#still grasping characterization... h

[cutekittenlady]

Planes, Trains, and Autobots

Summary Fic Part 2

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((Srsly I need a title for this thing. Willing to take suggestions.))

Opening up on the Maltos House where, after the end of the first season, Bumblebee and the other Autobots have started taking efforts to educate the Terrans about Cybertronian culture and history in more detail. Something Alex enthusiastically takes part in.

(Really this is just an excuse for me, as a fan, to import whatever aspects of the previous lore I find most appealing, as well as inserting some stuff of my own.)

While they are doing this who should finally appear?

Ratchet. Because Ratchet needs to be in Earthspark. I will take no arguments.

(Definitely prefer his characterization as an older more experienced cybertronian medic so kinda going off that here. Generally for this fan speculative Earthspark version of Ratchet I see him, as always, being the Autobots top combat medic as well as one of their most senior and experienced members with a long friendship with Optimus. LIke a lot of the other Autobots, hes accepted Megatrons change of heart but unlike the others he doesnt necessarily get along with him and is not above bringing up past grievances or criticizing Megs for current as well as past decisions hes made. Hes generally a good hearted if grmpy guy, and a highly ethical medical practitioner with strong views.)

Optimus had asked Ratchet to finally come and meet the Terrans both to further introduce them to more potential allies they could rely on and also because it was becoming increasingly important that they finally gain an understanding of how the Terrans health works so that they can best meet their needs if they're ever hurt or in need of any other kind of medical aide.

Cue some adorable moments of Ratchet putting the Terrans through various basic exercises and roping them in when they try to show off their abilities to him while he remains unfazed. The Terrans initially think this means Ratchet doesnt like them, but Bumblebee clarifies that Ratchet is just so used to the various powers and abilities of all the cybertronians hes treated over his millions of years of life that hes almost, quite literally, seen it all. Besides which hes far more concerned with figuring out areas of the Terrans health that might need his attention rather than anything else. Lol obviously cue Ratchet being grouchy and immediately undercutting whatever it is Bumblebees just said.

Eventually the subject of Conjunx Endura (Cybertronian concept like marriage which I believe was introduced in the IDW comics) somehow comes to the Terrans attention and they try asking the various Autobots (and maybe Megatron?) about it but the group gets flustered FAST and plays hot potato with the subject until it comes to Ratchet who takes up the subject while deriding the others for not being able to get ahold of themselves to actually explain one of their most important ceremonies to the kids.

((Note: As an inherently asexual species thats nonetheless capable of the full gauntlet of emotions while ALSO living for millions of years, I tend to h/c that to the cybertronians the concept of being in love and married is an incredibly intimate subject that, historically, most younger bots aren't taught about until they're considered experienced enough in other things to grasp the gravity of the subject. The Terrans are, at most, a year old or so. So them asking the various autobots about the subject is, socially speaking, like your toddler asking you where babies come from.))

Ratchet thinks if they're old enough to ask the question, they're old enough to get an answer. Still Dot and Alex insist on being present since a) despite his enthusiasm Alex has no idea what the Conjunx Endura is, b) the terrans are all their adopted children, and c) are themselves insanely curious about what could make the autobots and Megatron so flustered. Which is good, because Ratchet winds up needing their help as his explanation of the concept is incredibly dry and tends to reference a lot of aspects of Cybertronian culture the Terrans just dont know. Dot and Alex, as adults who happen to be married, are able to compare and contrast the concept to their own marriage to help the Terrans understand.

Ratchet does insist that the two are different in various ways though Dot is quick to hammer home that the important part is that its a special ceremony only to be launched with a special person you deeply love romantically. Something Ratchet agrees with and makes clear that while he wants the Terrans to understand what a Conjunx Endura IS, they're far far too young to pursue anything of the like and are definitely too young to learn about the Conjux Ritus, the set of rituals meant to tie two Conjux Endura together.

Alex and Dot thanks Ratchet for letting them learn about something so personal to the Cybertronians but do ask, out of curiosity, why the others were so flustered about it. Ratchet explains that because Conjunx are so personal many consider it an embarrassing subject to broach in mixed and professional company, and asking a bot you dont know really well about their conjunx or whether or not they have one is considered tactless and even rude. When asked why he isn't embarrassed about the subject, he explains carefully that he actually has a conjunx of his own and "after a million years together the embarrassment of the subject just sorta wears off" though he doesnt pursue the subject of his Conjunx any further.

Instead he changes subject and tell Dot and Alex to keep in mind that the Conjunx Endura can go wrong. On Cybertron there were bad actors who would lure unsuspcted bots into forming a Conjunx for favors, gain social standing, or other perks. At best they'd then abandon them allowing the victim to make an appeal and get the whole thing nullified, but at its worse it could trap bots into loveless onesided connections, or a toxic relationship.

Ratchet is surprised to find that Dot and Alex are shockingly accepting of this, saying that sadly marriage amongst humans can run much the same risk.

Alex even making a small comment like, "Just like my soap operas/stories!"

Again they thank Ratchet for telling them all this, and for looking after the kids by making sure they're informed.

Dot tries to prompt the kids to thank Ratchet only to discover most of the group had long since gotten distracted at some point in the conversation with only Nightshade and Jawbreaker really paying attention throughout the whole thing.

Alex tries to apologize but Ratchet responds with some dry humor that having at least 2/5 of young bots fully paying attention throughout the whole explanation is actually a pretty good turnout and that they can try explaining the whole thing to the others again "in due time."

They're then interrupted by the announcement that Breakdown has arrived at the Maltos house.

[dimdiamond]

❤️ for tintin if you're still doing the unpopular opinions ask game

OH RIGHT THIS GAME! OF COURSE! THANK YOU 💕

❤: Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom?

*deep sigh* The most huh? What if I said Tintin himself? Look, I'm not against fanon interpretations and just going against canon because that's what you like and want to do. However, it gets really annoying when people take some interpretations as canon when it's actually not canon or, even if it is, not in the entirety of canon. And I think a big reason this happens with Tintin is because of the animated series, you know the classic one. Let me elaborate.

For many fans the cartoon series was their first approach to The Adventures of Tintin and for many of them it was a childhood favorite. This alone creates a bias, realizing it or not, especially if you haven't read the comics, the original material. Don't get me wrong, I love the cartoon and it's the most faithful adaptation we have of the comics but that doesn't mean it is faithful. Many scenes were cut, violence and alcoholism were limited to the point of changing scenes entirely (I'm looking at you Crab with the golden claws), heck even the official order of the episodes doesn't match the original publication order. There are many reasons for these decisions to have been made and it doesn't mean they're wrong, they just worked for this kind of media and for their target audience at that time (90s cartoons had many limitations regarding what it could be shown, including violence, but that's how we got artists getting creative with how to depict violent themes in a nonviolent way). Yet I have seen fans taking the ideas of this cartoon as if they are the original ones.

Tintin isn't a goody shoes. Tintin is very kind and caring but also chaotic and with his own values and ethics. He doesn't curse out loud and he represses many of his feelings and anger but he is also very patient and understanding. And most of all HE HAS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Tintin from the first albums and Tintin in the last ones isn't the same guy! I understand people liking his character more in the first adventures but you can't characterize him the same in the later albums. And it's not only because decades passed during the serialization and Herge as an artist and writer changed. It's also showcased in the story, Tintin slowly gets stable companions, friends he shares his adventures and even his life and slowly he becomes mellower and yet more open and honest, he likes his peaceful life and doesn't chase adventure unless it comes to him. How can you have Tintin after Picaros behaving like prior meeting Haddock? As if his previous adventures didn't happen and affect him?

And what the cartoon depiction of Tintin does is to take his softer and calmer traits of his character and show them during all his adventures, regardless of how he acted at each adventure. This works for making an iconic and stable hero of a cartoon but it's not like that in the comics. The movie does the opposite but I see more fans accusing it of mischaracterization although this wilder side is also part of Tintin.

So in summary, my annoyance comes when I see Tintin characterized the same throughout all his adventures although this isn't how he is in the comics and I think this is because of the effect the cartoon had on the fans. In my opinion, Tintin's character is hard to grasp and get because he's the two ends of a spectrum at the same time, calm but violent, patient but impatient (his limits are known to himself only, you can try to kill him and not yell at you but you try to kill yourself and he'll make you regret it), selfless to the point of not caring about himself but selfish enough to do what he wants and believes is right etc.

He's such a fascinating character with many layers and it makes me sad when I see people read him as one dimensional character with no space for changes and development. However every person can have their own interpretation and such and I'm not the fandom police here so go have your fun!

[lunarlagomorph]

so fmdm. is really hard to sum up my feelings on. kind of long so ill readmore it

I think the game has some major flaws. First off there are many elements that just feel racist. The emishi in general (named and based on a real group of people, btw), and especially what ive already said about white emishi. A fascination with nazis is present in the game. Also, I think that it just takes a very "restore-the-emperor" stance on japan post WWII. These are some of the main reasons i disliked the game.

Another problem it has is that it bites off more than it can chew. There are so many characters deserving of more in-depth characterization and theres just no room for any of it. Muramasa's mom literally has like no screentime despite how important ginsego is to the plot. Chachamaru feels like a yumizuka situation where shes incredible and then she dies quickly (though less quickly than yumizuka). The characters given entire routes worth of characterization show up for five minutes total in the true route. Sorimachi is called kageaki's true enemy and basically fucks off until the very end to just be like ehehehehe (though tbh i didnt mind this one as much, it made sense).

the main thing im still deciding how i feel about it is its handling of themes. Admittedly, I expected the true route to be just: killing is bad, and here's how you could have done everything peacefully. The fact that the game instead tries to say "killing is bad, but sometimes you have to do it -- which doesn't make it less bad" is interesting. I actually believe something very similar and so I want to say I like it. But the delivery feels like it bounces all over the place as we follow kageaki himself trying to grasp the truth. and so im not really sure if it "stuck the landing" and need to think about it more.

speaking of sticking the landing, i think the ending (not the epilogue ending) of the true route was what surprised me most. This game has never been restrained, and so I kept expecting a full layout of what exactly happened to kageaki when he split the helmet and fucked his mom. THis never comes, and I think I want to say I respect the story more for it. god knows it had enough gratitous h-scenes already. The fact too that theres really only a moment of resolution with hikaru felt right.

Beyond my complaints, I think i spent most of the time enjoying the game, with plenty of lulls though. Really great if you love well writen fight scenes (like some of the best, honestly), and the chunni shit never stops coming. I also just love Kageaki, i love hikaru, i love muramasa, and so many other characters. I'm probably going to tackle the fan discs at some time just because i want more of them. But yeah. Even if it feels rough, it aims incredibly high, and when it works it really works. And when it doesn't, it really doesn't. But i'm the kind of person who appreciates what a game does well more than cares about what it does poorly. And as bad as the politics can be, i don't think it makes this vn poisoned fruit, though I do think it will stay my hand in reccomending it to many people, and i can understand why people would dismiss it entirely because of them, which I cannot fault them for.

so basically id say 8.5 out of 10. In some ways its a 10/10. In others a 4/10.

