#real reacing

[whipplefilter]

@ryanthedemiboy

REDDICK IS MY CURRENT TOP NEMESIS. 😂 (But I'm replying in this fashion because I feel like I need to explain myself and need more than 140 characters.)

I have tried *so egregiously hard* to be a Reddick fan. FOR YEARS. Years!!

Reasons I should be a Reddick fan:

He's from California! Me too! I love Californian drivers! (or try to)

He comes from a dirt background! I love dirt racing!

I rooted for him in Xfinity!

He's part of a team I like! Go 23XI!

His cat died the night of one of his Xfinity championships, which is super sad and is, for some reason, always something I remember about him.

Demeanor-wise, he's a really good guy! Passionate, thoughtful, funny.

(But being a "really good guy" has never kept someone from being a nemesis. I really like Brad out of the car, and I think Joey as a person is phenomenal. I've always found Cindric and Chase Elliott's senses of humor very much to my taste. CBell's probably never done anything wrong in his entire life. These people have all been Top Nemesis at some point or another.)

So when time came to start choosing Youth Generation (Youth Generation 1.5? If Chase/Blaney/Bubba/Danny/WB etc. are 1.0) drivers I wanted to root for, Reddick seemed like a natural pick. Even if it meant rooting for RCR.

Then I saw him win in person. Crickets from my heart.

And frankly, being a reflection of/resurgence of the whole Oscar Piastri and Alex Palou contract sagas should only have improved his appeal, in moving from RCR to 23XI. Silliest season.

Any time he's won, actually. Any time he's been in contention to win. Zero feeling. Zero to negative, in fact.

I've found myself rooting for Joey over him!! JOEY. (I have seen Joey win two championships and I will die if I have to witness a third any time soon, especially if Denny goes out with *zero*--and I'd still root for Joey over Reddick at Phoenix.)

During the Nashville postrace, Reddick offered a devastated interview and I did not feel bad for him at all. Whereas I felt super bad for Ross Chastain, my nominal and long-time Nemesis, after his devastated interview.

I was reasoning this through with @the-kings-tail-fin in the car, and I was like, I feel like part of this might actually be because I like Kurt Busch more than Tyler Reddick, so the 45 was cooler BEFORE; and I like Bubba Wallace more than Tyler Reddick, so I want him to be the best 23XI car, which means rooting against Reddick. And we were like, yeah, that makes sense. I mean, by real-world logic it doesn't. But by sports world logic it does!!!!!

So I thought, well, the facts can't lie, here. Tyler Reddick is my new Top Nemesis. I have no choice. The NASCAR whims have spoken. And so here we are.

TOP NEMESIS TYLER REDDICK

[one16core]

just sunoo, ltrly just Smiling sunoo (kneels)

classmate au | kim sunoo

❝ no one is allowed to borrow my art materials except for (name) ❞

heeseung | jay | jake | sunghoon | SUNOO | jungwon | ni-ki

kim sunoo

sweet, sunshine, best friend kim sunoo

it was kind of SO obvious he wanted to be friends

like he wants to be close to you soooo bad and maybe it’s bc he saw u playfully bullying riki

it was love at first sight and an instant best friendship the moment you finally met

your seats were assigned so u were sat next to each other

THANK GOD U WERE

you two are basically inseparable now

sunoo strikes me as the type to just walk into the classroom and walk straight towards where you’re seated

at school events, he’d leave his backpack on the seat next to him to reserve you a seat

then he’d go “(name)!” while waving from his seat it’s actually kind of embarrassing

there is never anxiety of being seated next to a stranger bc sunoo has your back

he’d grab an extra mini fan from his bag to give to U bc these school events r always so scorching hot

sunoo does that “leaning against your locker while you get things” thing

he is so unaware of how HANDSOME he looks

oh and btw if you don’t attend class, he probably won’t in solidarity

in the chances that he does attend class, he usually sends you photos of his notes and everything you need to know

he’d be like i’m soooooo bored 2 minutes into the class without you like it hasn’t even STARTED

just prepare for his spam messages

after class, you’d buy street food and just gossip over it

you’d stare at what he bought and he’d roll his eyes before pushing the stick towards you so you can bite off it

YES feeding each other … normal best friend things

anyways moving on

another thing in my vision is that he’s the provider of art materials

the teacher suddenly lets you make a poster????

you know you’re secured bc sunoo is ur bff and will let only YOU borrow his supplies

“sunoo, let me borrow your colored markers”

“ok, which colors do you want” ☺️☺️☺️☺️

flat out will say no to everyone else tho

he’s kind of intimidating honestly despite having the sweetest smile

LIKE he’s friends with everyone but not friends friends

do you guys get what i mean

he is just a completely different person with you bc he trusts u the most and he just becomes CRAZY

like yall let him keep his crazy too much .. thank god you’re there for him to unleash it to

he’s one of the people who plays volleyball with riki and friends

but he’s absolutely horrible please save him

altho … why does he look so handsome playing even tho he can’t receive the ball? 🤨

he’d just laugh and crumble in embarrassment and you’d be the number one person cheering for him

(update after ella’s rb,, full credits to her) u would def put the blame on his teammates

“RIKI DO BETTER” even if it was 100% sunoo’s fault like so real

weird specific love language? buying each other water

he’s playing volleyball? you have a bottle of water for him in case he wants to sit out the game and watch with you

you’re finished with your physical education practical exam? he’s waiting for you with his big ass water jug

BUT LIKEEEE why is there a change in the air suddenly 😩😩😩

why is your best friend so boyfriend material actually

he holds your hand… holds it so firmly

sunoo gives the best hugs too

he makes you laugh and he’s so thoughtful with his stupid water and his art materials

even carries your things for you sometimes

AND yall take good photos of each other

“does my hair look fine?”

he’d reach out to fix it … tuck it behind your ear or look at you so intensely before going back to smiling n saying yup all good!

during the sports festival, yall are off joining some type of singing jingle cheer competition which is usually the first event

so you guys just joke around for the rest of the week, watch some events, and take LOTS of photos

you would laugh at your classmates

maybe even cheer for some of your friends

just as long as you’re next to each other

you probably bad mouth the opposite team BUT TO YOURSELVES .. not out loud

would clap so hard when your team wins a point !!!

also back to the taking photos detail

he’d just be dragging you everywhere to take photos bc when is the best time but NOW

ofc u do take his photos .. u ltrly take the Best

“sunoo, look, you’re so handsome here!”

and then you look up at him to see his reaction and he’s already looking at you

uh oh.

your faces are so close to each other like SO close

let’s step back and check the label 😂

BEST FRIENDS !!!!!

tho he does save u out of ur misery by asking you out a week later

bc apparently the sudden shift in air also happened to HIM

he brings it up as a joke first bc he’s testing the waters and he’s not trynna get rejected

“imagine if we were dating…..” and a long lingering pause in the air afterward

if you joked back with like a “LOL”, he’d know u don’t feel the same

but you ltrly go 😮 and so speechless bc why is he suddenly bringing this up when you’ve spent the last few nights thinking about him

did those tiktok manifestations work

did that tiktok audio actually get sunoo to like u back

“um… well! well, you see…”

“i like you”

“THANK GOD”

you guys are like waaaaay more inseparable now that you’re dating

your friends will fake vomit around u .. but don’t worry it’s just bc they’re bitchless

while u and ur bf sunoo are happily in love

btw he gets jealous easily TEARSSSSSS

he gets all pouty but don’t worry, you just have to Hug him and give him a kiss and he’s all smiles again

oh, and i feel the need to inform you that hugs are his favorite thing in the world

and CHEEK kisses like specifically cheek kisses.. he loves them

his ideal dates r just when you’re at each other’s house

you can order takeout and do your skincare together … watch the latest movies

his family loves you too

so much that they include your favorite snacks when they go grocery shopping

“sunoo, get those chips that (name) rly likes. u dont know when she might come over next!”

like they are ANTICIPATING you

enjoy dating i love sunoo

note. credits to user @.luvknow for the layout of this post! let me know what you think! please discuss these with me i’m crazy

[ahmedpalestine]

Jabalia… the camp of martyrs. This is what remains of our homes. This image shows the destruction of Jabalia Camp after the occupation forces withdrew. With every shattered stone, thousands of stories and dreams were buried. My family was displaced to the south, but even with the ceasefire beginning, the pain continues.

Returning to the camp offers nothing but scenes of devastation—no shelter, no water, no electricity, no schools, and no hospitals.

My family is living in indescribably harsh conditions. With the war ending and the truce beginning, we desperately need a helping hand to rebuild our lives. Your support can make a real difference—it can provide my family with a place to stay, clean water, and a path to live with dignity.

Every donation, no matter how small, plants hope and restores a part of the life we’ve lost.

Vetted by gaza-evacuation-funds

& by association by bilal-salah0

@timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @briarhips @dirhwangdaseul @mahoushojoe

@rhubarbspring @schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako

@feluka @birabiroo @irhabiya @commissions4aid-international @wellwaterhysteria

@deepspaceboytoy @post-brahminism @khanger @evillesbianvillain @neechees

@mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @jezior0 @7bitter @tortiefrancis

@toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @tododeku-or-bust

@aristotels @komsomolka @xinakwans @heritageposts @nibeul

@ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @lonniemachin @dykesbat

@watermotif @stuckinapril @mavigator @lacecap @yugiohz

@socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @northgazaupdates2

@vakarians-babe @wayneradiotv @paper-mario-wiki @rthko @decolonize-the-everything

@velvetys @3000s @punkitt-is-here @ghelgheli @feluka

@cruzwalters @yugiohz @akajustmerry @shesnake @tamamita

@opencommunion @brutaliakhoa @schoolhater @bilal-salah0 @dragondemoness .

@lapastelr0sa @victormcdicktor @murderbot @acehimbo @heliopixels

@jezior0 @turian @labutansa @thedigitalbard @imjustheretotrytohelp

@buttercuparry @newsfrom-theworld @alexander-the-alright @autisticmudkip @isa-ah

@ot3 @hazem-khalil @huckleberrycomics @heydreamchild @heydreamchild

@wintersteves @orphicdazai @transmutationisms @fatickono @meraofxebels

@dlxxv-vetted-donations @sinnettini 

[khanger]

Do you know what the scariest, most brutal Halloween costume would be? It’s the Zionists. You won’t find a monster greater than this: they are child killers, perpetrators of genocide, and land thieves. Believe me, children here know that the monster isn’t hiding under the bed—it’s Israel, the force that haunts and harms them.

Think Halloween is frightening? You haven’t seen Gaza. Think Halloween needs something terrifying? The real nightmare is right here on the ground in Gaza.

Donate to my dear friend and brother Ahmed. Help him make it easier for his family.

Vetted by bilal-salah0

Gaza-evacuation-funds

[reasonsforhope]

"Since it was first identified in 1983, HIV has infected more than 85 million people and caused some 40 million deaths worldwide.

While medication known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, can significantly reduce the risk of getting HIV, it has to be taken every day to be effective. A vaccine to provide lasting protection has eluded researchers for decades. Now, there may finally be a viable strategy for making one.

An experimental vaccine developed at Duke University triggered an elusive type of broadly neutralizing antibody in a small group of people enrolled in a 2019 clinical trial. The findings were published today [May 17, 2024] in the scientific journal Cell.

“This is one of the most pivotal studies in the HIV vaccine field to date,” says Glenda Gray, an HIV expert and the president and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, who was not involved in the study.

A few years ago, a team from Scripps Research and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) showed that it was possible to stimulate the precursor cells needed to make these rare antibodies in people. The Duke study goes a step further to generate these antibodies, albeit at low levels.

“This is a scientific feat and gives the field great hope that one can construct an HIV vaccine regimen that directs the immune response along a path that is required for protection,” Gray says.

-via WIRED, May 17, 2024. Article continues below.

Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize a virus or other pathogen. They introduce something that looks like the virus—a piece of it, for example, or a weakened version of it—and by doing so, spur the body’s B cells into producing protective antibodies against it. Those antibodies stick around so that when a person later encounters the real virus, the immune system remembers and is poised to attack.

