#personally i think rival thieves would be more interesting

[forcebookish]

ok book wants to play a thief but i don't think force should be a cop, he should be the mark and he catches book and traps him there to find out who his buyer is

[easy-there-leftovers]

Thinking of Gale x Wizard!Tav/ reader ideas!! (I one day hope to get around to writing this, but if anyone does so in my stead, please tag me so I can read it too!!)

Academic Rivals to Lovers

To the faculty, he was a ball of boundless potential. To the entire student body, he was an annoying know-it-all whose mouth never shut up, lest he was seconds away from getting caught.

Mr. Dekarios has always been quite the prodigy, or so the talk of the academy says. Showing exceptional wit and charm through his words and spell casting, it was no wonder he quickly gained Mystra’s favor.

So after having been abducted by the nautiloid, and asking help from the stranger on the other side of his portal, what happens when one Gale of Waterdeep looks up to meet the eyes of an old classmate?

More specifically, a classmate that, for some reason, always had a bone pick with him, and only him.

But he supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised. For a wizard’s competition lies in whose ambitions dominate the other.

Through Complicated Backgrounds

Thieving about was not a way in which any wizard would’ve chosen to start their careers, and yet there you were.

Well, it wasn’t stealing, really, if you needed it more, is it?

No one would help you, so you helped yourself. Taught yourself everything there would be to learn about the arcane and more, yet it is still not enough.

And you’ve come to know that it will never be enough.

For he, who had everything, and was everything, you ever wanted incarnate, was leagues ahead of you.

“You have a type, don’t you?”

In which the amnesiac Bhaalspawn seems to have taken an interest in one Gale of Waterdeep.

However after setting foot into Wyrm’s Crossing and being personally invited by the Archduke Enver Gortash, it would seem that Gale isn’t the first brainiac to have ignited something in the fellow Wizard.

Of Logic and Love

The pragmatic in you had never truly understood any, if not all, the intricacies that came with feeling.

Choosing the company of books and scrolls in your youth, you’ve never cared much for anything.

Never had to think about anyone.

Never had to deal with the ugly and bitter mess that would rend in your heart if you mulled over someone from time to time.

And falling in love with the one and only Gale of Waterdeep has only made it more difficult.

You will never understand the relationship he once shared with the Mistress of Magic.

You will never understand how he sees you in the relationship you share now.

And you will never understand the depths of his “feelings” for you.

—————————————-

That’s what I have so far!!

Please feel free to tell me what you think about these ideas, and if you know any material that features this ideas, or plan to use this in a fic, please tag me so that I can read it!!

[plethomacademia]

I think you should try my long fic!

I am writing a story that starts from my female Dark Urge first meeting Enver Gortash all the way until she is tadpoled by her sister.

I know seeing it on AO3 is a lot, it's already over 45k words, so here's some entry points I think might interest people!

Do you like first meetings? Do you like when monsters come in unexpected packages? Chapter 2 is for you!

Do you think cult manipulation is interesting? Did you get to that part in Wyrm's Crossing when the narrator told you that your dark urge lead their church in prayer and you wanted to know more? Hello, chapter 3!

Do you like watching people grow closer in drabbles? Do you like watching two high charisma characters bounce off each other? That's chapter 5.

How about first kisses? When a person knows they shouldn't have sex with their rival's chosen but oh it's just one night, it's ok it's part of the mission! Or do you want to see a little temple monster get confused by the idea of gifts? Or did you see Gortash's notes on past assassinations and wonder if he and the Dark Urge ever studied together? Chapter 6 baby.

What if a Dark Urge has talents that are directly opposed to the Slayer Form? How would they feel about it? Chapter 7!

Do you just want to see Gortash get messed with until he shoves the Dark Urge on a desk? Chapter 8, that's the pitch.

What if you're like me and love seeing someone thrown out of their element? How would a creature from the dark handle being in an alliance with two other more experienced tacticians for the first time? Chapter 10.

Chapter 11 is for all you Gortash being a scientist is hot freaks out there, I see you, I am you.

Do you like your Dark Urge a little not quite mortal? What about two people who use the word love in such weird ways in their day to day that the way they talk about an all consuming feeling is to swap the word friend back and forth like a prayer? That's my most recent chapter, Chapter 12.

None of those? No problem! Here's what I have planned for the last few chapters:

Why was the Elder Brain so happy to see the dark urge in the game?

Post-heist scene where the thieves fuck with the jewels in a big fluffy bed but the jewels are a netherstone you're welcome

What it's like to kill someone that your mind can't remember but your heart does?

[kaitou-archive]

Otomedia June 2015

(Below is a cleaned up machine translation. Please note that due to the nature of machine translation, the text may not be wholly accurate or may read oddly. Japanese is included after English for reference. The text was lifted from the images using this site, and though there's been care taken to make sure everything is correct, there is a chance of unintentional typos.)

I want to walk hand in hand with you ~wedding road~

Tonight, Joker and his friends have come to a June wedding party. Donning their formal attire, are they aiming for sparkling jewels? Or the bride's heart?!?!

"They will probably steal the bride's heart as well as the treasures (laughs). According to the original author Hideyasu Takahashi, Joker's age is 'about 3 to 5 years older than the readers.' Depending on the age of the bride-to-be, I don't think marriage is just a dream!"

The person who gave this hopeful comment was Dai Sato, in charge of series composition. In Season 2, which is currently airing, Joker and company are on an adventure across the world, including infiltrating prisons and visiting deserts!

"I think the essence of 'Kaitou Joker' is the competition between detectives and inspectors for a single treasure, like in episodes 14 and 16 of Season 2. Not only are the phantom thieves who steal treasure cool, but the rivals who stand in their way are all interesting characters. I think you got to see their personalities in Season 1, so Season 2 will include a time travel story that has a big impact."

For those of you who want to follow Joker and his friends wherever they go, a special message from the Phantom Thieves has arrived in this issue as well! Also be sure to check out the “Dream Pledge”★

あなたと手をとり歩きたいWedding Road

「お宝を盗みに来たついでに、花嫁のハ ートも華麗に奪っていくのでしょうね (笑)。原作者のたかはしひでやす先生 曰く、ジョーカーの年齢は“読者の皆さ んの3~5歳くらい年上〟とのことです。 ので、花嫁志望の方のご年齢によっては、 結婚も夢じゃないと思いますよ!」

そんな希望がふくらむコメントを下さ ったのは、シリーズ構成の佐藤大さん。 放送中のシーズン2では刑務所に潜入し たり、砂漠を訪れたりと、ジョーカーた ちは世界をまたにかけて冒険中ですね!

「シーズン2の第14話や第16話のよう に、探偵や警部と一つのお宝を賭けて勝 負するというのが、『怪盗ジョーカー』 という作品の真髄だと思います。カッコ よくお宝を盗む怪盗たちはもちろん、立 ち塞がるライバルも面白い人物ばかりで すよ。シーズン1で彼らの人となりはご 覧いただけたと思いますので、シーズン 2ではインパクトが大きいタイムスリッ プするお話なども盛り込んでいます」 ジョーカーたちと一緒なら、どんな場 所にもついて行きたい そう思ったア ナタへ、今号も怪盗たちからのスペシャ ルメッセージが到着しております!! 佐 藤さんが解説して下さった、付録の「ドリーム誓約書」も要チェックです★

---Character Introduction

Joker

"As a phantom thief, he's cool, but when he gets home he's so sloppy that he can't even clean the house (laugh). I think his versatility is very attractive." (Sato)

「怪盗としてはカッコいいん ですが、お家に帰るとだらし なくて掃除もできないという (笑)。 その多面性が、非常に 魅力的だなと思います」(佐藤)

Hachi

Joker's assistant. "No matter what he says, it's cute! There are many characters who say harsh things, but when the simple-minded Hachi appears, it makes me feel warm." (Sato)

ジョーカーの助手。「なんと言 っても可愛いですね! キザ なことを言ったりする人物が 多い中、純朴なハチが登場す るとほっこりします」(佐藤)

Spade

Joker's rival. "He's smart and good at strategizing. However, I think he shines the most when he's with Joker." (Sato)

ジョーカーのライバル。 「頭が よく、作戦を立てるのも得意 です。ただ、彼はジョーカー と一緒にいる時が、一番輝い ていると思います」(佐藤)

---Character Question

Where would you like to go for your honeymoon? 新婚旅行はどこに行ってみたい?

Joker "More than where to go on a honeymoon, I'm trying to decide which of two treasures I'm going for! I'm not sure which one, the Three Star Jewel, which is the prize for winning the Idol Stage, or the Sigma Drive, which I don't know what kind of machine it is! I'm excited to see what kind of treasure it is. Hey, do you want to go with me?"

「新婚旅行をどこに行くかよりもさ、 今は2 つのお宝どっちを狙いに行くか迷ってるんだ よな! アイドルステージ優勝賞品の『スリ ースタージュエル』 って宝石と、なんの機械 かわかんねぇけど 『シグマ・ドライブ』 って お宝、 どっちを狙いに行くか迷ってるんだ! どんなお宝なのかワクワクするよな。 なぁ、あんたも一緒に行ってみるか?」

Hachi "M….M-m-m-marriage!? I'm getting married!? Ahem… Well, I…I wouldn't mind wherever my wife wants to go! I'd want to go all sorts of places! ……I'm embarrassed~!!" 「けっ…………… けけけ結婚!!? オイラが結婚っスか!! ゴホン。 そうっスね、 お……お嫁さんの行きたい所ならどこでもいいっスよ! 一緒にいろんな所行きたいっス!・・照れるっス~!!」

Spade

"A Honeymoon…. I'd never thought about it. I've never thought about getting married, either. Well, if I had to say, I'd say I'd like to go somewhere with a history. I'd also like to go and inspect the treasures of the place I'm going to and plan how I'm going to get them. But of course, don't tell the woman I'm seeing."

「新婚旅行か…・・・・・。 考えたこともなかったよ。 結婚も考えたことがなかったからね。 そうだ ね、強いて言うなら歴史ある場所に行きたい かな。ついでに行った先のお宝の下見もして、 どうやって手に入れるか作戦もたてたいな。 もちろん相手の女性には内緒だけどね」

---Interview

Interview with Dai Sato, Series Composer A Guide to the Shining Night

シリーズ構成・佐藤 大氏○インタビュー 輝く夜への案内状

What did you keep in mind when composing the series?

When I first met director Yukiyo Teramoto, she told me that she wanted to depict Joker and his friends' lives and relationships, not to mention their charm as phantom thieves. With this in mind, we started work on the series structure, but as the TV animation had to be summarised in 26 episodes for seasons 1 and 2, it was not possible to visualise all the episodes from the original story. So, after consulting with Director Teramoto, we introduced Queen and Silver Heart, who appear in the middle of the original story, from the beginning of Season 1. I wanted to depict a story centered on Joker and Hachi, but also a story involving Joker, Spade and Queen all together. So I moved the episodes of the original story forward and made them up as I went along. However, both Teramoto and I love the original story, so we adapted the way and order of the characters' appearances to the original story. We also had an order for Joker and his team to confront a major enemy throughout the 26 episodes of the anime, so we placed Professor C and Shadow Joker as the most suitable characters for the enemy. With Shadow by Professor C's side, I think you get a better sense of the relationship between Joker and Silver Heart as a master-disciple duo.

The original story is a treasure trove of fascinating scenarios, how did you decide which to make into an anime? I had a list of all the stories up to volume 16, and me, director Teramoto and the producers chose the episodes we absolutely wanted to do. The episodes we decided on first were episode 1, "The Miracle Maker Appears", and episode 5, "Journey into the Shining Night". The episodes to be broadcast in the future include episode 19 "Crash! The Idol Stage" and episode 22, "The Burning Inspector and the Wicked Foxes". I wanted to tell these stories in Season 1 after all the main characters had come together and the relationships between the phantom thieves had been established, so I decided to do them in Season 2.

Finally, a message to all the fans! The brilliant tricks of the phantom thieves. The days when the phantom thief, his assistant and his master spend together like a family, and the stories and settings of the original work are important to the production of all the staff. The last few episodes are more epic than ever, so I hope you enjoy them.