[ltstrikesback]

I know none of you like this show, but here’s more The Impossible Heir ramblings [spoilers ahead] because I do like it:

SO, I liked The Impossible Heir at first because I was queerbaited (lol), the main leads were all hot, and it had an ~eat the rich~ vibe.

Some shenanigans happened here and there that I didn’t love but I just attributed it to the writing and looked the other way. I’m willing to suspend my belief for entertainment and sometimes just want to turn off my brain. Mainly I was rooting for the main three characters and their plan.

WITH THAT BEING SAID: now that one of the main characters is a certified murderer, I’m rooting for the other two to continue their mission to eat the rich. Full stop. Fuck Inha. And if we’re being honest it was always Fuck Inha.

It is here however that I am having some trouble looking the other way. My brain will not turn off—this is directed towards the writers and the audience.

To the writers: asdfghjjk.

My main gripe is Inha. He was always characterized as arrogant. He picks a fight in school with multiple classmates in episode 1/2. He refers to his father as a God, and how that makes him more important than other people in society. He’s frustrated that his family won’t let him live up to his own potential. Because of this characterization, it’s not a shock that he has turned into a power-hungry person who is coming for the chairman’s position. In fact, this feels pretty consistent with the character; it was the plan he made with Taeoh all along.

I suppose that he turned on Taeoh, however, was supposed to be the twist. I’m having trouble with that because it feels consistent with how rich people are lol. Since I’m watching this through a Marxist lens (lol) his position in society was never far out of my mind. I wish that the writers kept his emotional characterization a little more consistent and treated his reach for power less like a revelation. Specifically, in the early episodes he was funny, dramatic, and comic relief. Now his facial expressions are all angry and aggressive. I’m guessing it’s because the show just revealed that he’s a murderer and abusive and now they’re trying to sell it to us. I think those choices would have hit harder if he was still funny, dramatic, “comic” relief through them! This is always who he’s been. It’s just now that he’s come within grasp of his power that he’s able to throw away his friends from a lower economic class. He’s finished using them. It’s a harder pill to swallow if the person who’s acting like a friend is actually fucking you over. I think that might be a more fun viewing experience and convey a more compelling message.

For this same reason (the idea that this was always who Inha was) I wish the writers didn’t treat the murder and abuse as a mystery. We saw cutaways of phone calls being made, and photographs being taken and feet in a hazy memory. When it’s revealed that Inha the one who called Hyewon’s mother, who killed his own brother, who set up his friend, it’s supposed to be a shock. I just don’t feel shocked that he would stoop this low. This would have been better for me if the story being told was that rich people are always going to be rich people. They shouldn’t be trusted.

To the audience: you know you hate women right?

I shouldn’t be surprised but here I am. I am going to quote my own post and reiterate: Taeoh and Hyewon were neighbors growing up. They’ve Seen each other with a capital S. They relate to one another and understand one another’s drive. The reason Hyewon says she’s too busy to date early on is the same reason Taeoh doesn’t pursue her. They individually have long term visions.

They are parallels in my opinion. They’re kind of the same person AND THEYRE BOTH EMOTIONLESS FOR THE RECORD. And it’s fine! Or at least it would be fine except you people hate women because they don’t smile at you. Or worse because a fictional character you’re crushing on likes her. I keep seeing comments like “why does he like her?” and you sound bitter tbh. Also I’ve seen comments where you think just Hyewon was using Inha. What?? They literally all say they’re using each other. You know what makes Taeoh and Hyewon different?? They haven’t sent their spouse’s abusive parent to harass said spouse. They haven’t assaulted their spouse. They haven’t killed anyone. They haven’t framed anyone for murder. They haven’t tried to get someone the death penalty. But you know who has? Inha. And Inha deserves to get used for the record. I hope the show ends with her as the owner of Kangoh tbh. Now that would be fun.

[pencilofawesomeness]

Hi! I just binge read your How To Raise Your Dragon Slayers AU and I need to inform you that I have accepted it as my new canon. I like that you make sure actions and events have consequences and things don't just happen in a vacuum. The worldbuilding you are doing is just something and my inner nerd is just thrilled that the magic makes sense. Your characterizations are also fantastic and you can easily believe that a character would have turned out this particular way if things went differently.

But anyway, I'm rambling...

I know it's still some time away but I can't wait for your Edolas Arc! This surprised me because, I'll be honest, it's very much not my favorite. Mashima wasted a fantastic opportunity for some character development and foreshadowing, in my oppinion. On that note, some questions:

Does obscura work in Edolas? Does etherious? As one is the opposite of ether and the other vibrates in a frequency between the two, so to speak. That would be great, just to have a scene where some poor sod goes "You can't use your magic here! You're useless!" and Natsu and Mira go "Oh no! What a tragedy!" and wreck them.

I never understood why some member of Fairy Tail didn't just grab Mystogan like a baby koala and drag him home with them. It's obvious he didn't want to be there and he already made a life for himself in Earthland. Moreso in HTRYDS. He actually interacts with other people, however little, and even has friends and a twin! They would definitely miss him.

On that note, I dearly want Jellal and Myst to pull a Parent Trap sort of thing and pretend to be the other. Or at least have someone yell out his old name to get Mystogan's attention and Eathland Jellal answers because Myst hasn't answered to that name in years.

Will Acno be there? How will Edolas mess with a being of pure ether? That would be interesting to explore.

Will Natsu talk with Edolas Natsu about their respective brothers? After the Zeref reveal I was always mad they didn't include at least one scene where Edolas Natsu asks Earthland Natsu how his brother is or at least have a board with deceased/ex-members of the guild with Zeref on it in the background or something... It would have been great foreshadowing.

Will we get some Porlyuska backstory? I always wondered how she ended up in Earthland.

Not really Edolas Arc related but after my latest reread it's been bugging me. Is Zeref possessed by Anksheram? The Larcade POV with the red eyes sorta hinted at it, what with Zeref having memory lapses and the weird dark amusement during the whole deal. And the whole question of how he new some cultists were trying to resurrect Apopis on a different continent in the first place. Seun *did* know about it when he was finally kicked out of Rogue. And Loke said that that was one of the ways to survive for a god. Your Author's Note on chapter 23 of Demon Tails sorta did too with the "when I talked about 'fighting gods' in the series summary, I was dead-on serious" part. And there was a comment somewhere that you hoped that the series will end with fighting Anksheram. (Or was it someone else and I'm just mixing things up? Anyway)

Hope you're taking care of yourself! And take all the time you need with the writing. A hobby is supposed to be fun. Good Luck!

Ohoho HELLO! WELCOME!

I'm so glad you've been enjoying HTRYDS! And yes! Edolas arc! No lie I'm pretty excited for that one too because I get to go off the rails and make everything better and worse simultaneously lmao. Gonna be a big cast but also that's because it's going to be a whole family endeavor and I am h y p e d.

As for the magic, this isn't a spoiler for the arc or anything but it's not that Edolas is opposite to Earthland. It's functionally the same thing, except, unstable and also to the left. Imagine the same chart, except somebody corrupted the image and then slid it to the side so it looks like an overlap but it's not actually an overlap. Hence the magic being exceedingly harder to grasp in Edolas than in Earthland, though not impossible. And why certain medication and items can jumpstart that grabbing process and let Earthland mages use their magic. Gonna suck for some of them though. Like Acno lmao. Luckily he doesn't need magic to be a tank. Oh and obscura is a similar principle—exists just fine but to the left. Etherious is the fun one because it's already the directionless filler stuff so actually that one is nearly the same. (I've got a reason for this magic system and it's wild but idc I had a lot of fun with my worldbuilding and I wanted Edolas and its insanity to make a modicum of sense and I think I've got it.)

To that note yes yes a thousand yesses Porlyusica is getting backstory. I am so ready for it. Soooo so ready.

And yes!! The foreshadowing! That's what I've been saying! Edolas had a lot of opportunity to account for the fact that Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, Sting, and Rogue were from four hundred years ago and shouldn't exist in a modern parallel unless there were modern interferences but nahhhhh that was brushed to the side. Same with family, like with Zeref!

Speaking of family yeah no Mystogan got robbed. Luckily I love Mystogan a lot and I ain't gonna do him dirty. (Also this arc will be ample opportunity for Mystogan and Jellal getting to work together in fic and I'm also super hyped for that.) But yeah no self-sacrificial tendencies do run strong in FT but the theme is that somebody else stops them so I'm making sure this theme stays intact XD

Also I've hinted at this enough so I don't think it's much of a spoiler but yes we are going to fist-fight Ankhseram. She's lurking around Zeref but there shall come a day, a finale-shaped day, where we gonna fist-fight her. Because yes I have expressed that I wanted that in canon and I am a simple woman. I know the opportunities I have given myself >:)

[blahbeble]

incoherent rambling about Shion Sonozaki

Writing this as someone who’s still reading the game (I’m in the middle of Tsumi) but MAN I think Meakashi is one of the best things I have ever read and extremely tragic and Shion’s characterization really blew me me away. She is one of the best portrays of a mentally ill and traumatized person I’ve ever seen and they take the “risk” of making her do and think some very horrid things yet mange to not demonize her mental illness and not link it with villainy. She’s bitter and easily jealous and often projects on the people around her. She has this anger inside of her a part of her that wishes that everyone was as miserable as she was even people who’ve done nothing to her. And by the end of Meakashi she killed a lot of people. Some was revenge against her abusers and some was for survival. But she also killed because she wanted to drag everyone down to hell with her. Perhaps in her mind killing people like Mion and Kimiyoshi was also revenge. Weather it be her inferiority complex and chance at a good life or that she desperately wanted them to defend and stick up for her and they failed to protect her. And felt betrayed by the people who cared about her as the love she received throughout her life was very inconsistent  I could go on how the arc carefully writes all the moves she makes. What specifically leads her to murder someone and all the build ups to her murders cause they’re all VERY considerately handled. It never felt like she went out of her way to just go and kill someone there was always steps towards it that made her tick until that idea in her head won her over and she took her chance. But while l I adore how a lot of Shion’s "ugly” traits are handled she also has this childish, naïve, purity about her that’s truly heart breaking. Yes, Shion does a lot of absolutely horrible things in this arc and even at the beginning of it you can definitely tell there’s something “wrong” with her. She thinks in a very unempathetic or apathetic way about a lot of things. She’s desensitized to violence due to her upbringing and thinks cruel things like how she wouldn’t care if Satoko died or thought she should die for Satoshi. But it’s not just hate for the world she holds but hate for herself and existence most of all. After all she’s really just a kid who was abused. She feels like her bitterness towards her family is unjust and does genuinely know how horrible her desires to do something about it are and hates herself for. She wants to defend herself but she feels like she’s invalid in her anger and internalized this idea from her family that she IS the problem and suffers intense self loathing. There’s also the side of her that genuinely wants to get along with her family because their her family. She holds onto this innocent idea that somewhere deep inside they must care about her and even they would have their limits. And the fact that her family can flipflop between being kind to her and being cruel to her fed into her naivety. And While it’s not hard at all to grasp Shion’s bitterness towards her family there’s never a moment in Meakashi where she has an emotional breakdown about the targets of her abuse like Oryou. She pours her heart out on how she misses Satoshi, how she projects her jealousy and anger onto both Mion and Satoko but Oryou or any other member of the Sonozaki family never get that despite being the ones that hurt her the most. Heck if you look at the text Shion never directly spells out why she did what she did. And I think it’s cause Shion downplays her abuse to herself. Heck Shion gets very self loathing monologues directed at herself and over her abusers. She’s internalized the fact that she’s a mistake. I think the demon allegory she internalizes when having an identity crisis is interesting for this reason. She never has a bitter monologue about how she turned out this way and blaming the people who were truly responsible. I genuinely don’t think Shion would have ever murdered anyone if she didn’t have someone to hide behind as an excuse. And while Satoshi is the absolute PERFECT candidate for this scenario with how similar they are and in her eyes he’s “free of sin” I can totally see her doing it for others if things went different. While Mion and Satoko were objects of Shion’s jealousy and anger for her I could also totally see her murder on their behave to in the right circumstances. Because convincing herself she was standing up for someone innocent and acting selflessly and unconsciously doing what she wanted someone to do for her was the only way she felt validated in her desires. Nearing the end of Meakashi her mind is an absolute mess. On the surface (Which is also her true feelings to an extent) it looks like she’s having this high of ecstasy and sadistic pleasure as she finally is able to let out all her pent up anger and fight back. But she’s also a mess. She feels absolutely horrible for what she’s done. There’s a lot of things about Shion that makes her feel like she’s detached herself from reality because of how empty and isolated she feels  and I think she’s disassociating from the horror she’s caused by indulging in her sadistic pleasure and getting lost in her identity crisis and all the confusion she’s feeling. 

