbophobia attached to whether you enjoy the ship between them). i feel like every single time there's been a word of criticism about their behavior or development, it's immediately been met with a cry (in certain circles) that anyone being critical isn't feminist and doesn't support sapphic relationships, which has been a WILD experience on my end as a stan blog for a female character who has notable sapphic ships. but none of that has mattered in the wake of these two SPECIFIC characters. like they're the linchpins of feminism and all sapphics around the world, and to dislike or even just be mildly critical of them proves you have disavowed your rights to be a feminist. or queer yourself. if i am eager for ANYTHING to be over, it is that

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

I'm just going off of your posts, but is Sonine your favourite version of Sontails?

Hmmm

If I had to pick a favorite version, I guess I would say them. Their dynamic was the first Sontails related ship I admitted to myself I liked, and the first I found myself obsessed over (and dedicating so many waking hours to)

To be honest, although Sonine counts as a ship under the umbrella of Sontails, it's special enough to me and special enough a case personally that I kind of give it a degree of separation from Sontails. It's why you may see me say that my Sonic the Hedgehog (franchise) otp is Sonine and Sontails

For pretty much 99% of the Sontails dynamics and depictions across the sonic media, I lump them under the umbrella of "Sontails" as one of my otps. This one is a specific depiction of the two in the games and adjacent to that. Even though interpretations of their setting, personalities, etc vary, there are many threads between the pairing you can gather between the games, archie sonic, idw sonic, the ova, the sonic movies, etc. And while I can easily lump my ships between Sonic and the Prime Tails variants under that umbrella in my mind, my obsession with Sontails as an otp largely extends to this best friend relationship between them as it persists across the Sonic media.

Sonine on the other hand, while the two did consider each other best friends, has a different start to their relationship, a bit of a different dynamic, and a different appeal to me.

While with Sontails I'm sticking my grabby hands into sonic comics and tv shows and games and movies for many crumbs of this unbreakable bond, with Sonine I am looking into their specific relationship and dynamic (and the ways in which they compare, contrast, and relate to Sontails)

So to conclude, my answer is both yes and no. Yes, if I had to say so, Sonine is technically my favorite version of Sontails. But under the Sontails shipping umbrella (of ships I actually tag as sontails in my posts/reblogs), it's much harder to pick a favorite, since there are many good moments across the media

Thanks for the ask!!😊💖

[spitdrunken]

man. still have NOT managed to get my hands on the book of bill because it's sold out literally everywhere over here, but have any of you seen the new 'how not to draw' vid on the disney youtube channel that features bill? it really got me thinking.

notes: fourth wall breaking, obsessive behaviour, unhealthy relationships, implied sexual content, implied mind control

it's heavily implied that the video takes place in a world where gravity falls is supposedly fictional, like our own. bill literally says he's going to break the fourth wall! because i'm a sucker for fourth wall breaks and characters being aware of their own fandom (to an extent), i simply just HAD to run with this scenario.

i just like the idea of 'you' being just a person, some totally, in the large scheme of things, insignificant human walking the earth. you have a tendency for escapism, perhaps. you have always been drawn to stories. you like gravity falls. maybe it was something you watched while you were younger and recently rewatched, or an interest that had never waned. regardless, bill cipher, charismatic and unapologetically evil villain that he is, is one of your favourites.

you doodle him on the edges of paper when you're supposed to be doing anything else. (regardless of anyone's artistic skills, it's not difficult to draw a triangle with a top hat and an eye, is it?) and in this world, you are hardly the only one who likes him, who, perhaps, ships himself with him, who thinks about him a lot. who makes drawings and writes or reads fic. you don't think it's all that unusual.

in a stroke of luck or, depending on how you look at it, the exact opposite, the universe's idea of a cosmic joke, you are the one to catch bill's eye. (it's, after all, much easier to infiltrate the dreams of someone who already has you on their mind. makes sense, doesn't it? a tentative, wavering link had been formed already.) there, in your dreams, he tells you what to say--triangulum, entangulum. meteforis dominus ventium. meteforis venetisarium--and the next morning, you remember it clear as a memory.

you do it. for funsies. why wouldn't you? you don't expect it to actually work. he's a fictional interdimensional demon. why would it work? but much to your surprise, and horror, because surely a screw must've gotten loose for this to be happening, one of your little doodles has life blown to it. as a response to your summon, a tiny little bill cipher darts across your paper, alive but still confined.

(you've given him an in. now, he only has to take the crack you've opened for him, dig his fingers in, and tear it open.)

oh, he'll be funny! he'll be exactly what you thought of him. perhaps he even voices a line of dialogue you swore you wrote down somewhere days prior. yes, he's read whatever you wrote or read, whatever you looked at. he's keeping it himself for now. it's not easy to inflate his ego further, but you might have succeeded. rather than a meatbag, bill first looks upon you with the eye of someone presented with a puppy. fundamentally lesser, but capable of being something with the right training.

he urges you to make a deal with him and the promise he'll act out whatever fantasy you've been cooking up in that brain of yours, even if it's gross and weird and physically impossible!

he'll warp your dimension to make all of it possible!!! it's great!!! don't worry about it!!!!!!

…you don't do it. you don't touch the paper. you've seen the show, and you aren't stupid. bill nearly balks. he'd expected you to be the easiest mark of all time, but he suppose he forgot that even puppies have teeth. that's fine. he can work with this. because even though you have not let him in yet, and you refuse to shake his hand through the paper, you don't seperate yourself from him just yet.

you could oh so easily take the piece of paper he's on and throw it in the nearest shredder. or set him on fire. in you, he recognises lingering curiosity, and the excitement at having stood out, at being chosen, in one way or another. it's not hopeless yet.

he can play a bit of a longer game, then. he's been at this for a long, long time. he'll tolerate the paper he's on being folded into a little square and tucked into your breast pocket, granting him a view of your life and the world you're living in. (all the time, his hunger grows.) your decision not to throw him away ends up being your downfall. spending so much time with bill, letting him joke around with you, complaining about your problems… it takes a while for you to realise that, for a while now, he has not been speaking out loud anymore, but instead through your mind.

a connection that cannot be cut has been formed in between two of you.

on bill's part, he had thorougly expected to be bored. but perhaps it's your genuine interest in him, not the things he's offering, which he does not often see. (he's been down this road before. won't end well. but...) the sheer mundanity of your life that makes him wish he could twist and turn it all around. or just a random alignment of the stars. the heart doesn't always follow logic. in this scenario, at some point, bill realises that he has become genuinely invested in you, too. and at that point, you'll never manage to slip away. he's already dug in his heels in your mind far enough. you had no adequate protection.

he still wants to take over your world. he still wants to escape the discomforting flatness of the paper you've summoned him in. but, perhaps, you two could share that meatsack of a body of yours, before things get that far.

[krysmcscience]

BILLDUMP TIME (with transparency, because I can). Don't mind me, I'm just yeeting my goofy art at some way more talented individuals out of nowhere and then hauling ass back to the security of being a weird silent lurker ahaha

@tesscourtes and @beccadrawsstuff, respectively! These two Bills make a little prism of sorts together because of their recent crossovers on Patreon~ :3c Speaking of which, I highly recommend supporting both these artists! They do fantastic work! (TessCourtes and Beccup)

@qoolk on the left, and @monobmp on the right! I am such a sucker for these outfits~ OuO Go and check these two out, their art is phenomenal!!! >u<

@1spooky2me The most difficult Bill of the lot for me to draw, ahaha... Their art is so incredibly consistent and dynamic, I am, a little envious <:,) A little envious, but mostly impressed, so go look at their amazing art, what are you waiting for

And finally, @ckret2, whose writing is sublimely in-character and just a delight to read - they're a great artist, as well! I simply Could Not resist drawing their Bill in this ridiculous incredible and very fashionable pink feather dress, even though he only briefly wears it in their fic, so I also did a little bonus doodle of him in his standard hoodie to make up for it. XD (Also, as far as I'm concerned, Bill and Mabel were both correct in that lime green accessories make the dress Much Better.)

This is just a small selection of the human Bill designs I enjoy. I may draw and post more later on, who knows! Feel free to reblog with some neat Bill designs, either your own or by other folks - if any of the designs particularly call to me, I'll add them to the little list I've got going~ :D (Alternatively, if you really like my stuff and want me to draw something specific, you could...mmm...perhaps, commission me...? OuO)

Also I'm tagging Billford because uhhhh yeah, sorry not sorry, every single one of these Bills is getting shipped with Ford by the artists in some way or another, lmao

[catnippackets]

disclaimer: as a sex-repulsed aroace person myself--

on one hand, there is definitely a bit of a double standard when it comes to handling canonically queer characters like, from what I've seen in the circles that I frequent (if you've had different experiences then great but I'm just telling it how I see it). for example, you're morally reprehensible if you ship a canon lesbian with a man or refer to a canon bi character as a lesbian. people will be so angry with you. and it's understandable, since there's so little queer rep in comparison to cishet rep that when there IS a rare actual queer character, the unofficial rule is "don't take that away from them when you add more headcanons to them". like, respect that this one is REAL and NOT just a headcanon. I think it makes perfect sense to feel upset when people take that away, even if it is just fiction and not even canon to the original source. and yet, whenever there exists a canon asexual character suddenly it's all "oh well asexual people can still have sex so it's fine if we headcanon THIS canon sexuality as something different". it makes me feel so genuinely heartache-y and depressed to see ppl ignoring that aspect of a character.

and by "canon" I'm also including characters that were never specifically referred to with a label but are very obviously coded as something, because those characters will still get the "even if it's not stated it's pretty obvious!!" treatment when it comes to showing attraction to the same gender, but not when they DON'T show attraction to any gender. like aro and/or ace coding just doesn't count. I understand that it's kind of hard to represent an absence of something, especially when you're only implying it and not even directly showing it, but it's not impossible. there's a lot of characters that you could argue are aroace coded the same way you could argue a character is gay coded. obviously to a degree every queer identity gets disrespected in fandom and it's something you just kinda have to deal with, but it's easier to notice when it's something you personally relate to. I don't think it would bother me as much if we didn't have that unofficial "respect the canon" rule and everyone just went wild with whatever, but the double standard does genuinely hurt me, especially when I see people I thought were cool about this stuff participating in it. so whenever I see someone fiercely defending an asexual character it really makes me feel good, like I'M being defended, not a random fictional character that I might not even recognize the name of. I feel safe, like that person will respect ME.

THAT BEING SAID,

AS a sex-repulsed aroace person who enjoys thinking about the entire spectrum of intimacy and where a character may fall exactly on that spectrum, ALSO as a person who is aware that "asexual" simply means "does not experience sexual attraction" and not necessarily "is violently repulsed by anything sexual", sometimes I DO want to play out scenarios for my own enjoyment. sometimes I DO want to think hm I wonder where this ace character's line is, compared to a different ace character. I wonder if there is anyone who would be an exception for them, and how they could go about dealing with that exception. I wonder if they're favourable, neutral, or repulsed. if those aspects of their character aren't explicitly stated then what's to stop me from playing around with them and working through my own issues in a controlled and non-canon environment? if they have the same identity as me, I am way more likely to want to play around with them like a doll and perhaps play out scenarios that I might have thought about before but don't actually want to do for real. I'm not taking away their identity, after all; I'm just, in this scenario, imagining this ace character as an ace that might have sex on at least one occasion for whatever reason. either just to try it, or because they do have someone they'd make an exception for, or if they got bored enough, whatever the reason. it isn't quite disrespecting their truth unless it's explicitly stated either in canon or by word of god that it's something they're uncomfortable with. and to be honest, if I see another asexual creator headcanoning a character as somewhere on the asexual spectrum and depicting them in sexual situations, it makes me almost happy, to know that they're still acknowledging that character's canon identity and accepting and exploring the nuance that could come with it, even if I personally believe that this specific character would be repulsed instead of neutral or favourable. there's this understanding of "I'm doing a character study exploration thing", and not "I don't care I just wanna sexualize this character"

but I literally feel GUILTY when I want to write what is essentially a thinkpiece disguised as a fanfiction or original story on asexuality and take an asexual character (canon or coded) and involve them in sexual situations to explore different avenues of the spectrum. I feel like I'm betraying everyone who's like me and is frustrated with how aroace characters are treated within fandom. I'm like "am I being just as bad as those other people who will disrespect a character's canon sexuality just because they think that character is hot and want to ship them with someone? do they do the same thing with other types of queer characters? how does this reflect that person's view of people, if they're explicitly told someone feels a certain way and decides to ignore it for their own amusement? or is it just because they're fictional and not real people and I'm being really sensitive and thinking way too much into it? am I not doing the exact same thing? do I have more credence to explore scenarios like this because I am aroace and sex-repulsed myself and therefore have a pass to do whatever I want and it won't come off as a little weird the way it might if someone who's allosexual did it?"

and these two opinions are at war in my mind constantly. like both of them can and do co-exist but I still struggle to accept that lol

[alexa-fika]

Hey! Hey! Heyyy! Missed me 😝 jk

Anyways sorry if I haven't send any request I had a crazy month

So uh are you gonna make a part 2 of this? Because I'm REALLY wanna see reader going ape shit lmao

Unrooted (Shanks x daughter!reader)

Part 1

A/N I was so close to deleting this one too because I was stuck :/ I can’t tell you how many drafts I deleted to start over. I still don’t like how it turned out but I feel like I owe it to you Cosmo to atleast try

Reader here is replaced by Dokucha which stands for reader in japanese for the enjoyment of reader and oc character readers alike!