While researchers were able to produce Covid-19 vaccines in a matter of months, creating a vaccine against HIV has proven much more challenging. The problem is the unique nature of the virus. HIV mutates rapidly, meaning it can quickly outmaneuver immune defenses. It also integrates into the human genome within a few days of exposure, hiding out from the immune system.

“Parts of the virus look like our own cells, and we don’t like to make antibodies against our own selves,” says Barton Haynes, director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and one of the authors on the paper.

The particular antibodies that researchers are interested in are known as broadly neutralizing antibodies, which can recognize and block different versions of the virus. Because of HIV’s shape-shifting nature, there are two main types of HIV and each has several strains. An effective vaccine will need to target many of them.

Some HIV-infected individuals generate broadly neutralizing antibodies, although it often takes years of living with HIV to do so, Haynes says. Even then, people don’t make enough of them to fight off the virus. These special antibodies are made by unusual B cells that are loaded with mutations they’ve acquired over time in reaction to the virus changing inside the body. “These are weird antibodies,” Haynes says. “The body doesn’t make them easily.”

Haynes and his colleagues aimed to speed up that process in healthy, HIV-negative people. Their vaccine uses synthetic molecules that mimic a part of HIV’s outer coat, or envelope, called the membrane proximal external region. This area remains stable even as the virus mutates. Antibodies against this region can block many circulating strains of HIV.

The trial enrolled 20 healthy participants who were HIV-negative. Of those, 15 people received two of four planned doses of the investigational vaccine, and five received three doses. The trial was halted when one participant experienced an allergic reaction that was not life-threatening. The team found that the reaction was likely due to an additive in the vaccine, which they plan to remove in future testing.

Still, they found that two doses of the vaccine were enough to induce low levels of broadly neutralizing antibodies within a few weeks. Notably, B cells seemed to remain in a state of development to allow them to continue acquiring mutations, so they could evolve along with the virus. Researchers tested the antibodies on HIV samples in the lab and found that they were able to neutralize between 15 and 35 percent of them.

Jeffrey Laurence, a scientific consultant at the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, says the findings represent a step forward, but that challenges remain. “It outlines a path for vaccine development, but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” he says.

For one, he says, a vaccine would need to generate antibody levels that are significantly higher and able to neutralize with greater efficacy. He also says a one-dose vaccine would be ideal. “If you’re ever going to have a vaccine that’s helpful to the world, you’re going to need one dose,” he says.

Targeting more regions of the virus envelope could produce a more robust response. Haynes says the next step is designing a vaccine with at least three components, all aimed at distinct regions of the virus. The goal is to guide the B cells to become much stronger neutralizers, Haynes says. “We’re going to move forward and build on what we have learned.”

-via WIRED, May 17, 2024

[katiascraft]

"You should think about the consequence of your magnetic field being a little too strong" | LN4

Parings: Lando Norris x argentine!reader.

Summary: Your bestie Franco Colapinto is now an F1 driver for Williams Reacing Team. He flew you to the Austin Grand Prix in the USA. Little did you know you would blew one of the papaya boys' mind.

Now playing: "Gorgeous" by Taylor Swift.

Word count: +1,6k.

Warnings: use of Spanish. Pure fluff. Not a native English speaker so there could be errors. Not proofread.

Author's note: had this idea while going to uni and i found it so cute! I'm really needing Franco to stay forever in F1 🥹 I promise mate and pizza is the best! Don't forget to like or reblog! And follow me so we can be friemds :3 (and drink mate together!)

MASTERLIST

You were so excited to finally see your best friend shine in this world. You have always been with him through thick and thin. He trusted you blindly.

You arrived to the paddock with your mate and flask in hand. You couldn’t share your mate with Franco just in case. To protect his health before the race. So he had his as well. You were talking and laughing about memes and stuff you saw so he wouldn’t be so nervous and get lose.

You never felt so happy to be with him. You admired him so much. His strength in never give up to make his dreams come true knowing he had what is needed to shine in this sport. You’ve always loved formula one. Back home you loved spending the weekends at kartings or watching national races with your family. You love the adrenaline that gives you driving really fast. You met franco at the go karts when you were kids and since then you were inseparable. Both of your families were intimate.

“Para antes de que me dejes sola nos podemos sacar una foto? Mamá me pidió. Si no, se va a poner pesada” (you asked for a picture with him before he goes into the garage to do his driver thing - because your mom asked for one back from Argentina) you said to him giggling a little so you posed for a few pictures and even Alex got shot. You didn’t know he was behind trying to understand your conversation failing in each word. You all laughed and hugged your best friend tightly. You gave him a kiss on the cheek and hugged Alex too.

“Good luck guys! I know you’ll kill it! Love ya” you said happily waving at them while they got far from you. You poured more water into your mate and drunk it. You needed to wait for Lily so you stayed with Maria, Franco’s manager. You drank mate together talking for a while. Then Lily finally arrived back from the bathroom and you hugged her in response. You loved her. She was always so welcoming. It was so nice to finally meet in person. She is so fun to be around. And so polite. You already loved her.

“Are you hungry? Maybe we can go and have some pizza at the resto” she offered and you nodded.

You and Lily went into the resto and asked for the pizza you wanted. As a regular argentine - you walked everywhere with your mate and flask. You were to drink mate and have pizza. The best combination. Lily wasn’t so sure about it so she ordered a coke.

You chose a table there and sat down starting to talk about flights and people and gossip. There’s always gossip to talk about. English wasn’t hard on you because back home you were an English teacher. So you were fluid but of course you had a foreign accent.

While you and Lily were chatting. The waiter brought you the food and started eating. She was telling you everything about everybody you didn’t know. How the drivers were in real life and stuff. She said hi through the glass window in front of you so you looked where she did and there you saw your crush: Lando Norris. You smiled at him passing by. Didn’t say hi because you actually didn’t know him so you thought that maybe it was inappropriate.

Lando smiled back at Lily when she said hi. Immediately he saw this mistery girl he has never seen in his life here on the paddock. Oh god. He thought she was so beautiful. When she smiled back at him he felt his heart skip a beat. He never felt like this seeing someone for the first time. When he passed through the Williams building he looked at Oscar.

“Do you know who the girl with Lily was?” He asked curiously. Oscar denied with his head.

“I’ve actually have no idea mate. Maybe she is something of Franco. He is the new guy so maybe you know” he said while going up the stairs at the Mc Claren building. Lando nodded. But he thought about it from then. Your smile and your face were stuck in his head. He couldn’t ask Franco about it either because it could be misinterpreted.

(…)

After the race you were already a bit drunk from drinking beer. You were going crazy in excitement. Franco scored a point again! What an achievement. You really wanted him to get a seat for next year. He is ready. And he knows it. He is doing so well. And he is doing history for our country. When he came back to the garage you jumped at him, making him laugh. You were out of your mind. You congratulated him and kissed his face. He isn’t into hugs that much but he let you do it along with the rest of the team. Charles has won the race and oh boy! He was even more beautiful in person. You got a little shy about it. We could say you felt intimidated by the men driving.

You wanted to see the podium so you got out of the garage alone and tried to make your way to where the podium and celebration were to take place. You were texting like crazy to your friends and family, even Franco’s family. For that reason you weren’t looking where you were walking.

Lando was defeated. He was struggling finding a way of not being so harsh on himself. He got the chance and he didn’t know how it slipped through his fingers again. Oscar hugged him in support “everything’s okay mate. You did a great race. Next time it will be” he said trying to push his friend back up from the lose. He was texting his mum that couldn’t be there with him. He wasn’t looking where he was heading until he and somebody else crashed making both phones crash into the cement.

“Oh god im so so sorry” a feminine voice said that made him look up to see who she was. And in that moment he saw you. Worry all over your face. Cheeks red and you handing him his phone with the screen broken that you picked up from the floor rapidly. “I’m really sorry I didn’t see you. I can make it up. Tell me how much it costs to fix it and I’ll pay” she said and you just found it so cute. You were truly worried but he didn’t care about the phone. He could buy another one.

“Oh no no it’s fine really you don’t need to worry I didn’t see you either. What 's your name?” He said politely and sweetly, taking his phone back. You felt so ashamed. First time you come to an F1 race and you already broke lando’s phone. You felt so embarrassed.

“Really? My name is y/n. Nice to meet you by the way” you said turning red because his sight made you feel so flustered. He had the most beautiful eyes you have ever seen. And in person he was even more handsome that you could appreciate on Pinterest or tumblr. He licked his lips, nodding.

“Nice to meet you too y/n. I’m lando. Did I break your phone?”he asked sweetly. He couldn’t believe how beautiful you were and your voice. Oh he loved your voice and he didn’t even know why.

You denied “oh no it’s fine it’s just the screen. It’s nothing really” you said trying to make sure he didn’t worry about it. You could fix it back home.

La do saw the screen of your phone broken. He considered it was a huge damage “let me make it up to you. It 's on me okay? You’ll just need to give your number so we can talk about it” he said charmingly, probably not losing the opportunity of his life. Your heart started racing like crazy. You giggle shyly and nervous. He found you so gorgeous. He needed to know you. He even wanted to kiss you right there. He gave you his phone so you typed your number.

Y/n 🇦🇷. That was your name on his phone now. You gave it back to him. He smiled watching his screen.

“Oh, are you from Argentina? Is Franco your brother?” He asked to get crucial information. He would die if you were Franco’s girlfriend. He wouldn’t be able to take it. You were too beautiful.

You laughed a little “Nono he is my friend since we were kids but yeah I’m from Argentina. Franco invited me this weekend. My first ever F1 race” you told him. He smiled.

“Really? Is it your first? So sad you didn’t get to see me on the podium. I would've asked you to marry me up there. You’re gorgeous to be honest” he said and you almost died. Actually you thought your soul left your body for a moment.

“Oh wow thank you” you said flustered with a huge smile on your face looking at him nervously. “It is indeed really sad. I would’ve said yes to be honest. You’re gorgeous too, lando” yo said just like him playfully. “ I gotta see leclerc celebrate now but maybe next time we could get married alright? Nos vemos Lando. I’ll be waiting for your text. I’ll be cheering for you next weekend” you said quirky and gave him a kiss on his cheek to keep on walking to the podium.

He watched you leave his side completo stupid because you actually said you would marry him. He didn’t even know you but he already knew how amazing you were and how in love he already was.

The Latina charm he thought.

And of course he will text you. Right there he sent you a text.

“Hasta luego mujer bonita. Don’t forget to save my number like you already have my heart ;)”

It was cheesy. And he used the translator. But he would do anything to make you fall in love with him.

——————————————————————————————

You definitely need to try mate. It’s the best thing in the world I promise :3

Hope you liked it 💌 if you have any ideas my inbox is open so send your requests!

[neos127]

love is hard for park sunghoon (or is it?) — psh

office employee!sunghoon x fem!reader; genre. dating for convenience to real love, fluff notes. small drabble based on the manga ‘love is hard for otaku’ bc sunghoon gives nifuji vibes in these glasses!

otaku — is a japanese word that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers

sunghoon was positive that he was unlovable. he was a video game otaku who slaved away at his nine to five job and had rarely felt the touch of a woman. that was until you came along, like a bright ray of sunshine moving into his cloudy life. you were very different from him, loud and obnoxious at times with a very outgoing personality. sunghoon claimed that you weren’t his type, but the lie was long forgotten when he looked at your beaming smile and bright eyes.

for some reason that sunghoon couldn’t comprehend, you were interested in him. you talked to him first and were the reason behind the man becoming a flustered mess. sunghoon tried to tell you that being interested in him was a bad idea, his relationships never worked out because of his workaholic attitude and obsession with his handheld gaming device.

“you too? my past boyfriends never understood my obsession with mangas and idols. but it seems like you would!” you said, your voice twinged with excitement. after that you had basically proposed the idea of dating for convenience and oddly, sunghoon agreed. maybe it was because he was just lonely and severely touched starved— or maybe it was because your stunning smile made sunghoon’s heart skip a beat or two. he supposed if the two of you were dating for convenience, it wouldn’t be crazy to actually fall for one and other…right? he was your ‘boyfriend’ after all, it only made sense.

sunghoon couldn’t help himself. you were so understanding and you could relate to his lifestyle unlike people he dated in the past. you also never left sunghoon alone, even when he was furiously smashing the buttons on the controller of his gaming console. you would casually sit behind the man, legs thrown over his as you read your manga.