 But despite that she really does want to be caught and is desperate to be figured out. And latches onto Rena for support and pulls at straws with things Keiichi says she wants SOMETHING 

and not just that but also that someone will love and accept her for her and not just Mion. She wants to be seen for who she is and someone to tell her that she DOES have a place in the world. She both loves and hates the things Keiichi says to her in the final stretch as while they touch her heart. It strings because these words weren’t truly meant for her and she knows that. And by the end her mind is so muddled and she’s exhausted and kills herself from the guilt. Aaaa this post is such an incoherent mess and ended abruptly but I love Shion Sonozaki

[snugglesquiggle]

go read City of Angles

you ever have something sitting in your tabs for weeks after someone said something to make it seem interesting but you never get around to looking at it

then when you finally give it literally a moment of your time you immediately get sucked in and read a 17k word chapter one in a single sitting?

i think city of angles is pretty dang good! promising start, at least, and a bunch of people i trust rec it (h/t @bedlam-moon for getting me to try it)

so far it's an intriguing bit of urban new weird. immediately solid characterization and premise. protag is shut-in with anxiety that overflowed into the negatives, thrown into a world where cubism is life-threatening and a thing called "picasso" is a genuinely unsettling threat

closest touchstone i can think of is qntm, though i don't know if that name means anything to my followers. the writing is of a similar caliber, and with style and subject matter in common, but the prose has a more expressive grasp of metaphor. it never verges on being outright flowery, but it's definitely more colorful than the cool, crisp sense of cinema qntm cultivates

as said, this first chapter pretty long, but stick it out until the transaction (deliberately vague, you'll know it when you get to it). that's the first moment that paid off for me. after that look forward to susan's law, the climax of the chapter. (and the ending is of course a banger, but if you're still not sold at that point, i can't help you)

[llycaons]

ooo can you explain more in depth on how lwj is insane? i want to write him but i also want to get him right. thanks!

hi anon! I'm flattered to be asked, but since I'm not a writer, I don't know how much my perspective will help. it's more that I read something and then judge the characterization as a whole. even in that post complaining about people making him too boring, I wasn't thinking of a particular work or writer. oh boy this got long, see under the cut

well first of all in canon lwj's character is written to heavily revolve around wwx, with the exception of independently liking rabbits, having a love of music, mourning his mother, and being a teacher. he also has a strong moral code, but if you stick with his motivations and interests being mostly wwx, and/or his conflict arising from when wwx defies the rules he believes are sacred, you'll probably get a good grasp on him. I don't think lwj knew wwx for one day without being at least a little enamored with him, and the strength of his feelings only grew when he got to know him better. but this conflicts with his near-obsessive adherence to the rules of his sect, and this contradiction provides the foundation for his character development as he struggles to reconcile these two elements he views as disparate and mutually exclusive

when I call him insane it's a bit of playful hyperbole to push back against writers that take him at face value, which honestly doesn't happen very often because most writers know he's more than he appears. in canon, he's perceived by other characters as extremely reserved, upstanding, stoic, strict, dour, a model cultivator and young master. throughout the story, we can tell he has a lot more going on - he's intensely principled, highly emotional, forms extremely strong attachments, and as the story progresses, becomes more willing to defy authority and engage in behavior shocking to his family and sect. he drinks! he graffities! he's really horny! and as a teenager he was very serious and clung to his dignity in ways that I found quite endearing.

his sex drive isn't not explicit in the show but if the author is a good writer it can be fun to explore what kind of things he's into that defy reader and social expectations. given what he likes in the novel it's a bit of a landmine but in theory I like the idea.

he's very all-or-nothing. he doesn't often do things by half measures. he's either absolutely committed to one path, or he's turned back from it completely. when he broke from his sect, he went from perfection to a bloodbath. he struggles to manage moral ambiguity, and he finds himself paralyzed with indecision if the path is unclear. he eases from this a bit postres, but he's still a character very solid in his decisions and someone who's able to commit to something and really mean it. very resolute. so yeah 'insane' isn't a great way to describe him I suppose, bc his surprising behavior is most noticeable compared to what people expect of him

in the book he does some really bad things to wwx both pre and postres which I suppose could be considered another way he defies expectations, but I don't like that version of his character very much so I'll stick with his cql self in this post. he did draw porn on a wall while drunk...that was crazy. but. yeah in cql that scene was more silly than anything

for more general notes on how to write him...when I think of him in fics, I don't think a lot of authors really capture how intense and stiff and sincere he is about everything, or get his dry humor down very well. he's fairly good at one-liners, but better with precise physical comedy. I find some authors just make him a sensitive and sweet and gentle boy, and while he is those things sometimes he also has a powerful conviction, a high opinion of himself, an unseen but constant incredible amount of stress preres, and a ready willingness to act - he's a very strong person. he does have a sense of humor, but it's quite deadpan and subtle. when he speaks, he chooses his words very carefully. a lot of times there's this delicate balance between action and non-action, if that makes sense? he's very reserved with touch up to a point, and then after that he's not afraid to get physical - think of him pulling wwx up onto his back with no questions asked postres. this is also why I don't think they slept together or confessed until the cliffside - wwx may have tried to say something at some point, but lwj can't/won't reciprocate until he knows they can actually have a life together. when they reach that point, then they're both all in. super domestic, married after a week

I read him as autistic so that kind of ties in with my interpretation of him as someone who's isolated from the world and whose connection to it is somewhat impersonal and unconventional - he wants to do good for people in a general sense but doesn't really know them personally. he speaks easiest through music, or through rule recitation. I feel like he has strong sensory preferences that can be assumed from canon - many-layered robes for pressure, the soft fur of rabbits, gripping bichen as a stim, preferring bland foods. he finds it easiest to communicate nonverbally, through music mainly. but he and wwx develop a fairly strong nonverbal communication just through body language that I think is a really important part of their dynamic, especially when they get together. depending on how you read them in cql, they might not even need to speak when they eventually get together. they have a natural chemistry and they know how the other thinks, moves, fights, etc. I like big confession scenes, but there's something very satisfying about reading two people just knowing each other without needing to speak much

he offers a nice counterbalance to wwx, someone who grounds him and reminds him to take care of himself, someone who tells him he's loved and his hurts should be taken seriously. wwx is someone so used to joking and hiding and shrugging off his needs that lwj's attention to him, and his knowledge of wwx, and his reliability, and the security he gives to wwx, and the sincerity with which he provides all these things, are all reasons that they're such a strong couple

umm I find it hard to even conceptualize him as a teacher since we see so little of it but I've liked fics that have had him hands-off and encouraging students to think for themselves. he is usually an unflappable teacher who protects and encourages his students. he has a petty streak, but usually for good reason. he's willing to be rude if someone is being rude to him first, or even if he just wants to leave a situation. he's judgemental and he doesn't care much about social niceties, or politics, or reputation, though he's not unkind or disrespectful to people who aren't hurting anyone. he's very practical, very hands-on and straightforward. his philosophy grounds him. and he's usually not driven by anger unless wwx is involved

my favorite thing about lwj is actually how much of a caretaker he is! how sensitive and attentive he is...to wwx, to children, to animals. he can appears forbidding and heartless, but he has a big heart and it hurts very easily, and he loves so so much. so I tend towards fics like that, but then I feel like they don't get enough of his zealous beliefs, or his willingness to act, or his confrontational nature.

he is also just kind of a weird dude. he's into things no regular teenager is into. he loves being alone. I like when fics make him do silly things that make no sense, and tie it to him being open and freer and more himself and happier with wwx. like in one fic wwx bought a bun and offered some to lwj and lwj leaned over and bite a piece right from wwx's hand. that was adorable. he is very cute sometimes!

sorry this is so long 😭 again I'm not a writer and I'm white so I'm not claiming that my reading is the only one, or the correct one, and there are many different interpretations of his character. and just because I disagree with a certain choice doesn't mean it's objectively the wrong one, no matter how passionate I sound in those posts of mine. however you write him, you're sure to have both admirers and critics - he's a difficult character to write and everyone has different visions of him in their head

OH but this is important. please write him speaking with correct grammar. from what I can tell, the stilted and awkward sentences people write for him (dropping the "I", having him speak in half sentences, for example), are due to mistranlsations. he's a highly educated and articulate man, it's just that mandarin and english don't always translate well.

regardless, good luck and have fun! I hope this helped and I really admire you for taking this up :) ultimately as long as you have fun and are respectful (I also recommend doing some research), I wouldn't stress too much about the exact correctness of his characterization. thanks for the ask!