Dividers by @/firefly-graphics

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dokucha called with a frown as she unsheathed her dual swords and threw herself forward to engage the man

The years had definetly been kind on her father as the man beofre her look no different from the man she had left behind years before. She wondered if perhaps he thought something along the same lines for her, or maybe he saw how different she had been from the last time he had set eyes on her as she was no longer that tween who followed him around like a lost duckling

"You have gotten stronger," he called as he, unsurprisingly, managed to parry her hit and threw one of his own that she held back by holding both of her swords up, holding up in an x formation. A scowl was on her face as she struggled to keep the position, eventually failing as he overpowered her, forcing her to jump back.

"Dokucha!" Thatch called as he ran towards the teen to attempt to break up the fight, only to be stopped by his father

"Pops?"

"Leave it be. She needs this," he grumbled. Ignoring the desperate look, the chef shot him at his words as he turned back to look at the young girl and the intruding Yonko.

"No thanks to you." she simply quipped as she once again shot forward this time jumping into the air and aiming for a high hit that he once again met with his own sword.

"We need to talk," he called as he took a step back from the teen

"I have nothing to say to you, and I think I had left that very clear." She called, sheathing her swords in a single move. She crossed her arms petulantly, looking away from her father in one last act of defiance to show her displeasure at his unexpected visit.

"I see you are not going to come willingly then? I am sorry for this then." he spoke as he mirrored her move and sheathed his own sword

"Wh-

Her words never had time to left her mouth as before she could realize what had happened; her father had pushed his way to her, taken a hold of her legs, and thrown her on his shoulder, ignoring the squeal she let as he did, jumping off the Moby dick and into the Red force where he put her down, stepping back before she could nick him with her blades.

"What is wrong with you?!" She questions, turning to him

"I mean seriously! Who in the right mind goes into the ship of a Yonko and kidnaps a child from it? Do you not see how insane this is?!

"I'm sorry honey, but there was no other way you would have come talked to me," he said as he walked past her angered form, taking a sit on a lone table that made it's home on the Red force's deck, an even lonelier cup of sake sitting on top of it before shanks took a hold of it

"Maybe there is a reason for that, Shanks." She spit out, feeling a small satisfaction as she noticed how his eyebrows furrowed at the name.

"Dokucha, I understand you're mad." he started, only to be interrupted by her once again

"I really don't think you do, I don't think you understand at all how I felt or feel" She called as she hugged herself to try to calm herself and the plethora of feelings that filled her being.

"You're right. I don't. I see how you feel; I understand I did something wrong," he corrected as he put down the drink

"It's been years. Why now?" she mumbled

"I do want you to know that although it's true, I never approached you in those years; I never lost tabs on you. I.... just thought you needed some space, but perhaps that was not the best judgment."

"You think? Five years Shanks five, you didn't fucking contact me in five years; is the fact that you kept tabs on me supposed to make me feel better? You don't care enough to see me but care enough to stalk me. Thank you. Want a prize?" she snarled

"Alright, I deserved that," he sighed out

"But I want to make it right...no, there is no way I can make this right since I can't go back, but let me try to make this relationship work,"

"How?"

"By, for once, giving you the choice as I should have back then; do you want me to try, or do you want me to leave?"

Uou know why that ending seems incomplete BECAUSE IT IS. Because I am gonna be honest I don’t think there is any way Shanks could fix this so… 🫵🏼 get to decide how he does

Taglist:

@Imaginarydreams

@amethystviolin

@h0n3y-l3m0n05

@hannahbarberra162

@epochal-oracle

[utilitycaster]

I've been Caduceus-posting a lot about the latest episode but sort of as a contrast I did really like the answer on the latest fireside from Travis, that the main takeaway Fjord had from Caduceus was not strictly "follow the Wildmother", but rather "oh, my relationship with my patron is not good for me, and it doesn't have to be this way, because Caduceus seems to have a great relationship with his deity" which is why he was looking for alternatives even before he actively started speaking to Caduceus - recall that he talked to Wursh and was looking around the Dynasty for options, and the moment at the Arbor Exemplar, after the Wildmother spoke to him, was when he started seeking out Caduceus specifically.

Caduceus is very wise and insightful, and I think time has made him much healthier because he had his own share of problems that, similarly, I think the Mighty Nein helped solve by simply being there as examples of a different way, but I've gotten a lot of "Caduceus could fix Bells Hells" notes and to be honest I don't think that's how it works. Honestly, I think Bells Hells being kinder and more accepting of FCG's journey with the Changebringer instead of frequently frustrated with or dismissive of it would have done more good. But ultimately, I don't think seeing Caduceus (or any member of the Mighty Nein) as a fount of life-changing wisdom, nor that Bells Hells cohesion issues have a simple solution, does any character or either party justice.

I think generally my frustrations in fandom are often not "why do you like/not like my blorbo" because I don't particularly need a random's validation, but rather a misrepresentation or a claim to like something about a character/ship that simply isn't true (eg: the Liliana and Ludinus ship post I made where the point is it's fine if you like it, but it does necessarily imply either dubious consent or Liliana being completely down with recruiting child soldiers as human shields). And I think this is one of them: Caduceus (or any of the Nein) as someone who could rapidly fix everyone around them, or Bells Hells as a party with easily solved issues at this point, are just not what's happening, and that's okay, and I think embracing that will increase your enjoyment and even, perhaps, lessen some resentments you may have.

[deliciousangelfestival]

Underworld Insomnia | 4 - B.Barnes

Character : Bucky × Psychiatrist Female!Reader

Summary: As a ruthless contract killer, Bucky is feared in the underworld of criminals. His opponents freeze when they see him, as he is feared among them. However, they don't know that he could be warm to only one person: his psychiatrist. The only person who could make him fall asleep.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 ,-

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Please let me know what your thoughts are. I'd love to hear your feedback. Thank you once again.

"Frosty longed for companionship, but no matter where he drifted, he found himself alone in the icy wilderness," the soothing voice of the story lulled Bucky into drowsiness. Just as he began to succumb to sleep, he heard your urgent cry, "Bucky!"

His body relaxed upon hearing your voice, but his eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion. As he fought to keep them open, he sensed a peculiar sensation—something cool and tingling on his face. With a struggle, he managed to crack his eyes open, greeted by the sight of a small figure with oversized glasses hovering over him.

Bucky rubbed his eyes in confusion. "You... Ahh!!! What is this?" he exclaimed, noticing Conroy holding a tube of toothpaste.

Conroy, ever matter-of-fact, explained, "Because you're not awake. Seems like your body lack of iron."

Bucky narrowed his eyes at Conroy, feeling a mix of amusement and irritation at the kid's audacity. "Bah! I'm still in my prime," he retorted, trying to maintain his tough demeanor despite the situation's absurdity.

You were in another room when you heard an adult male voice, and you approached them, relieved to find that Bucky was no longer asleep. "You're awake," you remarked, noticing the toothpaste under Bucky's eyes. You knew it must be Conroy's doing.

Moving closer to Bucky, you reached for a cloth to wipe away Conroy's prank. "Conroy, you have to apologize to Bucky," you insisted firmly.

Bucky was taken aback by your actions. First, as the best contract killer in the industry, he could evade guns, knives, poisons, and other threats, but he never expected your voice to act as a lethal weapon. Second, he was surprised by the sudden tenderness in your gesture. He had never experienced such care before.

Conroy put his hands on his hips defiantly. "Why? If it's not because of me, he would still be asleep," he argued.

You clicked your tongue, feeling the need to maintain respect for the homeowner who could also protect you both from the group.

Bucky waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine," he assured, standing up to put some distance between himself and you. Perhaps it was your perfume that made his heart race. Clearing his throat, he asked, "How long was I asleep?"

You replied, "12 hours."

Bucky closed his mouth in disbelief. Twelve hours? That was a new record.

Concerned for his health, you suggested, "Bucky, do you need to go to the hospital? Perhaps something is wrong with your health?"

Bucky crossed his arms, feeling a bit irritated that both you and Conroy seemed to underestimate his health. He shook his head. "No. I've been there multiple times, and they found nothing wrong with me. Besides..." His conversation was cut short as he received a call.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Where the heck have you been?" the voice on the other end demanded.

"Sleeping," Bucky replied simply.

"What?! I don't even want to know. Just get your ass over here. Our situation is not good in the Caribbean Sea. Pirates tried to steal our client's ship."

Bucky's response was nonchalant, "Sure. Prepare the plane for me."

"But there's nowhere to land," came the urgent reply.

Bucky smirked, unfazed, "Who said the plane has to land?"

***********

At an altitude of 40,000 feet inside the cargo plane, Bucky surveyed the situation below. Miguel, one of his colleagues, filled him in on the mission details, "Our client hired us to rescue his son. Pirates are attempting to capture the vessel because they know our client is wealthy."

As Bucky prepared his parachute bag and checked his guns, Miguel asked him, "Are you sure you want to go alone?"

Bucky nodded confidently. "Yup. It'll be quick. See you later." With a salute, he jumped from the plane, disappearing into the night sky. Watching his fearless departure, Miguel chuckled and shook his head. "Crazy dude," he muttered to himself.

Once airborne, Bucky opened his parachute and descended gracefully toward the pirate-infested ship below. As he landed on the deck, he swiftly drew his weapons and sprang into action. With precise aim and lightning-fast reflexes, he took down each pirate one by one, dodging their gunfire with ease.

In a matter of seconds, the deck was cleared, and Bucky secured the area before moving to rescue the client's son. Amidst the chaos, he located the young man and ensured his safety, escorting him to a secure location on the ship.

The client's son, shaken but unharmed, looked up at Bucky with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice trembling with relief.

Bucky's work was clean and efficient, a testament to the positive effects of his recent restful sleep. He nodded in acknowledgment as he received praise from his agency's boss. "Great job."

However, when the boss mentioned wanting to introduce him to someone, Bucky politely declined. "No, I need to head back," he explained. He remembered that you and Conroy were relying on emergency food supplies back at the safe house. While Conroy might have a sharp tongue, Bucky couldn't forget that he was still just a 4-year-old kid.

With a sense of responsibility, Bucky prioritized your well-being and Conroy's comfort over any additional meetings or introductions. He needed to ensure that you both had enough to eat and were safe while he was away.

Bucky returned to the safe house to find you and Conroy engaged in making origami, a sight that amused him. It seemed that neither of you found entertainment in TV or movies.

Upon hearing the door open, you looked up and greeted him, "Welcome back."

"Hm," Bucky acknowledged, feeling a warm sensation at being welcomed home for the first time.

Conroy abandoned his Godzilla origami and rushed over to Bucky. "Is that the same chicken I had?" His hand reached out eagerly for the plastic bag, but Bucky raised it just out of reach, prompting Conroy to pause. "Hey."

Bucky raised an eyebrow playfully. "Don't 'hey' me. Ask me nicely."

Conroy's cheeks puffed up with a pout. "Can I have some of the food, please?"

Bucky chuckled, lowering the bag. "It's all yours."

Conroy dashed to the table, exclaiming, "Yes!"

Left alone with you, Bucky expressed his gratitude. "With 12 hours of sleep, I was able to finish my work quickly. Thanks."

You smiled warmly. "I'm glad I could help."

Bucky glanced around the safe house, noticing the origami creations scattered around. "What are you two making?"

You chuckled softly. "Conroy wanted to learn origami, so we've been practicing."

Bucky observed the colorful paper creations with a hint of admiration. "Looks like he's getting pretty good at it."

You nodded proudly. "He's a quick learner."

Just then, Conroy returned to the table, devouring his fried chicken with gusto. Between bites, he grinned at Bucky. "Thank you for the food!"

Bucky ruffled Conroy's hair affectionately. "You're welcome, kiddo."

As the three of you sat together, enjoying the simple pleasure of a shared meal, Bucky couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced in a long time. Despite the dangers lurking in the shadows, there was a sense of peace and camaraderie within the walls of the safe house.

Bucky leaned forward, his eyes focused on you with a seriousness that caught your attention. "Do you have a plan to put Conroy into kindergarten?"

You paused, a thoughtful expression crossing your face. "At the moment, no. With everything that's been happening, it hasn't really crossed my mind."

Bucky nodded, considering your words carefully. "If you want, I know of a safe kindergarten that's highly secretive. It's attended by children of parents in similar lines of work, like myself. To ensure Conroy's safety, we could even consider changing his name."

As you listened to Bucky's suggestion, you couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for his concern. Despite his tough exterior, he genuinely cared about your well-being and Conroy's.

After you answered, Conroy interjected excitedly, "I want to go!!!" He hopped down from his chair and dashed over to Bucky, his eyes wide with enthusiasm. "I want to join the kindergarten. Please,~"

Bucky chuckled at Conroy's sudden burst of energy, finding his eagerness endearing. "You can, if you behave," he replied with a playful grin.

Conroy puffed out his chest proudly. "I am a good kid," he declared, his determination evident in his stance.

