#sinner and the cynical

[detweilerboy]

Dunno still about Finn. The innocent farm boy gaining powers used to be the go to male fantasy but masculinity has lost its innocence for multiple reasons. The new male hero clearly is an underdog who has the world against him since birth and is still trying to be good or struggling with it despite his circumstances. Finn is a symbol of the shift in paradigm and the limits of that change. The male power fantasy started to get questioned the minute marginalized men couldve been accepted as mainstream heroes (id argue there were more progressive depictions in the 90s etc than 2010s)

[lunar-loki]

Little update post about Hazbin Stuff hehehe. Me and @hunie-dew have come up with a name for our AU rp

Now presenting

Cynical Symphony

This name does take some inspiration from Kaleyda's own OC au but it is actually based off of our own characters traits and quirks.

Bayard/Ardy, my oc, has a very cynical veiw on everything even tho they don't often express it upfront

Hunie_Dews oc is very musically inclined hence the symphony part

Im making a toyhouse posting thing for this au but I've never used toyhouse before so its going to be a bit until I post any links here lol

Next Post |

[mcpostinghours]

I'm gonna obey me post again, this time with what children's movies I think made the boys cry like men

Lucifer: Toy Story 2, when When She Loved Me comes on he's a goner, full sobbing. (Though this is kind of a cop-out since that scene does it to everyone, you are not immune to Jessie backstory time)

Mammon: The opening sequence to Up, he was so upset he almost didn't watch the rest of it. He just wanted Carl and Ellie to be happy damn it.

Leviathan: All of The Fox and the Hound. He just has a lot of feelings about friendship. Copper standing over Todd made him cry full manly tears.

Satan: All Dogs go to Heaven when Charlie gives up his chance to go to heaven and says goodbye. Something about a sinner being redeemed through love... (this one also gets Mammon)

Asmodeous: The ending to Shrek. He has a lot of body issues and seeing Fiona be loved and seen as beautiful even when she "wasn't beautiful" anymore made him feel a lot.

Beelzebub: I mean... All of The Little Mermaid. I feel like I don't need to elaborate further. It's both happy and sad tears though because he likes to think Lilith had a happy ending like Ariel

Belohagor: Believe it or not I think it's the funeral scene in Snow White. Especially when Grumpy starts crying. There's seven dwarves and seven of the brothers so it kind of makes him think of "what if that happened to mc?" And despite there literally being a dwarf named "sleepy" I think he sees more of him and how he felt about MC in Grumpy.

Diavolo: He's a sentimental guy, so I feel like there's a few that would get him. In particular though I think it would be when Mufasa dies in The Lion King. He has father issues... He also wants to pick up Simba and make him feel better.

Barbatos: See he's not a crier. Though I think what would get him the closest is Little Foot's mother dying in The Land Before Time. I know we don't know much about Diavolo's parents but it seems implied he lost his mom at a young age too, and Barbatos feels that ache too.

Luke: Luke IS actually baby, so there's a few. But like when Lilo is being taken away from Nani he's inconsolable the first time watching. It makes him think of being taken away from Simeon. Which he definitely fears post *spoilers*.

Simeon: Much like Satan a lot of All Dogs Go to Heaven gets to him. To give him an individual answer though... I feel like the reprise of Heaven's Light in Hunchback might get to him, and when Quasi is being tortured at the festival. Especially post *spoilers.*

Solomon: He acts like he's a big mean cynic, and for the most part it's kinda true. However (and this might be me projecting) he is not immune to muppets, and he's deeply lonely. Ergo I think that when Gonzo sings I'm Going to Go Back There Someday he's a goner. (Note: he also gets a little misty during the Rainbow Connection)(which is absolutely me projecting)

[fvaleraye]

honestly, we weren't sure how we were going to feel if Sancho decided to be Don Quixote again while waiting for part 3. but we think it was handled really well. because it's less that she "became" Don again, and more that she has reconciled the cynic and idealist in her. Don is less of a separate person, and more of an idea now. the idea that sometimes, in this dark and dreary world, you need a little bit of juvenile excitement. a bit of wonder. sometimes you just need to give a shit about things that nobody else will. and bring just a little good energy to the situation. she's still Don Quixote, but she's not not Sancho. the sinners all coming together and saying how much they truly cared for Don, despite not doing such a great job of that before, Dante realizing that they don't have to offer her a dream, moreso just a reason to keep going, the fact that Sancho and La Manchaland's Don Quixote, despite ending their last meeting ending in a fight, still held genuine love and respect for each other. because they were family, and they did care at the end of it all. the realization Don Quixote at the end of his long painful life that Sancho, essentially his daughter, has people who care about her, and it has molded her into someone better than her instincts as a bloodfiend, an ideal he held for so long. the canto is about love, we think. and how love can, against all odds, change someone for the better. at least, that's our view of it.

[auren-zagarra]

Hello, I hope you're doing fine ! English isn't my first language either, so I'm amazed by your writing talent ^^ May I resquest a GN Reader x Jade (but mostly centered on Jade point of vue), where our usually calm and composed eel tastes the sparkles of sexual pleasure for the first time ? Maybe merfolk mating is more about emotionnal connection and procreation than physical pleasure, but in human form it can be the three of them? I honnestly just wish to see Jade breaking free from his usual composure, and finally expressing himself without shame nor restrains ^^' (I hope it's not too specific) Please, have a nice day :)

stulta siren

Content Warning: Jade x GN!Reader, sex, primal kink (?), overstimulation, biting. MDNI.

Characters Count: 7704

His composed and courteous visage began to soften beneath your touch, a porcelain mask yielding to warmth. He watched you with fascination as you drew him closer - like a sinner tempting fate, craving the taste of something forbidden cloaked in the illusion of a lover’s embrace. How have you managed this? To unmake Jade, to coax him into surrender, to reduce him - he, the ever-cynical observer - to yet another creature ensnared by longing, no different from the pitiable souls he once scorned for bartering away their very selves in pursuit of love? Perhaps this twin was not as untouchable as he fancied himself. For in truth, deep within the depths he rarely dared to explore, he would trade even his voice just to feel the certainty of your form in his arms. Such desire is no mere folly of humankind, but a curse borne by all living things.

But he had to remain composed and measured. How would any student react upon witnessing him unravel so shamelessly in your presence? His smile, that finely-honed mask of civility - his most potent weapon - faltered, just barely, as your whispered endearments brushed against his ear like a lover’s incantation. And his body, a traitorous little thing, moved toward you of its own accord. Yet this was no ordinary response, no instinctive answer to the call of mermen seeking union for the sake of lineage or closeness. No, this was something far more ruinous. It was as though his very flesh had been set alight, scorched by the slow-burning inferno that was your love. He felt himself consumed, not with duty, but with desperate want, lost in the searing, intimate abyss of desire. And you… you cradled his face with such unbearable gentleness, pressing soft kisses to his skin like blessings he was never meant to receive. Oh, how Jade yearned, to the very marrow of his being, to taste this new kind of madness with you.

His face rested against the hollow of your bare neck, breath hot and unsteady, while Jade’s hands slipped beneath the fabric of your blouse like a tide rising to claim the shore. Then came the bite, sharp and possessive, a primal gesture born from something that stirred within him the beast that slumbered beneath civility. It was not pain he wished to inflict, though pain it brought; it was hunger, a need to claim, not to harm. But you understood. You always had. The sting beneath his teeth was his way of showing devotion, a visceral display of the intimacy he could not name aloud. And so you squirmed beneath him, gasping softly as your fingers tangled in his hair, guiding him back to that secret place on your throat where his mouth had first branded you. The world beyond his room blurred into nothingness. Clothes vanished, flung into shadows like fallen petals - irrelevant, forgotten. What mattered now was not modesty, nor fear, nor consequence. What mattered was the nearness - the unbearable, blessed proximity of skin to skin, soul to soul. And as you stood bared before your lover, stripped of all pretenses, your only wish was to surrender to the inevitable gravity of the moment… to feel that sacred, trembling connection bloom between your bodies.