[damianacottstudio3]

Research/Readings

Olender, J. (2015). Art and cultural institutions as social extensions of personal self-identity. Avant, 65-68.

i liked this article particularly this sentence " Intentionality is realized when the object is grasped with all its aspects and the viewer makes personal sense of it"

another bit i found interesting was "Our self-identity, which is based on perceptual experiences but immersed in cultural entanglements, relates to artworks that have the same basic phenomenological structure: a physical appearance bearing a multitude of cultural meanings and dependencies."

essentially what i understood from all this was that the statement suggests our self-identity and the way we perceive and interpret artworks are fundamentally similar

they both are shaped by our sensory experiences

This relationship highlights the connection of personal perception and cultural context in art

im not too sure on this but what if i were to experiment with this like further on or next semester

Thor, M. C. (2017, November). The reciprocal city: Performing solidarity—Mediating space through street art and graffiti. International Communication Gazette.

what i found interesting about this article was the debate about the similarity and differences between Graffiti art and Street art

i liked this statement about a potential difference between the two "It is understandable by passers-by and often communicates explicit messages, sometimes with an explicit political character. It informs the viewer of the intended meaning using explicit visual cues, and occasionally with text. "

i like that it kind of gives a distinction between the two. it portrays graffiti art as a sort of club, where you can only appreciate it when you understand what it seen from the tag where as street art gives a more "easy" way of interpreting

"Writing a tag on a wall is a spatial and aesthetic intervention but decoding it as something other than vandalism is equally political." i like this statement, it kind of opens my mind into the graffiti art and street art realm i guess. it kind of shows me that there kind of is a clear distinction between the two but also doesn't i guess ignore or put down graffiti art (tags).

Marcin Rogal (MrArtPride)

he makes these pop art style paintings

i kind of want to make stuff like this maybe

i found him on instagram and thought that his works were pretty good, and visually enticing

i like that he merges these different figures and themes to create a cohesive piece

i think with this artist specifically, i just like his art like what he makes

its like placing things in places that they do not belong i guess, i kind of like that you know like imagine placing a kaws character on the Mona Lisa like the two don't match but it might look good or work even

i think maybe i like it because it has some relation to my personal beliefs or something along those lines( like being out of place) but also i like that he comments on capitalism and like a consumer driven society

Will Blood:

i like that he uses cartoon characters and gives them this human aspect to it(skeleton)

His art is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, streamlined minimalism, and a distinctive approach that combines fantasy with a hint of the grotesque​

its like a aesthetic and charming piece but the skeleton sort of gives it this uneasy feeling

i don't know it kind of reminds me of puppets and their puppet masters

id like to explore this, but do it in a way where its different. maybe i can take aspects from his process and try and develop or adopt them into my own practice

i mean i like the cartoon figures but im not sure if id recreate them in my own practice

im still not sure

Sarah H. Awad, B. W. (2017). Street Art of Resistance. Aalborg University Aalborg, Denmark: Springer International Publishing.

i liked this book chapter about "Art and Social Change: The Role of Creativity and Wonder"

i know its speaks about the activism side more but it mentions street art as one of the "activist art"(like activism form of creative expression) , it says that street art is directly linked to change within society and community

"It is a space where reality becomes multiple and malleable, at least as experienced in art."

this was a sentence from the chapter it i don't know to me it kinda means like it creates this other universe where they morph reality within their art

i know i don't really explore the activism side, unless my works have underlying political themes which i think they don't i would like to explore this morphed universe, well i think i do a bit ?

i don't know it was a good read

definitely open a new avenue i could explore however i am not sure if i would go a more activist route maybe i do already? not too sure on that though

[dannyjohnson25]

Hypercars vs Supercars: What Sets Them Apart?

Introduction:

The automotive world is a realm of dreams and desires, where speed, power, and luxury converge to create some of the most coveted machines on the planet. Among these, hypercars and supercars stand out as the pinnacle of automotive excellence, each embodying its own unique blend of performance and prestige. In this article, we delve into the defining characteristics of hypercars and supercars, exploring what sets them apart and why they continue to captivate enthusiasts worldwide.

Understanding Hypercars and Supercars:

Before delving into their differences, it's essential to grasp the fundamental concepts of hypercars and supercars. Both represent the zenith of automotive engineering, pushing the boundaries of speed, technology, and design. However, while they share many similarities, subtle distinctions separate them in terms of performance, exclusivity, and purpose.

Hypercars: The Apex of Automotive Engineering:

Hypercars represent the pinnacle of automotive achievement, combining unrivaled performance with unparalleled luxury. These elite machines are characterized by their extraordinary speed, advanced aerodynamics, and cutting-edge technology. Hypercars are the epitome of exclusivity, with production numbers often limited to just a handful of units worldwide. Each hypercar is a masterpiece of engineering, meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled driving experience that transcends conventional boundaries.

Supercars: The Icons of Speed and Style

Supercars, on the other hand, are no less impressive, boasting blistering performance and head-turning design. While they may not reach the astronomical price tags or production limits of hypercars, supercars still occupy the upper echelons of automotive greatness. With powerful engines, agile handling, and striking aesthetics, supercars command attention wherever they go. They offer a taste of the exotic and the extraordinary, blending performance with everyday usability in a way that few other vehicles can match.

Performance Comparison:

One of the key distinctions between hypercars and supercars lies in their performance capabilities. Hypercars are designed to push the limits of speed and acceleration, often boasting mind-boggling horsepower figures and record-breaking top speeds. These machines are engineered for the track but are equally at home on the open road, delivering adrenaline-pumping performance that leaves competitors in the dust.

Supercars, while undeniably fast, may not reach the same astronomical levels of performance as their hypercar counterparts. However, they still offer blistering acceleration, razor-sharp handling, and exhilarating driving dynamics that make every journey an unforgettable experience. Supercars excel in real-world driving scenarios, offering a perfect balance of performance and practicality for enthusiasts who demand both speed and usability.

Design and Innovation:

In terms of design and innovation, both hypercars and supercars push the boundaries of what's possible in automotive design. Hypercars often feature futuristic aesthetics, with aerodynamic shapes, exotic materials, and cutting-edge technology that enhance performance and visual appeal. From sleek lines to intricate details, hypercars are works of art that showcase the pinnacle of automotive design.

Supercars, meanwhile, boast striking designs that blend form and function in perfect harmony. While they may not always feature the same level of advanced aerodynamics or exotic materials as hypercars, supercars still exude an aura of exclusivity and sophistication. From iconic silhouettes to attention-grabbing features, supercars captivate onlookers with their sheer presence and undeniable charisma.

Exclusivity and Price:

Perhaps the most significant difference between hypercars and supercars lies in their exclusivity and price tags. Hypercars are the epitome of exclusivity, with production numbers often limited to just a handful of units worldwide. This rarity, combined with their extraordinary performance and luxury, commands astronomical price tags that place them out of reach for all but the wealthiest enthusiasts.

Supercars, while still exclusive by most standards, are more accessible than their hypercar counterparts. With larger production runs and relatively lower price tags, supercars offer a taste of the exotic and the extraordinary to a broader audience. While they may not carry the same level of prestige as hypercars, supercars still offer an unmatched driving experience that appeals to enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

Conclusion:

In the world of automotive excellence, hypercars and supercars reign supreme, each offering a unique blend of performance, luxury, and exclusivity. While they share many similarities, subtle distinctions set them apart in terms of performance capabilities, design aesthetics, and price tags. Whether it's the mind-bending speed of a hypercar or the everyday usability of a supercar, these elite machines continue to captivate enthusiasts worldwide, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on four wheels. To know more about hypercars do visit the blog Top 10 Fastest Hypercars In The World 2024

[lys-9-10]

Started a new Grantaire & Éponine canon era fic: "No Strings Attached" (no, that does not reference a friends with benefits relationship in this case)

Preview:

Grantaire dug into his coat for his pocketbook. “Will you at least take some money?” He emptied the contents of his pocketbook into his palm and held it forward to the gamine.

She stared at his palm, then back up at his face. She seemed to stand in indecision for a moment – but only a moment.  Lunging forward, she snatched up the coins. After she’d tucked them into the waistband of her skirt, she fixed her gaze on him and jutted out her chin defiantly.

“If we meet again,” she said. “I don’t owe you nothin’. Got it? This ain’t a favour, it’s charity. Ain't no strings attached to charity.”

Grantaire’s face stretched into an amused grin. “As you wish, m’lady. Charity it is.” However, even as he conceded to this characterization of the act, he ventured to ask her name. “May I know what they call you, Mamzelle?”

“Éponine,” she said distractedly, as she adjusted her waistband once more and gave it a satisfied pat.

Grantaire opened his mouth to express his pleasure at making her acquaintance – but Éponine had already turned and was loping away.

--------

Grantaire shouldered the door of Le Café Musain open and stepped outside. His head bowed, he rooted around in his coat pocket for his cigar (which Enjolras always insisted he smoke outdoors). As his fingers closed around the object and he pulled it out, he was interrupted by a familiar raucous voice. 

“So you’re one of these alphabet boys, are you?” 

Grantaire looked up, startled. The girl Éponine sat there, perched on top of an empty wine crate. She had one foot tucked up on the crate and was resting her elbow on her knee as she gazed at him. She wasn’t smiling exactly – but it wasn’t an unfriendly gaze either. 

At the sight of her, Grantaire cried out in delight. “Éponine! How charming to see you again.” Grantaire had hoped he’d run into his new acquaintance again, but didn’t expect to so soon. “Do you frequent Le Café Musain?” he asked, stepping forward so that he stood at her side. “I meet her regularly with a group of friends. They’re –” 

“The alphabet boys, I know.” Éponine reached forward and took hold of Grantaire’s cigar, which had been hanging loosely in his fingers, unlit and forgotten. She pulled it from his grasp, popped it in her mouth, then stretched her neck towards him. “Light dis ting pur me, will ya?” The cigar bobbed between her lips as she spoke. 

Grantaire’s mouth twitched in amusement at her brash presumption, which was not un-endearing. Pulling his matches out of his pocket, he obligingly lit the cigar. Éponine took a long drag, then puffed out the smoke over her right shoulder. 

“How did you come to know about us?” Grantaire asked. “Les Amis de l’ABC, I mean.” 

Éponine shrugged. “I’m acquainted with one of you. Monsieur Marius is my next door neighbour.” Her tone was a little too casual, evidently trying to pass off as insignificant an admission that was all too significant to her. Grantaire arched an eyebrow. Jean Prouvaire may have been the romantic among Les Amis – but Grantaire was the lived experience expert when it came to unrequited love. He could recognize its marks in a heartbeat.  

“Indeed,” Grantaire replied, his eyes glinting with mirth. “Well, the meeting’s almost over, so I reckon Monsieur Marius will be out before long. Your patience shall soon be rewarded, ma chère.” He winked, causing a slight flush to rise to Éponine’s face, which was followed promptly by a scowl. Chuckling, Grantaire added: “That is, he’ll be out soon if they don’t entrap the poor fellow in another debate. Which reminds me: Enjolras would want me to clarify that Pontmercy is in fact not ‘one of them’, as you put it. He’s a Buonapartist, you see. But they’re doing their best to convert him.”

Éponine was still scowling as she muttered. “ You’re obviously one of them, through and through.”

Grantaire blinked, startled. “How’s that?”

Éponine took another drag from his cigar. “It’s just like a tried-and-true revolutionary boy to go chasing after a street wench simply to ask her if she’s alright and offer her money, innit?” 