シリーズ構成をされる際に、 意識されたことは? 初めて寺本幸代監督にお会いした時に、 怪盗として の魅力はもちろん、 ジョーカーたちの生活の様子や関 係性を描きたいという話を伺いました。 その思いを念 頭にシリーズ構成の作業に入ったのですが、 TVアニ メとしてシーズン1・2の26話にまとめなくてはい けないので、原作のエピソードをすべて映像化するこ とはできないんですよね。 そこで寺本監督とも相談して、原作では中盤から登場するクイーンやシルバーハ ートを、シーズン1の初期から登場させました。 ジョ ーカーとハチが中心のお話はもちろん、 ジョーカー、 スペード、クイーンの3人がそろって巻き起こるお話 も描きたかったんです。 なので、原作のエピソードを 前倒しして、 構成していきました。 ただ、 僕も寺本監 督も原作が大好きなので、 各キャラクターの登場の仕 方と順番は、原作にあわせました。 かつ、 アニメ26 話を通して、 ジョーカーたちが大きな敵に立ち向かっていく形にしたいとのオーダーもあったので、敵として一番ふさわしいキャラクターとして、プロフェッサ ・Cとシャドウ・ジョーカーを配置しました。 プロ フェッサー・Cの傍にシャドウもいることで、 ジョー カー&シルバーハートの師弟コンビとの対の関係性 を、より感じとっていただけているかなと思います。

原作は魅力的なお話の宝庫ですが、どのようにア アニメ化するエピソードを決めていったのでしょうか? 16巻までのお話をすべてリストにしてもらって、 僕と寺本監督とプロデューサー陣で、 絶対にやりたい エピソードを選んでいきました。 真っ先に決まったの は、第1話の「奇跡の怪盗あらわる」 や、 第5話の 「輝く夜への旅立ち」 です。 今後放送されるエピソードですと、 第19話 「激突!! アイドルステージ」や第 22話の 「炎の警部と邪悪な狐」 ですね。 これらのお話 はシーズン1でメインキャラクターが全員そろって、 怪盗同士の関係性が構築されてから描きたかったの で、シーズン2でやる運びとなりました。

最後に、ファンの皆様へメッセージを! 怪盗たちの華麗なトリック。 そして、 怪盗と助手、 師匠が家族のように過ごす日々と、原作の物語や設定 を大切にスタッフ一同、 制作しています。 最後の何話 かは、今まで以上に壮大なストーリーになっているの で、ぜひ楽しんでいただけたら嬉しいです。

---Dream Pledge (Purple sheet)

The Dream Pledge You pledge your love to the phantom thieves ♪

Series Composition Director Dai Sato is here with "The Code of the Bride of the Phantom Thief" ♡ Once you know the secret to living a happy married life with the phantom thieves, write your name and date on the pledge. It's up to you whether your boyfriend will sign it or not!!

ドリーム誓約書 貴女が怪盗たちに愛を誓う♪ シリーズ構成 佐藤大氏直伝!!「怪盗の花嫁の掟」付き♡ 怪盗たちと幸せな結婚生活を送るための極意を胸に刻んだら、名前と日付けを誓約書に書き込もうカレがサインをしてくれるかはアナタ次第!!

Pledge ~Oath of commitment~ I commit myself to this man In health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty. I pledge to love, honour, comfort and help, I pledge to love him without change. ~誓約書~ 私はこの男性を健康な時も病の時も富める時も貧しい時も 愛し敬いなぐさめ助けて変わることなく愛することを誓います

---

Phantom Thief No. 1 Joker Joker's Bride's Code ♡ Scold him from time to time! "Joker may look like this, but inside he's a child, so it's important to accept his wild side. And while booking videos and cleaning his room, scold him properly from time to time" (Sato)

Excitement 365 days of the year with many different expressions ♡

▼Show off your skills in making curry, Joker's favorite food

Together with Joker in the sky and on the ground ♥ Go on your honeymoon on the Sky Joker or Road Joker♪

怪盗その1 ジョーカー ジョーカーの花嫁の掟 ♡ 時には叱ってあげよう!

「ジョーカーはこう見えて中身は子どもなので、 彼の奔放さを受け止めてあげることが大切です。そして、ビデオの予約や部屋の掃除をしてあげつつ、時にはきちんと叱ってあげてください」 (佐藤) いろんな表情に 365日ドッキドキ♡

▼ジョーカーの大好物である、 カレー作りの腕前をあげておこう

空でも地上でもジョーカーと一緒♥ スカイジョーカ ーやロードジョー カーに乗って、新 婚旅行へGO♪

---

Phantom Thief No. 2 Hachi Hachi's Bride's Code ♡ All OK in a natural way! "Hachi, who is perfect at housework and good at cooking, is a woman's ideal marriage partner. In order to live a more harmonious life, please eat delicious food. However, I think Hachi will act according to the bride's personality, so please be natural and don't overdo it." (Sato)

Perfect for housework and cooking Any dish is yours ♪ Don't compete with cooking skills, let's finish the meal with a smile

"I think Hachi is the best marriage partner. I'm sure you'll be happy!", Mr. Sato comments.

怪盗その2 ハチ ハチの花嫁の掟♡ 自然体でオールOK! 「家事は完璧 & 料理上手な ハチは、女性理想の結婚相 手ですね。 より円満に暮ら すために、 料理は美味しく 食べてあげてください。 ただ、 ハチは花嫁の性格に合 わせて行動してくれると思 いますので、無理せず自然 体でいてください」(佐藤)

家事も料理もパーフェクト どんな料理もお手の物♪ 料理の腕で張り合わず、 笑顔で完食しよう

まさに理想の結婚相手 ♪ 佐藤氏曰く、「ハチが結婚相手としては一番 いいと思います。幸せ間違いなし!」とのこと

---

Phantom Thief No. 3 Spade Spade's Bride's Code ♡ Keep an open mind!

"Spade is a man who doesn't reveal much about his inner self and doesn't want people to know about his painful past. So, you need to have an open mind and accept him without denying it when he's trying to be cool." (Sato)

Newlywed life on an airship ♡

An unexpected side that only brides can see!?

Twin Thundershark ▼Owned by Spade An airship. As its name suggests, its appearance resembles two sharks.

▲Take the helm with Spade in a stylish cockpit and embark on a voyage of love ♥

▲“In fact, you might be able to live a happier married life if you didn’t know that Spade was a phantom thief.” (Sato)

怪盗その3 スペード スペードの花嫁の掟 ♡ 広い心で接するべし! 「スペードは内面をあまり出さず、 自身の辛い過 去も知られたくない “背伸びをしていたい男” で す。 なので、 彼がカッコつけているときに否定せ ず受け止めてあげる、広い心が必要ですね」(佐藤)

新婚生活は飛行船で♡

花嫁だけに見せる 意外な一面も!?

ツイン・サンダーシャーク ▼スペードが所有する 飛行船。 その名の通り、 2匹のサメを模した外 見になっているのだ

▲オシャレな雰囲気のコックピットでスペードと共に舵を取り、 愛の航海へ♥

▲「むしろ、スペードが 怪盗だと知らずにいた方 が幸せな結婚生活を送れ るかもしれません」(佐藤)

---

Phantom Thief No. 4 Shadow Joker Shadow Joker's Bride's Code ♡ Become a rival phantom thief!

"Shadow Joker is the type of person who gets worked up, so if you reign as a cooler phantom thief than him, he'll pay attention to you. Meet him as a rival, get married, and while you're both a thief, make Shadow's dream of travelling the world come true." (Sato)

Riding his beloved motorbike wherever he goes ▲Shadow Joker's favourite motorbike

The bride should be cooler than Shadow

"It's important to maintain a dignified attitude and not flirt in front of Shadow." (Sato)

怪盗その4 シャドウ ジョーカー シャドウ ジョーカーの花嫁の掟♡ ライバル怪盗になれ! 「シャドウ・ジョーカーはムキになるタイプなの で、アナタが彼よりもカッコいい怪盗として君臨 すると、注目してくれそうです。 ライバルとして 出会って結婚し、二人で怪盗をしながら、 シャド ウの夢である世界旅行をしてください」 (佐藤)

愛車に乗ってどこまでも ▲シャドウ ジョーカーが 愛用しているバイク

花嫁はシャドウより カッコよくあるべし

「シャドウの前ではなび かず、凛とした態度でいる ことが大事です」 (佐藤)

[eleni-cherie]

among thieves ✨ || bts • pjm

- epilogue

"what even am I to you? your rival, your lover, an obstacle or am I supposed to be your coffin?"

about two thieves who can't live with nor without each other. and a joint past that comes back to threaten them.

© 2023 | eleni_cherie

»»»

masterlist: here

— genre: thief au, gangster comedy, adventure, romcom, humour, angst, fluff, very flirty jimin, friends/rivals/exes to lovers (it's complicated, ok?!) f2l e2l ex2l all members play a role in this story!

ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE. CHARACTERS NOT NECESSARILY LIKE THE REAL PERSONS. ALSO VERY UNREALISTIC PLOT LOL - JUST PRETEND READING A MANGA/COMIC OR WATCHING A FILM, REALLY.

SUGGESTIVE THEMES. MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE & BLOOD (BUT NOTHING TOO GRAPHIC, IT'S STILL A COMEDY!)

»»»

several years later

Tainan, Taiwan

Jimin took a sip from his ice coffee and flipped a page in the book he was reading.

The evening sun was bathing the building in a warm shade, a comfortably mild summer atmosphere being created. Some children ran through the streets to get to the nearest park with lots of laughter and screams. Almost bumping into two women who were chatting while carrying their groceries.

He turned another page when sensing someone taking a seat on the free chair on the other side of his table. He didn't need to look up to know who it was though. The café being not overly crowded, and he had already seen him enter from the corner of his eye.

"You finally found me."

"Who said I ever lost track of you?"

Jimin perked up with a lopsided smirk, arching a brow at him. "What took you so long then?"

Seokjin laughed out, shaking his head. "Choosing a country that isn't an interpol member to settle down.. you knew what you were doing."

Closing the book on his lap, he took another sip from his coffee.

"Oh, is that so? I just came here for the nice weather," he said innocently, a small chuckle leaving his lips as he looked at his former antagonist. It felt strange somehow, having him simply sit there casually next to him without him trying to arrest him. Who would've thought a day like this would ever come. "And how comes you pay me a visit now?"

The older man shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Been awhile since the last time I saw you, so I thought why not spending my vacation here?'"

Jimin nodded understanding and smiled at him. "And how've you been?"

He shrugged. "Oh, you know.. after you guys became inactive, it became quite boring."

"Aw."

"No, that wasn't a compliment."

"It sounded like one though."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Seokjin sighed, "But you know, it became boring and you know, I ain't getting younger either. So after I got married, I decided to take it easier and stepped down from the leader position. I focus more on paperwork now."

Jimin's eyes widened in shock as he straightened himself. Unable to imagine some random office sitter in the leader position. "And who's the leader in the theft divison now?"

"Blake."

"Oh!" he exclaimed and relaxed into his previous position, "I can see that. She always seemed eager to prove herself to you."

"And she did."

"Kinda sad for Jungkookie though, isn't it?"

"Nah," Seokjin waved at him, shaking his head, "He never was interested in that position. He still works there with her though."

Jimin couldn't keep himself from laughing at the thought of Skylar and Jungkook together and her giving him orders while he obeyed like a good subordinate. "You know, I always felt like the two were into each other and ever since I tried setting them up.."

A teasing grin spread on Seokjin's features. "Since when are you so invested in other people's love life?"

He only shrugged and dragged a dramatic sigh. "Can't help it, I'm such a romantic."

Seokjin laughed under his breath. "To be honest, I sometimes felt the same," he admitted then, "And I still think it whenever I catch them looking at each other. Perhaps it was their professionalism that kept them from going further."

"Or perhaps they're just dating in secret."

He perked up at this, seeing Jimin wiggling his brows at him. "You think so?"

"I might or might not have my sources."

The older man laughed out, nodding. "Well, good for them then."

"But wait!" Jimin exclaimed then, suddenly having processed something else. "You said you got married? To Yongsun?"

Seokjin's eyes widened, realising he had indeed mentioned it. He bit back a smile, confirming it again with a quick nod. "Yeah.."

"And I wasn't invited to the wedding?" Jimin faked offence to which Seokjin grinned.

"Figured you wouldn't have wanted to get arrested."

"True. But since you only met her thanks to me, I still think I deserved it."

"It surely wasn't thanks to you.."

"Now, don't be so unfair," Jimin pouted, "You wouldn't have been at that ship if I hadn't planned to steal the 'black star'." He was referring to the party a CEO of one of the biggest korean companies had thrown for his wife's birthday two years ago. And that wife had happened to own a very valuable black pearl, which she was wearing on a spray brooch and which the gang had been after. "So technically, I deserved an invitation."

Seokjin groaned in annoyance, getting tired of their quarrel. "You know what? I take it back. It's been great since you retired. I finally got some peace."

"Rude considering I practically introduced you to her."

"You didn't 'introduce' her to me!" Seokjin objected with a laugh, "You pushed her on me when I was running after you!"

"Still counts - you're married now, aren't you?" Jimin pointed out with a sly grin.

He wasn't able to disagree with that. So he gave up with an exhausted sigh.

"So?" Seokjin coughen then in hopes of changing topics and looked around. "And where's the rest?"

"Thought you had kept track on all of us."

"I did," he corrected, "But since interpol doesn't have any resources here, it wasn't too easy and there're some gaps."