And so his fingers wandered, gliding along the length of your thighs like a composer caressing the keys of a long-forgotten piano, coaxing forth a symphony of lust and longing, of sin laced with a strange, aching mercy. Each touch drew you further from reason, until he reached that sacred place: the center of your trembling desire, where pleasure dissolved thought and your voice rose in a breathless cry, shaped only by the syllables of his name. You were no siren, and yet… at times, he doubted that truth. How could a creature of mere flesh and blood so effortlessly dismantle him? Strip him of every layer of decorum, every cold-blooded instinct, until all that remained was a man undone - desperate not for dominance, but for the chance to worship?

To please you. To feel you. To consume you.

Ah, forgive him, sweet love - for this Leech could bear it no longer. With trembling hands, he undid the buckle of his belt, the sound quiet but resounding, like the opening of some sacred gate. He lowered himself between your legs like a pilgrim at the altar, his breath shallow, his eyes dark and unblinking. And then, he entered the ocean of you, a depth so intoxicating, so infinite… he knew, with terrible certainty, that he would never surface again.

His hips met yours in a cadence, a solemn rhythm that would bring him to his ruin. And in that trembling union, Jade came to know the truth that once eluded his cold and curious mind: why mankind, frail and ever-fleeting, bowed so easily to the altar of desire. Your voice - drenched in ecstasy, fragmented into moans and broken syllables of his name - rose like incense into the night air, and with it, you unmade him. In the clasp of your limbs and the heat of your breath, he was no longer the careful, calculating creature of the sea, but something far more human… Ah, so this was the price of tasting the forbidden fruit. For once it touches the tongue, the soul forgets hunger and remembers only craving.

And you - you were that fruit. That cursed sweetness. The snake that enchanted him. His downfall. His divine affliction.

He held your thighs with the desperation of a drowning man clutching driftwood, his hands trembling not with fear, but with devotion. And as he moved within you, again and again, the world dissolved - time fractured, and nothing remained but the wet heat of your union and the cruel, holy rhythm of flesh against flesh. Each thrust was a prayer, each gasp, a psalm, each collision, a promise to never return from the abyss you’d led him into. And still, the bed cried out against the wall - a hollow percussion - echoing the madness rising in his chest. Your form beneath him, haloed by moonlight and marred by shadows, was a vision too exquisite for this world. He gazed down at you, lips parted, as though beholding a relic too sacred to touch. Then, slowly, he bowed his head to your chest - to mark once again who you belonged to.

That wicked smile - sharp as a blade, cruel as temptation - had felled many before you. Yet for you, it did not frighten; it thrilled. It summoned the darkness within your own decaying heart, made it beat harder, faster, as if answering a call of love. And so, entwined in that carnal rite - an offering upon the altar of Asmodeus - you reached your peak. The climax tore through you like a divine curse, your lips bitten red, hips stuttering against the flesh that had so thoroughly undone you. A wicked act, yes, but holy in its own blasphemous way. Yet Jade… ah, Jade was not finished.

Though his body had spilled the sacred essence of life deep within you - warm and heavy - there was no peace in him yet. For how could a creature as inquisitive as he, ever content himself with a single taste of sin? No… no, one round was the prologue to a far deeper descent. He needed more. He needed all of you. You had awakened something untamed in him - a wildness not born of blood or sea, but of want. And now, beneath the flickering candlelight, you were to be his guide. His tutor in pleasures long buried beneath silk smiles and cold calculation. And you, poor, beautiful thing, you did not yet know what price would be paid for such indulgence. For by the time the sun bled over the horizon, its pale light slipping through half-closed curtains, you would no longer be the composed soul who once whispered his name in pride. No, you would be a trembling relic of devotion - lips parted in dazed praise, limbs weak, voice hoarse with gasped confessions of adoration.

A mess.

And Jade… he would only smile again, ready to begin once more.

[helluvapoison]

Okay okay I think I got it!!

Imagine the Vees entering like a side room or something and finding cannibal! Reader (literally) tearing into some random person that was caught snooping around by them (reader). How would they react do you think?

No pressure to write this if you don't want too. Love your writing, your recent Zestial one was so cute!!!

-Cannibal Anon :))

Nice To Eat You

[i]

The Vees x Cannibal!Reader

warning: suggestive and dark themes ahead, blood and gore, violence, security shenanigans and, hello, cannibalism

Admittedly, you’d gotten rather careless with your beloved around. Who can blame you when they make you feel on top of the world? With you at their side they felt a bit untouchable too. More so than usual. However someone had broken into their dressing room and wrote something foul on the mirror. You saw red. This wouldn’t happen again.

Cannibals were rather good at sniffing out something rotten.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

˚✧₊⁎ Velvette ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• Witnessing crocs make a comeback in Hell was the worst sight she’s seen to date

• Blood doesn’t particularly bother her, though she hates the mess of it all

• Despite the jokes shared between the two of you, it was sort of unspoken that you would keep your dietary habits away from your girlfriend

• She couldn’t help the gasp when she looked up from her phone, seeing blood spilling from your mouth

• You stiffened, matching her wide eyed expression

• Fuck, you never wanted her to see you like this

• Whipping around, you spat out the flesh and began furiously wiping your face with your sleeve

• “Stop!” Velvette shouts, daring to rush over and grab your shoulder

• Suppressing a flinch, you freeze at her command but refuse to face her

• “Who’s this then?”

• Your reply is bitter like the taste on your tongue, “The rat.”

• “Good.” You feel her grip on your shoulder tighten, “Make Joanne clean up when you're done. Oh, and dollface? Brush your teeth before you come find me, yeah?”

˚✧₊⁎ Vox ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• He thought he meant it when he said he wouldn’t be grossed out by your food selection

• Though the meal was the same, seeing your entire front drenched in blood, red dripping down your chin was entirely different from date nights with fancy ambience and classy decor

• Shaking his head from side to side, he dials the shock out of his system and forces on a passive expression

• You two have already come so far! He can’t have his date mate tiptoeing around him now

• “Do I need a new assistant?” Vox asks, feigning a disinterested tone

• Your own surprise dilutes slowly, you were so sure Vox was bluffing when he said he could handle this

• He’s rather proud of himself that he was convincing enough to fool you

• “No. S’the bastard who wrote on your mirror.”

• “Excellent! Feed what’s left to Vark, let’s clean you up and go celebrate! Wash that shitty sinner taste out of your mouth with some wine, hm?”

˚✧₊⁎ Valentino ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• Unbothered by blood, he likes making you dish out his punishments while he sits back and watches

• “Dinner and a show,” He’ll joke, “Like killing two birds with one stone!”

• As sadistic as he is, Val doesn’t have the patience to draw out torture

• If he wants results, he’ll get them immediately or kill someone in the process

• The two of you are similar in that regard or you would’ve brought the half eaten body to him when the sinner was still kicking and screaming

• Surprise hits his face when he opens the door and fades just as fast

• “Aw,” Val clicks his tongue, “You couldn’t have waited for me, monstruo? You know how much I like to see you eat.”

• You toss a bloodied grin in his direction, “Got hangry. This was the cynic that said your films were shit.”

• He chuckles darkly, leaning over to cup your face and wipe the corner of your mouth with his thumb, “What do they think now?”

• “Nothin’ much.” You join his amusement with a breathy laugh

• Stretching your neck up to meet him halfway, Val kisses you right on the lips. His tongue briefly taking over your mouth, swiping away the copper taste and replacing it with his own

• “Come. Let’s get you in the bath, monstrou.”