Grantaire’s mouth fell open. “No!” He exclaimed in protest. “I mean – not no, as in revolutionary boys wouldn’t do that...” He trailed off. Frowning, he tried to imagine Enjolras chasing a gamine like Éponine down the streets, the way he had... The image did not stick. Enjolras was far too regal – nay, god-like – for such antics. Grantaire shook his head, striving to clear it. “What I mean to say is,” he proceeded. “I’m not a revolutionary. I don’t share a creed with Les Amis de l’ABC. In fact, they find my skepticism and nihilism even more aggravating than Pontmercy’s Buonapartism. Only they’ve given up trying to convert me long ago.” 

“What’s that mean?”

“What’s what mean?” Éponine coughed on a bit of smoke. “Skepticism. Nihilism.” 

“Oh. Apologies.” Grantaire had forgotten that he was speaking to a young gamine who presumably had little, if any, education. And yet, despite that, Éponine seemed to be rather sharp of mind from what he could tell. “It means, simply put, that I view the world as void of any meaning or sense. I reject all the moral principles and ideals that Enj – that Les Amis hold to. Justice, Equality, Progress, the elevation of the abaissé ... That all means nothing to me. I believe in nothing, affirm nothing, care about nothing.” 

Éponine regarded him with a rather shrewd eye. Her eyes flitted over his face and Grantaire found himself almost squirming under her scrutiny. 

Finally, she shrugged. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Read more/subscribe for updates on AO3

[iyumeu]

Pillow Fort Movie Time! - with the Brothers

After begging, pleading, wheedling, and scoring As for all your tests, Lucifer had finally given in and allowed you to use the House of Lamentation's common area one (1) time to do whatever you wanted.

And you wanted to build a pillow fort.

However! You were not content with just a pillow fort. No. You wanted a Cinema Pillow Fort: large, extravagant, and with a television you could watch a movie on.

And so you went to Mammon, knowing that he had a large flat-screen television hoarded somewhere within his room that he wasn't using at all.

⭒☆━━━━━━━⸜₍๑•⌔•๑ ₎⸝━━━━━━━☆⭒

> When you asked Mammon for the television, he was somewhat reluctant to part with it at first. After all, it had cost him a pretty penny and it was fragile!

> However, after telling him what you wanted to do with it and inviting him along (because he would be part of your pillow fort movie party. C'mon. He never leaves you alone and it'll be better to invite him rather than have him try to squeeze his way in. Inviting him would make him feel wanted and you definitely wanted him there!), he had blushed and said that it wasn't that he wanted to help you, but you had asked and he just so happened to be free so he would help you set up both the television and the fort! But he wasn't being nice! He was just... making sure that your pillow fort didn't suck! Because he'd be in there too! (Because he was your first! Your man!) And he didn't want to be in a pillow fort that sucked!

> Mammon had no idea what a pillow fort was. But he wasn't going to tell you that.

> He plugged up the television and hung up the canopy of the pillow fort, layering the blankets and cloth (and why had Mammon been hoarding so much good cloth?) and attaching them to the part of the ceiling where Lucifer usually strung him from so they were nice and secure.

> Your excitement and joy was rubbing off of him and he found himself looking forward to seeing the end result of the pillow fort the two of you were building together.

> Meanwhile you placed some futons and thin mattresses — whatever you had lying around, really — on the ground before covering them up with a few layers of plush and fluffy blankets for the base of the pillow fort.

This was when Belphegor trailed down the stairs, sleepily rubbing at his eye with one hand and holding his pillow in the other, pausing in his step when he saw caught sight of the utter mess you and Mammon had turned the common area to.

⭒☆━━━━━━━ʕ -ᴥ-ʔ━━━━━━━☆⭒

> Belphegor's first thought was honestly to just leave you guys be. It looked like more trouble than it was worth and he couldn't really muster up the energy for it.

> But then you smiled at Mammon so openly and so sweetly, thanking him for his help, that Belphegor suddenly sound himself standing next to you, arms around you and his chin resting on your head.

> "MC... what are you doing?" he asked, ignoring Mammon's demands for him to keep his hands to himself.

> "I'm building a pillow fort!"

> Despite having a demon hanging off of you, you move with a practiced ease as you shifted the futons and mattresses around to ensure that there were neither bumps nor gaps in your base.

> With a similarly practiced ease, Belphie nuzzled his face into the crook of your shoulder.

> "What's a pillow fort?"

> You briefly explain to Belphie what a pillow fort was (pretending to ignore how Mammon listened in on the conversation as well): a construction made out of blankets, pillows, and other soft material resembling a sort of den or nest. It was supposedly very comfortable and cozy.

> This piqued Belphegor's interest. He asks if he can help. He wants to be praised too, like how you praised Mammon.

> You tell him to bring all the pillows he's willing to part with. This was something he could do. He had a lot of pillows, after all, and he would ask Beel to help him drag them all down.

> While Belphegor went to retrieve his pillows, you already had a few beanbags chairs that you bought specifically for this day that you placed around the fort. You piled your pillows together with them to create a few sizeable and steady piles to either lean back or bury yourself in.

Eventually, Beelzebub came down the stairs along with Belphegor, arms pull of pillows and cushions.

⭒☆━━━━━━━ᙙᙖ━━━━━━━☆⭒

> After setting down the pillows and watching Belphegor lie face first into a pile and fall asleep, Beelzebub's attention was immediately drawn to the pile of snacks you had set aside for your movie night.

> First, there were the snacks you had specifically imported from the human realm. Popcorn with various flavors, marshmallows, potato chips, ice cream... you even got yourself two buckets of cotton candy!

> Apart from those, you had spent the day cooking large servings of mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, and warm soup (in a thermos!). You had also baked cookies and although half of them "mysteriously" disappeared when you were cooling them, you still had quite a sizeable serving left.

> Why did you have so much food? Because you planned ahead of course! From the very beginning, you knew that even though pillow fort movie night was something you planned for yourself, your wonderful, beloved, amazing, clingy demonic housemates would somehow become a part of it.

> The only thing you weren't sure was the number of demons joining you.

> It didn't matter though, considering Beelzebub was here.

> You had to stand between Beelzebub and the food, sternly holding your ground and talking him down. It was an extremely difficult endeavor, considering the lethality of Beelzebub's puppy eyes, but you pulled through. Just barely.

> You lied. You gave Beel the mashed potatoes.

> When you noticed that Beelzebub was still eyeing the rest of your food, you firmly told him that the food was saved for your movie night and that if he wanted to eat it, he had to wait until then.

> "When will movie night start?" he asked.

> "When the pillow fort is set up," you replied.

> +1 helper, get!

> He helped with most of the heavy lifting, bringing the high-backed dining chairs to act as boundary wall for the fort, tying the blankets to them.

> Your pillow fort was taking shape!

> However, it seemed a little too dark. You had completely forgotten to order the fairy lights you planned to use as mood lighting. Thankfully, you know someone who definitely had what you were looking for.

⭒☆━━━━━━━₍ᐢ ̥ ̞ ̥ᐢ₎ ♥━━━━━━━☆⭒

When you knocked on Asmodeus' door to get some of his charmed candles (spelled to keep the flame to themselves! no more burns! no more accidental fires! no more fire hazards! get yours from akuzon now, for only—), he demanded to know what it was for.

> "Is it for a date? A candlelit dinner, maybe?" Asmodeus sidled up next to you, wrapping his arms around one of yours and snuggling close. "Or perhaps to set a romantic, sensual mood for certain... activities?"

> Was it just you or was Asmodeus' grip getting tighter?

> "Since when did you get a paramour anyway," he pouted. "I thought we were friends? Close friends, even! We're supposed to tell each other our secrets!"

> "It's for my pillow fort," you answered. "I'm making one downstairs with Mammon, Belphie, and Beel. You're welcome to join if you want to."

> "I'd love to join!" Asmodeus let go of your arm to grab his candles. "Scented or non-scented?"

> "Non-scented please, we'll be eating snacks while we watch the movie."

> Asmodeus gasped. "A movie? We're going to have a movie date? Ooh, I want to sit next to you! Can I?"

> "Uhhh, I don't mind, but the others might—"

> "It's settled!"

> Asmodeus looked so happy that you decided that you had to make space for him by your side, even if you were faced with ten thousand puppy eyes.

Just then, you saw that Leviathan's door was open and he was looking at the both of you with a pinched expression on his face.

⭒☆━━━━━━━～>º˵)ニニニニ>━━━━━━━☆⭒

> When he realized that you were looking at him, he panicked.

> "MC!!" he blurted out. "I wasn't eavesdropping!"

> His face was flushed red but you noticed that his gaze was still enviously fixed onto you and Asmodeus.

> "Do you want to join us in the pillow fort as well?" you offered. Levi's face turned redder and his grip on the door tightened. Ahh Levi, you're warping the wood.

> "I don't need to join in on your normie activities!" he spat out and then immediately regretted it. "I mean, I don't need to, but I don't mind it! Since you've asked, I suppose I can join in on your movie night and pillow fort!"

> "You don't have to if you don't want to," you said. Half of you was trying to be nice. The other half just wanted to see Levi flustered. You couldn't help yourself. A flustered Levi was a cute Levi!

> Levi mumbled something under his breath. You blinked and leaned in closer.

> "What did you say?"

> "I said I want to!"

> You grinned at him and discovered a brand new shade of red.

> You reached out to link your arms with Asmodeus and Levi.

> "C'mon, let's get back down. The pillow fort should almost be done by now!"

> "Oh right MC," Asmodeus suddenly said. "I've been meaning to ask; what exactly is a pillow fort?"

> "..."

When you were done explaining to Asmodeus and Levi the intricacies of building the Ideal Pillow Fort, you saw Satan standing in the common area, looking curiously at the fort.

⭒☆━━━━━━━(=🝦 ༝ 🝦=)━━━━━━━☆⭒

> You swear, if you had to explain what a pillow fort was one more time—

> "Hello MC, is this... a blanket fort?" Satan asked.

> Oh thank god.

> Or the devil?

> Religion is hard when you're in hell.

> "Yes! I call it a pillow fort but blanket fort is one of its names as well."

> "I see."

> Satan had come across blanket forts — or pillow forts, as MC called them — before in some of the human romance novels he's read. Usually they were used during terribly intimate moments between the romantic leads, or between two very close friends.

> Huddling together and trading hushed whispers, intertwined fingers and shoulders brushing against each other, a small part of Satan has always wanted to try it out with someone.

> Try it out with you, you, it could only be you.

> But he hadn't known how to make a blanket fort and if he were every to do something like that with you, he would want it to be perfect.

> He couldn't find any books on the subject of making blanket forts either so he eventually gave up on his fantasy.

> But now, here it was. The blanket fort.

> It was a little bigger than how he imagined it to be, but it was fine.

> There were also more people compared to how things were in his fantasy but that was also fine.

> He took careful notes in his head. Next time, he would be able to replicate a blanket fort and hopefully you would be willing to share it with him.

> "Would you like to join in?" you asked because Satan was really eyeing the pillow fort with a strange intensity.

> "If you don't mind," Satan replied with a smile.

It was just then that Lucifer came home.