Jimin hummed, stirring his coffee with the straw.. "Well, Taehyungie and his wife live nearby."

"You mean Cassandra?"

"Oh, you even got her name! Impressive!"

"Aish, stop with the sarcasm! Of course I know all your associates! I hunted you guys for years after all." Seokjin rolled his eyes before adding with a smirk, "And I was pretty good at it."

Jimin couldn't stop laughing, finding it always amusing how his opponent reacted when getting upset. "Never doubted your skills."

"So the two live nearby."

He nodded. "Yeah, she works at a hospital here."

"And Yoongi?"

"Right now, he's at one of the temples in the mountains. Meditating, training or whatever," Jimin snorted, drinking the last bit of coffee. He always found it quite lame whenever Yoongi got in one of his 'monk moods' - as Jimin called them - every few years and just disappeared for awhile to disconnect from everything. But perhaps he was just a little envious of that skill, since he himself could never do it. "But knowing him, he'll be back in the city in a few weeks."

Seokjin hummed. The corners of his lips shaping a cocky smile. "Needless to ask where Arabella ended up, right?"

"Right," a grin tucking on Jimin's full lips. His glance falling down to his watch then. "I'm actually waiting here for her. She should come any minute now."

"To be honest," Seokjin began then with a light frown on his soft features, "I always knew you guys would retire some day. I just assumed it'd be along with me."

"Well, you know we aren't in our early twenties anymore and besides.. some priorities shifted with time."

Seokjin hummed. Understanding it in a way. After all, same applied to him by now. Still he couldn't help wondering what priorities had changed for Jimin and why.

A black Harley Davidson came to an abrupt halt in front of them then. Arabella taking her helmet off, her hair swaying as it fell over her shoulders.

"Bella-baby, you're late!"

"I said around six, not exactly. Not my fault you came here too early," she huffed. Her eyes widening when spotting the man next to him. "Pops, you here?"

She was actually quite happy to see Seokjin again, having kind of missed him - as weird as it sounded. She had been so used of having him always on their back, it was weird it wasn't the case anymore.

Seokjin, however, didn't seem as pleased. The old nickname cuasing him to roll his eyes. "Seriously, when will you guys ever quit calling me 'pops'?"

"Probably never, it's your nickname for a reason after all."

He laughed under his breath. "You never told me the reason though."

Arabella and Jimin exchanged a look, giggling. "Isn't it obvious? You were always running after us and scolding us. Like a dad."

"And you're older than us, so it fit."

He was speechless for a moment. In a way that stupid nickname that he had secretly grown fond of, made sense. It was even somehow cute, in a very weird and twisted way. He coughed then, feeling his ears becoming red. "I've got to go now," he announced and stood up, "Can't let Yong wait alone for too long. See you guys." He waved at them as he walked away. Only to shortly turn around then with a smirk. "Oh, but before I forget.. You don't coincidentally know anything about that stolen jade statue that is all over the local newpapers?"

Arabella and Jimin looked at each other, before giving him an innocent shrug. Shaking their heads. "No, why would we? We're retired now, remember?"

"Right. Right," Seokjin let out a loud laugh. Not being convinced at all. "Well, see you then."

As he disappeared around the corner, a frowned settled on Arabella's features. "He didn't buy it, did he?"

"So what?" Jimin shrugged and picked up his book, shoving it inside his jacket. "He can't do anything about it as long as we don't leave the country."

They might've officially retired a few months ago, but that didn't mean they'd be dead. After all they'd never be the kind to be content with a 'normal' life. Even if there was no one to hunt them anymore, neither from interpol nor from any organization - Namjoon and Hoseok having liquidated 'owl inc' and its branches only a year ago  - they still wanted to keep the excitement, thrill and fun. Just in smaller portions here and there.

"Anyway, let's go."

Arabella tossed him the second helmet before putting her own on and he got on the bike behind her. His arms wrapping around her waist, purposely way too high to be closer to her boobs and she rolled her eyes. Already used to his attics.

She switched the ignition button on, her foot kicking up the kickstand. "By the way," he spoke up then, propping his chin on her shoulder with an arched brow as he curiously looked up to her. "Don't you think it'd be better not to drive the bike for now? You know, because of the.." His eyes pointed down at her belly before returning to her.

She kind of wanted to be annoyed at him for even suggesting this, but then again she understood his worries. She pecked his cheek. "When the bump starts showing, I will," she smiled and squeezed the clutch lever all the way to the grip. His arms tightening around her.

And they drove off.

THE END

»»»

-thank you all for reading this story! it was fun writing something totally new for once, so hope you also had fun reading it!

❗ the sequel a thief's end ✨ || bts • myg is out as well!

❗the prequel "a thief's origin ✨ || bts • kth" along with one shots for jungkook and seokjin are in the works!

- check out my other bts stories, too: here

[rattled-shadow]

Do you remember the notorious 11/21 exposition scene?

Would you like to hear it without background music?

My friend @ocean-stuck was kind enough to give me the isolated vocals, so I combined them into one track

And yes, I wrote a transcript for it under the cut:

Shido: I finally made it this far... It's already been two and a half years since we met.

Akechi: Back then, you were in the media's attention as a young politician who could rise up against bureaucracy. Because of that, those who wanted to preemptively deal with problems tried to tie you up in scandal.

Shido: To think I would fall for the ruse schemed by those decrepit fools in power. I recall that's when you came to me. You promoted yourself, saying that you had "special powers". If it wasn't for the research in cognition that I dabbled in, I would have thought you insane.

Akechi: I made those troublesome opponents psychotic, and erased any trace of that scandal.

Shido: Who'd think that tampering with a person's heart could trigger a psychotic lapse or mental shutdown? And when someone like that said he'd support me, I had suspected that there'd be an ulterior motive.

Akechi: It's because I sympathized with your aspiring ideology. I believed that your ideals needed to be achieved for the sake of the country's future.

Shido: Well, my faith in you is precisely why I pulled the plug on that research. I only need you using that power. It'd be troublesome if someone else uncovered how it works.

Akechi: ...Wakaba Isshiki, was it? That researcher, she wouldn't have had to have died if she just complied.

Shido: Any suspicions should be snubbed out. Even the smallest doubt must be severed at the root. After all, we had an active Public Prosecutors Office director on our side until recently.

Akechi: Astounding, isn't it? To think the director himself would often forge evidence to secure his promotion. He was quite surprised when you confronted him about it. He didn't know who leaked that information. Well, I got that out of his Shadow, so technically speaking, he did it himself.

Shido: This country's affairs have become stagnant. The political world is filled with old men who only act to preserve their own vested interests. The general public has forsaken such political affairs and don't even bother. Only ruin awaits us.

Akechi: I must agree.

Shido: There's no need to be ruined with such incompetent fools. I will lead this country to its revival. Those who get in the way must be eliminated at times - that's the correct way to use the Metaverse.

Akechi: Still, it would stand out if there were continuous deaths and scandals with your political rivals. Which is why I made them "suspects." Prosecute the targets that I turned psychotic... and solve them as cases unrelated to you. And thus, the charismatic ace detective was born.

Shido: Thanks to your efforts, my clean image remains untarnished, and I monopolized public opinion. Once I gained public sentiment, collaborators from all sectors began approaching me on their own. The police were no exception. With their management in my pocket, keeping them in check was easy.

Akechi: When the Phantom Thieves emerged, I thought things might become somewhat troublesome.

Shido: They were just brats once we looked into it. All we needed to do was to lay the blame on them...

Akechi: When you told me that, I knew then that you were the better man.

Shido: Their popularity was a bit beyond my expectations but flipping it made the negative press stronger. After that, all I had to do was openly berate them. I've been gaining more supporters since. The current administration is dead with ongoing scandals... never mind the fact that they're my doing. Even the government parties have begun splitting up... and they're dissolving just as planned.

[Shido laughs]

Shido: The time has finally come... Just a little more and I'll take the seat of prime minister. However, inauguration isn't my goal. That's when everything truly begins. I'll make this country rich for the sake of its selfish and ignorant masses who can only rely on others.

Akechi: In other words, you're creating a powerful country that can compete with the world.

Shido: The public resonates with my ideals and follows me. And for that, some "sacrifices" can't be avoided. That is my duty as the chosen one. Your assistance has been very influential in making my plan run smoothly. When I become prime minister, I'll grant whatever wish you want.

Akechi: With this most recent case, my name has become known across the country, perhaps even the world. Surely my story will be passed down as a hero who won against monsters that could control people's hearts. I believe I'll lay low and devote myself to my studies.

Shido: ...I suppose with your age, you wouldn't come up with debauched desires.

Akechi: ...I am thinking about the future though.

[zenballmaster]

i have come back from seeing the movie a second time and i have. predictably. still more thoughts. spoilers (poses)

i felt the five's absence a lot more this time around orz like occasionally my mind would wander and imagine how this scene/interaction with zhen would go if tigress was there as well. also having a vague headcanon from The Olden Days that monkey has a very slight background in Less Than Lawful Crowds means i also sometimes thought about him seeing this den of thieves and being like. 'huh'

some things stuck out a bit more as a retread this time around than the first time, in particular the continued insistence on juniper city being so Huge when it's like. well. not that much visibly Larger than gongmen city was

like po's 'wooooah that's the biggest village i've ever SEEN' makes me want to put my hand on his shoulder like. 'po. honey'

i really really love seeing the nearby Outside of the valley of peace bc it's honestly just Gorgeous and feels very ghibli hills-esque ;-;

i still enjoy the chameleon and still feel like she has a very fun and intimidating presence despite being so small (i think a chunk of that is her VA tbh i love love her voice ghfieo), but i kiiinda feel like for as threatening as they try to make her, we really needed to see her do something more physically ominous and/or Nefarious than push someone down the stairs orz

ALSO related a little but tbh the times when we do get to see po and the chameleon talk to each other i feel like they have a good hero-villain chemistry and an intriguing Issue between them but. yeah they don't. really interact face to face hardly At All, and that interesting conflict they potentially have isn't really given any time to develop or be really dug into. also idk that it totally matches up between them, either thinking emoji

speaking of conflicts that aren't really explored to the depth i would personally be satisfied with-- while the idea that po already is being pushed into choosing a successor to replace him irks me more than it did the first time (rip), i do like the notion that's brought up of 'who you were will always be a part of who you are/become' and how it sorta lightly touches on the idea of grieving the person you once were, even if who you're becoming is an even better version of yourself than before

the final fight with the chameleon is more intense than i remembered it being

i'm more invested in zhen and han than i already was lmao also i feel like. there must have been More to zhen's betrayal down the line than just abandoning them for the chameleon's cold wealth. i wonder if the chameleon had zhen Do Something Personal in an attempt to further dissociate her from her old found family

i really enjoy han's deadpan 'those are both very common names' line for some reason

granny boar should be another rival to grandma panda. she can't reserve all her annoyance just for mr ping

po's disembodied head floating in space will never not immediately make me lose my mind. i laugh every gd time

aaand lastly there was a family with one kid sitting somewhere to the right of me and it was so so cute hearing her laugh at some of the jokes ghfhifoeoi

[arcplaysgames]

THIS WRITINGGGGGGGGGGGG

man i am now almost scared this is gonna be like P5 Vanilla where the story kiiiiinda peaks with Kamoshida and then all the subsequent rulers sans Futaba are just like... lesser overall. please don't let Alice be the peak but where do you go after this?????

I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED someone else who was into Tales of the Borderlands to hear me right now: This guy is if Rhys was a smug cop. He's just Rhys. I'm losing my mind.

GODDAMMIT FUTABA

why is no one in the phantom thieves, like, aware of consequences at all? it's baffling.

Anyway, Chaz is back to hear if Reverie with make a deal with him, help him investigate these incidents and find the true culprit. In return, he pinky-swear promises to keep them out of the jail.

Yeah, sure. Okay. Dunno if I trust like that, but there ain't a lot of choice here.

oh this will be fun

The Thieves attempt to explain the Metaverse to Chaz and his reaction is pretty predictable.

So they just take him to the Jail, which conveniently didn't collapse like the Palaces. Isn't that nice and convenient? I think so.

Chaz is my favorite character. Honestly it's so nice to have more adults in the story. As mentioned in the P5R round up, I think having them around and interacting meaningfully with the Thieves really helps.

Anyway, Chaz pulls himself together and makes a solemn promise.

"That is my vow."

It's interesting to squint at him after P4G and P5R, dealing with liars like Adachi and Akechi. This feels like the set up for round three of being unable to trust any motherfucker who works with the police in a Persona game

but also, the game gave Chaz a much more personable and sympathetic establishment of character, the moment he broke out laughing in the super serious meeting. Adachi and Akechi didn't get that; Akechi was set up from the start as a very canny rival to be wary of and Adachi was set up as a non-entity so his big reveal would sneak up on you.