• You quirk a brow at him, “A real one or a cat bath?”

• Laughing, Valentino taps your nose with an extra finger, “Dealer’s choice.”

~

╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ cannibal anon i love you!!! thanks again!!

[jubileemon]

Understanding Husk

A "husk" means a shell or a protective outer cover. This fits his character well since he's shown to be a husk of a man. More specifically, he's a former overlord who lost his power.

Husk in the "Pilot" was a lot more grumpy than he is in the show proper, losing his temper at Alastor and not hesitating to show his disinterest in anything going on as long as it doesn't concern him. When he sees just who has yanked him away from his card game, all he can do is exasperatedly ask Alastor what he wants with him this time. Seeing as Alastor is a constant reminder of how his gambling ended up costing him his status as an Overlord, it's easy to understand why he'd be upset at having to bend to the Radio Demon's will.

In the series, it's established he's still a jerk, but it's evident he cares, and his temper isn't as volatile and often warranted. In the beginning, Husk made it no secret that he was forced to stay at the hotel because of his ties to Alastor and would gladly get as far away as he could if able to. Behind his grumpy exterior, Husk is actually very patient and it takes a lot to make him legitimately angry.

He does his job as a bartender competently, but Husk is fairly blunt about the fact he's only participating in the group's shenanigans because he simply can't be bothered to protest. He does join bonding activities but departs once it's no longer enjoyable for him, after Vaggie decided to literally throw everyone into the middle of a turf war as part of her trust exercises. Thankfully, he grows out of this a bit as the series goes on and grows to care about the staff and guests.

Husk has his own issues and is pretty much apathetic to almost everything out of pessimism. But he still has the most common sense out of the cast and he's the most emotionally intelligent and self-aware, even serving as an advisor to the others at the right times when he's not bitterly accepting his circumstances. The hotel's owner is the only cheerful idealist demon princess who just wants to see the good in everyone, one investor is a maniac who wants to get entertainment out of watching the chaos, the other investor is the owner's neglectful, depressed father (and also the literal King of Hell), the manager is bossy and threatens people with weapons at the slightest provocation, and the cleaning lady is a neatfreak with a thing for "bad boys". Then there's Husk wanting nothing to do with their escapades. He's also a lot more hostile towards Alastor and Angel after they touch him multiple times.

It should be noted that Alastor lets Husk get away with flipping him off. But the moment Husk brings up the fact that Alastor's own soul belongs to someone else within earshot of the Radio Demon, Alastor can barely restrain himself to threatening to tear Husk's soul apart and broadcast his screams for all to hear if he ever says that again. By the end of the encounter, Husk is a shivering, terrified wreck and Alastor couldn't care less.

As the bartender, Husk knows how to listen to people and knows exactly what kind of problems that all the residents of the hotel are going through, and while he would rather let them solve their own problems, he isn't exactly above giving them some pretty solid, if very brutally honest. While it was unnecessarily rude to bring up the Hotel residents' flaws, Husk was accurate about every one of them as Charlie's desperate to help others but doesn't confront her own issues, Vaggie judges others because she hates herself, Sir Pentious is a lonely Sinner who watches people in their sleep, and Angel puts on an act that he's happy about his porn star job but is really miserable.

Husk was always cynical and crass, but he's also an old Sinner with a tender heart. With Angel however, he tends to be a lot more irritable. While it initially looks to be because of Angel constantly flirting with him, it's because he hates how hard Angel acts out to hide how miserable he actually is, considering him a "phony" in a self-destructive spiral. He eventually realizes he and Angel are the same, despite their differences. They're both self-destructive addicts since Husk is a gambling addict, while Angel is addicted to sex and drugs who sold their souls to an abusive Overlord. And both of them have descended even further into their addiction and adopted outwardly cynical, cruel personas as a coping mechanism.

Husk getting through to Angel Dust in the manner he does makes a considerable amount of sense when it's taken into account that the first step to overcoming drug addiction is usually getting the addict to acknowledge they even have a problem. Angel hasn't been able to get better despite having some genuine interest because he's been utterly refusing to admit he has a problem to fix, the moment he does his mood drastically improves as does his motivation.

In "Welcome To Heaven", Husk saw Cherri as a bad influence on Angel's path of redemption and advised her not to get high during their night out. He even defends Angel from Cherri's criticism about how the hotel was changing him. Of course Husk wants what's best for Angel, but unlike Cherri who thinks that feeding into Angel's addictive tendencies are the best way to treat his depression and that living up to the hotel's standards is only making his life more difficult, Husk encourages Angel to stick with the self-improvement he's learned from the hotel and not fall back into his old ways since Angel's trying to get into Heaven.

When Vaggie leaves to find out how angels can be killed, she tells Angel, Sir Pentious, Husk and Niffty that she knows they didn't sign up to be the first targets of the angels, so she wouldn't blame them if they left. Of course, when she and Charlie return, they find that all of them have stayed and fortified the hotel.

Husk even admitted that he doesn't want to look for new drinking buddies and being nice to both Angel and Pentious is a demonstration of the massive character development he's undergone over the course of the show. In the beginning, he was grouchy towards everyone and hated even being in the hotel, but now he's willing to risk his life to defend it and the other residents.

[popamolly]

CAN WE PLEEEASE PRETTY PLEASE HAVE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES WITH THE VOX, ALASTOR, AND LUCI (AND ANYONE ELSE YOU WANT) AND SITTING ON THEIR LAP AND WHAT GOES DOWN FROM THERE (IM GOING INSANE)

have a nice day, love your writing, drink lotsa water!!!<3

៸៸ ﹟PLAYER NUMBER TWO!

characters. Vox, Alastor, Lucifer and Adam

warning. fem!reader, video game references, smut, 18+ minors dni

author’s note. i’m licking the plate clean at this idea because i just love it so much. thank you for the request anon, you’re so sweet and make sure you take care of yourself too, treat yourself to something nice! i added games to their personality so lmk what y’all think, did i match them correctly? also i have to say thank you sooooo much for 200+ followers??? like what??? i gotta come up with something very juicy for y’all. now enjoy sinners.

ALASTOR

“Ah!” The jumpscare from the scary game had you jolt in Alasto’s lap, making the usually cynical man grin down on your mischievously. You both had wanted to spend some quality time together by playing video games and of course Alastor picked the game, Tormented Souls.

Not only was it scary but it had a jumpscare at every damn left turn. It had gotten so bad to the point that you were sweating like a sinner in church— anticipating it, expecting it, and yet you still would jump. Though your lover Alastor had barely bat an eye to the scary bits as he controlled his character with delicate composure, progressing through the game with expertise.

Alastor wasn’t a saint, he had not only picked this game because it was scary but because he knew you would jump and every time you would squirm in his lap your hips would brush against his cock in the most delicious way. Call it a ploy to get you to grind on him or whatever you wanted to call it but he was too busy reaping the rewards of you in his lap during this gaming session, “Fuck!” You jumped again this time moving in such a way that you felt his hardening dick press against the panties that you wore, teasing you.

“Oh what is this my dear?” Alastor would grin, dropping his controller to grip your hips so he could force you grind on him. One thing led to another and you were moving your hips which such reckless abandon as he clothed cock just rubbed against your clit the right way, making your sopping pussy closer to an orgasm, “What a vixen you are! I barely even touched you and you’re already soaking wet. How entertaining.”

VOX

You were sitting in Vox’s lap, the both of you indulging yourselves in playing video games to take a break from everything at the V tower until you both were freshly rejuvenated for the next day. Though playing Minecraft might not have been a good idea because it caused for more stress than relaxation for some, especially Vox. “Why the fuck are my chickens escaping?” “Did you make a fence?” “It won’t even follow me, the fuck?” “They will follow you if you hold seeds.” “Where the fuck do I get seeds?”