⭒☆━━━━━━━[ᓀ˵◇˵ᓂ]━━━━━━━☆⭒

> "When you said that you wanted free reign over the common area, this was not what I had in mind," Lucifer commented.

> "Haha," you said. And because you already had like six out of seven of the brothers agreeing to join you in your fort, you decided to test your chances with Lucifer. After all, it would suck for him to feel left out. "We're all gonna watch a movie together, would you like to watch with us?"

> There was a long pause as Lucifer looked at you, at the pillow fort, at his brothers, and then at his suitcase.

> Just as you were sure that Lucifer was going to turn down your invitation, he sighed and gave you a small smile.

> Tiny, miniscule, microscopic softening of the eyes, but you knew him well enough to tell that it was a smile.

⭒☆━━━━━━━✿ᏊㅇꈊㅇᏊ��━━━━━━━☆⭒

> It took a while but eventually you all got yourself settled into the pillow fort. It wasn't a very tight fit, but it certainly was cozy with your clingy demon housemates squeezed tight all around you.

> Each of them had to have a part of their body touching yours, like you were their life source and it brought back memories to the time you went to the beach and, in the hotel, they all formed a circle around you to sleep like some sort of deranged ritual.

> Still, they wouldn't be your beloved demon housemates without all their oddities and quirks and you love them all dearly for it.

> It also helps that not all of them ran hot; some of them actually ran cold so you didn't have to worry about getting overheated anytime soon.

> Anyway, you were comfortable and once you made sure everyone else was too, you loaded your movie and hit play.

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die—"

[missilestorms]

Missilestorm's Encanto Fic Rec List

Updated 6/3/2022

Alrighty, I thought I'd join the fray here - This shall no doubt grow as I find more lovely stories. Sorted by pairings - I tend to skew more toward angst and hurt/comfort centered around Bruno and Mirabel platonic feels, but I've been writing so much of it lately that fluff and other stuff has become a necessary part of the reading routine, so there's probably a little something for everyone in here. I'll update this periodically as I find more wonderful fics and will rotate things in and out on occasion.

Bruno/OC (or Reader) (or both if you're ClicheJoe):

Candlelight by ClicheJoe (Mature) | Tumblr: ClicheJoe

Holy crap this is good. The biggest driver here is that Reme, the Reader/OC, is really easy to fall in love with. Reme makes mistakes, falls on her face (literally) a lot, and is hilarious. This fic has me grasping at straws for any little info about the OC's backstory, which with the incredible casting of Encanto already, is such a feat. Seriously, go read this - it's got plot, and humor, and romance, and marshes, and it's fantastic. Go follow @clichejoe on tumblr too and suffer through her veiled plot related reposts with the rest of us.

Heart Attack Love by RosellaC (Explicit) | Tumblr: @rosellacwrites Professor Bruno/Reader AU; Friends, this is very smutty, and it's really well done, and now I've gone and gotten invested in the plot. There's some fantastic imagery in this one. If it's your thing, go read it, shoo.

Seasons Series by o3ak (Explicit) | Tumblr: @o3ak

Once again, more wineglass top tier god level smut, and then feels come in and you kinda want to start crying! If that isn't an endorsement I don't know what is.

your words unspoken by Applesap (Explicit) | Tumblr: @applesap-fics

Bruno comes out, and reactions and explorations ensue. I love the family in this fic - their reactions, support, and conversations are great. I enjoy Bruno wanting to go out and explore. It’s also got angst and makes me feel feelings - I'm excited to see where it goes!

Bruno & Mirabel Centric Fanfics:

Artificial Shortages by sitting_all_alone (Teen) | Tumblr: @selcaby

This de-Disney’s Bruno’s time in the walls, and it’s just heartbreaking. This is really well written and makes me feel all the feelings. Great angst and really lovely moments.

house of cards by therealgift (Teen)

Mirabel gets trapped in the rubble of Casita, and Bruno is injured and tries to help her out. Oh MAN, does this have some fantastic angst moments already. I’m clinging to the “angst with a happy ending” tag like a life raft. ;_;

See me; hear me by therealgift (General)

Bruno gets to Mirabel before Alma does, and some really sweet interactions ensue. Excellent one-shot!

I'm Fine (I'm Not) by Breanna (Teen) | Tumblr: @breannaaiedail

A lovely series of one-shot sickfics featuring Bruno and Mirabel! This is rainy day cozy hot chocolate worthy h/c, and it's got some angst to balance out the saccharine.

The Distance Between Us Series by Breanna (General) | Tumblr: @breannaaiedail

This is my multi-week cleanse at the moment. The first in the series one-shots that follows Mirabel and Bruno's relationship pre-gift ceremony, and the second picks up with them after Casita falls. I love how Bruno's degrading mental health is handled too - it's subtle enough to still be fluff galore, but it's there, and it drives you to want to keep reading, see how their relationship develops, and watch him make promises he can't keep (wah).

the future looks like this by bumblezone (General)

A lovely little one shot between Mirabel and Bruno - the characterizations are great. It focuses in on a conversation they have after Casita is rebuilt. I'm a sucker for any fanfic recognizing the parallels between Mirabel and Bruno, and this hits that mark.

Bruno From Before by UsedToBeGuest123 (General) | Tumblr: @usedtobeguest123

This fic centers around the side effects of Bruno's gift, and Mirabel and Bruno's relationship post Casita. I really like how this fic handles a lot of stuff. Bruno characterization is really neat, and Mirabel's struggle with self blame is really well done too.

Not the Intended Reunion by sleepygirl0305 (Teen)

I really enjoyed the flow of this fic. Mirabel leaves with Bruno after Casita falls, and ten years later, Antonio discovers that they have been living in a nearby town all along. I love the way this fic handles Mirabel's mental struggle.

Nos Sigue la Noche by Thornvale (Teen) | Tumblr: @thornvale

This fic is one of the best suspense-building fics I've read in this genre. It will hook you and make you keep reading. Accept that you'll be drowsy at work the next morning. Just - wow. I love the characterization, and the buildup, and just everything. Wonderfully done.

A Lie More Comfortable Than Truth (Teen) by Queen_mab | Tumblr: @themadqueenmab

Wow. This fic is just brilliant. I love Mirabel's characterization in this and the bond her and Bruno have formed. Bruno's chronic worry and protectiveness and the way it's manifested is just A tier in this and I've gone back multiple times to read certain chapters just because of the way the character interactions are written. Really wonderful stuff.

Murder, Magic, & Mugs by aetherspell(aether_december) | Tumblr: @aetherdecember

This is a very fun modern fantasy AU. Bruno suffers, Mirabel is sweet, and Camilo’s a little shit. The angst in this is great, and I love how characters from different media have been woven into the world. It’s a really fun compelling read.

Mirabel Centric Fics:

Sympathy Pain by DecemberMe (General) | Tumblr: @hectic-hector

This is a cute little oneshot about periods and Bruno having grown up in a house full of women and what that means for his knowledge of the matter. Very sweet, and the art to go with it is great!

Bruno Centric Fics:

Open Your Eyes (and see that you’re home) by ImpossibleFangirl0632 (Teen) | @impossiblefangirl0632

Bruno is separated from the family at the river as a child, and proceeds to have a very not fun time. There’s a very sweet daughter OC in this that I’ve really enjoyed, and the angry Bruno moments are great.

Alma Centric Fics:

Dame tu Manito by DancingMantis (Teen) (Alma & Bruno)

This fic follows Alma and Bruno's relationship in a 5 times, 1 time format. It's ongoing, but the imagery in this fanfiction is just fantastic - the descriptions are phenomenal.

A Third Chance by Starfangs_Secrets (Teen) | @starfangssecrets

Alma is taken back in time and tries not to repeat her mistakes. I’m still working through this fic, and I really like it! The OCs are great, Alma’s regret and reactions are heartbreaking, and there’s some interesting and thought provoking details added to Bruno’s gift.

Camilo & Bruno Centric Fics:

Mortifying by between (Teen)

Camilo needs more food to function, but hasn't really communicated this well with his family. Angst ensues - I love this fic, and I love the interactions between Camilo and Bruno. Super good read!

The Stars Don't Shine, They Burn by CakeBeDamned (General)

No one actually sits Camilo down and explains what happened when Casita fell, and h/c ensues. I love the takes on Camilo’s gift and how it’s tied to his emotion, and I really enjoyed the characterization choices with Bruno!

Missilestorm's Encanto Fanfics

Here are my Encanto Fanfics! :)

Tremors, Bruno Madrigal & Mirabel Madrigal (Teen)

The night Casita returns, Mirabel discovers she has a gift that causes cracks to form and decides that it's best if no one knows about it.

Naensut's Tremors Fanart

Old Habits Die Hard, Bruno Madrigal & Mirabel Madrigal (Mature) | TW Rape and Underage

Mirabel is assaulted by a townsperson shortly after Casita falls; deals with the aftermath of that assault with Bruno as her main support, and how the event curls together with family trauma.

Hectic-Hector's Old Habits Hug Fanart

Hectic-Hector's Old Habits Courtroom Fanart

Kintsugi (Teen), Camilo Madrigal & Bruno Madrigal (General)

After Casita is restored, Camilo still tends to put a lot before himself. Everyone’s too busy to notice.

-----

I would also recommend checking out Breanna's Fic Recs, Naensut's Fic Recs, and die-youn's Fic Recs for additional fantastic recommendations <3

[cayofdreams]

