#so tempted to draw a scene from in before I post it

[sunset-peril]

Haha!

I actually finished a short story that I had an idea for!

And in less than two hours to boot!

Boy do I feel accomplished.

[ourdawnishotterthanourday]

Rose Tinted — Boo Seungkwan

✧ Take off those rose colored glasses ✧

Plot: Picture this… you find out that your so-called best friend has been playing you all along.

🎥 Starring: fem!reader x best friend!Boo Seungkwan 🎥 Genre: big time angst 🎥 Word count: 0.9k+ 🎥 Warnings: swearing, asshole vernon, asshole kwannie (sorry y’all), brief mention of blood but not graphic 🎥 Notes: I am baaaack (hopefully for a while). I know I haven’t been posting for forever but I hope to see you all more often again ^^  🎥 Shout out: thanks to my lovely bestie @nothoughtsjustfic for motivating me to write again 💜 love you Chee! Never change pls hehehe

♡ REBLOGGING AND/OR FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED — DON'T BE A STRANGER PLS ♡

Set The Scene Masterlist —  Masterlist

“How much longer are you going to keep this up, dude? She’s been glued to your side since that dumb bet. Weren’t you gonna ditch her like forever ago?”

Time froze as you heard Vernon utter those words to your best friend… or so you thought. 

“Shit, Vernon! Be quiet before she hears you!” Seungkwan hissed in return, which was followed by a dull sound and then a shriek from Vernon.

“Whatever. I just don’t get it. You don’t even like her. She could offer to buy me unlimited pizza and beers and I still wouldn’t be able to handle all that clinginess.”

“Fucking hell! Just get out and don’t come back until we leave. You’re going to fuck up everything,” Seungkwan snapped, his voice unlike anything you’d ever heard coming from his lips. 

“Fine.” Vernon sighed dramatically. “But don’t come crying to me when it all comes to bite you in the ass.” 

A second later, you heard the front door slam shut, the sound of which snapped you right back to the horrible reality you were now forced to face. 

You’d just been shown a completely different side of your supposed best friend and you didn’t quite know whether to cry or scream. What you did know was that you couldn’t stay hidden behind the wall for forever, even though that did seem awfully tempting. You’d never been very confrontational but this matter couldn’t be left unspoken, not if you wanted to keep your sanity. 

You needed to hear the truth from Seungkwan himself. 

With your heart nearly pounding out your chest and a million thoughts running through your mind, you forced your legs to move in the direction of the living room where Seungkwan was awaiting your return. 

His head immediately shot up when he noticed you approaching him, a smile that felt just a little too forced making its way on his face. It was almost as if you could see a sliver of disgust flash behind his eyes.

Had that always been there or were you just overanalyzing everything because of what Vernon said?

“There you are! Any longer and I would have gotten worried.” Seungkwan chuckled as he turned his head back towards the TV.

Right. The movie the two of you had been watching before that awful conversation. If only you could turn back time. 

“Y/N?” Seungkwan asked with a raised brow when you hadn’t moved at all. “Aren’t you going to sit down? We can finish the last thirty minutes before we have to leave.”

“No.” 

Your voice was barely audible but you knew that it had been loud enough judging by the way Seungkwan responded.

“No? You don’t want to watch any more? Well, we can put on something else if that’s what you wan-”

You were quick to interrupt him. “No. That’s not what I want.”

“Okay?” He got up from the couch, his brows furrowed in confusion. “You’re acting kinda strange, Y/N. What’s going on?”

Without realizing it, you’d been clenching your fists so hard this entire time that your nails had pierced through parts of your skin, drawing a little bit of blood which you could feel dripping down your fingers. But you honestly couldn’t give a fuck right now. 

“Do you hate me?” you blurted out, completely catching the man in front of you off guard.

“W-what? Hate you? Why would you ask me that?” Seungkwan chuckled nervously, his hand awkwardly coming up to scratch behind his neck. 

“Be honest with me, Seungkwan.” You looked him dead in the eyes, noticing the way his eyes grew wide at the fierceness behind your words.

As if suddenly coming back to himself, he shook his head furiously. “You’re being crazy, Y/N.”

You let out a loud snort. “Me? Crazy? Then are you saying Vernon was lying just now?”

At that revelation, Seungkwan’s mouth opened and closed a few times as if he was about to say something but backed out at the last second. There was no talking himself out of this. And you were not backing down until you’d heard everything, even if it was going to crush you. 

“Yeah… I heard everything. About a supposed bet, about you pretending this entire time and wanting to ditch me. Does that ring a bell?” 

“Y/N, l-listen,” the man pleaded as he took a step forward to reach for your arm. 

“Tell me the fucking truth, Seungkwan!” you nearly screamed, surprising both yourself and him at the anger laced in your voice.

You could see the hesitation in his eyes at first, but it wasn’t long before that disgust you swore you’d seen before flashed behind his eyes once again. 

“You really wanna know what I think of you? Fine!” He threw up his hands. “I don’t like you, I never have, not then and not now. I’m not your fucking best friend and I’m sick of pretending. You’re right. It started out as a stupid bet to see if I could befriend you, but with how fucking desperate you were, that wasn’t hard. And then you just wouldn’t fucking go away so I thought, I might as well use your clingy ass to my advantage. Because who in their right mind doesn’t like free meals and free rides? All I had to do was pretend.” He chuckled bitterly. “Happy now?”

You didn’t stick around to respond, already halfway through the door with tears streaming down your face by the time he finished his cruel rant. This wasn’t the sweet and caring Seungkwan you’d been sharing all your secrets and insecurities with. This was the real Seungkwan, a mean, heartless excuse of a human being who you didn’t recognize at all. 

He’d broken your heart in a million little pieces and you didn’t know if you were ever going to recover from this. 

So much for letting someone in.

So much for not wanting to be alone. 

Boo Seungkwan, I hope it was worth it. 

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[starmocha]

I'm gonna finish this story, I'm gonna finish this story, I'mgonnafinishthisstory, I'm gonna finish this story

Main story of Bride of the Dragon King is currently at 26.7k words...and idk, I think there are like ten scenes left. Most of my writing notes got scattered in my phone, because I've also been itching to write a few other AUs and more of the LNDS babies series. I have a goldfish brain and the attention span of a golden retriever, sorry, I can't be fixed 😔😔😔

Anyhoo, here's a wip snippet to hype myself up lol

Prelude is already out and I am keeping track of who asked to be tagged when I post the main story. Just mention explicitly to me somewhere and I'll add your handle to the list.

“Come here.” “I will not!” you protested vehemently, arms crossed over your chest, back turned to him in embarrassment. You could hear the sound of water splashing, sensed his presence shifting. You blushed harder. Sylus sighed. “I do not like repeating myself.” You flustered, but continued to adamantly keep your back to him. “You are shameless!” Sylus smirked, tilting his head in amusement. “Am I, my beloved?” Before you could even think of deigning him a response, Sylus motioned with his hand, summoning crimson tendrils that wrapped around your body, lifting and dragging you over until you shrieked in shock, finding yourself submerging into a hot spring. You surfaced quickly, gasping and sputtering, choking on the water you had accidentally engulfed. You could hear laughter and you turned in his direction, glaring, red-faced from both anger and embarrassment. You immediately splashed him with the water, yelling, “How could you do that?!” You gasped again, not expecting Sylus to wade closer to you. You quickly tried to avert your eyes, well aware he was completely nude in your presence. The sound of the water splashing seemed to grow louder the closer he moved to you. You whimpered when he invaded your space, his hand gripping your chin, gently guiding you to meet his darkening eyes. “As you have said, my beloved,” he murmured quietly, eyes darting back and forth from your flushed cheeks to your quivering lips, “I am shameless.” You swallowed slowly, heart quickening as his lips moved closer and closer until he finally claimed yours. You weakened, letting yourself be tempted by this sweet kiss, and forgetting momentarily the salacious situation you were in. As Sylus kissed you, his hands skimmed down underwater, resting on your hips and rubbing slow, lazy circles on them, feeling the wet fabric of your clothes clinging to your skin. You could feel an unusual heat building inside you as he touched you, seemingly testing the boundary between the two of you. He pulled away first, eyes growing hazy with desire. You panted, unable to regulate your breathing after the whirlwind of emotions he had just put you through in the last few minutes. You tried to speak, but all coherent thoughts seemed to have left your head, and from the way he was smiling at you, a cross between teasing and adoration, you found yourself at an even greater loss for words. After a moment, you managed to find your voice, as feeble as it may be. “You are so shameless…” you repeated, attempting to look elsewhere, though by this point, Sylus made sure he was the only object of your vision. “…how can you ask a maiden to bathe with you?” “She will be my bride,” he answered unabashed, smirking at your gawk at his audaciousness. His finger traced over your trembling lips, the light, fleeting touch left behind a tingling sensation long after they were gone. He hummed in satisfaction at the reaction you had. “Am I not your lover as well?” You blushed deeper. “…in a sense…” He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement at your coyness and embarrassment. He leaned down, taking your lips for himself again, pleased as he was able to draw out your soft, sweet moans. Minutes passed, he broke the kiss, the warmth of both your breaths intermingled, breathing heavy, and your look of disappointment not missed by his keen eyes. His fingers glided along your flushed cheek, down to your chin, and with a light tilt up so your soft doe eyes met his own aroused gaze, Sylus husked quietly, “In all sense, I want to be your lover.”

[mononijikayu]

ten minutes — gojo satoru.

In the midst of the vibrant scene unfolding around him, he finds himself unable to shake the image of you from his mind. Your allure, your seduction—it's unlike anything he's encountered before. With a wry smile, he acknowledges that no one in this bar, no matter how alluring, could ever compare to you. You possess a certain magic, a wonder that transcends the superficial attempts at seduction displayed by others. In his eyes, you are unparalleled, and he wouldn't dare entertain the thought of comparing you to anyone else.

Genre: Post - Hidden Inventory Arc, 2010s;

Warning/s: R-18, Smut, Explicit Depiction of Sex, Rough Sex, Unprotected Sex, Pet Names, Praises, Flirting, One Night Stand to Lovers, Romance, Smut with Fluff, Depiction of Alcohol Consumption;

masterlist

listen: ten minutes by lee hyori

note: i wrote this while in my class and i just, i couldn't get gojo and him being in a bar out of my mind. it was pretty sexy!!! so i had to come back with this~ please enjoy it~ i love you all~.

IT WAS EVER SO TEMPTING. As the ambient glow of the dimly lit bar envelops the room, casting shadows that dance along the walls, your eyes meet those of Gojo Satoru, the enigmatic sorcerer whose presence commands attention wherever he goes. In the hazy atmosphere of the establishment, there's an unmistakable electricity between you, a palpable tension that crackles in the air like static before a storm.

With each step towards him, your confidence radiates like a beacon, drawing him in with an irresistible allure. The subtle sway of your hips as you move through the crowd captures his attention, a silent invitation that he can't help but heed. As you near him, the world around you seems to fade into obscurity, leaving only the two of you suspended in a moment of charged anticipation.

Time slows to a languid crawl as you approach Satoru, the weight of his gaze locking with yours in an unspoken exchange of desire. In the depths of his eyes, you see a flicker of intrigue mingled with a hint of mischief, mirroring the emotions swirling within your own heart. In this fleeting moment, the boundaries between you blur, and the world outside ceases to exist as you become enveloped in the magnetic pull of each other's presence.