“you comfy back there?” sunghoon spoke up, readjusting his glasses and clearing his throat. he hoped that you couldn’t feel how hard his heart was beating or the way his body had become hotter under your touch.

“yeah i’m good.” you mumbled, a slight smile on your lips as you nuzzled the side of your face into his back. your eyes never left your manga and sunghoon could tell that you were highly invested.

“did you need anything?” you asked, surprised that sunghoon even spoke. whenever he played his game, he went silent. the only sounds that emitted from his mouth were annoyed grunts and a slew of curses.

sunghoon sighed and turned off his game, detaching himself from you to put his controller away. you whined at the loss of contact which soon turned into a gasp when sunghoon practically pounced on top of you. he took the manga from you, the book seeming so tiny in his large hands when he snapped it shut.

“m’sorry i’ve been neglecting you.” sunghoon mumbled, his glasses slowly sliding down his face. you pushed them up with your finger, smiling at the way they slid down his nose again.

“you don’t have to apologize. we decided to date because we understand how each other operates, is that not correct?” you asked, surprised that sunghoon decided to apologize. you felt it was unnecessary, you were just happy that he allowed you to be in his presence.

“but i want to. you’re…different from other girls I’ve been with…in a good way of course. and for some reason, that makes me actually want to give you my attention.” sunghoon explained, the delivery of his words sounding extremely awkward. you giggled, finding it amusing how inexperienced he was when it came to relationships, but you appreciated his honesty anyway.

“if that’s your way of saying that you’re attracted to me— then I feel the same.” you said, reaching up to mess with sunghoon’s hair. he caught your hand mid air, bringing it back down to his lap before playing with your fingers.

“yeah um, i am positive that i’ve fallen for you. i know we only dated for convenience but, i really do like being in a relationship with you.” sunghoon confessed, avoiding eye contact with you. using your free hand, you grabbed his chin, turning the man’s face to look at yours.

“i really like being in a relationship with you too, hoon.” you replied, a small smile on your face. sunghoon was sure he would’ve combusted on the spot due to the way your nickname for him rolled so easily off your tongue. the man had never felt such emotions before and he was surprised by how much of a hold you had on him. he was sure that he would get down on his knees and beg for you— if you wanted him to jump, he would ask ‘how high?’.

sunghoon smiled, an actual real smile where you could see his adorable fangs. you hadn’t seen much of the expression before, but at that moment you concluded that it was your favorite thing in the world.

“can i kiss you, sunghoon?” you asked timidly, watching as the man’s eyes widened behind the frames of his glasses.

“yeah…yeah of course you can.” he answered, his heartbeat picking up the pace by a tenfold. you smiled at his nervousness, leaning over to place a hesitant kiss on his lips. before you could pull away, sunghoon grabbed the back of your head, holding you in place as he deepened the kiss and forced you to open your mouth a bit more. you let out a low whine, the sound going straight to sunghoon’s gut. he shivered against your body, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you into his lap.

“what are you doing to me?” sunghoon groaned once he pulled away, moving his face to hide in your neck. you chuckled and patted the top of his head.

“it’s just my charm. only a select few can see it so, congratulations! you’re special!” you explained, playfully tapping the man on his nose. he scrunched it up cutely, letting out a small chuckle at your enthusiasm.

“yeah, lucky me.” sunghoon mumbled, his voice monotone as ever. to most people, it may have sounded sarcastic and as if he didn’t actually mean it. but sunghoon’s lovesick eyes said otherwise…and you knew sunghoon better than most people.

©neos127

[therandompagesblog]

Hunting Your Soul Chapter 6 🫀Y/N🫀

Trigger Warnings: Stalking, manipulation, self pleasure, orgasm

Could a stalker be seen as sweet? Caring? Attentive? Or, were these things I imagined as the days went on? Chan's nature had changed. He was filled less with riddles and more with statements. Statements of truth. He was going to take me. I knew that much. I knew I was going to be turned into a monster that lived in the darkness. When, was my question, but he never answered. Chan always answered my other questions. My questions about his feelings toward me. They were vague yet unexplainable. He always referred to me as his. That I was meant to be his. That my heart was his. It was an animalistic description. One that frightened me but didn't. Every time I was frightened or worried he would mask it with care. Kindness. Chan never directly spoke to me. Only through words on a screen. Otherwise, he would shower me with gifts. Flowers, pyjamas, iced cinnamon buns. It was a generational romance. Texting. Never to be seen. I hated it. I hated the waiting game. I wanted to see him. I wanted to see what he looked like. I wanted to see his cold gaze, pressing into me. I wanted him to consume me. Feed off me. They were stupid desires. Reckless even. They were thoughts and feelings I gained over the course of three days. Three pitiful days and I was craving him. The only nuisance was he slept during the day. It was Inconvenient for me and I wanted him to know that. I wanted him to pay for it. Pay for the ways he was making me feel. I wanted to play his game. Me: I want to hear your voice. Chan: If you're a good little flower for me. I will. Me: Fine. I'll suffer then. Chan: Careful with that attitude. I have to work today. Be patient.

I rolled my eyes in frustration hitting the bed. I was annoyed at myself. At him for making me feel this way. I should feel sickened, but I wasn't. Chan gave me no reason to. The only thing he did was text, call or watch. He wasn't really stalking either. He was too quiet to be a stalker. Too quiet. Too careful. He was harmless in the eyes of the law. A report would do nothing to him. He was untraceable. He wasn't even real. If I did report him, the police would tell me they could not do anything until something happened. Until the harassment escalated. I could report his number, but all Chan would have to do was get another and he would still keep texting. Calling. But if he was a monster, then he was invincible. He was deadly. Very deadly. And right now that was hot. And I was hormonally hot. It was despicable yet erotic to have a watcher. It was something that kept my mind preoccupied as I started to have sick fantasies. Fantasies about his deep voice. The voice that burned into my soul. Fantasies of his touch and the way he would feel. It was already a catastrophic downfall. I was damned for him and I did not care. I did not care in the way I wanted him to suffer too. I wanted him to feel my frustration at his lack of communication. His lack of verbal communication. His lack of physical communication. His–his lack of presence. I shuddered at the thought of meeting him soon. My body shivered at the thought of his face. His touch. I wondered more about his musky smell. I wanted to smell him again. Throwing my head back with a sigh. I closed my eyes, thinking about faceless hands. Touching me. Guiding me softly. I wondered if the monster had fangs or claws. Or both. Would they cut into my body deep or scratch the surface? My body was starting to get hot as I thought about the blank kisses trailing across my skin. An irrational thought crept across my mind. I wanted to phone him. Force him to listen to my arousal like he forced my emotions to yearn for him. It was a sick and twisted idea but my hormones were everywhere, and considering he stole my tampons. A little moan was the icing on a sweet cinnamon bun. My hand found its way into my trousers. Slowly touching myself as I felt my body getting hotter. I reached for my bedside to grab my silicone vibrator and turned it on. I allowed the vibrating sensations to toy against my clothed folds. My back arched as I pressed harder against my clothed clit, thrashing. I stopped. Smirking to myself as I looked at my reflection. I took my clothes off and spread myself open. Open for him. A stranger. I pressed the toy against my clit. Circling slowly as my hand reached for my phone. I slid the toy across my folds. Then back up to my sensitive bud. I thrashed. Whimpering away. I looked at my phone. Clicking on Chan's number. His phone went straight to voicemail. The beep sent my devious arousal into new heights. "Chan... Ch-chan." I whimpered loudly. Louder than I normally would. I clicked the button. Speeding it up as I arched myself. Allowing the state of bliss to watch over me. Then it came. The dread. The fear. I fucked up. I incredibly fucked up. I could feel it deep within my warm bones as I waited for him.

18+ Taglist for those who are not turning back

@catlove83 @itsyourleilei @whatudowhennooneseesyou @leeknot @estella-novella @fackeraccount @eastjonowhere @cocofia143 @jennibahng @noerinspace @sleepingmissingprincess @ye0lkkot @hiitsmebbygrl16 @shhimhereforsmut @jaeminie-cricket @stayceebs97 @ritiiiiiii @chlodavids @beautystarry @hyunjinhoexxx @hash2013 @jeonginontopforever @catnipchannie @kaqua @fairy-lixie @myflowercloud @galaxy4489 @velvetmoonlght

[ruewrote]

𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒.

PAIRING: wally clark x fem!reader WARNINGS: mentions of death & panic attacks GENRE: angst SONG INSPIRATION: waves by dean lewis WORD COUNT: 1.1k

navigation | ask | wally clark masterlist

you never had many great experiences with making friends in the prior life never mind the former. for most of it you kept to yourself.

wally was one of the first people that you met after it happened. he welcomed you with open arms on one of the hardest days of your entire existence and you couldn't have been more appreciative of him.

you had accidentally died in 2019.

your death was quite tragic.

getting pushed through the sea of people that walked through the stadium, this was already way too much human contact then you signed up for, but how could you say no to the tall blonde that had invited you to the game.

eyes searching for any spare seats at the bottom of the bleachers, your hands digging deeper into the pockets of the oversized hoodie that flowed around your frame. already feeling completely out of place as an introvert, but even more so when you were one of the few not wearing the school colours.

keeping your head down as you proceeded up the metal steps, people accidentally shoulder barging you as you did.

finally getting to the top stair as a large gust of wind blew past you. grabbing a hold of the railing, your breath stuck in the back of your throat as you shuffled carefully over to the seats.

the sound of the loud pre-game shouts from the cheerleaders, to the jocks warming up, it all felt a bit too much. your mouth dry, throat pinching finding it hard to breath as you clawed at your chest, suddenly not able to regulate your breathing.

more people walking up the steps made the temporary flooring wobble. you walked further and further back to make room until it was too late and you were falling, very fast, almost too fast.

screaming out for any type of help, but it was too late. everything went black. no one heard you screams, drowned out by the crowd cheered as the game started. sadly your body was only discovered after the game had finished.

at first you spent a lot of your days in the same place that you died in, trying to shout out to investigators, to anyone. no one could hear you, this couldn't be happening.

giving up on yelling, you huffed as you plopped yourself down on the grass, rethinking everything that happened that night.

you would've still been alive if you hadn't agreed to go.

no you hadn't had any major life changing events in the near future but it was still way too early, you were only seventeen.

a couple of sleepless nights had gone by, you felt numb. empty.

angry at how everything was so perfectly peaceful. your parents were distraught, you watched how they were stood so apart, your dad looking sad and your mother looking angry.

you didn't want them to be upset. as much as you had your ups and downs with them and there still being so many things left unsaid, they were still your parents and seeing their relationship fall apart because of your death pained you. all you could do was sit back and watch.

you felt stupid for saying that you felt alone when you were alive because now you were well and truly alone here... wherever you were.

"beautiful day, isn't it?" a male voice from beside you spoke but you stayed silent, continuing to the pick at the edge of your nails assuming it was just one of the police officers talking to their men.

"nope? okay understandable."

glancing over to the person who sat beside you. eyebrows scrunched together, eyes narrowed. is he talking to me?

the brunette slid his sunglasses down his nose, squinting as the sun shone down bright onto the two of you.

"it's rude to stare ya know?" his eyes focused on yours, waiting for an answer but you were completely stunned.

"you can see me? no fucking way!" you quickly pushed yourself up from where you were sat, smiling giddily.

"wait..."

there was only one way to make sure that this was real, cautiously reaching your hand out and poked him with your index finger. you were met with his skin.

"ouch! that hurts you know." he exclaimed, pretending to be pain, pouting as he rubbed the same spot you touched.

"it is so good to finally speak to someone, i thought i was alone in this terrible place."