@mistressoflight​ asked: Just imagine you and Bakugou have been working together for a while and there’s all this sexual tension between you both because you’re afraid to act on your feelings for one another. Then one night at a friend’s gathering, you both are ogling each other. With a little liquid courage, you both decide to stop playing games and give into your feelings and have steamy makeout sesh which leads to y’all going back to your place for some good ol sexy times! 😁🙌🏾

~~~

YES!! We have the SAME BRAIN CELL!! 🤩🤩🤩

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: exhibitionism, making out, groping

He had a love-hate relationship with alcohol.

Sometimes he hated it.

But not because of its bitter contents, but because of how his bitter thoughts turned sweet at the sight of you. In fact, before tonight, he didn’t mind its taste. One could even characterize him as a heavyweight when it came to drinking. And yet, right now as he sat not even 10 feet away from you, it seemed the few sips he’d taken from his beer were already making him putty.

Though if he were being honest with himself, his sweet thoughts for you began long before this stupid party. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment his feelings for you became romantic, he just knew that they seemed to intensify with each passing day that you worked alongside him at the agency. Whenever you walked by, he lingered in the scent of you for as long as he could. Whenever he saw you smile, he begged for a way to photo-capture the moment with just a blink. And when you laughed, fuck- if only he could record each snorty giggle so he’d be able to listen to it whenever he felt down.

Perhaps these thoughts of you would be manageable if they were always so innocent.

But now that he had grown more into himself, and allowed himself to feel things that high-school-him would always block out, Bakugou had grown an abysmally deep desire to have you wrapped prettily around his cock.

Those scents that wavered off you would become drenched in his own as he smothered himself on top of you. That smile that decorated your beautiful lips would circle in a lovely ‘O’ as you felt the stretch of him plunging inside you. And that cute little giggle of yours would turn into cock-drunken moans as he drove you into euphoria with each orgasm.

Such debauched thoughts would plague him at every moment you were in his vicinity. He could blame it on the alcohol all he wanted tonight, but he knew these thoughts would only resurface with more vigor when he saw you the next morning.

“Fuckin’ beer...”

“What was that, Bakugou?!” Kirishima caught his low grumble as he plopped down next to him on the couch. “I thought that was your favorite brand!”

“Well it tastes like shit tonight!” Bakugou stood up, turning to go towards the kitchen. “There better be another kind in there, Shitty Hair.”

“Yeah, dude! There’s plenty!”

Bakugou grumpily walked to the kitchen, swinging open the refrigerator door to peek inside at the alcoholic contents. He must’ve been absent-mindedly reading the labels for too long because he suddenly heard a familiar voice ring out from behind him.

“Can you pass me a [redacted] while you’re down there?”

Despite your dreamy vocals rumbling pleasantly in his ear, he sucked his teeth as he slammed the door.

“Get it yourself, dumbass.”

You rolled your eyes at the retort before gliding yourself in front of him to reopen the refrigerator door. “So rude. You looked so bored, I thought I’d give you a task.”

Usually one to continue the banter, he became more enthralled at how your ass looked so perfect as you bent down to look at the assortment of chilled alcohol. He wondered how erotic the sound would be if he slapped his hand against it. Would it sound as sexy as your moans? How much would your flesh jiggle at the impact? Surely the sight would be just as appetizing as your smile.

“Hmm...I don’t see it here. I can’t believe they didn’t get any.” You squatted down to look at the alcohol on the bottom level. Your thighs flexed at the maneuver, slightly parted to balance yourself. Bakugou sipped from his ‘shitty’ beer as he gazed at your plush skin protruding from your skirt. “I guess I’ll just have this.”

Picking up a random bottle, you cracked it open taking a nice gulp. Bakugou saw the liquid go down your throat and he couldn’t help but imagine how smoothly- or unsmoothly you’d swallow his cum. A small smirk graced his face as he saw your face scrunch at the apparent bitter taste.

“Heh- You can’t even take a little bit of beer? Fuckin’ weak.”

“Hypocrite.”

“Hey! I ain’t no fuckin’ hypocrite, princess.”

Your body quivered at the raspy sound of the nickname. It wasn’t his first use of the bitterly sweet name, but you blamed the fact that you’d already had a beer or two on the reason for the rush of ‘adrenaline’ surging through you.

You lifted a shaky middle finger at him. “Hypocritical brute.”

Bakugou instantly took hold of your finger before wrapping his calloused hand around yours. He pushed you against the counter as he looked sternly into your eyes. “I might be a brute.”

Your heart pounded maniacally inside your chest. A matching throb with the pulsating inside your panties. Why were you reacting like this? For Ba-KA-gou? It just had to- HAD to be the beer. A lie you told yourself as you weakly pushed your free hand against his chest. “G-Get off. You’re ugly up close.”

Bakugou leaned more into you, moving his other hand up to grasp your cheeks. He could see the twitching of your eyebrows, the little trembles of your lips as you tried to avoid eye-contact. Your cheeks started to feel increasingly warm against his fingers as he glared at you.

Chuckling, he forced you to turn your head, getting a better look at how your face became so flustered at his motions. You finally met eyes with him and his heart seemed to skip a beat at how your e/c looked so prettily at him. “Back at ya.”

Your eyebrows furrowed at the reply as you parted your lips to land another insult. But before you could say anything, you felt the hot touch of his lips smashing against yours. His kiss was messy, wet with his saliva and the remnants of beer in his mouth. You let out little whimpers as you continued to meekly push him away.

You wanted this. And you hated it.

Bakugou used one leg to lock you in place so he could freely explore your body with the hand wrapped around yours. He squeezed at your waist, adoring the moan that hummed against his lips. Sliding his hand down, he reached under your skirt to grab a handful of your ass. The firm squeeze made you part your lips and he didn’t miss the opportunity to writhe his tongue between your lips.

As his tongue ravaged your mouth and his hand ravaged your plush ass, your leg naturally came up to wrap around his. Seeing this as an opening, he took both his hands to lift you up on to the counter. Breaking from the kiss, he leaned over to suckle at your throat. The hands at the sides of your ass came up to fumble at your clothed breasts.

“Fuck...Katsuki~”

With your eyes still closed in delirium, your hands came up to grab at the locks of his hair, pulling him more into you. “Such a fucking brat. How long have you been wanting this, huh?”

“L-Less than however long you’ve wanted this...”

A rush of air left his lips in a breathy laugh as he squeezed at your nipple from over your top. He could see the hardened tip despite your bra and his cock grew from within his underwear. Slipping a hand under your shirt, he grabbed at your breast before pulling the cup of your bra down. He molded his fingers into you, taking advantage of how fluffy and soft you were.

You felt so fucking smooth and delicate within his coarse hands. Even though you worked just as hard as him, it seemed to have no effect on your creamy skin. He twiddled at your nipple, pulling and twisting the bud to hear the various mewls escape your lips.

“Stop p-playing with it...”

“Why the fuck should I stop?” He grinned as his other hand went under your skirt to feel your clothed pussy. His thumb ran over the fabric, collecting a bit of the slick that had seeped through it. “Look how you’re reacting. You’re already so fucking wet.”

Curling his thumb over the crotch of your panties, he circled softly at your clit. Your hips squirmed over the counter as you weakly tried to escape the touch.

“K-Katsuki~ Wait...”

“Shut up. I’m not fucking waiting for you anymore.”

Smothering his lips over yours for another kiss, his fingers slipped under the band of your panties and started to pull them down. A more intense rush of desire overwhelmed you and you opened your eyes to look at what you finally ached for.

But instead you froze. Your eyes met the excitedly red, curious ones of Kirishima as Bakugou continued to press messy kisses at your jaw. Eyes widened like a deer in headlights, you instinctively pushed Bakugou off as you hopped off the counter.

“Fuck, what’s wro-” As he noticed the look of shock on your face and he turned around to see the person for the cause of it. “F-Fuck! What are you looking at?!”

“What are you doing in my kitchen?!”

“None of your fucking business!”

“H-Hey! You can’t say that!”

Bakugou continued to grumble as he blushed furiously at the current predicament. Whatever boner he had instantly leaving.

You adjusted your panties and smoothed out your clothes before grasping Bakugou’s hand and leading for the door. “Alcohol run.”

Exiting out the apartment, you intertwined your fingers with his.

“Okay let’s make this quick so we can go actually get more drinks. My place is close by.”

“Tch. Yeah right, we’re coming back for those losers.” He let go of your hand to give a light squeeze at your ass. “We have a lot of lost time to make up for. Get ready for a long night, princess.”

[yusuke-of-valla]

Surrealism

Warnings: Hospitals

<-Prev 

AO3

Chapter 3: Romanticism

Romanticism - an artistic movement characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of all the past and nature, preferring the medieval rather than the classical, unlike classicism.

The doctors are rather baffled by Yusuke’s condition. It’s nothing too major, they’ll let him leave tomorrow as long as nothing weird comes up on the extra tests, but still, Yusuke can hear the whispering outside. It’s not like he can offer any good answers either, but he at least can use the fact that he was passed out when the others dropped him off to feign amnesia.

That does raise the question of where the others went. No one’s responded to his texts since he woke up, and Yusuke is beginning to worry. However, the tenseness in his stomach starts to lessen a little at the familiar sound of several teenagers loudly talking as they walk through the hospital.

The footsteps stop right outside his door. 

“You guys can come in,” Yusuke says after a moment. “No one’s here.”

The door opens and Yusuke’s friends pour into the room. 

“H-hey! How are you doing?” Ryuji asks, though Yusuke can’t help but notice there’s something forced about it.”

“Well, the doctors seem to believe I have been kicked in the lungs without managing to break any ribs.”

“Oh, do they deal with that a lot?” Ann asks.

“Not really,” Yusuke explains. “The ribs are supposed to protect your lungs so it’d be very hard to bruise the latter without breaking the former.”

“That sounds awful!” Haru gasps.

“No, comparatively speaking it’s fine. It hurts to breathe but I don’t have to worry about a broken rib piercing my lung if I move the wrong way and bruises recover more quickly than broken bones, so I should be back to normal in no time.”

“Yusuke,” Makoto says. “Do you have any idea how this could have happened?”

Yusuke shakes his head. “I suppose I might have missed a shadow while we were in Mementos.”

Makoto swallows. “I’ve got another theory. You know how there are certain spells we use that kind of hurt to use rather than just draining energy?”

Ann and Futaba seem slightly confused, but Yusuke nods. It’s hard to really explain the feeling of using a Persona, but most of the team know at least one spell like that, so it’s not hard to grasp what she’s saying.

“And you know how there’s usually a point where you can’t use those skills anymore because your body can’t really take it?” Makoto continues, “I think what happened was you used a spell that normally you wouldn’t have been able to because it pushed you past that point.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Yusuke says. “I’ll be more careful next time then.”

Makoto winces. “I- uh. Here’s the thing I’ve certainly never been conscious of when I’m about to hit my limit until I try a spell and it doesn’t work, and I’d assume it’s the same for you, and I’d really be concerned about you being in the heat of battle and not thinking and just doing something like that again and–”

“Well it’s a normal part of using a Persona, isn’t it?” Yusuke asks, fighting to keep his voice even. His hands tighten into fists under the hospital blanket. Is Makoto seriously about to suggest he can’t be a Phantom Thief because of a simple mistake? “I can just be more careful next time, it’s fine.”

Yusuke doesn’t miss how the others react to that. Ren’s is more subtle, simply tightening his grip on his phone, the others less so, with Ann full on flinching and Futaba letting out a squeak.

“I think what Makoto is trying to say,” Ryuji says, “is that it’s not a normal thing for a Persona to just hurt its user like that.”

“So you think something’s wrong with Goemon?”

“We… uh know something is wrong with your Persona,” Ryuji says. “You have a Palace.”