He’d be yelling in your ear but the sound of his voice right on your earlobe and neck made you shiver. Vox noticed this and couldn’t help but smirk, “You enjoying being in my lap, sweetheart?” You turn around in his arms so you could straddle his waist with a suggestive smile. Before you knew it Vox was digging in his fingertips so harshly into your hips as he controlled your movements, impaling you with his cock and enjoying the way your pleading words fell from your soft lips. He bounced you up and down his length not giving a damn if your just came already. “V-Vox! It’s too much! Please…! Ah, fuck!”

Your pussy sucked him in greedily, velvety wall clenching around him as if you didn’t want to let him go. Vox drank in your form like a pure alcoholic. The breathless pants escaping his mouth was barely enough to make coherent sentences as his mind swimmed with bliss. With half lidded eyes, he watched you bounce along his cock, his eyes drifting downwards to watch it stretch you impossibly wide as you sank back down with a loud moan, “Such a naughty girl, enjoying my cock like a little fucking whore. Now tell me while you bounce on my cock,” Vox was in your ear again, groaning loudly but kept his serious tone, “How do I keep my Minecraft chickens?”

LUCIFER

“(Y/N) I finally got Ketchup to complete my duck island, come look! She is soooo adorable!” Lucifer held out his Nintendo switch for you to see the duck villager move onto his island. Your boyfriend— the King of Hell was currently obsessed with having a duck only Animal Crossing island and instead of taking the easy route he had spent weeks in search of Ketchup in the game and thanks to him manifesting it for himself sure enough he found the infamous Ketchup the duck.

You place your own Nintendo switch down to crawl into his lap, full expecting just to be all cute and cuddly but Lucifer had other ideas. How could he focus on creating a duckie empire in his game when your ass rubbed on him in all the right places. The man had been alone for 7 years— surely you knew he lacked physical touch and intimacy for a long time and now? Oh now he was touch starved.

“Her design is to die for! Lucifer now that you finished you could—Lucifer..?” Your eyes widen slightly when you felt Lucifer reposition you two with ease. You were now on all fours with your ass on full display for him, you turned on your cheek to glance back at him with a teasing smile, “What are you doing, Lulu?”

“I think you know my love,” With a snap of his fingers your clothes dissolved into nothing but smoke, leaving you naked and completely at his mercy, “Now don’t be shy, open up for me.” Suddenly your moans were filling the room, bouncing off the walls, leaving you nothing but a drooling mess beneath Lucifer. His grip tightened around your waist, giving you slow and deep thrust that had your eyes rolling into the back of your head. The lewd, squelch! sound coming from your pussy echoing throughout the bedroom, sounding like a sinful melody to the Kings ears. He picks up his pace, his balls slapping against your clit repeatedly as he hit that spot within you that made you arch your back more in desperate need for him to hit it again.

ADAM

“(Y/N) babe, I’m going to need you to stop shooting at the walls and actually shoot another player, please and thank you.” Adam was getting a bit annoyed with you during your gaming session of Call of Duty and it didn’t help that you were on his lap, blocking his own view— and getting himself distracted. Why did you have to sit in his lap again? Something about wanting to feel closer to him or whatever cheesy shit you said he wasn’t really paying attention. He was complaining about it but he just wanted to tease you, in reality he loved it, “Pay attention (Y/N), this is a team effort, can’t have you going down first, danger tits.”

Your back was to Adam’s chest and your boyfriend couldn’t help his cock straining against the fabric of his red apple print pajama shorts at the feeling of your warm cunt pressing against himself you didn’t mean it in the way but he took it that way. With a devious grin, he would bring his long slender fingers to rub your clothed sex teasingly, making you nearly jump slightly from the contact, “Adam—!”

“Focus on the game babe, I’m not doing anything.” Adam was such a liar. He had now snaked his fingers past the waistband of your leggings, groaning softly to himself upon making contact with your slick folds. He rubbed your clit making you completely submit to his ministrations with a soft moan, letting your body relax against him as you clutched the controller in your hand. Your toes curled and legs began to slightly close as Adam added a finger, then two, then three. “Spread your legs wider gorgeous, let me play with that pretty pussy.”

© POPAMOLLY 2024 all fanfics belong to me, do not copy, translate, or repost on any other social media.

[schrodinger-swriter]

i don't remember if you've done this already, but can you do Lucifer x bimbo reader? also i love your fics SMM!!💞

Lucifer x Bimbo!Reader

Apologies for the wait, Anon. I have been rather busy with real life things and admittedly my mental health and physical health have not been the best. Slowly I am feeling better, though. No where near 100% but at least I'm alive.

I hope you enjoy! C:

He thinks you're pretty... really pretty... but boy.. Can you be a bit air headed. Don't get him wrong, he does love you. He does respect you. He does make sure you keep yourself safe. But sometimes you leave him scratching his head... Of course Lucifer has his moments himself where he isn't the brightest but sometimes you leave him a little slack jawed. Though, sometimes your air headedness is a little endearing... even if Hell isn't the best place for such a character... So many unsavory people ready to take advantage of your naivete...

You have your own walk in closet at his home, as well as a very fancy and very expensive looking vanity. With a flick of his wrist he can make just about any product you desire appear out of what seems to be thin air.. However he's right at your heel if you want to go out and look at what the shops have to offer. He might just carry all of your bags, too.

He does enjoy some of your innocence, it is a nice change of pace against the cynical sinners that he sometimes runs into. Which is... Funny since he himself is cynical to the sinners he insists are cruel. Sometimes just being around you let's him take some weight off of his shoulders. Maybe things don't always have to be so serious and gloom all the time.

You might convince him to let you dress him up.

[gamesetattach]

Valentine's Special

Jannik Sinner x Reader After nearly a month of distance during their established relationship, reader and Jannik are having a harder and harder time dealing with being apart. Warnings... Valentine's Day Cynicism

Jannik had always thought of relationships as something that shouldn’t interfere with his career. He had convinced himself that having a partner shouldn’t—or rather, wouldn’t—change much. Tennis had always been his priority, his life structured around training, travel, and competition. But then you had come along, and without even meaning to, you had rewritten everything.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t function without you—he could, and well. He was still training and playing hard as ever, and was now in Doha preparing for his next match with his renowned, unbreakable discipline. A full life to him used to mean days mostly consisting of his practice regime and the company of his team, but now those things alone just felt incomplete. Ever since you.

So when you weren't around, it always felt like he was missing something.

You'd last been together at the Australian Open, and he had been counting down the days until he could see you again ever since. He had hoped that his short off-season before the Qatar Open would hold some uninterrupted time with you, but your work had pulled you away. Your travel for a new project overlapped with the time in between tournaments, sending you halfway across the world for work. He understood—your career was just as important as his, and he would never be the kind of partner to ask you to compromise on your ambitions. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t hard.

Jannik wasn’t used to missing someone quite like this. It was an ache, a quiet but persistent tug at his chest that lingered throughout the days. Mornings felt empty without waking up beside you, nights stretched too long without your laughter filling the space. He missed everything—the way you absentmindedly run your fingers up and down the back of his hair, the way you'd mutter to yourself when you were deep in thought, the way you always made faces at him when you thought no one was looking. Even the quiet moments, when you would just sit together without saying much at all and just exist in each other’s presence, had become something he longed for.

The only thing keeping him sane were your calls.

They had quickly become the best part of his day. No matter how different your time zones were, no matter how late or early it got for either of you, you both made time for them. He could go through hours of practice in the heat, and train until his body ached, but everything washed away the moment his phone lit up with your name.

"Hey, baby," you would greet him, voice warm and familiar, instantly easing the weight of the day.