You couldn't help but smile at Conroy's excitement, feeling hopeful for his future despite the challenges you faced. With Bucky's support and the promise of a safe place for Conroy to learn and grow, you felt a sense of relief wash over you.

***********

The next day, Bucky continued his day with a brand new energy, grateful for the restful sleep he had gotten. This newfound routine eased his anxiety, allowing him to approach the day with a clearer mind.

He decided to visit the bar, a usual haunt where killers often gathered. As he entered, the dimly lit ambiance greeted him, familiar and somewhat comforting.

To his surprise, his boss approached him, accompanied by a figure clad in a custom suit that exuded an air of mystery and intelligence. The man's demeanor suggested he was no ordinary individual; perhaps a member of the CIA or a special undercover agent. His sharp gaze bore into Bucky, assessing him with keen interest as if dissecting his every move and thought.

The person introduced himself to Bucky with a firm handshake and a confident demeanor. "It's an honor to meet you, Barnes," he began in a voice with authority and a hint of intrigue. "I'm August Walker, and you have something that I want."

Author Note:

My dear readers and followers,

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If you enjoyed it, I'd love to hear why it appealed to you.

If not, I would greatly appreciate your feedback and advice on improving the series.

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[titaniumions]

i think it's probably somewhat clear that i see isolde and kakania as lesbians (seems to be a common hc anyway) but i think i want to explore how that'd fit into their respective characterizations, not necessarily only from a shipping standpoint. note that this does get into headcanon territory, still i try to keep it as in-character as i can

i think kakania would actually be pretty open about it. in the 1910s?? i mean sure, she's already a controversy as she is ... an arcanist, an uncertified psychiatrist with unconventional methods, an outspoken member of society who stirs up public opinion. might as well give herself one more reason to be a subject of controversy. those who are set on hating her probably have no intention of changing that, so hey, might as well authentically be herself in every possible way including this. among those who have a more positive opinion about her, i do think this would make her somewhat of an icon. she draws other members of the community toward her. she lets them know that she is there for them and will fight for them. that they can turn to her and she will not scrutinize them for it. she'd tell them, no, there is nothing wrong with being this way. it isn't something you need to be "cured" from

in line with this, i think it would make sense for the "circle" to be a queer safe space. in fact, i like to think theophil himself could've been bi and thus would've accepted his sister's sexuality. but due to her own inhibitions (which i will touch upon later) i don't think isolde would ever have told him.

meanwhile for isolde ... i think it's more complicated. having a sexuality outside of the norm would be a deviation from the socially acceptable definition of the "perfect noble" she tries to be. so even if she were to ever consider it, she would simply end up pushing those thoughts away. no, not a chance. this shouldn't bother her at all. she's supposed to be perfect, yet she already has enough problems in her life as a member of the dittarsdorf family. considering the possibility of herself being anything but straight would lead to more problems, wouldn't it? and that's the last thing she needs. nonetheless she's ... never been attracted to a man either. but she tries not to think too much of it. maybe she just needs to wait it out. or so she tells herself

now to piece it all together ... i do really like the idea of kakania being her ... awakening. in fact i think it would make a lot of sense for her story, what with kakania being the metaphorical key to the doors that have always surrounded and confined isolde ... so hear me out. when isolde started associating with her and the circle she realized that it felt far less suffocating than ... pretty much any other aspect of her life. it's like a breath of fresh air. kakania in particular would fascinate isolde, in a way that makes isolde question things about herself. perhaps she even comes close to having a realization. but again, isolde remembers who she needs to be, and stops herself short.

eventually though, she would learn what kind of person kakania is, and what she believes in and fights for. this only deepens isolde's admiration further and she finally comes to a point of acceptance about her feelings. alright. i can accept this realization now. she no longer pushes it to the back of her mind. there's still a bit of repression and shame left in there but meeting someone who has not only awakened her, but also wouldn't judge her for it, has changed something within her entirely. the feelings overflow and she can deny it no longer. but again, at the end of the day she still needs to be perfect and socially acceptable. she can't just ... exist as freely as kakania does. but it's alright, isolde has feigned compliance for so long regardless of however difficult it might be. putting up with expectations has been a regular part of her life. so there it is, something authentic about this actor that she can't show to anyone else because it doesn't fit the part that she's supposed to play. kakania is allowed to know though, of course she is. it can just be their little secret. and one way or another, she'll figure out how isolde feels toward her. surely kakania would be quite honored to be on the receiving end of the affection of such a wonderful lady. as long as this affection doesn't eventually turn into a catalyst for destruction, right ...

[gwenllian-in-the-abbey]

Hey Gwen! Can I ask you something? What do you think of this post? https://www.tumblr.com/philhelaena/757011234089566208/thinking-about-how-hotd-introduced-adult-aegon-as?source=share

I don't really agree with it since Dyana is still present in this season and even in the previous season he was the punching bag and scapegoat of the family, but I can't find the words to explain how I disagree. What do you think?

Hi anon. With no disrespect intended to the OP of this post,. I've seen this take floating around for awhile now, that Aegon is somehow completely different from his S1 character and that it's somehow of fandom pandering, and I disagree.

First of all, the idea that half the fandom decided to ignore the fight pits and the sexual assault and focus on Aegon being drunk and funny is just flat out incorrect. At the end of S1 it was hard to write a single sympathetic word about Aegon without someone accusing you of being a rape apologist, and even now, while the casual audiences are more sympathetic towards Aegon, people can hardly say they've been enjoying his character without issuing a disclaimer, "he's a terrible person but ...". Team green has always been in a minority (I think in the polls HBO puts out team green is consistently under 15%), and even among people who enjoy team green, until recently it wasn't uncommon for people to say they loved all the greens except Aegon. On AO3 were more Lucemond fics than there were fics featuring all of the Aegon ships combined. So the idea that the showrunners were somehow listening to the 10 people who admitted to enjoying Aegon back when they were writing the S2 scripts and changing his characterization accordingly is pretty silly.

That said, I do think the show toned down Aegon's awfulness a bit. I think TGC himself probably had as much to do with this as any of the fans. That man is relentlessly advocating for his character, stating again and again that he not simply a villain, that that he is capable of empathy and love, that he is someone who feels too deeply rather than the opposite. The way he talks about Aegon and his children makes it pretty clear that he has a vision for this character and has advocated for certain character choices, and good for him! He cares a lot about Aegon and takes his job seriously and it shows because he has gotten heaps of praise for bringing depth to a character who could easily veer into cartoon villainy, and is winning over the sympathies of people who 2 years ago wouldn't have pissed on Aegon if he were on fire. In fact, recent poll on the main HotD subreddit of all places placed Aegon as the best written character so far and it wasn't even close.

And this is good! Considering what happens to Aegon in S2, as well as the endgame of the whole entire story, it's pretty important that the audience be able to connect with him on some level and feel some level of sympathy for him.

And to be honest, I'd challenge the idea that Aegon had some huge personality switchup between S1 and S2. People have to remember, we had a grand total in S1 of about 8-10 minutes with Aegon. He was not, at that point, a fully realized character. Some people envisioned a much darker character than the show ended up settling on, but those headcanons are as much headcanons as the silly goofy drunk Aegon was, as "good loyal brother" Aemond was. And I have to stress, people can interpret characters however they like, and they can certainly disagree with the direction the writers go with a character, but a character who has 8 minutes of screentime ending up having more facets to him once he appears in a primary role in S2 is not the same thing as a character assassination. And perhaps, just perhaps, the child fight pits were the OOC part and Condal etc. pulled back on that characterization because it was incongruous with the guy who was genuinely baffled when Aemond threw him under the bus for the bastard remarks, the guy dying of embarrassment when his sister roasted him at dinner, crying over a slap from his mother, trying to run away rather than take the crown, and asking Alicent "do you love me?" before crying his way through his own coronation. Aegon was a depressive alcoholic in S1 and remained a depressive alcoholic in S2. Was there a chaotic element to him? Certainly! He's got massive substance abuse problems which completely skews his judgment and inhibitions, making him self destructively impulsive. Is there a darkness in him? Of course! If nothing else, he's a Targaryen prince, someone who has grown up with the power of life and death at his fingertips. And we see this! The show has not allowed us to forget about the ratcatchers (and as you mentioned OP, Dyana is still there too)!

Finally, I will say that people who think Aegon is being shown to be a pure buffoon this season haven't been paying attention. Aegon was gaslit by his family members for four episodes straight because they wanted to keep him weak, and the way to do that was to undercut his confidence and trash his self worth. He was correct about nearly single issue he raised -- Harrenhal, the blockade, the smallfolk, needing to be informed about the battle plans Cole and Aemond were making. Hell, even the assassination attempt is something that Otto himself was planning, and Otto himself ordered landed gentry executed for refusing to bend the knee before Aegon was even crowned, a much bigger deal than executing a few ratcatchers! Aegon has a class clown demeanor a lot of the time, but he's not stupid. The thing is, Aegon could have been spouting the most eloquently worded arguments and they were still going to resist him because they whole entire point was to discourage him so that he would lose interest, Alicent even says it point blank to Otto. The thing is, Aegon has good instincts but lacks the confidence to not second guess those instincts because he knows he doesn't have the experience or the training necessary to be an effective king on his own. Aegon's ability to listen is one of his better qualities as a king in fact (I'm sure the council is missing it now that they have Aemond), but he is too concerned with winning the approval of not just his subjects, but the people he cares for, including Alicent and Aemond. Aegon is remarkably perceptive, and he does have a good sense about people, but this is his weakness and unfortunately his family has zero problem exploiting it. Now, will that continue going forward? Unlikely! Aegon is still evolving! In the span of a few months he's been crowned king, lost a child, been undermined and diminished, and has become permanently disabled due to the betrayal of his own brother. Certainly, he is going to change, for better or worse.

[bucksdaffy]

i mean i think it's fair to ask what show y'all are watching when you act like tommy's this amazingly well developed character and he and buck have this deep emotional connection lmao. the fact that people started shipping buddie by the end of 2x01 if not the second eddie showed up in buck's pov working out shirtless to 'whatta man' and nobody shipped bucktommy til that kiss should tell you which is the ship with an Actual instant attraction and emotional connection (on both sides) even if that first part was obviously unintentional and which is a random ship forced together for shock value that we're all supposed to cream ourselves over because of The Representation.

i can promise you no one acts like tommy is a well-developed character, and he and buck already share some deep emotional connection. what we do acknowledge, however, is the potential. and because plenty of people can see it, they simply choose to enjoy it.

people who started shipping buddie by the end of 2x01 ALSO only saw the potential. buck and eddie did not share any deep emotional connection by that point as well. what's funny is that eddie also wasn't a well-developed character yet too. but you don't seem to trash on people who started shipping them at that moment, why is that? if you want to criticize us, you should at least be consistent.

and also i'd argue there WERE people who started shipping (although perhaps "shipping" is too strong of a word so rather who did see something between) buck and tommy as soon as they shared this little moment at the end of 7x03. many people speculated if this was some kind of foreshadowing of a future relationship between the two of them. some even enjoyed the idea. so i don't think it's right to assume absolutely no one hoped for them to be canon before they kissed.

at the end of the day, the basic difference between buddie and bucktommy is that buddie is, and always has been, fanon, while bucktommy isn't. i'm really not interested in what little feelings of yours you assign to buddie. just because YOU think some moments between buck and eddie are romantic doesn't mean everyone thinks so. in fact many people interpret them as platonic. and that's the thing with buddie: there is no real evidence to prove their bond has any romantic elements to it. no acknowledgement of feelings, no kiss, nothing. neither buck nor eddie has canonically ever shown that one is romantically interested in the other. in canon they are just friends. and nothing you say will ever change that unless tim and co ultimately do decide to make them canon one day. until then i'm sorry to say it's all in your head.

you should realize that not everyone enjoys constantly reading into every interaction buck and eddie have to prove there are romantic implications between them. some people simply prefer having things laid out before them. it's honestly wild to me that you can't accept there are people who'd take canon over fanon any day. if you're angry because people don't see what you see while watching the show and instead enjoy what is actually happening on the screen, i think it's a sign for you to take a breather and focus on real world for a while.

[zuko-always-lies]

hello, it seems like this page is dominated by Azula x girl ships, which is totally cool, I personally could see her with Ty Lee the most, but I was wondering if there are any thoughts on Azula x Sokka? Seeing as Sokka’s positive experiences with family could help Azula’s family trauma, and they are both incredibly smart and witty… just a thought. Please disregard me if you wish.

This is a question which deserves to be dealt with broadly. There actually aren't many reasonably prominent boys around Azula's age she can even potentially be shipped with. it's really only Haru, Teo, Jet, Zuko (note: I do not approve of Azula/Zuko, but I'll get back to that), Sokka, and Aang.

Teo and Haru do have significant appearances, but they receive almost no characterization, so there's not a strong reason to ship them with Azula.

Jet potentially makes a very interesting ship partner for Azula, simply because they have almost nothing in common yet perhaps share a certain drive and determination. However, it's a bit hard to imagine how they would even become lovers, and it's simply not a very popular ship.