As you settle onto the stool next to him, a subtle yet undeniable shift occurs in the atmosphere of the crowded bar. Your presence is a magnetic force, drawing the attention of those around you as you lean in closer to Gojo Satoru, your proximity alone enough to send a thrill coursing through his veins.

With a knowing smile curving your lips, you speak in a soft, sultry tone that seems to echo in the intimate space between you. Your words carry a playful edge, teasing and tantalizing in equal measure as you extend an invitation that promises excitement and intrigue.

"You seem like you could use some company," you whisper, your voice a seductive murmur that ignites a spark of anticipation in his eyes. Each syllable drips with allure, weaving a spell that entices him to lean in closer, drawn to the enigmatic aura that surrounds you like a veil of mystery.

In the dimly lit ambiance of the bar, your confident demeanor and subtle allure cast a captivating spell over Gojo Satoru. As his gaze meets yours, a silent understanding passes between you, acknowledging the magnetic pull that seems to draw you closer with each passing moment. The air crackles with anticipation, charged with the promise of an encounter that transcends mere chance, beckoning you both into the depths of a captivating intrigue.

With a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes, Gojo leans in closer, his breath mingling with yours as he meets your gaze with a playful glint. "Well, who am I to turn down such an enticing offer?" he responds, his voice a low rumble that resonates with a hint of mischief.

Amidst the soft glow of the bar's intimate lighting, the interaction between you and Gojo Satoru unfolds like a dance of wits and charm, each movement filled with playful banter and a palpable sense of chemistry. As his eyes roam from the contours of your body to the features of your face, the playful twinkle in Gojo's eyes grows more pronounced, accentuated by the subtle shift of his dark-rimmed glasses. With a grin that speaks volumes of his playful nature, he revels in the delightful exchange, savoring every moment of the intrigue unfolding between you. 

As Gojo's gaze flits across the dimly lit bar, he finds himself briefly observing the other patrons, each one vying for attention in their own way. A woman with bright red lipstick catches his eye momentarily, her attempts at allure evident in the boldness of her appearance. Another woman, teetering on high heels, exudes confidence as she moves through the crowd.

There was there a seductive man who dances in the middle of the dance floor, sex appeal echoing for all the others to see. Another was staring at him, in a prim and proper suit, taking a shot of whiskey. Yet, despite their efforts, Gojo Satoru's thoughts inevitably return to you, the magnetic presence that has captivated his attention from the moment you entered the bar.

In the midst of the vibrant scene unfolding around him, he finds himself unable to shake the image of you from his mind. Your allure, your seduction—it's unlike anything he's encountered before. With a wry smile, he acknowledges that no one in this bar, no matter how alluring, could ever compare to you.

You possess a certain magic, a wonder that transcends the superficial attempts at seduction displayed by others. In his eyes, you are unparalleled, and he wouldn't dare entertain the thought of comparing you to anyone else.

As he watches you lean against the bar counter with effortless grace, a subtle challenge in your demeanor, Gojo can't help but marvel at your confidence. It's as if you know the effect you have on those around you, and you revel in it without a hint of apology.

Men and women alike may have cried over you, yearning for a taste of your attention and affection, and Gojo finds himself contemplating whether he could potentially be one of them. After all, you exude an aura of allure and mystique that seems to transcend the ordinary.

Yet, despite the allure of your presence, there's an undeniable magnetism that draws him closer to you. It's a call to action, a challenge to step up and claim what he desires. The way you hold yourself, the subtle tilt of your head, it's as if you're inviting him to rise to the occasion, to summon the courage to approach you and stake his claim.

In that moment, Gojo finds himself caught in the midst of a silent dance of attraction and desire, captivated by the enigmatic allure of the person before him. And as he contemplates the possibility of being one of the men and women vying for your attention, he realizes that perhaps, just perhaps, he may be willing to take the risk.

"What's your name?" he inquires, his tone laced with curiosity and genuine interest as he takes in your captivating presence.

With a playful twinkle in your eye, you respond with a coy smile, teasing him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?" you counter, your voice dripping with intrigue.

Gojo's grin only deepens at your playful response, his charm radiating from every word as he leans in closer. "Well, I'd like to know the name of an angel in front of me," he quips, his smooth words delivered with effortless charm.

You can't help but laugh at his flattery, shaking your head in amusement. "Aren't you a flirt?" you tease, your own grin mirroring his playful demeanor.

"Only for you, darling angel," he replies, his tone sincere yet tinged with a hint of mischief.

Your smile widens at his words, feeling a warmth blossom within you at the endearment. As you reveal your name, Gojo's smile grows, the name rolling off his tongue as if it were made for him to speak.

"So, pretty boy, your name?" you inquire, returning the playful banter with a teasing glint in your eye.

"Gojo Satoru," he replies, his voice smooth and confident, the name carrying an air of familiarity and prestige.

Your playful teasing continues as you jest about his affluent background, Gojo matching your banter with his own witty remarks. Amidst the playful exchange, he orders drinks for both of you, his gaze never wavering from yours as he gestures to the bartender.

"Well, it seems it works like a charm. I got you, somehow," he remarks with a grin, his words laced with a hint of triumph and amusement.

In that moment, the air between you crackles with anticipation, a tantalizing dance of attraction and curiosity that beckons you both into uncharted territory. As the minutes tick by, the world outside fades into obscurity, leaving only the electrifying energy that pulses between you—a promise of an unforgettable encounter that defies the constraints of time and space.

With each passing moment, the intoxicating allure of your presence envelops Gojo Satoru, drawing him deeper into the spell you cast with your words and demeanor. As the minutes stretch into an eternity within the confines of the bar, the outside world fades away, leaving only the two of you immersed in a captivating exchange that defies explanation.

Despite his usual penchant for control and composure, Gojo finds himself surrendering to the irresistible pull of your charm. There's a thrill in the air, a palpable tension that hangs between you, fueling the flames of desire that flicker in the depths of his gaze.

In the midst of this heady atmosphere, you seize the opportunity to further entice him, your words dripping with allure as you lean in closer, your breath mingling with his. "Tell me, Gojo Satoru," you whisper, your voice a seductive melody that sends shivers down his spine. "Do you believe in fate?"

Caught in the whirlwind of your presence, Gojo's response is a mere breath of a laugh, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "With you here, how could I not?" he replies, his voice husky with anticipation.

“You’re quite confident,” You whisper to him, your eyes casting an alluring gaze. “With all your words, lover boy.”

“It’s easy to say things to you.” With a flicker of anticipation in his eyes, Gojo leans in closer, his breath warm against your skin as he murmurs softly, "Tell me, what is it about you, angel, that feels so... familiar?"

Your heart skips a beat at his words, a rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins as you meet his gaze with an enigmatic smile. "Perhaps it's destiny," you suggest, your voice a seductive melodic whisper that resonates with a hint of mystery. "Or maybe we've met in another life."

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Gojo leans in closer, his warm breath grazing against your skin as he speaks in a low, husky tone. "You have a way with words," he murmurs, his voice dripping with admiration and desire. "But actions speak louder, don't they?"

A playful smirk curves your lips as you meet his gaze, a silent challenge shimmering between you. "Perhaps they do," you reply, your voice laced with a hint of seduction. "But only if you're brave enough to find out.

As you feel the heat of Gojo's proximity, a rush of adrenaline courses through your veins, heightening your senses to the electric tension between you. His gaze, intense and smoldering, locks onto yours with an unspoken challenge, igniting a firestorm of desire within you. You find yourself drawn deeper into his orbit, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his presence.

With each passing moment, the anticipation mounts, thickening the air with an intoxicating allure that leaves you breathless. There's an unspoken understanding between you, a silent agreement to surrender to the intoxicating dance of seduction that unfolds between your intertwined destinies.

In the hazy atmosphere of the dimly lit bar, the air crackles with anticipation as Gojo inches closer, his proximity sending a jolt of electricity coursing through your veins. With each passing moment, the heat between you intensifies, a tangible manifestation of the desire that pulses between your bodies like a living, breathing entity.

As his warm breath caresses your skin, you can feel the raw intensity of his desire, a primal force that threatens to consume you both in its fiery embrace. The tantalizing smirk that graces his lips only serves to heighten the anticipation, drawing you in with a magnetic pull that leaves you utterly breathless.

In this charged moment, there is no room for hesitation or doubt, only the heady rush of adrenaline as you lean in closer, your bodies moving in perfect synchrony. The magnetic pull between you is undeniable, an irresistible force that draws you together with an almost gravitational pull.

With each passing second, the tension between you builds to a fever pitch, the air thick with unspoken promises and forbidden desires. In this moment, there is no room for restraint or inhibition, only the intoxicating allure of the forbidden as you surrender yourself to the irresistible pull of Gojo's presence.

"Bravery has never been an issue for me," he murmurs, his voice a husky whisper that sends a shiver down your spine. "But perhaps I need a little... encouragement."

With a boldness that surprises even yourself, you reach out to trace the line of his jaw with your fingertips, the touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through you. "Consider this your encouragement," you whisper, your voice barely above a breath as you lean in to capture his lips in a passionate kiss.

In that moment, the world falls away, leaving only the intoxicating sensation of Gojo's lips moving against yours, igniting a fire that burns brighter with each passing second. And as you lose yourself in the heady embrace of desire, you realize that fate has brought you together in this electrifying moment, where words are no longer necessary and actions speak louder than anything else.

As the kiss deepens, time seems to stand still, and you are lost in the heat of the moment. The passion between you and Gojo Satoru ignites like a blazing inferno, consuming everything in its path. With each touch, each caress, the intensity of your desire grows, binding you together in a fierce and primal embrace.

In that electrifying moment, there are no barriers, no inhibitions—only the raw, unbridled passion that courses through your veins. The world around you fades into insignificance as you are consumed by the fiery connection between you and Gojo, your souls entwined in a dance of ecstasy and longing.

But even as the flames of desire threaten to engulf you, a sense of exhilaration washes over you, filling you with a newfound sense of freedom and liberation. For in this moment, you are truly alive, swept away by the intoxicating rush of emotion and desire that knows no bounds.

As the intensity of the kiss reaches its peak, Gojo Satoru slowly pulls away, his breath ragged as he gazes deeply into your eyes. There's a primal hunger in his gaze, a silent invitation for more. You meet his gaze with equal fervor, a silent agreement passing between you.

Without a word, you take his hand and lead him towards the bathroom, the anticipation mounting with each step. As you reach the door, you lock it behind you, the sound echoing in the confined space like a promise of what's to come.

With the world shut out, you turn to face Gojo, the air thick with desire and anticipation. Without hesitation, you pull him into another searing kiss, your lips crashing together in a feverish embrace. In the confined space of the bathroom, there's no room for restraint or inhibition—only the raw, unbridled passion that ignites between you.

As your bodies pressed together in a desperate frenzy, the heat between you intensified, driving you both to the brink of ecstasy. In this moment of unbridled passion, there are no rules, no limits—only the intoxicating thrill of surrendering to desire and losing yourselves in each other's embrace.

As the music swelled around you, drowning out the sounds of the bustling bar, the anticipation between you and Satoru intensified, creating a charged atmosphere that crackled with electric energy. You could hear the faint murmurs of people moving about in the background, but their presence seemed distant, insignificant compared to the magnetic pull drawing you both together.