He couldn't help but sigh, a small smile always tugging at his lips. "Hey. Tell me everything."

And you would. You’d recount your day, your voice animated as you talked about your project, the people you met, the small things you noticed that you knew he’d find funny. And then you’d turn it on him, asking about his training, his stories, and everything ever.

"So, how was today? Take any balls to the balls like yesterday?" you teased one evening, phone propped in the bathroom as you got ready in a hotel room miles away.

Jannik let out a chuckle. "Not for me, but Darren had... an incident."

"Oh? Do tell."

"I was getting too close to him during one of our drills" Jannik said, shaking his head. "He warned me, but I just waved it off. Then, boom. Nearly took his head off his neck with a backhand."

You gasped. "No way."

"I know. He tried to play it off, but we all saw him stumble backward and I know my swing was very hard. Marco and Uli couldn’t hold in their laughter. Even Simone lost it." Jannik was laughing now, the memory still fresh. "I swear, as calm as Darren is, I think he actually was pissed for once. Gave me the longest circuits of my life after that."

You cackled. "Oh, totally unrelated call of his, I’m sure. Ugh, I wish I could have seen it."

"Sadly, no footage. If only, because how hard Simone was laughing it must have been funny. I wish I got a better view."

"Aw, poor Darren. I would not want to on the other end of your racket. Not as an opponent, and definitely not as a casualty."

And you both laughed and, just like that, the distance didn’t feel so unbearable.

Jannik grinned. "I’ll make sure to relay your condolences."

---

As much as he loved those calls, they were only a temporary fix. No screen could make up for the feeling of holding you, the warmth of your presence beside him. He wanted to see you, to feel the weight of your head against his shoulder, to press a kiss to your temple. The moments in between your contact, and right after your calls, made your absence feel that much larger. It took a great effort for him remind himself that you'd be together soon.

He hadn’t quite realized how much he had grown to prefer going through his life with you around until you weren’t there. He was still whole on his own, but with you, he was more—his days fuller, his nights warmer, his world brighter.

And now, another morning standing in the Doha heat wiping sweat from his forehead, weeks into being you being away, he could only think of one thing in between practice sessions: You.

And how he needed to see you again. Soon.

---

Jannik laid in bed, holding the the phone above him in front of his face, one arm tucked behind his head. The hotel room was dimly lit, only the bedside lamp and the screen to cast a warm glow over his face. He could hear the occasional murmur of traffic outside, but otherwise, the room was quiet—too quiet. The kind of quiet that made him miss you even more; he turned the volume up on your call.

"What are you even doing?" he asked, voice slightly drowsy as he watched the screen. The sight of you, doing something as normal and everyday as maneuvering a shopping cart down the grocery store aisle, made his chest squeeze.

"Oh, you know, just navigating through capitalist hell," you quipped, flashing a dry smirk. "It’s all hearts and roses and overpriced chocolate in here. It’s an actual nightmare."

Jannik chuckled. "And you're deeply affected."

"You know I am," you deadpanned. "You should’ve seen the display by the entrance. There was a literal, towering mountain of pink teddy bears—and they're so freaky looking! And they sing when you press their stomachs. And even when just walk past them, to be honest. It’s fucking scary."

He laughed again, shaking his head. "Oh come on, there's worse than teddy bears. It’s only Valentine’s Day."

"Oh, don't get me started. You know how I feel about it," you said, as you made a sharp turn with the cart around a corner. "It’s a total scam. A corporate ploy to make people spend money on things they don’t need, all in the name of some grand romantic gesture. And don’t even get me started on the expectations. The dinner reservations, the expensive gifts, the pressure to do something special just because the date on the calendar says so. It’s ridiculous."

Jannik smiled, eyes softening as he listened to your familiar antics. "You’ve given me this speech before."

"And yet, you still seem to enjoy bringing it up. Just love to poke the bear, don't you?"

"Because it’s funny," he admitted. "You went on a whole rant about it early on when we just started dating, remember? I think we were out for coffee, and you got irrationally angry over some heart-shaped sugar cookie."

You groaned. "Because it was two euros more than a normal cookie! Because it was pink? That’s robbery in any court of law, Jan."

Jannik bit his lip to keep from laughing too hard. "A true crime against humanity."

"That's what I'm saying!"

He watched as you grabbed a carton of milk from the shelf, stuffing it into your cart before turning back to the screen. "Speaking of... Valentine's is coming up later this week."

Your eyes narrowed immediately. "What? Don’t tell me you’re falling for the trap now, too. I thought I trained you better than this."

Jannik smirked, tilting his head back against the pillow. "No, no, never. I wouldn’t dare. I just thought... if your schedule allows, of course—maybe you could come to Doha for the weekend. Not even for Valentine's or anything, it's just... we haven’t seen each other in weeks, and won't for at least another few."

Your fingers tightened around the handle of the cart, suddenly all too aware of your own face and expressions on the screen. You hadn’t expected him to ask outright, even though you had a feeling he was considering it.

You swallowed, forcing a regretful sigh. "Jannik, I’m so sorry. I can’t. Work is getting especially busy."

His brows furrowed slightly, the hope in his face dimming. Still, he turned it back to you, checking in. "Is everything going okay?"

You nodded quickly, rushing the lie. "Yeah, but it’s going to pick up the next few days. Honestly, it’s gonna be crazy. I might even have trouble calling and texting as much."

Jannik exhaled quietly, nodding in understanding. And though he tried his best to cover it, his disappointment was clear. "I get it. Work comes first. You'll smooth it over in no time, I'm sure."

It hurt you to watch how easily he accepted it. How his reaction came second to his unwavering support, even with how let down you could tell he was.

"I’m sorry," you murmured again, softer this time.

"It’s okay," he said, but the mirth in his voice had dimmed into something just a little despondent. "I just miss you, that’s all."

There was a pause. One where you could hear the unspoken weight in his words. One where you nearly cracked and told him the truth.

But you held off.

Instead, you smiled, trying to keep the mood light. "I know. I miss you too. But don’t get any ideas—I’m not sending you flowers."

He let out a small laugh, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "No teddy bear either? Not even the singing kind?"

"No, definitely not. And trust me when I say I'm doing you a favor."

You both sat in silence for a moment, your eyes locked through the screen, the time and space between you more pronounced than ever. It took everything for you to school your face, and not give anything away—after all, no one knew you as well as him.

"You should get some sleep," you finally said, noting the time and how tired he looked.

Jannik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I guess."

You hesitated, then smiled softly. "Goodnight, Jan."

"Goodnight, I love you."

The call ended, and Jannik stared at the dark screen for a long moment before placing his phone on the nightstand. The absence of you always felt especially jarring right after your phone calls. He exhaled slowly, rolling onto his side, the emptiness beside him noticeable and cold.

And, not for the first time in weeks, he fell into a restless night of sleep.

---

Jannik had come down from his room on Valentine's Day to meet a flood of claps on the back and cheery, cheeky smiles from his team, each one relaying some variation of greetings for the "holiday". He responded with equal, playful enthusiasm, smirking as his friends all checked in on their respective partners, planning FaceTime calls, last-minute gifts, or made dinner plans from afar. They all knew the drill when it came to balancing their love lives and relationships with their frequency of travel. Jannik, however, had been met with radio silence ever since the teasing text acknowledging Valentine's day sent to you in time for what should have been your morning of.

You had been calling and texting less and less over the past few days, explaining that work was piling up, leaving you with barely any time. He understood, of course, but it didn’t stop the pang of disappointment each time he checked his phone and saw nothing from you. And he checked more often than he cared to admit. The last proper conversation had been a few nights ago, and even then, it had felt a little distant. He hadn’t wanted to press you, these periods weren't uncommon with your busy schedules, but without communication the distance between you two felt even greater.