I think it'd be interesting if the twist this time was our police liason guy this time around was a decent guy. Let's buck tradition just a bit.

Chaz explains the next person he wants the kids to investigate is someone in Hokkaido.

As the start menu alluded to, this is a ROAD TRIP GAME. I am.... honestly kind of hyped? After a whole game spent in virtual Tokyo, it'd be very cool to see more of Japan through that lens. I dunno how in-depth this is going to be, but it's a great conceit.

Except Chaz says the team needs to figure out transportation and not take the train/planes because what if a Monarch realizes who the Thieves are and uses their overt mind control to, say, crash a plane they're all on?

Yeah, that's a good enough excuse. We need a transportation!

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD CAN WE BORROW THE CAR?

ps guys i don't think i can stop calling him chaz, help. he's just chaz now.

[235uranium]

in my head here's how jokers main relationships go:

Ryuji - best bro, the og, joker's first experience with someone actively wanting to be his friend. cat befriending a golden retriever vibes. he tells him a lot compared to others, unless it's about romance. partially bc akechi but mostly bc he realized very early on that ryuji is both closeted and terrible at dating (coming out doesn't help). I think ryuji is much better at keeping personal secrets than you'd think. he takes that sort of thing seriously, seeing as he actually has decent emotional intelligence when the writers remember.

Ann - bestie! ride or die. they dated for 2 weeks and then ann realized she's in love with shiho. the one who DOES hear about his love life. also who he talks about being bi with because ryuji (while accepting) is Really Not Good At This (and closeted). she encourages his eyeliner + mascara habit :>

Sumi - that's my close good friend! I don't think she and joker end up being as close as ryuji and ann are, but I do think there's an understanding there that can't be replicated? they both had the closest experiences with maruki. a lot of bonding over identity issues too (ultimately I think sumi ends up being closer with akechi, to the shock of everyone)

Akechi - worlds most complicated relationship between weird teenagers. in-game it's rival (nothing else fits). eventually they're dating but sometimes it's funnier to just say we're rivals :) and leave. I think joker views his relationship with akechi as in a distinct category, not bc its romantic but because it's just Different. rival is close but not always enough. hard to explain the emotions behind it all. not more important than his best friends, but close in ways that he isn't with them (and tbh, that joker doesn't think would happen in a more normal romantic relationship).

Futaba - family. that's his Sister. again, it's a sort of bond where she's not his best friend, but there's a level of closeness that's equal or at times past it. he cant imagine life without her in it after they meet. sojiro's his father and futaba's his sister and that feels as natural as the sky being blue. it's not about agreeing or even having the same interests it just... Is.

Sojiro - as mentioned, that's joker's dad. it's a slower progress than futaba, but it happens all the same. I think joker just wakes up one day like oh, sojiro's my dad

Morgana - that's his kitty cat :) no seriously. morgana's his friend ofc but i do think joker thinks of him as his cat. ofc cats have personalities they're just like that. this is how all cats would behave if they could speak. sorry morgana you're a kitty cat

the others (all the thieves are his close friends obviously, but there's still a Difference):

Yusuke - pretty close since he's been here almost since the start, and his best friend is futaba. he's who joker goes to when he wants to just talk, but doesn't feel like dealing with akechi's devil's advocacy. has secondhand stress watching his spending habits

Makoto - I think things get... tense when she wants to become a cop. the joker that lives in my head struggles to tell people things they don't want to hear, so he has a hard time saying "hey uh. I hate cops." it gets easier when the other thieves express their distaste for the police. I think makoto's "handling things like a job" autism mixes with joker's "relationships are conditional" mentality badly too. eventually they both grow up enough to realize it, but it means they aren't as close.

Haru - they're good friends! I think there's some periods of tension, mostly bc I don't think joker is that broken up about okumura dying. I think he keeps this secret for a long time, and tbfh haru is more offended that joker assumed she couldn't handle him being honest. she's the first of the thieves to directly tell him that he doesn't need to silence himself for their benefit. they share cooking tips. mostly they become friends as they get older, though? it takes haru figuring herself out, and joker realizing his friends don't expect him to agree with them constantly (nor want that!)

[eluryae]

TW Blood-Death-Horror

A Rainy Night

When the winds in the sky are no longer strong enough to hold the water in suspension. It falls, creating the natural phenomenon so well known to men: rain.

That evening, it had turned into a torrential storm, the winds had held it for weeks.

With his lightning, he tore the sky. Drops of water fell and hammered the ground, making it moist, then viscous, muddy, a slimy vase clinging to all, anyone wanting to walk that night was sure to lose at least his shoes, if not life. But no one dares to go out, it is too cold, too dark; people barricade themselves at home and console their children petrified by the fear from the light of white lightning… The peasants are not bold enough to go and guard their fields from thieves, hoping that the rain will fulfill their roles as guardians…

How wrong they were.

In times of famine like these, anyone would dare to brave the storm, die of it or drown in the mud, if in the end they manage to gather some food for their comrades. That night, three men made their choices, walking alone between the houses, ponchos hiding their faces and clumsily sheltering them from the rain, their boots sinking into the vase and leaving repeatedly, dodging the channels of water as they climbed a slope, and trying not to trip down a hill; they looked like a group of three soggy rats looking for a piece of food.

They approached the field, surrounded by iron and barbed wire, the only entrance being a heavy metal door, useless when guarded by a rusty padlock… A simple pair of shears overcame this poor protection. The three men looked around them, still persons.

It’s open, let’s go…

"Close behind you fool!"

-It’s okay, it’s okay, nobody’s there anyway, we’re the only pecnos here… Even with this "reassuring" sentence, the group can’t help but look around inside, no one.

-Okay, the reserve is about 100 metres away, we’ll run, we’ll have to hurry, we’ll get a bag and off we go...

The group advanced in the rain, their ponchos floating in the wind giving them the air of birds flying close to the ground. The plants of more than 2 meters among which they progress did not interest them, inedible for whom does not have the art of preparing them.

No, what was interesting was the reserve in the center of the field, housing bags of valuable food already ready for consumption.

When the three men arrived at the door, it did not resist them, not even having a lock. Inside, wooden pallets with top and protected by a plastic sheath, the precious bags. The group entered, they removed their hoods, revealing their faces. They were not even in their twenties, yet their youthful faces no longer had the innocence that we usually know young people of that age. And their wonder at food betrayed a gigantic hunger in them…

"By Eluryae! What kind of selfish man cares for this field to keep so much food on his own?"

-Not everything is for him, this farmer is at the command of the new Eluryian mafia, the leaders are stuffing themselves with food while the other inhabitants outside die of hunger… Natei comes to help me take this one, Rotè guards the door. The so-called Natei came to the rescue of his companion while the other took out a rusty gun from his pocket. Intrigued, he spoke: But, uh, Ekyl, those famous leaders, isn’t that one of them that got his ass kicked this morning?

-Ha! You don’t think so, he didn’t get beaten up like you could imagine, no, he died from a bullet in the head, but not only, the face was burned, but like black I’m not telling you, and most importantly, he had his balls exploded.

"Wait, wait, these guys are the scariest guys in the country right now, and you’re telling me one of them died, and was tortured?"

-That’s exactly what I just told you, and there (he had trouble talking and at the same time cutting off the protection of the bags) you will ask me the question of who, most likely it would be a rival gang, but witnesses think they saw, former members of, Hold on tight, The Guild. Rotè intervened in the conversation.

-I don’t believe that for a second, it doesn’t look like them at all, maybe imitators, but not the originals, in my opinion--

"Shush! Wait! Go, go!" The bag gave way and slipped into the hands of Natei who struggled not to fall under his weight.

-You know, Rotè, war can do a lot of harm to people, it can go from a bag robbery to a street beating… Rotè did not answer, he seemed more eager to return rather than to linger here.

-Okay, let’s go.

Taking the same path, the worry of fear now gave way to the success of the heist, the pride of the mischief accomplished, they would be able to eat, they were heroes.

"Ekyl, they told you to close the door, didn’t they?" -Don’t yell at me that’s what I did… "I didn’t tell you to put a new padlock on it."

But for some, they’re thieves. The joy now gone, the lightning seemed stronger, the rain more torrential than ever, and above all, the feeling of solitude was gone, leaving only a disturbing presence running, insinuating into their gut an unpleasant sensation called terror.

Rotè’s weapon was shaking in his hand. -Natè throws the bag on the other side, we will find another way out…Natè? The latter did not answer, he looked into the void, he dropped the bag, then fell face down in the mud, the blood coming out of his mouth and intestines diluting in the puddles. "Oh shit!" From panic, Ekyl began to run in fear, Rotè was alone, his companion had come out of his field of vision so quickly that he believed that he too had disappeared, suddenly, something caught Natè’s body and he disappeared in the plantations.

Rotè began to run on the opposite side, looking as far as he could for an exit, a hole, somewhere, a weakness in the fence, no, it seemed perfect, the barbed wire was impassable, impossible to climb without losing a limb, but was it the price to pay? Without ceasing to swear, the man gave up all dignity and began to dig with his hands, like a rat trying to flee a predator with all his might, a predator who seemed everywhere at once. He felt him running towards him, arriving at an inconceivable speed, it was not another man who followed him, it must have been something else. He started running again, at first on all fours, trying with difficulty to get up with his clothes soaked and heavy with wet earth.

His foot stumbled, no, he corrected himself when the information of the pain reached his brain, he was cut in half, just like his leg, he fell to the ground in a cry of pain, his face in the mud, tried to turn, but something caught him, and lifted him from the ground by the neck… The thing, humanoid, looked at him, not with curiosity but with judgment. Rotè did not even have time to ask for mercy, a blue flash passed before his eyes filled with mud before he became permanently blind. Her vocal cords died out on their own when they could no longer expel the pain, making it white, suffocating.

Burped could only feel now, his hand closed on cold and icy dirt, his other leg threw it, he tried in vain to restore his sight by removing the blood that came out of his eyeballs from his other hand. His mind stopped fighting when he heard the sound of pieces of his own spine falling to the ground.

The first cry of pain had also warned Ekyl, who was trying to defend himself from his fear with his rusty gun, containing only a few bullets.

Then he saw a figure, armed with a katana, whose blue blade reflected the flashes, his face half-lit, his short hair badly cut and tinted, and a look filled with a sad and cold hatred, almost flat… He shot, maybe it was luck or excellent mastery, but the ball was aimed at the face of the man looking at him, closer to his cheek more precisely… And crossed the void.

For a second flash confirmed this vision of horror that was this broken soldier who was missing at least a quarter of the face and the bust, exposing in a gaping way his jaw, leaving the drops to flow on the exposed bone of the face, then on the metal shoulder, from the coast, and finally fall to the ground.

He shot a second time, and the vision disappeared, to reappear in the form of a fist in Ekyl’s stomach, which folded in two, before suddenly rising with a second blow to the face, breaking his nose in passing, his weapon disappeared in the thickets when his hand was cut with it.

Ekyl tried to take the pain, pulled a knife out of his sleeve with his other hand, and attacked the man who dodged too easily, he no longer even played with his victim, he showed him how vain his attempt was. With a simple gesture, he took the knife from his hands, and plunged it into his throat, watching it die slowly, before closing the eyelids of his valid hand. The body fell to the ground, the man washed his bloody blade, and with a grunt, took the body of the man on his shoulder, to transport it in a pile with the rest of the others whose head he sliced before placing them on a peak at the entrance of the field, Next to the others, everyone saw it, but everyone didn’t know it… Then he took the bag, and laid it in the storeroom, and sat down in the storeroom, and prayed that others might not have had the same idea…

He didn't knew if he found peace or a guilty pleasure in the death of those people, but shame, oh yes he was ashamed.

Nalcov Grady opened his eyes again when he heard a padlock jump and a door creak.

[marjaystuff]

Amy Vastine interviewed by Elise Cooper

The Christmas Wedding Crashers by Amy Vastine is a great holiday read.  People should refererence to the McCoy-Hatfield feud that involved two rural families.

In this story two elderly people, Randall Hayward and Clarissa Drake announce their intention to get married.  The problem is that the Haywards and Drakes have a major family feud.  The Drakes come off as superior, the haves, while the Haywards are the have nots who have struggled to succeed. When the families hear about the Christmas wedding, they decide to do all in their power to break up the couple.

Great niece Holly Hayward is enlisted along with grandson Jonah Drake to have the wedding canceled. They first try to show the elders how incompatible they are with each other.  After all, Randall likes rodeo stuff, being rough and tumble, while Clarissa likes to volunteer at all the Christmas trimmings. But, instead of seeing each other as mismatched they realize each is willing to do a give and take.

Instead of succeeding at their plan, Holly and Jonah realize that they also have a lot in common and their assumptions from the high school years are unfounded.  Holly begins to see that Jonah is caring, kind, and funny, while Jonah sees that Holly is spirited, intelligent, and daring.