Leaning against the cool tiled wall, you felt a surge of heat coursing through your veins, igniting a firestorm of desire within you. Satoru stood before you, his appearance slightly disheveled with one button of his expensive shirt undone and the fabric wrinkled from your heated embrace. His heart raced with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that mirrored your own.

Unbeknownst to Satoru, the fire burning inside you matched the blazing inferno in his own veins. Every touch, every glance, every word exchanged between you fueled the flames of passion, propelling you both towards an inevitable climax.

With your hair tousled and your cheeks flushed with excitement, there was no denying the raw desire that pulsed through your veins. In this moment, there was no turning back. The world around you faded into obscurity as you surrendered to the primal urge driving you both towards a moment of ecstasy.

With an urgency born of desire, Satoru's hand found its way to your waist, pulling you closer to him in a fervent embrace. Your lips collided once more, the kiss charged with an intensity that threatened to consume you both. In this moment, restraint was a foreign concept, abandoned in favor of the overwhelming need to lose yourselves in each other's embrace.

Passion surged between you as you made out fervently, your eager hands exploring every inch of each other's bodies with a desperate hunger. With each touch, each caress, the flames of desire burned brighter, igniting a firestorm of longing that threatened to consume you whole.

Breaking apart for a moment, you whispered in his ear, your voice laden with unbridled desire, "I want you so bad right now." The words hung in the air, heavy with anticipation, as you locked eyes with Satoru, your heart pounding in sync with the rhythm of his own.

Satoru's breath hitched at your whispered confession, his gaze locked with yours in a fierce dance of desire and longing. The raw intensity of your words echoed in the air, igniting a primal urge within him that he could no longer deny.

In a swift, decisive motion, he captured your lips once more, his kiss fervent and hungry, fueled by the unbridled passion that pulsed between you. As your bodies pressed together, a wave of heat and electricity surged through him, engulfing him in a whirlwind of sensation and ecstasy.

With every touch, every caress, the boundaries between you dissolved, until there was only the primal, unrelenting need that bound you together. In this moment of unbridled passion, time seemed to stand still, as you both surrendered to the intoxicating allure of each other's embrace.

As your lips parted, breathless and flushed with desire, Satoru's eyes bore into yours with a fierce intensity, a silent promise of the ecstasy yet to come. And in that moment, you knew that there was no turning back — you were lost in each other, consumed by the flames of desire that raged between you.

"I've wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you," Satoru confessed, his voice husky with desire, his hands tracing the contours of your body with a hunger that mirrored your own. “You were so fast with me, little minx. Let me have you.”

"Then take me," you urged, your voice a breathless plea, your fingers tangling in his tousled hair as you pulled him closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull drawing you together.

With a primal growl of need, Satoru crushed his lips to yours once more, his kiss fierce and possessive, igniting a fire that burned hotter with each passing moment. In the searing heat of passion, you melted into each other, consumed by the ecstasy of the moment, lost in a whirlwind of desire and longing.

In the heat of the moment, Satoru's touch ignited a primal hunger within you, each caress setting your skin ablaze with desire. As he unbuttoned your shirt with deliberate intent, his lips trailed a scorching path down your neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. His hands, rough and possessive, explored every inch of your body, sending shivers of pleasure coursing through you.

You couldn't help but moan into his mouth, the sound muffled by the intoxicating press of his lips against yours. The intensity of the sensation was overwhelming, surpassing anything you had ever experienced before. It was more than just physical desire; it was an unbridled passion that consumed you both, drawing you deeper into the fiery embrace of ecstasy.

Satoru's touch sent a jolt of electricity through you as he trailed his fingers along the hem of your tight leather jeans. With practiced ease, he swiftly pulled them upwards, revealing your legs to the cool air of the bathroom. The contrast between the warmth of his touch and the chill of the room sent a shiver down your spine, heightening the intensity of the moment.

As he admired the sight before him, a wolfish grin tugged at the corners of Satoru's lips. The raw desire in his gaze only served to fuel the fire burning between you, igniting a fierce longing that threatened to consume you both. In that moment, with nothing but your underwear separating you, you felt utterly exposed and yet irresistibly desired, lost in the throes of passion and longing for more.

As the heat between you intensified, the barriers of clothing became unnecessary hindrances, discarded with urgency and fervor. Soon, you found yourselves naked in the confined space of the bathroom, the air heavy with anticipation and desire.

The intimacy of the moment was both exhilarating and daunting. You were both embarking on a journey into the unknown, driven by a magnetic attraction that transcended any reservations or inhibitions. Despite the brevity of your acquaintance, there was an undeniable sense of connection, a mutual understanding of the desires that drove you together.

In this intimate space, surrounded by the intoxicating allure of each other's bodies, everything else faded into insignificance. The world outside ceased to exist as you surrendered to the primal urge that consumed you, each touch and caress a testament to the raw passion that burned between you. In this moment, there was only the two of you, lost in the throes of desire, unbound by the constraints of time or expectation.

In the intimate embrace of the bathroom, passion surged between you like a raging inferno, igniting every nerve ending in a frenzy of desire. Satoru's powerful grip tightened around your thighs as he pressed you against the wall with a primal force, the raw intensity of his movements driving you to new heights of ecstasy.

You surrendered to the sensation, arching into him as he entered you, the friction between your bodies igniting a firestorm of pleasure. With each thrust, he plunged deeper into the depths of your being, drawing forth a symphony of moans and gasps that echoed in the confined space.

His touch was rough and possessive, leaving a trail of sensation in its wake as though he was staking his claim on every inch of your skin. Your fingers tangled in his hair, guiding him with gentle urgency as he peppered your neck with fervent kisses, each one sending waves of pleasure coursing through you.

As the tempo of your lovemaking intensified, so too did the crescendo of your passion, rising to a fever pitch with each rhythmic movement. In this moment of blissful abandon, there was only the two of you, locked in a primal dance of desire, each movement bringing you closer to the edge of euphoria.

Amidst the whirlwind of sensation, your voices intertwined in a symphony of desire and longing.

"I've wanted this since the moment I saw you," Satoru breathed between heated kisses, his voice husky with desire.

"You feel so good," you moaned, your words punctuated by gasps of pleasure as he moved within you.

His lips brushed against yours, his voice a seductive whisper against your skin. "I can't get enough of you," he confessed, his movements growing more urgent with each passing moment. “You’re too good for me, angel. Too good.”

With a desperate hunger, you clung to him, your breath hitching as pleasure surged through every fiber of your being. "Don't stop," you pleaded, your voice filled with an urgency that mirrored his own. “Faster, lover boy, oh, oh, there!”

As the intensity between you reached its peak, every touch, every movement sent waves of pleasure coursing through your bodies. In this moment of raw passion, you surrendered completely to the overwhelming sensations, your senses consumed by the fiery connection between you.

With each arch of your back, each moan of ecstasy, the desire between you grew more fervent, igniting a primal hunger that could not be sated. Satoru's groans mingled with your own, a symphony of pleasure that echoed through the confined space, heightening the intensity of your shared ecstasy.

He held you close, his body pressed tightly against yours, the scent of sex enveloping you both in a heady embrace. Tears of pleasure welled in your eyes as you clung to him, your grip tightening with each passing moment.

Feeling his own climax approaching, Satoru's movements became more urgent, more desperate, mirroring the fervor of his own desires. In this union of bodies and souls, you were both on the precipice of euphoria, teetering on the edge of release as the flames of passion consumed you both.

Amidst the symphony of their shared ecstasy, amidst the heavy breathing and the pounding of hearts, words were rendered unnecessary. Yet, amidst the primal dance of desire, whispers of longing and adoration slipped from your lips, mingling with Satoru's own murmurs of pleasure.

"I need you," you gasped, your voice trembling with desire as you clung to him. “Please, please. Lover boy,”

"You feel so good," Satoru growled, his breath hot against your skin as he buried himself deeper within you. “Angel, how do you feel so good?”

Lost in the intoxicating haze of pleasure, you and Satoru moved together in perfect synchrony, each movement a testament to the raw, primal connection between you. Your bodies melded together, skin against skin, as you rode the wave of ecstasy to its peak. 

"I've never felt like this before," you confessed, your voice a breathless whisper as you locked eyes with him.

"Me neither," Satoru admitted, his gaze filled with a mixture of awe and reverence as he continued to move with you. “Let me come in you, angel. I’m so…so close. I need to—”

“Do it!” You cried back to him, pleased tears pouring out your eyes. “Make me come, make me feel you!”

As the intensity of your climax washed over you, every nerve ending on fire with pleasure, you cried out in abandon, your voice echoing in the confined space of the abandoned bathroom. Satoru's relentless thrusts only fueled the flames of your passion, driving you to new heights of ecstasy.

Amidst the haze of pleasure, you felt something primal and possessive in Satoru's touch, his teeth grazing against your skin in a sensation that bordered on pain and pleasure. It was a mark of his dominance, a primal instinct that ignited a fire deep within you.

As he continued to move within you, his pace slowing to prolong the euphoria of the moment, you felt his release wash over you in waves of pleasure. His voice mingled with yours in a symphony of ecstasy, the sound reverberating off the walls of the bathroom as you both surrendered to the overwhelming pleasure of your union.

As the echoes of your shared climax faded, leaving only the soft sounds of your heavy breathing and the gentle patter of water droplets, you found yourselves locked in a tender embrace, bodies still humming with the aftershocks of pleasure.

For a fleeting moment, you simply existed in each other's arms, the world outside forgotten as you reveled in the intimacy of the moment. Satoru's touch was gentle now, a stark contrast to the primal intensity of moments before, as he cradled you against his chest with a tenderness that belied his earlier fervor.

With a contented sigh, you nuzzled closer to him, the warmth of his body a comforting anchor in the midst of the storm. In this quiet sanctuary, you felt a sense of peace wash over you, a fleeting respite from the chaos of the outside world.

As you lay intertwined in the dimly lit bathroom, the air heavy with the scent of sex and sweat, you realized that in this moment, you had found solace in each other's arms—a brief reprieve from the trials and tribulations that awaited you beyond these walls. And for now, that was enough.

After the intensity of the moment subsided, Satoru's breaths slowed, his chest rising and falling in rhythm with yours. With a tender gaze, he looked into your eyes, his voice soft yet filled with determination.

"Hey," he began, his tone almost hesitant amidst the lingering echoes of your passion, "I was wondering if... maybe... you'd like to go out on a date with me?"

You couldn't help but burst into laughter at his unexpected question, the sound reverberating off the tiled walls of the bathroom. It was a rare moment of levity amidst the intensity of the encounter, and you found yourself chuckling uncontrollably.

"Wait, are you serious?" you managed to gasp between fits of laughter, your eyes sparkling with amusement.

Satoru's expression shifted slightly, a faint pout forming on his lips as he crossed his arms in mock indignation. "Hey, it's not funny," he protested, though the hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Between giggles, you shook your head, still unable to contain your amusement. "You should have asked me that before we had sex," you teased, the words playful yet tinged with affection.

His pout deepened momentarily, but then he grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Does it matter if it's a little backwards?" he countered, his tone teasing. "I still want to take you out on a date."

You couldn't help but smile at his persistence, touched by his sincerity despite the unconventional timing of his request. Leaning in, you pressed a tender kiss to his lips, your heart fluttering with warmth.