Still, he pushed the thoughts aside as he made his way to the courts. Jack Draper, his practice partner for the day, greeted him with an easy grin, stretching out his arm as Jannik set his bag down.

"Happy Valentine’s, mate. Good to see you."

Jannik grinning at his old friend. "You too. Have a nice date lined up?"

Jack snorted. "Something like that. What about you? How's your relationship going?"

Jannik blinked, caught slightly off guard, but nodded. "She’s good, we're good. Great, actually... but she's away right now, she has this big project for work."

Jack hummed. "Right. Sorry, man. Distance is tough."

Jannik ignored the look of sympathy Jack gave him and turned his focus to his warm up. The practice was grueling, the Qatar sun relentless even in the winter. They pushed through long rallies, each point more intense than the last. It was exactly the kind of distraction Jannik needed.

That was, until he walked back to the bench for some water and saw an unusual guest sat in his place.

A pink teddy bear.

Sitting there, staring up at him with beady, hollow eyes. He looked around quickly, before picking it up in confusion. At his touch, the stuffed animal began... singing?

Jannik froze, water bottle now forgotten. His team was no help, they were ignoring his looks and had all suddenly found something very interesting to look at everywhere but him, failing to suppress their laughter.

Slowly, he reached down and pressed the bear’s belly. It let out a cheerful little jingle amidst its screechy song, a high-pitched I love you, I love you squawking from its speaker.

He narrowed his eyes, scanning the court and the stands. No way. His pulse had kicked up, heart thudding as his mind dared to hope. No way she—

Then, movement. A figure appeared amidst the stands, hands raised in mock surrender.

It was you.

It was actually you.

Jannik's breath caught. His body moved before his brain could fully catch up, his legs closing the distance between you in long, hurried strides. His team erupted into cheers, clapping and whooping as they watched him climb over the barrier.

He reached for you, hands finding your waist and pulling you into him, reveling in the warmth of you after weeks of being without. Your arms wrapped around him instantly, your body fitting against his just like he remembered.

"You—" His voice broke off into a laugh, and pushed you to arms length for a second to really look at you, face full of disbelief and relief. "You’re here?"

You grinned, pulling him down for a kiss, feeling tension in his jaw melt the moment you pressed against him. "Surprise."

He held you tight for a moment, and face his face into your neck. Breathing you in, he muffled out a few words. "I can't believe this."

You pulled back just enough to look up at him. "And I'm glad. It took a lot to keep you from figuring this out."

Jannik shook his head, still grinning, still trying to process that you were actually in front of him. He repeated what he said before, "I can’t believe this."

"Well, I’m here. Better believe it."

His thumb brushed over your cheek, a gesture so instinctive and fond that it made your breath hitch. "How? When?"

You laughed softly. "I’ve been planning it since before we even had that one call where you asked. That’s why I’ve been bad at responding—I was traveling since then. That, and I knew you'd catch on if I had to lie to your face."

Jannik let out a breath, shaking his head again. "And here I was thinking you were too busy for me."

You softened, squeezing his hand. "Never."

He dipped down for another kiss, this one longer and deeper with only the beginning of three weeks worth of emotion leaking out. For that moment, it was just you and him. The world faded, the background noise of practice and the team, everything else slipping away. Then from back on the court, Jack cleared his throat loudly.

"Alright, alright, I'm glad we pulled off this reunion, but some of us have do have practice to finish."

You turned and called back, grinning at him. "Sorry, Jack. Didn’t mean to steal your Valentine's date and training partner all in one go."

Jack smirked. "Oh, you absolutely meant to. But I guess I can share."

Jannik, still beaming, tugged you closer by the waist. "You’re staying for the weekend?"

"Of course," you murmured, tilting your head up to meet his gaze. "Figured I might as well spend this ridiculous holiday with someone I actually like."

Jannik laughed, pressing a long kiss to your forehead. "Good. Because I actually like you too."

And with that, he made his back to the court with this blissful smile on his face, and you thought maybe Valentine’s Day didn’t have to be so ridiculous after all.

---

I'm personally a big fan of Valentine's day, but I hope this fic was a rounded out enough demonstration of feelings for the day. A little bit of hate, a lot of love, and a fair amount of longing. Hope you enjoyed xx

[makimacult]

what's the deal with this "love" thing anyways? — part two.

read part one

and now, on the flip side: the humans (a witch is still a human being according to dante, and the extras state that witches can give up their demonic contracts to be human again.) who are intimately familiar with love.

has love saved dante and verge? love certainly did not save mother rosa.

the intersection between love and duty is something mtefil interrogates. leah takes the duty of revenge for her family upon herself & ultimately her love for barbara triumphs.

dante has chosen duty over verge—and what is his thought process for doing so? he is one of the few adult exorcists, he understands verge's grievances with the church, he is clearly miserable (& suicidal. and does in fact kill himself!) so why then does he stay?

something to consider in the mtefil universe is that hell and demons are real. <millions may have died> if beelzebub was allowed to continue his rampage.

who would've stopped him if not the church? beelzebub is most malevolent of the demon lords (he's even referred to as <the worst of the worst> in the latest chapter lmao) but truly, what would stop leviathan or mammon from also cutting a path through a continent? it's not their style to do something like that, but how do ants understand the thought process of giants?

[1] the church exists out of a fear that is concrete in the mtefil universe & i really do appreciate the manga's writing in this regard. it would be very easy to make the church tropey one-note jrpg villains, yet the extras (im too sleepy to add sources rn, but if you send an ask i will note them) take pains to confirm that the church is not a monolith, believers exist within the church that disagree with the overall direction, there's even a schism between the pope and cardinal heisenberg—

and of course ultimately this does not cancel out the church's crimes against innocents.

the church styles itself as benevolent defenders, but to the more cynical church adults (i count daniel and dante here) they see themselves as a necessary evil. see how clinically dante and daniel talk about priest here.

these are adults who have internalised being a cog in the greater machine. they're aware that they are fighting a losing battle (demon lords after all, regenerate and humanity's sins can never be completely cleansed) and they have resigned themselves to that. they feel for the younger generation, but they're all of them soldiers that have been conscripted into a war that's been going on longer than they ever existed.

the demon lords are an unstoppable force, and the church is an immovable object, and witches, human victims like leah's family, and demons like imuri who want to find a peaceful existence—will be stuck between them unless the status quo changes.

the question of god.

this section is just my conjecture—but i personally think we will never really see god in mtefil. we get both views of god:

god as terrifying, high-handed and cruel, and god (or faith) as salvation for the people to hold onto when they have very little else.

schrodinger's cat—two important panels i think of when it comes to god's position in the mtefil universe is priest telling verge that it sounds like he believes in god (and indeed, priest uses scripture from the gospel of john to save people later in the chapter) and dante accusing verge of wanting to "take even god away from people."

verge has come to the conclusion that the current story must be destroyed and rewritten, and god as currently conceived is evil. dante (my interpretation here) insists that god as currently exists is still preferable to no god at all (& remember that this is a practical line of thought given we haven't seen how sinners and the damned are treated in gehenna...)

imagine: you know hell is real; would you still kill god (who is ineffable and ambiguous, for the chance of creating a better world? it's a decision only someone who is extremely determined can make-and i am so interested in what the witches' endgame is.)

lastly: i personally think it would be rather cheap of the manga to straightforwardly state that the faith the church cast has in god has been misplaced, and that god is malicious. like dgmw—growing up, his dark materials was one of my favourite books. im familiar with and love narratives about killing aod. tonally however, i do not think mtefil will go here.

reference to the page where imuri watches in awe while the exorcists save people—this, to me, is what potentially the endgame of the manga could be. a reordering of the world where exorcists do not have to fight demons, and miracles can be used to save people, and not just kill demons.

if you've read this far, thank you. i'd love to hear other people's takes (must add that i am very bad at replying on tumblr tho. i shall try my best.) also tumblr deleted half of this post while i was typing it up so. apologies if i sound incoherent as fuck.