Although there are some scenes that are heartbreaking, most of the story will put a smile on readers’ faces.  The banter is fabulous, allowing people to take the journey with the characters.

Elise Cooper: Did the McCoys and Hatfields influence the story?

Amy Vastine: Right.  I like the idea of family rivals.  This is the second to last book in the “Stop the Wedding series.” This one had an older generation getting married, somebody’s grandma with the family not happy about it. The rival family had an elder who was an uncle. 

EC:  The rivalry?

AV:  The Haywards are considered vandals and thieves, while the Drakes were arrogant, liars, and rescinded a land plot. The Drakes are the wealthy rancher family, and the Haywards are the workers. It stemmed from the Drake great-great-grandfather who promised land for work to the Haywards.  After he died the family did not follow through to give the land, making the Haywards feeling cheated. This created hard feelings throughout generations. Oliver Drake is the epitome of the arrogance who had a cushy upbringing.

EC: How would you describe the grandson, Jonah Drake?

AV:  Scholarly, book smart, but not totally relationship smart. He is not aware of how he came across.  He is very black and white.  If someone said something incorrect, he would correct them.  He did not think about how that person called out would feel. He is a rule follower, compassionate, protective, honest, and patient. 

EC:  How would you describe Holly?

AV: She is street smart, sassy, and sarcastic. She is loyal to her family to a fault. She is funny, interesting, a hard worker, creative, and savvy.  Holly is also direct, competitive, tough, and confident. 

EC: What about the relationship?

AV:  In high school, Holly felt Jonah intentionally made her feel stupid. She assumed it was because Jonah always felt superior. The family feud gets in the way. Initially, they think they are so different, but when they spend time together their assumptions go out the door.  Both think oil and water will never mix but end up as a delicious salad dressing. They realize they have more in common than they thought.  As they work together, they drop their guard. The older couple noticed that there was a connection between Holly and Jonah, before the younger couple did.

EC:  What about the older couple Clarissa and Randall?

AV:  They met at the little local diner. Both lived long lives and found someone who made them happy.  They realize it is causing some drama, but they do not let it get in the way of something good.  Clarissa is very kind, gentle, and accepting.  Randall makes her feel like a Queen. He is a charmer. They enjoyed the fact that they were not the only crossovers who could see that there does not have to be this forever long family feud. 

EC:  What about Holly’s sister Maisey?

AV:  She did not even know what the family drama was, living her own life.  She did not realize who is mad at who and why.  She is not burdened by other people’s old hang-ups.  She was left out of the nonsense.  Maisey does not live in the past and only cares about what is happening in her world.

EC:  Why those events?

AV:  I spent one whole day brainstorming as many Christmas activities as I could, writing my own Hallmark Christmas movie. There had to be a Christmas Tree Lighting, a gingerbread contest, an ice-skating rink, and the Frontier Freeze based on the Polar Bear Plunge in Chicago. I thought of events that strongly represented Randall and other events that strongly represented Clarissa.

EC: Next book?

AV:  It is the last one in my “Stop the Wedding series,” titled Texas Runaway Bride coming out in August.  The heroine is a people pleaser. After canceling her wedding day, she decides to visit this little town in Texas that her grandmother talked about. She runs into a widowed Sherriff with a four-year-old boy.  She is offered the job of live-in nanny. 

THANK YOU!!

[bellamyroselia]

After writing that overly long essay on who could take Hades’ mantle as the new big bad of Kid Icarus, I still have that writing itch on me and now I’ve started to wonder which mythological figures would make great minor antagonists or rivals. I’m really starting to regret bringing that shovel with me.

This all can be blamed on Philammon and Autolycus, twins with different fathers Philammon’s father is Apollo, Autolycus’ is Hermes and vastly different personalities - Philammon was an excellent musician and Autolycus was a cunning shapeshifter who used this power to rob people. Look me into my eyes and say that they wouldn’t make great rivals for Pit and Pittoo, I dare you.

[mockiery]

ok but Steven's attempts at a Time Out mid-fight has gotta work eventually right?

.

Steven is talking. He's talking a lot, hands up and open, he and his bright white suit and mask a confusing vision to the armed infiltrators before him.

Marc is in a reflection of a pane of protective display glass, trying not to force himself to the front.

"When has this ever worked?" he tries, talking over Steven where only he can hear.

Between sentences about taking 'a minute to get on the same page, yeah?', Steven, under his breath, says "It's always worth a shot, innit? I've got this," and continues his somewhat meandering attempt at convincing these would-be-thieves to thieve elsewhere.

Marc groans. "Fine. But I'm not stepping in when you get stabbed this time."

(Steven knows he will, he has every other time. Even since Steven has learned to fight properly, Marc still won't let him take the brunt of the damage.)

Then, miraculously, it actually works. At Steven's explanation of what exactly it is they're trying to steal for their boss: valuable cultural artifacts, to be kept for status, for a personal, private collection, not even to /sell/? They step down, put away their weapons, and leave, not interested in putting their lives on the line for their bosses' self-aggrandizing colonialist decor that won't even earn them any money.

Steven's unsullied white suit, glowing eyes, and infectious energy juxtaposed against the unconscious, tied-up bodies of their rival gang's guards helped too, Marc figures, but he wasn't going to bring that up to Steven.

Once they're out of the warehouse, leaving Marc and Steven to themselves, Marc takes the front, dissolving the suit away. He refuses to look at the reflection of Steven in the display glass.

Steven doesn't wait for him to. "Told you it would work, didn't I?" He is radiating when Marc finally looks to him, pumping both his fists in victory. "All it takes is a little chatting to sort shit out sometimes, y'know?"

Marc sighs, rolling his eyes. He sets his jaw, maintaining his unamused expression as best he can. He's annoyed that Steven's right, but he's also holding back a smile at Steven's winning lap, moving from glass pane to glass pane, pacing in excitement.

"Kid's got a point." The not-yet-familiar voice comes out of nowhere, and Marc flinches hard, swearing as his shoulders seize up to his ears. He finds Jake opposite Steven in another reflection.

Marc barely hears Steven's, "Kid?" as he's recovering from the shock, exhaling all the breath and forcing (some of) the tension out of his body.

"I told you not to do that," Marc half-grumbles, through gritted teeth, gesturing pointedly with one hand at his newly acquainted alter.

Jake's flat expression shifts minutely, a suggestion of a shrug.

Marc exhales and stares. "What?"

"He said I have a point." Steven beams, seemingly over the "kid" thing for now.

"Yeah?" Marc side-eyes Jake, skeptical.

"Sometimes talking shit out is the best way to go." He shrugs fully this time, hands finding their way to the pockets of their jacket.

Marc makes a sound in his throat. "Thought you were more about bashing heads."

Jake scoffs, and if Marc didn't know better, he'd think Jake was offended. "I'll bash heads, sure, but I'm gonna fucking get out of a shit situation whatever way I can."

"So time-outs have worked for you?! More than once?"

"'Course. Everybody wants something. A little sweet-talk goes a long way." Another shrug. A small smirk, Marc thinks. He is still so un-used to seeing their face be used by another person, with his own range of microexpressions. "Cash too."

"Huh."

"That's aces, mate. Next time, you should step in and show us how you do it!"

"Uh. Maybe." Jake's sharp eyes land on Marc for a second, before jutting his head slightly to him for Steven. "If el jefe is good with it."

Marc pauses, turning in full to Jake's image in the glass.

"How come I'm 'kid' and you're 'the boss'?" Marc can hear Steven say over his shoulder, but he's focused on Jake.

It's still not easy to read him. Marc had never found it easy to read anyone, much less the brick wall of a man he'd only recently learned was living inside his head too. But as he eyes Jake, he thinks he sees it, what it means. He's reaching for Steven's outstretched hand, but asking for Marc's before he takes it.

The furrow of Marc's brow lessens and he stands a little looser. "Yeah, maybe. We'll see."

Jake nods curtly, and there's a shift in his eyes, a loosening of his expression. A softening, even. Marc gives a nod back.

Steven's reflection pokes into the pane next to Jake's, his soft grin turning down as he eyes the unconscious men on the floor. "Lovely. Now, what exactly are we doing with these blokes again?"

[echoeternally]

Hi there! I have a bit of a strange request for you, if that's okay. I'm currently in the process of planning/writing a longer Star Fox fic that prominently features Panther, and by extension, the FoxPanth ship, and I was wondering if you could give any pointers on writing Panther and/or him and Fox together?

This isn't strange at all! I'm even delighted, like, someone asking me about a pairing that I originally thought almost no one else would enjoy, and so they can write it too? It's like a dream, my gosh!

Give me one more second, like, I'm so amazed that this happened with my rare pair for Fox/Panther. FOXPAN! Of all pairs, I'm thrilled!

Ok, ok! Let's see what advice I can scrounge up for you.

A lot of people are under the impression that Panther is a pretty clear cut character in one regard or the other, but he actually offers a lot of flexibility to write about. That's probably why I gravitate to using him so often for Star Fox content.

Writing him playing off of Fox has a surprisingly enjoyable kind of chemistry, but it depends on what you go for with them. Coming to me means that you're in for the shipping, so, that I can help with!

Kind of prefacing that a bit because I know this is going under a cut, which I'm adding in here. More below, of course! Also, it's going to be a lot longer than you're expecting, so...I'm hoping that helps!

...

~Panther's Background~

Ok, I'll start with Panther as a character, since understanding how you want to portray him is the first part to nail down right.

People kind of mistake Panther to be a flat villain and a basically a pervy flirt, nothing more needed to build his character. It's easy to write him off as such, given how little canon support the games give.

There are some very, very crucial elements that he's given with his appearances, however, and they tend to be overlooked.

First and foremost, a lot of folks like to lump Panther in as "just another Star Wolf crony," which is fair if you don't focus on him.

However! What's critical that too many people ignore is that, in Panther's debut appearance, that's a brand new Star Wolf too. With the story for Star Fox: Assault being what it was, Panther is part of the Star Wolf team that no longer operates as mere mercenaries for the main villain and the obvious rival team, but he's part of a team that becomes allies to Fox and friends by the endgame.

Anyone can take that any way they want, but Panther is basically part of the lightest and kindest, perhaps even the most fleshed out version of Star Wolf. So, people that gleefully like pairing Fox off with Wolf because he has those "hey pup" lines? They should very well like the roster from Assault, because that's the installment that gave the most credibility to Wolf even being capable of defecting.

There's a lot of ways that it could be explained, but notably, Panther is the new big member on the main roster. Sure, they could fill a seat with anyone, but look at who they chose: this lighthearted goofball that enjoys playing with his rivals as much as he does causing trouble. A far cry from the likes of Leon, Pigma, and Andrew, who were on the more ruthless side of Star Wolf.

Many like Panther to be along that side too, and depending on how you want to characterize him, that could work out.

My personal preference, however, is that Panther is part of the catalysts that helps Wolf defect from being fully evil.

He's less interested in hurting civilians and being some kind of hotshot assassin. There's no hard support that Panther's criminal record involves heavy war crimes and murder, and canon biographies about him state him to be an elusive criminal that troubled Cornerian army officials.

Rather, Panther is entertained by causing mischief and enjoys playing around. He's cunning, but in ways to further his goals and those of his allies, not to play as a pawn in another's schemes.

I like to create the background that Wolf and Leon got low and desperate when searching for new recruits, and after meeting up with Panther, they adopt similar traits from him, easing up on their rougher traits in favor of getting their work done.

Basically, I favor the idea that Panther helped make Wolf better. (Which is totally a fun basis for Wolf/Panther, something that I've wanted to write for a few years too, lol.)

~Characterizing Panther~

It really depends on what you're doing with writing him, because you can make him a criminal even still and have that work nicely. However, I tend to give him ways out of being locked into a shadier background, focusing on his lighter traits, and making him more of a "gentleman thief" type of character foremost.

(For reference, I made him that kind of a thief in my fanfic, "Your Thieving Heart," because I really enjoy the idea that Panther's a cat burglar, as opposed to...well, whatever other people prefer.)

If you're focusing on an action or adventure story, I'd recommend using his craftier traits to help him stand out. Panther likes to play head games, because he'll tease and taunt his opponents, baffling them silly until they're clueless to his true motives.

He's also a skillful shot; in Star Fox: Command, Panther is the only playable character that does not use a Lock system for his Wolfen, which means that he makes a single shot that pierces most opponents. And in Assault, he makes a good support to both Star Wolf, and later on, Star Fox, so he can coordinate well in dogfights and combat too.

A story that's geared less to fighting, such as a drama or a comedy, would focus more on Panther's playful traits. Obviously his flirting, which I'll get to in a moment, but also, tweak the way that his playful and cunning manifests.