"Yes," you whispered against his lips, your answer filled with unspoken promise. "I'd love to go on a date with you, Gojo Satoru."

A few years later:

As the evening wore on, you found yourselves seated at a cozy corner table in the dimly lit bar, surrounded by the gentle hum of conversation and clinking glasses. Nanami and Shoko, old friends of yours and Satoru's, were engaged in lively banter, reminiscing about past adventures and shared memories.

Satoru's voice filled the air with infectious energy as he began his tale, his eyes alight with mischief. "It was a whirlwind romance, really," he declared, his words punctuated by a playful chuckle. "I saw them across the room, and I just knew I had to talk to them, you know?"

Shoko's laughter bubbled forth like a melodious chorus, her amusement contagious as she leaned in, hanging onto every word. "Oh, I can only imagine," she exclaimed between giggles, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “I…I can’t believe that’s how you met — this is so insane. Even for you, Satoru.”

“Hey! It was love at first sight. I only needed ten minutes to fall in love!”

“I guess that’s how long you lasted too, huh?”

“HAH!? Take that back, Sho! I lasted long enough!”

“Satoru….” You groaned, ever so embarrassed about his shamelessness.

Nanami Kento, ever the picture of composure, remained stoic, his expression betraying little of his inner thoughts. He listened intently, his gaze fixed on Satoru as if trying to decipher the truth behind his embellished tale.

Undeterred by Nanami's unreadable demeanor, Satoru continued with gusto, his grin widening as he delved deeper into the story. "Of course, my angel here was playing hard to get at first..." he added, his voice trailing off with a hint of playful exaggeration.

As Satoru's narrative unfolded, the atmosphere crackled with laughter and warmth, each member of the group drawn into the captivating tale of your whirlwind romance.

As Satoru continued his animated storytelling, you felt the heat rising in your cheeks, a telltale sign of your embarrassment. His arm draped casually around your shoulders, seemingly oblivious to your discomfort, only added to your blush. Desperately, you buried your face in his shoulder, hoping to shield yourself from further embarrassment, but he remained entirely unfazed by your reaction, his attention wholly absorbed in the tale he was weaving.

"And then, well, the rest is history," Satoru concluded with a wide grin, seemingly unaware of your discomfort. "We've been inseparable ever since."

Shoko, still wiping away tears of laughter, offered a sympathetic pat on your hand, while Nanami cleared his throat awkwardly, his stoic demeanor masking any hint of amusement or discomfort he may have felt. As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, you couldn't help but steal a glance at Satoru, his easy smile and carefree demeanor serving as a gentle reminder of why you fell in love with him in the first place. 

Sometimes falling in love can take a while.

Sometimes it can never happen for some.

But for you, it only took a good ten minutes.

And  you were happy to have a whole lifetime.

You knew Satoru was happy about it too.

[raleighrador]

Torturing myself with ways Disney changed Star Wars - Violence & Strength part 2

A further follow to this https://www.tumblr.com/raleighrador/774909537693171712/a-final-thought-to-add-here-my-belief-is-that?source=share

If you like the sequels and specifically like Rey, you may want to skip this post. As a character I think she - as might be expected from the face of the sequel trilogy - is the purist distillation of how Disney fundamentally changed the narrative role of strength and violence, and power more generally.

I also think this broadly makes for an uninteresting character that has limited efficacy as part of a story, and is almost purely a marketing/fan service vehicle.

On violence and strength: Rey basically wins every single meaningful fight she gets into. Almost every physical confrontation is an illustration of how badass and competent she is. This is true throughout the trilogy.

In TFA her first confrontation is with Finn, a trained storm trooper raised from childhood to be a soldier. Rey effortlessly disarms him and gets him on the ground. Sure, she has a weapon and he doesn't but still.

Compare this with Luke's first few conflicts - he is knocked out by the Tuskens, he needs Ben to save him in the cantina.

There is the climactic fight with Kylo Ren. First, she "overpowers" Kylo and is able to snatch the lightsaber out of his Force grip, and then she defeats him in a duel. I know Kylo had been shot by Chewie but when I watch that scene I don't see anything that is meant to indicate he is operating at far below his best.

Again, compare this to either Luke or Anakin's first duels (after significantly more training). They both lose, badly, and are dismembered. Sure, Vader and Dooku are perhaps meant to be understood as far more powerful and dangerous than Kylo but the point remains.

Rey actually has limited fights in TLJ - but the throne room is clearly the most meaningful one. Again, pertinent observations: Rey (and Kylo) are able to defeat 8 Praetorian guards (who have the visual and contextual signal of "baddies you should worry about, not regular mooks"). Her and Kylo then again play tug of war with the lightsaber, and are evenly matched to the point that the saber gets ripped in half.

Again - Rey doesn't lose. In fact, we get a long lingering fight scene to show how cool and bass and good at fighting she is. She is tempted by Kylo, tempted by the dark side, and rejects it.

Completely unscathed, it is worth adding.

Again, compare this with Luke (tempted and mutilated by his father), or Anakin who gives in to the dark (on Tattooine and arguably on Geonosis) and is mutilated physically and spiritually in doing so.

Finally we get to TROS.

Rey's first "fight" is with Kylo where she destroys his TIE with a saber, then uses force lightning to destroy a ship (and maybe but turns out not actually kill Chewie).

Her second is the vision/teleport duel with Kylo across the ship and the planet. Again, it is a draw, Rey certainly doesn't lose.

She and Kylo duel again on the wreckage of the DS. Maybe Kylo is distracted but he certainly isn't winning, and Rey then stabs him (which is commonly believed to indicate someone "winning" a sword fight). She then Force heals him and saves his life.

On Exegol her and Ben Solo then murder their way through the Praetorians and Knights of Ren, before directly confronting Palpatine. The jeopardy in the narrative is created by the fact that if Rey kills Palpatine out of anger, she becomes a Sith, but if she doesn't kill him she dies and so does the Resistance. Rey then hears the voices of all the past Jedi - including, just in case we didn't get it, Anakin Skywalker telling her to bring balance to the Force like he did (did he?) - and magically teleports Ben's lightsaber so she can dual wield and redirect the lightning Palpatine is blasting and kill shim with that.

She then dies from the effort (before immediately being brought back to life by Ben).

Again, contrast this with Anakin's fight with Obi-Wan on Mustafar or Luke's confrontation with Vader on DS2. Anakin and Obi-Wan both lose on Mustafar - the mere act of engaging in violence empowers the Dark and ultimately completes the creation of Darth Vader.

Luke only wins by throwing down his saber, by refusing to meet violence with violence.

Lucas had a clear metaphysical logic that is reflected in the use and role of violence.

Violence has a cost. There is no escaping that. Violence is almost always wrong - even if you believe it to be right and approach it dispassionately. There is no just killing, not such that your soul can survive.

Luke and Anakin are - narratively - consistently punished for choosing violence. Every time they try and solve a problem with violence they lose a loved one, a body part, a piece of their soul.

The same is true - to a lesser degree - for Obi-Wan. He defeats Maul but loses Qui-Gon. His decision to follow Dooku results in his and Anakin's injuries and achieves nothing. He is the one who swings a saber through whatever limited remains of Anakin might exist and heralds the final birth of Vader.

Contrast this with the fight on the DS. Obi-Wan knows there is no victory in fighting Vader, but in refusing to fight, in sheathing his sword, he can achieve a power far greater than the Sith can imagine.

TLJ's final scene where Mirage Luke confronts Kylo is actually also consistent with this, and it's why it is in isolation some of my absolute favourite Star Wars.

TLJ is also very confusing while it DOES apply the same logic as Lucas to Luke (try and kill your sleeping nephew = bad, using the Force to distract the First Order while you never actually harm anyone = good) it doesn't to Rey or Kylo.

Disney - by contrast - certainly do not treat violence in the same way. In fact, Disney takes a starkly different view which is almost readable as "might makes right" or maybe more accurately "being right makes you mighty".

Rey is good and pure and therefore she wins all her fights. She is on the side of the Light and so cannot lose. Kylo Ren, by contrast, is Evil and so despite more training and experience he consistently loses. It is only when he fights for the right reasons - killing Snoke and his guards to help Rey, or saving Rey from Palpatine - that he wins.

This is... distinctly weird. How, for example, are we meant to reinterpret the original 6 films or the wider Star Wars universe with this logic? I take it Palpatine was mostly right?

What you might say is actually that violence has no narrative weight. Maybe. That is as much of a change from Lucas as anything else but it also significantly limits the ability to tell a story in the context of the medium of sci fi action movies.

And that is actually the point, I think. There is no meaningful narrative interpretation of violence in the Disney films. The fight scenes serve no real purpose - they do not represent crucibles in which characters develop and transform, nor do they provide any level or moral insight.

They are purely vehicles for a) cool cinematography (and to be clear, the Sequels are consistently BEAUTIFUL and the fights scenes are some of the best) and b) emphasising how awesome the poster girl is and how neat it would be if you bought Lego and action figures and and and.

[e-rated-beardo]

So there's this bit in the last chapter of my post-S2 series, Nice And Ominous, where for Reasons™️, Crowley cannot be on the ground. So this ^ happens, and Aziraphale is Just Enough of A Bastard for a second.

And... look... this is a Big, Important Chapter, there's a judgement day and everything, and there are several Very Important Scenes that I'd decided earlier on I'd have a go at making cover art from. But

Grumpy Piggyback Demon

just spoke to me. It is TOO TEMPTING and so here I am after many, many hours, about sixteen false starts on the angel's blessed face, and having made a frightful mess of colouring/shading with physical pens (thank Someone I'd snapped the line art before I screwed it up) - having finished my first ink drawing in years. And it isn't bad.

The full series is at https://archiveofourown.org/series/3929932

(Az's little smirk heavily inspired by this drawing by @muffinpines because I love his Fond But Bastard expression in that picture)

[carmillascrusade]

Of Eden | Larissa Weems x f!reader

Images do not belong to me.

Summary: You stumble upon a clandestine meeting in the forest between robed figures and their enigmatic leader. What happens when she spots you?

Word count: 1,335

A/N: This is going to be a multi chapter fic so this chapter is really just a set up to the other parts. I was also supposed to post this on Christmas Eve lmao.

The earth hummed in discomfort, creatures of the forest cowering in dimly lit corners, fearful of every small noise in the otherwise silence of the night. You stumbled through a thick layer of tri-coloured leaves blanketing the floor, magnificent shades of red and amber unable to be seen properly under the slither of moonlight peaking through the gaps in the canopy. The frigid air was thick with an eerie tension, unease settling deep within your bones as your boots crushed the leaves beneath them.

Soft crunches followed your path as you traversed deeper into the wooded area, trees growing and twisting into sinister shapes the further you progressed.

Stopping in your place, you strained your ears, trying to pick up any sound at all; the usual song of the crickets was not playing tonight. Low chants in a strange, unfamiliar language called out to you, drawing you in like a siren would her prey. The flickering glow of torchlight basked a circular clearing in fiery hues. An alter stood in the centre of twelve hooded figures, archaic runes etched into the sides and top of the stone table.

A thirteenth figure clad in blood red garments emerged from the gloomy shadows, their stature and clothing a stark contrast to the twelve robed in a pure white. With great confidence the person, who you thought to be the leader, strode up to the alter. Reaching into the depths of their robes, a pale hand emerged from the void with a dagger in tow.