For Zuko, even if we ignore the issue of incest, which is not a small issue at all, it's not a very attractive ship for me even from a theoretical perspective. Azula is a way more interesting character than Zuko, but one problem that she has is the everyone (the creators, the series, fanfic writers, fans, etc.) makes everything about her revolve around Zuko. Azula/Zuko as a ship perpetuates this tendency. Also, it involves Azula becoming emotionally dependent on another toxic guy from her family, which is something you'd hope she would grow out of. So yeah, I don't like Azula/Zuko due to the incest, but even ignoring that it doesn't seem particularly compelling to me.

Aang potentially makes a very interesting partner for Azula. They share so much. They're duty-driven prodigies who had an immense weight of expectations placed on them, they both love making mischief, they're both deeply ethical individuals, even if they're ethic systems are completely different, and Azula is even arguably one of the characters least inclined to resort violence in the series, just like Aang. Azula also left a scar on Aang's body when she killed him, so there's potentially a very odd sort of connection to explore. And Aang's compassion would be complex for Azula to experience and you can do a lot about how their cultures clash and combine. However, that being said, I have only very rarely seen an Azulaang fic I like. Common issues are

Putting Aang in a position of power over Azula

Making Azula's life resolve around serving Aang

Cutting Azula completely off from her connection to her nation

Softening Azula's character in a way that removes her canonical drive and ambition

Now we can finally talk about Sokka. The theoretical basis for Sokka/Azula is pretty strong. They're both warriors with daddy issues, they're both duty dedicated they both struggle to live up to their desired roles, they're both leaders, they're both highly intelligent, they're both sarcastic as hell, etc. The parallels just keep piling up. Azula is even one of the few characters to value nonbenders. There's a reason why this is the most popular Azula x male ship.

However, I have found that I don't tend to like Sokkla fics. Something feels off about them. I think part of the issue is that Sokka is a very hard character to write well, and he tends to feel a bit off to me whenever I see him in fanfiction. He's as silly and childish and idiotic and melodramatic as he is mature, intelligent, and dutiful. Also, it's easy to completely ignore his cultural background, but I think that background is critical to the character. Generally I've found that Sokkla fics tend to feel like they're about Azula much more than they're about Sokka, and it doesn't quite read right to me. And I guess in a certain way maybe Sokka and Azula are too similar for the ship to be truly compeling.

Anyways, those are just my personal opinions. Readers, please don't get mad because I don't like your ship.

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Why The Caged Bird Sings | Chapter 7

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: One Piece (Liveaction) Rating: Explicit Relationships Vinsmoke Sanji x F!Reader Characters: Vinsmoke Sanji, Patty, Red Leg Zeff, Original Characters, Strawhat crew. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, minor POV switching. Summary: One night, you were brought to the luxurious Baratie Restaurant Ship, renowned for its exceptional cuisine that your family had been intrigued to sample. A particular blond and comely waiter captured your attention with his charming smile and gentle eyes, but while your beauty and sophistication intrigued him, Sanji also observed the profound nervousness that caused your jaw and body muscles to tense whenever your fiancé made contact with your hand or your parents delivered a humiliating criticism towards you. One dinner at the Baratie soon turned into a recurring event, and then more. As your friendship with Sanji slowly evolved into something that burned from within, you strove to make your longstanding dream come true; freeing yourself from a constricting existence. ------------------------- As Sanji looked at you curiously, the gentle smile never leaving his face, you asked him, "Do you know why the caged bird sings?" He thought about it for a moment before answering, "Because it has a song to give?" You chuckled at his response and shook your head. "You're not entirely wrong, but no."

Divider by firefly-graphics

Feel free to read this on AO3 if it is more comfortable for you due to its length. I only ask to support me with a like and reblog if you enjoy my work. ☺️

Tagging: @nerium21

Author's note: At last, the new chapter is complete. I apologize for the delay, but I strive to maintain high standards. Recent life events have slowed my progress considerably, and I remain committed to prioritizing quality over quantity. I don't want to deliver a mediocre product solely to keep my stories updated monthly.

The steamy content continues from the previous update, but I included a bit more action this time around to make things a little more interesting and less repetitive. I don't expect the story to go on much longer, perhaps two or three more chapters until its conclusion. Nevertheless, you can expect to see more smut and romantic themes, along with some minor drama and introspection.

Warning: This chapter includes detailed SMUT!

Your first night with Sanji was the best moment of your life, his care and adoration filling your heart in a way you never thought conceivable. Balancing your relationship with work shifts and random incidents at the restaurant presented obstacles, but Sanji was the kind of man worth keeping by your side.

Sanji nestled atop you, cradling your smaller form close while dotting your cheek with tender kisses. The juxtaposition was striking—his gentle care allowing you to recover and regain your senses, while the unmistakable evidence of his arousal pressed insistently against you. His ability to contain such intense desire without complaint or seeking relief seemed almost superhuman.

Your arms encircled his back, your forehead resting against his shoulder. As your breathing steadied, you inhaled a delightful blend of aromas: shampoo and sea salt mingled faintly with familiar kitchen smoke. His skin, warm and smooth as silk, exuded a refined scent of soap and cologne, with subtle notes of tobacco and sandalwood.

Despite his obvious desire, Sanji remained still, content to simply be near you as your breathing steadied. His lovable nature shone through, and—contrary to his earlier statement—he would have released you and stepped back immediately had you asked, even if it meant finding relief alone.

Fortunately, you were so enthralled by him and keen to reciprocate that you couldn't bring yourself to do something so unbearably cruel.

"Sanji," you whispered into his ear. "You can release me now."

He stayed put, savoring the scent of your hair. “Should I do that? ‘Cause right now I feel like I could hold you for the rest of my life.”

You chuckled softly. "I can't say I mind, but it seems you could use a hand... quite literally, in fact."

He laughed gently, his eyes locking onto yours with a wide smile. “Don’t concern yourself with me, beautiful. This is all about you.”

“Seriously, Sanji? Come on. I’m not just going to lie here and let you do all the work for my sake.”

He shook his head resolutely. "You deserve everything. Allow me to take care of you."

You lost track of how many times your heart had dropped and soared again. How could one man possess such an immense heart, as vast and deep as the ocean beyond? Given your father's cruelty and the pervasive masculine arrogance you'd endured, you never imagined finding such a rare treasure during what you had expected to be one of the most harrowing outings.

Sighing happily, you took his face between your hands, brushing his blond strands aside. "You've done that every single day since I first arrived at the Baratie. You always take care of me, Sanji, even when I'm unaware of it. So, just this once, would you allow me to do the same for you? Please?"

He ducked his head shyly, unable to hide his beaming expression of pride. When was the last time someone had lovingly pampered him?

“Is that what you want, Y/N?”

"Yes. This isn't just about me; it's about us. You've held back long enough. Let me help you."

Until that moment, neither of you had ever been part of an "us”. The word felt unfamiliar yet perfectly fitting, as if it had been waiting for this moment to reveal its true meaning.

Sanji's lips met yours in a deep, passionate kiss as he shifted to give you more room. With gentle guidance, you eased him onto the pillows, positioning his hands at his sides. Wordlessly, he followed your lead, his eyes never leaving yours as he settled onto the mattress.

Your fingertips traced his collarbones, skimmed over his chest, and followed every sculpted contour of his muscles. As you caressed Sanji's abs, they tensed beneath your touch, drawing a shaky exhale from the cook. His hands clutched the sheets tightly, lips pressed together, and Adam's apple bobbing visibly.

"You truly showed extraordinary restraint for me," you said, kissing his chin. "You didn't need to, you adorable man."

Sanji's eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, his smile broadening to reveal a dazzling set of pearly whites. "You merit nothing less than complete respect."

"Well then, allow me to express my gratitude to my chivalrous knight in shining armor."

A genuine, harmonious laugh filled the room as the two of you surrendered to the pure happiness that had blossomed between your hearts. You snuggled up beside him, trailing kisses along his shoulder as your hand journeyed down his torso, finally reaching the snug elastic of his briefs. The sight before you was incredibly seductive; the plush tip of his erection peeked out from beneath the fabric, straining against its confines as if ready to burst free at any moment.

Your mind flooded with ideas of what you wanted to do: touch it, kiss it, lick it, engulf it entirely with your mouth until not an inch remained exposed.

You mentally doused yourself with a cold shower, determined not to appear overeager. Sanji had shown exceptional care and attentiveness. You longed to reciprocate, offering him the same devoted and gentle treatment he'd bestowed upon you.

With delicate precision, you traced the outline of his arousal through the cotton fabric, relishing the soft gasp of pleasure that escaped his lips. You repeated the motion, increasing pressure and broadening your touch, encircling his length and sliding upward. A tiny, glistening bead formed at the tip, shimmering like a diamond in the moonlight.

He breathed your name with a desperate, pleading whisper, "Y/N..."

“How does that feel?”

"Oh, it's incredible," he replied, breathless. "Absolutely incredible."

"I have to say, you look like a masterpiece."

“Nah, I'm finding it impossible to take my eyes off you right now.”

His cerulean eyes darted back and forth, absorbing every detail as your hand worked wonders on his most sensitive area. Unwilling to miss a single detail, from the gentle bite of your lower lip to the sparkle in your eyes, and the way your fingers expertly teased his covered hardness. Your touch alternated between gentle squeezes and feather-light strokes, enticing and tantalizing.

“How is it possible for you to be so many things at once?” you mused aloud. "Handsome, sweet, loyal, and caring—not to mention skilled in the kitchen, on the battlefield, and in bed. Honestly, such a combination should be illegal."

Your compliment made him bashful again, yet he couldn't help but find your remark amusing. "You always know just what to say to make me the happiest man alive."

“Well, I suppose your influence has rubbed off on me.”

His smile gave way to a desperate groan as your hand continued its ministrations. With slow, purposeful strokes, you massaged his shaft from base to tip in a rhythmic movement. Sanji surrendered to the sensation, his eyes fluttering closed as his erection pulsed and twitched the more you toyed with it.

Emboldened by your mounting desire, you glided your fingers past the waistband of his underwear, making direct contact with his sensitive glans. Sanji's hips bucked involuntarily, his pelvis jerking as his breathing became labored and shallow.

Pushing his undergarment down his sides, but not fully removing it, you enveloped his bare tip with your hand. You pumped it delicately, struck by its silky texture against your palm, incredibly flushed and engorged.

It was all-consuming, yet still left you wanting more.

Unable to restrain your impulses any longer, you tugged his briefs down completely, revealing his full erection and feeling the firm muscles of his legs as you went. Your eyes lingered, drinking in his magnificent, nude form, his length standing proud and commanding as it bobbed slightly at the sudden freedom.

You became unstoppable, as ravenous as someone who had been starved for a lifetime. Gripping the base, you slid your hand up to the tip before stroking back down, establishing a regular tempo with increasing speed. Sanji's eyes locked onto your hand, gazing intently as you caressed every nerve and ridge along his length. It was the most sensual, beautiful scene you had ever witnessed, both of you utterly devoted to pleasuring each other in the most exquisite ways.

Never before had you felt so compelled to touch a man, to be so forward and cast aside all your inhibitions for him. Sanji possessed the remarkable ability to reveal hidden facets of your personality, aspects you hadn't even realized existed within yourself.

He whispered your name like an endless prayer, softly repeating it as he took your wrist to halt your attentions. His body ached for you to continue, the urgent pulsing in his hardness growing more insistent. His furrowed brow betrayed his overwhelming need for release—a need that, regrettably, had to be delayed for the two of you to proceed.

“I think you should stop, my lovely. Otherwise I won't last much longer.”

You were torn between two choices. On one hand, you could have persisted indefinitely, aiming to bring him to climax as he had done for you. On the other, the alternative was just as tempting, if not more so.

Ultimately, you realized that waiting for his recovery was not an option your aching body could endure.

You eased your grip on him, attentive to his breathing as he swallowed and swept his hair aside. Reluctant to pause your momentum, you nonetheless allowed him to gracefully reposition himself, his movements fluid and swift. In mere seconds, you ended up on your back once more, with Sanji knelt on the mattress between your parted legs. Your bodies intertwined closely as he teased your sensitive skin with delicate touches, sliding his length along your slick folds to heighten the tension.

“Please tell me that bloody knob never did this with you.”

Intoxicated by your stimulated senses, you struggled to comprehend his words through your passion-clouded mind. As understanding slowly dawned, an unsettling image formed, one you'd rather not entertain.

"If you're referring to my ex-fiancé, absolutely not. I can't even stomach the thought."

Relief washed over Sanji's features, though a glimmer of possessiveness flickered in his eyes. “Sorry, love. I knew you wouldn’t have done that.”

"No, no, I completely understand," you reassured him. "To be honest, I can't bear the idea of you with other women either."

How could you even entertain such a scenario without transforming into a primal, jealous beast?

Sanji's gaze softened at your words, his thumb gently tracing your hairline. "You're the only one I could ever do this with, my lovely."

“You promise?”

His warm breath danced across your face as his voice flowed smooth and sweet as honey. "How could it be any different when you're the only one I want? I may be courteous to all ladies, but you alone hold my heart."

You hummed in contemplation. "There are countless beautiful women out there, indeed. Many of them far more talented than I could ever hope to be."

He furrowed his brow in confusion. "What are you talking about? Of course you’re talented."