His teasing can be used to hide other facets of his character (maybe he's actually hurting and lonely deep down) or otherwise his goals (maybe he wants to get flowers for a partner and jokes about missing a meeting to do so).

His smarts can be used to show a more analytic or thoughtful side to him; while Panther isn't the type that would be the smartest in the room, he's absolutely underestimated by everyone, and can get away with a lot of surprises as a result.

Character flaws are pretty simple. Panther can be arrogant, so he can go a little too far touting his prowess and skill, as well as take his joking a little overboard without realizing when to back down. Since he is a criminal, he definitely has a less than luster past, which can hold him back, depending on how you want to write his criminal history. Also, I tend to think of him as a type that comes across charismatic and social, but in reality wants something quieter.

That last bit has support from a profile description in Command, which states that while Panther proclaims himself to be a "ladies' cat," he actually is known to fall "totally and completely in love" with his partner.

So, where people tend to limit him to being confident and flirty, that's the short and simple version to Panther. The deeper way to flesh his character out is to make him a hopeless romantic type, who craves and wants to find someone special to help fulfill his life.

Because a large portion of Panther's character gets limited to flirting with Krystal in his two major appearances, he's not given time to really show off the depths of his feelings. (I think Command tried, but that story got botched in a few too many places.)

He's not a misogynistic type, if I remember correctly, because he doesn't make any crude comments to berate or belittle Krystal's character, but rather, makes strong efforts to prime up his character instead, doing his best to come across as enticing and viable to her as possible.

Panther is super desperate and longing for love, and he's not above trying whatever methods he can to get there.

~Shipping With...Fox!~

So, how does Fox come into play on that? It's pretty easy, since Fox is also a flexible character as virtue of being the main player controlled character for the franchise. In other words, you can project a lot onto Fox in manners however you might like.

There are specific traits to Fox that remain part of his core character, however. He's obviously a strong leader, leading the legendary Star Fox team. If we go by Star Fox 64's ending, he's pretty humble, given that he turns down joining military ranks (presumably greater glory) to keep his life in a freer style with his contract work. (This gets played up as the series goes along, though Fox was actually pretty cocky in Star Fox 64, and somewhat so in Star Fox: Adventures as well.)

Given how his personality matures by the time of Star Fox: Assault and whatever went on with Star Fox: Command, Fox is something of a type that does abide by rules and doing the greater good type of work, but still retains some of his "off the books" or "go it alone" type of work.

So, since he's a hero that dances close to more lawful work, though still manages to find ways to slide around for what his objectives desire, that does make him a mostly "no nonsense" type, though on the friendlier and nicer side, of course. Fox can be portrayed as pretty orderly, in other words, and doesn't favor causing more trouble than he can handle, even if he's not above it.

Does that sound like something of an inverse to Panther, who tends to get into trouble and be mischievous? I should hope so!

Because they have foiled personalities from one another, that gives Fox and Panther elements of "opposites attract," since Panther can be silly and troublesome, while Fox tries to be serious and respectful. Panther has a shadier history with the Cornerian Army and his past is riddled with mystery and lack of depth. Fox, meanwhile, has staunchly strong and heroic ties with the Cornerian Army, who rely and count on his efforts to help them out. Additionally, he has a fair amount of his background explored as well, especially so compared to the enigma that is Panther.

Going by how flustered Fox gets in Star Fox: Adventures, Assault, and Command, he's also a bit sloppier in the romance department. He's seen as a stammering type, and shier around those that show interest in him, namely how Krystal does in the former two installments. He ends up being too protective of her in the last game included for that group, and kicks her from the team thinking that it was the safer option, when it really did nothing to stop her.

Those that ship Fox with Falco can also write him in angles to being oblivious to love, since Falco tends to be a bit harsh with Fox, which many like to write as him being guarded with his true feelings. So, combined with the information above, Fox is something of a romantic novice or rather inept at it.

Panther, whether he's actually good at romance or just likes to think he is, still comes across as an opposite to Fox on that level too. Whereas Fox falters and hesitates in romantic matters, Panther boldly strides forward to do his best in a quest for love.

There are some tricks to helping Fox and Panther work even better than just playing off of their foil traits however.

For starters: Both can be portrayed as very lonely souls.

Fox is a character that lost his parents at a young age, with his mother being out of the picture in every game installment, and his father dead before he's even 18. That's rough stuff, at least in my book. So, I'd consider that Fox has some isolated sides to his character that not everyone knows about, and that he has a side that grieves for his loved ones, and a side that longs to find a way to be loved and cherished in some manner once more.

Huh, does that sound familiar again? Someone that desperately wants to find love to fill a void in his life?

Oh wait, that's literally part of Panther's core too!

See, both Fox and Panther are seekers of love. While Fox may not be as forward with his intentions, he cares deeply for his team, his allies, and his planet, if not the entire Lylat galaxy. While Panther may not have such grand showings for compassion, he'd be the type that would be impressed, if not charmed, by someone so compassionate and caring.

If you take the idea that Panther helped make Wolf and Leon better, then it's likely that he also has a good deal of compassion in him too, seeing the best in people that the rest of Corneria and Lylat write off as the worst out there. Finding the light in the darkness is a kind of hopeful trait that Fox would absolutely be drawn to, since he can struggle to do the same.

Of course, both Panther and Fox are also skilled pilots, so, they have at least that much in common. Fox's skills are something that have outright impressed Panther in canon, and he compliments Fox a few times in both Star Fox: Assault and Star Fox: Command, commending Fox as his personal rival. It's not hard at all to shift that from mere respect to a deeper admiration.

Both are also very loyal and willing to see their goals through to the end. Fox proves this repeatedly in the games, but Panther shows such qualities in his appearances too, sticking by Wolf's side in spite of the challenges they face, and committing to his goals until they either are toppled enough to stop him, or until they are fully realized in a capacity that satisfies Panther well enough.

Typically, I like to mix things between "opposites attract" and "like attracts likes," to balance them out. Both Fox and Panther want to not be lonely and fall in love, to share their lives with someone. They're both also types that would be lonely in a crowd, though none are likely to suspect so, since they both come across confident and social enough to prove otherwise. Fox may find Panther's slippery side somewhat alluring, since he follows a freedom that Fox may sometimes wish he had from his more uptight and legacied life. Panther, meanwhile, might find Fox's loyalty and noble traits very endearing, because that means he'd firmly stand beside anyone that he committed himself to, something that Panther absolutely wants.

Naturally, you can play around with how you might like to portray them, based on the choices you'd make with your story, but those are some elements that I noticed and liked to help build it up.

While a lot of it is fairly made up with loose ties to canon, that's kind of the point to many fanfics. And even still, there is enough canon support to characterize Panther and Fox in a way that could make them a harmonized duo, to the point of romantic involvement.

Phew! Even I didn't realize how much I'd have to write about them until I actually put it all down, lol.

I do hope that you find this helpful. If you want any more information with building the pairing up for writing, please let me know! I'd love to increase the support that FoxPan gets out there, haha!

Thank you for asking too! This was a lot of fun to write out.

[seattlesea]

bad representation in the riordanverse

Racism:

-Gave Hazel and Piper gold and ‘kaleidoscope’/brown-blue-green changing eyes and pretty much went ‘Let’s add some characters of color but they cANT HAVE BROWN EYES THAT’S NOT PRETTY ENOUGH’ as if whitewashing isn’t more than just the skin.

-East Asian characters: Riordan pretty much went 'Here are my East Asian characters- one of them looks like a fat baby on steroids and is super undeveloped, his mother is strict and cold, and all the others are just described as 'Asian' because different countries in Asia don't exist and there's obviously no difference between Japanese, Chinese, and Korean'. His portrayal of East Asian characters went like this: Frank: Chinese, chubby, hates himself, underdeveloped, described to look like a 'Chinese Canadian baby man' and a 'panda' as if that's not stereotyping, and only learned to love himself when he looked hotter.  Drew: Asian, villainized, rude, shallow, vain, and selfish. Ethan: Asian, rude, evil, a traitor, and deceased. Grandma Zhang- rude, strict, cold, traditional, and deceased.

-Hazel: Has gold eyes. Has 'cinnamon brown' hair even though dark brown or black hair would be way more inclusive and realistic. Had a mother portrayed as a rude and selfish witch who sacrificed, used, and trafficked her own child. Was the only character called or described as a witch while African-Americans were usually accused of witchcraft just for their skin color. Was the only character who was cursed. Had a mother who literally practiced voodoo. The only African-American character in the series before ToA who isn't dead (but she also died). Was paired with a sixteen year old guy even though African women are constantly forced with older men and that's blatantly racist stereotyping. 

-Piper: Had 'chocolate brown' and then 'mahogany' hair? Has kaleidoscope eyes. Put a feather in her hair (which is stereotyping)- and it was an eagle feather, which is also wrong because eagles are extremely sacred to First Nation tribes and only spiritual leaders or warriors can wear it or it has to be gifted by an Elder of the tribe, and Riordan basically went 'Feathers are very important and it's racist to make a character wear one at inappropriate times but I'm going to make my character wear one as a cute accessory to make her look cool, pretty, and headstrong and to add to her 'Aesthetic'’ even though Cherokees didn’t wear feathers (which proves he did the bare minimum of research). Constantly oversexualized (56% of First Nation women are sexually harassed and Riordan had the audacity to put Piper in an 'embarrassingly low v-neck' and to have her constantly drooled over by a WHITE MALE and have her sexualized by her 1000+ mother without her knowledge or consent).  It's said that her father was from a reservation in Oklahoma...but there are no reservations in Oklahoma, only cultural centers (which also proves that he did the bare minimum of research).  She's the only First Nations character and she's the only character (besides Nancy Bobofit) depicted as a kleptomaniac (First Nations people are constantly called thieves by racist assholes). “The week before, he’d turned down several million dollars to play Tonto in a remake of The Lone Ranger. Piper was still trying to figure out why. He’d played all kinds of roles—a Latino teacher in a tough L.A. school, a dashing Israeli spy in an action-adventure blockbuster, even a Syrian terrorist in a James Bond movie. And, of course, he would always be known as the King of Sparta. But if the part was Native American—it didn’t matter what kind of role it was—Dad turned it down.” (The Lost Hero, page 165). So her father is fine with playing an extremely racist and stereotypical Middle Eastern role but not a First Nations role. Uses a cornucopia as a weapon (how she got it- cutting it off a half-bull- is disrespectful to her culture as hurting an animal is banned and she used a cornucopia- a symbol of Thanksgiving- as a weapon). Cut her hair, which is basically taboo in First Nations culture.

-Samirah: Had an arranged marriage (at age twelve, and she believed that she was groomed to be married to a rich and respectable family and nothing else). Ripped off her hijab in front of tons of male characters. The only Muslim character. The only Muslim character and she's the only character who married her cousin (you're supposed to break stereotypes, not enforce them).

Thomas Jefferson Jr: Said that he was thankful to the British for not siding with the South during the American Civil War even though they needed the South's cotton (but they didn't side with the North either). AKA a black man and son of a freed slave was thankful to Britain for not openly oppressing him? And at the same time he was named after a racist slave-owner.

Reyna: She's brown and her entire story revolves around her being independent, strong, alone, and self-sufficient but also desperately needing love and support but then Riordan says that she can't get her heart healed AKA she went through an abusive home, killed her father, left her sister, felt alone her whole life, worked a two-person job alone for months, and had to put on a brave face for others throughout all this then was literally told 'Shut up no one wants to hear about your struggles, just suck it up and deal with it’ and have you seen all the shit brown girls have to go through and keep silent about it? 

Extra: -Latino, Puerto Rican, African-American, Chinese-Canadian, East Asian, First Nations, etc. characters and the two most powerful, best, and most skilled characters and who the stories mostly revolve around are two white guys AKA white supremacy.

-"Harriet Tubman, daughter of Hermes, used many mortals on her Underground Railroad for just this reason" and that World War II was caused by a child of Zeus and a child of Hades fighting very blatantly erases the shit those people went through and Riordan just went 'Let's use these racist movements as little easter eggs in my story'.

-Thanatos, who was chained and enslaved, is described with dark skin.