Sparkling under the firelight, rubies glimmered against the gold handle of the dagger, like stars shining under the cover of nightfall. Intricate metal work adorned the handle of it, two snakes twisted around each other in a fatal dance. The dagger itself shone under the attention of the moonlight, the metal pure and strong.

Placing the dagger down onto the alter, the red figure slowly pulled back their hood, urging the others to do the same. Platinum hair revealed itself inch by inch, striking features and icy blue eyes only accentuated by the frigid hue of this mysterious woman’s hair. The woman was enigmatic as she stood towering above the others, alluring for reasons unknown. She stood as a clandestine haven, a whispering secret echoing within the garden of Eden, tempting those unfortunate enough to lay their eyes upon her. Tempting you.

Her presence carried the fragrance of unexplored wonders, her gaze tempestuous, holding the secrets of forbidden fruits. The aura she emanated cradled the beauty of a hidden sanctuary, but also elicited the utmost fear you feel when stranded in a place unknown.

She grinned at her companions, or should you say followers? Chills ran through your spine as the hair on your neck stood to attention, her grin unlike anything you had encountered; inhuman and slightly deranged. Yet her eyes were soft, holding copious amounts of wisdom behind them, hinting at the untold stories beneath the surface- stories out of reach.

Encountering the strange gathering in the clearing was akin to stumbling upon an ancient garden, lush and full of promise. Something so surreal and dream-like that you had to be dreaming. But you were not, and where things grow, things rot. The nagging voice in the back of your mind a reminder that something wasn’t right, no matter how enchanting they may seem.

Hidden in the shadows you observed the scene before you, grotesque shadows periodically casting themselves upon the hooded figures before retreating back to depths; the pristine robes void of colour unmarred once more. The air was charged with an energy not known to this world.

A small goat was brought forth, passed to the silver haired woman and placed on the stone table. Your breath caught in your throat as you continued to watch, torn between fleeing or enlightening yourself to secrets unveiled if you stayed hidden.

You were no fool. You knew what was going to happen.

The woman cooed sweet nothings, calming the goat as you would a child. Luring it into a false sense of security before it inevitably reached its fate. You watched in horror as she brought the dagger to the goats neck, swiping in a quick yet efficient motion. Archaic chants grew louder as time ticked on, drowning out every other sound in the wooded area.

You carded through the underbrush as silent as a mouse, desperate to get a closer look at this magnificent woman and her cult, an invisible string pulling you in closer. Closer. Until you were at the end of the tree line, crouched and still hidden, but able to see and hear everything clearly.

The woman stood even taller from this perspective, lithe frame blocking the candlelight, dousing the alter in an inky darkness. She spoke with such passions, such charisma that you couldn’t help but be enraptured by her. Her hands swayed slightly as she spoke, tiptoeing the line between dance and complete stillness. Honeyed words slithered off her tongue in a southern British accent, sweet and tempting.

Your stomach twisted and you knew it was time to flee. Anxiously, your turned around to look for a quick escape route, cautious to turn your back on the cult for more than two seconds. What you weren’t expecting, however, was those icy blue eyes staring into your own from where she stood. Your eyes widened in shock, heart beating so rapidly that you thought it would give out under the stress. Scrambling up from your crouched position, you turned tail and ran back down the path you took to get to the clearing.

You glanced behind your shoulder, eyes wide with fear as a group of six pursued you relentlessly. Their faces obscured by the darkness due to the very little light allowed through the thick canopy. Your footsteps echoes louder, the pounding of your heart matching the rhythm of your steps. The Forrest seemed to be against you, a labyrinth of twists and turns obscuring you way, making it even more difficult to find an escape route.

The menacing presence of the six tailing you grew more intense as they got closer to you. You threw yourself to the floor in a desperate attempt to escape the figure that lunged out to grab you, bony fingers digging into the skin of your ankle. You cried out in anguish, whether that be because of the pain inflicted on you or the fact you had been caught was questionable. Twigs and leaves knotted themselves in your hair, gripping on with such vigour, as you were dragged across the floor.

The hooded figures huffed in as you began to cry softly, bone rattling sobs wracking your body as you trembled, petrified. What was going to happen to you? Were you to be sacrificed just as the goat had been mere moments ago? Your thoughts were cut short as two of the people hauled you up by your shoulders. You marvelled at their strength. Surely it shouldn’t be possible to carry you by your armpits alone. Nevertheless, your wonder was cut short as the dread set in.

You were being taken back to their leader.

You couldn’t breathe, the forest began to spin around you; trees swirling into an array of different patterns, similar to how a kaleidoscope twists and turns to distort real life numerous times. You felt as if you were underwater, your hearing muffled as an invisible weight bore down on your chest. Pushing, pushing, until the weight became too much and breathing became extremely difficult. Panicking at your inability to breathe, your body went into overdrive, breathes coming out short but fast, trying to compensate for the lack of oxygen you were taking in.

The world as you knew it spun to black. Shades of faded grey and other dull hues swarming your vision. The last thing you seeing being those piercing blue eyes, staring into you own, before your body went limp, mind blank as you succumb to familiar hold of darkness.

A/NII: I can’t help but find writing descriptively boring. But I hope you enjoy nonetheless.

[savethevamps]

Reasons We Love Top Tanin

Earlier today I posted a breakdown of the scenes in which Top was SA, now I wanna give him some love because Top Tanin is a sweetheart damnit!

Also, what I said in my other post applies here too, we can discuss Top as a character, but blatant and random hate is unnecessary.

With that being said, here’s a list of Top’s best qualities:

1. His confidence! The first thing I loved about Top was how confident he was, you can tell just by the way he walks that he knows he’s the hottest guy in the room. Not to mention how sure he was in his pursuit of Mew, he never let himself get discouraged and always had an air of easy confidence no matter what.

2. How slow to anger he is, without being a pushover. We’ve seen Top get berated on more than one occasion, and he’s never been shown as angry in most of these confrontations. Besides looking slightly annoyed, he’s usually seen as being calm and sometimes even amused.

3. His quick remarks and comebacks. As I said, Top is no pushover! He’ll let people go on about whatever they feel, but not for too long, and he especially won’t ever let them think they have the upper hand. I love how he gets when people try and behave as though they’re above him, he always knocks them down a few pegs (as he should).

4. The pride he takes in looking his best. Top is well dressed, well groomed, and he just seems to take the best care of himself. He has a routine that he seems to do religiously, and he always dresses his best which adds to that air of confidence he carries around. Like I said before, he knows he’s the hottest in the room, and that comes from his own knowledge that he takes good care of himself. (I need a Top focused episode so I can watch his everyday routines in detail)

5. His general idgaf-ness. Top is not the type to get involved in drama, or care about what other people are doing. He’s not a gossip, and he stays in his own business until someone drags him into their own. We don’t see him pay attention to rumors spread by others, most likely because he knows how untrue they can be, but also because he doesn’t care enough to pay attention to it.

6. His willingness to grow and be better. Top is not resistant to change, he can evaluate his life, see what’s not working, and actually do something about it. If he’s wrong, he says he’s wrong without any excuses and holds himself accountable. When his boyfriend explained why he wasn’t comfortable with him doing drugs, he listened and decided to stop asap. He never went back on that, even if maybe he’s been tempted. That just shows that he’s always willing to hear genuine criticism and use it as a way to grow. Anyway I can talk for days about this so let’s move on!

7. How artistic he is! Top is a very creative guy it’s amazing, he’s constantly shown to be a talented artist. Every time we saw Top with Mew, he was drawing and being the artist boyfriend everyone begs for. I also love the fact that we were able to see him in his element at the hostel, the scenes were brief but they definitely showed how serious Top takes his artistry as far as his career is concerned.

8. How he cares for his significant other. We all know Top is #1 in the boyfriend department, and I don’t think that’s something that’s new! I’m pretty sure that although his past relationship(s) have been brief, he has taken care of them and met whatever needs they have. A good example of this is the fact he learned about how Mew gets his experiences from books and decided to take him on all these new, and creative adventures/dates to help him have real life experiences. He definitely will adjust to his partners needs in other to make sure they’re always fulfilled and happy.

9. How gentle he is. Top Tanin is a gentle guy okay? He’s definitely someone who would rather use soft touches than rough ones. He rarely raises his voice, he speaks softly but with enough assertiveness to make you listen, and he talks to his boyfriend so sweetly.

10. Him being a blatant sweetheart! I started this post just to talk about this, Top Tanin is the world’s sweetheart. He’s kind to people he doesn’t know without expecting anything in return. The way he would constantly reassure Mew? Sometimes he’d do it subtlety, other times it was obvious. When he gave Nick that advice about staying away from Boston, look he definitely had no reason for doing that, other than him just being a sweetheart. His active listening, he always gives his full attention even when he may not like what’s being said.

So what did we learn? Top Tanin is a Sweetheart, with some pretty likeable (cough loveable cough) qualities! These qualities should be appreciated more in my opinion! More people should see how good this guy is! I’m screaming this from the rooftops constantly, let’s all scream it together until Top hears us.

[mobius-m-mobius]

HI i just saw ur lokius fairytale post aaand like kinda rotating that cinderella scenario around my head any chance you have any other thoughts to add onto it ?

Hey anon, really glad the fairytale asks stuck with you because we've been having so much fun with them! Honestly I'd not had a chance to think of more until getting this but after having a little time there's a scenario I'm kind of loving which may or may not have spiraled from the og Cinderella concept so apologies in advance 😅

(also putting this under a cut because y'all know me and whew did this get longer than even I'd expected 😂💖)

Cue Ravonna sending Mobius on a reconnaissance mission to get details on Odin being up to something which seems to differ from the usual flow of that timeline, the details are vague enough for him to wonder where she's going with this but they both know the chance for him to get close enough to Asgard is too tempting to pass up and there's an upcoming ball with enough invitations that one more shouldn't be a problem. So he tries his best to at least blend into the background long enough to slip away and search for info but the fact that he's pretty much the only person at the party not boisterously jumping through hoops for Odin's attention or favor draws Loki's attention him like a lightning rod, lol, which doesn't escape mutual notice and since the only other option would be Loki making a scene to draw attention to whoever this mysterious(ly hot) stranger is no one seems to know, Mobius can't help pointing out he's not exactly someone that would be sent in as a physical threat so maybe if he's allowed a few minutes to explain he could make it in Loki's best interest 👀👀

Loki's skeptical but intrigued, and it's not like he was enjoying the night beforehand anyway so he follows expecting some obvious lie of an excuse as to what Mobius is doing there but instead Mobius quite bluntly tells him he's there for dirt on Odin that could be mutually beneficial for them both.

This part he keeps to himself ofc, but by now he's figured out whatever's going on clearly has to do with/is centered around Loki's future and after so many years of researching Lokis he's secretly harbored a crush and honestly does want the best for them if possible so it's very easy to at least tell the truth about why he's trying to sneak around in the first place. Loki doesn't completely believe him, but he's infinitely more interesting than anyone in recent memory and Loki's desperate to learn about him so he haughtily declares Mobius no real threat, and will guide him through the palace personally to seek out this all important info, with the threat of imprisonment if the night ends empty handed.