"Sure, I can clean, but what else? You're an incredible chef and a skilled fighter. What can I possibly offer someone like you with my limited abilities?"

His tongue darted out, moistening his lower lip as he prepared to speak. "Y/N, you light up a room without even trying.”

“Really?”

"You see me for who I truly am, support my culinary creativity, and inspire me to never lose sight of the All Blue. You could demand anything, and I'd journey to the ends of the earth to get it for you."

Tears welled in your eyes as you cupped his cheek, your smile radiating pure adoration. "The world is truly fortunate to have you in it."

His emotions coalesced, forming a lump in his throat that he quickly swallowed. "I'm the lucky one to have you in mine."

“Aw.”

Laughter bubbled up between you again, filling the cabin with a joyous melody as your lips met in a series of affectionate kisses. Your bodies and souls merged together like two halves of a whole finally reunited, your tongues melded in a passionate dance that you wished could last forever.

Sanji's arousal brushed against your clit, now even more sensitive yet still exquisitely responsive. He persisted relentlessly, rocking his hips back and forth to build a delicious anticipation.

As he slipped his left arm under your head, you felt the tip of his length begin to penetrate you, your bodies poised on the precipice of intimate union.

He paused, feeling the gentle resistance of your lower lips enveloping him. "If I cause you any discomfort—"

“You won’t.”

His smile grew, even wider than before. “But should that happen, let me know and I’ll stop right away, okay?”

With just a few heartfelt words, Sanji could make you feel as if you were floating through the heavens, weightless and euphoric.

"Okay. But please, don't stop now, I really need you."

Your personality had transformed dramatically, as if you had suddenly awakened from a lifelong nightmare that had ensnared you since birth. For the first time, you felt truly liberated to become your authentic self, embracing a future with the one man who had made this metamorphosis possible.

Sanji's heart swelled at your sincere, unguarded words. “All right, sweetheart. Are you ready?”

"I've been ready for you my whole life."

Sanji advanced, gripping the base of his hardness with one hand, his breath hot and heavy against your cheek. “Oh, beautiful. The things you say to me.”

You felt him enter slowly, stretching and filling you perfectly. Even halfway in, ecstasy consumed you, your eyes closing in in sheer pleasure. A faint burning sensation accompanied the initial intrusion, but it quickly faded as you adjusted to his presence inside.

Sanji let out a deep, primal groan, luxuriating in the feeling of your walls embracing him, far surpassing his wildest fantasies. Gathering his resolve, he delivered a final, powerful thrust, driving his length as deep as it could go.

It was toe-curling, the experience sending waves of euphoria through your form and leaving you utterly breathless.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly, tracing your cheekbone with the back of his index finger. His other hand clutched the pillow fabric beneath your head, which rested in the crook of his elbow. His fingers curled tightly, knuckles whitening with nervous excitement.

“I’m great,” you replied, your voice catching. “I need you to move. Please.”

Sanji drew a sharp breath as your walls contracted, gripping him even tighter. He withdrew slightly, then plunged back in, igniting a dazzling display of fireworks behind your eyes. Repeating the action, he maintained a slow yet precise and powerful pace, losing himself in your soft moans and the wet sounds that filled the space around you.

You noticed his struggle to keep his voice steady, breathing deeply through his nose and straining his throat when pleasure peaked. Fortunately, your cabin was situated far enough from the other quarters that your colleagues were unlikely to overhear your nocturnal activities.

"You feel wonderful, sweetheart," he whispered, his lips brushing your ear. "I wish I could stay like this forever, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out."

You entwined your legs around his waist, your lips fusing in a devouring kiss. "Honestly, I'm right there with you."

Your hips moved in perfect synchronization with his, his fully engorged tip striking your G-spot with unerring precision. The cabin echoed with erotic sounds that bordered on indecent, yet they only caused your clit and inner walls to throb with escalated desperation for release. He shuddered, gritting his teeth and pressing his lips into a thin line, before parting them to let out a series of deep groans—each one a symphony etched into your memory.

You whimpered, moaning his name as your fingers tangled in his hair. He slowed his pace, attempting to regain focus and steady his breathing.

Sanji was robust, well-trained, and ready for any physical challenge. His stamina was undeniably impressive, but despite his rigorous exercise regimen, nothing had truly prepared him for something so incredibly gratifying and positively heavenly. The way he touched you, brought you to orgasm, and made love to you highlighted his expertise.

Sanji quickened his tempo, surprising you with a sudden, gentle flick of your nipple. His fingertip traced lightly over the sensitive bud before his hand cupped your entire breast, holding it with a soft yet firm grasp.

"Ngh… shit," you gasped, your voice barely above a whisper.

Concern for your well-being immediately arose as he heard your exclamation. "I'm sorry, love. Is this too much?"

“No! Don’t stop, I—ahh—need more.”

A mischievous glint gleamed in his eyes as he savored your eagerness. His lips curled into a playful smile, brimming with unbridled exhilaration. “More?”

“Yes.”

Emboldened by your response, Sanji carefully withdrew his arm from beneath your head, gently resting it on the pillow. He straightened, securing your right thigh around his waist, and drove into you with renewed vigor.

“You’re so beautiful,” he reiterated. “You’re driving me wild.”

Choking back a moan, you replied, "Then promise me you'll never turn away."

His eyes shimmered as he leaned in, touching his forehead to yours. With deliberate care, he moved slowly yet forcefully, each precise thrust reaching your core.

As he continued caressing your breast, the sensation transcended the physical realm. It felt as if he were embracing your very essence, his touch reaching directly into your heart.

“Turn my back and let another man take you from me? That’s never going to happen.”

“You’re not talking about Patty again, are you?”

“My lovely, any man would be mesmerized by your eyes alone.”

How could he view you with such reverence, regarding you as the most captivating woman across all the seas?

“No one could ever compete with you,” you clarified.

"Oh, I'd send them flying off the Baratie with a single kick."

You chortled. "Sure, but that's not exactly what I was trying to say."

The ardent look on his face transformed into something else as he halted his movements. “I know. I have complete faith in you. Your sweetness, the way you look at me like I’m the only man around."

Sanji’s adoration was something you’d always perceived, but hearing it spoken so earnestly made it undeniably real.

And without question, he was indeed the only man in existence meant for you.

“You give me hope,” he continued. “You give me everything.”

"Sanji..." you began. Your voice quivered with emotion, words cut short by a sudden kiss. The pulsing of his manhood inside you sent shivers of rapture rippling up your spine, obliterating any ability to speak.

You smiled as a tear rolled down your cheek, which he promptly wiped away with his thumb. “No one has ever said anything like that to me.”

"I'll spend every second proving myself to you," he declared with steadfast determination. “No one will ever take you from me. Not now, not ever.”

What appeared as possessiveness was, in fact, Sanji's deepest insecurity laid bare. This principled man, who had journeyed far from his roots, harbored the same fear that had haunted you for weeks—the dread of losing him to other women and your love going unrequited. This fear had planted a seed of doubt in his heart, which was now beginning to sprout, revealing his vulnerabilities.

And now, hearing his confession, you felt a sense of love and protectiveness. He was your anchor in the chaotic world you navigated daily, the one person who brought you peace amid the storm of your life as a former slave.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him close for another kiss. His hands glided down from your breasts, tracing the curves of your sides, as a contented hum vibrated against your lips.

Without another word, Sanji resumed his lovemaking, thrusting in and out of you with even more zeal than before. It felt unparalleled, evoking the thrill and wonder of a first-time experience.

He altered his position repeatedly, holding you in myriad ways that left you certain you'd be walking funny around the kitchen the next day. You met his thrusts halfway, stars bursting behind your eyes as he lavished attention on your neck, teased your nipples, and stimulated your clitoris anew.

“Sanji, I… ngh… I think I’m close.”

“Me too, my lovely. This feels so good.”

His hot breath tickled your ear as his voice rumbled with a cacophony of low growls. The bed's creaking joined the private chorus, and you silently hoped the sounds wouldn't carry through the ship's quiet night.

“Ah!—”

"I'm right here, sweetheart. Let go. I want to feel it all."

As his thumb rapidly flicked your clit, your legs spreading wide, a new wave of bliss engulfed you. You felt submerged in a sea of gratification, your nerves quivering and tensing, your hips bucking and spasming guided by his touch.

It took several moments for you to descend from the euphoric heights he sent you to for the second time, your entire body trembling with residual pleasure as your legs turned to jelly and the warmth in your abdomen gradually dissipated.

Sanji, ever attentive to your needs, followed shortly after. His own climax built rapidly as your inner walls clenched around his throbbing length. Within moments, he finally reached his coveted peak, his entire form tensing above you. To muffle his passionate cries, he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his lips grazing your skin as he let out a series of guttural moans. You felt his powerful back muscles ripple and quiver, his hands closing into fists against the sheets.

To say Sanji was in total ecstasy would be an understatement. He collapsed onto you, his weight carefully distributed to avoid causing discomfort as you embraced him. His manhood continued to pulse intermittently even after he withdrew, softening and relaxing, until it returned to its natural state and rested gently against his thigh.

He presented a satisfied sight as he rolled onto his back, keeping you close with an arm draped around your shoulder.

“That was amazing," you whispered, still catching your breath.

Sanji's face beamed with genuine elation, equally exhausted but nonetheless satisfied. “Yeah?”

“Mhmh.”

Curling up against his chest, you felt his heart's rapid beating as his fingers traced intricate patterns on your upper arm. His lips embarked on a tender journey, placing soft kisses on your forehead, nose bridge, and cheekbone before concluding with a gentle peck on your upper lip.

"Stay with me," you murmured, your eyes meeting his. "I don't want you to leave."

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't tear myself away from you, beautiful."

As he pulled the bed covers over your entwined bodies, you rested your leg across his and exhaled contentedly. "This is the most incredible night of my life,” you confided. “I needed you to know that."

He nuzzled your hair, his fingers gently squeezing your arm. "The best," he whispered, his voice filled with warmth and blissful fulfillment.

Wrapped in each other's embrace, you drifted towards slumber. The gentle lull of waves against the ship's sides created a tranquil melody, while moonlight softly illuminated your peaceful faces through the window. His breathing settled, his chest rising and falling in a steady cadence. Every so often, he'd plant a tender kiss on your forehead, a gentle reminder of his devotion for you.

You were cradled in a sea of unconditional love, one you never imagined could exist in your life.

Waking up next to someone in your bed felt surreal. The warmth of Sanji’s skin against yours, the intimate closeness, and the soothing sound of his breathing created a symphony of sensations that made you feel truly alive. Throughout the night, you had repositioned yourself onto your left side, and Sanji had instinctively followed, molding his body to yours.

As your eyes opened, your cabin was already bathed in the familiar orange and golden hues of dawn. Blinking repeatedly to clear the fog of sleep, you gradually adjusted to the early morning light.

Your gaze settled on Sanji's right hand in front of you, his arm laid gently over your shoulder. You smiled, gazing at his silver ring, admiring the finely crafted details. The Baratie skull symbol stood out, meticulously carved into the precious metal.

Although you longed to bask in this moment indefinitely, the reality of your situation demanded immediate action. Sanji's presence alone posed a significant risk, and you both had responsibilities at the restaurant to attend to within the hour. The last thing you needed was Zeff bellowing at him again for being late, and potentially holding you accountable for his tardiness.

Reluctantly, you stirred and pushed yourself up, trying to be as discreet as possible. Yet, the moment you attempted to move his arm away, Sanji reached out from behind, tugging you back against his chest with a soft exhale into your hair.

"Sanji," you coaxed, gently rousing him. "We need to get ready."

"Mmm. Good morning, beautiful. Just a few more minutes."

You chuckled, shaking your head. "Come on, I mean it. We really can't risk oversleeping."

You turned between his arms, finally meeting his face again. His eyes were half-lidded, and his lips curved into a smile that rivaled the sun's radiance outside. His tousled hair only added to his breathtaking handsomeness, giving him that rebellious look that simply enhanced his authenticity.

"Don't tempt me too much," you playfully chided. "Otherwise I'll never be able to leave this room again."

His lips found your cheek, grazing it lightly before seeking your mouth with loving urgency. The kiss was brief and delicate, yet it filled you with an extraordinary energy, empowering you to confront any obstacle life might present.

"You're so beautiful and sweet that I'd hold you for the rest of the day, making love to you until our bodies give out."

You giggled with delight. "Tempting. Again. But as great as that sounds, I'd rather not face Zeff's wrath."

His expression flickered with defiance. "Screw the old shitbag."

"You know that's not an option."

With another quick kiss to his lips, you extricated yourself from his arms. This time, Sanji acquiesced, loosening his hold and watching as you slid the sheets aside. Your naked form basked in the warm light, his jaw clenching as your figure's graceful contours ignited thoughts he knew he ought to suppress for the time being.

You reached for a silky robe draped over a nearby chair, slipping it on and cinching the belt around your waist. As you gathered your clothes, you stole another glance at Sanji, the sight of his muscular chest sending unbidden shivers straight to your core. The way his skin glistened in the soft morning light, his eyes sparkled like sunlight on the ocean, and the mattress cradled his form as the sheets draped perfectly around his waist...