"i'm y/n! what's your name?" you held out your hand for him, he took it and instead of shaking it, he flipped yours over and placed a kiss upon it.

from then on you two were inseparable. whether it would be just eating together or watching living teenagers do stupid shit, laughing your asses off doing so.

sometimes you'd just lay smack bang in the centre of the football stadium, stargazing. it became a daily occurrence since ghosts didn't actually need sleep.

throughout the years you had a lot of time to spend together. that also meant that it gave you a lot of time to think, which wasn't necessarily a good thing.

the times you spent alone were torture, the silence getting too loud.

now you were sat in the school library, laying on top of one of the shelves, feet swaying back and forth before meeting with the wood. the clock ticked away and so did the sound of scribbling of studying students.

you had spent so much time in this place that it had become a some type of home to you, times like this when you'd reminisce on the memories wasn't always a great idea.

you worried a lot.

knowing that one day you're gonna pass over and that he's gonna pass over scared you. you never really thought about it. losing him all together? it felt impossible.

your chest felt tight, sitting up panicking. you hadn't been by yourself through a panic attack since your accident.

jumping off of the bookshelf, gasping for air. trying to remember the counting technique that wally had taught you, falling to your knees now hyperventilating when you heard echoed shouts from beside you.

it felt like you were underwater, your chest screaming for some sort of relief.

it wasn't until you felt two familiar large hands cup your cheeks, their thumbs wiping away the tears that had once streamed down your cheeks. tilting your face to be met with wally's, his beautiful brown eyes full of concern.

that's when you felt your chest untighten, breathing became much easier as you followed his deep, evened out breaths.

he pulled you into his lap, one hand wrapped securely around your waist as one caressed your hair. your ear pressed against his chest, hearing the rapid beat of his heart.

staying like that helped, him holding you helped.

squeezing your eyes tightly shut, trying to savour this moment. his shirt bunched firmly in your fist.

© ruewrote.

[makeyoumine69]

My Lovely Detective VII

PAIRING: Patrick Bateman x Fem!Detective!OC

CO-WRITER: @iron-flavored-lipgloss

CONTAINS: NSFW, master/pet dynamics, dirty talk, implied BDSM, pet names, brat taming, humiliation and maybe something else :D

WORDS: 2.2k

A/N: Hello everyone! Please forgive us for the long wait, we have been quite busy lately. Enjoy the new chapter!

LINKS: [MASTERLIST]; [SERIES MASTERLIST]; [AO3].

In My Twisted Era

Buying clothes for Andrea had become one of the few and all the more unexpected pleasures in Patrick Bateman's life. With Evelyn it had been absolutely horrible (she had her very own taste), and not even Courtney would have agreed to wear such skimpy, if not downright whorish clothes. But Andrea couldn't really refuse, she just had to show whatever sexy little excuse of an outfit Patrick was currently in love with. And for tonight's special occasion, there was no other woman he would rather have on a leash. 

"I told you, this is no ordinary party. This is the dress code, and you will not bring your prudish sense of style into it."

The woman was wearing a very expensive set of lingerie, which he had deliberately made a little too tight to make her tits look even fuller, showing off every curve in a way that would surely make any other man jealous. The heels were also painfully impractical, probably the highest shoes Andrea had ever owned, and against her will it made her cling even tighter to Patrick's arm, needing stability. 

All he had to do was tug on the sturdy little leash attached to her choker and Andrea would stumble right into his arms or fall to her knees—another idea that drove Bateman a little crazy, so he tried not to think about it right now. Patrick himself, of course, was dressed very differently, showing off his finest tuxedo, but pretending that there was nothing humiliating about Andrea being almost naked under her new big fur coat—that coat she was now forced to take off in the checkroom.

"It's very warm inside. Real candlelight," one of the ladies in charge explained emphatically to Andrea and then winked playfully at Patrick.  Andrea, who in her blushing anger only looked delightfully innocent to these professionals, who had never experienced the perversions of an elite motto party like this. "One more thing—we have to check for any weapons."

That was ridiculous, of course—where would Andrea hide a weapon? Under her elegant Colombina mask?  No, this was one of the few rules tonight to ensure everyone's privacy. But everything else was a part of the game, like the female cloakroom attendant groping Andrea. She squeezed her tits a little and pulled her lace thong down, as if to check if she had a gun shoved up her pussy. 

"Hush darling, let it happen," Bateman whispered in her ear, just loud enough for the other woman to buy their supposed relationship and notice the shiver running through Andrea's body as a pleasant side effect.

Annoyed, Andrea tried not to scoff and spat in the attendant's face as her hands resumed their shameless exploration of her body. "One more move and I'll break your fucking fingers," she hissed as the woman bent down to her neck, her lips almost touching the detective's throat. "Understand?"

Unaware of Andrea's words, Patrick leered as he enjoyed the scene unfolding before him. Oh, how often had he imagined himself having fun with Andrea and another woman. Tonight all his fantasies could come true, he would do anything for it.

The attendant suddenly backed away, almost bumping into Bateman, but he managed to step away at the last moment. Scowling, Andrea adjusted her lingerie, looking aggressive and very angry. 'If only I could rip these clothes off,' the woman thought, looking around to assess the situation. There were a lot of people, a lot of rich, depraved people who were definitely sick and immoral. Patrick's cheeky chuckle caught Andrea's attention again—the woman who had shamelessly groped her a moment ago was now busy inspecting Bateman, and judging by his reaction, the man was enjoying the process.

"Have a nice evening, Mister." The woman murmured before pecking Patrick's cheek and slipping something into his jacket pocket. 

Frowning in disgust, Andrea wanted to use this as a chance to escape, but as she turned to see the exit, another couple walked in. A black haired man was holding a blonde girl on a leash who was crawling on all fours like a dog. This was already too much for Detective Moore, more than too much.

When Patrick had finished with the bitchy cloakroom lady, he grabbed Andrea's wrist and forced her to follow him further into the house. "I... I don't feel well," the brown-haired woman said as they moved through the noisy crowd of people, most of them already naked but still wearing their masks. "Can... Can I use the bathroom?"

'This party is the chance I've been waiting for,' the idea came to her faster than she could move, as she slipped through the groups of rich yuppies and their pocket whores. 'I should escape. Otherwise I won't make it tomorrow.'

"We've barely arrived," Patrick muttered, slightly annoyed, before he seemed to think of something—his mood changed again. "But I guess my poor girl was so nervous, she couldn't help it." He was playing that role again, the caring and generous lover—only the arrogance of his smile betrayed his true nature. "We'll look for a bathroom on the way."

One hand firmly on the leash, the other boldly wrapped around her waist, Andrea couldn't help but follow him deeper into what seemed to be a temple of hedonistic desire. The high, dark walls and even the ceiling were adorned with various framed nude paintings that would have been tasteful under any other circumstances, but here, in this place, they only added to the sinister atmosphere—along with those suspicious noises of unknown origin echoing through the hallways, a seemingly endless number of them branching off to the left and right of the main corridor. 

Bizarre shadows dancing on the walls and the beguiling scent of musk and sandalwood followed Patrick and Andrea, as well as dozens of other couples. Some women balanced on their stilettos like Andrea, others crawled on the floor, it was hard not to step on their fingers.

And finally, a glamorous ballroom awaited them, with chandeliers hanging down, the lights dimmed naturally, and sensual jazz sounds played by a live band. There were several champagne towers and a buffet table so large it could have fed the entire homeless population of New York, yet girls in short maid dresses carried trays of drinks and snacks through the flow of muted conversation. 

There seemed to be too much of everything, but "it's just the entrance hall," Patrick assured Andrea, smiling at the couple next to him, exchanging brief nods with the other man and thus showing respect for each other.

"First time here?"

"It is, for her." 

Patrick squeezed Andrea's shoulder, but his gaze remained on the young woman lounging on the floor, caressing her male companion's leg and looking up at him with large, dilated pupils. 

"You like her?" The broad grin that appeared beneath the stranger's mask suggested that he was not annoyed by the attention his girl was receiving—quite the opposite. 

"Well, I can't lie ... she seems very well-behaved."

'And she's very blonde and busty, too. Although Andrea's tits look even better.'

"Yeah, you're a good little kitty, aren't you, Jessica?"

Patrick watched the woman, apparently Jessica, in utter fascination as she rubbed her cheek on this guy's shoes and told him, "Yes, Master."

It was a very strange mixture of affection and obedience—basically the opposite of Andrea. 

"I assume you didn't come for the food. Although..." They cast an odd glance at another group of men lined up around a girl smeared with cream. 

"Not exactly. Andrea's not quite there yet."

As they left this hall of the gluttonous, Jessica simply followed, but when it came to Andrea, Patrick had to pull hard on her leash first. Any protest died in her throat as Andrea had to gasp for air instead.

"A brat, huh? Charming little hot blood..."

"I don't share her with men." Patrick wasn't even sure how those words had come out so quickly and clearly - Evelyn having an affair had never bothered him. 

'And it's not like I care about Andrea ethier!'

But the thought of this stranger (who was about as tall as he was and looked very fit to boot) fucking Andrea made him feel sick. 

"Oh, not me. But my little Jessica likes to play with girls. So maybe..."

 And of course that sounded much more appealing to Patrick.

Andrea swallowed hard, a shiver running down her spine at the thought of being involved with another woman. There was no way Bateman was considering it, but when he approached the bitch named Jessica and leaned down to stroke her cheek, something inside the detective tightened like a spring.

"Now, now," Patrick crooned as Jessica tried to kiss his hand. "You're a playful one, aren't you?"

The owner just chuckled, completely unbothered by the fact that another man was touching his girl, and it made Andrea almost vomit, but instead of making a scene, she decided to play along and get Bateman's attention back. 

Quickly, the brunette stepped back so that the leash in Patrick's hand tightened, forcing him to look back at his pet. "Hey," Bateman barked in a threatening tone, pulling on the leash to bring Andrea closer until she was level with him. "Behave yourself," he pointed an index finger at her, knitting his perfectly sculpted eyebrows. "Otherwise you'll..."

Patrick froze, the words stuck in his throat like a lump as Andrea wrapped her plump lips around his finger and sucked on it with pure devotion. Another couple seemed hypnotized by the scene as the lewd aura of Bateman and his lovely detective consumed them like a fog.

"And I thought you wanted to play with me first," Andrea purred after releasing Patrick's finger. "We don't need anyone else."

"Is that so?" Bateman murmured back, his pupils dilating by the second as he watched Andrea nestle against his large palm. "Or are you just jealous?"

Patrick nuzzled the detective's neck and cupped her ass possessively, eliciting a soft moan from her lips. Andrea even forgot the couple next to them, the place they were now, she forgot everything. Just one bite was enough to bring down her defenses. That man, dear God, that man was a devil in the flesh. Disappointed and absolutely jealous, Jessica reached out to touch Bateman again, but her master wouldn't let her, tugging at the leash and forcing her to stay still. Andrea couldn't hide her pleasure at seeing this poor little bitch suffer, even though she felt terrible about having to act so damn lewd. 'I must have completely lost my mind.' 

Satisfied and sated, Patrick pulled away from Andrea to turn and wink at Jessica, making sure the detective didn't see it. "It was a pleasure to meet you," Bateman nodded to the stranger and his submissive. "Have a good evening."

With that, Bateman tightened his grip on the leash and made Andrea follow him. It felt like the party was getting even more crowded, female moans, male groans and seductive giggles blending into a wicked cacophony of sounds; Andrea's head was spinning from the strong scent of the aroma candles. 

"Where are we going?" Andrea asked suddenly as they turned another corner and walked down the dimly lit hallway. "Patrick?"

The man didn't answer, speeding up as if they were being chased. But by whom?

The woman could feel her heart pounding so painfully against her chest that it was hard to breathe, but when they reached their destination, Andrea felt weak in her knees. With a smug grin on his handsome face, Bateman opened the door, and the first thing Andrea saw were several large chains attached to the ceiling, holding what looked like a leather seat. Speechless, the woman took an uncertain step before Patrick placed his hand on the small of her back, urging her to get in. Once inside, a soft click of the door echoed through the small room with dark walls and intimate lighting. 

God, what was this place?

"Is it... some kind of torture chamber?" Andrea asked, looking around in complete shock. "Why... Why are we here?"