Mobius cheerfully agrees with the knowledge he'll be long gone through a time door before things come to that, and the night is kind of playing out like a fantasy he didn't even realize he had so because he knows it won't last he lets himself be a little playful with Loki, praising his magic and asking questions he hadn't been able to answer from his files, like which flower first comes to mind when he looks out at the gardens?? Loki of course bristles at first but soon realizes how much comfort there is in the way Mobius speaks to and about him, and how his words bask brighter and warmer than any sun 🥺

However, because of this he can also tell Mobius knows far more about him than he previously let on, and can't figure out why he seems so delighted by all the qualities everyone else has been so bothered by his entire life so as they search through Odin's private study he starts needling for details to match, eventually getting nothing but things that completely baffle him like how Mobius obviously has horrible taste in food and that he seems wiser beyond his years than any Midguardian he's ever seen yet somehow seems to have nothing of personal value in his life except something called a jet ski?? And he's taken aback how, when pressed, Mobius isn't even upset about it but just a bit sadly resigned. They share a moment of bonding over their prior loneliness and start to grow even closer, leaning in just before a crash sounds from the hallway and the sounds of drunken guards calling for there whereabouts of Prince Loki echo, forcing them to break apart as Loki panics about how to explain Mobius' presence and bringing Mobius back to reality about how far he let the night spiral by indulging so it's all he can do but stumble out an apology for everything as Loki tries to find a way for them to sneak away before turning back just in time to see the gleam of a time door disappearing in the middle of the room 😔

Now the whole "glass slipper" element is a harder one since it's not like even if Mobius left behind something TVA related Loki would be able to trace it back to him so this is where I headcanon he dropped a folded magazine photo of a fav jet ski he liked to carry around as a reminder of why he works so hard, that he had taken out to show Loki was he was talking about earlier and Loki uses to trace back to Don, alerting the TVA due to the obvious branch it cases, and then you can only how everything Mobius knows implodes from there which would probably take me a year to detail but is very fun to picture and yes because I love him this would also result in Don meeting the Loki of his timeline because he deserves love too 😂😂

[tartrat]

"I Look In People's Windows"

a headcanon with an explanation under the cut (this will be a bit long).

So i started to think about what these three's relationship could be, since both versions take place in the same place. Then i was like "what if Kapyy isn't actually friends with the two, and instead he actually has no friends and just feels alone whilst Hoku and Bo'blu notice that he's not okay and do nothing to help?".

And so another headcanon formed in my head, some things in this come from my Sway twins headcanon as well (mainly the part about kapyy being kidnapped at birth):

Kapyy is a people pleaser, but it never works out no matter how hard he tries. He sees Hoku and Bo'Blu excelling and keeps wondering "Why can't i be like that?". No matter how hard he tries he always fails. He always feels the need to please others and doesn't notice how it affects himself for how little he gets in return, barely even a thank you sometimes.

He feels the pressure of being a performer, due to his boss and parental figure, who kidnapped him at birth, forcing him into this role only to get back at his father due to him leaving her because she attempted to control him, so she's using Kapyy in order to show his father that this is what he could've been. This doesn't help with his loneliness as he barely has free time and struggles to connect with others, as he's constantly being overworked and others find him weird.

As for Hoku and Bo'blu, I've started seeing them as the "popular kids" in the sense that they are quite popular performers in comparison to Kapyy. This is mainly because the classic actually has had more players globally than the extreme. Unlike Kapyy, They work at the same place willingly.

Hoku's a bit mean, and she doesn't really care much those who she thinks are weird. Bo'blu's the one who actually notices signs that Kapyy might actually be struggling, but like Hoku he ends up ignoring him. Hoku barely knows Kapyy's name and just refers to him as "The Sunglasses guy" or some variation on it, whilst Bo'blu does know his name and has made small talk with him if they happened to be in the elevator at the same time, but nothing more than "Hello" or "How's your day?".

This leads to Kapyy out walking one night, he got a bit of free time, and even though its raining quite heavily, he just wanted fresh air. He walks past a window and sees Hoku and Bo'blu inside talking and having a good time, and he gets upset. He feels like he's doing something wrong as he sees others get along so easily when he can't. He quickly leaves before getting noticed.

-

I hated drawing Hoku and Bo'blu for this, they just felt like they took forever to do for some reason and don't ask what's going on with her face and his hand, I don't know either, but it's my first time drawing them so it was just mainly figuring them out. Next time i draw one of them (who knows when that'll be) they'll look better.

This is long enough as it is and i'm not sure if any of it makes sense, i'm just getting things out of my head. If you want to know how this ties into the sway twins headcanon i have, I have ideas (this fanfic i've created in my mind is keeping me sane), i'm trying to write it out on a document. Anyway i have something funny planned next. I'm also tempted to draw Talia Sway and Hoku fighting like that one scene from glee, but thats not what i'm doing next.

I guess i can leave this post off by telling you that the classic version of I'm good freaks me out. Like it sorta scares me and i don't know why, i think its that bit just before their holograms appear that just fills me with a sense of dread for some reason.

[corviiids]

8, 18, 23, and all the other numbers you haven't answered yet

ooohoho really enabling me there thank you very much. answered 23 in the last one! i wont do all of them or this'll get super long but ill put a few more under the cut!!

8. if you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for…

tbh ive been contemplating a silly oneshot sequel to as you like it but i do have to actually finish the damn thing before i even think about that so ill leave it there.

18. if you keep them, share a deleted sentence or paragraph from a published fic

im actually notoriously bad at killing my darlings so i didn't think i'd have that many deleted scenes, but i did find a few older versions of the makoto&ren scene in chapter 6 of as you like it that i had completely forgotten about. looking back on these i actually still like them

v1.0 of the grounding sequence ren goes through after his nightmares. i think i cut this because it was too long and didn't flow well in context, but im sort of fond of it in isolation:

this was from an alternate version of the scene altogether, where they go to harajuku instead of inokashira so ren can find some featherman merch futaba wanted. i dont like this version as much as the final but i am fond of the extremely long spiralled potato:

then a completely unrelated ren/akc date that i cut because it wasn't doing any work and i didn't think it was fun enough to be kept in:

...

a few more answers for fun (1-5)

writer asks

the last sentence you wrote

i cant remember which line i actually last wrote so here's the last line in current wip

He laughs again. In the silence where Ren tries to re-examine his own complexes, Akechi draws ahead on the wall.

2. a character whose POV you’re currently exploring

ren! i think he's fun because he's the player character and the protags are generally designed to be pretty malleable (or personalityless if you're feeling uncharitable... or wrong) so obviously there's a temptation to just make him whatever your story needs him to be, but i think he's a really tempting and interesting opportunity to really get your claws into a guy who has a personality but refuses to show it and have that be one of his character traits. he's so adaptable to every situation but there are so many moments where his stubbornness and inner values shine through in his limited dialogue, so the challenge becomes like, how do you deduce the rest of a character's hidden personality based on the little they show you? how do you unpack someone whose character is that he wants to be whoever you want him to be? what's going on in his mind? how do you understand him and fill in the gaps in a way that's consistent with what he does in canon when he gives you so little to work with? this is an irresistible challenge to me so he just lives in my brain. he's not even renting he owns the place and he doesnt have a mortgage

3. how you feel about your current WIP

i think palacefic is the project that ignites the most personal passion and excitement in me so im really so excited to finish writing it so i can share it and also so i can read it instead of reading my own chickenscratch notes and think about how excited i am to write it

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

i keep coming back to circle this idea of postcanon akeshu and how they navigate a relationship (word used free of connotation) where they are constantly circling each other and obviously cant do without each other but also like. are so codependent and not at all functional enough to really have a normal romantic relationship or even friendship. i wrote like a short scene of this which i put on twitter a while back i might actually post it here. and i also started a short fic just to get some thoughts down but never had any plans for how to continue it

5. first sentence of the fifth paragraph of an unpublished WIP

im self conscious about how much of this has been about palacefic, so have a line from my death note longfic instead (i cheated this is like the tenth paragraph because the first paragraph is introductory and none of the lines make sense in isolation or they're too spoilery)

Well, when you eliminate the impossible.

[amenemisa]

Aaah! Mushroomfields and their fictions! Their fictions always make me feel better and worse!

I drew this drawing one or two week ago after reading their fiction about reincarnation again. -and i will read it again... who loves pain? me?? nopeee(!)- Then I couldn't help but paint and here it is. Hmm I have to say that I actually drew this drawing entirely on their fiction, so they were totally my muse. But as a result, i played around with a thing or two myself, so at this point I can say that i went a little bit out of the original text they wrote. There was no such information about the outfit Fukuzawa was wearing but I like to see Fukuzawa like this. And Mori by Mushroomfields didn't get the job done with a single finger grip, hehe. Anyway! Long story short, my muse was definitely Mushroomfields and what I'm drawing here outlines the scene in their fiction, but what I'm drawing is far from the scene in that fiction. Ehm... thank you for listening to the turmoil in my mind, and I strongly suggest you read their fiction. I'll leave a short excerpt here for you~

<Fukuzawa stood in utter boredom amongst the crowd of dressed up guests filling the ballroom, filled with too many enemy organisations that Fukuzawa was throughly sick conversing to as though they wouldn’t all pull a gun on one another the moment this night of a truce was over. It felt fickle, something Fukuzawa didn’t like to indulge in when he was nothing if not a realist. Yet, there was one man amongst them all, one enemy somewhere in the crowd that Fukuzawa would be more than happy to indulge. It showed.

When finally Mori had come to rescue him from his circle of small talk. The younger man passed Fukuzawa’s conversing circle, his body coming close enough for their shoulder’s to brush, and his eyes didn’t dare look to Fukuzawa, the two not even giving away a hint of acknowledgment to the other as Mori ghosted by. But, hidden from view of any possible prying eyes, Fukuzawa felt Mori’s pointer finger touch his palm hanging by his side, the other tracing a slow line from Fukuzawa’s pinkie all the way up to his wrist, teasingly tempting in the way Mori knew Fukuzawa would follow.

Mori continued walking by until Fukuzawa watched from the corner of his eye as the younger left outside the large door’s of the ballroom, before he cleared his throat. The circle stopped idly talking for a moment to direct their attention to Fukuzawa as he nodded once to them all, gracefully placing his half drunken Champaign glass on a waiter’s tray passing by.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Fukuzawa regarded, before turning on his heel and swiftly locating his way through the crowd until he reached the ballroom’s doors. Just like that, in one simple touch he was chasing after Mori like two opposite ends of a magnet compelled towards each other.>

And yes I'll probably be on the exam when this is posted on my tumblr, wish me luck~

[taybatwo2]

Draculaura Vampire Heart Review Part 1

I preordered her on Amazon when she first quickly blipped up after that now deleted Monster High Instagram post (such a sucky rollout Mattel, why must you bungle EVERY Skullector drop?!). She ended up being 90 bucks and she’s the best 90 bucks I have spent in awhile and my favorite Skullector doll EVER.

Her box is decorated with little hearts, hearts with vampire teeth, bat-winged hearts, the Vampire’s Heart, and filigree. The filigree on the box is really pretty and metallic and I love that it has a lot of bat wing motifs, but it’s not distracting.

I even like how they made the Monster High logo the same light pink that is present in her hair.

There are even little bats on the side of her box and a nice ombré effect.

I also love her box art. It looks like she is descending the grand stairs and bats are escaping on both sides of her. It’s just all so lovely. It’s not overt complicated but not too simple either….

The back of her box sadly doesn’t have any artwork on it, but instead a flipped close up (her heart is on the wrong side, haha) and the back of her doll.