[sarcastic-ace-artist]

Doodles for the Swap AU on @hazbinhazbinhazbinreblog's blog

Charlie is the Overlord of Hell itself

Alastor is still the Radio Demon and is an Overlord, but he doesn't really exert his power like he had to in the past

I wanted to experiment with Alastor's hair since canonically he's supposed to be mixed

More info about the drawings under the cut

Charlie & Alastor are swapped

Charlie has major mommy issues. You know that one post that's like "mommy issues make you a sociopath"? That's Charlie but multiplied by 10. She looks more like Lilith in this AU because I think it adds to that.

She does genuinely still believe in redemption, but part of it is because she knows it will piss her mom off.

Speaking of her parents, Charlie has a better relationship with her dad in this au

She wants everyone to get along, but has no qualms about using force when it comes down to it

However she does need Alastor's help with something that she hasn't said yet so she's trying to get close to him to get his help

She's also trying to drive a wedge between him and Vox for that same reason

Rosie & Niffty are swapped

Rosie isn't the maid, but she's the concierge and sometimes she uses her free time to clean the rooms

She's still the head of Cannibal Colony, but I don't think she's an Overlord in this au (unless someone says otherwise)

Best friends with Alastor

Vaggie & Vox are swapped

Vox isn't a fallen angel, but he is a fallen Overlord

He hasn't told Alastor yet since the reason he gave up his Overlord status was because he fell in love with Alastor after he planned to kill him

Alastor thinks Vox is just a regular sinner and has no idea Vox was going to kill him at first

They've been dating for a while

Vox is super cynical and is a grouch most of the time but he does love Alastor and wants to help him with the hotel

Alastor knows redemption is possible because he's seen it happen before when his mom ascended

He's pushing for redemption because he wants to see her again and because he doesn't like how heaven seems to be running things

His personality change is because his mom was with him for a few decades in Hell until she was redeemed

Alastor didn't meet Vox until after his mom was sent to heaven

Vox is super protective of Alastor

Alastor's territory is where the hotel is

[pvlvsdog]

I feel like most sinners have some sort of praise kink or need for affection and attention because of what’s happened to them.

Hmm sort of? In my opinion, there are a few that like those things more than the others, yk. For example there are quite a few lines where Heathcliff reacts strongly to praise/compliments and you can kind of see he wants attention, at least from specific people. Take that time when others were discussing Ishmael’s past (CIV I think? It was when they first mentioned her being on a boat) and he butts in with a boat joke, clearly expecting a reaction from her (even in CV when he jokes about being spanked Dante notes that they can almost hear Ish reacting to that. Which btw, is a bit wild). So like, definitely uses the quips to get attention, in a class clown sort of way? [affectionate]. And given his flustered reaction when he was informed that Dante’s club comment could be a compliment, praise is definitely going to work well on him. Same with characters like Gregor or Emil. Greg’s unused to being perceived in a positive light in general. The best he ever got is being a useful tool for his mother, but that’s just as awful and beyond that, he was generally labelled as dangerous and disgusting. I’m… not sure if he would take compliments and attention in a way Heath or Rodya, for example, would. He’s more bitter, more convinced that this stuff just isn’t something someone like him gets. Sure, he’s nice and friendly (Dante notes that when he’s silent things seem off since he’s usually the one trying to lighten the mood and chat to other sinners) but there’s no doubt that he’s pretty cynical about the world. He’s very defeatist and doesn’t expect good things from life. Add to it his particular sensitivity to being compared to a pest (something Heath points out at one point) and I think he wouldn’t trust your intentions when you tell him kindly or pay special attention to him. I mentioned it before but I think the best word here would be exasperation. He doesn’t know what to do with himself. And even if he wants to receive your affection “the proper way” he’s lost on what that way would be. His life up to this point didn’t provide the kind of environment where one learns the ropes of human connection. So he shifts under your gaze, freezes upon gentle touch, stumbles over his words when you give him compliments. And that is when he can even spot them. Mostly he just misses the hints. So yeah, I mean, he could use more of that kind of treatment, but don’t expect him not to fumble spectacularly. With Sinclair it’s a bit better? He clings to the feeling of being cared for and liked. It’s something he knows from his past and misses dearly. Plus like, I might joke about him liking milfs but in the book he’s very affected by the idea of a ‘maternal woman’ in a romantic way. Same with his older friend, he likes the way Demian offers him guidance and protection. In the game you get that too with how much he enjoys getting treats or how easily convinced he is by Rodya to perform. So all three things you mentioned would have an effect on him for sure. Only way it wouldn’t work is if he’s um. Going through it. And doesn’t think his actions deserve much in terms of being rewarded. Like how he told Heathcliff that he wouldn’t want to get praised for the way he was trying to make things right for Pilot. Rodya, on the other hand, would not turn down any praise in my opinion. Her self esteem is in shambles and much like her book version, she needs and craves being told good things about herself. She wouldn’t admit it, but her thoughts are rather horrid, so she will use any words that counter her inner doubts. And with the way a lot of the things she does are in relation to being recognised as the hero of the story, your attention would definitely be well received as well. The last one miiight be a bit of a stretch, but Yi Sang just could use more positive connections overall. After his canto you can see him seeking out interactions and experiences more. And I think he deserves to hear nice things. It would make him happy I recon.

But then we have characters like Ryoshu, who, in me eyes, wouldn’t care for attention in general. Like, if you’re romancing her then sure, listen to her talk about art, but that’s not very universal. In general, she’d rather have you understand and appreciate her art than be overtly doting. This would also overwhelm Don a bit, as (I haven’t played her canto, forgive me if I don’t get it) her way of connecting with you is more that of exchanging worldviews and stories. And trying to get you interested in her Fixer stuff. Obviously, you will fluster her with specific compliments, but it’s not a crucial part of building a relationship with her. Lastly, I think you would need to lean in more so on the understanding when building a relationship with Ishmael. Cause like, attention is only a small part here, she needs someone to see with her eye to eye and maybe even challenge her when she’s fixating on the wrong path. Like, I’m not saying you shouldn’t give her attention. But in terms of pure fluff I think it would do a better job if you got her to relax and let go a bit, especially when her anxieties are getting the best of her. Like, get her to stop frantically gripping onto feeling of control. But like, if we’re talking specifically praise, I’m just not sure that it would work as strongly, like compared to Heathcliff for example yk. But I mean, showing affection and being attentive towards your partner is not a miss so, like, go for it

I don’t have much notable thoughts in terms of others. Like yeah, I can see like, Hong Lu liking that type of treatment too. So I guess there’s that? But like I generally agree, I just wanted to share my ‚most’ and ‚least’ receptive to someone being to them the way you described. Despite the formatting, those are my loose thoughts I wrote on a bus haha not like scenarios or anything. Though if you want that from me, I’ll take an ask like that

[picaroroboto]

Family, sacrifice, and heroism in Canto 7

Let me preface by saying that as common as they are in fiction, tropes and themes about family can be hard to talk about because family can be a difficult topic for many people, and as a meta poster I don't want to reveal too much about my own issues while trying to discuss video games. But on a post I made the other day about Ryoshu a commenter left a note to the effect of "are any parents actually suited to being parents?" and I think those words are gonna stick in me for a while.