It took Patrick only a little effort to push Andrea's body into the leather seat, the woman still too stunned by her new surroundings and his quick movements. 

"You know, you could have told me earlier. That you want me all alone..." He leaned down, his left and right hands grasping at the attached chains, trapping Andrea close to him. 

There seemed to be no escape from those eyes—hypnotic and so hungry, a dangerous desire radiating from each of his smooth movements. If just the look could kill. If eyes could devour...

Andrea couldn't help but shiver.

"You're sweating, dear." His thumb began to stroke her forehead, caressing her cheek in a light gesture that would seem so uncharacteristically tender if she didn't know him better. Beneath the surface of this controlled seduction, he is the same beast as always.  "That feeling... you know the one. The one that makes your heart race and your fingers tremble, just like this." His hand now ran down her naked arm, rubbing circles of false comfort over her goosebumps. 

Down to Andrea's wrist, that vulnerable spot where the veins shimmered purple through her skin and her artery pulsed rapidly under the dull pressure of his thumb. She was alive, and that made him feel alive in a way that no words could express. 

"Is it fear or...? Are you so excited for me?"

P.S. Thank you for reading until the end! You can follow my side blog @makeyoumineagain and my amazing co-writer @iron-flavored-lipgloss and turn on notifications to know when we update!

[theoreticalfishsticks]

Warhammer 40k x Spider-Person!Reader

Sorry if this is cringe, but the autism got to me and I am physically incapable of not wanting to smash my current favorite medias together like a tyrannical toddler making their dolls kiss.

I purposefully kept it vague on exactly which legion found them and whether it was pre or post-heresy, cause I think, going forward if I write more, I'd like to jump around and just write for whoever, whenever suits my fancy, lol. This is meant more as an introduction of the concept than anything else.

Reader is non-binary because I said so.

divider from @/enchanthings

Word Count: 1929

If someone had told you this morning that by the end of the day you’d be yearning for the comforting embrace of a back alley dumpster, you’d have called them crazy. But, alas, here you are: your suit in tatters, surrounded by the stench of foreign exhaust and something sickeningly biological, about to be absolutely eviscerated by some dude who looks like he just crawled out of Doctor Octavius’ worst nightmares.

Now, one might ask ‘how’ exactly you found yourself in this situation. And it would be a fair question! Really! Unfortunately, fair as it is, you don't actually have a proper answer, yourself.

‘Why’ you ended up here, however, was relatively simple: You’re the one and only Huntsman. A friendly neighborhood spider-person, looking out for their community. And most recently, what exactly your community needed you to be looking out for was a symbiote, loose in the city. 

Too bad, then, that lady luck must have had a bone to pick with you that day.

Because following an embarrassingly long chase of the damned thing through the New York City sewer system, the hungry, hungry parasite just so happened to stumble upon one of Os Corps. many, many underground research facilities. Seriously, why do they have so many of these things? One that apparently – based on what is to come – must have been deep in the midst of research on some form of teleportation or another. 

Long-story-short: In your desperate attempts to not be grabbed and eaten by an ornery symbiote, you may have stopped paying attention to what exactly was behind you whilst evading the weird alien goop. And what would you know? One careless dodge (and a near comically late tingle in your bones from your spidey sense) and a stray shot of said goop managed to hit and set off Os Corps’ latest and greatest affront to humanity!

BOOM! 

In the blink of an eye your entire world had been rendered to naught but blinding light, sharp pain in every inch of your body and a ringing in your ears that, in the moment, felt like it was going to be permanent. 

You really can't be sure how long you were trapped like that; your consciousness suspended, unable to gauge the passage of time, nor feel your material surroundings. It felt like a lifetime. But, then again, you have been known to be a little bit dramatic from time to time, so who knows.

What you do know for sure was that it ended. The feeling of being suspended, that it. And the light. The pain, of course, stayed. As did the incessant ringing. 

If you had to describe the feeling, you'd say it felt almost like your bones were in the process of trying to evacuate your body. Like there wasn't enough space in you, for you. It was agony. 

But, worse than the pain, you just felt… Wrong. As though your eyes had been pulled out and put back in the wrong sockets. Your tongue was the wrong texture. Your teeth were upside down. Your liver was too smooth. And a thousand other minute sensations that couldn't be real flooded your body. 

At least, you hoped to God they weren't real.

Lucky for you though, you didn't have much time to dwell on the uncanny sensation, as a clawed metal appendage descended from somewhere above you to close tightly around your throat. Your body felt like it was on fire as you were hefted up from the ground by your neck. Another claw grasped at your head and tugged away what was left of your mask.

You want to reach out and snatch it back. You want to struggle and kick and scream. But you can't. You can't will yourself to move at all as your eyes snap open at last, and you come face to face with without a doubt the most horrific monstrosity you've ever seen.  

Though now a putrid blending of flesh and machine, the thing before you looks as though it might have been human at one point. But that point was far from now. Now, what skin you can see is sallow and sunken, with veins protruding all across it. It has what looks like a gas mask embedded into its face and where the flesh meets metal is layered in inflamed, gnarled scarring.

Mercifully, however, its face is all you can clearly see. The rest is hidden beneath a rather ostentatious looking robe, disguising what you can only imagine to be equally horrific means of attachment for the several mechanical appendages that flow from it. Including, of course, the one currently choking the life out of you.

For a long moment you can only stare at the thing in front of you, gaping like an idiot, before you finally register that its horrid mask is moving. It's talking to you.

At least, you assume it is. Though, now declined significantly in volume, you still struggled to make out anything through the ringing.

You try to say as much, to tell the nightmare that you couldn't understand it. But it seems as though you weren't successful, if the violent, impatient shake the creature gave you in response was any indication. Or maybe your meaning came across fine and the thing was just an asshole. Both seemed possible. 

At last, the ringing begins to fade more or less and you could scrounge together two whole brain cells to rub together and bring your mind into focus.

“Intruder. Identify yourself,” the creature demanded, its voice horrifically garbled and interspersed with high-pitched whirring.

You’d love to do so, if only you could actually take in the air required to make noise. This hurdle, however, seemed to be lost on the mechanical horror before you, leaving you to squirm helplessly in its grasp whilst pawing at the claw around your throat in the hopes that it would get the message. 

“Magos, release your hold. They cannot speak if you’re obstructing their airway,” comes a low voice from somewhere to your right, rumbling through the air at a frequency you register as strange, to say the least. The words aren’t shouted, but they carry the same weight as though they were. 

You’re immediately and unceremoniously dropped by the “Magos��” and allowed to crumple to the ground with a dull thud. 

Sputtering and coughing as you desperately suck in some much needed oxygen, you’re finally able to turn your gaze to the man who’d probably just saved your life, for now anyway…

...

‘What. The. Fuck.’

The sight that greets you is not one, not two, but three, absolute behemoths, all in armor so bulky you struggle to wrap your head around the idea that it can move at all, staring straight through you.

'Is literally everyone here some kind of fucked up weirdo?'

They stand in a triangular formation, two flanking the one taking point, who you can only assume must be the one who spoke. The rear guard both sport guns that look to be the size of your torso, trained directly on you. 

“Now that you’ve caught your breath, identify yourself,” says the central figure, his voice rolling over you like thunder rolls over a storm. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, a familiar tingle running up your spine. 

'He’s human, for sure,' you think to yourself, 'But only in the sense that I am too.'

Between still ragged gasps, you manage to spit out your name. You decide to give both your real one and your alias, sensing that now is not the time to play coy.

The man repeats your name back at you, testing the syllables on his tongue. It doesn’t look like he likes them. “I’ve never heard such a name, nor of the title ‘Huntsman’ on any of the worlds nearby. Where do you come from,” he asks you.

‘Worlds nearby…?’  That doesn’t bode well for any hopes of an easy road home.

“Uhhh, Earth,” you squeak, though it sounds more like a question than you’d like. 

“‘Earth?’ Do you mean Terra? That's nonsense, there is no–” he begins to respond in a vaguely irate tone. 

And you panic. 

You’re tired and confused and in so much pain. And the idea that this man might just kill you over a misunderstanding eats away at whatever remaining self control you had. 

So while cutting him off probably isn’t the greatest move, that’s exactly what you do. “Not your earth! At least, I don’t think it is,” you say, tripping over some of the syllables in your haste.

It’s a safe bet. Nothing around you looks familiar. They’re calling Earth(?) ‘Terra.’ Whether or not it's even tangentially the same world doesn’t really matter to you right now. Right now, you just need them to hear you out. To understand that whatever trespass you’ve committed was an accident and that you would also prefer you weren’t here right now. 

“I-I…,” you stop and close your eyes, forcing yourself to take a couple deep breaths to try and steady yourself. He hasn’t ordered his men to shoot and he seems to be waiting for you to continue; and for now that’s enough for you to draw courage from.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, man. I don’t know how I got here either. At least, not in a quantifiable way…,” another breath, “I was in the vicinity of a misfire of a prototype teleportation device,” You decide to keep the true extent of your ignorance to yourself. These men don’t seem like the type to take kindly to it. For now, you just had to settle on what seemed most likely and sell it. “The thing was wildly unstable, and based on the fact that absolutely nothing I have seen in the last few minutes is even vaguely familiar to me, I’m pretty sure that space is probably not the only thing that machine moved me through.”

“Expound.” Still not dead, that’s encouraging.

“Well–Uh, You said that you hadn’t heard of me ‘on any of the worlds nearby,’ right? That implies regular space travel. And well, I know for damn sure that humans are not space-faring where I’m from! At least, not like this,” you give a vague gesture to your surroundings, “So, if I know that shouldn’t be possible where I’m from, but the abject reality before me says it is, I feel like it’s a perfectly fair assumption to say that I must then not be in the same time as I was previously. I mean, space and time are inherently enmeshed with one another, right? So, it’s really not that hard to imagine that a faulty spacial teleporter might invite temporal displacement as well...” You’re out of breath again by the time you’ve finished your nervous rambling.

The man just looks at you. They all do. The weight of their combined gaze makes you feel like an insect trapped beneath their thumb. 

You hate this. You miss your mask.

You never were any good at schooling your expressions. So you can only imagine what a pitiful, deer-in-the-headlights-esk look you must be giving them in return for their own utterly unphased, emotionless ones.

(Though, looking back on it later, you’ll come to appreciate that it was probably the guileless nature of your expression that actually saved you here.)

After a long pause, the man sighs and at least half of the tension previously present in the room dissipates. “So you’ve never heard of the Imperium of Man before, then?”

“The what of Man?”

[girl4music]

I love the contrasting colours and tones and textures in Arcane for Zaun’s Undercity and Piltover’s Topside.

Zaun is Cyberpunk. It’s all technicolour and neon.

(Cold colours and tones and textures)

Piltover is Steampunk. It’s all pastel and metallic.

(Warm colours and tones and textures)

It demonstrates visually very effectively the colossal stark and striking differences between the twin cities. The political ideologies and economical environments its people live in and by and the laws they all adhere to.

Topside is posh and prestigious but it all feels fake. No one says what they mean and means what they say and the population would sell each other out in a heartbeat.

Undercity is violent and dirty but there’s solidarity here and the people stand by each other as if they’re family because they know how hard it is to survive in the pits.

Undercity is constantly ravaged by terrorism, plague and addiction due to the poor financial climate and Topside have so much of everything they could ever want but they’re just throwing it away as if it means nothing. It’s a really honest depiction of segregation.

And don’t think I missed the fact that most Zaunites are minorities like Black/POC, queer or disabled. That must be intentional because it’s something I realized quickly because even though our protagonist Zaunites that are human are white (Jinx and Silco’s grey coloured skin tones notwithstanding) most of the ones you see really struggling are not. And the rest of them aren’t human.

And then on Topside, you do see some Black/POC, queer and disabled characters but they’re not native to Piltover. They’re either a Zaunite too who got a lucky break or they’re from some other city in the Universe.

It REALLY stands out what they were trying to do here and yet this show is popular with both conservative watchers and liberal ones. That’s a really good thing because it means both sides of the coin are privy to the intentional division and corruption of political and economical warfare that’s so boldly painted in Arcane from what you see in the visuals alone, never mind plot.