Close up of her doll photos. BACKWARDS FACE!

The description on her box: “In another time…Draculaura is the Vampire Queen. As the Vampire’s Heart begins to glow, Draculaura can hear the stirring melody of a string quartet. ‘But how?’ She wonders, her dark eyes peering down into the ballroom as dancers swirl in a ghostly scene. Candles flicker with an ominous glow as the clock strikes midnight and Draculaura approaches the grand staircase. The crowd grows quiet as they watch the haunting beauty descend in a romantic and regal cage skirt ball gown. Her dark hair pulled back by and elaborate bat wing headpiece, the Vampire Heart glitters at the center and brings the crowd to a respectful bow. Draculaura has arrived and is ready to stake her claim as the new Vampire Queen.”

The description gives me similar vibes of the Ever After High SDCC releases, in which the dolls’ were experiencing their darkest timelines/endings. It’s like we had a dark ending to “Fright, Camera, Action” where Draculaura takes up Lord Stoker’s offer to be the next Vampire Queen and becomes his pawn.

She really came in perfect condition (with tissue paper and her own cardboard box). I was really worried on how she would come in after seeing/reading everyone’s horror stories of their’s getting smashed and mangled. I have never been so tempted to leave a doll in her box before….

…..anyways out of the box she comes!! The rest is under the cut.

Here are some close-up of her without the plastic front. No glare!

A better look at the front plastic’s decorations.

Found her stand and card in the bottom of her box.

Here is here authentication card. You know what would be a great addition to what was under here too? A diary!! I need my lore dang it!! Draculaura’s original collector doll’s diary is one of the best ones I had read in G1. It was chock full of new information on Draculaura.

She has a clear (very lightweight) saddle stand that works as well as any other Monster High saddle stand…so not the best…but I like how it is clear so it doesn’t show under her dress.

Luckily she can mostly balance on her own.

Her box’s background.

Her skullete is featured on both the carpet and mosaic windows. Her earrings are also hanging under the chandelier.

Her staircase even makes a heart.

Her headdress on a table.

A pink plush chair and wait!!! ZOOM IN!!!

A drawing of Vampire Heart Draculaura!!! Maybe some concept art?? Why wasn’t this on the back of the box?? She’s even doing Draculaura’s signature standing position.

I wanted to compare her box to the original 50 dollar Amazon Exclusive: collector Draculaura from 2015.

It’s background is a lot simpler, but I love that they shaped it like a coffin.

I love the rock-marble details, along with the “handles.”

The top of the box. Her new box uses many of these little guys too.

She got lovely artwork of the doll on the back of her box….

And her description (that was elaborated more in her included diary….): “She is a hopeless romantic with the soul of a poet. A gentle hearted friend who is kind and loyal to a fault. Her favorite accent color is pink and she loves the warmth and light of a sunny day. You almost wouldn’t know that she’s a vampire except that she is. Draculaura; student, Fear Squad member, friend of werewolves, fan of days at the beach, daughter of Dracula himself, and in all the ways heir to his legacy save for one. She is a riddle, wrapped in sweetness, inside an infectious laugh. This is Draculaura like you have never seen her before, resplendent in a satin and lace embodied dress. Every detail painstakingly crafted to represent the height of Victorian vampire fashion in the late 19th Century. Take a stroll with her through the foggy streets of Old Londoom and rediscover an old friend or make a new one.”

And I ran out pictures. Continued in my next post.

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

Susan Kay's 'Phantom' Read: Part VI (Erik-Christine Counterpoint)

Dear God.

I can now unequivocally say I hate this book. Some of you may have caught my vent post from earlier which I wrote in one of the many moments I had to put the book down and walk away for the good of my own health and sanity.

The badness of this book has now ceased to be amusing and is now just... bad. So bad in fact that I think it triggered my bronchial asthma and I had to get out of the bathtub and find my inhaler before I could finish this portion.

To sum up it really seems like Kay lost any and all interest in exploring Leroux's characters once she finished Erik’s back-story. Yes there were differences from Canon even there, but the story was still following Leroux's timeline and was by-and-large canon compliant.

This section, barring a few superficially similar details is virtually unrecognizable from the source material.

Yes Erik begins to teach Christine under the guise of the Angel of Music, and yes he takes her down under the Opera house for two weeks. And yes they go up for the masquerade and yes Christine and Raoul plan to run away on the rooftop, leading to Erik planning to blow up the Opera house out of desperation.

Carlotta croaks like a toad and the chandelier does indeed crash.

Yet all of these details seem like perfunctory afterthoughts. The intervening material is so wholly divorced from Leroux's story that when events from the canon are included, it felt almost jarring to me.

I hate the way Kay characterizes Christine, and Erik is just as bad if not worse.

Christine’s descent into the lair is clearly modeled off of the Musical/1925 movie, with Erik drawing her down into the tunnels in a trance. And Christine asks for the Angel to take her away! How convenient for Erik!

I would have been far more interested in seeing the abduction from the book as told from Erik's perspective.

This launches a self-indulgent two weeks of Christine essentially worshipping at Erik's feet, which is shattered only by a frankly ineffective unmasking scene (again based on the musical/1925 movie and less affecting than either).

This is no torrid, passionate, innately horrifying yet also emotionally heart-wrenching unmasking of Leroux. Christine simply snatches the mask and Erik has a heart attack(?) before he can fully choke her out.

Christine’s shock at discovering that her Angel is actually a man, and then her horror of his face is lacklustre, and completely insufficient to convince me that this is really a big enough stumbling block to prevent her from marrying him. She puts him on such a high pedestal and Erik does absolutely nothing to contradict her. He says he worships her, but in action, she is always deferential to him. He never prostrates himself before her, never treats her like a queen, like a goddess. He never follows her around like a faithful dog, as he does in Leroux. On the contrary, she follows him.

She's so obviously in love with Erik that her claims of confusion regarding her feelings for him come off as flaccid and disingenuous, and her obvious preference for Erik and her complacency with her situation sap any tension from the love story.

Don't misunderstand me, I like when a Christine has a preference for Erik. My problem is that Kay has completely lain all her cards on the table. Christine speaks freely and almost easily of Erik to Raoul who is basically a cardboard cut out. Kay's attempt at "exploring" whether Raoul's doubts in Christine's love for him are really founded in Christine secretly holding a candle for Erik is ultimately pointless because the READER already knows that she finds Raoul's love a pale comparison to what she feels with Erik! There's no mystery here!

(Its unfortunate that Kay wrote this before having access to Lowell Bair's translation, which provided us for the first time with Leroux's own answer to that Question: Why tempt fate, Raoul! Why ask me about things which I keep hidden in the back of my heart like a sin?"

It makes it feel even more incomprehensibly perfunctory when Christine decides to run away with Raoul when she knows that she could simply marry Erik for however long he has left (he's apparently not long for this world anyway) and then go on with her life. Gah!!

And then there's how Kay infantilizes Christine. While Leroux's Christine is eccentric and dreamy and credulous, she is not ignorant or "unstable". She's aware of the ways of the world

You would say that to me, Raoul? You, an old playfellow of my own! A friend of my father! You have changed since those days, Raoul. What can you be thinking of? I am an honest girl, M. le Vicomte de Chagny, and I don't lock myself in my dressing room with mens voices!"

Christine very clearly understands the implications here, and she's outraged and offended that Raoul would even imply that she would conduct herself with impropriety.

And it's not only Kay who infantilizes Christine, but Erik as well:

I'm beginning to realize just how much of a child she really is, how terrifyingly immature and vulnerable--even unstable. There's a fatal flaw running through her, like a hairline crack in a Ming dynasty vase, but that imperfection makes me love her with even greater tenderness. I don't suppose for one moment that that boy is aware of the never-ending care she'll need. Whoever marries Christine is going to have to play the father as well as the lover; if she lives to be eighty she may never be more than a child at heart, a lost and frightened little girl, bewildered by the demands of reality.

This is infuriating to me, because, as M. Grant Kellermeyer so astutely points out in his footnotes of the 2018 Old Style Tales Edition of the book:

"He confesses his cheat. He loves me! He lays an immense and tragic love at my feet... he has carried me off for love! He has imprisoned me with him underground, for love! But he respects me!*"

* - This, indeed, seems to be a unique experience in Christine's life: she is surrounded by people who despise her (Carlotta), dismiss her (the managers), idolize her (Raoul), infantilize her (Mama Valerius), and pity her (the opera workers)--Erik alone respects her. Erik alone sees in her the power and artistry that becomes increasingly obvious as her character grows in confidence and assertiveness. Erik fears her to an extent, and [...] it is likely that Christine is simply touched by Erik's belief in her, his confidence in her, and his devotion to her success.

And Kellermeyer's point about Christine growing in assertiveness is very very important. She wields power over both Erik and Raoul.

But Kay's Christine doesn't. Erik's treatment of her, both his actual treatment and his internal monologue is absolutely horrible, so again NOT AT ALL how Leroux's Erik treats her.

Let's start with the stretch where he's playing the Angel (Alexa play album "Playing the Angel" by Depeche Mode)

Christine says:

He's so stern and exacting in his demand for perfection; he never praises me, even when I know I have done well. He remains aloof and cold in his timeless imperishable wisdom, and I know that the worship of a mortal heart can mean nothing to him.

Kayrik said he wanted to be her angel who would make her feel confidence in herself at last, and yet none of his behaviour exhibits any desire to do that. I hate interpretations of Erik that take "stern" to mean cold or outright verbally abusive. That is terrible teaching method and never produces good results. Furthermore, in Leroux, Christine never mentions the Angel withholding praise, and when he is aloof following Raoul's reappearance in Christine's life, it even seems as though this is a departure from the norm.

Arguably one of the most iconic moments of the original novel is the scene where Christine is left alone in her dressing room after recovering from a fainting spell that saw her carried off the stage immediately after her triumph. Raoul, outside her room, hears Christine and Man's voice conversing and we are given some of the most iconic lines in the novel:

He had heard a man's voice in the dressing room, saying, in a curiously masterful tone:

"Christine, you must love me!"

And Christine's voice, infinitely sad and trembling as though accompanied by tears, replied:

"How can you say that to me? To me, when I sing only for you!"

[...]

The man's voice spoke again: "Are you very tired?"

"Oh, tonight I gave you my soul, and I am dead!"

"Your soul is a very beautiful thing, child," replied the grave man's voice, "and I thank you. No emperor ever recieved so fair a gift. The angels wept tonight."

Raoul heard nothing after that.

This important scene, deeply layered with romantic and sexual subtext, is completely absent from Phantom. Not only that Kay explicitly says that when Christine returned to her dressing room after her triumph, the voice wasn't there at all. He never congratulates her, never praises her. He's simply. Not. There. For her.

It's not just this that I hate though.

It's the number of times Erik calls her a "stupid child".

Funnily enough, Erik treats Christine with the exact same supercilious condescension that makes me hate Raoul in the musical.

Both Kayrik and Musical Raoul look at Christine and regard her as potentially mentally unstable, unable to trust her own senses or handle reality. To both of them she is a "scared little girl" and will never be anything more. Both of them look at that and say "No matter, let me wife that."

Interesting thing: Leroux Erik only calls Christine "Child" when he is in his guise as the Angel. Never does Erik, as Erik, refer to her that way.

Now I'll pause to say, there is one part of this episode I enjoyed and that is when Christine masturbates to Don Juan Triumphant.