Yusuke blinks. “What?”

Futaba sucks in a breath. “YouhaveaPalaceandwewentinandit’sreallybadandyou’renotfinewe’rereallysorrydon’tbemad.”

Yusuke takes a few seconds trying to parse what Futaba said and several more seconds trying to process this new information. “Morgana said Persona users can’t have Palaces,” Yusuke says, dumbly.

“I was wrong on that front,” Morgana admits. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” Yusuke looks at each of them in turn. “So, I assume you’re here to give me a calling card?”

“No,” Ren says.

“Then do you need my help getting past something? I could-”

“No, Yusuke, we really just want to talk to you.” Ren pulls up a chair next to Yusuke. “You’ve got a lot going on, and I’m sorry you didn’t think you could tell us.”

“You have to stop apologizing to me. Whatever my shadow told you…” Yusuke trails off, trying to find the words. Is there any use lying when they’ve seen his heart so clearly? “There are times where I feel as though you don’t understand how important it is to me to keep going with my artwork, I guess. It feels like I’m talking to a wall whenever I talk about skipping meals and you say to just stop buying art supplies.”

The others look upset and Yusuke’s stomach drops. “B-but really there was no point in telling you all that. It’s just me being selfish and petty.” Why is he like this? It’s bad enough that his desires have become warped and he didn’t even notice, but now he’s hurting his friends too. Why. Why can’t he be better than this?

“You’re allowed to be a little selfish sometimes,” Ann says. Yusuke’s vision is blurry because of the tears he didn’t realize were building up in his eyes. “I’d probably be upset if I thought my friends weren’t listening either.”

Haru nods. “Yusuke, you’ve really done nothing wrong. You’ve been through so much, it’s only natural that you get frustrated sometimes.”

Yusuke feels a lump in his throat. They really are too good for him. “Thank you,” is all he can manage to say.

“We’re here to help. Anything you need,” Makoto says. “Like, what’s going on with your school? We heard some things…”

Yusuke tries to think of what they might have heard. “Is this about the teachers or the other students?”

“Uh, both?”

“Oh, well,” Yusuke crosses his arms, “generally speaking people don’t like me because of my association with Madarame, and it’s in general brought into question whether I actually earned my scholarship. Then there are the people on the Board of Directors who just think I shouldn’t be there at all regardless of skill because I’m bad publicity, and are just waiting for an excuse for me to fail. The art block isn’t helping.”

“You’ve lived with Madarame your whole life, right?” Makoto asks. “And that whole time he was abusing pupils.”

“More or less,” Yusuke says. The whole truth behind Madarame and his mother isn’t something Yusuke has felt ready to divulge with the members of the team who weren’t already there. They know his mother painted the Sayuri, but not the circumstances of her death. He’s glad he can still tell them at his own time.

“Have you ever considered, maybe you only do art because it’s something you were raised to do, then?”

Makoto’s words feel like a punch to the gut.

“It’s just, I’m assuming Madarame didn’t really let you think about other things you might’ve wanted to do  besides making art because he profited off of using you, and when you get that your whole life, you don’t even question it,” Makoto continues.

Everyone is waiting for Yusuke’s response.

“I’ll have to think about it,” he says eventually. 

“We’re here for you, whatever you decide.” Haru says. The others nod in agreement.

“There isn’t a wrong answer here, Yusuke,” Ren adds. “We just want you to be happy.”

“And uh… tell us the names of anyone giving you trouble at school,” Ryuji says. “They definitely sound like the kind of assholes who might need a calling card.”

Yusuke can’t help it. Despite it all he cracks a smile. He can’t tell if the tears in the corner of his eyes are from crying or laughing. 

“Thank you all.” Yusuke says. “I really mean that. Meeting you is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I wouldn’t trade it for everything.”

“The Phantom Thieves wouldn’t be the same without you,” Morgana says.

Yusuke looks at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s getting late, you should go.”

“Ok,” Ren says. “See you tomorrow?”

Yusuke shakes his head. “The doctors want to run a bunch of tests tomorrow to make extra sure they haven’t missed anything I’ve broken. There probably won’t be time for you all to come.”

“Alright.”

The others turn to leave, and for a few minutes Yusuke sits in the bed, shaking. It doesn’t feel good lying to them, but he knows they’ll try and stop him. Besides, this is something he’ll have to do himself.

Yusuke’s bruised lungs ache as he takes a breath to calm himself down, then he goes to bed. He’ll need to be well rested for tomorrow.

[ofherlionheart]

hey uh. wanted a quick writing exercise so here’s some boo chronicles: part i from zuko’s pov

—————

It’s not the first time he’s been slumped over his kitchen island at a stupid hour, eyes drying out as his tries to finish yet another dull paper by someone who’s allegedly smart enough to be relevant to his field, and it’s also far from the last time he’ll do this, but that doesn’t mean Zuko can’t huff about it. As his eyes glaze over another paragraph, he absently taps out a text to Sokka, because Sokka always has something funny to say about whatever’s on Zuko’s mind—even his petty complaints.

He’s just set his phone facedown on the counter again when his text tone dings. Zuko blinks. Sokka’s never up at this hour, but …

like u wouldn’t kiss bersani’s gravehole

Zuko smiles and shifts his thumb to slide the text open when another message appears with a chime: hey. would u be my pretend boyf plus-one for a wedding in two weeks?

He drops his phone, shooting upright in his seat and staring at his cell warily.

That’s. That’s one hell of a loaded, unexpected question.

Except Sokka doesn’t know about Zuko’s feelings for him. Zuko’s continued to treat one of his best friends like a best friend, because … because. Because Zuko knows he had his chance when they first met, seven years ago, but Zuko wasn’t ready for Sokka and wasn’t ready for anyone, really. And then Sokka moved on and that was fine, really, because this thing between them is as profound as Zuko’s relationship with Mai or Azula or Ty Lee, and Zuko wouldn’t trade it for the world.

He picks up his phone and replies, what?

A second later, a photo of Sokka wearing a bucket hat and sunglasses as he pretends to kiss a fish he’s caught flashes onto Zuko’s screen. Sokka hates that Zuko chose this photo for his contact; he thinks it makes him look like a straight man on a dating app. Zuko has to remind him that Sokka’s the one who sent him this photo in the first place.

Zuko picks up the incoming call and immediately gets an earful of Sokka. “—be the ultimate flex of a significant other on an ex. You’re, like, the most thoughtful, big-hearted person I know, and you’re beautiful and fashionable and accomplished. You’re going to be world-renowned famous in, like, two years.”

Sokka’s always been too generous when it comes to characterizing Zuko, but that doesn’t stop the flutter in his gut. It’s a flutter that tends to rise into Zuko’s throat, making his words catch and give him away when Zuko really doesn’t want to confess to anything, so he breathes steadily and waits until the feeling subsides before he asks the logical question: “Why not Suki?”

“Suki and Zahra are almost the same person,” Sokka answers without missing a beat, “so Zahra would just take pity on Suki and shake her head at me. But she’d think you’re wildly out of my league—”

“I’m not,” Zuko automatically refutes, even as he’s thinking, Of course, Zahra. Sometimes, when he’s not thinking like a kind and generous person, he wishes Zahra were an awful human being so he could properly hate her for the ringer she put Sokka through. She’s not, though—she and Sokka were just the maybe-right people and the definitely-wrong time—so Zuko’s left with nothing more than Of course, Zahras and a heightened awareness of Sokka whenever she’s brought up.

Sokka’s still going. “—and thereby infer that I’ve grown as a person since she dumped me, and then she might even question whether walking away from me was the right choice.”

It was three years ago, and Sokka put himself back together a while back, but sometimes something slips through the cracks.

“To be clear,” Zuko says—encourages a reaffirmation, really—“Her walking away from you was the right choice. Right?”

A sigh, and then an exhaled, “Yeah.”

He wishes he could see Sokka’s face. Usually, he can read Sokka from just the tone of his voice, but one word doesn’t give him much. “Sokka, you aren’t asking me to do this just because there’s a chance you’ll feel a brief sense of victory over someone you’re actually perfectly cordial friends with … are you?”

“No,” Sokka immediately says. “I’m asking because there’s no one I’d rather have by my side than you.”

Zuko’s throat tightens.

It took him a stupidly long time, really, to realize that words don’t mean the same thing to other people as they do to him. He used to get caught up in and read into word choice and modifier placement and goddamn commas to try to understand exactly what other people meant, but it wasn’t until Mai snapped at him, once, during their senior year of high school, “For fuck’s sake, Zuko, I sent t-h-x instead of thanks because it’s quicker, not because I secretly hate you,” that he learned that words are just plain words to most people.

So he knows that Sokka doesn’t mean that he wants Zuko with him first and foremost at all times. That’s just Zuko’s literary brain slathering layers of meaning and significance onto a sentence that Sokka meant in a very, ordinary, unexceptional way.

There’s still a small part of him, though—a part he’s working on—that needs to check anyway. “As emotional support,” he says, curling and uncurling the corner of his printed article with his fingertip.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

There’s a pause before Sokka echoes, “Okay?”

Of course, okay. Sokka wants him there, and besides, no one reads Sokka as well as Zuko does, and he doesn’t think even Suki knows the full extent of the Zahra thing. He doesn’t want to send Sokka spiraling, though, so he directs them in a safer direction: planning. “You said it’s two weeks from now?” he asks.

“Yeah, on Saturday—you’re sure?”

Sokka’s hesitation never fails to baffle Zuko. The man has always radiated steadiness, and he’s been the stalwart of their ever-evolving group of friends since forever, so much so that it took Zuko a while to parse why Sokka was ever hesitant. Now that he understands that aspect of Sokka, though, whenever his uncertainty crops up, Zuko just wants to fight anything that’s ever held his friend back. No one deserves to thrive and grow more than Sokka.

“Why would I say okay if I was’t sure?” Zuko replies.

Sokka clears his throat. “Great,” he says and then surges on. “Uh, it’s in Montreal. I don’t know what your work schedule is like, but I was planning on taking Friday off to drive up, and then come back on Sunday—”

“Works for me,” Zuko interrupts the rising ramble. He has a couple meetings, on Friday, but meetings can be made up. This can’t. “We can take my car, if you want,” he offers, because he’s actually parked in the city and certainly gets better gas mileage than Sokka.

“Actually—yeah. That’d be great.”

Zuko can tell Sokka’s mind is elsewhere, so he waits. Sure enough, he clears his throat again. “The pretend boyfriend thing … We don’t—we don’t have to do it. Bottom line, I’d just like it if you were there.”

“Are you backing out?” Zuko teases before he catches himself, and fuck, okay. There’s no going back now. But that’s fine, because he’s an adult, and he’s equipped to deal with this. They might even be able to have fun with it. “Let’s do it. I bet we can get her to second-guess herself for at least a second.”

He can hear the smile in Sokka’s voice when he agrees, “Okay.” A few clicks make it through the line; Sokka must be working with some data. “I think I should get to bed. This data set won’t process faster just because I’m watching it.”

“I wondered why you were awake right now.”

“Enjoy the Bersani booty-lickers.”

Zuko sighs—the rectum essay isn’t the only thing that Bersani’s contributed to the field—and Sokka snickers. He should let Sokka go, since his friend really isn’t a night owl, but there’s something still tickling the back of his mind. “Sokka?” he asks.

“Yeah?”

He finally grasps the thought. “You have grown as a person. Since the stuff with Zahra happened.”

It takes Sokka a moment to respond. “Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”

His voice is soft, in a way that it rarely is around the rest of their friends, and fuck, Zuko’s throat is acting up again. “Get some rest,” he manages and then hangs up.

This time, he intentionally drops his phone on the counter, and his forehead follows soon after. The marble is cool against his skin, and he breathes deeply against the racing of his own heart. He’s doing this, he reminds himself, because he’s the best person to help Sokka in this situation.

It’s incidental that he’s powerless to the urge to remind Sokka, in every way he knows how, that Sokka deserves to shine his brightest self at all times.