-Riordan writing the characters went a little something like this: Drew: You get common Eastern Asian features like dark hair and eyes because you're arrogant, selfish, conceited, and rude, and because you're an antagonist and you're going to be used to make one of my protagonists- who has unique traits- look good so you're going to have the basic, 'boring' physical traits so the readers know who's the more superior of the two of you. Leo: You get common Latino features like curly dark hair, dark eyes, and light brown skin cause you're the weird, hyperactive unattractive one who's very flirty but constantly gets rejected and you're the only main character without a love interest and the only way you can get a girlfriend is when she's forced to fall in love with you through a curse. Frank: You get common Chinese features like dark hair and eyes cause you're the fat unattractive loser who catches the eye of the African character who already has unique and 'special' traits so you don't have to be super attractive. Reyna: You get common Puerto Rican traits like dark skin, hair, and eyes cause you're the stoic, lonely, intimidating, and cold one who wants all the guys (two white guys for that matter) but none of them want you and they both have girlfriends with traits like blonde hair and gray and kaleidoscope eyes so the readers know who are the more interesting couples.  Piper and Hazel: You two get eurocentric features because you're the main characters I have to set apart from everyone else- including other females whom I'm going to make one of you rivals with- so the readers know who's more superior so I'm giving you unique eye colors that literally cannot be found in humans so I'm going to try to validate it by saying that it's from something mildly associated with your godly parent even though neither of them have those traits. Riordan basically said that the common features are bad and boring and that unique and special features- aka features not found in those ethnicities- are good and cool. Also- if gods don’t have DNA how can their traits be passed down to their demigod children checkmate Riordan.

-Cecil Markowitz is the only Jewish character in PJO and the first thing used to describe him is "That kid, always thinking about the potential payout".

-Lavinia said that she was going to bring her date to her bat mitzvah even though you don't bring dates to bat mitzvahs or bar mitzvahs and she said that it was 'awkward' to tell her rabbi that someone was going to be her date even though you don't explain your guestlist to your rabbi, and they're most likely not even going to be at the party.

-Only three Latino and Puerto Rican characters (Leo, Reyna, and Hylla) and all three came from abusive households.

-Leo said 'Mamacita' as if that's not stereotyping.

-Made Nico ‘pale’ even though he had olive skin and gave him black hair and dark eyes despite Italians usually having light hair and eyes just to add to his ‘Goth Boy Aesthetic’.

-Hazel described Pluto to look like Adolf Hitler.

-Carter Kane said that Elvis took African-American music and made it sound like rock 'n roll and described it as cool- like no it’s cultural appropriation. 

-Leo was abused and Riordan thought that it'd be funny to make all the other characters line up to punch him and then try to make it look funny. 

-Gave almost every single POC character a white name and sometimes gave them white first names and POC surnames, and Reyna and Bianca are the only POC characters with names from their culture/native language and one of them is dead and reborn as someone else and the other’s full name wasn’t revealed until the fourth book in her series and she hates using it.

-Made two POC characters with names from their culture- Samirah and Olujime- go by white nicknames (Sam and Jamie) to make it ‘easier to read’ despite having white characters with the same amount of syllables in their names (like Annabeth) that didn’t go by nicknames.

-Never actually described the characters of color with physical traits from their ethnicities (Reyna, Hylla, and Leo with big eyes, thick eyebrows, brown hair, wide noses, full lips, etc., Piper with almost-oriental eyes, shovel teeth, high cheekbones, black hair, etc., Nico with light or brown hair and eyes, olive skin, a narrow nose, etc., Hazel with a wide nose and lips, dark brown eyes, black or dark brown hair, big eyes, thick eyebrows, etc.).

Anti-LGBTQ+:

-Nico was forcibly outed by Cupid and Riordan and the fandom didn't care and the only thing they thought was 'Aww, he has a crush on Percy! So cute!' AKA romanticizing a forced outing. 

-Riordan said that he didn't want to make Reyna lesbian or bisexual because he thought it'd be stereotypical making her LGBTQ+ because she didn't want men anymore even though she could've been bisexual all along but Riordan casually dismissed the idea of that saying "Having a girl end up with a woman after dating men is a bad stereotype" and basically said that real bi girls don’t exist.

-The Hunters of Artemis were made so Artemis/Diana could protect those girls from men and their behavior towards women but Riordan dismissed lesbian relationships- even though nothing about that was said in real Greek mythology- meaning that he thinks that women need protection from other women just as much as they need protection from men.

-Alex Fierro is the only gender-fluid or transgender character and she/he’s seen as rude, snarky, and sharp and Magnus could magically tell when Alex changed gender.

-Riordan said that he wouldn’t make Reyna a lesbian because of stereotypes despite the reader asking if Reyna was going to get a girlfriend, not come out as lesbian AKA Riordan thinks ‘Girls liking girls’ is automatically ‘lesbian’ and completely dismissed bi, pan, poly, omni, etc. girls.

-Used a self-insert to make fun of wlw readers who saw themself in Reyna and thought she could be a cool character to relate to.

-Enforced LGBTQ+ stereotypes like the cold-hearted Asexual, the flamboyant bi/pan, the snarky gender-fluid, the emo gay, the laid-back and rebellious lesbian who dyed her hair pink and chews a lot of bubblegum, etc.

-Has one-hundred fifty-five characters total minus gods/goddesses, Titans, giants, nymphs, dryads, satyrs, monsters, etc. and only has fifteen confirmed LGBTQ+ characters (do the math, that’s exactly one out of ten regarding OCs).

-Only one character that isn’t cishet.

-Saves most the LGBTQ+ for the side characters or only confirms characters LGBTQ+ once they’ve become a minor character despite being a main character before.

-Only stated that Reyna was Asexual outside of his books and on Twitter as if that’s not exactly what J.K Rowling is doing.

-Used the LGBTQ+ community to make Piper seem like the ‘special snowflake’ and to set her apart from her siblings to make it seem like she’s better than all of them and used Hera/Juno and Aphrodite/Venus as excuses for his homophobic mindset that believes that straight is the default cause “Suddenly, much of what she and I had talked about started to make sense. Not being defined by Aphrodite’s expectations. Or Hera’s ideas of what a perfect couple looked like. Piper finding her own way, not the one people expected of her” in synonymous words is 'The expectations for love and the idea of a perfect couple are a heterosexual relationship, and anyone who 'finds their own way instead of the ones people expect' are different'. ‘Different’ and ‘default’ are antonyms AKA if he thinks that LGBTQ+ people are ‘different’, he thinks that straight is the ‘default’. Remember- an author writes their own personal beliefs.

-Josephine is the only black LGBTQ+ character.

-Reyna is said to be Asexual despite feeling sexual attraction towards Percy cause no one likes someone five minutes after knowing them and it’s anything but sexual attraction.

-Magnus and Alex are the only LGBTQ+ relationship whose growth and development is actually shown in the story (while there was also Apollo and Commodus, Piper and Shel, Will and Nico, Apollo and Hyacinthus, Emmie and Jo, Lavinia and Poison Oak, etc.).

-Riordan never canonically said the name of any sexuality and is clearly uncomfortable with the LGBTQ+ community shown by his little to no writing regarding physical affection and deep emotions in his LGBTQ+ relationships.

-Only added in LGBTQ+ relationships for publicity- Percy Jackson and the Olympians release dates: 2005-2009. 2005-2009: LGBTQ+ support was nearly at an all-time low. No LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or references in the books. The Lost Hero-The Mark of Athena release dates: 2010-2012. 2010-2012: LGBTQ+ support was still very low. Still no LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or references in the books. The House of Hades release date: late 2013. Mid-2013: the giant spike for LGBTQ+ support and allies. One confirmed LGBTQ+ character. The Sword of Summer release date: late 2015. 2015: LGBTQ+ support was good and gay marriage was legalized. A few LGBTQ+ references but no confirmed characters. The Hammer of Thor and The Ship of the Dead release dates: 2016-2017. 2016-2017: LGBTQ+ support was quite high. Two confirmed LGBTQ+ characters and the first canon LGBTQ+ relationship and kiss. The Trials of Apollo release dates: 2016-2020. 2016-2020: LGBTQ+ support was very high. More LGBTQ+ characters confirmed in one book than all the other series combined. Kind of obvious he was just following the public opinion.

-Legit said ‘Reyna can’t like girls cause she has had crushes on guys before’.

Ableism:

-It was heavily implied in The Battle of the Labyrinth that Rachel Dare had schizophrenia/psychosis but it's never brought up again.

-Grover's fake feet made it look like he was disabled from the Mist and it was said that he was bullied because of it but it was never brought up again.

-It was said that Tyson looked like he had down syndrome from the Mist covering his one eye but it was never brought up again. 

-It was stated that every character but Frank has ADHD and dyslexia but never actually showed any symptoms after Percy Jackson and the Olympians and characters like Piper and Leo were even able to read English writing throughout The Lost Hero and the only symptom of ADHD Riordan showed through his characters was ‘a lot of fidgeting’ as if that’s not a blatant stereotype. 

Pedophilia:

-Luke, a twenty-two/twenty-three year old had a crush on Annabeth, a sixteen year old. That's a six-seven year age gap. 

-The only two girls put into relationships with much older men are black (Hazel and Sadie).

-Hazel, a thirteen year old, got together with a sixteen year old guy. Hazel's crush on Frank is normal- a girl having a crush on an older guy, but Frank's crush on Hazel is disgusting- an older guy looking down at a child and thinking about making out with her.

Misogyny:

-Aphrodite's kids are seen as useless, weak, snobby, shallow, vain, and selfish just because they’re feminine. 

-Riordan portrayed Aphrodite’s kids as feminine despite Aphrodite being the goddess of love and beauty, not femininity, as if romance and beauty are reserved for women only. 

-Piper is the only 'tomboy' child of Aphrodite and she's portrayed as tougher, stronger, and better than her feminine siblings (and it's portrayed that way multiple times throughout the story like other characters telling Piper she’s "-tough for a child of Aphrodite").

-Piper immediately stereotyped and disliked every single feminine character like Drew and the rest of the Aphrodite cabin just because they liked makeup and skirts as if that’s not shallow criticism. 

-Feminine characters like Drew, Isabel, Khione, and Medea are used or even created solely as antagonists to make Piper- the tomboy- look better.

-Calypso is the only feminine character and she sucks at everything. 

-Riordan’s take on female characters: Drew: a vain, rude, selfish, snobby, and bitchy mean girl. Silena: a shallow traitor. Reyna: a cold-hearted robot. Piper: internalized misogyny that was never brought up again. Calypso: an island whore. Athena: a rude, aggressive bitch with no emotions. Aphrodite: shallow, vain, conceited, and self-centered. Hera: completely evil with no backstory added into it. Marie: an evil witch who selfishly used and sacrificed her daughter.

-The Hunters of Artemis were blessed by Artemis to protect them from men but Riordan made it only about the men in their lives (again) and portrayed the whole 'losing men' thing like it was a burden and that they're 'giving men up' even though they join the Hunters to leave men. He distorted the original meaning of the Hunters- protecting women- by making it about the Hunters hating and being forced to leave men even though they're asking to have no men in their lives, cause that's the point of it. 

-The Amazons and Hunters of Artemis despise men and literally attack them if they so much as speak as if sexism is reserved for women only.

-Portrayed femininity as weakness (and masculinity as strength, it’s even in the word- tomBOY).

-Constantly pit women against women for the sake of romance and love triangles instead of normalizing women getting along despite liking the same people and let the female’s relationships get controlled and influenced by the men in their lives.

-The men always outpower the women in powers and skills. Riordan’s portrayal of powers and characters- Percy: You’re going to have epic water powers and can even create your own personal hurricanes and even though you’ve only been canonically training for eight months total you’re going to be the best swordfighter despite multiple characters having years more training than you. Jason: You’re going to be able to fly, control lightning, create storms, and electric shock people into another dimension. Leo: You’re going to be able to create and control fire and blow shit up with just a screwdriver. Frank: You’re going to be able to shape-shift into any animal you want, even a whole dragon. Nico: You’re going to be able to control darkness and shadows, literally teleport, and raise a whole army of undead soldiers. Reyna: Powers? Nah, your only ability is to lend strength to others as if that benefits you at all. Annabeth: Powers? Nah. Piper: You’re going to be able to manipulate and seduce people and are literally going to use your body and attractiveness as a weapon and your power is literally called charmspeak. Hazel: You have more powers than all the other characters combined that can literally destroy anyone in less than a second but you’re never going to use them or even remember that you have them cause screw the female character being more powerful than the males. 

-The men always accomplish the most incredible feats and if the females ever do accomplish something great (Reyna healing the riff and defeating Orion while the Hunters and Amazons couldn’t combined, Annabeth going through Tartarus, Hazel learning to control the Mist, etc.) they are never praised or rewarded or all the credit goes to the men. 

-Ares/Mars in real Greek/Roman mythology was the feminist patron of the Amazons who loved his daughter very much and killed a rapist but was portrayed as the dumb, cruel asshole who loved nothing but bloodshed and tried to kill a twelve year-old kid who was trying to help him while Poseidon/Neptune in real Greek/Roman mythology was a greedy, short-tempered, and arrogant asshole who raped almost as much women than Zeus/Jupiter but was portrayed as the kind, caring, and gentle father figure. 

Fatophobia:

-Frank is the only chubby character and he hates himself because of it, was constantly fat-shamed, and only learned to love himself after he got rippling abs, muscles, and looked hotter (because fat = ugly in Riordan’s mind, even though it's not). 