And yet even this I have a problem with.

I've already covered the fact that though Leroux's Christine is innocent, she is not ignorant. She is very aware of the potential sexual danger Erik poses to her when he abducts her (though this, again was not a portion of the book available in English when Kay was writing). Nevertheless I still find it hateful and irritating that Kay's Christine is so ignorant that when Erik's music arouses her, she says she touched herself in a place "I had never known existed."

And the fact that Christine has remained insensible to her sexuality this far into her relationship with Erik is another thing that chaps my hide.

Both Leroux's Christine and Andrew Lloyd Webber's admit to fearing the effect that the Angel of Music and his tutelage have had on her. Leroux's Christine says "I hardly knew myself when I sang. I was even frightened." And Andrew Lloyd Webbers also says "He's with me even now, all around me--it frightens me" and in a short-lived alternative lyric used on the West End "I'm changing, Meg!"

And indeed, Erik's tutelage has changed Christine. Her singing under Erik's influence is not simply that of innocent euphoria. It referred to in deliberately orgasmic terms such as "Ecstasy" and "Rapture". And this so frightens her, because she is aware of what exactly these ecstasies are awakening in her. But Kay's Christine doesn't seem to be undergoing the same change. Instead of Erik's voice awakening her, Kay rather describes him as shrouding her in the fantastic, even shielding her from the very awareness and maturity that Leroux's Erik seems to be drawing out in her. Her final step into adult awareness is Erik revealing himself to her as a man, which seems to be something of a non-event here, not even of importance independent of the Unmasking. To Kay's Christine it simply is, while that simple fact is reacted to by ALW's Christine with undisguised attraction and by Leroux's with indignation.

Further sullying what is otherwise a very engaging (if somewhat short) scene of... self... discovery(?) Is Erik's perspective on the proceedings, an excerpt which prejudiced me against this book long before I undertook to read it:

I dared not think how near I had been to losing control, how terrifyingly easy it would have been in that moment to rape her. I'd raped her with music instead, and perhaps that crime was almost as bad as the one it had so narrowly prevented. Either way I'd violated her trust and destroyed a rare and precious innocence--soiled the delicate ambience that had lain between us all these weeks.

When I first ran afoul of this quote I had still been under the impression that this section of the book would be following Leroux's story and took this to be Kay's interpretation of the moment after the Unmasking when Erik, having lashed out in horrific fashion at Christine for exposing him, retreats to his room to express his anguish through music, and that music actually prevents Christine from taking her own life. In another travesty of censorship, though, the salient details of this moment (Christine's description of Erik's music) is yet another portion of the book Kay would have had no knowledge of or access to, yet is one of the most heart-wrenchingly beautiful pieces of prose ever put to print:

Troubled at the idea of the fate now awaiting me, and terrified of seeing the monster's uncovered face peering from the doorway to the room with the coffin, I had run to my own room and snatched up the scissors that could bring me freedom from this loathsome fate when I heard the sound of the organ.

At that instant I began to comprehend to Erik's strange rejection of what he termed "opera music". What I was now hearing was completely different from the music that had thrilled me up to that point. His "Don Juan Triumphant" (for I had no doubt that he was now losing himself in his Masterpiece to forget the horror of the moment) at first struck me as one long, dreadful, glorious lament into which he was pouring all of his bitter misery.

I visualized the manuscript with the blood red notes and easily imagined that they had been written in blood. His music carried me on a gut-wrenching journey through martyrdom and into the most hidden recesses of the pit which this hideous monster called home; it showed me Erik banging his poor, ugly head against the dreary walls of the hell where he took refuge from those whom he would otherwise frighten. I, listening, gulping for breath, besieged and pathetically broken by the Titanic cords which turned suffering divine: rising from the pit they suddenly rallied into a remarkable, menacing swarms, soaring up to heaven circling ever higher Like an Eagle toward the Sun. Listening to that Triumphant Symphony as it as it set the world of fire, I now understood that the work had achieved its apotheosis, and that the Beast soaring on the wings of love had dared to countenance Beauty.

Yet another iconic moment which Kay saw fit to axe from her work is Christine's visit to her father's grave at Perro-Guirec, where Erik plays for Christine unseen in the snowy graveyard at midnight, and after which Raoul comes face to face with Erik for the first time.

Kay weaves a frankly incoherent and disjointed tale that confounds in the original scenes and rushes through the ones that touch on canon.

But by far the most unforgivable omission

She cut out César, the White Horse from The Profeta.

See I was all set, back in part III to praise Kay's foreshadowing, because CLEARLY she put so much focus on Erik's affinity with his horses, having him tell Giovanni that he has no need to train them--they follow him because they want to, etc CLEARLY that was set-up for him carrying César off to transport Christine. RIGHT?

RIGHT?

RIGHT?

RIGHT?

Wrong.

As lovely as Erik's description of Christine's kiss is, by this point its so overshadowed by a cloud of shit, I couldn't really enjoy it.

Nearly finished now. I can't wait for this to be over...

Masterpost

[killian-whump]

Okay, so yesterday I was tempted to post something along the lines of "Colin! Come out and plaaaaay with us!" because I was missing him and wishing he'd do/post something or appear somewhere for us to enjoy his delightfulness... but I dunno, I just wasn't feeling it. Like, my vibes were telling me it wasn't the right time to summon Colin and doing so would be fruitless.

Turns out it wasn't time to summon Colin himself, it was just time to summon Dream Colin - who thankfully appeared without me needing to summon him, anyway.

And what a lovely dream it was!

To remind everyone who might not be following KW's Little Dream World, I have a tendency to have continuing dreams based in several different little worlds, where the premises are different and sometimes the cast of characters are different. This dream took place in a world where I'm part of a travel club that regularly goes on outings and adventures together, traveling to different countries and events together for a discounted price and the companionship of fellow friendly folks. Colin is a part of this group - but being famous, he basically has the "skybox" equivalent of a membership where he gets his own private room/transportation and most of us never actually see him (or his family when they join him) because he's very private and a bit reclusive.

So! Today's dream was about a little gala even being thrown to honor a couple members of the club who chartered a new deal going forward with an investor who would help fund our trips AND donate money to charity on our behalf in exchange for - okay dreams aren't very specific on the business end of deals, okay, but it seemed like a great deal for everyone and we were all happy.

The gala was fun, and the next day, we were making a cute little animated video to document the event. I was adding my parts to the video, and my animated self was re-living them in the dream as I went, when Animated Me suddenly spotted Animated Dream Colin arrive at the gala.

This isn't right, I thought. He wasn't there last night.

So Animated Me went over to investigate the situation as Real Me questioned the others around me to find out what was going on.

"Colin wasn't there. I would've noticed if he'd been there! What's going on?"

"No, he was totally there. Don't you remember?"

"What?! No! I couldn't have missed him!!"

"Oh, you definitely didn't miss him..."

And then the animated sequence took center stage again. I didn't know what to draw/do because I didn't remember whatever my friends were claiming had happened the night before, so I just... did what I would've done (well, what Dream Me would've done - Real Life Me would've just died on the spot) in the moment. I went over and introduced myself to Colin and said it was an honor to meet him and I was so glad he'd come to our event.

He was gracious and lovely, of course, and then extended his hand like a gentleman and said, "Shall we dance?"

And then there was a record scratch and the Real replaced the Animated once again.

"Okay, guys... I KNOW this didn't happen. I would not have forgotten this if it had happened. What the hell are you guys up to?"

"Are you SURE you'd remember it? Maybe the shock of it was so much you completely blocked it from your memory."

"I don't think that's how that works. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's not AT ALL how that works."

"Well, whatever... We all seem to remember it, so the problem's with you, not us."

And then the Animated resumed, but post-dance (which was a shame, but I suppose my mind can only be so creative and coming up with an actual "dancing with Colin" scene would've been a bit too much for it. I mean, was it a slow dance? A fast dance? The Robot? I guess we shall never truly know). Me and Colin chatted a little bit more, and then he left.

However, it was winter time and very snowy out, so we were all a bit concerned about him driving in the snow. He'd also expressed something about his tires going flat sometimes in the snow, so we were also worried about that. And it turned out he returned about 5 minutes after he left, saying his tires had gone flat and he'd had to call for a ride and it would be about 20 minutes until the car arrived.

Of course, I took this opportunity to chat with him some more, and when the car arrived, I offered to walk him out to it. He said that would be lovely, and we headed out into the snow and ice.

After a few moments of walking (I guess the car couldn't get into the parking lot because it was snowed in, so we had to walk across it to get to the car), I revealed to him that this was all a little strange, because it was supposed to be a recollection thing, a documentary about what had happened the night before, but that this was all new to me.

"Hmm," he said cryptically.

I side-eyed him majorly at that. "You're not going to say anything, because you're in on whatever this is they're doing, aren't you?"

And all he said back was, "Hmm."

At this point, I was pretty sure that this was Real Colin working with my Real Friends to create this little Animated Adventure for Real Me to enjoy as a thank you for brokering such a nice deal for us all. I was super touched and pleased by it all, and gave Colin a bit of a sideways "while we're walking" hug.

I then realized Colin wasn't walking, he was gliding, because he was wearing Flip Flop Skates. Like, Flip Flops on the top, but Ice Skates underneath. And I just started laughing and he seemed a bit concerned I was laughing at him, so I patted his hand reassuringly and said, "Never change, Colin. Never, ever change - because there's no one else quite like you and you're absolutely wonderful just as you are."

He got a bit embarrassed at that, in that adorable "quit saying nice things to me, but also please keep saying nice things to me" way he has that is so charming and delightful, and then he said, "Can you eat?"

I couldn't help but tease him a little when I answered, "Yes, I have been known to consume food on occasion." But I knew what he meant, so I added, "And I could go for some now, yeah."

Then he said his ride had mentioned stopping for dinner on the way home, and would I like to join and-

DINGLE DANGLE BING BONG DOODLE-OOOOOO

My alarm went off.

Another lovely Dream Colin Adventure ruined by Real Life 😭

But it was so much fun while it lasted!!! Thanks for coming out to play with me, Dream Colin!

Now let's hope the real thing pokes his head out and says "Hi!" to us sometime soon. I miss that lovely man.

[shatcey]

I think you misunderstood, they're saying that's as slippery as a cat, so that the castle guards are no match for him - ie. that they couldn't catch him/stop him, so he gave them the slip. Not that they're trying to catch teh castle guards. Or at least that's how it reads from the two screenshots I read. :) I hope that helped! :)

Just in case, it refers to this post of mine.

Hi. It's very nice of you to try to help me understand.

So you think Vivi sent the castle guards to catch Alfons, and he escaped from them? That makes sense. Where will Vivi find time to cook if he runs after all the boys to catch them? This thought had never crossed my mind before. Thank you.

But the first screenshot, in which Willy says it's a rare of someone slipping away from Vivi, still sounds promising. In many ways.

But mostly I was just teasing Vivi. To get him to open up a little bit and tell me more about himself. As if it would work… He sees through all my teasings… But a girl can dream, right?

It's so tempting to play with words when someone says something with a double meaning or multiple interpretations… So… playing with words or even drawing a scene in my mind has become like a habit. Even if I'm very far from the truth, it's still a lot of fun.

dividers @.fanguro

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🔝 𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕋 ℙ𝔸𝔾𝔼 🔝

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