On that note Don Quixote the First Kindred AKA Dad Quixote is probably one of those sort of imperfect parents, given how he created his Family largely to heal his own loneliness. There is lots of genuine love between him and his Kindred, no doubt or argument there, but the suffering the Bloodfiends went through while following his orders not to drink blood seems tatamount to abuse and neglect. Restraining their appetite in order to not harm humans is a heroic sacrifice for the greater good, but the others lacked his strength of willpower to endure the hunger - maybe he could power through it knowing it's a heroic sacrifice, but the rest don't feel the same because heroism is his dream and not theirs. It could be said that as a parent he holds his children to high expectations that they in the end are unable to reach.

Of course what they do to him in return is terrible, downright biblical torture with the Christ-like imagery of being nailed to a structure, but worse than the physical suffering is the way he is psychologically broken by the loss of his dream, not just the adventure with Sancho but the way his children betrayed his ideal of coexistence. Now believing his dream to have always been impossible, he turns from his heroic sacrifice for the greater good and resigns himself to sacrificing his dream for the good of the family, at the expense of both his great suffering and the lives of human victims of La Manchaland. At one point he says "I am no longer the only one with claim to my body? It must be used...for the good of my Children..." He may be the Father of the Bloodfiend clan but here he expresses something like a distressing view of motherhood that forces women to devote everything to their families.

And the ideal he sacrificed and sacrificed for wasn't even his, at least not at first, he picked it up from Bari and her stories. Ironically her title of "Knight of the White Moon", in the original novel it belonged to a character who was trying on behalf of Quixote's family to return him to sanity, essentially beating him at his own game by dressing up as a knight and challenging him to a duel on the condition that he'd return home if he lost. The best scenes in the novel are ones where other characters get drawn into Quixote's madness and are left wondering who is actually crazy here: him, me, or the whole world? Like one of my favorite scenes, where he mistakes a group of police and the chain gang they are leading for slavers with captives, and charges and frees the prisoners - like he's got a point there, the incarceration system is little different than slavery with any other name.

Back to Limbus, the Sinner Don Quixote often seems like a fool because she just can't understand that The City is an incredibly unjust, corrupt place, but like her original she is also a question - who is the fool here: the cynical world, or the idiot who believes in justice? Time and again her belief leads the Sinners into trouble, or leads to no result at all, but because she keeps trying to believe, the other Sinners get infected by her optimism a little and are there to push her back when she's on the verge of abandoning her principles once her memories return and she sees what has been done to her father.

I know I said at the start that I don't want to reveal much about myself in meta, but I have a thing for stories that treat heroism seriously. Allowing your hero to see both the dark and the light in the world, to be tested by ambiguity and failure and suffering, makes them so much better than a story where the hero always wins just because they're the hero; a battered and imperfect hero in an unjust world becomes a light amidst darkness like a star in the night...anyways that's why I love Canto 7, even the anime-like action sequences and power of friendship moment, because it is truly fitting. Don the Sinner has awoken from the dream in learning her past and having to fight a battle that was neither just nor easy, but has also chosen to continue dreaming, in choosing to continue believing in things like justice and friendship despite everything she's been through and will continue to go through on her journey.

...And I guess this post got away from me and my original intent, but that's what happens when you set off on an adventure, isn't it?

[dsknsk]

I love how PM keeps playing with tropes. We've seen the tropes that they deconstruct within Limbus (in fact, it is a theory of mine that each Sinner is based on a stereotypical character from gachas), the way that they pick up the cyberpunk trope and basically throw it across the room, but another huge one is...

Carmen.

Look. I think that Carmen was and is based on the traditional 'Mary Sue'. Because...well, some traits that are said to belong to the 'Mary Sue', are turned brilliantly on their head by PM. So, for typical 'Mary Sue' traits, there's:

Pretty in the traditional sense. 'Mary Sues' always look perfect, peerless and never have to work hard to maintain their image. While, as far as I know, there hasn't really been made an in-universe compliment on Carmen's physical appearance...you'd rather stop and listen to someone who at least looks like they can be trusted wouldn't you? She's likened to the sun, as Oswald called her that, and is inside the light. (Also, out-of-universe: she is certainly pretty in my eyes. She adheres to the modern beauty standards at the very least).

Related to the above: charming. The 'Mary Sue' often has an innate charm that attracts others to her. The way that Carmen has this is through her voice, which already was powerful enough to let her traverse the dangerous Backstreets unarmed, standing out from all those other Backstreets preachers somehow and draw in the most cynical noblemen, but is even more charming after death. She doesn't even need to give a breaking speech or anything, as we've seen, she just gives you questions and comments on things. Which falls in line with...

Powerful, yet without having to break a sweat. Even before dying, she was already drawing in people without having to get physical (at least, none we know of). The only time we fight her as of yet (Kether realisation), Angela needs to use an attack that depletes all her HP to win, after five phases have already passed.

The 'Mary Sue' is often a so-called spotlight stealer. She will have a major role in the story, inexplicably, at least one other character will fall in love with her and she will overall have a large presence. So far, Carmen is the only character who has appeared in all three of the games, and if you count the Distortion and the Library, she has influenced WonderLab, Leviathan and Distortion Detective as well. She was also relevantly connected to the main cast of LobCorp and has influenced most of them in some way (i.e Ayin, Angela, Giovanni, arguably Kali, etc.). She remains to be relevant to several major story turns and has left her mark in them, in some way.

Unusual eyes. It's a stereotype that 'Mary Sues' always have unusual eyes. A common type is heterochromia (which is why I often jokingly call Hong Lu a 'Mary Sue'), but other types exist like sparkly rainbow or them changing like a mood ring or something. Carmen has red eyes, which are a common side-effect of body enhancements (Vergilius had them and the R Corp pack leaders too)...except, as we said, for as far as we know, Carmen hasn't had any. They are also a trait of Bloodfiends, but she isn't (yet) confirmed to be one. Either way, red eyes are a sign of the not-weak in the City.

Oftentimes, 'Mary Sues' are referred to as divinity, as pure grace from an utmost high all-powerful deity. They may or may not even be that deity. With Carmen, she practically had a cult of personality around her when she was alive...and she also had an analogue in another pale-skinned, red-eyed being that is also treated like this. She was described as this paeon of altruism and someone who genuinely wants the best for humanity.

Meaningful name. While not so immediately on-the-nose like 'Flowersparkle', Carmen's name can be seen as a reference to the infamous prototype of the femme fatale, once again hinting at that charming quality of hers.

Perfect. A 'Mary Sue' never fails at what she does...and that's where PM shows through that...

...Carmen is a parody on the 'Mary Sue'. A so-called 'Parody Sue'...but not played for laughs. The thing is that she is described as being all this...by those she already has enthralled. Those that aren't really involved with her - Hokma (was more loyal to Ayin), Binah (who wasn't in the picture during Carmen's life), and Roland (a stranger to LobCorp to begin with) have their say during Ruina and offer us another view at Carmen, our first, and one thing becomes clear:

A real 'Mary Sue' would be weird as fuck.

Carmen shows us how weird a 'Mary Sue' would actually be in a world that isn't sunshine and rainbows - an extremely uncanny, severely misguided being who nonetheless draws people to herself, who show a creepy amount of belief and devotion to her. Carmen thinks that the 'be yourself' message - so omnipresent in media - should prevail...in a world where the majority of people are either pieces of shit or are living such a dreary, miserable life that they just give up all hope.

But all of this is only revealed in the second game and pulls the player out of the dream. And so, Carmen does end up failing to convince some people like Dongbaek and Dongrang who manage to develop E.G.O instead.

Because despite what she was painted as in the past, in reality, Carmen is not a 'Mary Sue'. And she is not perfect.

That's why she's such a great PM character.

[saccharinescorpion]

if you guys want an idea of how successful Sinners has been (or, more cynically, an idea of how much everyone had been underestimating the success of Sinners), take a look at this graph, particularly the second sentence of that bottom bit of text