"For heaven's sake, Y/N," you admonished yourself internally. "Pull yourself together and stop gawking."

Taking a steadying breath, you padded to the bathroom door, one hand holding the front of your robe closed. As you caught sight of your reflection in the mirror, you stifled a groan of dismay. Your forgotten makeup was slightly smudged beneath your eyes, and your hair was a wild tangle, resembling a windswept bird's nest after a tempest. How could he find you remotely attractive in such a disheveled state?

With his keen perception, you weren't surprised when Sanji's voice drifted from behind the wall. “Is everything all right, my lovely?”

"No, I look dreadful," you sighed, frowning at your visage. "I forgot to take off my makeup last night."

The rustling of bedcovers and the soft whisper of fabric signaled his movement, followed by the sound of his trousers being zipped up. "If this is what you consider dreadful, I'd be curious to see you try and look bad on purpose. ‘Cause I doubt you ever could."

You smiled warmly. "Thanks, but I'd better wash this off before someone thinks I've been in a boxing match all night."

His melodious laughter filled the air, wrapping around you like a warm cocoon. It transformed the moment into a cozy, intimate scene, making everything feel wonderfully natural and just right.

He strode across the wooden planks—already dressed but sans tie, his shirt buttons casually undone at the collar—his fingers combing through his hair. "Anyone who dares lay a finger on you won't live to see another day."

Cleaning your face with a wet cotton disc, you flashed a playful grin. "Right, what was it again? 'A rule that's existed since the age of dinosaurs'?"

His arms encircled your shoulders as he nuzzled the flushed skin of your neck, his nose tracing a gentle path along its curve. “Yeah.”

Sanji remained composed yet affectionate, sliding his hands down to your elbows and intertwining his fingers with yours. His ability to infuse every action with poetic grace astounded you.

The mirror reflected an almost dreamlike image of you two together. It was remarkable how quickly you had discovered such profound happiness and sincere love with someone who had only recently become part of your life.

"You're always beautiful. Whether you're bare-faced or made up, in your uniform or dressed for a night out, or just wrapped in a robe at dawn. That's simply who you are."

You melted against him, arching your neck and turning to capture his lips in a delicate, whisper-soft kiss, your palm cupping his cheek. "Your kindness never ceases to amaze me."

"I'm truthful, my lovely. You could walk out with seaweed in your hair, and I'd still find you more breathtaking than a sunrise over the Grand Line."

How could anyone hold such enduring adoration for another person? It was moving and unbelievable, something you had always considered unrealistic. And yet, here you stood, living proof of its reality.

He tilted his head, admiring you as if committing every detail to memory. “I wouldn’t change a thing about how you look right now. Not one bit.”

Your knees weakened, nearly causing you to collapse. "You make me want to trust every word you say about me."

"Then I'll keep reminding you of your blinding beauty until you finally believe me."

With that, you welcomed the new day in the most enchanting, thrilling, and delectable manner imaginable, until you regretfully parted ways to attend to your respective morning routines, secluded from watchful eyes.

Composing yourself in front of him at work was going to be the greatest challenge yet, particularly due to the noticeable ache and twinge in your muscles, evident in the way you walked.

You fervently hoped your newfound gait wouldn't attract unwanted attention, but if given the choice, you would gladly relive that night again and again. Making love with Sanji was worth every ache, every moment of lost sleep, every tousled strand, and every trace of smeared makeup on your face.

Indeed, it was worth more than the entire world combined.

Arriving at work with Sanji's scent clinging to you would have been highly inappropriate for both your position and his. You entered the dining room only after meticulously cleaning yourself, ensuring your appearance was impeccable and bore no trace of your intimate escapade.

Sanji emerged looking immaculate, his hair neatly styled and his skin exuding a captivating aroma of fresh shower gel. The subtle, meaningful glances you shared were impossible to overlook. You sensed it wouldn't be long before Patty—or perhaps even Zeff and the entire team—would discern the truth about your relationship.

The day unfolded as usual, with a steady stream of customers filling the Baratie and keeping the kitchen in constant motion. Fatigue settled in, the result of your scant sleep making itself known. As your shift neared its end, you battled to stifle a series of yawns while wiping down counters and polishing tableware. Your feet felt leaden, and your muscles ached in protest as you moved methodically around the room.

When you and Sanji found yourselves alone again, he seized the private moment to plant a soft kiss on your cheek as he passed. This simple gesture instantly brightened your face with joy, briefly dispelling your mounting weariness.

Being with him was truly extraordinary. If not for your exhaustion, you would have eagerly pulled him into your room for an encore of the previous night's amorous rendezvous. You resisted the urge, albeit with difficulty, as vivid and not so modest memories of your time together flooded your mind.

Sanji, ever understanding, found contentment in simply being in your company. Noticing the dark circles under your eyes and your frequent, unconscious sighs, he gently urged you to rest. Though retreating to your quarters alone felt almost sacrilegious, you recognized the importance of acting responsibly, both for your own well-being and your duties at the Baratie.

You kissed him on the lips, an action he immediately reciprocated, his arms wrapping around your back. Time seemed to stand still as you remained entwined in each other's arms, your fingers gently woven through his silky hair, savoring the warmth of your prolonged embrace.

Finding the will to disentangle, you hesitantly stepped back. Before pushing the door open, you turned to meet his eyes, which were brimming with adoration as a wide smile graced his features.

As days turned to weeks, your attraction to Sanji intensified, making even short separations during breaks or after work feel almost unbearable. Eventually, you both reached a point where hiding your relationship seemed unnecessary, as everyone on the team became aware of your developing romance. The crew began referring to you as Sanji's girlfriend and him as your boyfriend, a progression neither of you contested or denied.

Although you hadn't formally discussed your relationship status, Sanji's proud smile whenever others referred to you as a couple spoke volumes. You concluded that your bond had naturally evolved into something official, with no formal declaration necessary. Sanji demonstrated his commitment to you daily, especially in your intimate moments together.

He was an affectionate and considerate romantic, yet he transformed into a ravenous lover in the bedroom. He grew more confident as you delved deeper into your lovemaking, fully understanding your openness to his touches, kisses, gentle caresses, and fervent movements. He knew the boundaries he shouldn't cross, ones that he, out of love and respect for you, would never dream of overstepping.

As another month passed, your self-restraint was continually tested. You were determined not to disappoint Zeff, who held you in high esteem—not only as a valuable employee but, more importantly, as a woman deserving the utmost admiration. You were fully committed to your job and consciously avoided displaying excessive affection towards Sanji in front of others. He maintained equal composure, but at times, his gaze alone was enough to jeopardize your focus.

As fate would have it, a new source of adrenaline found its way onto your plate one night, which ironically helped divert your attention from your romantic preoccupation. Since your parents' last visit to the Baratie, things had been relatively peaceful, with only the occasional customer dispute. Nothing Zeff couldn't handle on his own, allowing tensions to quickly dissipate.

As part of your rotating duties, you had taken on the waitress shift instead of your usual kitchen role. The dining hall was bustling, even more crowded than customary, prompting Zeff to kindly request your assistance there. While some patrons proved difficult to manage, you'd honed your ability to project self-assurance and let snide remarks slide off without internalizing them.

The day had progressed seamlessly until you spotted a peculiar individual seated alone at a distant table. The mysterious man was tall and well-built, his face hidden beneath the shadow of a large hooded cape. You felt his eyes piercing through you, as if he could see into your very soul and beyond. However, as you turned back, you dismissed the notion as mere imagination, concluding that he was likely just another patron seeking a meal.

Despite your reservations, you approached the table cautiously, notepad in hand. He remained motionless, barely acknowledging your presence, his hand resting on the table.

"Good evening, sir. Welcome to the Baratie. May I take your order?"

His head barely turned, shifting only a fraction, his expression obscured beneath the hood. "Wine," he murmured. "Your finest vintage, if you please."

"Certainly. What would you like for your main course?"

He hummed thoughtfully, not bothering to glance at the menu. "Steak," he said. "A large cut. Juicy."

"Would you care for any side dishes or appetizers?"

"That will be all for now."

You nodded and jotted down the order, your wrist twinging slightly from overuse.

His rough, guttural voice spoke again before you could turn on your heel and walk away. "Thank you, ma’am."

Most men who looked far less intimidating barely spoke to you, except to demand more courses or drinks with an irritating flick of their fingers. A patron genuinely expressing gratitude to you or any of the waitstaff was as rare as finding a perfectly cooked medium steak elsewhere.

This simple act of politeness seemed to validate the old adage: "Don't judge a book by its cover."

"You're welcome, sir. I'm at your service."

After verifying he had nothing further to say, you observed as he redirected his attention to the empty glass before him. Satisfied, you pivoted and strode back to the kitchen, deftly tearing the order slip from your notepad as you went.

"New order for table 15," you announced crisply.

Patty was the one who took it, a grimace appearing on his face as he read it. "Man's quite pretentious, ey? I hope he's aware of the hefty price tag that comes with such fine dining."

"Somewhat," you replied distractedly, peering through the round porthole on the door. The man sat stock-still, as if carved from stone, seemingly lost in deep meditation.

Sanji, ever attentive to your moods, instantly picked up on your distraction. Abandoning his cooking station, he glided over to you, his hand finding its familiar place on your back as his concerned face met yours. “Is everything all right, my lovely?”

"Yes, it's just... that man at table 15. Do you see him?"

Sanji glanced through the glass, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spotted the man in question. "Did he do anything to you? I'll make sure he regrets it."

You shook your head with a smile. "No, quite the opposite. He was surprisingly nice with me. He’s just a bit strange, though that might not mean anything significant."

"Would you like me to take over serving him instead?"

"No, I can handle it. Besides, I'd never ask you to wait tables."

Sanji gave you a playful wink. "You know I'd move mountains for you."

Patty, witnessing the scene, rolled his eyes skyward as he flipped the food into the pan with a deft motion of his wrist. "Hey, lovebirds," he called out, "if you're finished with your romantic interlude, we've got customers to feed."

You winced, mouthing a sheepish "sorry" to Sanji, who dismissed it with a cheerful grin. "Relax, man. We've got everything under control."

"Yeah, sure. Why don't you go tell that to Zeff?" Patty retorted sarcastically.

"Someday you'll find love too, my friend," Sanji quipped.

As their lighthearted exchange subsided, Sanji resumed his position at the stove. Meanwhile, you carefully chose an exquisite vintage from the restaurant's premium wine collection, reserved for the most discerning customers. Pushing open the kitchen doors, you cast a loving look your boyfriend’s way before returning into the dining room, the requested bottle in hand, ready to be uncorked.

You struggled to pinpoint the source of your unease; was it the man's presence or some vague threat this figure might represent? Your experience at the Baratie had sharpened your intuition, allowing you to detect subtle changes in the atmosphere.

Sanji possessed a magical quality, able to infuse a sense of calm throughout your being whenever anxiety crept in. Regardless of the circumstances, you decided not to dwell on your concerns, still feeling the residual warmth of his touch on your skin.

Good heavens, you absolutely adored your job.

"This is one of our finest wines, I hope it meets your expectations, sir."

The client turned to face you, his obscured eyes focusing on the bottle's label. Interpreting his expression proved daunting, like trying to read a deck of face-down cards.

With a subtle smile, he said, "Quite satisfactory. It will do nicely."

You proceeded to open the bottle, removing its cork and pouring the wine into his glass with gentle precision. Once again, the man remained impassive, his attention fixed on the crimson liquid as it flowed. He seemed acutely aware of his surroundings, his ears perked to catch every rustle and clink while he indirectly scanned each person in the room, taking in every detail.

"Your steak will arrive shortly," you informed him. "Please enjoy your wine."

"Indeed, I shall," he replied in a low voice. "Your service is much appreciated."

With a respectful bow, you excused yourself, ready to return to the kitchen and assist with other patrons' orders while the steak was being prepared. However, you caught sight of a cluster of men seated near the hooded figure, their heads angled in his direction and eyes darting suspiciously. They whispered among themselves, clearly discussing something secretive. Their hands rested on their belts, where weapons—guns and knives—seemed to be holstered and ready to be used. Their appearance was ominous, not quite like menacing pirates, but rather like bounty hunters preparing to pounce.

You were unsure which group posed the greater threat.

No, this wouldn't do. Whatever these men were planning, you couldn't allow them to disrupt the tranquility of dinner time, causing havoc and violating the restaurant's rules. You hurried back to the kitchen, weaving past your colleagues to reach Sanji, maintaining your composure and avoiding unnecessary commotion. Swiftly, he turned off the stove and spun to face you, giving you his undivided attention.

"Something's not right out there," you whispered urgently. "Several men are intently observing the guy at table 15."

Sanji let out an irritated sigh, removing the cloth from his shoulder and walking to the doors. As he observed the scene, you noticed his entire form stiffen, his posture becoming rigid. "You shouldn't be out there," he said firmly.

"What excuse could I give? They're not actually doing anything yet."

Sanji's jaw tightened as he assessed the situation, his eyes flicking between the kitchen and the dining area. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to you; gone was his usual carefree demeanor, replaced by a fierce, protective determination.

"No one will endanger you. Not here, not anywhere." His hand brushed over yours, a silent reassurance, but you sensed the tension coiled within him.