And it’s really clever because there’s no labelling on it.

There’s no contextualization of what’s Right or Left, Blue or Red, Republican or Democrat. There sides but there’s no relation contextually to real life terms and definitions other than the subjective experiences and observations that are the symbolism for those things.

And why would there be? It’s supernatural/fantasy.

None of it is the reality. Yet it is resonant, is it not?

Well done animators! I picked this up quickly but I’m not the intended audience that really needs to see it because I already know and understand this shit well. But you can see that it is intentional that they did this.

They showed you the poverty and they showed you the wealth and they let you decide on which you want to root for. But if you’ve really took the show in visually and thematically, you naturally would root for both cities. You’d naturally want both to prosper and be at peace because you can clearly see that both have severe problems and are very unhappy with the civil unrest regardless of who has it better or who has it worst.

Bringing magic and the supernatural in general into the mix all the more just proves that this is a piece of TV art/entertainment that knows how to use metaphor and symbolism to great effect because it resonates well. Art will always resemble real life and real life will always resemble art because all we’re doing is just telling OUR stories but leaving out the lexicon of language that only ever distorts, distracts and deceives from experience.

It doesn’t matter what you call it or how you define it - you see it, you hear it and you feel it. You experience it.

Arcane is exceptional storytelling and representation because it resonates enough with us to make us move the obstacles that get in the way of being only human.

TV art/entertainment of the supernatural/fantasy kind always has a reach that no non-supernatual/fantasy art/entertainment ever can and it’s because we use it for escapism from our reality. We use it as our hideaway. Only to find that all it’s doing is recontextualizing it, subverting it or even outright parodying it. We’re not escaping reality. We’re just learning to tolerate what frustrates or even torments us because it’s more fun when it’s not us - not our world - not our people that has to face the drama. But at the end of the day, the only reason why we love it so much is because we self-insert it. We subconsciously look for characters, themes and narratives that relate to and resonate with us. That represent us as expressions of who and what we are - what and who we most care about, what we aspire to - what drives us as a human being on Earth right now.

The most successful TV art/entertainment does this intentionally but they do not let on as to why they do.

Your job as the observer is to find out the why as you watch it, report - and the cycle repeats all over again.

That is how art/entertainment is and always should be. If it isn’t, then give up on it. They’re not doing it for you.

But you’ll add to their sales week revenue regardless.

It is EXTREMELY RARE nowadays to get both great storytelling and great representation in one creative product or project. Don’t take Arcane for granted and do what you can to make sure it continues to provide and deliver the quality that it has done for 2 seasons because Netflix are fucking ruthless. They’re the type of network/streaming service company that believe if they don’t see insane immediate numbers - then they’ll axe it and pretend as if it never even existed in the first place. But Arcane is worth the effort. If both its creators and viewers are adamant enough, we will succeed at keeping it going for at least 1 more season. We need it.

[ahmedpalestine]

Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we have been able to secure the funds needed to evacuate two children from my family out of Gaza.

However, my family is still in the Al Maghazi refugee camp, a border area where they constantly hear the movement of tanks nearby. The danger is very real and time is not on our side.

I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you, you are truly heroes. I kindly ask for your continued support and sharing so we can ensure the safety of the rest of my family.

Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart .

@timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @briarhips @dirhwangdaseul @mahoushojoe

@rhubarbspring @schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako

@feluka @birabiroo @irhabiya @commissions4aid-international @wellwaterhysteria

@deepspaceboytoy @post-brahminism @khanger @evillesbianvillain @neechees

@mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @jezior0 @7bitter @tortiefrancis

@toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @tododeku-or-bust

@aristotels @komsomolka @xinakwans @heritageposts @nibeul

@ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @lonniemachin @dykesbat

@watermotif @stuckinapril @mavigator @lacecap @yugiohz

@socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @northgazaupdates2

@vakarians-babe @wayneradiotv @paper-mario-wiki @rthko @decolonize-the-everything

@velvetys @3000s @punkitt-is-here @ghelgheli @feluka

@cruzwalters @yugiohz @akajustmerry @shesnake @tamamita

@opencommunion @akajustmerry

[koolades-world]

hewwo congrats on ur 2k journey! more blessings for you to come :3

can we have a prompt 23 & 24 with Levi?

thank you!❤️❤️

thank you! consider it done :)

this is the last prompt!! thank you for everyone who submitted a request. it was super fun and it was a god way for me to great creative haha. will post a masterlist of everything from the event soon!!

enjoy <3

prompt 23 and 24 w/ Levi

It was well known that Levi didn't enjoy going out. Anywhere outside his room was uncharted territory, and he had no desire to light up that gray part of the map. He was content with only occasionally leaving his room for events out in the real world. Other than that, he enjoyed staying in his room. It was his check point and everything about it was comfortably predictable. He didn't expect the human exchange student to understand him so well.

He'd actually expected to only see you several times max, but you kept going out of your way to do things for him, such as delivering him dinner, or slipping a postcard of his favorite character under the door. Each time, he managed to miss you, but he knew it had to be you, because his brothers didn't care about him or his interests enough to do that for him. The first time he worked up enough courage to thank you, he accidently caught you midway through your act of kindness. Levi felt as if he was he was about to die of embarrassment, but he carried through with the plan and slammed the door on you. He regretted it afterwards, so the next day, he opened the door again to apologize. He hadn't expected you to invite him out to the anime cafe that had just opened nearby. The rest was history.

From then on, he thought of you as another check point of his. Anywhere you went, he felt more comfortable. So, when you wanted to go out, he couldn't help but feel the desire to tag along. He'd tried staying in, but he always felt left out. Because of this, he ended up going with you more often than not. He saw lots of things that he didn't get to see much by your side, such as unfamiliar shops and restaurants that he didn't even know existed. Sometimes, a brother or two of his might be there, but since Levi would be with you, they didn't need to come.

Being out made him nervous, but being alone with you made him even more so. A couple times, the two of you were mistaken to be out on a date. Every time that happened, he felt as if might explode from the overwhelming feelings within. He loved to spend time with you, but you contributed to the building internal pressure he often experienced. Often times, just looking at you caused him to grow shy. You were so gorgeous, and gave him your undivided attention. The intense way you gazed at him while he rambled just got his heart racing, but he'd be damned again before he told you that.

"Earth to Levi!" You waved a hand in front of his face.

"Mc! Sorry." Levi tucked his D.D.D. in his pocket. It seemed he'd been absentmindedly staring at it while he'd been lost in thought.

"No worries! Our table is ready." The two of you were trying out another restaurant you'd been dying to go to, and as the sucker he was, of course Levi wanted to go with you. He wouldn't let his brothers do it, that was for sure.

"Oh, alright." He followed you through the restaurant, glancing around as he did. It had a very casual, rustic vibe. He sat down across from you at the table for two, and flipped through the menu briefly. You began to talk to him about your next project for your hobby, and he sat and listened carefully. He didn't know how to engage since he didn't know much about what you were talking about, but he could at least ask questions and show you he was interested.

As you were talking, you suddenly stopped and stared at him. He grew nervous under your gaze. "What is it?" He frantically began to wipe his face and straighten his clothes.

"No, it's not that." You leant over the table and swept his bangs aside. You held them there, and clipped them with a couple cute little barrettes. He reached up and touched them.

"What was that for?" He could feel himself growing warm.

"You know how I feel about your hair in your face. You have really pretty eyes, and I hate not being able to see them. Orange is my favorite color for a reason." Levi had to stop and process your words, and once he didn't he had no clue how to respond. You knew just how to get him to feel loved, but so incredibly anxious at the same time. "You don't have to answer that. I just wanted you to know that you're beautiful." You understood him so well, which was part of the reason why the two of you were as close as you were. He found it in him to smile at you without turning bright red.

When the waiter came to ask how the two of you were, and asked if they could get you any drinks, you ordered for the both of you. The two of you got on like a house on fire, because you complimented each other. You knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, and instead if criticizing each other, like Levi's brothers might to him, you did what he couldn't and helped him. He hadn't expected to find such kin in a human he hadn't even intended to get to know, but he was glad that he did.

[shewasverynice]

Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen 

⚠️ SPOILER HEAVY ⚠️

Major Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death 

Full tags/warnings on Chapter links post

Major Characters: Original Character, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, Ieiri Shoko, Yaga Masamichi, Nanami Kento, Haibara Yu, Tsukumo Yuki, Choso

‎‧₊˚✧ Chapter 34 ✧˚₊‧

"Ladies," Satoru said smoothly, throwing his long arms around the shoulders of two miko. The girls jumped in surprise and he pulled one girl closer, only so he could push up his sunglasses and flash those impossible blues at them both.

"S-sir you can't just—" one stammered.

"Shh, shh, nah honey let's talk," he shushed her, fluttering his eyelashes, "I got some questions for you two, alright? You'll answer them, won't you?"

"Oh, a-about the temple?" The second girl squeaked. One of her hands hand landed on her cheek and she could barely look up at him as he led the two of them away from the entrance to the women's quarters.

Yuki, who was waiting nearby and getting extremely tired of "examining the rustic architecture", sighed as soon as they were out of the way. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and confidently strode directly into the building, heading straight towards the first door she could find.

It was a storage closet. The next was as well, filled with various bells and symbolic trinkets and some of the sacred cups for drinking sake at various rituals. Following that we're the changing rooms and break rooms she expected to find, but none of them contained anything that felt real to her.

She gritted her teeth and swatted at one of the outfits, closing the closet behind her. She turned, placing a hand on her hip as she glanced around the room. If this was where the girls were getting ready for their rituals they must have the real thing somewhere nearby.

"Secret door maybe?" she mumbled, turning to run her fingers along the wall. She narrowed her eyes, doing the same on the floor with the toes of her shoes. But when nothing came up she groaned, rubbing both her temples with her fingertips. "Annoying," she grumbled, starting her search once again.

Finally her search bore fruit and her fingertips caught on the edge of something on the back wall of a wardrobe. She tapped it lightly before pushing a little harder, the inside wall pushing back out on a spring hinge. Pulling it fully open slowly, she grinned when she spotted the dark set of stairs ahead.

"Always a secret basement," she chuckled as she stepped through, taking her steps cautiously in the dark.

When she finally reached the bottom the corridor opened up into a relatively plain stone room lined with rows of racks for hanging clothes. They were divided by types, sorting by the ranking of the official who would likely be wearing it and seemingly also sorted by size. Touching the fabric slightly she could already feel the hum of energy running through it and she smirked to herself as she picked out a few different pieces and hung them over her arm.

She turned back towards the stairs, but she already felt on edge. This was far too easy. There really wasn't anything down here in place to keep these things protected? Not even something as simple as a mundane trap or a regular security camera? That didn't sit right. In every other scenario it felt like the positive energy users were better hidden than this.

"Outta time let's go!" Satoru suddenly shouted down the stairs.

She sighed, snatching up a few more pieces before she rushed towards the stairs. "What did you do?" she called up, only for her voice to catch in her throat. A burst of hot air blew the hair off her neck and after a moment a second fanned over her skin. She felt a chill down her spine when she realized whatever it was behind her was breathing on her neck.

In a split second, she jumped up as many stairs as her legs could reach as a huge white paw crashed into the wood just where she'd been standing. Gritting her teeth she rushed up towards Satoru who grabbed her as soon as he could reach and yanked her hard. She landed beside him and felt the draft of another slam just as he stepped in front to block it with limitless.

Satoru whistled as he followed behind Yuki. "Damn! That's a big ass cat!" he shouted to her over the chaos at the creature smashed its way through the wardrobe and into the building.

"Cat?" Yuki glanced back finally, getting a look at the thing.

A deafening crash filled the hall as splinters rained down around them. Emerging from the dust and rubble was a massive lion, it's fur as white as freshly fallen snow. Its golden eyes glowed like molten metal, locking onto the intruders with the fiery intensity of its rage. The creature's low grunts rolled through the hall like distant thunder, vibrating deep in her chest. Every step it took cracked the wood beneath it's paws, the floor splintering under its enormous weight.