-Clovis was depicted with a pot-belly and Drew described him as 'repulsive'.

-Dionysus/Bacchus is also depicted with a pot-belly and he's portrayed as a useless, rude, lazy, and drunken asshole. 

Lookism:

Basically how Riordan wrote his characters- Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Reyna, Hazel, Piper, and most minor protagonists: You’re all going to be super attractive, have at least one character or more pining for you, have your looks constantly commented on, and some of you will even use your looks as a weapon cause that’s not obvious sexualization cause you’re all the main characters and protagonists that readers need to know are the protagonists. Nico, Leo, and Frank: You three are originally portrayed as unattractive but at some points are described as cute and two of you are insecure about your looks cause you’re scrawny and chubby and one of you hates yourself cause of your body and only learn to love yourself once you magically gain abs cause more muscle obviously equals more attractiveness.  Luke, Silena, Chris, and Ethan: You four are going to be super attractive because you’re traitors but all of you make up for your actions and decide to help the demigods and become protagonists again. Octavian, Bryce, Michael, Titans, giants, etc.: You all are the antagonists so you have to be super ugly with multiple physical imperfections cause you’re not allowed to be attractive since you are against the protagonists and I have to set you guys apart and show the readers who’s the better and more superior character. 

-Frank hated himself cause he was chubby and only loved himself once he got skinnier and gained muscle through magic but even then was called ‘cute like a panda’.

-Leo was described as scrawny and unattractive and was insecure about being short but even then was called ‘cute in a scrawny way’.

-Piper had facial imperfections and even a pimple on her nose but once she got claimed all of those disappeared and they stayed gone even after the blessing washed off despite all the magic being gone and only then was Piper’s looks commented on multiple times. 

-Lester/Apollo hated his appearance cause he had a little flab and acne and his physical imperfections were used as comedy by making fun of it as if insecure readers don’t exist.

-Percy and Annabeth had one canon physical imperfection- a gray streak in their hair- and that magically washed away.

-None of the other characters were described with any physical imperfections like pimples/zits/acne, body hair (despite none of the characters having the care or time to wax or shave), bushy/frizzy or messy hair or eyebrows, big or small hands or noses, blackheads, super thick or thin eyebrows, blemishes, birthmarks, scars, stretch marks, braces, lazy eyes, yellow or chipped teeth, eye bags, glasses, moles, dimples, love handles, flab/fat, visible veins, freckles, etc. unless it added to their ‘aesthetic’ despite none of those being bad and saves it only for the antagonists as if ‘physical imperfections’ = ‘evil’. 

Bias:

-Riordan portrayed the Romans as cold, cruel, ruthless, strict, and overall horrible despite them being the more inclusive camp regarding family and godly parents, have multiple families and rules that ensure their camper’s safety, and hold the nicest characters in the series while the Greeks are portrayed as fun, wild, reckless, silly, and cool despite holding the most prejudiced and rude characters, outcasting and ostracizing characters of certain godly parents just for their parentage, stereotype almost every single cabin, and make some campers without siblings live, sleep, and eat alone. 

-Every Greek traitor (Luke, Silena, Ethan, and Chris) were portrayed as powerful, kind, attractive, and awesome and each made up for their actions but each Roman ‘traitor’ (Octavian, Bryce, and Michael, and only one of them are actually a traitor) were portrayed as unattractive, cruel, ambitious, ruthless, and extremely weak and never actually did anything useful.

-The Greeks were part of the Union and the Romans were part of the Confederacy (adding on to Riordan adding racist movements as fun little easter eggs in his stories).

-Four out of seven of the main Seven are Greek.

-There are at least 70+ Greek characters and less than thirty named Romans.

-The Battle of San Francisco Bay was used for the sole purpose to weaken the Romans and make the Greeks seem stronger than them and while the Greeks went through two whole wars, their camp laid almost completely untouched but the moment the Romans are introduced, half their population is wiped?

Romanticization:

-Romanticized Annabeth judo-flipping Percy AKA romanticized physical abuse/harassment (emotions, angriness, feelings of love and affection, ‘they went through a lot together’, etc. do not excuse hitting someone) despite Annabeth knowing where Percy’s Achilles Heel was and not knowing he lost it and flipping him on his back anyways (if Percy didn’t lose the Achilles Heel, Annabeth would’ve killed him).

-Romanticized Leo killing himself to see Calypso again and to take her off her island AKA a romanticized suicide.

-Romanticized Calypso yelling at and insulting Leo and Annabeth insulting and canonically lowering Percy’s self-esteem AKA romanticized verbal abuse/bullying.

-Romanticized Will trying to help Nico through his loneliness and depression as if that can’t be portrayed as someone just wanting to help another person AKA  romanticized mental illness.

-Romanticized every character kissing another character without asking first and without their consent AKA romanticized sexual harassment.

-Romanticized Piper taking advantage over Jason’s amnesia and mental state and jumping onto him despite knowing there might be a girl he couldn’t remember AKA romanticized manipulation.

-Romanticized Piper and Annabeth’s possessive, overly-jealous, and controlling behavior over Jason and Percy (even before they were canonically dating).

-Romanticized Nico being forced to confess his crush on Percy AKA romanticized a forced outing.

Rick Riordan:

-Refused to apologize for his actions even after being called out by people from the groups he was writing inaccurately and stereotyping (Muslim, Jewish, African, First Nation, lesbian, gay, Puerto Rican, etc.) and tried to make himself look like the victim.

-Claimed he was being ‘bullied’ by readers half his age who were just pointing out his books’ racist flaws.

-Showed time and time again that he is not willing to listen to the voices of minorities.

-Clearly didn’t do his research on ethnicities, sexualities, religions, etc. shown by how he got the simplest things wrong.

-Tried to say that he- a straight white man- was right when people of the actual groups he was writing about (gay, First Nation tribes, etc.) were wrong.

-Used excuses like having a ‘headstrong’ and ‘stubborn’ character who wants to ‘show their culture in their own way’ for his stereotypes. No, Riordan, you want to show the culture that way, not Piper. She’s a fictional character, you’re real. Dumbass.

-Literally said ‘Sorry I put feathers in Piper’s hair, I can’t change what I wrote in the past and I didn’t know that sensitive readers existed’ then continued to write feathers in Piper’s hair in the future books. 

The Fandom:

Note: Not to all of the fandom, obviously

-Draws Piper with light skin, light hair, and kaleidoscope eyes with feathers, hippie bands, and beads (yes, it's canon, but you're allowed to change it if it's blatantly racist, and the bead and hippie band thing was created by the fandom and that's also stereotyping).

-Almost always draw Reyna, Hylla, and Leo with light skin and Caucasian traits (props to the few artists who drew them with the right skin tones).

-Draws Hazel with gold eyes, ‘cinnamon’/light brown hair, and an adult body.

-Sexualizes female characters by drawing them in sexy and revealing clothes and giving them all the same exact sexy, slim, and perfect hour-glass shaped bodies.

-Almost never include physical imperfections, muscle, scars, stretch marks, etc. in drawings.

-Fancasts white actors for characters of color and puts actors/faceclaims of white people or people of different ethnicities in the moodboards or aesthetics for characters of color.

-Participates in cultural appropriation by wearing feathers when cosplaying Piper and wearing a hijab when cosplaying Samirah.

-Supports Riordan, tries to defend him, and condones his clearly racist and bigoted actions just cause they ‘like the books’ (if you are straight, white, and/or cishet, I definitely don’t want to see you trying to defend a fifty-five year-old multi-millionaire who is clearly racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic).

-Romanticize physical abuse, verbal abuse, mental illnesses and panic/anxiety attacks, etc.

-Ship pedophilic, manipulative, abusive, and wrong relationships.

-Barely allow others to have their own opinions (looking at you Perachel haters) without yelling at, insulting, cursing out, and/or even threatening them for liking or disliking different things than them including ships, characters, books, plots/faults, and Riordan himself.

-Straightwashes characters like shipping Nico with female characters or setting him up with a female character in fanfics.

-Whitewashes characters like drawing Hazel and Piper with eurocentric features, Reyna, Hylla, and Leo with white skin and Caucasian traits, Nico with white/pale skin, etc.

-Try to excuse and explain abusive, manipulative, possessive, and overall very wrong and toxic behavior.

-Fail to recognize and/or admit the toxic, racist, homophobic, sexist, transphobic, wrong, abusive, etc. faults in the books, ships, and characters just cause they like them.

The Percy Jackson franchise does not add good representation. You can still like the series as long as you don’t condone Riordan’s racist and toxic writing and actions and don’t try to ignore the horrible and stereotypical faults just cause you don’t want to admit that your favorite or childhood story is horrible. 

[clockworkspider]

January 20th, Penguin Sniper

“You should be more considerate of your friends’ feelings before inviting me to another one of your bonding activities.” Goro said, out of the earshot of the others. The rest of the Phantom Thieves were trickling out of Penguin Sniper.

Akira raised an eyebrow. “You are part of the team, Akechi. If anyone had an issue with your presence, they’d have let me know.”

“Do you really expect your friends to report to you if they take issue with frolicking with their parent’s killer? Or are you being deliberately daft?”

Was he? Perhaps he was. Akira would like to think he makes an effort to be considerate, but perhaps he was getting a bit too comfortable giving orders and having them followed without question. (From everyone except Akechi, apparently.)

“It’s a little demented, don’t you think?” Akechi asked.

“Demented is a very strong word,” Akira said. “Look, I’ve actually spoken to Haru and Futaba, they’re willing to accept you. I wouldn’t have forced this on them.

He paused for a moment, considered. “What about you? You came.”

“I have nothing better to do.”

Akira raised an eyebrow.

“—And I enjoy the company,” Akechi added, more softly. His voice was flat, which meant he probably wasn’t lying. These moments of honesty were… Well… It made Akira felt like spotting a treasure chest.

“I’m glad,” Akira couldn’t help but smile. He sighed with fond exasperation. “Listen, I’m not under the illusion that…” he scratched his head a bit harder, “that things can ever be okay between you and Haru. Or that all of us have to like each other. But Haru is… well, she’s an incredibly generous person. Anyway, common interest aside, you are part of the team, and they’re all curious about you. I’m sure you’ve noticed Ann and Sumire’s numerous efforts to include you."

“Takamaki pities me because she thinks I’m a victim,” Akechi snorted under his breath, “and Yoshizawa doesn’t know me for long enough to be wary.”

“Are you?” Akira asked, “A victim?”

Akechi stared back at him. “What do you want to hear?”

“I don’t know,” Akira scratched his head, “I’m just asking. It’s not a trick question.”

Akechi scowled. “Then I have no answer to give you.”

“Alright, then,” Akira said, neutrally.

“What about you, Leader?” Akechi asked. “Do you consider me a victim?”

“Well,” Akira scratched his neck, “it’s a matter of perspective, right? We can all be made into victims of our circumstances, but your choices have always been your own.”

Akechi stared at him flatly for a moment, and then said, “You’re right.”

“I find it admirable, in a way. Not saying that I can agree with all your choices, but the fact that you’ve made them at all. You didn’t just… let life take you.”

Akechi sneered. “Is that suppose to make me feel better?”

“It’s just an observation,” Akira said. He paused for a moment. “You know, if you weren’t there with me, I might have taken Maruki’s deal.”

Akechi’s eyes narrowed. “If you’re tempted to change your mind, do not keep it from me.”

“I’m not.” Akira lifted his palms reassuringly. “I don’t think it would be right to rob people of their choices, even if it would bring them pain. But that’s all ideological, right? Realistically, I just want my efforts to be rewarded. I don’t want…” He sighed. “At times, I feel like I’m always fighting a losing battle. It can be a bit exhausting.”

“If you dare turn tail and run, then you’re not the person I thought you were,” Akechi said, warningly.

“Then, as your rival, I can’t disappoint,” Akira said with a wink. “See, this here. This is why I need you, why we need you. You’re fundamentally incompatible with this world. You’re so…” He couldn’t help but let out a laugh, light and untethered, “You’re so you.”

By this point, Akechi’s eyes have already narrowed into two slits. “If I want to get psychoanalyzed, then I’d have gone to Maruki.”

Well, there was probably a reason Akira enjoyed his conversations with Maruki so much.

“I’m not psychoanalyzing you,” Akira chuckled under his breath, “I’m just… I’m just happy you’re here.”

Akechi’s glare not so much softened as it faded. He closed his eyes and didn’t respond.

“Hey Akechi,” Akira said. From this distance, he was close enough to count Akechi’s eyelashes, close enough to reach out. “When all this is over—”

“It’s late,” Akechi’s eyes opened. The spell was broken. “We should go. Call me when you plan to head to the Metaverse.”

“I will.” He backed off as they headed towards the exit. “You should spend some more time with the others. Isn’t it nice, having friends?”

Akechi paused in his steps.

He didn’t answer.