"I won't abandon you to handle this alone, Sanji," you asserted, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We’re a team, remember?"

Sanji's lips curved into a smile, though his eyes remained serious. "We are. But if things take a turn, promise me you'll let me handle it."

"I promise," you replied, your voice wavering with uncertainty.

Sanji had always been your protector, rescuing you from emotional abuse and an overly aggressive Marine who wanted to marry you solely for your family's status. Now, as your feelings for him deepened and your heart grew more reliant on his presence, you found that same protective instinct blossoming inside you, mirroring his own.

In the past, you might have cowered in fear, feeling ill-equipped to manage any situation that could lead to potential conflict. Now, things were different. You had changed, having become an integral part of Red-Leg Zeff's crew.

Despite Sanji's apprehensions, you persisted with your assigned duties, delivering the remaining orders to patrons until the hooded man's steak was perfectly cooked and awaiting service. The dining hall appeared seemingly tranquil, with no concerning activities worth reporting. The hunter-like men could have simply found the hooded figure as intimidating and unsettling as you initially did, without any actual intent to cause trouble. It was entirely possible that you had accidentally misinterpreted the situation from the beginning, imagining threats that didn't exist.

As it turned out, your intuition was right on the mark.

It wasn't until later that you noticed the group leaving their seats one by one, slowly approaching table 15 with casual indifference. The hooded man had all but devoured his entire steak, nearly gnawing on the bone itself. Unfazed, he sipped the last drops of wine as the strangers effectively blocked any escape route, licking his lips with relish as his fingers twitched subtly against the tablecloth.

"Well, well, if it isn't our dear Obsidian Crow, worth 300 million berries," said the apparent leader of the group.

You inhaled deeply, squaring your shoulders as you keenly watched the unfolding scene from a nearby vantage point.

"Enjoying your meal?" the man inquired with a sneer.

The Obsidian Crow's lips curved slightly upward. "How kind of you to ask. This is undoubtedly the finest establishment in the East Blue."

"Indeed, it is.”

The voices around you began to fade, replaced by a curious silence that settled over those present.

"Say, why don't you join us for a little excursion?" the leader suggested with a menacing smile.

"I'm afraid I must decline your generous offer," the Crow replied with a hint of sarcasm. "You see, my schedule is rather packed; places to go, people to meet."

A boisterous laugh erupted among the men, each one chuckling in a way that boded ill.

"Oh, I'm sure you're a busy man. But you see, I'm afraid we won't accept 'no' as an answer."

The hair on the back of your neck stood up, and an eerie aura suddenly enveloped the Baratie. It was a bold decision, you realized, one you might come to regret. Yet, as other employees cautiously distanced themselves from the hunters, you chose to do just the opposite.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but I must ask you to return to your seats. You should be aware of our rules, we don't welcome fights at the Baratie."

While some of the men shot contemptuous looks your way, the leader didn't even deign to pay you any attention. "I suggest you comply unless you want to be dragged out of here by force, bastard."

"Are you truly willing to disrespect this lady and the esteemed patrons dining in this restaurant for your own selfish gain?"

"That's precisely why I'm telling you to come with us. Nobody needs to get hurt here. The choice is yours."

You recognized that the prudent course of action would have been to retreat, allowing Sanji, Zeff, and others with more combat expertise to defuse the situation. Nevertheless, an inexplicable compulsion kept you rooted to the spot.

The pirate's head lifted, revealing a pair of emerald green eyes. They were so light and sparkling that they resembled precious gems set into his sclera. A long scar stretched across his forehead, a battle memento from someone who had likely tried, and failed, to crack his skull open. "I won't be going anywhere with you lot. And as long as I draw breath, no one here will come to harm."

This time, the man looming over the Obsidian Crow growled, drawing his pistol and aiming it at the hooded figure's head. The other men followed suit, brandishing their guns, daggers, and swords in a chilling symphony of metal and clicking barrels.

In an instant, pandemonium broke loose.

The hunters charged, their battle cries echoing off the walls. Patrons scattered in panic as the Obsidian Crow rose to his feet, deftly dodging and disarming his opponents. Tables overturned, and the once-lively restaurant transformed into a chaotic battlefield. The Crow maintained an unsettling calm, even as the enemies closed in with raised fists and guns.

Within moments, Sanji burst from the kitchen, immediately positioning himself in front of you. "Hey, this is a place for food, not fighting!" He shouted, but his words were swallowed by the chaos.

In a blur of motion, the Obsidian Crow gracefully evaded the attacks with an agility that belied his imposing stature. He was no run-of-the-mill pirate, his techniques revealing a man of extraordinary power and skill.

“That’s enough!” Sanji's voice thundered as he unbuttoned his chef's jacket, tossed it your way, and strode forward purposefully.

The scene erupted with dizzying speed, making it difficult to track each movement. The Crow dispatched the group leader with remarkable fluidity, while Sanji's powerful kicks sent two other hunters flying across the room.

You tried to stay out of harm's way, clutching Sanji's jacket as you checked on the frightened customers huddled behind or beneath the tables. Taking a few careful steps, you inspected the extent of the damage inflicted, your heart sinking at the sight of food strewn about the floor, wasted and ruined.

Absorbed in your disappointment, you failed to notice a hunter, desperate and reckless, reaching for you from behind. He grabbed you, yanking you upward to use you as a human shield while advancing. "Back off, or she gets it," he hissed, pressing a blade against your throat.

Sanji's jacket tumbled to the floor, landing atop the dispersed remnants of food. The cook whirled around with such velocity you feared he might injure himself, his eyes darkening and brows knitting together in fury. The dagger's cold edge pressed perilously close to your skin, its icy touch sending shivers through your veins.

The Obsidian Crow halted, showing no signs of exertion, his gaze fixed on you with vigilance. His hood had fallen back, unveiling short, tousled hair peppered with gray. Frozen with fear, you staggered forward as the hunter shoved you ahead, your arms hanging limply by your sides.

The assailant failed to grasp the gravity of his error.

“You picked the wrong woman to mess with,” Sanji snarled, his face contorted with rage.

With lightning agility, Sanji vaulted over a table, using it as a springboard. His powerful kick landed squarely on the hunter's nose before the man could react, sending him hurtling painfully onto his back.

You lost your footing, but Sanji's protective arms quickly caught you, steadying your balance. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice softening with concern as he looked into your eyes.

You shook your head, still trembling slightly but unharmed. "I'm okay, thanks to you."

As the tumult subsided, Sanji exhaled with relief. The Crow continued to grapple with a particularly tenacious opponent who refused to yield, gunshots ringing out, their echoes thundering around you.

Suddenly, you spotted something Sanji had missed: one of the bounty hunters, overlooked in the earlier skirmish, was charging towards him with murderous intent. The man's face contorted with vicious anger as he brandished a gleaming sword, poised to strike Sanji down while his back was turned.

While the cook was undoubtedly capable of defending himself, your heart raced at the impending danger. Without a second thought, you sprang into action, seizing the nearest object within reach.

“Watch out!!” You shouted, shoving Sanji aside with unexpected strength and swinging a hefty vase with remarkable force.

Sanji barely had time to register what was happening as the ceramic vase collided with the man's head. The impact shattered it, sending shards and flowers dispersing in all directions and the attacker crumpling to the floor, unconscious.

The room fell silent, as if time itself had paused. Patrons and staff alike, who moments ago had been seeking shelter, now turned to witness the aftermath of your unexpected feat. Even Sanji, a seasoned fighter in his own right, stared at you in wide-eyed amazement, a smile of admiration slowly spreading across his face.

The group leader attempted to regain his footing, still reeling from the blow. "I-it's not over yet, Crow," he sputtered. "You're leaving with me, one way or another."

The pirate's jaw clenched in annoyance as he adjusted his stance, ready to counter the impending assault. However, before the situation could escalate further, another gunshot rang out in the room, this time from behind you.

The familiar thud of a wooden peg on the floor was all you needed to identify the newcomer.

“Stop right now.”

There stood Zeff, visibly enraged by the disturbance and squandered food, his recharged pistol aimed directly at the hunter. "Take your pathetic crew and get out of my restaurant," he commanded.

The leader gritted his teeth, drawing his own gun and leveling it at Zeff. Sanji maneuvered you out of danger's path, ensuring the weapon's barrel wasn't pointed in your direction.

"We're not looking for trouble. We came here for him," the hunter said, gesturing towards the Obsidian Crow.

"Whatever business you have, it's not my problem. My restaurant's rules are very clear."

The defeated hunters groaned and stirred, some still incapacitated from the brawl. Those who could move managed to stand, though unsteadily, shame emblazoned across their features, gathering their weapons and sheathing them in silent resignation. Without a word, they dragged their fallen comrades away, limping towards the exit. The fish-man clapped his hands, and your colleagues rushed in, hurriedly righting the toppled tables and sweeping up the debris.

The leader's hand trembled as he held Zeff's deadly stare, not yet ready to concede defeat. His bravery in the face of the renowned chef was admirable. However, with Zeff's formidable reputation preceding him, the man was wise enough to recognize his capitulation. With a frustrated growl, he finally surrendered.

"Watch your back, Obsidian Crow," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Sooner or later, you'll pay for this."

The Crow's lips curled into a wide grin. "I look forward to your next attempt."

At last, silence descended upon the restaurant. The bounty hunters had vanished, leaving in their wake a scene of destruction; broken plates, ruined meals, and the hushed murmurs of bewildered patrons.

A couple at an adjacent table observed the three of you, whispering to each other. "That was quite impressive, wasn't it?"

"Indeed! Quite thrilling to witness!"

The Baratie was famous for welcoming all customers indiscriminately, be they pirates, hunters, or Marines. This diverse clientele didn't deter those who made reservations; on the contrary, they flocked to the Baratie not just for the mouthwatering cuisine, but also for the chance to witness an impromptu spectacle.

The Crow raised his hood, settling it back into place. Turning to Sanji, he offered a slight, almost respectful nod. "Impressive skills," he remarked with a hint of admiration. "You've earned my respect. No small feat, I assure you."

Though visibly pleased by the man's compliment, Sanji refrained from excessive self-praise, true to his character.

"I offer my most sincere apologies for the disorder I have caused. They must have tracked my route and intercepted my transponder call. Please, allow me to pay for the damages and the drinks those 'gentlemen' haven't settled."

Zeff crossed his arms with a weary sigh, his pistol still in hand. "Those bottles don't come cheap."

"Aye. That won't be a problem."

The Crow reached into his cape, producing a metallic clatter from a concealed pocket. His fingers emerged clutching an impressive bag of coins, which he tossed unceremoniously before Zeff's peg leg. The Crow waited patiently as the head chef inspected the offering, a single look inside telling that the pirate's payment far exceeded the cost of his meal and the hunters' drinks combined.

"They had no intention of paying," the Obsidian Crow stated. "It's a shame, really. Your service is exceptional. I couldn't find anything like this even in the Grand Line."

Zeff's weathered face showed a mixture of irritation and reluctant approval. “Long as you don’t make a habit of bringing your baggage here, you’re welcome to stay. Just don’t make me regret it.”

While profit wasn't everything, the pirate's readiness to compensate the restaurant commanded respect. The unexpected settlement of the hunters' tab was an added boon, one that would buoy the Baratie's mood for weeks to come.

The tension in the room gradually dissipated as a low murmur of conversations resumed. Diners who had moments ago braced themselves for violence now eased back into their seats. The Baratie crew, ever-professional, moved to replace the interrupted meals, guaranteeing that each affected patron would still savor the full dining experience they had anticipated, despite the recent upheaval.

With a final bow of gratitude, the Crow pivoted on his heels and strode away, his cape billowing dramatically behind him. "I'll take my leave for tonight. Should I return to your establishment, I'll keep your words in mind."

You observed as he made his way to the door, halting momentarily to deliver a parting statement. "Thank you for the meal. The steak was absolute perfection."

With that, he disappeared into the night.

You stooped to retrieve Sanji's jacket, which had fallen victim to the consequences of the fight. An unmistakable sauce stain marred the left front lapel, and it was only then that you noticed a few droplets of blood spattered across your own uniform, likely from the hunters' injuries.

Zeff shook his head, a wry smile breaking through his sterness. “Little Eggplant. Remind me why I let pirates and vagabonds in this place?”

“Because even pirates need a good meal, old man. And we’re the best in all the Blues.”

Zeff let out a low, gruff chuckle, genuine despite its roughness. His eyes softened as he looked at you, his hand gently resting on your back. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," you assured him with a nod. “The blood isn’t mine.”

A crease formed between his brows. Another sigh followed, the tension in his shoulders easing only slightly. "Good. The Baratie may be many things, but it's not a battlefield. I don't want you risking your safety every time a scuffle breaks out.”

Zeff had always considered the crew as family, and witnessing one of his own in danger was never easy for him to bear.

“You’d do well to remember that too, Eggplant. Next time, try not to start a fight with half the clientele.”

Sanji rolled his eyes, a hint of his usual playfulness returning. “You know me. I’m always aiming for peace, until someone forgets their manners.”

A smile tugged at your lips as you listened to their familiar banter. Sanji caught your expression and reflected it, his eyes twinkling with shared amusement while conveying a hidden, intimate message.