Satoru shoved Yuki aside just as the lion surged forward. Its roar erupted like an explosion, the sound so loud and primal that both she and Satoru wince and stumbled, clutching at their ears.

The beast pounced. Two massive paws slammed down inches from they had been standing, carving deep gouges into the wood and the stone foundation beneath. The force of the impact sent shards of wood flying as the lion's momentum carried it forward, its body smashing through the far wall. Sunlight poured in through the hole it left behind, illuminating the swirling chaos of dust and debris.

Hearts pounding, they scrambled for the exit, feet slipping on the uneven ground. But the lion wasn’t done. With a roar that shook the building to its foundations, it leapt back into the fray, white fur gleaming and golden eyes aflame. It moved with terrifying speed, its claws raking through the air as it pursued them.

They burst through the temple doors into the open courtyard. Behind them, the lion’s massive body collided with the roof above, shattering tiles and sending splinters of wood raining down. The force of the impact tore the roof apart, pieces of it scattering like leaves in a storm as the creature surged after them.

For a moment, everything was chaos: the lion’s thrashing limbs, the splintered remnants of the temple, the golden sunlight gleaming off its pristine fur. Then it landed, crouched low, muscles coiled like springs, ready to strike again.

"Kill it or, nah?" Satoru asked, grinning at Yuki.

"No, leave it," she called to him, moving past, "If we kill their guardian they'll have nothing to keep the curses away."

The lion trembled mid-stride, its massive form faltering for the first time. A low, guttural growl escaped its throat, but this time it wasn’t anger—it was something else, something unnatural. A crackling sound filled the air, like lightning splitting the sky, and suddenly two enormous, radiant wings burst from the creature’s back. Feathers of light, impossibly bright and shimmering, unfurled and stretched wide, their glow casting long, eerie shadows across the courtyard.

Satoru slowed his pace just enough to glance at Yuki, one eyebrow raised in curious amusement. "You didn’t mention the part about wings."

She huffed, her focus still on the beast as they kept running. "Don’t touch it, Satoru! I mean it."

"Fine," he said, though his grin hinted at mischief.

The lion let out a bone-rattling roar, launching itself into the air with a powerful beat of its wings. It soared after them, an angelic terror streaking through the sky. Dust whirled around as its shadow engulfed them, golden eyes locked on its quarry.

Satoru skidded to a halt in front of a cluster of priests who had gathered near the temple gates. "Move!" he barked, stepping forward with arms spread as if to shield them.

The lion descended with terrifying precision, jaws wide, its teeth glinting like blades. But instead of mindlessly crashing into him, it slowed just enough to snap at him, testing his defenses. Satoru’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, his usual confidence cracking.

"Interesting," he muttered, raising a hand as his Limitless technique activated. The shimmering barrier between them pulsed, holding the creature back—barely. The lion’s golden eyes flared with an eerie intelligence, its momentum pressing against his technique, straining it like nothing he’d encountered before.

"You're tougher than you look," Satoru said with a grin, though sweat beaded at his temple. He twisted his wrist, redirecting the beast’s force to shove it back, but the effort took more out of him than he’d anticipated.

"Gojo!" Yuki’s voice cut through the chaos.

She darted beneath the lion, sliding on her side with practiced precision. Her technique flared, visible for a brief moment as her legs shimmered with increased density. With a sharp inhale, she planted both feet under the lion and kicked upward with explosive force.

The impact sent the beast hurtling backward, its wings flaring to steady itself as it crashed into a nearby torii gate. The structure crumbled around it, but it was already recovering, shaking off the wood like dust from its fur.

Before the lion could leap again, Satoru appeared beside Yuki in an instant, scooping her up with one arm as he dashed for the temple gates. He set her on her feet the moment they crossed into the forest beyond, both of them breaking into a full sprint.

"You really didn’t want me to touch it, huh?" he said, breathless but still grinning.

"Shut up and keep running," Yuki snapped, glancing over her shoulder.

Behind them, the lion roared once more, its golden eyes blazing as it took to the skies again. The temple grounds crumbled in its wake, but something about the way it moved now was deliberate, almost calculated.

"We’re not done with this thing yet," Satoru muttered, his gaze flicking up to the glowing figure in the sky.

"Not even close," Yuki replied grimly.

For what felt like hours it pursued them, relentlessly tearing through the trees or flying overhead searching with it's blazing golden gaze. Not even for a moment did it hesitate whenever it got close enough to take a swipe or a bite, it's tail and wings thrashing with anger. It's white fur shimmered with golden light and it seemed to have an unnatural sense of where they were heading.

"We're gonna have to do something about it," Satoru called, "I don't think it's going to let up!"

"Shit," Yuki spat, "We've already done too much. There's no way this is going unnoticed."

"So let me take it out!" Satoru shouted.

"No! Just knock it out or something!" Yuki cried, "Just don't kill it!"

The dense forest around them was alive with the sounds of their desperate escape—branches snapping underfoot, leaves whipping past, and the relentless roar of the lion closing in above. Satoru came to an abrupt stop in a clearing, turning to face the glowing beast as it descended like a divine judgment. The beast’s golden eyes locked onto him, and it let out a low growl that made the ground tremble. Its glowing wings spread wide, their radiance bathing the forest in a harsh, almost holy light.

Satoru cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. He grinned at the beast as he removed his sunglasses, hanging them off his shirt as he waited for its first move.

The lion lunged, a blur of white fur and shining feathers. Satoru ducked under a massive paw, the claws raking through the air inches above his head. He retaliated with a palm strike to its side, but the impact was muted—its positive energy clashed with his cursed energy, negating the force of the blow.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue, sidestepping as the lion spun with alarming agility, its jaws snapping at his midsection.

It was fast—and more annoyingly, it was relentless. Each strike forced Satoru to rely more on his physical skill than his cursed energy. He’d already learned the hard way that his techniques faltered against the creature’s radiant power with that first attempt at using limitless.

He leapt onto a low branch, narrowly avoiding another swipe. The lion roared, its wings beating once to propel it upward. Satoru sprang off the branch just as the beast tore through it, landing in a crouch as splinters rained down.

“You’re not just strong, huh?” Satoru said, smirking despite the sweat on his brow. “You’re smart, too. This might actually be fun.”

The lion’s golden eyes flared as if in response, and it surged forward again. Satoru met it head-on, weaving between its strikes with precision born of years of combat. He drove his elbow into its shoulder, followed by a kick to its ribs, each blow landing with satisfying force.

But the lion didn’t slow. It twisted mid-attack, its massive wing catching him off-guard and slamming him into a nearby tree. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his back, but he didn’t let it show.

"Alright, kitty," he muttered, shaking out his arms. "You want to play rough? Fine."

The next time it lunged, he met it with a spinning kick, his heel connecting with its jaw. The lion staggered, but Satoru didn’t stop. He followed up with a flurry of punches, each one aimed at vulnerable spots—the eyes, the neck, the skull.

Finally, he saw his opening. The lion reared back to swipe at him, exposing the underside of its head. With a burst of speed, Satoru leapt up, twisting mid-air, and drove his foot into the side of the lion’s skull.

The force of the kick sent the creature crashing to the ground, its wings folding as it lay still, its massive chest rising and falling with labored breaths.

Satoru landed lightly, brushing a bit of dust from his shirt. “Stay down,” he muttered, though his tone carried more respect than mockery.

Yuki emerged from the shadows of the trees, her expression unreadable. He gave her a quick nod.

“Let’s move before it wakes up,” he said.

She didn’t argue, falling into step beside him as they disappeared into the forest once more. Behind them, the clearing was silent, save for the faint sound of the lion’s breathing.

"What now?" Satoru asked once they'd gained more distance, "How far do you think we need to go before we can circle back?"

"You feeling impatient?" Yuki teased, grinning at him.

"I'm always impatient," Satoru scoffed, "Everyone moves so damn slow."

"Well, get used to it," Yuki mumbled, "We'll need to take the long way around for a while and keep ourselves on the move. I was hoping to only alert a few guards not kick the whole wasp nest."

"Didn't expect a winged lion," Satoru said, glancing back towards where he'd fought the beast. "You seen anything like that before?"

"Can't say that I have, but I've heard stories," Yuki chuckled, "Lots of different 'holy' type creatures are in all their fancy books. Bulls and doves and eagles and stuff, you know. Guess we just got unlucky and ran into a big boy."

"But why a lion?" Satoru pondered, "Lions are kind of a big deal in Buddism, so what's a minor Shinto temple doing with a big ass white lion as a guardian?"

Yuki's brow furrowed. "Actually that's a good point," she mumbled, adjusting the pile of clothes on her arm. She glanced back at where they'd left the lion behind as well, then looked ahead again with her eyes narrowed. "They're probably hiding something," she suggested, "Maybe they've got their own little positive user hidden in there somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if they did."

"Should we go back?" Satoru asked, "Maybe we could see if they need—"

"No," Yuki cut him off, "As much as I'd love to go on a random rescue mission, we don't know the situation at all. The user may not be in trouble, for one, and we already have our hands full with Sarah. Bringing in a second wouldn't be worth the trouble."

Satoru didn't answer. Yuki glanced over at him and smiled, shaking her head with a sigh. "Alright, how about this? We'll check it out again after we've released Sarah's vow, alright? We'll do a little wellness check. Think you can wait until then before adopting another stray?"

Satoru smiled. "Sure, yeah we can do that."

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

Haibara jumped around behind a tree, ducking low just as the reach of the wooden tendrils tore through the trunk just above his head. He shuddered, still trying to catch his breath as he sprinted away with Nanami skidding to his side as he dodged an attack aimed at him as well.

"I've never seen curses like this!" Nanami gritted, spinning back to swing his ax at the reaching tendrils, cracking off sharp branches that tore at their clothes.

The creatures scrambled through the underbrush as if it was only an extension of their twisted little bodies. Skin that was gnarled like wood dissapeared into the twigs and leaves scattered around with only their glowing eyes to alert the boys of their presences. They chirped and squeaked like saplings bending in the wind and long reaching tendrils endlessly reached for them.

"I don't think these are curses!" Haibara panted, snapping a branch headed right for Nanami's head. "I think these are the things Gojo mentioned! The spirits? Like the flower one he talked about!"

"If that's the case," Nanami huffed, "Then we need to get back to the temple as quickly as possible. The barrier should keep them at bay!"

The two of the scrambled through until the temple was in sight and Haibara shouted, "Hey! Hurry!"

A pair of hands shot out quickly from the wall and Haibara and Nanami grasped on quickly before Sarah and Suguru yanked them inside. They panted, collapsing onto the stone floor. Suguru watched them only for a moment before he glanced up above them.

"More of those things, right?" he asked, "We've been watching them."

"There's so many!" Sarah informed them, "We heard them when they showed up but now… well, look!"

She pointed up above and Haibara and Nanami both gasped.

The top of the dome was beginning to overgrow with vines. The creatures huddled together atop the barrier and extended their long tendrils, blocking out the light and everything in sight.

"No way," Haibara muttered, "What… what are we gonna do?"

"We may have to exorcise them," Suguru assessed, crossing his arms and scowling at the creatures above as they writhed and hummed. "But I don't want to be to hasty. If we catch too much attention we'll have a bigger problem on our hands."

"Couldn't you just absorb them?" Nanami suggested, holding his hand out for Haibara and helping the other boy stand as he himself got up. "I know if they're below a certain range of power it's nearly instantaneous for you."

"Yes, that is true," Suguru nodded, "But these are stronger than they appear. That, or they're only pieces of a larger whole."

"What if I did my thing?" Sarah mentioned, stepping closer to the barrier as it slowly closed off more and more with vines, "Maybe I could talk to them? They seem like they're upset with us."

"Is it because we cut down the trees?!" Haibara gasped, "What if we did too much?!"

"No, I would think they would have done this much sooner if that were true," Suguru said, shaking his head, "We cut down so much more when we were rebuilding."

"This must be why this place was abandoned," Nanami suggested, "If it was constantly being swarmed like this they would surely move it further away."