“Come on, we owe these people a proper conclusion. You two, go clean yourselves up. You can't serve customers looking like this."

With a gentle pat on your back, Zeff hobbled towards the kitchen, clearly intent on overseeing the preparation of fresh meals. The restaurant's lively ambiance quickly returned, with patrons resuming their conversations as if the earlier fracas had never occurred.

Sanji took your hand, guiding you away from the dining area as you both navigated through the remaining shards your colleagues were clearing away. The restroom door clicked shut behind you, and Sanji's jacket slid onto the sink as you turned on the faucet. Water trickled from the tap, its gentle splashing the sole sound piercing the silence surrounding you.

The stain on the white fabric was so prominent that you doubted even a thorough wash would be enough to remove it.

"I'm not sure this will be enough, it looks pretty bad. Maybe we should—"

Without warning, Sanji's lips collided with yours, his protective arms enveloping you against his chest, causing you to relax instantly. He cradled the back of your head with one hand, the rhythmic beat of his heart a calming counterpoint to the residual adrenaline in your body. His lips were warm and tantalizing, his tongue the sweetest caress.

He pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, his hand trailing down to inspect your neck, where the hunter's blade had nearly nicked. He brushed a strand of hair away from your face, his eyes still glistening with unspoken emotions. "What you did back there for me..."

"Oh, that. I, um... I was just reacting on impulse. It's not as if you truly needed my rescue."

"You were incredible."

"I owe Zeff a new vase, though," you said with a sheepish grin. "But I guess I owe you so much more than that for saving me again."

"The only thing I’d ever want from you is another kiss.”

A chuckle shook your shoulders as you gently brushed his hair away. "Why so modest? You could ask for other things. Not that I'd object."

He pressed his lips together, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I could never do that."

“Why?”

"Because I care for you too much to act on the thoughts racing through my mind right now."

You sighed blissfully against his jaw, breathing in his intoxicating cologne, and weaving your fingers in his silky strands. "Oh, Sanji," you spoke against his skin, "How many times do I need to tell you that there's nothing to worry about?"

“Y/N—”

"Shh," you purred, your voice seductive. "Try me. I bet your thoughts perfectly match mine."

He closed the gap between you, capturing your lips in another kiss that melded tenderness with urgency. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around his neck, a soft, ecstatic hum escaping your chest as you clung to him. The delicate, wet sounds of your kisses were masked by the still-running water, which you couldn't be bothered to turn off. Your mouths locked in an ardent dance, tongues intermingling as your heartbeats quickened in unison.

"Mh. Maybe we shouldn't be doing this here," you uttered against his lips. "What if Zeff catches us?"

"I'll tell him that I couldn't stay away from the woman I adore a moment longer."

"He'd have our heads for this."

"I'd like to see him try."

He grazed your lips with his again, reluctant to break contact. "Let them all knock, let them shout. I won't respond until I've made it crystal clear that you're the only one on my mind. Here and now."

His words sent a shiver down your spine, evoking a soft gasp. Sanji flashed you an appreciative smile, his eyes sparkling with that unique blend of mischief and adoration so distinctly his.

"This is reckless, you know that?"

“I know.”

"We still need to clean our uniforms."

“Yeah.”

“…And you don’t care.”

"No.”

He carefully eased you out of your vest, the blood stains less noticeable on the dark fabric but still stubbornly present and beginning to dry. It joined his on the sink's edge, both garments momentarily forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Your breaths quickened, filling the room with a carnal chant. His fingertips traced the buttons of your shirt with shy trepidation, deftly unfastening the top two buttons near the collar before moving lower to undo three more.

The atmosphere crackled with undeniable electricity, signaling that desire would soon triumph over caution.

"Forgive me, my lovely, but I have reached my limit."

Your veneer of professionalism crumbled entirely. A muffled moan slipped from your throat as he latched onto your collarbones, tracing a trail of amorous pecks that ignited a fire crackling throughout your very core.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 8 (coming soon) ->

[anneapocalypse]

6 and 8 for Dragon Age! Choose violence!!!!

🔥 Choose Violence Ask Meme 🔥

6. which ship fans are the most annoying?

I'm gonna be perfectly honest: I have drawn my little circle of Dragon Age fandom such that I really don't find any shippers annoying. I also basically like all of the canon romances I've played on some level and there are none that I have a visceral Nope about, and as far as non-canon romances I cannot find it in myself to get bent out of shape about rare pairs, which is what most non-canon ships end up as, realistically.

My hot take is that in this fandom, anyone who leads with "X shippers are the WORST EVER--" is about to be far more annoying than any of the shippers I know.

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts is a good quest.

In many ways, I think it's actually comparable to playing A Paragon of Her Kind as a non-dwarf. In both quests, people often complain about not having access to all the information about the candidates, by which they mean that the game does not hand them a piece of paper explaining to them why one candidate is the Good One and the other Bad, what's that noise oh it's me banging trash can lids together in your backyard and hollering THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BENEVOLENT MONARCHY, THERE IS NO GOOD MONARCH, POWER THAT CONCENTRATED CAN ONLY BE SUSTAINED WITH BLOOD, ALL YOU CAN DO IS DECIDE WHICH ONE IS GOING TO DO THE LEAST HARM AND/OR IS MOST EASILY MANIPULATED BY PARTIES YOU WISH TO SUPPORT.

Coughs. What I mean is, the frustrating lack of information given to you, an outsider, is kind of the point. No matter who you play as the Inquisitor, you are canonically not Orlesian and you do not know the Imperial Court intimately no matter how politically savvy your character may be. You are an outsider, and to many people a dangerous one. You are here as a guest; you were not invited with the intent of letting you choose the ruler of a sovereign nation, and people are not simply going to hand you information to that end. Even some of your advisors may have personal motivations for withholding information that you would have liked to know, perhaps because of their own involvement or complicity in certain events. You know. Perhaps.

So you have to do your own digging. You have to climb trellises and sneak into locked rooms. You might get lucky opening the right doors and finding something really useful, or you might not. You might say the right thing to the right person and get a valuable lead, or you might fumble it never knowing what you could have had.

We love to poke fun at the RPG tropes of every NPC immediately giving you their life story and asking you to solve all their problems. Isn't it kind of interesting when a game doesn't do that--when you have to take your own initiative if you want a specific outcome, when other characters aren't just dumping information on you and assuming that you'll act on it in a specific way?

I think one of the most interesting aspects of WEWH is that you can in fact choose to do nothing. Yes, you have to follow the basic outline of the quest, but at the critical moment you can just not intervene and allow Florianne to stab Celene and Gaspard to take the throne--effectively, letting things play out as they would have had the Inquisition done nothing. Gaspard of course winks and treats you as an ally because you assumes you're complicit, but you could in fact just have been indifferent. Game mechanics make it obvious you're making a choice, but in-universe it's simply that you have chosen not to act.

And if you do choose to act, you do not get a guaranteed Good Option. No, you don't get to flip the tables and completely overturn the social order of a sovereign nation of which, again, you are not even a citizen. You have to work with the situation you're in, and try to bend it to whatever advantage you see fit. You get no guarantees.

Sure, there a few places where I think WEWH fumbles the ball, but on the whole I think it's a brilliant union of storytelling and creative game mechanics.

[noodle-is-unstable]

Hey, just a question but why were you fine with the abusive power dynamics between Sukuna and Uraume (Ume being so devoted to Sukuna and Sukuna only that they killed themself and Sukuna being fine with this blind devotion + Sukuna, a curse/cursed user, making Uraume, a human, cook human meat, including children, for him) so far but the moment he might have met them as a kid/teen you aren't fine? It was a "problematic" ship from the start, idk why everyone is acting horrified that the villains do villain things. But also meeting as a kid and dating as a kid is soooo different, they're both thousands years old in current days so like...

So first of all, you're more than welcome to ask questions and have a discussion but the tone in which this is written is coming off as agressive in my opinion. I don't appreciate that. Perhaps I'm reading into it wrong and that wasn't your intent, but it still has an unnecessary agressive tone to me. Especially in how you chose to end it with "so like..."

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume I'm misinterpreting the tone because it's very possible I am.

Now onto the actual question.

So unless something happened in the epilogue I missed I don't agree with your assessment of their relationship at all. If this context is given in the epilogue the point is moot because it was still something I wasn't privy to.

So I'm going off the manga for my knowledge of their relationship.

I think it's possible and valid that this is the interpretation you got from this, but it's simply not the same one I have.

I don't see their relationship as an abusive dynamic. (this can change with the new knowledge or context in the epilogue but we're taking about my perspective and why I wrote about it before this)

I saw Uraume as a very loyal servant, but not an abused or manipulated one. I didn't see Sukuna forcing things onto Uraume, I saw them choosing to do these things. (Remember this is in the context where we didn't know how Uraume and Sukuna met). I saw Uraume as choosing to follow Sukuna, choosing to cook humans, choosing to be devoted to Sukuna. They chose to follow him. They chose to be reincarnated to stay by his side. Uraume isn't some innocent little lamb being tricked by a wolf. They killed many people too. Also I think you forget Sukuna was a human too. Sukuna was a human eating humans and Uraume was a human cooking humans. They both participated in fucked up activities. Uraume isn't innocent and being forced to do anything. If they were I doubt they would have worked so hard to bring him back rather than just leaving and living their reincarnated life without him.

Simply put I saw Uraume as a very willing participant in everything that happened. I don't see their dynamic as abusive. You do and you have every right to, but I don't.

I also don't agree with your logic that their villains and do villian things so I should be okay with everything. Stealing is against the law, but so is murder. They're both bad, but they aren't equal. There is so much nuance to situations like this it's not realistic to just make it all equal.

Not to mention there is zero feelings that aren't platonic shown in the manga, that's all headcannons. It's not actually apart of the series at all. This is something fans have put onto the characters. This whole argument is in a fan made concept.

I am uncomfortable with pushing a romantic relationship on them when the situation is that he took Uraume in as a kid. I don't like it, it gives me the ick. So shocking, but if I don't like or agree with something, I'm not going to write about it.

Like I said in my last post I don't give a shit about the argument they're 1000 years old now, I don't like it.

He met Uraume as a child

He helped raise them

I'm not going to push a romantic aspect to that situation

You're allowed to disagree. You're allowed to not have a problem with that dynamic. You're allowed to see their dynamic differently than I do. But at the end of the day this is my page and I'm allowed to decide what I do and don't want to write for. And I don't want to write for that dynamic

[mermaidsirennikita]

Some of the discourse around Nosferatu is kinda wild

Nosferatu is a classic example of how people think that they need to shut down the arguments of anyone who disagrees with them about anything (versus just letting the arguments exist while disagreeing with them and engaging with them when you wish) and the best way to do that is by calling into question the morality of the person who disagrees with you. Because we've created an environment in which the best way to shut up your opponent is to call them a rape apologist, even when you're discussing the story of an 1800s gross vampire who's slinging his rotting dick around.

I personally think that pieces of media can be many things at once. I think Nosferatu absolutely tells the story of a woman who's been groomed and assaulted. I also think it's the story of a woman who desires the physical manifestation of death, emotionally and erotically. I do think you're supposed to interpret Ellen as wanting Nosferatu, and being repelled by him. I think she as a character can want Nosferatu and be in love with her husband. I think she can be in love with death and be in love with her husband. I think her husband can be a good dude who's in love with her and shuns parts of her that he finds repellent as a man of the nineteenth century.

I also think that this all aligns with a rather straightforward metaphor for the taboos surrounding sexuality, and female sexuality in particular. It doesn't matter if Ellen's desires are "natural" or "unnatural". They will be shunned and seen as perverse either way. She can not want to have them, and yet they're still there. And perhaps they would be there either way, but she's conditioned to see them as perverse and awful. None of this is literal, and it both works in a straightforward manner against the setting of nineteenth century Europe... and against our current era, in which the neopuritanical movement is in full force. We are going BACKWARDS, and as such the metaphor is apt on multiple levels.

And as an aside, I find it interesting that some of the same people I've been pearl clutch over the idea that people are fascinated by Ellen and Orlok's dynamic (because... the shipping is silly at times sure, but it's also a manifestation of simply being intrigued by something... it's not that deep) were just as into The Witch and the Black Philip of it all. "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously" is... kind of one to one with Orlok's seduction of Ellen, lol. Nosferatu just says the quiet part out loud. Or louder than The Witch, which was already pretty loud.

Additionally, Thomasin is a minor lured to the dark side by a seductive figure. We kind of all sort of went in on that metaphor and the combined destruction and freedom Thomasin found in "giving in" to Satan. You could certainly say that, throughout The Witch, we are watching Black Philip/Satan groom Thomasin.

I find it a bit weird that Nosferatu tells a similar tale almost a decade later and simply makes the seduction and grooming more explicit... and suddenly we're up in arms.

I don't think Eggers could have foreseen that reaction (though I imagine he considered it, if he's at all aware of Online People lol) but it does kind of make for an interesting, and disturbing, commentary on societal regression.

Also:

This is all fake and I wish people could just ... let fiction be fiction.

I say this as someone who used to try to trump people with MORALITY in my dumbass fandom arguments. I get it. It's tempting. Sometimes I find myself slipping into that again.

But it's an immature method of argument.