"All the more reason for me to talk to them," Sarah said, stepping closer to the barrier. It was almost completely covered by this point and soon enough it would be pitch dark inside the dome.

"I'm not sure that's the best plan," Nanami said, "What if using your energy only upsets them further?"

"I agree with Nanami," Suguru nodded, "We don't know what may happen if something else catches on to you. We may get rid of this problem and create an even bigger one."

"But we can't do nothing," Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms, "What are we going to do, just let them close us in? That's stupid."

"It's not stupid, we must be cautious or—"

"Nanami, c'mon really?" Sarah sighed. She looked at the three of them before she shook her head, her fists balling at her sides. "Once Gojo shows up he'll just blow them up anyway. We might as well try my way before we give up and let ourselves get locked in."

Haibara shook his head, "C'mon Sarah, don't do this. We can just wait until—"

She took a dive for the wall and all three of the boys reached for her. Only Haibara, who'd been the closest to her, managed to grasp onto her ankle only for her to wiggle out of her shoe and pull her foot through just as the barrier closed off.

"Shit!" Suguru cried out, "Stupid! We need to go after her!"

"We can't!" Haibara shouted, trying desperately to pull up on the branches that now were pushing into the stone floor. "I can't! It—it's too strong!"

Nanami rushed to Haibara's side, pulling with all his strength but he was forced to back off just before it closed around his fingers. The boys were shrouded in complete darkness as the vine choked out all of the light and the only sounds were their own labored breaths.

Suguru punched the wall, swearing under his breath. "Shit," he mumbled, "We just— we have to! We have to go out there!"

Nanami was already on the move, sprinting for the main temple building. "I'll take down the barrier! Be ready to run!" he shouted.

But suddenly shafts of light began to appear from above. Haibara pressed against the barrier, watching as the branches slowly retracted. He saw her in the distance. She was shouting over her shoulder and the curses seemed to be taking the bait.

"Sarah!" Haibara shouted, tearing at the wood and shoving his shoulder hard into it trying to tear though. Suguru slammed next to him, cracking the wall further and the two of them stumbled out into the light once again.

"Stop!" Suguru shouted, "Don't be stupid!"

"I can do this!" Sarah shouted over the scrambling frantic sounds of the curses. They swarmed after her, tearing through the ground and each other. The curses behind her shrieked with inhuman voices, their cries echoing like nails dragged across glass. Wooden tendrils reached for her like fingers of the dead, snagging her shirt and tearing at her arms, but she pressed on, gritting her teeth against the sting of her wounds as they healed themselves almost instantly.

Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat urging her legs forward. She didn’t dare look back. She knew what she’d see: the twisted forms of the curses, amalgamations of jagged bark and writhing roots, their eyeless faces locked onto her scent. Her lungs burned, her breath coming in ragged gasps, but slowing down wasn’t an option. Sarah darted between trees, her hands brushing against rough bark as she used them to propel herself forward. She ducked under low-hanging branches, her hair catching in the leaves, and leapt over thick roots that jutted from the ground like gnarled bones. The curses followed relentlessly, their movements a cacophony of snapping wood and rustling leaves. Her foot caught on a vine, and she nearly fell, but she caught herself, glancing briefly down at her bleeding palms before they healed over. The adrenaline drowned out the pain, her only focus the path ahead—a narrow gap between two towering oaks. She pushed through it, feeling the splintering scrape of bark against her shoulders. The ground began to slope downward, the trees thinning. She didn’t slow, even as her feet skidded on loose dirt and dry leaves. Then, the ground gave way entirely, and she slid, tumbling into a dry riverbed. Rocks and debris tore at her legs as she fell, and when she hit the bottom, the impact knocked the breath from her lungs. She gasped, her vision swimming as she scrambled to her feet, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. Above, the curses loomed at the edge of the ravine, their forms silhouetted against the night sky. For a moment, they seemed hesitant, their tendrils twitching as if testing the air. Sarah’s chest heaved as she backed away, her shoes crunching on the dry, cracked earth. She searched desperately for an escape, her eyes darting to the shadows around her. One of the curses tipped forward, its wooden limbs creaking as it slid down into the riverbed after her. The others followed, their movements jagged and unnatural. Sarah’s stomach twisted with dread. She spun on her heel and ran again, her feet slipping on loose stones as the walls of the riverbed rose around her. The path narrowed, the walls closing in until she was forced to squeeze through a tight gap between jagged rocks. Her shoulders scraped against the stone, and she felt a fresh sting as a tendril lashed out, catching her side. She bit back a scream, clamping a hand over the wound as she stumbled forward. The curses screeched, furious and hungry, but the narrow gap slowed them, their larger forms struggling to squeeze through. She emerged on the other side, her chest heaving with exhaustion, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The curses were relentless, and if she didn’t keep moving, they would drag her back to their lair. Back to whatever horrifying fate awaited her there. Ahead, the riverbed opened into a small clearing. At its center stood a single, ancient tree, its roots twisting into the earth like the veins of the forest itself. Its presence was different from anything she'd seen yet—calm, protective, and powerful. Desperation flared in Sarah’s chest as she made her way toward it, collapsing at its base. The curses spilled into the clearing, their forms hesitating as they neared the tree. They shrieked, their wooden bodies trembling as if repelled by an unseen force. The air around the tree seemed to hum, a gentle vibration that resonated in Sarah’s chest. She pressed her hands to the roots, her voice a whisper. “Please… forgive us.” The tree answered. Its roots began to move, shifting and curling around her like a shield. The curses howled in rage, their tendrils lashing out, but the tree’s branches swayed, and a wave of energy pulsed through the clearing. The curses recoiled, their forms splintering as the force pushed them back, farther and farther, until they were swallowed by the forest’s darkness. Sarah collapsed against the tree, her body trembling as the adrenaline began to fade. The roots loosened their hold, cradling her gently as the forest once again grew quiet. She was safe at last.

Suguru, Nanami, and Haibara arrived moments later, out of breath and covered in wounds. Suguru held up his arms, blocking them from approaching the tree as soon as he spotted Sarah among the roots.

She sat up and nodded to him and he nodded back, the three of them stepping further away.

"It's angry," she whispered, "But it accepted my apology for now."

Suguru nodded again, then looked at Nanami and Haibara. The three of them slowly began to approach as carefully and reverently as possible. The tension in the air was practically physically choking, but still they moved forward.

"I… I'm sorry tree," Haibara said awkwardly, "Did we cut down too much?"

Sarah smiled at him, then looked up at the tree. "I think it's upset that we haven't visited," she explained. "I think people must have thanked the forest spirits in the past but it's been a long time since it's seen humans."

Nanami glanced at Suguru, the approached the tree cautiously. Suguru followed him and the two of them gave their own quiet apologies. As they spoke, it was as if the forest itself was letting go and the tension began to fade.

Sarah sighed with relief, wiping the sweat off her brow. "We can leave for now," she said quietly, "It's calm enough."

The walk back was quiet, none of them sure what to say. Eventually Haibara piped up and cheerfully said, "Well I guess we should have a festival for it!"

Sarah laughed, Nanami and Suguru unable to resist a chuckle too. "Yeah, that sounds like fun doesn't it?" She agreed, "Once everyone else gets back we can make a day of it."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this forest has spirits," Nanami sighed. He glanced back at the clearing for a moment, considering the sight of the ancient tree. "I didn't believe that anything but curses existed," he admitted, "It seems like something directly out of a fantasy."

"It's just like Totoro!" Haibara chirped happily.

"I suppose it is," Suguru agreed with a smile, "We'll leave it offerings more often and we should give it thanks every time we go for firewood."

The conversation trailed off as they walked back through to the temple, but as soon as they were within the barrier once again Sarah loudly cleared her throat. The three boys stared at her and she put her hands on her hips, looking down her nose at them with a smug grin.

"Don't you have something to say to me?" She asked, tilting her head, "Something about how cool that was? Yeah? Maybe, I dunno, an apology?"

Suguru rolled his eyes, but then smiled at her. "You did really well," he relented, "I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

"Yeah," Haibara grinned as he threw his arms around her, "That was so cool! I can't believe you just went for it like that!"

"It was reckless," Nanami mumbled, but even he nodded in approval when he said, "But it was impressive. I apologize for doubting you."

"Alright then," Sarah said with a sniff. She glanced at the three of them awkwardly then asked, "So… I guess we gotta go figure out where you two left the wood sleds?"

Prev Main Next

Taglist: @inthedarkshadows000

[lilk4]

I can understand not liking vini,thinking Madrid was rude for not going,or saying that Rodri deserved it but to go online as studio host and someone who has a podcast about football and while talking about who deserves to win and who didn’t and why,to say with pure hatred that he’s super arrogant and classless for flying his family out to what he was told and believed would be a big achievement in his career?that his arrogance is off the scale for planning a party and he should be disqualified for it?Are we going to act like Rodri’s party just magically happened and people appeared out of thin air?There’s nothing wrong with flaying family out,players did it before,there’s also nothing wrong with planning a party,unless it’s vini according to Rebecca Lowe I guess,did players who flew their family out before were called super arrogant as well?

Another thing is saying vini is arrogant on the pitch,but Rodri grabbing people’s throat,pushing them and starting fights is just pure class and fair play?I’m in no way going to say vini is a complete saint because he does have his faults but if people want to say Rodri should’ve won they should find a better argument because this one is a bit ridiculous,especially when people like Messi have won the ballon d’or multiple times at that with his behavior not being classy and fair play.Martinez won the yashin trophy which had the same requirement “class and fair play” and I think we all saw his behavior which he was praised for on the stage while receiving his trophy.If you want to point out bad behavior on pitch you should stick to it when it comes to all players not just some.I’m also not saying it’s due to him being a Madrid player because cause many have won it from Madrid before and while there might be some issues between UEFA and RM I don’t think this it’s the reason here,and clearly many people have take this opportunity to unleash their hatred god why and spew some hypocritical bullshit.

Nobody can tell me that there isn’t racism in that,because what do you call it when journalist asked about why he voted for Rodri one of the things he says is that he doesn’t have social media and went to college?And then tried to back out of it and argued with people in the comments on Twitter?Why aren’t other people called out on their “arrogance” while dancing during celebrations?When they show the score to other players in their fingers to “taunt them”(personally I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that)?When they argue with referees?Why are others not told they lack class when fans call the insults and they do/say something back?

Also the fact that people are making fun of him for standing up against racism?Why on earth would you EVER make fun of ANYONE standing against racism?There are chants prepared for him that insult him and make fun of him,people make drawings showing him hung on a rope,people hung effigy of him from a bridge,why would he stay silent? Just before one of the games atletico Madrid played(not with Real Madrid) fans before match were chanting he should die.Is that normal?

The double standard is coming from a place of racism,i can completely understand that the person who you don’t like can piss you off easier and much faster,but if the same action from other people is totally fine then why his isn’t?There were literally players like zlatan,Diego costa who till this day are praised for their behavior.

Once again I’m not making excuses for vini because he has his share of wrong doings on and off the pitch(I myself am still pissed off about that nasty Twitter post) but you cannot say he’s wrong for some of his behaviors and then turn around and praise others for it,or say you like that behavior and then complain when vini does it.Just the other day I came across someone saying one the players shown in the video wasn’t at fault because he was pushed and then he pushed the other players back,fair enough,and then he was asked a question if it’s done the vini shouldn’t he react?And he answered he doesn’t know,so it’s fine for other players to do it and even encourages them to do so but it’s not the same answer for vini?

And this isn’t only vini that experiences racism,there’s a ton of racism especially on social media,towards black players for example saka,tchouameni,camavinga,Jude,and many many others,all of which is absolutely unacceptable and all of it is absolutely unprovoked,because there is no reason for racism towards anyone.And there seems to be a very popular belief especially in football that racism can be provoked.People want black players to be living in a shadow,always with a smile on their face and never complain or react and god forbid they don’t play well, you can see it every time they react or don’t play well just the insane amount of racist insults towards them,the euros for example made my head spin with the amount of slurs I saw.They want them to act like kante,and they want to treat them in that same condescending way that is hard to watch.